So my drummer is really, really, really good. I've just made 3 years as a bass player. I've never been taught about "locking in" until very recently by our new drummer. Is it my job to lock in with him because it seems like he works his style into mine more right now. I'm assuming it's because he's that much better than I am and he understands the need to do this since it's something I've just learned I need to do.
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Mediocre bassists locking in with masterful drummer
- Thread starter Broke
- Start date
Timekeeping is the responsibility of all players in band,
everyone should endeavor to lock in with each other, no exceptions.
locking is about listening to others and responding to make them sound better
failure to lock = failure to listen
the single best thing you can do to lock in is learn his part
you can't lock in with an unknown rhythm
level 1 locking with a drummer: when the kick plays, you pluck (less strict as you level up)
level 2 locking in with a drummer: leave room for the snare
level 10 locking in : learn rhythmic notation , be able to notate both your rhtyhm and the drummers
level 100 locking in: experience and familiarity with the bass and drum patterns that define various styles of music, giving you a solid intuition of what the drummer might be thinking on the fly.
everyone should endeavor to lock in with each other, no exceptions.
locking is about listening to others and responding to make them sound better
failure to lock = failure to listen
the single best thing you can do to lock in is learn his part
you can't lock in with an unknown rhythm
level 1 locking with a drummer: when the kick plays, you pluck (less strict as you level up)
level 2 locking in with a drummer: leave room for the snare
level 10 locking in : learn rhythmic notation , be able to notate both your rhtyhm and the drummers
level 100 locking in: experience and familiarity with the bass and drum patterns that define various styles of music, giving you a solid intuition of what the drummer might be thinking on the fly.
I was taught to lock with the drummer's basic rhythm..... The drummer is the beat master. If no drummer then you are the beat master. If the drummer is not there the other guys look to you to lay down a steady beat. If you have a drummer.......
Look over at his kick pedal. Right now lock with his basic kick drum beat (rhythm). It is not necessary right at first to lock with his fills or runs, but, yes with his basic beat. Ditto Mambo4's post. This brings us to the time signature....
The time signature of the song is kinda important; 3/4, 4/4, 5/8 etc. reflects the basic beat we are to use for this specific song. We assume 4/4 and listen for anything else, nothing wrong with just asking the drummer what time signature will he use with this song.
When John is not there the keyboard and I work out what is to be used. Again 4/4 gets about 98% of what we play. When 4/4 does not sound right listen for what is right.... No drummer or keyboard present I then listen to the rhythm guitar and vocalists.
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It's probably better at this point for you to just try to be present, solid and consistent with your playing. The drummer will make you sound better than you are, and make your life easy. Don't overthink it. From time to time ask if there's anything you should be doing differently because at this stage in your development, you really don't know. Sounds like a good opportunity for you to learn something...
This sounds like a great opportunity to expand your chops quickly. Just listen to the drummer and do your best. If you have questions or ideas for arranging the rhythm section on a particular song, raise them, but know when to defer to the more seasoned player.
This was a huge learning moment. When he told me that we were supposed to be locked in and I was supposed to be playing whenever his foot hit the bass drum it was an epiphany for me. A true Holy cow moment. I plan on doing it because I know that's what I'm supposed to be doing now. He really does try to lead me in the right directions. He's been with us a year but I think he waited until he saw that I could handle this to drop that nugget of info on me. Or that he felt comfortable telling me to do things. He's a nice person.
Well sure... if that's how the bass line actually goes.
What is your process for learning each new song? Do you typically learn songs note-for-note, or do you invent your own bass lines?
Well sure... if that's how the bass line actually goes.
What is your process for learning each new song? Do you typically learn songs note-for-note, or do you invent your own bass lines?
I learn them note for note. I'm still a beginner I guess. I feel comfortable with notes. I have learned some songs with a bass line though so I'm not uncomfortable totally with it.
Well sure... if that's how the bass line actually goes.
I'm willing to bet the drummer isn't gonna go out of his way to give him randomly incorrect information...
I was taking lessons when I got into my first band. A blues band. I had a really good drummer too. At one lesson, I played back some songs we did at a gig and my teacher said it sounded like I'd been playing the blues for 30 years. He went on to say that , "your drummer makes your life very easy..." The drummer made me sound good because believe me, my playing was far from perfect. The way he handled his kit made the pocket as wide as the Mississippi.
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He just said he's learning. What's up with the interrogation?
Cool. What method do you use, to learn these songs note for note? Do you learn songs by ear? TAB? Standard notation? Chord charts? Instructional videos? Watching the guitarist's fingers?
If you are a "by ear" learner then, next time you are transcribing the bass line to a new song, try transcribing the drum part too. Bass on one staff and drums on another staff. This will help you understand how the bass line relates to the rhythm of the drums.
If on the other hand you have a "reading notation" style of learning, take a look at "full band" songbooks that show the drum part, too. It is cool to have all the parts shown together on the page, so you can see how they fit together.
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I take the chart that the guitarists give out for his chords and lyrics, then I put my notes in where his goes. Then I jazz it up a little learning to play it to where it fits my style. Probably the wrong way but it's the only way I know
If your drummer is of reasonable proficiency and if he's telling you that you need to lock in with him more, it translates as you suck rhythmically and the only way to improve is to work your ass off with a metronome or a drum machine. Your technique might also contribute to your problems, so get a teacher if you don't have one yet.
Cool, doesn't sound "wrong" to me.
One suggestion when you are working on your charts, you could scribble down some basic rhythmic notation, for what the drummer is playing on the bass drum. Like if he is playing dotted-quarter, eighth, dotted-quarter, eighth (what I call the "heartbeat" rhythm) then that is really helpful information in terms of locking in with the drums. Especially if you count the eighth-note subdivisions (one and two and three and four and) that will really help you get the feel. 
Man, there is nothing like a great drummer to make bass playing easy. If he (or she) cuts a deep groove, all you have to do is fall into it.
I probably do suck rhythmically and as a bass player too but I try hard. I've had a teacher for the entire 3 years. And I know you'll tell me that my teacher should have taught me this. But it's hard to explain the class and teacher.
Don't be too hard on yourself!
Learning this stuff is a lifelong journey. A really good exercise is, next time you are transcribing a song, don't just transcribe the bass line, but also transcribe the drum part, too, so you can see visually on the page how it relates to the bass line. For example, last night I was driving around, and Fleetwood Mac "Dreams" came on the radio. I was thinking what a great example that song is of a simple bass line locking tastefully with the drum beat. Lots of great music out there to learn from; we just have to open our ears and listen.
