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Jeff Berlin Talks Music First, Bass Second

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#63
...and one more - rather technically - thing (i know: MUSCI first....):

do you have a certain way of playing 4ths?

what i mean by that is, with the fretting hand i find it hard to play 4ths because i either have to use two fingers "underneath" each other on the same fret or i have to fret two strings with the same finger by tilting the joint "backwards", and both ways seem to slow me down.

Do you use this "barré" with all your fretting fingers...?
 
#64
bench said:
...and one more - rather technically - thing (i know: MUSCI first....):

do you have a certain way of playing 4ths?

what i mean by that is, with the fretting hand i find it hard to play 4ths because i either have to use two fingers "underneath" each other on the same fret or i have to fret two strings with the same finger by tilting the joint "backwards", and both ways seem to slow me down.

Do you use this "barré" with all your fretting fingers...?
Click to expand...

I'm not really sure. I can bar it or I can individualize the notes which is my usual method for playing.
 
#67
To be honest, I disregard most lessons that relate to technique because there really aren't any technique lessons worthy of regard for bass players. One should play in the least physically struggling manner. But there are no such things at technique lessons for bass players that are necessary to study. Certainly you don't need to go to a teacher and pay for learning how to pluck an instrument. In your lesson, when you read music, you are addressing technical issues, which is only one reason why I say that music solves all things.

Did you guys know that when I mentioned on MySpace that music solves all playing problems such as problems with time, technique, knowledge of instrument, knowledge of music, that several guys asked me what I meant by the word "music"? This is true!
 
#69
There are many more people interested in discussing gear than music so realize that many of you are in a minority. Music doesn't count with a lot of bass players, and I would like to see that it does.
 
#72
Hello Jeff,

I am interested in the Players School of Music. But unfortunately, economic "issues" stand in front of me. What kind of Scholarship opportunities are there offered? I am also interested in the One Week Intensive, since it would be somehow more affordable (for me) than your other programs. I would love to participate in your longer programs though.

Also, I could not send you a PM (I can guess why.) But could you please help me with this issue:
http://www.talkbass.com/forum/showthread.php?t=542559

Any and all help appreciated very much.

:smug:

EDIT: I fail. Too late.
 
#74
Just wanted to say thanks!

My playing over the past couple of years has improved, I hope, by learning more about chords. I've been getting better at being able to play what I hear in my head.
 
#75
JeffBerlin said:
Hi to All! The last several times that we chatted were fun and full of good information. If you feel like asking me about music, about what it takes to become a good bass player, I would like to help. Let me know your questions and I will try to answer them one by one.

It is pretty much known that I am pretty much alone in the things that I say about music ed, so if you wish to know why I feel that a portion of the bass communtiy of teachers may be in error in what and how they teach, we can go there. It isn't as loaded a principle as you think. Thanks and love to all.

Jeff
Click to expand...
Hi Jeff,

It's great to be able to chat with you. I am not a music educator & will leave that topic to others. I am a long time amateur music student. I would call my playing intermediate. I can hear what is going on around me & play out without getting flustered about losing the form or playing an unintended note.

I am looking for new ways to play in small Jazz groups. To break out of the 4/4 pattern, I seek out tunes in 8/8 to bring to my friends & ensemble music lesson. Even so I find it hard to break out of my patterns of quarter notes & walking bass lines.

I am interested in developing a more riff based approach to my playing. Ways to syncopate more freely, in tempo, particularly interest me. I can find examples of this kind of playing but, I'm not sure I have the abiity to analyse & apply what I am hearing. It takes me a very long time to transcribe a piece & I am never sure I have the notation right.

Got any suggestions, examples or exercises?

TIA,

S&y
 
#76
JeffBerlin said:
Tab is perpetuating a myth, that you will learn (let's say) Billy Sheehan's or Jimi Hendrix's solo by playing 15, 16, 17 18. You should be using your ears and imitating what you hear. There is nothing musical nor educational about tab and besides, rock music is best learned out of a musicschool and away from a teacher, as the history of rock music proves that nobody needs to go to a teacher or school and pay for lessons that you could do at home for free. Every rocker in history learned this way.
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Hi Jeff

What you said here is basically how I've taught myself to play bass. I've thrown on many a rock album over the years and just picked it up by ear by playing along. For the very complicated songs, maybe once or twice I resorted to tablature, but this was very seldom, so I didn't really learn songs by tab. In the past couple of years, I've developed a taste for jazz and world music, and would like to branch out and play different things instead of rock music all the time. Would you suggest getting a teacher at this point to help build my understanding of bass and music theory in general since jazz and world music are a total different ball game from rock? I've bought a couple of books about music theory, but I never really grasped it, and I understand the value of having a teacher. Thanks!
 
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