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SO hard..... must ... be ... able to.....

Discussion in 'General Instruction [BG]' started by Tronictq, Oct 16, 2001.

  1. Oct 16, 2001 #1
    Tronictq

    Tronictq

    Jan 23, 2001
    PLAY JAZZ.

    It's so hard and frustrating... HELP ME. This stuff takes hard work, my good ness. I never thought it was so much work! I've been playing bass for 2 years, tuff stuff.

    -T
     
  2. Oct 16, 2001 #2
    jazzbo

    jazzbo

    Aug 25, 2000
    San Francisco, CA
    Um....kind of a broad question you asked there Tourniquet. What exactly do you have a problem with?

    Have you ever played jazz before? If so, how long?
    What kind of jazz?
    Do you listen to jazz regularly?
    Do you know theory?
    Can you play a walking bass line?
    Do you know your scales/chords?

    Please clarify.
     
  3. Oct 16, 2001 #3
    john turner

    john turner You don't want to do that. Trust me. Staff Member

    Mar 14, 2000
    atlanta ga
    hey...i know you. weren't you banned from here a while back? you know, once the sheriff finds out, there's gonna be trouble...



    (welcome back :D)
     
  4. Oct 16, 2001 #4
    Bass Guitar

    Bass Guitar Supporting Member

    Aug 13, 2001
    You're right. It is hard work. You need a solid foundation of theory. You need to have a good ear to follow the changes. You need to have good technique so that your fingers keep up with your ears. And most of all, you need to be creative musically, otherwise you sound like you are practising scales.

    So in terms of advice:

    1) Learn your musical theory well - memorise the scales, but more importantly, understand how modes and scales related to different chords

    2) Train your ear - listen to lots of jazz, play lots of jazz, practise playing to records applying what you have learnt in theory

    3) Practice pratice practice - ensure you have good technique

    4) If you truly want to be good, get a teacher who specialises in jazz - nothing beats good instruction from a more experienced player

    5) It is hard work, so work hard. :)
     
  5. Oct 16, 2001 #5
    Tronictq

    Tronictq

    Jan 23, 2001
    I've had a jazz teacher giving me jazz stuff for about a year, I've been intersted longer, but my goodness... a year and it's still hard as heck. Everything else is easy though. It's fun, i can find progress when I go back to rock/pop stuff, but it's hard to find my progress in jazz.

    I know some theory, but not inside and out how I should.... especailly for this kind of music, the kind I want to play. I can play elementary walking bass lines, somedays better then others, in order for that to happen though , I need to know the song like the back of my hand.

    I have a teacher, he's played all around the world... played for Bob Hope, played with Dizzy Gillespie, was nominated best trio or something at the Montreal Jazz Festival. He's been complimented by Stanley Clarke. He's accomplished. I'm lucky. BUt it doesn't make it any easier..... cause he's giving me TUFF stuff. He's really pushing me, helping me get on track.

    -T