OT: practice question

[tkarter]

The best practice to learn how to play music is just to enjoy every minute you get to make it.

Lots of good bands would not sound good against a click track if they called the time when they started the song. The reason those songs work is feel. Every member adds something.

The only way to practice that is to play with others. When you first start you will probably be trying to hang on and not contribute anything. Then all the sudden you get there and wow is it fun.

Practice good time. Then go play with the band. It will more than likely mess with your good time but you have learned something.

The nome is a good tool for self study sure. The drum machine works pretty good too.

Still won't let you know how it is going to sound unless the band plays it your way.

Being a bass player you play their way.

Best home practice there is in my opinion is play along to an original CD and make up your own bass line that works to that. It will change as you put time into playing. It will show when you play with your band.

tk

 

[AnthonyD]

TK, I love you man, and I agree with everything you said in your post except this little diddy:

Being a bass player you play their way...

That don't work for me at all...

Haven't you heard? It's all about the bass!

Might not come across properly in Internet-type, but I'll try - For me, the bass is THE most important instrument in the band. The engine that drives the music as well as the anchor that keeps it together. What everyone is moving to.

Having said that, I also believe everyone should feel the same way about their instrument (i.e. drummer, guitarist, etc.) and a mutual respect across the stage brings it all together.

Back to practice - practice makes perfect (where have we heard that?). And practice goes beyond playing what you know - practice is stretching to previous unreachable levels, attaining them and moving beyond again. Alone on your own and with the Band. Drills and exercises as well as songs and situations.

OK... Sorry for the left turn... Carry on!

 

[bovinehost]

I sort of secretly believe that Cowpilot is driven, propelled, centered on and would fall to pieces without my bass.

 

[tkarter]

I don't feel that important when I get to play. I just have fun. The music lacks without a bass.

Having fun is the best thing to practice.

And the singer is the most important part of a band.

FWIW. I practice running the Triads both major and minor all the way up and back down the neck. I hardly ever try to play a scale. I like chords.

tk

 

[Aussie Mark]

I'm with Anthony - without bass, bands I've been in would have been a dog's breakfast. I've played with some drummers that I've actually enjoyed playing with, but even then, none of them have had the same inbuilt metronome that bass players seem to have in their head.

There have been many occasions over the years where bands I've been in have had rehearsals where a drummer, singer or guitarist have been unavailable due to work commitments or illness, but every time I've had a sudden work commitment pop up that precludes me attending rehearsal that week, and have suggested they rehearse without me, they have said "no way man, we can't rehearse without a bass player".

This is not to say that I am anything but an average part time hack of a bass player, but supports my argument that it is the bass player who drives the bus and herds the cats.

 

[Jim_F]

Not that we're at all biased as bass players

I agree btw - its all about the bass and drums ... you need that good strong foundation to build tht nice pretty house on ...

 

[oli@bass]

but every time I've had a sudden work commitment pop up that precludes me attending rehearsal that week, and have suggested they rehearse without me, they have said "no way man, we can't rehearse without a bass player"

Same experience here. Pretty much everybody from the band can be missing for a rehearsal except for the bass player. Although our new guitarist (professional player) tries to make up of for the lack of the lows by adding some lines using an octaver.

 

[tkarter]

I certainly was trying to portray a band without a bass player.

It was more along the lines of as a bass player you have to go with the band. Keep it solid. It won't be against the nome either. Wankin builds the speed up. You must be there to keep things on as even a keel as you can.

That is why playing along with drums and guitar is so important. It is the only way to really become a skillful bass player imho.

tk

 

[fly]

Metronomes are fine. Work great to get your timing down. But getting a drummer to practice against one is close to impossible.

tk

i'm lucky on this one........i do all the drums here first,rough,record them all....(along side my drum machine)...........then dial in all my bass lines.


pretty sweet to be able to practice with my own drumming.

makes it tough for live stuff though............

 

[Rano Bass]

The first instructional video by John Patitucci is great, he plays a variety of grooves with Dave Weckl and then explains how to do all those different styles.
And everything ever made by Ed friedland.