bassist seeks inspiration...
 

I have found that I have become very uninspireed of late, when it comes to playing my bass... So, does anyone have any new material for me to peruse? maybe I can spark a lust for playing again.

what type of music you play?

anything and everything... but that's not the point. I want to listen to something new.

Majick Tripp? Imeem it... it's probably way different than what you have been listening to... or just go to imeem type in a band and find a song and hit the auto suggest button It's so off it will throw you from Slipknot to Barry White... lol

Do you listen to jazzy fusion stuff or solo bass at all?

Sometimes it is just fun to watch and get an idea of what is possible on the bass and it can inspire you to try different things in what you normally play.

I've already posted here before about the same problem I used to have, but I didn't really get much help so I am going to give you a list of things that were inspirational for me.
The DVDs that I would recommend are:
Modern Electric Bass (Jaco Pastorius):
[url]http://www.amazon.com/Modern-Electric-Bass-Jaco-Pastorius/dp/B00007D5JQ/ref=pd_bbs_sr_5?ie=UTF8&s=dvd&qid=1232732103&sr=8-5[/url]

Advanced Bass (Billy Sheehan):
[url]http://www.amazon.com/Billy-Sheehan-Advanced-Alfred-Publishing/dp/B0009OJ9EU/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=dvd&qid=1232732162&sr=1-1[/url]

Bass Secrets (Billy Sheehan)
[url]http://www.amazon.com/Billy-Sheehan-Bass-Secrets-Japanese/dp/157560552X/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1232732240&sr=8-1[/url]

Progressive Bass Concepts (John Myung):
[url]http://www.amazon.com/Progressive-Bass-Concepts/dp/B00008G5D8/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&s=video&qid=1232732305&sr=8-4[/url]

Metal Bass 2 (Dave Ellefson):
[url]http://www.amazon.com/Metal-Bass-Level-David-Ellefson/dp/B000GTLMW0/ref=pd_bbs_sr_5?ie=UTF8&s=dvd&qid=1232732400&sr=8-5[/url]

Slap Bass Program (the best lessons on slap I've ever seen):
[url]http://www.amazon.com/Slap-Bass-Program-Alexis-Sklarevski/dp/B000NJWTS4/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1?ie=UTF8&s=dvd&qid=1232732557&sr=8-1[/url]

Some of these like Dave Ellefson's DVD or Billy Sheehan's DVD may contain some beginner lessons, but you could probably still learn a thing or two. I could recommend more -- just let me know.
I realize that all these cost money, and if you don't feel like buying those, you could probably go to youtube and hopefully see portions of those videos. I know that most if not all of Jaco Pastorius DVD is already on youtube.

I was in the same situation as you are, and I've decided to get my inspiration from guys like Yngwie Malmsteen and Michael Angelo Batio. Just remember, guitarists and other musicians can also be inspirational as far as bass goes.

Pick up another instrument. Put your bass in it's case, grab an acoustic guitar, and have at it. Nobody can do just one thing in life.

[QUOTE=FunkMetalBass;17050952]Pick up another instrument. Put your bass in it's case, grab an acoustic guitar, and have at it. Nobody can do just one thing in life.[/QUOTE]

That's kinda what I did^^. I picked up an electric guitar and drums. I still play bass a lot though just not as much.

Write some all tapping lines in odd time signatures.

Until a couple months ago, I never realized how easy it is to play in different time signatures.

[QUOTE=Spaceman Spiff;17051046]Until a couple months ago, I never realized how easy it is to play in different time signatures.[/QUOTE]

Yeah, it is surprisingly easy when you get into it. After all, look at the different types of music around the world and different cultures, plenty of them use all kinds of weird time sigs but it feels totally natural for the people there, it is just how their music evolved. Anyone can get a decent feel for different time sigs pretty quickly, it just seems daunting at first.

I was the same for a while, odd time sigs just seemed weird to me and I couldn't get a feel for them but then after trying to play them I got into them.

[quote=katana_manatee;17051160]Yeah, it is surprisingly easy when you get into it. After all, look at the different types of music around the world and different cultures, plenty of them use all kinds of weird time sigs but it feels totally natural for the people there, it is just how their music evolved. Anyone can get a decent feel for different time sigs pretty quickly, it just seems daunting at first.

I was the same for a while, odd time sigs just seemed weird to me and I couldn't get a feel for them but then after trying to play them I got into them.[/quote]

I think it's learning how to feel them that makes it hard. Counting them is tough if your brain is still programmed to think in terms of 4/4.

