Enjoy the benefits of a premium membership!
Upgrade Account
-
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.
Top Three Things Every Bassist Must Practice?
- Thread starter ::::BASSIST::::
- Start date
If you're going to be so picky, why don't you just tell yourself what you want to hear?
What I'm working on myself, since my left hand technique is where I want it, is my right hand technique. I'd like to be able to get three finger triplets.
I'm also working on theory, and sight reading.
What I'm working on myself, since my left hand technique is where I want it, is my right hand technique. I'd like to be able to get three finger triplets.
I'm also working on theory, and sight reading.
1.) Scales/Modes - mainly modes. Learn the major and minor modes.
2.) Listening/Learning by ear - This means picking up key signatures by ear, and even learning songs by ear. It's okay to listen to a bass track only!
I learned this song by ear. It's actually a 5 string song, but you can modify it to 4 with OCTAVES. If you have a 5 great, if you don't even more to learn. This song GREATLY jumpstarted my abilities as I learned things by ear. Sorry, theres two slapping parts.
3.) Groove - Yeah, just groove. Need to learn 1 and usually 2 to groove with a band.
2.) Listening/Learning by ear - This means picking up key signatures by ear, and even learning songs by ear. It's okay to listen to a bass track only!
I learned this song by ear. It's actually a 5 string song, but you can modify it to 4 with OCTAVES. If you have a 5 great, if you don't even more to learn. This song GREATLY jumpstarted my abilities as I learned things by ear. Sorry, theres two slapping parts.
3.) Groove - Yeah, just groove. Need to learn 1 and usually 2 to groove with a band.
I spent a lot of time practicing scales when I started out, and if I had it to do over, I wouldn't spend nearly as much time on them. I'd spend most of that time transcribing songs by ear. Certainly you need to know the major scale and its modes, and the minor pentatonic and blues scales. But you need to know what to do with them, and the way to do that is to listen to music and play it, not just go up and down scales.
My top three:
1. Transcribing bass lines and melodies by ear
2. Time awareness - set the metronome on 2&4, etc
3. Note reading
IMHO, YMMV, etc.
My top three:
1. Transcribing bass lines and melodies by ear
2. Time awareness - set the metronome on 2&4, etc
3. Note reading
IMHO, YMMV, etc.
HI
3 specific things?
#1 is timing. Actually, the better you get at playing in time, the more you'll notice most musicians cant. Its music 101 but most guys and gals that call themselves musicians have issues with it.
#2 is listening. Can you play by ear? Reading is important but for alot of us, being able to play on the spot(seat of yours pants) is way underrated. I get calls all the time for subbing. Sometimes say day. I never worry. I show up. We go over the set list. Most of the time I know most of the stuff. I just ask what key. Thing is, most bands twist up covers or run them into medleys or such. Can you hang? Work on it
#3 is Groove. Can you make a song bounce? Can you play behind the beat? Many great bassists out there you can draw from. Motown stuff, Earth wind and fire, etc, etc. All great groove players. Lines are simple but the groove is paramount. Try playing along feel how "behind" it feels or relaxed. Never pushed. Being able to play in this fashion will give u greater flexiblity and more diff type gigs will come your way
Great thread
Rob
3 specific things?
#1 is timing. Actually, the better you get at playing in time, the more you'll notice most musicians cant. Its music 101 but most guys and gals that call themselves musicians have issues with it.
#2 is listening. Can you play by ear? Reading is important but for alot of us, being able to play on the spot(seat of yours pants) is way underrated. I get calls all the time for subbing. Sometimes say day. I never worry. I show up. We go over the set list. Most of the time I know most of the stuff. I just ask what key. Thing is, most bands twist up covers or run them into medleys or such. Can you hang? Work on it
#3 is Groove. Can you make a song bounce? Can you play behind the beat? Many great bassists out there you can draw from. Motown stuff, Earth wind and fire, etc, etc. All great groove players. Lines are simple but the groove is paramount. Try playing along feel how "behind" it feels or relaxed. Never pushed. Being able to play in this fashion will give u greater flexiblity and more diff type gigs will come your way
Great thread
Rob
I concur with the above advice, but here it is in my words:
1. Listening (whatever skill that is) - learn new songs by ear until you can do it in your sleep.
2. Theory - learn some jazz, like Autumn Leaves.
3. Tone - discover what your bass can sound like with different hand techniques (including location).
We don't really know where you're at, so I'm making assumptions.
1. Listening (whatever skill that is) - learn new songs by ear until you can do it in your sleep.
2. Theory - learn some jazz, like Autumn Leaves.
3. Tone - discover what your bass can sound like with different hand techniques (including location).
We don't really know where you're at, so I'm making assumptions.
Today I had my first practise with an actual band. Drummer and two guitarists. My attention drifted from what the guitar guys were doing to what the drummer was doing. I suppose any bass player knows this, when I ignored the guitars and concentrated on the drummer it came together better. Lesson 101 for me.
What's the bassist's job? To DEFINE the harmony and CONNECT the rhythmic part of the music with the melodic part. Therefore...
1. Understand harmony. NOT MODES, but harmony. So, own the harmonized scale, know what notes make up chords, and be able to find 'em on you instrument.
2. Understand rhythm. Have your own internal clock working, be able to HEAR what everyone elses' clocks are doing, and know how to tie them together.
