Every time I play bass at the weekly jam I learn by orders of magnitude.
So I tried driving the bus. And I found how many of us can't keep time well. The other thing is when a tune hangs on a chord/beat for several extra beats. Could be part of the song. Could be how a particular player plays the tune. When the bass resolves before the phrase, it doesn't sound good. Heck with it, I can simply lay out. I know it's not going to happen, but I see how a drum kit along with the bass can solidify the rhythm. Sharing the load.
Edited by - farmerjones on 07/08/2026 05:20:16
Keeping time in a jam situation is tough! You wind up going at the tempo of the slowest play, no matter the starting tempo, unless you have Gen. Patton for a mando player, who refuses to budge! Bass players do need to be sensitive to the chord changes, but really once the owner of the tune sets the structure (ie with a added tag line or 4 extra beats) the rest of the group 'should' respect that. I know your pain!
Terms of Use | Privacy Policy | Privacy Consent (EU/GDPR Only)
Copyright 2026 Fiddle Hangout. All Rights Reserved.
