I thought to share this thought as groove seems to be THE main focus among bass teachers and bass players in general. Bass education seems focused on the belief that groove is paramount even in how one learns. It is such a strong belief that I submit that it is hard to find any school or bass teacher who hasn't focused on the learning or playing of groove even to the degree where no mention of the very thing that gives groove a reason to exist which are the notes, is mentioned as equally important.
Ultimately, no part of a musical principle is more or less important than any other part. A bass line consists of notes, rhythm, groove, bass tone, emotion and all the little flecks of music and humanity that makes for a fine bass performance. But because bass teachers have (in my opinion) swayed bass players in a bad direction by suggesting or stating that groove is the most important aspect of playing, I wanted to put the record straight.
In either playing or learning, groove isn't first in the steps of importance. Groove is last! Here is why!
Artistic exceptions aside, the first requirement of playing a bass part is to know what the notes are.
Following this, you have to figure out where those notes fall on the fretboard. And then you need to play them.
Once a bass line is learned well to where you can play it with little or no thought (people sometimes refer to this as muscle memory) then the remaining requirement is to play the line with feeling or artistic intention. It is here where groove can show up in its full capacity. But not before!
Again, ultimately, groove is no more or less important than any other aspect of musical performance. But because bass players and teachers think otherwise, I wanted to lay out the step that we all take to learn and then play a bass part.
Please share your thoughts. Cheers from Jeff
Ultimately, no part of a musical principle is more or less important than any other part. A bass line consists of notes, rhythm, groove, bass tone, emotion and all the little flecks of music and humanity that makes for a fine bass performance. But because bass teachers have (in my opinion) swayed bass players in a bad direction by suggesting or stating that groove is the most important aspect of playing, I wanted to put the record straight.
In either playing or learning, groove isn't first in the steps of importance. Groove is last! Here is why!
Artistic exceptions aside, the first requirement of playing a bass part is to know what the notes are.
Following this, you have to figure out where those notes fall on the fretboard. And then you need to play them.
Once a bass line is learned well to where you can play it with little or no thought (people sometimes refer to this as muscle memory) then the remaining requirement is to play the line with feeling or artistic intention. It is here where groove can show up in its full capacity. But not before!
Again, ultimately, groove is no more or less important than any other aspect of musical performance. But because bass players and teachers think otherwise, I wanted to lay out the step that we all take to learn and then play a bass part.
Please share your thoughts. Cheers from Jeff
