General Music Chat

Howzit guys,

First of all, let me apologise if I am breaking any rules by posting here.

With that out the way, let me introduce myself.

The name is Aidan, and I'm from South Africa. Been playing the bass guitar for around four years now, and I love it. I've also recently taken an interest in Harmonica, although I don't have one.

I absolutely love music, and I want to make it an integral part of my life. Lately, I have grown quite abit confidence wise with my instrument, and I'm starting to create better and better riffs and songs, but I have the urge to keep pushing myself.

I'm self taught, so I have a minor dilemma, that I'm hoping to push through. I have no musical theory knowledge, so when I create riffs, to me atleast, they all seem to be to similiar in style, I like to think that
my mind is stuck in one place musically.

I'd really like to be able to diversify and push myself to my limit. I also want to be able to freestyle to a better degree, instead of sitting down and working out riffs and so forth.

To be honest, the only thing I can think of is to perhaps download or create some drum loops in different tempos and styles, and listen to different genres , more often. I tend to love all genres, be it blues , to modern rock.

Any other ideas? I was also thinking of practising with a metronome.

In addition, anyone have any resources for very basic music theory? I think that could really aid my freestyle ability. I also want to learn more little flairs and tricks of the hand to add some spice to my playing.

Thanks all, heres to the music.

Cheers!

There are no rules here.

I absolutely love music, and I want to make it an integral part of my life. Lately, I have grown quite abit confidence wise with my instrument, and I'm starting to create better and better riffs and songs, but I have the urge to keep pushing myself.

I'm self taught, so I have a minor dilemma, that I'm hoping to push through. I have no musical theory knowledge, so when I create riffs, to me atleast, they all seem to be to similiar in style, I like to think that
my mind is stuck in one place musically..

Check out bass players like Stu Hamm, Yossi Fine, Jaco, John Patitucci to name a few, if you really want to excell at the bass. Listen to these guys play and how they add to the music ... study it ... break it down... the bass and drums are the most important instruments in the band ... they have to be locked into each other and have to have deadly meter and drive the groove.

I'd really like to be able to diversify and push myself to my limit. I also want to be able to freestyle to a better degree, instead of sitting down and working out riffs and so forth.

Again see above comment ... this take time and practice and a good teacher wouldn't hurt. Learn your scales

To be honest, the only thing I can think of is to perhaps download or create some drum loops in different tempos and styles, and listen to different genres , more often. I tend to love all genres, be it blues , to modern rock..

Once you think you've learnt the style ... then ya download some drum tracks ... but don't think that downloading drum tracks are going to help you without learning the style and scales ... you're wrong.

Any other ideas? I was also thinking of practising with a metronome.

YES ... always practise with a metronome ... you and the drums have to have perfect meter

In addition, anyone have any resources for very basic music theory? I think that could really aid my freestyle ability. I also want to learn more little flairs and tricks of the hand to add some spice to my playing.

Get a teacher ... find a good one ... it will be money well spent

If you want to excell you'll have to really work at it .. and I mean work at with practise .... practise .... practise. Do think that sitting in your bedroom making up riffs is doing you any good ... it's not.

I play at a pro level and play with a lots of pro's ... and bass is key for me to do my job ... that's who I play off of, they can make my job easy or a lot of work .... it that simple.

In a city of 2 million people, with thousands of musicians ... there's only maybe 6 bass players that I like to play with ... yes it's that small ... it's how they drive the groove ... it's how they lock into the drummer ... it's how they approach the song ... what notes they play and what notes they don't play (space) and as well as additude and how well they are prepared they come to rehearsal ... it's a total package ...

Learn songs you enjoy listening to!! Play along with them. It will broaden your knowledge of sounds you like, and will enable you to produce those sounds yourself. practice, practice practice.

