Proud Daddy

Some of you know that my 12 year old daughter plays bass. She's taken it very seriously and practices every day. We've been working on this piece for some time, and she's finally nailed it to where she can play (part of the solo) without mistakes. She comes in at about 48 seconds into the mp3 and solos out.

(click to listen...)No Particular Title (that's the title for now )

 

Don't feel too bad. Her part was actually written down for her - she's not able to improvise that way just yet. It's a tune that I wrote. She liked it and asked if I could incorporate it into her lessons.

 

I strongly believe that the one most important factor in being able to 'create' or 'make up' a tune or riff, is the ability to play what you hear in your head. The trick, of course, is not to hear music which you are unable to play due to lack of technique - ie. don't play slap tunes in your head if you can't slap! Other than that, there is no reason you shouldn't be able to think of, or hum a bar of whatever, and then play it on your bass....UNLESS... you don't know where the notes are on your fretboard, which will make it really frustrating for you. This is how I come up with my tunes. All this minor/major mumbo jumbo is fine, and will help you put your music down in writing, but it won't necessarily help you to come up with tunes. Listen to music... all sorts of music. Think up a bar or 2 and try to play it on your bass.

I carry a microcassette recorder with me wherever I go. Sometimes, a riff will come to me while I'm driving. I hum it into the cassette recorder and play it when I get back to my bass. If it sounds good, I expand on it.

X

 

JMX - Must be the genes. She loves music and also plays drums at her school band.

analogkid9 - Hmmm.... You have to get past me 1st.

Darrell - Yeah, it's a blast. In a few years, she'll be good enough to where we can gig together.

ElDarko - She has been fiddling with my basses for a few years now, but only seriously started learning late last year.

Paul A - You gotta start 'em young. Your kids look like they're having a ball - and that's the most important thing.

Jon - Thanks man!

Michael J. - seconds, eh? Well, it's a work in progress, and you know how I love posting mp3's here, so you can bet there will be updates.

Gruff - Yeah, she really gave it her all. Had been practicing her part for over a week.

I posted the mp3 at my other hang-out, digitalsoundplanet.com (online collaboration site), where a singer buddy of mine, Dave, quickly snapped it up and added some vocals. I like the "coolness" of the vocals and the way they complement the bassline(s). The version with vocals is HERE.

 

I'm playing everything other than that ending solo. I played the 1st solo that sounds almost like hers, just to give her an idea of how it should "feel".

No, she's not a Talkbasser. I'm too protective, and there're some things here that I don't think are appropriate for a 12-yr. old girl .... but that's me.


Player - The danger in starting them that young is that one doesn't really know if it's something they want to do. They may burn out before they get a chance to decide on their ow if music is 'for them'. Then again, most virtuoso's started at around that age.

 

Super Duck & Funkster - Thanks for the thumbs up. As I was telling Darrell in a PM, I've shown the positive responses here to my daughter and she is tickled pink. She's so happy and excited at the big "hooplah", she can't wait to get home from school today and start practicing the next few bars.

You guys are all swell! Very supportive, and that's something she needs.