are already grooving even before you play a single note ! Continue imagining yourself playing this groove for at least a couple of minutes before moving on .
EXECUTION Now that you have your groove internalized and can already hear yourself playing it , pick up your bass and start playing that groove . If you have internalized effectively , then you should come in right on time and be playing solid time from the moment you strike your first note . For some of you , this may be a huge light bulb moment from the get-go . Many players have never attempted to internalize the time before starting to play , and subsequently have had trouble locking with a groove from the first note forward . While you are executing your groove , don ’ t stop internalizing ! Some of you when you start to play will have a tendency to try and mentally time your notes so that you can predictively match the pulse of the click . This is what I would consider playing from the ‘ outside-in ’. In other words , you are not playing as someone who is an actual part of the music … Instead , you are playing your part ‘ at the same time ’ as the music … I hope you can understand the huge difference there . Internalization allows you to actually become part of the music being made , as opposed to timing what you play to match the music . There is a huge difference in how these two approaches come across to the listener . Listen from the ‘ inside-out ’. That means getting to a place where you trust your internal clock enough to depend on it .
CHOP IT IN HALF Now that you understand the intricacies of ‘ internalization ’ and ‘ execution ’, we can get to the meat of the exercise . This is the part where we are going to rely more on our internal clocks to keep us in time ! Right now , you are playing at
200 bpm . Spend at least a few minutes playing at this tempo . Then , then cut the tempo in half , to 100 bpm . Once again , before beginning to play , internalize the time and the groove . Hear yourself playing the same exact bass groove at the same speed , but at the new metronome setting . You will only hear clicks played half as often , so you will have to spend more time in between the clicks relying on your own internal clock . After you have successfully listened to yourself playing inside the time in your mind , then pick up your bass and start the groove again . Really strive to still hear the subdivisions of the higher metronome setting even though they are not audible from the device . The smaller the beat resolution you can hear on your own , the easier it is going to be to play in time , regardless of the situation .
Continue playing at this halved tempo for at least 3 minutes successfully to continue to reinforce your timing . Then , cut the metronome tempo in half once again , from 100 bpm to 50 bpm . See where we ’ re headed here ? Now you are going to have even fewer clicks to align to . You have no choice but to rely on your internal clock . This tempo will be more challenging because there will be more ‘ dead ’ space in between the clicks . Once again , first internalize the groove over the current metronome setting before starting to play .
If you have done well so far , take it to the next level ! Cut the tempo in half one more time to 25 bpm and see how you fare . This tempo is super-challenging but is not impossible . In fact , if you have successfully internalized your groove over the previous metronome markings , then you might be surprised just how close to the time you can get right out of the gate ! As with the previous tempos , first internalize and imagine yourself playing the groove before you start to play . Now you ’ re truly connected with the time !
Obviously , you ’ ll want to practice this approach repeatedly with a variety of different bass grooves and tempos . Don ’ t ever get into the habit of working an exercise like this one-dimensionally . Challenge yourself daily . Make this internalization philosophy part of your practice routine , and don ’ t just limit it to metronome or clock work . Internalization will apply just as significantly to your improvisational or technical skills . I also strongly recommend recording your practice sessions when you work on these exercises . If you will journal your progress in this way , you should be able to hear an improvement in your time and groove playing as you move forward . Positive reinforcement will do wonders for your confidence and prove to you that this is all time well spent !
MENTAL PRACTICE MAKES PERFECT I hope that this simple approach to working on your internal clock will help you to overcome any obstacles that are preventing you from grooving with confidence and purpose . Like so many things in life , often it is a mental challenge that needs to be overcome before we can
execute things physically . You want to get to a place where it becomes automatic for you to internalize and groove . My hope is that as you progress as a musician , you will continue to discover how powerful a communicator you can be simply by allowing your heart to speak through your hands .
Adam Nitti Nashville-based Adam Nitti balances his roles as a solo artist , sideman , and educator . He has filled the bass chair for Kenny Loggins , Carrie Underwood , Dave Weckl Band , Michael McDonald , Susan Tedeschi , Steven Curtis Chapman , Mike Stern , Brent Mason , Wayne Krantz , and Christopher Cross , while also releasing five solo CDs to date . As a Nashville session bassist he has played on multiple Grammywinning and Grammy-nominated albums , and is also the founder of ...
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