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Rhythm’s Gonna Get ‘Ya: Make it Swing! [Video 4]

make it swing

Rhythm’s Gonna Get ‘Ya: How to Make it Swing! [Video 4]

WALKING BASS AND SWING

It don’t mean a thing… if it ain’t got that swing!

Learn how to use phrasing (video 3 in this series), shuffle (video 1) and syncopation (video 2) to walk with the best of them! I demonstrate exactly how to combine these rhythmic techniques so your swing does mean a thing! And don’t forget to listen and take your cues from the drummer and how they swing the phrasing of the thing!

Take a walk with me:

Make sure to also watch:

Immerse yourself in my Flagship Course for a comprehensive foundation in Music Theory!

Online. 40 -Week Program.

Find out more here

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Rhythm’s Gonna Get ‘Ya: Phrasing is Everything! [Video 3 of 5]

Phrasing

Phrasing!

What is Phrasing? It’s everything!

This under-appreciated detail can make or break a groove. Rhythmic phrasing is a vital piece of phrasing.

Are you conscious of your note lengths and attacks? Together with dynamics and other aspects of music, they make phrasing. If you have a listening drummer it makes every jam ever so more delicious! Check out some tips!  

Don’t be a-phrased… Check it out

Make sure to also watch part 1 on Shuffled Versus Straight and part 2 on Syncopated versus straight of the series

Pretty far along in your bass journey and looking to get a more complete grasp of the entire fretboard? Check out my new book, The Pattern System for the Bass Player, for a systematic approach to getting the entire fretboard under your fingers!

Available on Amazon!

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Rhythm’s Gonna Get ‘Ya: Syncopated Confusion! [Video 2 of 5]

Rhythm’s Gonna Get ‘Ya! (Video 2 of 5)

This happened to me at a rehearsal once. We were all giving the sixteenth notes a slight shuffle but one of us was playing them completely straight.
Me: “Hang on, the rhythm isn’t clicking. Give it a bit of a shuffle.”

Bandmate: “Shuffle? It’s not a shuffle.”

Me: “Yeah, it’s shuffled. You are playing it completely straight. That’s not the feel.”

Bandmate: “Oh, you want syncopated?”

Ouch.

Listen, I am not about being the theory or rhythm police, but you gotta communicate right. Or listen right, or whatever. And the fact is that syncopated is not the same as shuffled.

Don’t believe me?

I show you a straight rhythm that is syncopated and a shuffled rhythm that is syncopated!

Watch here!

 

Make sure to also watch part 1 of the series: Straight v Shuffle

 

 

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Easy Going Practice Group Sample

Practice Groups? How does this work?

Maybe you have heard of our new teaching format:

  • live on zoom
  • ten weeks
  • Practice Groups of various topics.

We get it it’s a bit hard to imagine, so I wanted to share a screen grab view. (Actual view of the student will show a full screen size speaker’s view, this is just to imagine the classroom)

This is an excerpt selection of one of our recent Easy Going Groups:

​These are small groups in which we practice

  • Theory
  • Technique
  • Improv
  • Songs
  • Lots of rhythm
  • Ear training

We spend a productive hour on bass together. Once a week!

  • If you miss one, it gets recorded.
  • You get jam tracks and PDFs.
  • Available for ten more weeks after the end of the sessions.

Just show up and plug in. It’s low stress, high effectivity!

Join us! We got one starting today, 8-6-2021, and tomorrow, 8-7-2021!

SIGN UP HERE and choose one of the Easy Going Groups! 

We have a Friday and a Saturday group to choose from.

 

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Rhythm’s Gonna Get ‘Ya: Shuffle v Straight! (Video 1 of 5)

Rhythm’s Gonna Get ‘Ya!

But you’ll be ready if you watch my brand new Mini-Series on Rhythm. Five bite-sized, but info-packed videos that will take the mystery out of a few rarely talked about, but super important and sometimes tricky aspects of rhythm. First up is:

Straight Versus Shuffle

Afraid to stray from the straight and narrow (rhythmically) for fear of getting lost in the shuffle?

Learn what the difference between a straight rhythm and a shuffled rhythm looks and sounds like, and how such a subtle difference can make a huge difference in the feel of the tune. I demonstrate each different rhythm separately and side-by-side so you can catch the full effect of difference.

Shuffle your mouse on over to this video – the first of five in this mini-series on rhythm!

You may also like:

How do I Make a Great Bass Line as a Bass Player?(Opens in a new browser tab)

Rhythmic Relevations(Opens in a new browser tab)

The Ultimate Shortcut to Rhythm Changes(Opens in a new browser tab)

Want to improve your rhythm?

Join our one of our Easy-Going Practice Groups:

Wait, what? An easy-going practice group? Powerful content, all you need to do is show up with your bass. Stress-free and impactful. Join us. Practice with Ari and your peers. It’s live. 10 weeks. On zoom!  Join us!

Groups start up every few months. Stay tuned to newsletter, blog and Facebook for updates.

 Join us!