Creative Bass eMag 15
Compiled and written by Bass Player and Music Educator George Urbaszek
Online Bass Lessons
A special Welcome to new subscribers to Bass Lessons Online from Turkey, Australia, France, the UK and several in the USA!
Sometime ago I lamented the fact that no female bass players had either subscribed to this eMag or to Bass Lessons Online. Well, that has now well and truly been taken care of with several female subscribers from different corners of the world.
“All the Bass!” to the girls.
At last female bass players are emerging! As a male bass player and music teacher I’d like to present some of my observations regarding the emergence of female bass players over the past 32 years. (That’s how long I’ve been teaching music).
In 1976 there was hardly a female bass player in sight. This applied across the board, in any music genre. Things were changing, however, in all walks of life. Emancipation of both males and females was a priority in many minds. Especially art forms were undergoing the (r)evolution instigated in a huge way in the 1960s, and music was a driving voice.
The bass guitar had only been commercially available for about twenty years – just one generation. It is a lot less cumbersome than the double bass, and apparently more suited to petite hands. The double bass, however, after being set up correctly, is only slightly more physically demanding. Both instruments fulfil the same function in almost all musics: to provide the centre of rhythm and pitch.
My main comparative observation - so far - has been that females intuitively have a superior sense of both rhythm and pitch (sorry guys). That’s a killer combination, because the result is usually melodic bass playing (I’m in heaven!).
In my teaching, I’ve gone from zero female bass students to about 15%, which roughly equates to the real world of music performance and recording. I would love to see this percentage increase dramatically – because I love bass and I know what girls on bass can do.
A couple of girls have “picked up” their copy of my Walking Bass eBook “Fundamental Concepts for Walking Bass – A Systematic Method”.
In case you have not got your copy of my Walking Bass eBook yet, here is the link to take you directly to the purchase page – it is only $11.99 - that includes about 10 pages you can freely view and use: http://www.creativebasslessons.com/walkorder.htm
Tips and tricks – Some New, Some Old – All Useful
A bass playing tip concerning sound production
I know that most bass players have a set plucking/striking hand position. Try
playing a riff, lick, line or melody you have often played before, this time
moving your plucking/striking hand to either side of its standard position.
Notice how different the string tension feels. Notice the change in sound. If
it is better, use the new position for that particular sound.
Try this too
Take one of your stock standard lines and play it in at least 20 different ways.
Think laterally. Hit the strings a lot harder than you have ever done before,
play softer, play very legato, play very staccato, mix the two, play the line
a lot faster, play it a lot slower, play it in a different position, a different
key, a different register, slap it pop it, pick it, mute it, change the feel
from straight to swung or vice versa, use a completely different fingering for
both left and right hands, change the line from major to minor or vice versa,
play it with your eyes closed, imagine a scene to suit the mood of the line,
hold the bass in a completely different position… and so on. If you have
not discovered at least one new and potentially useful thing through this experiment,
start all over again with an open mind.
Today’s Lesson
Are You Really Looking Ahead?
When playing the bass guitar – much more so than when playing upright bass – it is very useful to use your eyes … when required.
Test yourself. Play the chromatic scale as fast and smooth as possible from the lowest to the highest note on your bass, then back – non-stop. Any stumbles, any fumbles, how’s the timing?
To achieve this, not only should you think ahead, you must also LOOK AHEAD. Looking ahead is one of the secrets to fast playing.
Try the whole exercise over again, making sure you look at the fret you are about to play; don’t look at the fret you ARE playing. You will notice a difference in speed, dexterity and general smoothness.
Why the chromatic scale? There are numerous applications of chromatic scale fragments throughout the music world. And often there is a requirement to play the scale fast.
When you practice this exercise intelligently – make up your own permutations - you will experience major benefits in your playing. Now that’s what we want!
Recommendations
In this edition I will recommend a few bass books instead of websites. I’m not getting paid for these recommendations and they are books that I still use.
1. Bass Bible – A World History of Styles and Techniques by Paul
Westwood
If you are into capturing the essence of grooves from anywhere, this is the
book/CD package to check out.
2. Essential Styles for the Drummer and Bassist by Steve Houghton and
Tom Warrington
A great all-rounder for the modern bassist, especially if you are doing “commercial”gigs.
Book and CD.
3. Standing in the Shadows of Motown – The Life and Music of
Legendary Bassist James Jamerson by Dr. Licks
This book/CD/documentary provides a great insight into the development of modern
bass playing. It is an excellent workout in both playing and reading and has
the additional bonus of many of the world’s greatest bass players playing
and commenting on some of the world’s greatest bass lines.
Enjoy your bass playing too!
George Urbaszek
Bass Player and Music Educator
Serving Bass Players Worldwide since 1996
Bass Lessons Online