Repetitive lines that repeat repetitiously

[Max Bogosity]

There’s an interesting book called ‘The Upper Half of the Motorcycle’ by Bernt Spiegel that talks about a similar problem of not losing focus and going on autopilot in motorcycle riding.

One strategy he talks about is the mistake counter - every time you make a mistake, no matter how minor, even if there are no consequences and it is something no one else would notice, count it. At the end of the day, how many mistakes have you made? Make a game of minimizing the number of mistakes.

It has been a long time since I read that, but I bet there are other strategies that are applicable to both situations.

 

[MYLOWFREQ]

I personally like repetitive parts. That's one thing about being in a rhythm section, you gotta love playing a steady beat over and over making it sound nice and groovy while having actual fun playing. Generally speaking the ones who don't like it switch instruments and become a singer, guitar player, a soloist etc.

 

[FretFree]

U2 - With or without you, Still haven't found what I'm looking for, etc.

THIS is one that is repetitive but super catchy, just to show I'm well-rounded and not bashing on simplicity or repetition...

 

[dougjwray]

I remember an interview with the jazz great Ron Carter, who said that he was a bit in awe of the electric bass guys who can play an ostinato accurately for a long period of time. He doubted that he'd be able to do it.

See? It's a skill in itself. Master it and be proud.

 

[Dana R Gregory]

When I play a monotonous repetitive bass line, I will concentrate on the melody and listen to the song as a whole while maintaining the beat. A simple and repetitive bass line is not necessarily an easy tune where you can sort of drift off into lala land. You must concentrate on keeping the beat while listening to the whole song. Actually a simple and repetitive bass line can be very effective in driving the rhythm, especially in a dance situation.

 

[stigbeve]

 

[Chef]

Zen it out. Lock it up with the drummer.
Respect the groove, serve the song. Maybe that sounds trite or cliche, but, it's what we're here to do.

It's a moving meditation.
Which is good.
Playing with good players, and a good crowd, who are all feeling it, it can be really great.

 

[Gustopher]

I think most people on TB would be unpleasantly surprised if they actually recorded themselves and listened back. I record myself practicing several times a week. It keeps me humble and honest.

To the OP - I try to make every note exactly like the last and perfectly placed. It helps if you're working with a drummer that want's to lock in as tightly as possible.

When my band practices, we record the whole thing. Each week I sit and go back through each song listening to my playing and singing. I usually don't look happy while doing this, lol... but it keeps me working on it!

 

[Killing Floor]

I've played Pachelbel on cello at weddings. It can be the only piece they want to hear sometimes.
All I know is Canon in D feels like 90 minutes of uuuuuuuuuuhhhhh, I'm sure I drooled on my tux during that number once or twice. OK, it's not really 90 minutes but you definitely lose 90 minutes of your life every time you play it. Pachalbel was the Frankie Goes to Hollywood of the Baroque era.

 

[skortch]

In my current 90s tribute band I've started singing backup so I don't mind simple repetitive lines. I find it much harder to sing over complex bass parts. Or I jump around a bit. That's easier to do over straight eighths, too.

In my other band everyone is cool with a certain level of improvisation. (We tend to add our own twist to covers.) I'll vary the line a bit while keeping it within the groove, maybe try something a little different with the drummer. Just little things to keep my interest.

I mean, why not? Life is short. There are no rules as long as you get asked back, get paid, and both the band and the audience have fun.

 

[4stringfarley]

I just had this conversation with my drummer a couple days ago. The simpler repetitive bass lines are much easier to learn but harder to play. When you're running scales and wanking on the fret board mistakes are much easier to hide, but when you're playing the same three notes over and over for 8 minutes one missed note or off time beat is noticed by every one.

 

[LBS-bass]

Sometimes, you're signed up to play something with a distinctive bass line, which doesn't lend well to improvisation, that repeats, repeats, repeats, repetitiously.

How to deal with it and not go bonkers?

A good example might be Doors, Riders on the Storm.

It was I'm pretty sure, a Rhodes key-bass line. Not hard to play at all. But the main riff just repeats and repeats. Then there are the extended keyboard solos and the inevitable 28-minute long guitar wankfest. Even if the band is pretty disciplined and sticks with the "as-recorded" song, there's still a lot of da-da-di-da-da-duh-da.... over and over stuff, without a lot of "re-centering" cues if one wanders off the charted bass line.

Thing is it sounds tight, played right.

But my mind starts to wandering about stimulating topics, such as "what thread size is a garden hose anyway? Why is it called a thread? If I don't have a garden, is it still a garden hose if used only to wash a car?" and of course eventually, "uh, what beat are we on?"

I have probably mentioned here half a dozen times that I have a gigantic ganglion cyst on my left wrist from playing that song. It's not so much boredom for me as it is pain and I absolutely have to shift positions frequently in whatever way possible in order to play repetitive lines these days. I suppose trying to figure out how to move my hands around in weird ways while staying on point with the music keeps my mind occupied enough that I don't get bored so much as I get impatient waiting for the song to end. I will not play Riders on the Storm ever again.

 

[LordRyan]

The great Phil Chen has to play "Riders on the Storm" at every show with Robby Krieger. He makes it look like he's having fun even though it's a repetitive line and he's done it hundreds of times.

 

[lfmn16]

When my band practices, we record the whole thing. Each week I sit and go back through each song listening to my playing and singing. I usually don't look happy while doing this, lol... but it keeps me working on it!

You're one of the smart ones. I always laugh at these guys that claim to never use a metronome but somehow know that they have perfect timing. What are they measuring it against???

 

[teh-slb]

I can't imagine how anyone could get bored playing nice repetitive lines

 

[lfmn16]

I just had this conversation with my drummer a couple days ago. The simpler repetitive bass lines are much easier to learn but harder to play. When you're running scales and wanking on the fret board mistakes are much easier to hide, but when you're playing the same three notes over and over for 8 minutes one missed note or off time beat is noticed by every one.

It's like that with everything. I play guitar in a Rockabilly/Country band. Guitar, bass and drums and I play most of the guitar parts just like the original. No place to hide and everyone knows immediately if you hit a wrong note.

 

[Lobster11]

I'm not in the kind of band that aspires to replicate songs note-for-note, so I'm able to have a lot of fun with "Riders on the Storm." When the guitarists go off on their respective solos, I love finding little tweaks to the line that change things up subtly. For example, I'll switch to starting the line on the high E rather than the low E, or playing the first three notes of each bar and dropping the fourth -- or dropping the first note of each bar and playing the other three. Sometimes I'll even play a completely different walking line for a while and then and then drop back into regular groove. Even more fun if your guitarist(s) and drummer actually listen to you and respond in one way or another.

 

[Jeff Hughes]

One time the BL started riffing and interacting with the audience during "Brown Eyed Girl" for about 15 minutes. After several rounds of the form, we started doing some more interesting things. But that bass line is a bit of a workout if you play it over and over.

On another note, one time I heard a sax player complaining about a song that had the same melody or lead repeated through the choruses. He was all, "It is so boring playing the same thing over and over." I said "Welcome to being a guitarist, bassist, or drummer. So sorry for you."

 

[Steve-D]

Interesting thread. I have only been playing bass for about a year, I’ve never played out and the only bands I’ve played with are on recordings that I actually bought ( that way the don’t have a choice of playing with me). I decided on bass because of the exact thing everyone is complaining about. I like the repetitive bass lines. They are the easiest bass lines to pick up on with my ear, or lack of ear. Keep repeating it helps me.

 

[ellipsis]

I remember reading somewhere that Entwistle HATED playing this.