I know its kind of broad but does anyone know how to get a smooth jazz bass tone? Most songs I've heard sound really deep and booming. I have a standard p bass and an amp with mid bass and treble, any suggestions? Smooth jazz like the kind that used to be on the weather channel.
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Smooth jazz bass tone?
- Thread starter Seriouscat123
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How about Autumn Leaves
First get the chord progression
How to play Autumn Leaves is all over the Internet. Search and see what comes up.
Have fun.
I would think he's asking about tone.
If I were to play smooth jazz I would play what I play now. P bass with flats, preferrably something with more complex mids like TIs. Roll of some treble (either amp or bass) and adjust the bass's setup to reduce clank and fret noise. Playing less aggressively will contribute to that buttery sound. Adjust low mids and bass to taste on your amp.
It's not very adventurous but smooth jazz isn't supposed to be. Works very well for all kinds of other music too.
If I were to play smooth jazz I would play what I play now. P bass with flats, preferrably something with more complex mids like TIs. Roll of some treble (either amp or bass) and adjust the bass's setup to reduce clank and fret noise. Playing less aggressively will contribute to that buttery sound. Adjust low mids and bass to taste on your amp.
It's not very adventurous but smooth jazz isn't supposed to be. Works very well for all kinds of other music too.
In reply to the OP I do 2 things when playing Autumn Leaves, a beautiful tune which requires a really gentle bass tone. First roll off the tone about half way or so to trim out the treble. Secondly I position my plucking hand over the end of the neck so that each note is as soft as it can be. Don't turn your amp down or anything, just play it with a soft feel.
Hope that helps.
*edit* yeah flats help too, I use em.
Hope that helps.
*edit* yeah flats help too, I use em.
Most smooth jazz bass tone sounds like active basses. There's an emphasis on lows, flat mids, and some snappy highs that add articulation to the sound.
Weather Channel? Get a fretless and put way too much chorus on it. Then don't play anything nearly as cool as what Jaco would have done.
We have the Smooth Jazz station on nearly everyday at work.
It's a very scooped sound, with a very clean amp, and basses with dual pickups (J bass types galore) for that tight snap.
If you look up any of the modern bands played on the station, you'll see 99.9% use dual pickup basses. You migh find one guy with a P Bass, but hardly ever. No, they're not using flats either, tons of snappy slap & pop that only rounds give. It's about tight control of your playing.
It's a very scooped sound, with a very clean amp, and basses with dual pickups (J bass types galore) for that tight snap.
If you look up any of the modern bands played on the station, you'll see 99.9% use dual pickup basses. You migh find one guy with a P Bass, but hardly ever. No, they're not using flats either, tons of snappy slap & pop that only rounds give. It's about tight control of your playing.
wow, i been asking and wondering myself how to get that sound. one guy on Youtube said to turned down the mid really down or off. have you received any info on the question, if so can you please share them with me?
wow, i been asking and wondering myself how to get that sound. one guy on Youtube said to turned down the mid really down or off. have you received any info on the question, if so can you please share them with me?
If you know the names of specific guys who are playing what you like, you can email them or contact them through social media and a lot of times they are happy to answer your questions. I've corresponded with several high level players on Facebook, email etc. My drummer set up a lesson with Will Kennedy of the Yellow Jackets just by talking to him after a gig and then emailing him. They are "generally" not unapproachable... Especially the jazz players. They want to see the art grow and are willing to help you in most anyway they can.
A lot of smooth jazz guys use basses equipped with soapbar pickups (think MTD or Smith).
Mid scoopy. But forget EQ, just get a jazz bass (70's pickup spacing) with rounds, play over the neck pickup. That'll get you there.
Nathan East (Fourplay) would be a great example of "smooth jazz" tone. He uses an active, dual pickup, 5 or 6 string bass. I'm thinking there's a bit of compression going on as well.
They are quite approachable. I had a lesson with Jimmy Haslip (Yellowjackets) and he was totally cool and down to earth.
Personally,I prefer the tone one gets from listening the the History channel, which is second only to the Food Network.
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Having played a bunch of it with many artists I would say Marcus Miller is at the root of a lot of contemporary smooth jazz bass concepts, also more recently Alex Al who both use primarily Fender Jazz style basses with preamps, any number of high fidelity amps will suffice, primarily with cabs using 10 inch speakers with horns. A sound SWR created but many have reproduced
