I received this email from Lorin Cohen this morning and think it’s worth a share here. [I left his link active.]
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Dear John,
This email is for you if you’re working on your jazz bass playing — but it applies to any style really.
Most jazz bass courses are telling you the same thing:
Work on your bass lines. Improve your note choice. Make your walking lines “interesting.”
And that sounds right…
But it’s backwards.
I just spent a week at the Blue Note with jazz legend Monty Alexander.
He didn’t care about “cool” walking lines.
What mattered was this: was I outlining the changes and form super clearly without a chart?
And, most importantly — was the groove ROCKING?
Form. Changes. Groove. No chart.
That’s it.
Too many adult players spend so much time on note choice that when they get to a live situation, they freeze.
Head buried in the chart. Not in the pocket. Not in the moment.
When the gig happens, they’re thinking instead of playing.
If you want to actually sound good on a gig, start here:
— Be able to clearly establish the form and root motion
— Lock the time
— Play without the chart
When it comes to note choice? Simple triads and “connective tissue” will get you the gig if the above is solid.
Focus on that stuff first. Then develop the hipper lines.
Your Weekend Challenge:
Pick one standard. Play the whole tune — in time, no backing track, no chart — just roots and fifths.
If that exposes something… good.
That’s what you actually need to work on.
Lorin
P.S. If you want help building this foundation so your playing finally feels solid on a gig, book a no-cost Bass Breakthrough Session. We’ll cut through the noise and focus on what actually moves the needle.
