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why do we lock to the kick drum?

#121
bucephylus said:
I’ll dissent. I pretty much don’t even pay attention to the kick drum. And further, I perfectly loathe this modern Beater Honda Civic Subwoofer concept of a live mix that is emphasizing the kick. Miles would have simply growled, “that don’t swing.”

Swing and Groove come off of the back beat. Anyone watched “Standing in the Shadows of Motown” lately? There is a scene early in that movie of Jamerson’s childhood South Carolina Gospel church. People are clapping. On the 2 and 4. And it swings like crazy.

The drums keep time. As a bass player, you have to have great time no matter what. Sure, the 1 and 3 have to be in the right place. Of course. Kind of like learning to print in kindergarten.

But, when you play, for example, a steady walking bass line; then your line will have way more swing by emphasizing the 2 and the 4. That’s where the groove lies. If you can’t hear it, keep listening. You’ll catch on.

I always tell drummers that I’m not even listening to the kick. I’m listening to what they are doing on the backbeat. Strong backbeat = great R&B drummer; and BTW, in 99% of those cases if the backbeat is strong, odds are their time is great.
Weak backbeat, and I’m looking for the next gig. No thanks to the Church of England’s clap on the 1 and 3. Not my thing.

I should add that other than walking, I’m not usually playing on the 2 and 4. BUT, I’m still listening to the 2 and 4. It’s a call and response thing. It’s called feel.
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But,

:)
 
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#127
JKos said:
Link Removed

- John
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Mannyinnewyork said:
Lexico the definitive source of all valid information.
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Man, I just stepped away for a minute too :(
 
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#129
bucephylus said:
I should add that other than walking, I’m not usually playing on the 2 and 4. BUT, I’m still listening to the 2 and 4. It’s a call and response thing. It’s called feel.
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Carol Kaye's method of practicing with a metronome involves setting the click to half time and considering the click to be beats 2 and 4. If the bass line grooves with that - it will sound great.

1 and 3.jpg
 
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#134
JKos said:
Geesh. I checked several sources including a sociology textbook. Please cite your source indicating it is.

- John
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Mannyinnewyork said:
You checked several sources and you even checked a book. That’s just great. You’re the winner. Racism is whatever you say it is.
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Whatever happened to that bass, bass drum lockin' thing?
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#135
jj.833 said:
Hi,
I was wondering for the acoustical or physical reason the bass often plays the same rhythm as the kick drum. Is it because the kick, as well as the bass, sounds lowest? Or to support the impact of the kick, which is often hard to be heard clearly?
What are your thoughts?
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The bass drum drives the music forward. It should sync and punctuate the dominant rhythmic cadence of the melody. This is where the arrangement starts. If this is does not link up, as a bassist how are you going to provide logic? Your going to be in a losing battle of musical reconciliation and the whole band is going to sound disjointed. If the bass drum part sucks, you are toast. There is no way to play the piece good regardless of how good you are.

Drummers that play a set pattern and expect the band to sit on their part drive me nuts!
 
#137
JimmyM said:
How about Love Child? What's Goin' On? I Was Made To Love Her? Standing In The Shadows Of Love? Ain't No Mountain (both versions)? Ain't Too Proud To Beg? Back In My Arms Again? Gladys Knight's version of Grapevine? Or Boogie Fever by The Sylvers or the Theme From SWAT? :D I can go on, too, but I think that's enough to prove my point.

And that ability is held by MANY people, even Gene Simmons, as long as they're not too scared to not play by the "rules."
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I don’t interpret any of those as him rolling over the drummer. Jamerson and the Motown drummers (esp. Uriel Jones) complemented one another’s playing exceptionally well. If he’d been stepping on their parts they’d have called him out.
 
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#139
I think I read somewhere that for electronic music you don’t want the bass on the same beat as the kick because it’s competing for the lower frequencies. I guess you’re supposed to sidechain the bass to the kick? I think it’s more for techno, or stuff like that where the kick is super steady.

I could be remembering it all wrong though. Anyone know?
 

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