JPS Posted February 11, 2013 Share Posted February 11, 2013 I'm looking for a few new ideas for the odd run, or fill, to freshen up my bass playing. Over the years I have come to rely on a few tried (tired) and tested licks - i.e. the minor pentatonic, chromatic runs etc -but having just started gigging again I'm keen to develop a few new ones. Nothing overly long or elaborate, just something to throw into, ahem, Mustang Sally, or Superstition to keep things more interesting. Just wondering if anyone had any suggestions, be it from a theory standpoint (e.g. new scales, or combinations of scales), or recommended listening, books, websites etc. Cheers JPS. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lobematt Posted February 11, 2013 Share Posted February 11, 2013 Transcribing is definitely the way to go. Look at Nathan Watts, Pino, Stuart Zender or whoever you like for some tasty fills! I've got some licks on my blog but they're all pretty jazzy so may not be that appropriate for you but check them out! http://mattlawtonbass.blogspot.co.uk/search/label/LOTM Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hector Posted February 11, 2013 Share Posted February 11, 2013 (edited) Matt is spot on. Here's a process I use, which seems to work: 1) Pick a player you like. 2) Pick a lick/fill of theirs you like but don't already know - as simple or as complex as you like 3) Learn it by ear - really learn it, concentrate on playing with the same feel and intent behind the original 4) Try and pick it apart to see what notes it contains (relative to the harmony it is over), and play it in all the keys 5) Use it as many different situations as you can - so much that people who play with you a lot give a knowing smile when they hear you play it, but not so much that they rolls their eyes 6) Modify it a little - change the odd note here or there, change the timing a bit. Make it yours. You can try modifying it to fit situations it wouldn't normally fit (e.g. changing notes to make it minor not major etc.) 7) Rinse and repeat Personally, I think Pino Palladino's playing with John Mayer is very tasty. But I also think that what makes your playing your own is choosing for yourself what to assimilate. Edited February 11, 2013 by Hector Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ubassman Posted February 11, 2013 Share Posted February 11, 2013 Tried the Major's Boot Camp ? http://basschat.co.uk/topic/78653-the-majors-bass-boot-camp-session-16/page__fromsearch__1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JPS Posted February 12, 2013 Author Share Posted February 12, 2013 Thanks guys for all the great suggestions. Transcribing it is then! Never consciously done it before, obviously copied and absorbed things over the years but never sat down and studied licks in this sense. Love Pino's playing, however, not so familiar with his stuff with John Mayer. Any particular recommendations? Thanks again. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
louisthebass Posted February 12, 2013 Share Posted February 12, 2013 [quote name='JPS' timestamp='1360688938' post='1974748'] Thanks guys for all the great suggestions. Transcribing it is then! Never consciously done it before, obviously copied and absorbed things over the years but never sat down and studied licks in this sense. Love Pino's playing, however, not so familiar with his stuff with John Mayer. Any particular recommendations? Thanks again. [/quote] The Battle Studies album - "Perfectly Lonely" - Pino masterclass in tasteful bass playing . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hector Posted February 12, 2013 Share Posted February 12, 2013 [quote name='JPS' timestamp='1360688938' post='1974748'] Thanks guys for all the great suggestions. Transcribing it is then! Never consciously done it before, obviously copied and absorbed things over the years but never sat down and studied licks in this sense. Love Pino's playing, however, not so familiar with his stuff with John Mayer. Any particular recommendations? Thanks again. [/quote] There's a live DVD ("Where The Light Is" I think...?) that's pretty good. Lots of clips from it on youtube. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JPS Posted February 15, 2013 Author Share Posted February 15, 2013 Thanks for all the suggestions. I will check out the John Mayer. Got a few days off next week so going to be trying to cop a few licks from Willie Weeks via Donny Hathaway live. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
adam-1992 Posted March 14, 2013 Share Posted March 14, 2013 Not the songs you mentioned, but my favourite run is a chromatic build for 'I feel good - James Brown' which goes from A-B-C-Csharp. Works really nice over the D9 (i think) chord in the chorus leading back to the verse. Simple, but works, one of the few times i've felt that my idea has improved on an original funk track. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alstocko Posted March 17, 2013 Share Posted March 17, 2013 (edited) [quote name='JPS' timestamp='1360688938' post='1974748'] Thanks guys for all the great suggestions. Transcribing it is then! Never consciously done it before, obviously copied and absorbed things over the years but never sat down and studied licks in this sense. Love Pino's playing, however, not so familiar with his stuff with John Mayer. Any particular recommendations? Thanks again. [/quote] Buy "Try!" by The John Mayer Trio Best album you'll buy all year. Edited March 17, 2013 by alstocko Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tonyquipment Posted May 1, 2013 Share Posted May 1, 2013 What hector said. Copy someone else's and use their runs/fills until you develop yours. Combine various different ones together and you will get your style! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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