The IIB Monthly Newsletter
Volume 6, Number 12
Happy Holidays fellow bassists and friends!
Welcome to the latest issue of The International Institute of Bassists newsletter and the web site of the International Institute of Bassists!
Welcome to the latest issue of The International Institute of Bassists newsletter and the web site of the International Institute of Bassists!
The IIB Monthly Giveaways
Each month, the IIB gives its viewers the opportunity to participate in various monthly giveaways and win amps, effects, strings, instrument cables, straps, DVD's, lessons, apparel, and much more. The total value of our monthly giveaways is over $5,000!
ENTER TO WIN TODAY! ... Read More.
ENTER TO WIN TODAY! ... Read More.
The IIB MP3 Bass Sampler - Volume I
The IIB MP3 Bass Sampler - Volume I is comprised of selected tracks that have been recorded by many of today's premier bass artists including Marcus Miller, Michael Manring, Adam Nitti, Gary Willis, Norm Stockton, Gerald Veasley, and many more.
OVER 1 HOUR OF MUSIC! ... Read More.
OVER 1 HOUR OF MUSIC! ... Read More.
Chat With The Pro's
Utilizing the capabilities of the industry-leading chat software platform, the IIB Chat Room provides a direct method of live interaction between you and fellow bass players located around the world. Although there are dozens of bass-related forums already available on the web, none of them provide an instant means of real-time communication amongst you and your bass-playing friends. Establish an online bass community through the IIB by engaging in virtual meetings, collaborate with colleagues, and chat about all things bass! This month the IIB debuted a series of "Chat With The Pro's" that features live moderated question and answer sessions with some of today's most highly-regarded bassists. Special thanks to Norm Stockton and Todd Johnson for hosting chat sessions this month. More artists and times to be announced soon. ... Read More.
Bass Faces - Chris Tarry
Originally from Calgary, Alberta, Canada, bassist Chris Tarry has firmly established himself amongst his contemporaries as both an award-winning leader and a sideman on a global scale. Over the past decade, Tarry has appeared on a collection of recordings with artists that span a wide range of musical genres and has participated in tours extending from one end of North America to the other and abroad. With the Canadian jazz quartet Metalwood, the first jazz group in Canada to be signed to the Verve Music Group, Tarry has been the recipient of a number of distinguished awards including the Juno Award (the Canadian Grammy) in 1998 and 1999 for "Contemporary Jazz Album Of The Year" along with multiple West Coast Music Awards for "Jazz Album Of The Year." Also among their long list of accolades, Metalwood has been acknowledged as a two-time winner of Jazz Report Magazine's "Electric Jazz Group Of The Year." ... Read More.
Bass Tips Of The Week
Jazz Bass Lines - "The Two Feel"
The two-feel is a common style of accompaniment most often utilized by bassists during the melody or "head" of jazz compositions. Sometimes referred to as the "two-beat", the "broken two-feel", or the "skip two-feel", this concept can also be frequently heard within the "A" sections of 32-bar AABA song forms where the B section is played in a straight-ahead walking four style. Unlike a walking four bass line comprised of a steady stream of quarter notes, the two-feel places the emphasis on the half note. In its most fundamental form, the two-feel or two-beat consists of only two half notes per measure, generally where the root of the chord is played on the first beat followed by the fifth on the third beat. Using the concept of tension and release, the harmonic tension of the line may be heightened by placing a chromatic approach note (non-diatonic note) on beat three of the measure. By integrating rhythmic embellishments such as skips, ghost skips, and triplets, you can create a broken two-feel or skip two-feel. Although rhythmic embellishments can be placed anywhere within the measure, they are most frequently found before points of harmonic shift and within turnarounds. With the broken two-feel, the underlying sense of rhythmic tension and release is intensified, thus enhancing the forward flow of the line. ... Read More.
