Bass Log, Feb 6th Monday.
Had a great practice session Monday night. Using Jonathan Dimond's Bass Riyaz as a guide, I did a metronome study that I think will help me tighten up and play more freely. He first advises setting the metronome to click on each down beat (1, 2, 3, 4) at about 120 bpm then to half the time and set the click to beats 2 and 4 then switch to beats 1 and 3. Next, set the click once per measure on the one, then every other measure. This requires setting the metronome to its lowest setting, 40 bpm. For an even further challenge, set the metronome to subsequent beats (2, 3, 4) every measure then every other measure. This should develop a really solid internal rhythm that allows the player to rely only on himself and not the drummer; something I find myself doing from time to time. To unravel the shifting downbeat exercise outlined above, keep the click very slow, less than 60 bpm, and play one note per beat, gradually increasing the number of notes. Kai has a variation on this method that he shared with me when I first started studying with him 3 years ago (!). Set the click to a very slow speed, again less than 60 bpm, pick a scale that I can play without thinking like Ionian or Dorian, play one note per beat ascending and descending with the click. Then increase the number of notes played between beats up to 8 notes per click! Its harder than it sounds but with practice most players of any level can accomplish this goal.