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Finding Your Own Voice with Jimi Durso – Rhythm Part 2: Isorhythms
Now that you can accent any point in the measure (at least if you did the exercises from last month you can) we can move on to a very powerful bass technique, and that’s the use of isorhythms.
Many of you may have been already using isorhythms without being aware of it (I know I was doing this long before I had a fancy term for it). The basic idea is to play the same rhythmic figure while varying (or improvising) the notes. This creates a solid groove but at the same time gives you the freedom to interact with the rest of the ensemble and to vary the energy and emotion of the music (using some techniques we’ll talk about next time) while still providing a solid foundation.
Though this is a fantastic method for learning odd time signatures and various subdivisions, to start more simply we’re going to do an example in 4/4 with an eighth note feel. In this case, there are eight points in the measure to play on. We’re going to pick five, but you can do this with any amount (though if you do one it will be like last month’s exercise and if you pick zero you won’t be playing at all and eight and you’ll just be playing all the beats, so a number between two and seven is ideal). We’re going to play on 1 (it’s not a rule that you have to play on the downbeat, but it is more typical of basslines and sometimes is what’s expected) the 2, the “and of 2”, the “and of 3”, and the “and of 4” (in case you’re wondering, I picked these randomly using dice). To present this graphically, it will look like this (with underlines indicating the beats we’re playing on):
1 + 2 + 3 + 4 +
Step one is to play this rhythm just on one note, to learn what the isorhythm feels like. I’d suggest doing it with a metronome (or drum machine, or some other bass-less play-a-long), and count it out to make sure you’re playing it correctly. If you have trouble, just play the first two notes, and when you’re comfortable with that then add the next hit and so on until you’re playing the whole rhythm. When you’re grooving on it without having to count (or not having to concentrate so much on counting) then start improvising your notes within that rhythm. If you’re doing this with a drum machine, or better yet with a band, you should find it’s a lot of fun.
A final word regarding drum programming: it can make learning the isorhythm easier to put the accents into the drum part. But this can become a crutch. To really see how well you can play the rhythmic figure, try creating a drum beat that is a cross-rhythm to yours, with the drums accenting the beats you’re not playing (in the above example “+ of 1”, “3”, and “4”).
Gear News
New Gear: Alberto Rigoni Signature Bass, the VPR5 by Gaetano Costanzo!
Alberto Rigoni Signature Bass, the VPR5 by Gaetano Costanzo!
Internationally renowned bassist ALBERTO RIGONI (soloist, BAD AS, Vivaldi Metal Project, TwinSpirits, etc.) is proud to announce the release of his signature bass VPR5 made by renowned Italian luthier Gaetano Costanzo!
The bass is entirely handmade in Italy, without the use of CNC or other machinery, and has rather special features. The VPR is a 5-string bass (but also available as a 4-string) with 30 frets, Seymour Duncan pickups, Music Man Alnico style, passive electronics (volume, tone and a switch to select series/parallel/single-coil mode), alder body, and American maple neck and fingerboard. Gotoh tuners that ensure perfect intonation. The bass is totally painted white (nitro finish) but other colors can be requested. The VPR has a weight of about 2.9 kg and suitable for any genre.
For more information contact Gaetanobass77@gmail.com or visit online at www.instagram.com/gaetanocostanzoluthier or www.facebook.com/GaetanoCostanzoLuthier
Bass Videos
Interview With Bassist Graham Stanush
Bassist Graham Stanush…
Return to Dust is keeping Grunge alive and well! They have a new self-titled album that went out on May 3rd, 2024 and will be super busy promoting this project in the near future.
Graham Stanush is the bass powerhouse driving their sound and adding vocals to the mix. Join me as we hear all about Graham’s musical journey, details about the new album, how he gets his sound and their plans for the future.
Featured Videos:
Visit Online:
linktr.ee/returntodust
instagram.com/returntodustband/
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Bass Videos
Review: CrystalBright Rombo Picks
CrystalBright Rombo Picks
PR SamplePlaying bass with a pick is still a touchy subject in our community. I believe you should be able to use whatever you need to get your sound. Even though I mostly play with my fingers, I like to check out innovative new picks that might have something new to offer, sonically speaking.
Judith and Carlos from Rombo recently contacted me about a new material called CrystalBright that they have been researching for the last 12 months and offered to send some prototype picks. After trying them out, I put together this video with my findings.
For more info check out @rombopicks
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This Week’s Top 10 Basses on Instagram
Check out our top 10 favorite basses on Instagram this week…
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Gear
New Joe Dart Bass From Sterling By Music Man
Sterling by Music Man introduces the Joe Dart Artist Series Bass (“Joe Dart”), named after and designed in collaboration with the celebrated Vulfpeck bassist.
Above photo credit: JORDAN THIBEAUX
This highly-anticipated model marks the debut of the Dart bass in the Sterling by Music Man lineup, paying homage to the Ernie Ball Music Man original that all funk players know and love. The bass embodies many of the original model’s distinctive features, from its iconic minimalist design to the passive electronics.
The design process prioritized reliability, playability, and accessibility at the forefront. Constructed from the timeless Sterling body, the Dart features a slightly smaller neck profile, offering a clean tone within a comfortable package. The body is crafted from soft maple wood for clarity and warmth while the natural finish emphasizes the simple yet unique look.
Engineered for straightforward performance, this passive bass features a ceramic humbucking bridge pickup and a single ‘toaster’ knob for volume control. Reliable with a classic tone, it’s perfect for playing in the pocket. The Dart is strung with the all-new Ernie Ball Stainless Steel Flatwound Electric Bass Strings for the smoothest feel and a mellow sound.
The Sterling by Music Man Joe Dart Bass is a special “Timed Edition” release, exclusively available for order on the Sterling by Music Man website for just one month. Each bass is made to order, with the window closing on May 31st and shipping starting in November. A dedicated countdown timer will indicate the remaining time for purchase on the product page. Additionally, the back of the headstock will be marked with a “2024 Crop” stamp to commemorate the harvest year for this special, one-of-a-kind release.
The Joe Dart Bass is priced at $399.99 (MAP) and can be ordered globally at https://sterlingbymusicman.com/products/joe-dart.
To learn more about Joe Dart, visit the official Vulfpeck artist site here https://www.vulfpeck.com/.
Interview With Bassist Graham Stanush
Review: CrystalBright Rombo Picks
Preparing for Performance with Dr. Randy Kertz
Interview With Bassist Erick “Jesus” Coomes
