jakenewmanbass Posted February 16, 2011 Share Posted February 16, 2011 (edited) It's been mentioned around here once or twice that learning to play what is in your head can be helped by singing along and making sure that the idea in your mind is properly executed on your instrument This clip illustrates beautifully just how much great fun that can be. Slam Stewart is the bass player, check him out at 2.11 It's really worth noting that you are listening to 2 instruments that only play one note at a time... see what melody can do...!!! Edited February 16, 2011 by jakesbass Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lowdown Posted February 16, 2011 Share Posted February 16, 2011 (edited) Thats great - no noodling going on there, you can hear the changes all the way through. The art of a good solo, even if you are going in and out and substituting. Garry Edited February 16, 2011 by lowdown Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bilbo Posted February 16, 2011 Share Posted February 16, 2011 Slam rocks. An underated player if ever I heard one. He had perfect pitch, apparently. There is a lovely quote out there somewhere about the fact that SS used to play with Art Tatum (arguable the greatest jazz pianist of all time) and Tatum couldn't lose him even if he tried. Paul Chambers would not have existed without Slam. Talking of which, PC was someone who sang along with his solos - I have listened to hundreds of hours of his playing and you can often hear him humming away in the background. It really works but, as Jake already knows, it is easy to fall into the trap of humming what you are playing not playing what you are humming! What this technique does do is draw your own attention to the depth (or otherwise) of your harmonic knowledge. I need to woodshed. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
xilddx Posted February 16, 2011 Share Posted February 16, 2011 Fantastic! He's ripping! I think that illustrates the principle perfectly, the solo was human, not mechanical, and therefore was so enjoyable to listen to. Thanks Jake. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jakenewmanbass Posted February 16, 2011 Author Share Posted February 16, 2011 [quote name='silddx' post='1129425' date='Feb 16 2011, 11:36 AM']Fantastic! He's ripping! I think that illustrates the principle perfectly, the solo was human, not mechanical, and therefore was so enjoyable to listen to. Thanks Jake.[/quote] It's a very important point, it's music not exercises, the guy clearly learned to play melodies and make music, very different to some of the gymnastics that wow people in other arenas. And this was in 1945!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fatback Posted February 16, 2011 Share Posted February 16, 2011 Great. Apart from the educational side, I've found singing can be really useful when trying come up with strong bass lines for original songs. Amazing how often the part you sing is so much better than what you get noodling. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
xilddx Posted February 16, 2011 Share Posted February 16, 2011 [quote name='fatback' post='1129507' date='Feb 16 2011, 12:29 PM']Great. Apart from the educational side, I've found singing can be really useful when trying come up with strong bass lines for original songs. Amazing how often the part you sing is so much better than what you get noodling.[/quote] I never sit down with an instrument to write anything. I listen to myself and feel what's right, then I learn to play what I came up with. Singing is the voice in your head and it's a true reflection of your influences, experience and imagination. The art of improvising is being able to do that instantaneously and seemlessly. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
essexbasscat Posted February 16, 2011 Share Posted February 16, 2011 What a joy to listen to. I'd like to hear some of the digital age 'rock stars' attempt something like that Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
phil.i.stein Posted February 16, 2011 Share Posted February 16, 2011 wow. freaking awesome. not usually my cup of tea, but you'd have to be brain-dead not to appreciate that level of skill. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
xgsjx Posted February 16, 2011 Share Posted February 16, 2011 If I sang my basslines & played along, they'd all be just the one note & out of tune! My singer plays & sings melodies/solos & I admire him for being able to do that (in a non gay way of course). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jakenewmanbass Posted February 16, 2011 Author Share Posted February 16, 2011 (edited) [quote name='phil.i.stein' post='1130009' date='Feb 16 2011, 06:18 PM'] wow. freaking awesome. not usually my cup of tea, but you'd have to be brain-dead not to appreciate that level of skill.[/quote] indeed... irresistible feel innit.. Edited February 16, 2011 by jakesbass Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Soliloquy Posted February 16, 2011 Share Posted February 16, 2011 Janek Gwizdala demonstrated this superbly at a masterclass I attended last year. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
phil.i.stein Posted February 16, 2011 Share Posted February 16, 2011 [quote name='jakesbass' post='1130125' date='Feb 16 2011, 07:45 PM']indeed... irresistible feel innit..[/quote] i do sincerely hope you're not jaking the piss.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jakenewmanbass Posted February 16, 2011 Author Share Posted February 16, 2011 (edited) [quote name='phil.i.stein' post='1130152' date='Feb 16 2011, 08:02 PM']i do sincerely hope you're not jaking the piss.. [/quote] Not only am I not, I fail to see how I could be... For the purposes of clarity... I meant it's an irresistible feel, to listen to... I find myself swept along with the feel it swings so hard Edited February 16, 2011 by jakesbass Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
phil.i.stein Posted February 16, 2011 Share Posted February 16, 2011 [quote name='jakesbass' post='1130158' date='Feb 16 2011, 08:05 PM']Not only am I not, I fail to see how I could be... [/quote] sorry dude, paranoia. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jakenewmanbass Posted February 16, 2011 Author Share Posted February 16, 2011 CLANG... I just got it... Jaking the piss wah wah wah waaaah.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jakenewmanbass Posted February 16, 2011 Author Share Posted February 16, 2011 [quote name='phil.i.stein' post='1130161' date='Feb 16 2011, 08:06 PM']sorry dude, paranoia. [/quote] LMAO a veritable comedy of misunderstood text Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
phil.i.stein Posted February 16, 2011 Share Posted February 16, 2011 ha ! don't you just hate it when your intention gets confused by writing stuff down on a forum ? excellent post, excellent topic. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lojo Posted February 16, 2011 Share Posted February 16, 2011 (edited) [quote name='jakesbass' post='1129340' date='Feb 16 2011, 10:36 AM']It's really worth noting that you are listening to 2 instruments that only play one note at a time... see what melody can do...!!![/quote] That is amazing, no chords just 1 note each from 2 players, and it sounds like there is a jazz kit and keys behind it in my head, spooky [quote name='Bilbo' post='1129352' date='Feb 16 2011, 10:45 AM']There is a lovely quote out there somewhere about the fact that SS used to play with Art Tatum (arguable the greatest jazz pianist of all time) and Tatum couldn't lose him even if he tried.[/quote] And there's me having to listen to 80s pop songs 5 times over, just so I don't get lost, I feel very small I've not listened to Jazz much for a long time, this makes me wonder why Edited February 16, 2011 by lojo Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jakenewmanbass Posted February 17, 2011 Author Share Posted February 17, 2011 (edited) [quote name='lojo' post='1130224' date='Feb 16 2011, 08:40 PM']And there's me having to listen to 80s pop songs 5 times over, just so I don't get lost, I feel very small[/quote] A nicer way of saying you 'feel small' is to say 'humbled'. To me that you see that in that piece indicates that you have what it takes to improve (which is a great attribute) those that dismiss it as rubbish because they don't understand it display a tendency to refuse to accept growth, this, in my experience, is often reflected across attitudes and in other aspects of life, and it's therefore no surprise to me that artists and people dealing in the arts are often thinking people and often open minded people, in fact it surprises me when I come across people in the business who are not! Edited February 17, 2011 by jakesbass Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ZMech Posted February 17, 2011 Share Posted February 17, 2011 that was pretty awesome. Think i'm gonna have to try this whole 'singing first' lark, see if it works for me Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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