What are you thinking when playing a riff?

[Clef_de_fa]

I count and/or sing what I'm playing

 

[rubbadubdub]

I always wonder if those jazz cats who play long pieces with complicated sections must be counting their way through. If they are then that blows my head.
I only ever count bars when working out an arrangement or first learning one. I have to play it enough times that I just know where the changes are. The thought of playing bass, singing and counting all at once is too much for my brain to handle.
I feel the same about reading charts. Max respect to those of you who can do that and still play with feel and groove.

 

[richntiff]

I know what I don't think about- my job, my house payment, my kids growing up too fast, etc... that's why I play

But on a line in keeping with the thread- I don't count either, I rely on my inner metronome to put me in the right place. Works pretty well for me, but I'm not playing jazz fusion either

 

[Itzayana]

+1 with above..............muscle memory...................Don't think, Just Play!!!!

Agree completely.
Great music happens when you are 100% in the moment. When you think you are outside of the experience.
It takes thousands of hours of playing to create a pro level of muscle memory and intuition. It takes thousands of hours of critical listening (ear training) to internalize and become one with melody, harmony, rhythm, and counterpoint.
Music is a Zen thing. Open up, shut down the BRAIN, and become one with it. That's when it happens best.
There are no shortcuts.

 

[lorianb]

Root on the 1... root on the 1... root on the 1...

 

[stratovani]

Do you think while having sex? It's the same thing with music. Do, don't think.

 

[jmattbassplaya]

It's a mix. A lot of it is muscle memory, but I actively think about where I want to land in context of the next chord. Should I land on the tonic? The third? Maybe just play through the one and come into the chord somewhere else in the measure? The possibilities are endless.

 

[GroovinOnFunk]

It's a mix. A lot of it is muscle memory, but I actively think about where I want to land in context of the next chord. Should I land on the tonic? The third? Maybe just play through the one and come into the chord somewhere else in the measure? The possibilities are endless.

I think that's some great advice right there!

 

[Jazzdogg]

what about if we think of this in terms of a jam session, for example, where you are familiar with the chords, but certainly don't know them dead to rights.

or a cover gig where i've had 3 days to learn 60 tunes and so only "kind of" know them and might still have to use cheat sheets for one or two?

so like, I want to impress the people that are at the jam session because there is a guy that needs a bass player there, and i wanted to impress the cover band so they'll hire me for more gigs.

I feel like I already know the answer though... A cool riff isn't worth wrecking the groove, right? So if i'm not familiar with the song I should just keep it simple and not try to do runs/riffs/fills?

If you want to impress me, serve the song; that, alone, will be sufficient. Economy and taste always win the day.