BASS
9 “BASSY” THINGS THAT YOU CAN DO DURING LOCKDOWN | Gary Lunn
Strange times! Am I right? I know that the goal of piece (“Donna Lee” perhaps?) and start learning then you could play any number of worship
these articles is to give you something that you it a bar at a time. Or you can load it into your tunes right there! Alas, I digress. However,
can use on any Sunday. But...since we are not favorite “slow-down” program and learn it by ear knowing enough about guitar or keyboards is
really having our Sundays as usual these days (the ForScore program has one built in!). You will vital to understanding how to follow others by
(temporarily), I have been trying to come up with feel so accomplished! sight in a live situation. It might be something
some constructive ways to use this “at home” you’ve needed to do for a long time. Even
time. Hopefully some of these will resonate with 4. PLAY VIRTUALLY WITH OTHERS ukulele is fun to play!
you and perhaps, inspire you to grow. Even if you know how to play an mp3, you can
at least encourage others to lay down a guitar 8. WRITE A SONG
1. LEARN A DAW part, keyboard part, or either one along with a If you have never written a song before, now
This
Audio lead vocal, play it from your computer or phone, is the time to take that harmonization-laden
Workstation (in case you didn’t know). Some
acronym
and play along. There are so many ways to do instrument (that you learned in suggestion
of the popular DAW’s are ProTools (avid.com), this. Whichever you choose will be promoting 7) and put it to some creative use. All it takes
Logic (apple.com), Garage Band (apple OS), creative interaction with other humans. Record is a chord, a melody, and a subject. You may
Abelton (https://www.ableton.com/en/ yourself playing along with it and send it back. never know what might happen until you try. It’s
about/), and many others. If you have a Mac or Or, load their file into the DAW you learned and time to put these new DAW recording skills to
a PC and you don’t know how to record yourself record your bass part, then send it to someone work. Lay down the guitar, sing a melody into
onto a track, then why not take some time to else to add their take. a microphone, record a bass track, add some
watch a tutorial and get up and running with one percussion, and you’re a one-person band! Or
of these programs? The possibilities for musical 5. TAKE ONLINE LESSONS send a mix to a fellow musician and let them add
experience, composition, community, etc, are There are many bass player/teachers out there. their talent. Who knows what it might lead to!
endless! It certainly has kept me busy (thank the The technical requirements are few. It’s time and
Lord for ProTools!). money well spent. There are bass masters out 9. WATCH MUSIC DOCUMENTARIES
Live
stands
for
Digital
there eager to help you. Adam Nitti is one such TV. The ultimate time waster. Why not add some
2. RECORD YOURSELF, ANALYZE, AND IMPROVE master. Go to www.adamnitti.com/bass-lessons musical history to your brain? Learn about the
So now that you have learned a DAW, it’s time to and sign up! Also, Scott’s Bass Lessons on journeys that some of your favorite artists have
put yourself to the test. First off, make sure that YouTube is a great resource. The guests that he taken. It’s fascinating learning about the lives of
the latency setting is as low as it can go. Then has on his show are amazing! your influences (sometimes you learn things that
record yourself along with a drum track or a loop. you later wish you hadn’t, but that’s the risk you
Start by just playing 1/4 notes on any single note 6. LISTEN OUTSIDE THE BOX take...LOL). One of my favorite documentaries
for 8 bars, 1/8 notes for 8 bars, and 1/16 notes Broaden your horizons by listening to some is the one on Jaco Pastorious (store.jacothefilm.
for 8 bars (or as long as you can, depending kind of music that you normally do not listen to. com/shop/jaco/) simply titled, “Jaco.” Such a
on the tempo). Then stop the DAW, zoom in, See what all the hype is about classical music. tragic end to the life of the man who changed
and compare your note downbeats with each Delve into jazz or bebop. Search for new music the dimension of the bass guitar from a
strike of the bass drum. Are you ahead, behind, coming out of different parts of the world. Even supportive instrument to a front-and-center, solo
or on the center of the beat? The screen don’t if the bass is a synthesizer, it will still inspire you. instrument. Check it out!
lie! Try various tempos of drum grooves while I use bass synth pedals quite often!
continually analyzing your time. You will know Maybe by the time that this article comes out
what you need to do. 7. LEARN ANOTHER INSTRUMENT this crisis will be somewhat over. I hope and
Have you ever been to a family gathering with pray peace and safety over all of you as God
3. BROADEN YOUR REPERTOIRE relatives who haven’t seen you in a while and continues to bless the work of your hands.
This might be a great time to hit the woodshed! they ask you what instrument you play? You How about that bass solo tune you’ve always sheepishly say, “bass,” and they say, “Well play wanted to learn? No time like the present! If you us a tune!” Then what happens? Not a whole lot, can write music notation, transcribe that Jaco usually. But if you knew four chords on a guitar,
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May 2020
Gary Lunn
Gary is a session player/producer/writer in Nashville,
TN. He plays for many recording session accounts,
does home recording and producing. Email him for
questions, comments, or scheduling at:
[email protected]
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