I'm going to disagree ever so slightly with the metrinome approach. While metrinomes are great for forcing you to play in time, they are void of musical context. They are good for practicing speed, and accuracy, etc., building up licks, dexterity - but if you want to immerse yourself in music, you need to immerse yourself in musical context, so I encourage you to play along with music so you get used to hearing what you play in context of any given musical key. If that means creating your own drum tracks and placing some progression, or playing along with an album/CD, that will benefit you far more than playing along to tick-tick-tick-tick. I've played to a metrinome for 4 year trying to build up speed, learn my scales, etc. Even after all that time, my first live performance was riddled with lack of self confidence because all those scales, licks, etc. sounded vastly different when playing in a musical context. My advice - instead of a metrinome, loop a drum track with a chord progression in it, or play along with an album so you're always aware of what you're trying to contrast with your playing.

Cheers!

My 2 cents.

Cannabis/Beer/keep writing!

My advice (which goes against Prevost-with all due respect) is to download those drum loops...and play like crazy. Yes, if your goal is to play a Samba, then you need to learn the scales accordingly. However, if your goal is to create something new and to familiarize yourself with your instrument, forget about playing scales and just come up with your own basslines. I've spent years playing to cheezy beats off of cheap keyboards, and developed into a pretty decent bass player. I've jammed to raggae beats many times, but rather than limiting myself to a raggae bass part, I've done something new with it. The worst thing you can do, IMO, is to start off by thinking there are certain ways you HAVE to play.

Think of it this way: I-IV-V (1-4-5) is a standard chord progression, i.e., G-C-D...Instead of teaching yourself that D has to follow C in that progression, AVOID it. Play a D# or B...something different. Once you learn things that are off the beaten path, you'll be amazed at how easy the "standard" stuff can be.

I'll second what Joseph said. Why learn to do it as others do when you can just do it the way you feel it... play for yourself not others. let them come around rather than you having to

If you are stuck in a rut, exposure to more variety helps. There is good music in virtually EVERY genre, if you look for it.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FoULWAaD6OY

Playing with other musicians has been of the greatest benefit to me.
All learning processes have fits and starts. Work through the plateau.


Welcome to BandMix.

I tell all my students that the metronome is your friend, ESPECIALLY if you're playing bass. That being said, it's also a good idea to play your riffs in context, with a CD or drummer, a real live one, if you can!

Welcome,

I think it's great to want to excel at your instrument, my only advise to a bass player would be to always remember you are a bass and not a lead guitar. I've seen so many bass players that were just frustrated lead guitar players...
Some of the best bass players I've ever heard sounded like they were playing the drums with their bass. On or off the beat.....They blended and set the groove and it went right through you. Not a wasted note played....

Doesn't mean you can't be Jocko P. but :

I've played with too many guys....
that played too many notes......

The best of luck....

You want to become a better bass player?
- Learn the bass pattern of every song you like.
- practice with a metrome or drum loops.
- Learn to play Blues in E, G, A, B, C, and D.
- hop up the neck, often. Learn at least 2 different places (about 5 frets apart) to play the same notes for every song you know.
- listen to jazz. There are 100 types of jazz - find the types you like, and attempt to play along.
- Practice stuff that you think is too difficult for you. Start by playing it at half speed.
- When you play a difficult song - pay close attention to the change into the chorus or bridge. If you falter in rhythm there, then practice those parts until they are very, very good.
- If there are open mikes or local get-togethers, bring your bass, and try to sit in.
- don't kid yourself; if you want to get better - skip the intoxicants. It may be fun to play in an altered state, but drunk/high beginners will usually lose their audience.
- IGNORE compliments from friends and family. Listen to what strangers say about your playing.
- Play a song you like with a different rhythm. If it's rock - maybe play it like reggae. If it's punk - play it as a folk song, or pop, maybe. If it's folk - play it as heavy metal or blues or Funk. Experiement.
- Practice every song 10% better than the last time you played it.
- And spend more time on the fret board than the keyboard.
.
Alan

I'll second what Joseph said. Why learn to do it as others do when you can just do it the way you feel it... play for yourself not others. let them come around rather than you having to

It called learning a style ....