Mediocre bassists locking in with masterful drummer

[Broke]

Someone asked what kind of music we play. It's sort of a folksy/rock type of band. About 30 original songs that we play. And we mix in a few covers.

 

[Mushroo]

I'll take @Whousedtoplay one step farther and say, learning to play drums, at least a little bit, is one of the best learning experiences for a bass player. I'm no virtuoso drummer, but I can play a basic rock beat.

I aspire to have at least bare-bones competency on every instrument in the band. I think it's just good basic "Musicianship 101" to be able to sing and play chord progressions on piano and/or guitar. Still haven't quite gotten the hang of saxophone.

 

[mambo4]

How many of you, my dear TB members transcribed, analyzed, and programmed (!) any drum parts

, learning to play drums, at least a little bit, is one of the best learning experiences for a bass player.

I haven't actually transcribed a drum part, but back in my salsa days, the thing that brought me from a gringo emulating a bass tumbao it to really "getting it" was learning to play the percussion section's parts - claves, cowbell campana , the timbale cascara, and especially the conga tumbao .

As I said in my first post , you can't lock with a unknown rhythm.

Overall, it is a problem of skill and awareness.
Skill can be improved with metronome practice
Awareness can be improved with awareness practice
Which means practice your own part to such a level that you need't think about it
and then practice playing with your attention on what others are doing.

 

[eJake]

It's ok I haven't been upset at any point in this thread. And I'll be playing in New Orleans in a few weeks. Maybe come check me out in person and offer tips.

Whaaaat??! Send me some details! I'm down to come out if I'm free.

 

[clayworx]

Drummer's definition of "locked in" = play what I play
Bass players definition of "locked in" = play what the drummer plays
I present a clip from a pro drummer : (starts around 46:21 if you skip all the drummy stuff)

 

[mrcbass]

Drummer's definition of "locked in" = play what I play
Bass players definition of "locked in" = play what the drummer plays

It's a two way street. If one of you already has an established line, the other should work off of that. It will morph and become stronger as you adjust to what the other is adding to the existing groove.

When developing new songs, a good rhythm section will work against each other to find the new groove.

Obviously, the kick, snare and high-hat are critical partners, but there are other elements as well. In a very good band, other members will lock in with the rhythm section and perform similar adjustments as well.

 

[Broke]

Whaaaat??! Send me some details! I'm down to come out if I'm free.

I'll do that. We are a Baton Rouge band. It will be our first venture to the Big Easy. We don't know the details yet though.

 

[eJake]

I'll do that. We are a Baton Rouge band. It will be our first venture to the Big Easy. We don't know the details yet though.

Drop me a dm for sure!

 

[dbsfgyd1]

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.

Let me add, the drummer better be locked in with the melodic rhythm cadence.

 

[IamGroot]

I mentioned in an earlier post a post to practice being able to hear and hit every eighth note in a bar. This is it.
I am sure your drummer can do it. If you can do it, it will put you on a solid base with him.

 

[bulldean]

Every drummer I have ever played with claims to be masterful.

 

[Bottom Hammer]

I just hope that in three years I'll be good enough to be in a band where the drummer has to hold me up.

 

[GilbouFR]

Mediocre is not the word to use. Newbie or learner is better. It's unfair to use "mediocre" on someone that has still to learn and get better. Takes time and effort, and "mediocre" is not helping. There's always someone better than you. They all started by playing badly and being far from perfect players for a long, long time. We only see the end result or a snapshot of their current skillset. Almost no one sees the hard work involved.

Do not use that word, for you or anyone else.