Im looking for some really! good tutorials on timing. Im an intermediate player. Most of my work is just basic pocket grooves. They sound fine and while I continually practice and play gigs. I dont feel my ability has increased much the last few years. Im not really looking so much for basic Bass tutorials but ones that focus on timing. Any ideas???
Enjoy the benefits of a premium membership!
Upgrade Account
-
Berklee Pro Forum Lineup:- Oscar Stagnaro
- Dave Clark
- Joe Santerre
- Danny Morris
- Ed Lucie
- Chris Loftlin
- Dave Marvuglio
- Bruce Gertz
- Victor Bailey
- Lincoln Goines
- John Funkhouser
- Bruno Raberg
- Tom Appleman
- Sandro Scoccia
-
TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
Join free Log in
Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.
Rhythmic Instructional
- Thread starter Bassman197835
- Start date
Yeah!
2 approaches.
(1) get a book like Syncopation For The Modern Drummer and work through all of the timing exercises in there, while ticking off the pulse. Drummer Benny Greb has a great video that walks you through this. He calls it the "rhythm alphabet"
(2) Ear training. If you can hear it, you can play it. Whenever you hear a song on the radio, start singing the 'ands', then the upbeat triplets, the 'uhs' and so forth. If you have trouble singing these faster layers, then you know where you can improve.
Singing the meter, the tick/tock in each of these layers (as per the book in the other thread) will help even more, especially for the more metrically complex patterns.
2 approaches.
(1) get a book like Syncopation For The Modern Drummer and work through all of the timing exercises in there, while ticking off the pulse. Drummer Benny Greb has a great video that walks you through this. He calls it the "rhythm alphabet"
(2) Ear training. If you can hear it, you can play it. Whenever you hear a song on the radio, start singing the 'ands', then the upbeat triplets, the 'uhs' and so forth. If you have trouble singing these faster layers, then you know where you can improve.
Singing the meter, the tick/tock in each of these layers (as per the book in the other thread) will help even more, especially for the more metrically complex patterns.
As an Amazon Associate, TalkBass may receive commissions from qualifying purchases made via links on this site.
try working with James Jamerson transcriptions from the Standing In The Shadows of Motown book...the level of difficulty ranges from intermediate to advanced...try Home Cookin', the Junior Walker tune...key of Ab with bars of 6/4 interspersed...overall the lines from the book are super hip, and of course they're Jamerson...the lines come from the mind of one of the greatest to ever create and perform basslines... the challenges are multifaceted...from a reading perspective you have beautiful syntax; meaning the arrangement of notes combined with rests. Use the original versions as reference. Also the playalongs with the book have many of your favorite bassplayers introducing passionately how James Jamerson influenced them individually and collectively the entire shape of basslines from Motown on up to the present..it's a real great workout which will leave you with a healthy practice routine for years..this stuff takes a lifetime to digest..
Anthony Vitti
Fender Bass! - Professor Berklee College of Music
One thing I like to do is to just tap out rhythms with a metronome. You could take the Jamerson book (as Danny suggested) and just isolate 2, 4 or 8 bar phrases, loop them and just clap them out with a nome or groove. Then try to just play the rhythms on one note on your bass. The point isn't playing the line with this, it's feeling the rhythm with the time. You are on the right track with your focus. Feeling the music and rhythmic depth are crucial to a bass player. This will help your rhythmic vocabulary.
Ya know I actually own that Jamerson book. "Shadows of Motown". I'll have to dig it out and make better use of it. I bought it at the same time I bought the best of James Brown. But I stuck to the Brown book. As you say though learning the songs is all I did.. Im a 'player' trying to be a 'musician' Ive got decent rhythm. Im just not where I wanna be. Or need! to be. This is all awesome advice everyone! I ordered the Rhythm Bible yesterday and will dig out the ol Jamerson today.
Really appreciate the answers!!
Really appreciate the answers!!
