JEN Conference 2013 Friday, 2pm, Embassy Hall E/F

www.johnclaytonjazz.com
Ray Brown Red Callender Ron Carter Israel Crosby Charlie Haden Percy Heath Milt Hinton Charles Mingus Red Mitchell Christian McBride Slam Stewart Richard Davis Chuck Domanico John Patitucci George Duvivier Bob Cranshaw Jimmy Garrison Pops Foster Dennis Irwin Walter Page Sam Jones Larry Gales David Friesen Derrick Hodge Harish Rhagavan Ben Williams Eddie Gomez Larry Grenadier Dave Holland Oscar Pettiford Major Holley Chuck Israels Marc Johnson Joe Sanders John Kirby Scott LaFaro

John will demonstrate and discuss the items below. In the last minutes of the presentation, questions are encouraged.

The Instrument The best size for me Makes and Models Purchasing/Renting Setting Up The Bass Strings Some popular brands: Pirastro DAddario Tomastik Prices range from $25-$150 per set Performance Basics Scales Chords Bass Lines Soloing

Todd Coolman Scott Colley Avishai Cohen Jay Leonhart Al McKibbon Charnett Moffett Mark Dresser Michael Moore George Mraz Renaud Garcia-Fons Gary Peacock Niels-Henning Orsted Pedersen Lonnie Plaxico Rufus Reid Lynn Seaton Esperanza Spalding Arvell Shaw Andy Simpkins Steve Swallow Don Thompson Leroy Vinnegar Miroslav Vitous Wilbur Ware Peter Washington Butch Warren Jimmy Blanton Wellman Braud Doug Watkins Eberhard Weber Buster Williams Reggie Workman Eugene Wright Eldee Young Lou Fischer Christoph Luty Edgar Meyer

Ray Brown Red Callender Ron Carter Israel Crosby Charlie Haden Percy Heath Milt Hinton Charles Mingus Red Mitchell Christian McBride Slam Stewart Richard Davis Chuck Domanico John Patitucci George Duvivier Bob Cranshaw Jimmy Garrison Pops Foster Dennis Irwin Walter Page Sam Jones Larry Gales David Friesen Derrick Hodge Harish Rhagavan Ben Williams Eddie Gomez Larry Grenadier Dave Holland Oscar Pettiford Major Holley Chuck Israels Marc Johnson Joe Sanders John Kirby Scott LaFaro

Right Hand Placement and Techniques Thumb on edge of fingerboard Fingers pointing toward the bridge (the floor) Hand at the end of the fingerboard for bigger sound (no need to pull harder)
Left Hand Placement and Techniques Thumb behind neck Fingers curved Playing on tips of finger pads Press firmly with fingers, not to the point of pain Relax hand enough to shift smoothly Straight wrist (elbow up will help this) Maintain proper distance between fingers 4th finger down = all fingers down Transcribing Choose songs that you love Pick bass lines and solos that are slightly above your level. Select obtainable goals Avoid bringing music down to your level in order to transcribe it. If song #5 is too fast or complicated for you, work on songs 1-4 in order to raise your level. OK to write out bass lines Memorize solos (do not write out) Repertoire The most important repertoire you can learn are the songs you must know in order to play NOW. This will include songs you play with friends, on gigs, at school, etc. Amplifying Your Bass Sound 1. Play something medium tempo on your bass--a scale, whatever. 2. Turn your amp up to 1. 3. Play the same scale/excerpt. Make any treble/bass/mid adjustments to insure you're keeping the quality of sound you want-it should sound like the acoustic, only louder. 4. Turn your volume completely down and play the same scale. 5. Turn your amp up to 1.5 or 2. 6. Play the same scale/excerpt. Make any treble/bass/mid adjustments to insure you're keeping the quality of sound you want. 7. Turn your volume completely down and play the same scale. 8. Turn your amp up to 2.5 or 3. And so on

