Singing bass lines and Jacob Collier

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Anyone here familiar with Jacob Collier? Seeing as how this forum is about music I’d be shocked if I’m the only one.

His music mind is unbelievable. I knew he played bass (I’d have a hard time coming up with a list of instruments he can’t play) and has a YouTube presence so I decided to do a search to see what I would find.

I found an interview with him on one of those other “Learn bass with these free videos and then sign up for more indepth lessons” channels. It’s a good channel but BB appeara superior which is why I’m doing B2B. But I digress.

Jacob recommends specifically singing your bass lines, and in fact singing any instrument. Sing it in your head if need be. He demonstrates the difference and it’s phenomenal. The advice isn’t unique to him and I may have seen it over here on the forums. I think it might be in the lesson on scales as well.

My point is… I’d already been doing that here and there but now I’m doing it intentionally with most of what I play. It does, in fact, improve the playing. Anyb thoughts, affirmations, refutations, or snide remarks?

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Singing a melody or line internalizes it, which makes it a part of you. That always makes playing it easier.

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It’s a concept that even “Little Ellen’s” dad showed the importance of.

Fast forward to 19:40 to see it in action

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Hey @booker_t I never watch small children who are significantly better than me. It’s one of my rules for learning bass :slight_smile:

However I’m learning a new song and humming the bass line in work is definitely helping me to internalize it.

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I totally agree @Barney

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Yeah, same; child prodigy videos aren’t something I get much out of.

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Amazing how a post becomes about something else. Her being a child prodigy is not why I posted the video; I got a lot out of how her dad demonstrated equating the sound in ones head to the fingers. The first time I actually heard that concept and it changed my playing… also, it was the SUBJECT OF THE THREAD. If she had been 40 and her 60 year old dad was explaining and demonstrating the concept, it would have been helpful to me.

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Side note: Which is why I also added the time mark. To get you to to the stuff, and past the giggles.

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Thanks for your post, @booker_t. It is extremely helpful in illustrating how to approach improvising a bass line before playing it.

It is a learned skill that expands a player’s ability to internalize or “hear” lines, regardless of a player’s age. This exact approach is why it’s easier to learn a new line if it comes from a song we’re already familiar with.

There are lots of recorded examples of musicians singing a line they play, famously including George Benson.

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@booker_t This was phenomenal. Finally got around to watching that part. I immediately pulled out my bass and started improving along with her. I think it’s time to start adding backing tracks sing/improv to my regular practice routine.

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It definitely takes you away from just counting, and gets you moving your head and/or feet to really feel the rhythm.

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Eugene Wright often sings to himself (it looks like the bass is his voice)

I like watching the Dave Brubeck Quartet as the guys seem to enjoy listening to each other play (eg Take 5 recording)
Except for when Joe Morello thinks the bass solo goes a bit long, gets salty and produces something epic

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My bass teacher is of the singing persuasion. It’s hard for me cause I’m pretty shy and don’t think I can sing (thanks music teacher at school) but it is his aim in life to make me sing and play.
It does make sense to me and I know it will liberate me musically because then I will be able to make stuff up in my head or just repeat what I hear and directly translate it onto bass. That’s the goal and I’m looking forward to achieving it one day.

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