Bass performance advice

[mcballs]

Hey.

I'm a reasonably good guitar player, but my bass playing isn't great... I can't groove the way I'd like to. I'm a front side player (which I dig on guitar), but when I play bass, I'm just pushing the beat like crazy. Any advice on how to improve my playing - getting into a more laid back, in the pocket groove?

I know the best thing for my recordings would be to get a real bass player but please, I'm taking about how to improve my playing. Any advice?

Thanks!

[u b k]

the fact that you're hearing the pocket so well is half the battle. the other half is inanely simple: practice. lots and lots and lots of practice.

a wise man once said to me "if you can't play it slow, you can't play it fast." my life has never been the same since.

so here's a fun tip: slow the drums down, slow them wwaaaaaayyyyy down. for sh¡ts and giggles, try 1/4 speed, and play the bass along to that. when you get it grooving at that speed, check back in with full tempo for a few minutes. then go slow again, but increased by 5bpm. lather, rinse, repeat. then, try 5 or 10 bpm faster than the actual tempo, stick with it 'til it's smooth, then back to original.

THAT'll learn you about pocket real quick.

the bonus is that somewhere in there, you may actually discover that the song wants to be at a different tempo than you originally thought. because, imho, until the rhythm section has it locked down, the tempo is an open question.


gregoire
del
ubk
.

[Wo0d643]

Listen.

[lowfreq33]

Originally Posted by mcballs

Any advice on how to improve my playing - getting into a more laid back, in the pocket groove?

Smoke some weed?

[Blast9]

Try moving your body (like nodding yr head but "nod" your whole torso up and down as you play - squeeze you rstomach muscles ever so slightly too). "Nod" behind the beat in a floppy, relaxed manner so you feel the beat.

Sounds mad, but it works for me!

[Slaytex]

Originally Posted by lowfreq33

Smoke some weed?

Boooo!

Drink some beer and then follow UBK's great advice.

The one thing that made me a lot better of a drummer was what UBK is talking about. If you practice playing shitty you will always be shitty. Take it down a notch to where you play without messing up and keep practicing that way until it becomes second nature. Then you can slowly add funky new riffs and stuff. After studying people in the studio I came to realize this and apply it to my playing now.

[Bob Ross]

Originally Posted by Blast9

Try moving your body (like nodding yr head but "nod" your whole torso up and down as you play - squeeze you rstomach muscles ever so slightly too). "Nod" behind the beat in a floppy, relaxed manner so you feel the beat.

+1

It's about getting loose enough so that your whole body physically and literally "sits" behind the beat (...without actually being "late"). I find that the ballistics of my body dancing to a groove can offer just enough of a delay to push me perfectly over the backside of the beat, and right into that pocket that makes everything gel.

[lowfreq33]

Originally Posted by Slaytex

Boooo!

Drink some beer and then follow UBK's great advice.

The one thing that made me a lot better of a drummer was what UBK is talking about. If you practice playing shitty you will always be shitty. Take it down a notch to where you play without messing up and keep practicing that way until it becomes second nature. Then you can slowly add funky new riffs and stuff. After studying people in the studio I came to realize this and apply it to my playing now.

Don't get me wrong, I don't smoke anymore. BUT, alcohol affects your motor skills, whereas pot just affects your reaction time. So if you want the easy way out, there it is.
I've been playing bass for about 16 years, so my thought is if you know you're playing ahead of the beat, relax and lay back. But that's probably oversimplifying it. If all else fails you could track normally then shift the bass track behind the beat a few ms. It's a little different than actually playing behind the beat, as there are subtle accents and stuff, but it might work in a pinch.
For that matter, just send the tracks to me and I'll lay it down for you. Seriously.

[4stringerfinger]

Originally Posted by u b k

the fact that you're hearing the pocket so well is half the battle. the other half is inanely simple: practice. lots and lots and lots of practice.

a wise man once said to me "if you can't play it slow, you can't play it fast." my life has never been the same since.

so here's a fun tip: slow the drums down, slow them wwaaaaaayyyyy down. for sh¡ts and giggles, try 1/4 speed, and play the bass along to that. when you get it grooving at that speed, check back in with full tempo for a few minutes. then go slow again, but increased by 5bpm. lather, rinse, repeat. then, try 5 or 10 bpm faster than the actual tempo, stick with it 'til it's smooth, then back to original.

THAT'll learn you about pocket real quick.

the bonus is that somewhere in there, you may actually discover that the song wants to be at a different tempo than you originally thought. because, imho, until the rhythm section has it locked down, the tempo is an open question.


gregoire
del
ubk
.

Quoted for the truth.

[Protools Guy]

Relax!
Have everyone leave the room.
Let the beat /pulse pull you along.
Once you know how it's supposed to sound/feel, you're on your way!

[mds]

In my experience as a player and educator, there is no substitute for practice. Follow UBK's advice. Also play along with tracks that have the feel you're looking for....and do it a LOT. It sinks in after awhile. Play with a metronome a lot too. Practice playing with the click, in front of the click, behind the click, etc. It's about really getting to know how it feels to push and pull and be flexible with the beat.

Good luck!

Mike

[Slaytex]

Originally Posted by lowfreq33

Don't get me wrong, I don't smoke anymore. BUT, alcohol affects your motor skills, whereas pot just affects your reaction time. So if you want the easy way out, there it is.

I completely agree on both (although I do play a little more relaxed when I have 1-2 beers max, but everyone is different), my sarcasm just didn't come through my post as planned. It's all good though...

This thread has a lot of good advice.