JamesBass Posted December 21, 2014 Share Posted December 21, 2014 So I've been playing for about 11 years now, and I'd say I'm pretty good across most aspects of my playing, but I know there's still A LOT more I need and want to learn. So because of this I've had a very varied practice schedule, daily I practice as much as I can on as many different things as I can. Theory, groove, repertoire etc. however for my music degree I'm now being asked to find a personal approach to playing. A way of specialising in an aspect of my playing. I'd consider myself an adaptable and broad player, I can't/don't want to be a slapper and have never focused on learning it but I do play a wide range of music, the only other thing I really think I lack on is having the ability to play independently in terms of polyrhythms, I get distracted for a second and result to overthinking things and loose track of what I'm doing. Now for this project at uni I've gotta focus on one aspect of my playing ie; harmony, specifically Jazz harmony etc. or rhythm, ie; a grasp of groove and timing focusing on pocket playing; pulling and pushing the beat etc. as I said I feel I need and want to learn a hell of a lot more musically and had been progressing well with becoming a broad well equipped player, but for the next 6 months I need to focus on one aspect of my playing and I'm not sure which go pick!? My choices are; Jazz Harmony - I love jazz playing and the approach to note choice and harmony and melody can be spectacular! The other choice is focusing on rhythm and for me I'd focus on groove, looking at pushing, pulling, pocket playing, and odd time sigs. What should I do?! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
discreet Posted December 21, 2014 Share Posted December 21, 2014 [quote name='JamesBass' timestamp='1419120626' post='2636873'] ...focus on groove, looking at pushing, pulling, pocket playing, and odd time sigs. [/quote] This, but only because it's what I would choose. However, it may be more useful to you in the long run. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bubinga5 Posted December 21, 2014 Share Posted December 21, 2014 its so cool you have gone through/had the chance to experience/learn bass in this way. i never had that, i had to teach my self, thats why i took piano lessons to bring me up to speed. I'm looking at bass from a different perspective now, by playing piano in a reading, classical way. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zero9 Posted December 21, 2014 Share Posted December 21, 2014 Choose whichever appeals to you most. Jazz harmony is more niche, the groove thing is more universal. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mykesbass Posted December 21, 2014 Share Posted December 21, 2014 [quote name='JamesBass' timestamp='1419120626' post='2636873'] The other choice is focusing on rhythm and for me I'd focus on groove, looking at pushing, pulling, pocket playing, and odd time sigs. What should I do?! [/quote] I think from reading your post the bulk of it points towards this being the one that will serve you best. On the other hand, if it is down to learning for learning's sake then it may be the only opportunity you get to delve deeply into the Jazz harmony. That probably hasn't helped at all has it? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hector Posted December 21, 2014 Share Posted December 21, 2014 Which are you weaker at? A pocket player who has a good knowledge of Jazz harmony is a very dangerous thing! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JTUK Posted December 21, 2014 Share Posted December 21, 2014 I'd pick harmony as you either have good groove or you haven't... Not really something you can get ... sure you can focus a bit better but study..?? Soloing over changes is something a lot of bass players never get and that would add a string ..but groove is what you feel so I am not sure you can learn it as such. Having said that...groove playing gets you more gigs, IMO, but jazz harmony wont hurt you to have. I'd be interested how you can learn groove off the bat..??? or in a classroom and who would be teaching it... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JamesBass Posted December 21, 2014 Author Share Posted December 21, 2014 (edited) [quote name='JTUK' timestamp='1419172013' post='2637176'] I'd pick harmony as you either have good groove or you haven't... Not really something you can get ... sure you can focus a bit better but study..?? Soloing over changes is something a lot of bass players never get and that would add a string ..but groove is what you feel so I am not sure you can learn it as such. Having said that...groove playing gets you more gigs, IMO, but jazz harmony wont hurt you to have. I'd be interested how you can learn groove off the bat..??? or in a classroom and who would be teaching it... [/quote] As you say groove is something you have or don't. I'd say I groove pretty well, I prefer to sit behind the beat than ahead but there are still things I can develop, like playing over changes more fluidly and playing in different t time sigs or playing different time sigs over 4/4 etc. As for how do you work on it/get taught it, it's VERY self-directed with input on what I should practice and how to approach it. While I'm with my bass lecturer, who's a pro player as well as lecturer, we work with a metronome and work on internalising certain aspects of playing and making me aware of what I do as a player. Eventually I would like to do my masters, probably centred around Jazz composition or performance so that's why I like the idea of really having someone help push me with my jazz harmony. Plus I really love Jamersons chromatic approach to playing and note choice and that's clearly something from his jazz days pre-Motown. But as everyone knowa and says, groove is what gets you hired and that's something worth working on and recording down as sound samples and video for a CV. I can always find someone to learn with after my degree while I take a few years out before my masters! Edited December 21, 2014 by JamesBass Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
skej21 Posted December 21, 2014 Share Posted December 21, 2014 [quote name='JTUK' timestamp='1419172013' post='2637176'] I'd pick harmony as you either have good groove or you haven't... Not really something you can get ... sure you can focus a bit better but study..?? Soloing over changes is something a lot of bass players never get and that would add a string ..but groove is what you feel so I am not sure you can learn it as such. Having said that...groove playing gets you more gigs, IMO, but jazz harmony wont hurt you to have. I'd be interested how you can learn groove off the bat..??? or in a classroom and who would be teaching it... [/quote] There's an interesting section in Victor Wooten's groove workshop where Anthony Wellington talks about where to place a beat and how that changes the feel. A bassist with 'no groove' could follow this approach and find a way to create a groove from a theoretical approach. Groove is about note placement and it's very definitely something you could learn. I do agree that some players 'have it' but I believe that this just means they know how to place notes to give a groove feeling without needing to consider that note placement. However, I also believe that it is possible to teach a player who doesn't 'have it' to understand note placement and where to place notes for certain grooves or feels. Maybe if the OP feels they are a player who doesn't naturally have groove, looking at note placement to create a groove would be worthwhile before jazz harmony. Both vast field that'll take a lot of hard work though! Sounds like fun to me :-) Here's the video if anyone fancies a watch! http://youtu.be/8Sw_trDFJw8 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
discreet Posted December 21, 2014 Share Posted December 21, 2014 I don't know about being born with an innate sense of groove, timing or rhythm. It's something that can be worked on, just like everything else. The notion that if you can't immediately play in the pocket then you should give up is spurious. We have to learn to listen, and the better you listen the better you pick up on timing. It's nurture, not nature. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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