Faithless Posted June 22, 2012 Share Posted June 22, 2012 (edited) Ok, so Jeff Berlin and his Players School of Music seems to have started a new series of bass lessons, devoted to practicing the fundamentals of music. I've glanced through pretty much all the stuff Jeff has put on Tube, and I can say that this is probaby one of the best bass resources on the web - apart from Scott Devine's stuff, I don't know any other Youtube lessons, that come even close to this. For someone who really wants to learn the grain of music - chords, chord tones, approaches - that sort of music language which will carry you though most of the stuff you'll face later - then this is the one thing to check out. [media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NFlcOWe6sRc[/media] Jeff has a 5 video series on approach notes to chord tones - if you [b]really [/b]know 6 basic 7th chords- minor 7th, dominant, major, m7b5, diminshed, and minor+ Maj7, then it's the stuff to do, but if you[b] don't[/b], please find the videos where he teaches those chords themselves, and learn them first. Oh, and,as Jeff says - practice all the stuff in ALL 12 keys. It doesn't hurt, believe me. Notice: during the woodsheding - if your head hurts and your nose bleeds -know that you're learning and you're on the right track! Warning: for those who want to take a rant on Jeff or question his music views (by the way, his music knowledge is pretty much all based on legendary teacher's and pianist's, Charlie Banacos tuition; he taught guys like Mike Stern, Michael Brecker, John Scofield, etc), there's a bunch of threads out there, so do it elsewhere, please, thank you.) Get in the shed, guys! best- Laimis Edited June 22, 2012 by Faithless Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Coilte Posted June 23, 2012 Share Posted June 23, 2012 Whatever other opinions people have on Jeff Berlin, there is no denying his knowledge and great articulation when conveying a lesson. Good stuff !!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BottomE Posted June 23, 2012 Share Posted June 23, 2012 Nice post and thanks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
funkle Posted June 23, 2012 Share Posted June 23, 2012 +1 to this thread I'm a Berlin acolyte. I would be, of course, I studied with him. The videos have solid musical info. He's also posting stuff on Facebook via the Player's School that is solid too. I love it when I get interesting stuff for free... Pete Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GonzoBass Posted June 24, 2012 Share Posted June 24, 2012 (edited) Every time I start to think I might be getting somewhere on the bass, I give Jeff's "Crossroads" CD a spin. It always puts things back in perspective for me... Thanks for posting this Scott! Edited June 24, 2012 by GonzoBass Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lowdown Posted June 24, 2012 Share Posted June 24, 2012 Thanks for the link Laimis, good stuff. Garry Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mike Posted June 24, 2012 Share Posted June 24, 2012 Don't care for his music but always keen on education and interesting videos - thanks Laimis! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BottomE Posted June 24, 2012 Share Posted June 24, 2012 Just playing around with this. Nice find Laimis. Gotta say Jeff Berlin puts together a pretty neat lesson. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lobematt Posted June 24, 2012 Share Posted June 24, 2012 Thanks! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bilbo Posted June 25, 2012 Share Posted June 25, 2012 An interesting variation on that semitone lead note thing woudl be as follows. S is the semitone below, numbers are scale degrees. This works on every scale S132 S243 s354 s 465 s576 s687 s798 s8.10.9 s 9.11.10 etc In A minor (played over an A minor chord, this would be Gsharp A C B, Asharp B D C, B C E D, Csharp D F E and so on It is a lick Coltrane uses intermittently With appropriate tweeks, this works over majors, minors, dominants, melodic minors etc etc (less so over diminished as it is very close to the actual scale). Always sounds hip as long as you don't overuse it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Faithless Posted June 25, 2012 Author Share Posted June 25, 2012 (edited) You're utilizing tensions, though they're a bit different kind of beast, and they're study in itself. You can, of course, approach notes to tensions (Miles Davis started doing this in Kind of Blue era; Metheny's known to do lots of it too) but it makes the line sound far more outside than approaching chord tones, who are the grain of harmony. Edited June 25, 2012 by Faithless Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BassMan94 Posted June 25, 2012 Share Posted June 25, 2012 would anyone have a chart of chord tones rolling about anywhere ? Just want to keep it a reference so I know that Im playing the right notes. Cheers Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Coilte Posted June 25, 2012 Share Posted June 25, 2012 [quote name='BassMan94' timestamp='1340624073' post='1707081'] would anyone have a chart of chord tones rolling about anywhere ? Just want to keep it a reference so I know that Im playing the right notes. Cheers [/quote] Here you go !! Courtesy of the same Jeff Berlin. [url="http://www.scribd.com/doc/387695/Jeff-Berlin-A-Comprehensive-Chord-Tone-System-for-Mastering-the-Bass-1987"]http://www.scribd.com/doc/387695/Jeff-Berlin-A-Comprehensive-Chord-Tone-System-for-Mastering-the-Bass-1987[/url] Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
funkle Posted June 25, 2012 Share Posted June 25, 2012 [quote name='BassMan94' timestamp='1340624073' post='1707081'] would anyone have a chart of chord tones rolling about anywhere ? Just want to keep it a reference so I know that Im playing the right notes. Cheers [/quote] The basics should serve. Here are the main chord types: Major 7: 1 3 5 7 Minor 7: 1 b3 5 b7 Minor 7b5: 1 b3 b5 b7 Dom 7: 1 3 5 b7 Aug 7: 1 3 #5 b7 Dim 7: 1 b3 b5 bb7(6) If you are looking for a study of the main chord types, I could recommend a very fine book for that - http://www.scribd.com/doc/25321271/Chord-Studies-for-Trombone-1968-by-Phil-Wilson-and-Joseph-Viola. Reprinted as Chord Studies for Electric Bass (http://www.amazon.co.uk/Chord-Studies-Electric-Bass-Technique/dp/0634016466), except with fewer exercises than the original. Jeff used to say to me that both books were 'pure jazz'. He required that the exercises be done in all 12 keys once learned. He never made anyone I knew go beyond the first 4-8 chapters though; he moved people onto other things after a time. However the importance of chord tones was always paramount. Pete Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
funkle Posted June 25, 2012 Share Posted June 25, 2012 [quote name='Coilte' timestamp='1340628082' post='1707205'] Here you go !! Courtesy of the same Jeff Berlin. [url="http://www.scribd.com/doc/387695/Jeff-Berlin-A-Comprehensive-Chord-Tone-System-for-Mastering-the-Bass-1987"]http://www.scribd.co...g-the-Bass-1987[/url] [/quote] Whoops, pipped at the post... Pete Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hector Posted June 25, 2012 Share Posted June 25, 2012 Thanks for the tip-off Laimis, great videos! Also thanks Funkle, for reminding me about the Chord Studies book - I'd forgotten about it. Think I'll start working it into my practise routine on the upright again. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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