So I've noticed recently that I'm having trouble playing things that have even slightly different rhythms (for instance, anything that is syncopated). I was wondering if anyone had any suggestions for things I could practice to get my feel for rhythm a little stronger. I practice with a metronome, but that just seems to throw me off even more because I feel I should emphasize the beat rather than the offbeat when the 'nome is going.
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Trouble with rhythm
- Thread starter Chipsonfire
- Start date
Excellent post Chipsonfire, developing rhythm on bass is what i have been chasing forever.
I always read the response 'work with a metronome' or 'find a drummer to play with' but like, what should i be practicing with to a metronome click? with a drummer, how do i create a pocket based off what he is craving out?
I would love for someone to youtube or google some examples, not just post answers. We need to see & hear examples.
It would dead this question, as it repeatedly gets asked and will continue to get asked.
I always read the response 'work with a metronome' or 'find a drummer to play with' but like, what should i be practicing with to a metronome click? with a drummer, how do i create a pocket based off what he is craving out?
I would love for someone to youtube or google some examples, not just post answers. We need to see & hear examples.
It would dead this question, as it repeatedly gets asked and will continue to get asked.
Play along to songs with clear syncopation. As a former huge fan of Toto, two of their songs come into my mind: Mama from the Hydra albumand Pamela from The Seventh One. The first one is very good for practicing timing; it's a really simple bassline, but requires a great timing to sound good. The second one is pretty different from the first one, and actually reminds a little of John Mayer's song Neon from the Room For Squares album.
Seriously, try finding these songs and play along to them. Toto is a band with extremely skilled musicians, so you can get a lot of ideas from their songs, not only these ones.
EDIT: Just listening to Animal by Toto. That's a song with really cool groove and great bassline, some syncopated rhythms and some really advanced breaks (like in many Toto songs). One of the grooviest Toto's ever made, I think.
Seriously, try finding these songs and play along to them. Toto is a band with extremely skilled musicians, so you can get a lot of ideas from their songs, not only these ones.
EDIT: Just listening to Animal by Toto. That's a song with really cool groove and great bassline, some syncopated rhythms and some really advanced breaks (like in many Toto songs). One of the grooviest Toto's ever made, I think.
I had this problem when I first started going through the SlapIt! book. A lot of the exercises in there are syncopated eight ways to Sunday. What helped me was to slow them down. Way down. If the exercise was written as 16th notes, I'd view each 16th note as a quarter note and play it at 60 bpm. That gave me a better idea of the actual groove and I didn't get side tracked by the speed. Once I got the feel for how the notes related to each other, I could speed it up.
So, I guess that would be my suggestion. Take something you're trying to play and slow it down to get a good feel for the underlying rhythm of it and how to count it.
It's not something that has a magic bullet. You'll just need to keep working at it until it clicks. After you go through the process with a few different lines, it'll get easier and easier. But you need to crawl before you can walk, so start out slow.
So, I guess that would be my suggestion. Take something you're trying to play and slow it down to get a good feel for the underlying rhythm of it and how to count it.
It's not something that has a magic bullet. You'll just need to keep working at it until it clicks. After you go through the process with a few different lines, it'll get easier and easier. But you need to crawl before you can walk, so start out slow.
Sounds like a good idea, tsdw. Now, Where can I find some software for slowing music down? I know I can do a search, but I'm lazy 
Now, Where can I find some software for slowing music down? I know I can do a search, but I'm lazy
There is a great piece of software called Tra....
Oh I'm tired of typing.
There is a great piece of software called Tra....
Oh I'm tired of typing.
lol touché. I'll just look it up
Here's something that has helped, and is still helping me!
Download a free drum machine like hydrogen: http://www.hydrogen-music.org/
Then program in a simple kick pattern. Something like a kick on the 1, the and of 2 and the 4. Now play the pattern over and over again matching the kick with your bass. When you hit a note all you should hear is a light slap from the kick. Your bass should completely cover the lower frequencies.
Next I try to play it at different tempos. 120bpm, 90bpm, 60bpm, etc. Then for an added challenge try to play with one silent bar alternating with one kick bar while keeping the beat going. When the kick pattern comes in again you should match up perfectly. It's hard and I'm still getting better at it, but it's been a big help!
Trestles
Download a free drum machine like hydrogen: http://www.hydrogen-music.org/
Then program in a simple kick pattern. Something like a kick on the 1, the and of 2 and the 4. Now play the pattern over and over again matching the kick with your bass. When you hit a note all you should hear is a light slap from the kick. Your bass should completely cover the lower frequencies.
Next I try to play it at different tempos. 120bpm, 90bpm, 60bpm, etc. Then for an added challenge try to play with one silent bar alternating with one kick bar while keeping the beat going. When the kick pattern comes in again you should match up perfectly. It's hard and I'm still getting better at it, but it's been a big help!
Trestles
lol touché. I'll just look it up
It's called Transcribe real nice. I used it on the Mac not sure if a Windows version. Check some of the recording software like Audcity you can import MP3's and then modify them. Google around there is a lot of stuff out there.
Transcribe is definitely available for Windows. I use it almost everyday. And I agree, it's a program well worth having. I've used others, but I think Transcribe is the best of the programs I've tried. 
I already found it, but thanks anyway
I'm gonna look around and see if I can get it for free anywhere.Sounds like a good idea, tsdw. Now, Where can I find some software for slowing music down? I know I can do a search, but I'm lazy
BestPractice...
[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]
Free and Open Source, runs on Windows
(also runs on Linux using Wine, but I haven't worked out how to get it to work on Linux with MP3 files, it just slows down playback on CD tracks...)
there's also The Amazing Slow Downer
http://www.ronimusic.com/slowdown.htm
payware (but has a trial version): supports Windows and OSX.
Thanks for the suggestions, but I got myself a copy of Transcribe that I need to check out this afternoon after work. I got it on my lunch break and didn't time to play with it
