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Thinking one, two, three steps ahead

A

azian32

Sep 11, 2012
61
0
35
Sydney, NSW Australia
#1
Hey fellow tb'ers.
So I come with yet another question. My bass teacher is teaching me to think a few steps a head of what your playing. I just wanted to get some info off you guys :)
I did some research and people are saying while its good to learn that because it makes you less sloppy, the problem is you're not playing in the moment and won't enjoy it as much... is this true? Im still going yo learn to play a few steps ahead since that's what my teacher wants me to do, I just wanted feed back to build my knowlage of everything I learn :)

Thanks tb'ers
 
#3
When playing from fake chord or lead sheet, where just the chord name is given and I compose the bass line that I think will be best for this situation -- yes I do look ahead and see what is coming up. How long will the next chord be active, etc.

And yes I'll take a few minutes and look over the sheet music and see what and how I'll be playing this piece of music. However, I'm not sure that qualifies as thinking three steps ahead.........

Jamming, with out sheet music, after the song is called and the key is given, I ask myself what chord progression is going to fit this piece, then use that until it is apparent I assumed wrong, then I adjust. Again this may not be what you are talking about.
 
#4
Ahhh yes that makes sense. For now im going to assume that's what his leading me to. He doesn't like me knowing what things are leading up to because that way it stops me rushing ahead (getting to ahead of myself).
What his doing is teaching me modes what he gets me to do is:
G Ionian mode - before playing the G you already thinking about playing the A note and preparing for it, before playing the A you're already thinking about the B and preparing for it etc etc.
And then his going to get me to do thinking two steps ahead and three steps ahead. Working muscle memorie.
 
#5
azian32 said:
.........G Ionian mode - before playing the G you already thinking about playing the A note and preparing for it, before playing the A you're already thinking about the B and preparing for it etc etc.
And then his going to get me to do thinking two steps ahead and three steps ahead. Working muscle memorie.
Click to expand...

Yes to muscle memory. See a chord/scale/mode and your fingers just know what they are to do. Sounds like you are in good hands.

Have fun.
 
#6
azian32 said:
Hey fellow tb'ers.
So I come with yet another question. My bass teacher is teaching me to think a few steps a head of what your playing. I just wanted to get some info off you guys :)
I did some research and people are saying while its good to learn that because it makes you less sloppy, the problem is you're not playing in the moment and won't enjoy it as much... is this true? Im still going yo learn to play a few steps ahead since that's what my teacher wants me to do, I just wanted feed back to build my knowlage of everything I learn :)

Thanks tb'ers
Click to expand...
Sorry but that sounds like rubbish, when you read and play the skill develops, you will naturally look ahead to see what is coming or check where you go next, such as codas, or on chord sheets where the arrangement shows you one verse and chorus to follow, then just lists verses and chorus by name rather than write it all out again because you have the info unless they have additions to them.

Also page turning is looking ahead, how else do you turn a page unless you read ahead, remember the bars so when you turn the page you are ready to continue?
So players can read a few lines ahead as well, rather than a few bars, but in all this you are in the moment of what you read and play, not where you may be going....if this was the case......then you would be playing ahead to where your looking, not where you should be.
The more you can read ahead is a developed skill, the longer you do it and with good music, the more you will just naturally read ahead and of course further. :)
 
#7
azian32 said:
I did some research and people are saying while its good to learn that because it makes you less sloppy, the problem is you're not playing in the moment and won't enjoy it as much... is this true?
Click to expand...

:rollno:

Ask those people exactly how how long "the moment" is...is it measured in absolute time (e.g., 3 picoseconds) or musical time (e.g., 1 hemidemisemiquaver)?
 
#11
azian32 said:
Hey fellow tb'ers.
So I come with yet another question. My bass teacher is teaching me to think a few steps a head of what your playing. I just wanted to get some info off you guys :)
I did some research and people are saying while its good to learn that because it makes you less sloppy, the problem is you're not playing in the moment and won't enjoy it as much... is this true? Im still going yo learn to play a few steps ahead since that's what my teacher wants me to do, I just wanted feed back to build my knowlage of everything I learn :)

Thanks tb'ers
Click to expand...

Listen to any of the great players in jazz, whose lines and phrasing are impeccably tied to both the chord changes and the melody while being inventive and spontaneous, and ask yourself whether these cats could do what they do if they couldn't simultaneously be in the moment and think several steps ahead.

From another perspective, can you imagine being able to safely drive an automobile in heavy traffic at high speed without doing both? When you first learn to drive, it may seem difficult or impossible, but after a while, with practice, you're able to do it.
 
#12
Well, an analogy to me is when riding my motorcycle around a sharp curve. I am always looking ahead in the curve. It makes a huge difference in my accuracy and equilibrium. Yet, I am always enjoying the "moment," too. Kinda weird how that works. When reading music I tend to try to look ahead a beat, or so, for the same reason. I know what you mean, though, in that it can take away from the moment. But, after some practice you don't really notice that you're looking ahead. It can become second nature.
 

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