Jazzneck Posted October 22, 2013 Share Posted October 22, 2013 Been playing bluesy stuff for many more years than I care to remember. The other day I was playing along with Jimmy Rogers "Chicago Bound" album on my Pbass - no problem. My young nephew then asked me to try his upright so I tried playing along with that. I found I was further behind the beat and struggled big time to get in time with Willie Dixon - I'd got the notes, but I was lagging further behind than when playing the bass guitar. This confuses me but I recall a Clarky comment at the SE Bass Bash which was along the lines of "....on a double bass, the note blooms....." Is this the reason that Double Bass players, even when they play electric horizontal basses (probably unconciously compensating their style as well), sound as if they are a gnats cock behind the beat and give that wonderful swinging, shufflin' feel to the music? Is it the "blooming" of the note that does it? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Clarky Posted October 22, 2013 Share Posted October 22, 2013 In my case its because I can't keep a beat Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Clarky Posted October 22, 2013 Share Posted October 22, 2013 But seriously to be absolutely bang on, I do need to start the note fractionally ahead of where my head tells me to in the more propulsive parts ... and it is because of the slower attack profile of double bass notes Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TimR Posted October 23, 2013 Share Posted October 23, 2013 Yes. I get the same on tuba. Have to really push on ahead if I want the notes to be on top of the beat. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jakenewmanbass Posted October 23, 2013 Share Posted October 23, 2013 A major part of the drive of the sound of DB comes from the development of the note, so the thud of striking the string has to be up front to get the developed note into position in the beat as it were. Sounds technical but actually it just comes naturally if you want to lock in with the cymbals. Well it comes naturally to some Nothing worse than a saggy draggy feel Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dad3353 Posted October 23, 2013 Share Posted October 23, 2013 [quote name='jakenewmanbass' timestamp='1382517260' post='2253005']...if you want to lock in with the cymbals. Well it comes naturally to some Nothing worse than a saggy draggy feel [/quote] ...and just to complicate things further, some cymbals need 'building up' too to get the beat going..! Some respond quickly, some can 'drag', so anticipation is required on the part of the drummer. When it's all working, it's fine. When it's not... 'Taint always easy..! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AntLockyer Posted October 23, 2013 Share Posted October 23, 2013 [quote name='jakenewmanbass' timestamp='1382517260' post='2253005'] Nothing worse than a saggy draggy feel [/quote] Dragging blues is where its at. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jakenewmanbass Posted October 23, 2013 Share Posted October 23, 2013 [quote name='AntLockyer' timestamp='1382523774' post='2253093'] Dragging blues is where its at. [/quote] I agree, but there's a major difference between a slow relaxed feel and sagging energy in a song... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ras52 Posted October 23, 2013 Share Posted October 23, 2013 [quote name='jakenewmanbass' timestamp='1382517260' post='2253005'] Nothing worse than a saggy draggy feel [/quote] Been down that alley by the night club again? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ubassman Posted October 23, 2013 Share Posted October 23, 2013 It can be grim to sit down with a metronome for the first time trying to playing in time on the DB ...but well worth doing! . In terms of the note rising a lot depends where you pluck and which part of the the finger(s) you use. If you use the side of the finger and play at the end of the fingerboard the delay will be maxed out and its a matter of getting used to playing slightly ahead of the beat ( common with jazz players and rockabilly) . Playing with alternating Bass Guitar finger style still gives a bit of delay but if you play in the middle of the finger board with the very tips or fingernail ( very much an orchestral technique ), theres no delay. The following hopefully says the above but more eloquently ! [url="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LaGhL-3ctOc"]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LaGhL-3ctOc[/url] As a DB player its a matter of being versatile our conductor in the Orchestra is forever saying in one venue where we practice that the basses are late but never in the other venue that we rehearse in - seems to be to do with the sound waves and the shape of the room. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lowdown Posted October 23, 2013 Share Posted October 23, 2013 [size=4]I believe something of the same vane was said by UK session Drummer Clem Cattini.[/size] He was asked what he would like [size=4]to hear in his cans (on a session)[/size] His reply...... "The Strings a bit earlier......please" [size=4] [/size] Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
uncle psychosis Posted October 23, 2013 Share Posted October 23, 2013 [quote name='TimR' timestamp='1382517062' post='2252998'] Yes. I get the same on tuba. Have to really push on ahead if I want the notes to be on top of the beat. [/quote] It takes something like 1/20th of a second for a note to fully form on the tuba so thats maybe not too surprising! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bassace Posted October 23, 2013 Share Posted October 23, 2013 [quote name='jakenewmanbass' timestamp='1382517260' post='2253005'] A major part of the drive of the sound of DB comes from the development of the note, so the thud of striking the string has to be up front to get the developed note into position in the beat as it were. Sounds technical but actually it just comes naturally if you want to lock in with the cymbals. Well it comes naturally to some Nothing worse than a saggy draggy feel [/quote] So true, which is why I tend to play too far in front when I go from DB to EUB. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jakenewmanbass Posted October 23, 2013 Share Posted October 23, 2013 [quote name='lowdown' timestamp='1382529213' post='2253203'] [size=4]I believe something of the same vane was said by UK session Drummer Clem Cattini.[/size] He was asked what he would like [size=4]to hear in his cans (on a session)[/size] His reply...... "The Strings a bit earlier......please" [size=4] [/size] [/quote] Brilliant! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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