I’m an intermediate bass player, any recommended techniques to help me improve?
Rachael B asked:
I have been playing bass guitar for 2 years now, but I still can get better. I am in a school jazz ensemble, any techniques to help me at all? I can read music (bass clef), but have trouble sight-reading, especially when I get nervous.
I have been playing bass guitar for 2 years now, but I still can get better. I am in a school jazz ensemble, any techniques to help me at all? I can read music (bass clef), but have trouble sight-reading, especially when I get nervous.
Any tips would be nice. Thanks!
sight reading music
How to Read Music for Beginners
Yay!!! I play bass, too. Such a pleasure to find another girl who plays bass. I, however, play stand-up bass, which differs greatly from electric. For sight reading (notes and/or chord changes), I recommend just practicing. The more experience you get sight reading, the better you’ll get. When it comes to playing chord changes, I find that the most helpful tool for me is transcribing bass lines (and solos). Almost anything with Ray Brown on bass is a good bet.
Good luck in your musical endeavors!
sight reading music
Hi……
I too am a Bass Player with 40+ experience, however, like the majority of bass players, I am male – at least my avatar makes me appear that way – LOL.
Your already on the right track as your a “reader.” What a refreshing thing to hear, particularly from a young musician. Reading, particularly among the younger generation, is sadly becoming a lost art. Most folks want to run out..buy a guitar or bass…and seek instant gratification by learning “licks”" by repetition/rote, and join a band in 2 weeks !! Becoming a musician takes a lot of work.
As far as “tips”…………here are a few:
Learn chord structure inside and out, that is what individual notes comprise simple major and minor triads (in every key,) and as you progress, decipher more complex chord structures such as 7th. 9th. 11th. 13th. diminished, augmented and so on. Understanding structure will allow you to determine what you can play within a given “chord. Very Important !!
Ensure that you master at least every major and minor scale. Start as slowly as you need to and increase your speed so as to master: fingering position, right hand coordination, etc.
Boring….yes…….but essential in gaining a complete knowledge of neck positioning.
Sight reading requires what is often referred to as “muscular memory,” in addition to the cognitive functions of instantly recognizing a pitch on the F-Clef. The muscular memory I referred to previously, is simply positioning your left hand in the right place at the right time – instantly – without “processing” each individual note and seeking it out on the fretboard. Slide trombone, and musicians playing fretless instruments – violin, viola, cello.upright and fretless electric bass players rely on this method for instant positioning, while remaining in tune. It takes time….lots of it !!
I’ve had 3 or 4 female students in the past, and the first thing I/we always checked was the size of the hand vs. the spacing on the neck. A 34″ scale is the “standard” for 4-string electric basses. Only 1 of the girls could play comfortably within this standard as the physical size of their hand would not allow proper positioning despite their best attempts at “stretching” their pinky finger. So……..if you feel any left-hand discomfort when playing intervals that require a “stretch,” look immediately for a 30″ scale neck.
So much to say..so little time to say it.
P.S. One of the finest studio bassists in the late 50′s and thought the 60′s was a female. Her name was Carol Kaye, she was terrific. You might want to search on her name for “her story.”
P.S. Kudos to “Jazzgal” for mentioning Ray Brown – arguably the finest bassist ever, and a virtuoso on cello as well. However, at the intermeidiate level, aside from listening to Ray……..attempting to play like that will take some time – LOL
The very best of luck !!!!!
How to Sight Read Music
Work on your sight-reading at home. Just like reading a book. Eventually the music will flow..but it takes time. Berklee School of Music has some great books available. Go to Berklee’s website. Rufus Reed also has some good materials too. I’m currently teaching our 13 year old.. I’ve been playing guitar for 40 years and my reading skills are still there. Oh.. check out Jamey Abersole.com.. He has a great catalog of play alongs or even bass books.. Great educator!
Sight Reading Music
Yay! Another chick bassist!
G.B. has said it all – get totally familiar with all the scales and modes and learn the notes and arpeggios for all those chords he mentioned with the tertian extensions.
Sight reading takes loads of practice, you might want to get the bass clef version of the Real Fake book and start playing through, learning all the melodies of those tunes. It will make reading practice more fun. Also, if you learn to sight sing, you will be able to hear in your head what it’s supposed to sound like before you play a note.
And a tip to sight reading – most of us that play with Big Bands end up sight reading on the job – so we learn to fake it.
When you first get the music, make note of the Time signature, key signature and any time or key changes along the way. Next, look for repeats, D.S., al codas, al fines, and other road map directions. Look for any place that indicates a bass solo line – that’s important ’cause you’ll be the only one playing through there.
Then when you start actually playing, keep your eyes moving and be ready to fake it. Remember that most of the big band charts have the bass playing on the tonic at the beginning of each measure so from there you will probably be playing either stepwise to the next change, or outlining a chord (arpeggio). And any weird rhythms will most likely be duplicated by one of the horns and probably the drums, so keep your ears open.
Most importantly, I think, is that it’s better to keep time accurately, rather than to nail every note.
Have a great time!