Mediocre bassists locking in with masterful drummer

[Spin Doctor]

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.

You have delivery issues...

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.

A lot of people here are just plain d***s. No two ways about it. Just do your thing. You don't have to do anything these yokels say. Just keep on learning and grooving.

 

[Spin Doctor]

WUTP - an interrogation specialist.

No, my question was not about any kind of "interrogation."
Depending on the OP's answers, it could be much easier for us to help the OP.

He's fine. Just let him learn. How about some encouragement? That's missing most of all around here. Talkbass... Where everybody knows everything. And they want you to know it.

 

[pcake]

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.

lots of songs don't have the bass playing when the drummer's foot hits the pedal. as an example, in many metal songs, the bass and guitar play the exact same notes. it might be easier to play only on the kick drum strikes, but i suggest you listen to some songs in your musical niche(s) and listen only for the kick and the bass to see when they do and don't coincide. of course, it's easier if you have the tab for drums and bass, but hearing it might get you into it more.

and most important, keep on playing!

 

[Broke]

I don't get upset by things posted here. If I need to know something, someone will tell me. If I am doing something incorrectly, I expect to be corrected. That's the only way I'll ever get better. And I have gotten better. I've played live in front of people with a band probably 25 times now. I started learning 3 years ago (age 44). I have a long way to go but I'll get there.

 

[tradernick]

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..

Ummm, no. The drummer might not think the bassist sucks. He might think he's decent but needs to work on the connection between drums and bass.

If possible, ask the drummer if you and he can do a practice session together, just the two of you. Do whatever it takes - rent a rehearsal space for a 2 hour block so he doesn't have to bring a kit. It'll likely be worth it.

 

[Roccafella]

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.

helpfull translation, good thing you stopped in to drop that nugget. ass

 

[40Hz]

Being able to keep good time is important. But you also have to be able to keep good time and sync with your drummer. Bass and drums should work as a solid unit.

Any band that has a bass and drummer who can sync rhythmically and work together as a team has 80% of everything they need to accomplish already taken care of.

 

[40Hz]

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.

I don't get that from what the drummer said at all.

 

[bigboy_78]

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.

My band plays a few songs where I learnt t like the record (not exactly note-for-note), but my drummer plays a slightly different pattern. I let him drive and compliment his kick pattern. Nothing to do with having poor rhythm skills.

Sometimes it's simple thing, like he's kicking 1..&3... but the bass I've learnt is 1…3&..

I could play what is "right" and it probably doesn't sound super bad, but both playing in unison will sound eleventy times better.

 

[bulldean]

I received a compliment from someone after a gig because I played "In the pocket."

If you are playing with a great drummer holding things together might be your calling.

Have fun and hold that bottom end together.

 

[MalcolmAmos]

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

Jazzing it up caught my eye. Normally less is more. We can groove roots. Instead of jazzing it up right now try sticking with basic chord tones. Roots, fives and eights, i.e. R-5-8-5 is generic and fits most chords. Later on R-5-6-8 for major chords or R-b3-b7-8 for minor chords would give a little something different, but, still hold close to the notes of the active chord.

My point; right now sticking with the basic chord tones and locking with the drummer's kick drum seems like the thing to do. Try that for awhile and see if it helps. Lot of songs never get more than the ole tried and true root on the first beat and the 5th on the third beat.

This video hits it on the head.

video, locking with the kick drum - Bing video

Good luck.

 

[Aidenn7]

I learn by playing with a drummer.. And watching other bassist..

 

[scuzzy]

You are in a great spot. Playing with better musicians is one of the best things you can do to grow musically. And as a bassist, playing with a great drummer is the best way to sound better than you are, while developing your skills. Listen to the drummer, keep practicing, and for all things holy, buy them a beer on occasion to show your appreciation.

 

[somebrains]

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.

level Thundercat:

 

[Heyturnup]

Enjoy every second playing with a great drummer, don't take it for granted. Be a sponge and be influenced all you can.

 

[IamGroot]

Broke,

Congratulations on being sensitive to the drummer/bass link and having a good, supportive drummer.

The drummer is feeding you cues on your playing which is a good sign. Ask him if just you and he can get together and work on some of the points. Drummers can be amazingly good musicians and sources of musical guidance, contrary to all the crap you see on TB.

Your "note for note" and then "jazz it up" is a red flag. I think you may be either a) missing the correct rhythmic elements for the song or b) overplaying (which combined with time issues will drive drummers crazy). Ask the drummer what you need to work on. The drummer may not want to spell out the issues bluntly (it like bad breath), but you need to know so ask.

For a self check,

- Can you hold a steady tempo without a drummer.?
- Can you feel a quarter note pulse and hit any of the 4 pulses?
- Can you feel 8th notes and hi them (i.e the 3&).

There is a metronome practice video on youtube for just this. The metronome is your friend.

PS, my time sucked when I started playing bass and I went through some of the issues discussed in this thread.

 

[IamGroot]

helpfull translation, good thing you stopped in to drop that nugget. ass

Probably could have been worded more gently, but good advice. My time sucked when I started playing bass.I wish someone told me that in the first month instead of the first year.

 

[NMTB]

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.

Good stuff. I remember a similar experience after I picked up bass. Took a bit for my lightbulb to come on, as well.

I get pretty bored with practicing to clicks so I use a bunch of stem files (I use the full mix files from the stem packs) with varying tempos, grooves, styles, etc from DrumDrops when I practice to keep me more interested. With those files, it's just me and a very tight drummer, in the comfort of my own home, any time I want. It might be something you find helpful, as well.

 

[somebrains]

 

[interp]

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.

Really well said!