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I'm bored....give me something to learn!
- Thread starter Harper
- Start date
definitely look into some Rush songs if you haven't already... some of my favorites are The Enemy Within, Circumstances, Digital Man, Cinderella Man... they all have really cool basslines... although I guess just about all Rush songs do... 
The first thing I should ask is, “what kind of music do you like?” But I won’t.
A lot of funk and R&B bass lines can be fun. I find the syncopated grooves of a lot of reggae bass lines fun to play. Check out some of the bass lines performed by Aston "Family Man" Barrett – maybe Concrete Jungle or something else from Bob Marley and the Wailers’ Catch a Fire.
A lot of funk and R&B bass lines can be fun. I find the syncopated grooves of a lot of reggae bass lines fun to play. Check out some of the bass lines performed by Aston "Family Man" Barrett – maybe Concrete Jungle or something else from Bob Marley and the Wailers’ Catch a Fire.
Most never learn a song to perfection you could pick a song you already like and learn it to prefection. Time, feel, technique, tone, if song has a solo analyze what you're doing and why you like or don't like your solo. If you transcribed a solo then analyze it and create you own solo based on the results.
Just playing should be enough fun.
Just playing should be enough fun.
anything by the meters.
i particularly like funky miracle, pungee, same old thing, tippi toes, and groovy lady
i particularly like funky miracle, pungee, same old thing, tippi toes, and groovy lady
I know, I know....and I kick myself for not learning earlier. I know hundreds of songs and have been gigging constantly for 11 years, but not reading still makes me feel like a charlatan.
I do know theory like the back of my hand, but actually tackling the dots intimidates me for some reason.
I know people have been recommending his recordings already, but if you want to get into sightreading with some fun stuff (assuming that you know the basics?) I highly recommend the book Standing in the Shadows of Motown, with dozens of notated James Jamerson basslines, and a Cd that is great fun to play along with. For some simpler reading stuff (I think I sort of started with these), try some of the Bach cello suites, assuming you're at least somewhat into classical music and wouldn't kill yourself playing them. I used the Josquin des Prez book (not the composer, the writer), and taped over the tablature, which really helped.
First, go get yourself a Real Book. Learn to walk on every tune. You could choose styles and go that way. Like, start with Bossa Novas and learn those, then go on to the swing tunes, then the bebop, maybe just do the 3/4 tunes, then just the 6/8, etc. Then, learn to play the heads of every tune. Then, after you've played every tune and head and really know the changes by heart, then learn all those songs in every key, (it doesn't have to be in that order, learn each song in every key before going on nstead). Get yourself several different versions of the recordings.
Now, get Standing in the Shadows of Motown. Learn all of those songs. Really appreciate the feel. Don't let them sound too mechanical. Musical musical! Make them sing!
Then, you're going to need a tour through latin music. This will be very important. You're going to need to find the Eddie Palmeiri's, Oscar Hernandez's, etc. I would get Oscar Stagnaro's Latin Bass Book, then get CD's by people like Palmeiri and Hernandez. Maybe a little Paco de Lucia to really stretch your range would be nice.
I would then pick up Arban's Trombone Conservatory. Learn all of those etudes. What a great way to learn bass clef reading, scales, fingering, and melody all at once. Your trip through jazz has taught you a lot about harmony (as well as rhythm and melody of course). Your tour through latin music has taught you a lot about rhythm. Your tour through SITSOM has taught you chops and technique, along with melody.
Then, pick up Bach's Cello Suites and learn those. There will be some tough fingerings so good luck.
Then, it's time to learn the blues. Pick up some BB King, Albert King, and more.
Then, take a trip down to New Orleans and learn the R&B/Blues of Dr. John, James Booker, Professor Longhair, and others.
Then, it's time to play along with James Brown, the Meters, Ohio Players, Parliament-Funkadelic, and others.
Then, it couldn't hurt to know tunes from the Beatles, Buddy Holly, and the Rolling Stones.
How about then learning some Zeppelin and the Who, some Hendrix, Clapton, Stevie Ray Vaughan. That might be helpful.
And I"m talking discographies here. Don't just learn the popular song, learn an entire album.
So, you've got R&B, Jazz, Classical, Latin, Rock, Blues. That should be a good start. Once you've got all that down, maybe we can come up with some new ideas.
Now, get Standing in the Shadows of Motown. Learn all of those songs. Really appreciate the feel. Don't let them sound too mechanical. Musical musical! Make them sing!
Then, you're going to need a tour through latin music. This will be very important. You're going to need to find the Eddie Palmeiri's, Oscar Hernandez's, etc. I would get Oscar Stagnaro's Latin Bass Book, then get CD's by people like Palmeiri and Hernandez. Maybe a little Paco de Lucia to really stretch your range would be nice.
I would then pick up Arban's Trombone Conservatory. Learn all of those etudes. What a great way to learn bass clef reading, scales, fingering, and melody all at once. Your trip through jazz has taught you a lot about harmony (as well as rhythm and melody of course). Your tour through latin music has taught you a lot about rhythm. Your tour through SITSOM has taught you chops and technique, along with melody.
Then, pick up Bach's Cello Suites and learn those. There will be some tough fingerings so good luck.
Then, it's time to learn the blues. Pick up some BB King, Albert King, and more.
Then, take a trip down to New Orleans and learn the R&B/Blues of Dr. John, James Booker, Professor Longhair, and others.
Then, it's time to play along with James Brown, the Meters, Ohio Players, Parliament-Funkadelic, and others.
Then, it couldn't hurt to know tunes from the Beatles, Buddy Holly, and the Rolling Stones.
How about then learning some Zeppelin and the Who, some Hendrix, Clapton, Stevie Ray Vaughan. That might be helpful.
And I"m talking discographies here. Don't just learn the popular song, learn an entire album.
So, you've got R&B, Jazz, Classical, Latin, Rock, Blues. That should be a good start. Once you've got all that down, maybe we can come up with some new ideas.
