• TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
    Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
    Join free Log in
    Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.

Jeff Berlin Discussing Music Ed Part II

Status
Not open for further replies.
#141
Toronto Bassist said:
But there's another aspect I'd like to mull over...from watching Jeff's DVD, the main impression I get is that he's opposed to practicing things in time when you're still learning them. When your fingers don't quite have a grasp on the notes yet.

But I've found that I can run into time problems even with stuff that fits under my fingers quite easily. I noticed with my previous band that sometimes when we would play, say for example, "Sunshine of Your Love", that I would slow down sometimes when the guitarist would take a solo.
Click to expand...

My normal routine when I learn new licks:
1) Play lines slowly, without a metronome or tapping foot, Just try to get the fingers correct at a slow- or even inconsistent tempo.
2) Once I have the line where my fingers and brain know it enough to play it- I'll tap my foot while I play it.
3) Once I have it solid with my foot and internal tapping I'll turn on the click at a slow tempo and get really locked in with it.
4) I'll slowly raise the tempo till I get the the target bpm without making errors in my line.

It's worked really well for me so far but I'm wondering what Jeff thinks. I imagine he is going to be busy with NAMM for the weekend.
 
#144
Yeah thanks a lot commreman! This is my first 'break' in my chord tones practice, id been doing some just going up playing different inversions, but not like this, awesome... So everyone recommends the chord studies book then? (As if I need more justification than Jeff's recommendation haha)
 
#145
To get the most out of the Chord Studies book, one must know all the chord tones first otherwise you will probably not grasp what is being done in the exercises. So, if you don't know your chord tones (arpeggios) well, then I suggest learning them very well before jumping into that book.
 
#147
Freddels said:
To get the most out of the Chord Studies book, one must know all the chord tones first otherwise you will probably not grasp what is being done in the exercises. So, if you don't know your chord tones (arpeggios) well, then I suggest learning them very well before jumping into that book.
Click to expand...

Well, the book very clearly shows the chord tones for each chord type before each set of exercises. So I'm not sure if I agree here. If you diligently practice the chord tones shown at the beginning of each chord chapter, then the exercises, I think most people will get it pretty quickly.
 
#149
Peter Weil said:
Well, the book very clearly shows the chord tones for each chord type before each set of exercises. So I'm not sure if I agree here. If you diligently practice the chord tones shown at the beginning of each chord chapter, then the exercises, I think most people will get it pretty quickly.
Click to expand...

Just b/c it shows them doesn't mean you know them. It shows the chord tones and tensions which can be confusing to someone that doesn't know much theory.
 
#151
Freddels said:
Just b/c it shows them doesn't mean you know them. It shows the chord tones and tensions which can be confusing to someone that doesn't know much theory.
Click to expand...

You've got to learn them sometime. The very first line of each chapter has the tensions; the second line has only the chord tones. Only after that do they get into the exercise lines (numbered 1-4). That should help for most people.
 
#153
Coeball said:
Jeff, thanks for your great contributions and insight.

I have a question: do you have any tactic for memorising the names of the notes in chords ? As when I can sit down with my bass I work out the note names by knowing the notes on the finger board ( 7th fret E-string "B" ect ) but if someone asked me without my bass "What are the names of the notes in C7 ?" I would be stuck.
Click to expand...

I have to run through my answers. Forgive me, but I am working and i WAnt to answer as many as I can. When I get back to Florida, I can take more time.

Repetition answers all things. Don't have a deadline to learn, don't have a deadline to memorize. If you repeat long enough, you will learn what you need to know.
 
#154
aidan784 said:
Hi again Jeff. I am wondering how to actually go about practicing reading music. For me it's sort of like im learning the piece, for example i'll read a bar then when it comes to the next i'll play the 1st again and then the 2nd and this process continues. Or I'll read say four bars then take a break from reading and sometimes play what i have just read, then proceed to next four etc.. I'm not sure this is the right way but if you could suggest how to practice more effectively or the right way? Thank you very much, I am so happy about starting to learn properly!
Click to expand...

Don't memorizse, just read. Then read it again. Over a few months, reading gets easier and easier.
 
#156
Billnc said:
Jeff, regarding moving a two measure or so phrase through all twelve keys, say a two bar phrase over a minor chord, would you also make the alterations so this phrase covers your ten basic chord types? Something to do once or twice? or is it better to just move on and do another two bar phrase through all twelve keys.
Click to expand...

Keep it simple. The 12 key interpretation is complicated enouygh. Just do each exercies this way and don't try to make your work better by messing with it. Keep it simple, review, and play your stuff in 12 keys,. This is ful day's woprk right there,
 
#157
cire113 said:
First of all thank you mr Berlin.
Can anyone please tell me the best way to musically practice my chord tones I'm learning? I'm getting bored just going through each individual chord.. I need to make them musical or apply it somehow

I don't even know where to start because most of the stuff I play now is rock blues funk purely minor pentatonic.
Click to expand...

Bordom is no excuse not to practice. If you want to improve in your music, you should be inspired enough to do the right work. AThere is no fix for bordo9m except to ignore it.
 
#159
JeffBerlin said:
Keep it simple. The 12 key interpretation is complicated enouygh. Just do each exercies this way and don't try to make your work better by messing with it. Keep it simple, review, and play your stuff in 12 keys,. This is ful day's woprk right there,
Click to expand...

I found out breaking it down to triads and figuring those out first gets you familiar with basic chords. As in root third and five. Then break that down to major, minor, augmented, dim...ect. and name the note when played..
add the 7 (and or tensions) later when you know this inside -out. With inversions.

(edit) and write it down on staff paper so you know what the chords look like.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.

Latest posts

Top Bottom
Back