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PW Farrell's Bass Talk

Discussion in 'Technique [BG]' started by Pat Farrell, Apr 8, 2012.

  1. Apr 8, 2012 #1
    Pat Farrell

    Pat Farrell

    Mar 20, 2003
    Melbourne, Australia
    Hey guys and girls.

    It has been far too long since I posted here and I'm hoping to change all that. I think it's time to contribute a bit more to our bass community!

    On my website pwfarrell.com I have started a little bass video podcast. I filmed the first one today (see link below).

    I really hope you get something out of this - this first episode is pretty casual but it's a start.

    Please feel free to comment and chat.

    Peace.

    PW Farrell

    PWFarrell's Bass Talk Vol.1 - YouTube
     
  2. Apr 10, 2012 #2
    stonecoldbass

    stonecoldbass

    Jan 11, 2010
    Melbourne
    Nice stuff p-dubz! I particularly enjoy your lighthearted and humble approach to it all, much more entertaining than some well known bass player videos.... Maybe you could suggest some ideas and practice tools for working on some of the concepts you discussed? Of particular interest to my is a coherent train of thought whilst improvising...
     
  3. Apr 10, 2012 #3
    Pat Farrell

    Pat Farrell

    Mar 20, 2003
    Melbourne, Australia
    Hey Craggenheimer. Yeah man as I was saying at basschat improvising is a lot like composing/producing in that a binding idea is crucial to that continuity (or narrative?) of the thing. Rhythm, tone, melodic/harmonic and dynamic elements may vary in their focus depending on the context but ultimately what I've found so far is that a binding concept trumps all else. For me - at this stage of my learning - rhythm/phrasing seems to be the elixir that fuels my better playing experiences. The melodic/harmonic stuff seems to happen when the material and theory involved is understood well enough - but rhythm is something that I sometimes need to consciously monitor and/or think about during performance.

    PWF
     
  4. Apr 10, 2012 #4
    bigben379

    bigben379 Guest

    May 21, 2008
    sydney australia
    Nice stuff man, good to see some aussie bass geniuses out there too!!!!
     
  5. Apr 10, 2012 #5
    Pat Farrell

    Pat Farrell

    Mar 20, 2003
    Melbourne, Australia
    Oh no man....Far from a genius! I know for a fact....because every time I think I've figured something out I have a bad gig and go home very humble! LOL

    Thanks bro.

    PWF
     
  6. Apr 10, 2012 #6
    bigben379

    bigben379 Guest

    May 21, 2008
    sydney australia
    hahaha classic!!! Well youre better than me ..... Hit me up if your ever in sydney, we can grab a beer or 10!!!
     
  7. Apr 10, 2012 #7
    Pat Farrell

    Pat Farrell

    Mar 20, 2003
    Melbourne, Australia
    Yeah man definitely. I'm up that way a fair bit. I just did CMC Rocks the Hunter actually. It's beautiful up there.

    PWF
     
  8. Apr 16, 2012 #8
    Pat Farrell

    Pat Farrell

    Mar 20, 2003
    Melbourne, Australia
  9. May 23, 2012 #9
    Pat Farrell

    Pat Farrell

    Mar 20, 2003
    Melbourne, Australia
    Hey guys. If you are still interested in my ramblings (LOL) I have another video for you all.

    This one is all about TIME. I'm really digging deep to be able to hear metric modulation and displacement more clearly.

    I've had the chance to play with some great drummers lately who really push my understanding of this stuff so that's basically what this vid is all about.

    I hope you guys get something out of this.



    Cheers

    PW
     
  10. May 24, 2012 #10
    INTP

    INTP

    Nov 28, 2003
    Dallas, TX
    Good stuff.

    In Talk 2, you said something that caught my attention at 17:59
    "...switch my focus from it being about clarity to just trying to get my muscles used to being really relaxed no matter what tempo I'm playing at..." Doing an exercise with a modified focus is something that I do quite a bit. This is especially useful in doing things that require repetition, but could otherwise be mind numbingly boring. Plus it essentially allows you to work on more than one thing while doing the same exercise.

    Thanks for your contribution to the community.
     
  11. May 24, 2012 #11
    Pat Farrell

    Pat Farrell

    Mar 20, 2003
    Melbourne, Australia
    Thanks man!

    It's that old adage - practice makes perfect. It really suprises me how often people discuss practising things slowly - and yet never discuss the need to actually practice playing fast so that the effortlessness developed in slow practice can be applied at faster tempos.

    TOTALLY! There are many ramifications - relating to practice efficiency and real world application.

    Efficiency: Clearly, if one exercise can be used to develop good tone, effortless technique, dynamics, clear articulation, solid time etc it saves time and energy often wasted conjuring unique exercises for every facet of playing. This is something I have been guilty of - but as time to practise quickly becomes a rare luxury between learning repertoires and gigs/teaching it has become important to me to get the most out of what practise time I do have.

    REAL WORLD APPLICATION: In performance it is obviously best to listen and respond intuitively to what is going on. However sometimes it can be really useful to zone in on an aspect of the music, or even your performance to fix problems. Eg. "Why do I feel so stiff? Ah, my technique is not truly relaxed". Or "Why is this racing? I'll try laying back"

    Practising the way you mentioned can really help develop this kind of real time critical listening.

    Thank YOU man.

    Cheers.

    PW