Todd Coolman Scott Colley Avishai Cohen Jay Leonhart Al McKibbon Charnett Moffett Mark Dresser Michael Moore George Mraz Renaud Garcia-Fons Gary Peacock Niels-Henning Orsted Pedersen Lonnie Plaxico Rufus Reid Lynn Seaton Esperanza Spalding Arvell Shaw Andy Simpkins Steve Swallow Don Thompson Leroy Vinnegar Miroslav Vitous Wilbur Ware Peter Washington Butch Warren Jimmy Blanton Wellman Braud Doug Watkins Eberhard Weber Buster Williams Reggie Workman Eugene Wright Eldee Young Lou Fischer Christoph Luty Edgar Meyer

Ray Brown Red Callender Ron Carter Israel Crosby Charlie Haden Percy Heath Milt Hinton Charles Mingus Red Mitchell Christian McBride Slam Stewart Richard Davis Chuck Domanico John Patitucci George Duvivier Bob Cranshaw Jimmy Garrison Pops Foster Dennis Irwin Walter Page Sam Jones Larry Gales David Friesen Derrick Hodge Harish Rhagavan Ben Williams Eddie Gomez Larry Grenadier Dave Holland Oscar Pettiford Major Holley Chuck Israels Marc Johnson Joe Sanders John Kirby Scott LaFaro

Learning Aids www.johnclaytonjazz.com www.isbworldoffice.com http://artofthebow.com/ Books Ray Brown Bass Method www.halleonard.com Rufus Reid www.rufusreid.com Francois Rabbath Bass Methods www.slavapub.net

Important, helpful sites (Just a few. There are many more available) International Society of Bassists www.isbworldoffice.com
David Gage String Instruments www.davidgage.com (go to About DGSI then Davids Corner)

Robertson and Sons Violins (large bass selection) www.robertsonviolins.com

Todd Coolman Scott Colley Avishai Cohen Jay Leonhart Al McKibbon Charnett Moffett Mark Dresser Michael Moore George Mraz Renaud Garcia-Fons Gary Peacock Niels-Henning Orsted Pedersen Lonnie Plaxico Rufus Reid Lynn Seaton Esperanza Spalding Arvell Shaw Andy Simpkins Steve Swallow Don Thompson Leroy Vinnegar Miroslav Vitous Wilbur Ware Peter Washington Butch Warren Jimmy Blanton Wellman Braud Doug Watkins Eberhard Weber Buster Williams Reggie Workman Eugene Wright Eldee Young Lou Fischer Christoph Luty Edgar Meyer

The latest album

More tips from John

JEN Members! For a limited time Purchase THE GATHERING CD and receive a COMPLIMENTARY THE NEW SONG AND DANCE CD by the Clayton Brothers. Scan the code above or go to ArtistShare.com and follow the instructions to receive your bonus CD!
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Ray Brown Red Callender Ron Carter Israel Crosby Charlie Haden Percy Heath Milt Hinton Charles Mingus Red Mitchell Christian McBride Slam Stewart Richard Davis Chuck Domanico John Patitucci George Duvivier Bob Cranshaw Jimmy Garrison Pops Foster Dennis Irwin Walter Page Sam Jones Larry Gales David Friesen Derrick Hodge Harish Rhagavan Ben Williams Eddie Gomez Larry Grenadier Dave Holland Oscar Pettiford Major Holley Chuck Israels Marc Johnson Joe Sanders John Kirby Scott LaFaro

BASS NOTES WE ALL PLAY THE SAME INSTRUMENT, WE ALL HAVE MANY OF THE SAME PROBLEMS. Through the years, I've found that I, understandably, repeat myself in lessons. I'm hoping that the list below will be an organized aid for you and me to help remember some of the things I repeatedly say. It is not meant to be stiff or intimidating. It's just a guide to help us move along more quickly to our goal of playing the bass more comfortably!
FEEL FREE TO CONTACT ME AT ANY TIME: www.johnclaytonjazz.com GENERAL -long tones! -start everything from totally relaxed state and add what is needed to get desired effect -sing everything and play what you sing -know what each note will sound like before you play it -PRACTICE IN FRONT OF A MIRROR -if it hurts, STOP! -look forward -maintain good posture -keep shoulders comfortably straight and relaxed -make the audience comfortable; make playing look "a breeze" -let bass rest on body -contact between bass and stomach, ALWAYS -bass works for you, you dont work for the bass -stand more behind bass than on side of bass -use vibrato as a means of warmth -left elbow as pivot point -left elbow up for vibrato -hold note firmly with finger and keep supple wrist for vibrato -play each note as if it is the last note of a concerto -play in tune -play harmonics pointedly with left hand. feel harmonics CONCENTRATE: from count off to cut off -focus on where each note/phrase is going -to find fingerings, start with top note of a phrase and work back -know what pitch & quality of note is before you play it -imagine accompaniment playing with you when playing alone SCALES & CHORDS -know all scales with correct fingerings & alternate fingerings -know all chord types -memorize the sound of the scales and chords

