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Swing Lesson based on Anthony Jackson Line
- Thread starter Dr. Cheese
- Start date
I love swinging but my bands don't do much of anything swing like. Can't even get any drummers to do a solid reggae beat. Sad the lack of diversity in my area despite some really good musicians here.
This is just a simple/general swing/triplet feel not really something special or specifically for Anthony Jackson as I was expecting.
For anyone interested - See AJ's (corrected) bassline below, starting at 0:38 - he plays an "Eb" there , not a "C", (see arrow) as part of his bassline.
I don't know how the hell he played this "Eb" and made it sound effortless. AJ is a Genuine GENIUS, IMFO.
I found it challenging to play the Eb in the bassline. I am not any kind of jeenuss...
I don't know how the hell he played this "Eb" and made it sound effortless. AJ is a Genuine GENIUS, IMFO.
I found it challenging to play the Eb in the bassline. I am not any kind of jeenuss...
I’ve played that bass line for maybe 20 odd years and it can still trip me up.
What would be the reason for your hesitation?
The harmony has that clearly pronounced Eb.
I'm trying to understand your statement, "more from the video."
If you listen carefully, you'll hear the differences between Anthony Jackson's (the studio musician's vision to play the comp) bass-line, and Joe Hubbard's (an advanced "soloing" bass player) line.
It's all about that "ARTICULATION" of the (almost) same notes - its length, dynamics, adjusting to the drummer's part.
Here is a short sounclip (just SLOWER) of Anthony Jackson's groove:
https://www.talkbass.com/attachments/ruby-aj-mp3.5141514/?temp_hash=e5807e7d8749faa703f28d89a6a4f171
And here is a soundclip (slower) of the same spot of Joe Hubbard's groove:
https://www.talkbass.com/attachment...5/?temp_hash=e5807e7d8749faa703f28d89a6a4f171
The point of the video is to explain how triplet feel works. He could have picked any blues song. Instead he picks an Anthony Jackson bass line. Which is fine. But then I expect some more advanced stuff about the specific feel that Anthony adds or the specific notes he chooses and why etc. Otherwise my expectations seeing this topic and video title are way higher than what I get to see in this video, which is very basic stuff. He explains nothing about Anthony Jackson's playing, and just explains how a triplet works.
You are demonstrating basically the same in your examples.
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As for the specific feel - or microgrooving - one could clearly hear it in the dynamics and articulation of Anthony Jackson's line. Just as an example, listen how Anthony Jackson interprets the length of the note around 0:15 (from my short clip), right before the snare hit,
and check the same (around 0:15) from Joe Hubbard's clip.
Also, there is a microgroove difference between AJ's rendition of notes at the beginning (around 0:04) and Joe Hubbard's at the same spot.
AJ plays the accompaniment along with the drummer, while Joe Hubbard interprets it as (some, "soloing) part, by playing it very behind the beat and too legato.
It's just two different visions of the same song due to the "environmental" requirements.
One of my "pet peeves" while reading comments at TB is, "What other notes should play?"
P.S. I would recommend any beginner bass player first to get a solid foundation of the rhythmic groove/template only by playing the root notes.
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I am referring to the physical/ergonomic act of playing the Eb on the last 8th note of the measure and then nailing the low F on beat 1.
Have you played this bassline on your bass? I find the Eb - low F jump to be challenging, (for my fretting hand), to say the least.
Thanks.
Don,
My index finger - 1 is on the F note (1st fret), while my Middle finger - 2 is on the Eb note (1st fret - D string.)
Yes...that would make sense. Trying to bar those 2 notes would be dicey. IMFO.
Have you played this tune/bassline live? Is your LH contortion a viable ergonomic solution? Do you nail the time feel?
I just play the "C" there, in service to the time feel.
Just askin'.
Thanks, Who....
I've tried to take a picture of my left hand while holding the iphone with my right hand.
It's a clumsy picture but it shows my finger position in that Eb spot.
N.B. In a live version, I can easily play that Eb (pickup) note with the same Index finger.
The whole riff pattern while in F, I do in the first position - using the Open D string.
P.S. Yes, I used to play Ruby Baby years ago.
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Whaaa???
Just don't play the Eb on the A string....play it on the D string, as you did before.
What am I missing?
Thanks, Who.....
