term all bassists should know

bassmaster · Goldfish Joined: 07 Jul 2003 Posts: 60

hey everyone, just wondered if u could fill me in on what the word flam means, and what styles of music it is played primarily in. also if u could give me some examples of what bands do it , that would be great thanx alot.
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supermau · Posted: Tue Jul 15, 2003 6:46 am Post subject:

flam /flam/(n) : A drumbeat consisting of two almost simultaneous strokes of which the first is a very rapid grace note. a basic rudiment of percussion.

http://www.vicfirth.com/education/rudiments/20flam.html

SteveJazz · Posted: Tue Jul 15, 2003 7:00 am Post subject:

Flam is not a thing to be pursued, it is a thing to avoid. Flamming happens when the attack of your bass notes and the bass drum strikes are slightly out of synch, producing a double hit, or an unwanted delay effect. If you are playing with the bass drum pattern, the bass and the drum should sound as one. I am referring to notes being played on the same beat as the bass drum only. Flamming can happen with rythym guitar players, too. A gun is the best solution for this problem, as it is often chronic. Razz

You can play on "top of the beat," "behind the beat," or "in the pocket (middle to back-middle of the beat). All is well if everyone is playing in the same spot. Flam happens when you are on top of the beat, and the drummer is in the pocket, for example. You can't miss it in the studio, it will result in not getting called back to do more sessions.

One way to avoid flamming is to set up as close as possible to the drummer. In the studio, a click track and headphones help.

Sound travels slowly though the air, taking five seconds to go a mile. One way to cause it live is to go wireless and wander off stage. The furthur away from the stage you get, the more the band will freak out, though things may sound fine to you!

You and your drummer should practice at playing together on top, in the pocket, and on the back of the beat. Ballads sound great played in the pocket. Fast walking jazz can sound great played on top of the beat. Some medium grooves sound great played on the back of the beat. This is advanced technique in action. You can change the entire feel of the tune using these techniques.

SJ Cool

kantkeepup · Posted: Tue Jul 15, 2003 7:27 am Post subject:

Steve, I think you've forgotten more about music than all of has have learned.
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SteveJazz · Posted: Tue Jul 15, 2003 10:46 am Post subject:

Kantkeepup: Yeah, a lot of people might be happy when I have forgotten the rest, and shut up! In the meantime, I can't help myself, I love this stuff!

SJ Cool

kantkeepup · Posted: Tue Jul 15, 2003 10:56 am Post subject:

This board would be a hell of a lot less informative without your input!
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Dolphinbass · Posted: Fri Aug 15, 2003 2:52 am Post subject:

I have to agree with SteveJazz Rolling Eyes

NeoLarkins · Posted: Fri Aug 15, 2003 3:42 pm Post subject:

On the topic of bass terms, what does:

A Bend

and

A Rest

mean?

SteveJazz · Posted: Mon Aug 18, 2003 1:01 pm Post subject:

Sir Dolphinbass: That's hysterical, and so true! You are, of course, familiar with the other lead singer cry: "More ME in the monitor!"

NeoLarkins:

Bend: Fret a note, and then pushup or pull down on the sting, "bending" it. This will cause it to go sharp. A common note to bend would be a minor third. In the key of C, the minor third is Eb. Bend it a little and it sounds great over a C7chord, or even a C major. Another cool one on bass is to bend the flat 5, which in the key of C is a Gb note. This one sounds best over a minor chord. Pushing the string up is usually easier than pulling it down. When you hear someone mention a "blue" note, they usually mean a slightly bent minor third. Playing a minor third note over a major or dominant 7 chord is a signature of the blues style.

Rest: A period of silence. If you rest for a quarter note in 4/4 time, that means you "rest" or be silent, for a period of one beat.

SJ Cool

audiowkstation · Sea Monkey Joined: 21 Aug 2003 Posts: 13

Remember, playing bass is to be one with the vibe of the kick drum. that is what you feel.

Terms.

Axe: your bass
Rig: your amp and speakers
Cord: Your input cable
Chord: what you do when you play more than one note in harmonic integration
Driver: your raw loudspeaker outside the cabinet.
Driver again. Your Limo Operator.
Voice coil: the thing inside your raw speaker you burn up and bake when the cone locks up from running too much distortion and not enough wattage.
Babe: Usually my Dog, when I am at home not working.
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jaybird · Posted: Fri Aug 22, 2003 7:55 am Post subject:

That's the other term we can't ever get through our heads...REST!!! That essentially means a musical passage wherein one doesn't play. I know some guitarists who don't understand that...DON'T PLAY!!! That shouldn't leave any room for confusion, should it!?

Are you familiar wth that situation, SteveJazz? Wink

Dolphinbass · Posted: Fri Aug 22, 2003 8:05 am Post subject:

[quote="SteveJazz"]Sir Dolphinbass: That's hysterical, and so true! You are, of course, familiar with the other lead singer cry: "More ME in the monitor!"

It's a small world SteveJazz...
I think I've played with him!!!
Is he the guy who gets everyone in the band to turn down to '1'
and is so loud in his foldback that he manages to sing the whole show
(and this is an amazing feat on it's own!), somewhere between a quarter-tone and a semi-tone flat?

Always sounds good with harmonies Laughing

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jaybird · Posted: Fri Aug 22, 2003 9:58 am Post subject:

DolphinBass:
It appears that the individual in question has done service (or disservice) with many bands, and this can be explained in three letters...

LSD

.....Lead Singer Disorder, that is. Heh, heh, heh!

SteveJazz · Posted: Fri Aug 22, 2003 10:11 am Post subject:

jaybird and Sir Dolphin: Heh, heh, yeah, we could go on for hours about guitarists, and don't get me started on drummers, either!

"Rythym" guitar is perhaps the most under-rated position in any band. I'm lucky right now, we have a guy who can't play a solo, but really lays it down on the rythym guitar. Dolphin, listen to his part (try headphones) on Love is a Mystery. And listen to him on "So it Goes." He can play that part great, and sing the lead vocal at the same time.

There's a great line in the Vinyl Kings CD, A Little Trip which goes:

"Who says those boots and cowboy hat
Can keep that boy from singing flat"

The Vinyl Kings are Nashville session guys who have seen and heard it all. Check 'em out, you can listen to their Beatle tribute at their site,
www.vinylkings.com. The bass sounds on it are great, if you dig old school stuff.

Cheers,
SJ Cool

NeoLarkins · Posted: Wed Sep 03, 2003 4:17 pm Post subject:

What does it mean when a tab reads like:

/9 or \9

where do you slide from?

and what does it mean when its like

2r

I'm sure it means rest but does that mean you just stop the string from humming right after you hit it?