Todd Coolman Scott Colley Avishai Cohen Jay Leonhart Al McKibbon Charnett Moffett Mark Dresser Michael Moore George Mraz Renaud Garcia-Fons Gary Peacock Niels-Henning Orsted Pedersen Lonnie Plaxico Rufus Reid Lynn Seaton Esperanza Spalding Arvell Shaw Andy Simpkins Steve Swallow Don Thompson Leroy Vinnegar Miroslav Vitous Wilbur Ware Peter Washington Butch Warren Jimmy Blanton Wellman Braud Doug Watkins Eberhard Weber Buster Williams Reggie Workman Eugene Wright Eldee Young Lou Fischer Christoph Luty Edgar Meyer

Ray Brown Red Callender Ron Carter Israel Crosby Charlie Haden Percy Heath Milt Hinton Charles Mingus Red Mitchell Christian McBride Slam Stewart Richard Davis Chuck Domanico John Patitucci George Duvivier Bob Cranshaw Jimmy Garrison Pops Foster Dennis Irwin Walter Page Sam Jones Larry Gales David Friesen Derrick Hodge Harish Rhagavan Ben Williams Eddie Gomez Larry Grenadier Dave Holland Oscar Pettiford Major Holley Chuck Israels Marc Johnson Joe Sanders John Kirby Scott LaFaro

ARCO -3 Criteria for bow sound: Bow Weight, Bow Speed, Bow Placement -move bow from shoulder -arm weight into bass -add thumb and forefinger as you approach tip -use full bow (from frog to tip) -right arm = comfortably straight (not rigid) -keep bow parallel to bridge -move bow faster at beginning of each note -if it hurts, STOP! -connect notes, even when playing separate bows -taper ends of phrases -"Play" rests; don't stop moving, singing, breathing -piano (soft) sections = lots of bow, little pressure -feel notes with thumb and forefinger for articulation -have feeling you are pushing tip of bow toward floor but keep bow parallel to bridge -maintain point of contact (stay in your lane) LEFT HAND -keep fingers close to strings -hold notes down firmly -if it hurts, STOP! -ROBO (almost robotic) left hand -make smooth, effortless shifts -left wrist = straight -left elbow as pivot point -"grab" notes with left hand; imagine nails as fingertips -if it hurts, STOP! -4th finger down = all fingers down JAZZ -pat foot on beats one and three -play transcriptions exactly as record. Become one with the record -bigger walking sound by playing close to end of fingerboard -put your head into the instruments around you. don't "listen" to yourself -learn lots of tunes. become flexible -don't use a fake book -don't buy a fake book -pull with fingers (pizz); quiet right arm motion without feeling stiff -play accent-less bass lines (ex., not consistently on beats 2 & 4) -set groove before adding fills -solos = can be lighter than walking -use open strings when possible -dampen strings not meant to ring through -match intensity/volume of tune -be someone else

Todd Coolman Scott Colley Avishai Cohen Jay Leonhart Al McKibbon Charnett Moffett Mark Dresser Michael Moore George Mraz Renaud Garcia-Fons Gary Peacock Niels-Henning Orsted Pedersen Lonnie Plaxico Rufus Reid Lynn Seaton Esperanza Spalding Arvell Shaw Andy Simpkins Steve Swallow Don Thompson Leroy Vinnegar Miroslav Vitous Wilbur Ware Peter Washington Butch Warren Jimmy Blanton Wellman Braud Doug Watkins Eberhard Weber Buster Williams Reggie Workman Eugene Wright Eldee Young Lou Fischer Christoph Luty Edgar Meyer

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