It's like counting 10/16 with a 4/4 frame of mind:
1 e & a 2 e & a 3 e 1 e & a 2 e & a 3 e

As opposed to: 1 & 2 & 3 & 4 & 5 &.

One song I recently figured out was in 19/8, but I just count it as four bars of 4/4 and one of 3/4. Like this:
1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4 1 2 3

And it repeats. It makes sense to count like that because the whole section repeats after the last bar that's in 3/4.

I just figured it out while listening to it on the bus the other day while I tapped my leg in rhythm.

[quote=Spaceman Spiff;17051257]One song I recently figured out was in 19/8, but I just count it as four bars of 4/4 and one of 3/4. Like this:
1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4 1 2 3

And it repeats. It makes sense to count like that because the whole section repeats after the last bar that's in 3/4.

I just figured it out while listening to it on the bus the other day while I tapped my leg in rhythm.[/quote]
My old band had a song that did that. 7 measures of 4/4, 1 measure of 3/4. It worked out nicely.

Goliath by The Mars Volta is counted with two bars of 4/4, one of 5/4, then one of 4/4, then that pattern repeats.

odd time signatures?

dream theater.

Hip hop has an entire world of Bass Inspriation waiting for you.

[url]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J-zWESEDPiE[/url]
[url]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4vtklwuj0rM[/url]

Reggae
[url]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t6LRvgy2HLI[/url]
[url]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2sVxEWIRvY4[/url]


When ever i feel like my lines are lacking, it find it is because im trying too hard to make it sound complicated or impressive. As cliche as the phrase is, you just have to groove. having a drum machine or a guitar makes everything sound 8 million times better as well.

[QUOTE=FunkMetalBass;17050952]Pick up another instrument. Put your bass in it's case, grab an acoustic guitar, and have at it. Nobody can do just one thing in life.[/QUOTE]

thats exactly what I did. treat yourself to either an accoustic, or a cheap electric guitar and learn some chords

[url]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tx1Fg0Fmazo&feature=related[/url]

problem solved

heres a few songs that always make me wanna pick up my bass if im in a rut.


aint no mountain high - marvin gaye

i want you back - jackson 5

master blaster (jammin)-stevie wonder

everything went numb - streetlight manifesto

the horse - a wilhelm scream

cia - state radio

in all rwandas glory - rx bandits

palms read - protest the hero

passerby - dispatch

hem of your garment - cake

steal my kisses - ben harper

How about joining a band?

[QUOTE=Soulfly666;17055060]How about joining a band?[/QUOTE]

I had considered this, but as I work shift patterns I kinda gotta stick to just playing with myself :P (no pun...)

As for learning other instruments, well I already play electric guitar and some acoustic... and a little bit of drums when I get time so...

I was after recording some stuff, I bought a digi 8 track... but it's having the patience to work the damn thing out.

I have lost all passion and interest when it comes to playing to my walls. Nothing can fix that.

The only solution is to find people to play with. At this stage I only play when I have people to jam with and it's always fun and satisfying.

I went through all you did. I bought more basses. Learned new songs. Bought recording equipment.. waste of money all.

Find people to play with. Believe me. It's just not fun playing alone. The bass is meant to fill the hole in the harmony. You need other people to play with.

Listen to some Level 42. I've not heard much mention of them here, but I absolutely love the bass.

[QUOTE=DBoons Ghost;17056537]I have lost all passion and interest when it comes to playing to my walls. Nothing can fix that.

The only solution is to find people to play with. At this stage I only play when I have people to jam with and it's always fun and satisfying.

I went through all you did. I bought more basses. Learned new songs. Bought recording equipment.. waste of money all.

Find people to play with. Believe me. It's just not fun playing alone. The bass is meant to fill the hole in the harmony. You need other people to play with.[/QUOTE]


Pretty much hit the nail on the head. I was in the same situation while I was on winter break. I got so unispired that I even went as far as trading a friend back for my old 6-string. I started playing it and it was cool and all, but once school started and I was plying with people again, that inspiration came back with a vengeance.

I definitely agree. You can buy basses, practice the hell out of scales/chords, write riffs, etc., but playing in a band with other people brings out the most satisfaction. I quit my band like 2 months ago and I've been dying to find a new one; still looking.

[QUOTE=burtonbassist_101;17051759]odd time signatures?

dream theater.[/QUOTE]

Odd time signatures? Stravinsky.

[url]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HqB6nz_enn4&feature=related[/url]

[QUOTE=HaVIC5;17058534]Odd time signatures? Stravinsky.

[url]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HqB6nz_enn4&feature=related[/url][/QUOTE]

this is true, although dream theater might be a little more accessible to most bass players today than stravinsky. :p