3. Be able to know what's required. Sometimes that whole "less is more" is right, but it's also often just laziness.
Extra Bonus Point. Sometimes the single lesson bassist need to learn is the lesson contained in Andy Frazier's verse part of Free's "Alright Now", Bill Wyman's verse part on the studio recording (because HE DOESN'T PLAY IT THE SAME WAY LIVE) of "Honky Tonk Women", and Prince's electric bass part of "When Doves Cry".
John
1. Understand harmony. NOT MODES, but harmony. So, own the harmonized scale, know what notes make up chords, and be able to find 'em on you instrument.
2. Understand rhythm. Have your own internal clock working, be able to HEAR what everyone elses' clocks are doing, and know how to tie them together.
3. Be able to know what's required. Sometimes that whole "less is more" is right, but it's also often just laziness.
Extra Bonus Point. Sometimes the single lesson bassist need to learn is the lesson contained in Andy Frazier's verse part of Free's "Alright Now", Bill Wyman's verse part on the studio recording (because HE DOESN'T PLAY IT THE SAME WAY LIVE) of "Honky Tonk Women", and Prince's electric bass part of "When Doves Cry".
John
Well, listenting WILL improve your playing...
The diatonic major scale. But understand that to "know" any scale means:
A. You know the whole-step and half-step arrangement of the scale.
B. You can figure out the notes of the scale in every key without an instrument (using the correct enharmonics), and even better without paper. NOT memorize the notes in all 12 keys, but KNOW them because you understand the way music works.
C. You know how to find those notes on your instrument (again in every key, and not by relying on a picture or TAB) over two octaves.
D. You can sing the notes of the scale so that you know what the next note sounds like before you play it.
A. Basic harmony of the diatonic major scale... after you KNOW the scale (see above), then you need to sit down and learn how to build the four-note chords from each note of the scale.
B. Be able to figure out the notes of basic four-note chords, without using an instrument. You should be able to see a chord progression and think through it to know what notes are in each chord, and how they go together. That means you should know how to build a major triad, minor triad, diminished chord, augmented, dominant 7, minor 7, major 7, minor 7 b5, and understand the extensions above the 7th.
C. Be able to find those notes on the neck and play the arpeggios of a chord progression.
D. Understand the use of Roman numerals to designate chord relationships. Know WHY "ii V I" defines the key center, how the ii is related to the IV, etc.
and for #3, I say learn to SING everything you play. Fix it in your head. Don't do endless repetitions of running scales up and down, that's only physical learning. You need to have your ears leading your fingers. So if you sing everything you play, then your muscle memory is going hand-in-hand with your aural learning. Bottom line is that to be the best player you can be, the MUSIC must come before the instrument. So MAKE the music guide you instead of learning the pentatonic minor and riffing on it all day.
Here's a great exercise... Sit down with your bass safely locked away in its case. Sing a nice melodic solo over a 12 bar blues. Record it. THEN pick up your bass and learn to play it EXACTLY like you sang it. Not just the notes, but the phrasing, the inflections, the dynamics, the slurs. If you can get that skill down, and you listen to a lot of great players, you'll be well on your way to becoming a great player yourself.
John
Timing, Tone (by changing hand positions), Dynamics, Groove, Harmony singing (this makes you worth much more to the band. Is fun and will make your band much better). As stated before dont overplay. Anyone can play scales and licks that fit in a song but it takes a great Bass player to Groove and make subtle changes to tastefully give a song flavor. In most bands the Bass is not a lead instrument. Learn to play what makes the band sound better not what makes you look like a killer bass player. You are a band (A Team) you shouldnt be competing for melodies. Just my opinion. It probably isnt worth much but its mine.
1. Staying off TB and practicing
2. Avoiding nasty groupies
3. Actually playing with your band and not in it
2. Avoiding nasty groupies
3. Actually playing with your band and not in it
DANG! That's HARSH!. I'm sitting here typing away, with my fretless sitting right next to me. Just before I re-opened this thread, I thought "John Boy, you should be practicing instead of opening that thread!"
Well, yeah... Or any groupies really. By definition "groupies" are ultimately counterproductive to being a better musician.
3. Actually playing with your band and not in it
HE SCORES AND WINS!! What a great way to word that! I may have to steal that and add it to my tag line.
John
1. Staying off TB and practicing
2. Avoiding nasty groupies
3. Actually playing with your band and not in it
#2 - yeah, right! And how are you supposed to know the nasty ones from the regular ones unless you take a sample...?
subscribed
"dark Horse" is right! Once you start listening actively (that is transcribing), you are able to see your own limitations and nobody will need to tell you what three thing you need to practice.
Pick only one song you like and then start transcribing it. Try to find out the correct guitar, keyboard parts (if possible), the melody, improvisation if applicable, etc. You will see the tremendous progress you will make rythmically, harmonically, melodically, etc., with only one songs.
If you are still not convince or you still don't have time, I will ask you to record yourself playing a bass line for 2:00' alone, and then post it to the forum. After that, I will tell you what you should focus on.
Pick only one song you like and then start transcribing it. Try to find out the correct guitar, keyboard parts (if possible), the melody, improvisation if applicable, etc. You will see the tremendous progress you will make rythmically, harmonically, melodically, etc., with only one songs.
If you are still not convince or you still don't have time, I will ask you to record yourself playing a bass line for 2:00' alone, and then post it to the forum. After that, I will tell you what you should focus on.