Jazz Improvisation - "Phrasing"
Improvisation involves the use of a musical vocabulary to express and develop ideas. Just like when studying the vocabulary of a new language, you have to limit your focus initially. Since note choice, rhythm, and phrasing are too much to consider at the beginning, we need to limit ourselves to just a few simple rhythms so we don't have to worry about rhythmic development. With practice on phrasing, you will acquire the ability to hear the chord changes move underneath your ideas, rather than distinctly outlining every chord change that passes by using specific notes to remind you where the changes are at that particular time. The rhythms within this exercise will be repetitive, but they will challenge you to use your ear and imagination to develop ideas. Basic rhythms have been employed in order to provide you with plenty of space so that you can really concentrate on good note choice. This exercise demonstrates the importance of leaving space within your phrases, listening, and then connecting your imagination to the fingerboard in what is often referred to as either a question and answer or call and response format. Listen to the first idea you play and then pay attention to what your imagination wants to hear afterwards. You will respond musically to what you hear and play because your ear is given time to imagine and react. You will be able to express and develop ideas. ... Read More.
The two-feel is a common style of accompaniment most often utilized by bassists during the melody or "head" of jazz compositions. Sometimes referred to as the "two-beat", the "broken two-feel", or the "skip two-feel", this concept can also be frequently heard within the "A" sections of 32-bar AABA song forms where the B section is played in a straight-ahead walking four style. Unlike a walking four bass line comprised of a steady stream of quarter notes, the two-feel places the emphasis on the half note. In its most fundamental form, the two-feel or two-beat consists of only two half notes per measure, generally where the root of the chord is played on the first beat followed by the fifth on the third beat. Using the concept of tension and release, the harmonic tension of the line may be heightened by placing a chromatic approach note (non-diatonic note) on beat three of the measure. By integrating rhythmic embellishments such as skips, ghost skips, and triplets, you can create a broken two-feel or skip two-feel. Although rhythmic embellishments can be placed anywhere within the measure, they are most frequently found before points of harmonic shift and within turnarounds. With the broken two-feel, the underlying sense of rhythmic tension and release is intensified, thus enhancing the forward flow of the line. ... Read More.
Jazz Improvisation - "Phrasing"
Improvisation involves the use of a musical vocabulary to express and develop ideas. Just like when studying the vocabulary of a new language, you have to limit your focus initially. Since note choice, rhythm, and phrasing are too much to consider at the beginning, we need to limit ourselves to just a few simple rhythms so we don't have to worry about rhythmic development. With practice on phrasing, you will acquire the ability to hear the chord changes move underneath your ideas, rather than distinctly outlining every chord change that passes by using specific notes to remind you where the changes are at that particular time. The rhythms within this exercise will be repetitive, but they will challenge you to use your ear and imagination to develop ideas. Basic rhythms have been employed in order to provide you with plenty of space so that you can really concentrate on good note choice. This exercise demonstrates the importance of leaving space within your phrases, listening, and then connecting your imagination to the fingerboard in what is often referred to as either a question and answer or call and response format. Listen to the first idea you play and then pay attention to what your imagination wants to hear afterwards. You will respond musically to what you hear and play because your ear is given time to imagine and react. You will be able to express and develop ideas. ... Read More.
News
Led by bassist Joseph Patrick Moore, Live In 05 was recorded at "This House Rocks" in Atlanta, GA on April 2, 2005. This live recording captures dynamic performances and interplay from a talented group of musicians including Al Smith, Jon Chalden, Al Mcspadden, and Emrah Kotan. In addition to the live jams and group interaction, the eleven original compositions showcase the immense talent of Moore on electric and fretless basses as well as double bass. ... Read More.
CLICK HERE To Subscribe Today For Only $9.95 Per Year!
As a subscriber, you will receive the following benefits:
The IIB Monthly Giveaways - Each month, your name will be entered in all of our various monthly giveaways providing you with the opportunity to win amps, effects, strings, instrument cables, straps, DVD's, lessons, apparel, and much more. The total value of our monthly giveaways is over $5,000! ... Read More.
The IIB MP3 Bass Samplers - You'll receive access to every IIB MP3 Bass Sampler released within your subscription year. Each MP3 sampler will contain selected tracks that have been recorded by many of today's premier bass artists including Marcus Miller, Michael Manring, Adam Nitti, Gary Willis, Norm Stockton, Gerald Veasley, and many more. OVER 1 HOUR OF MUSIC! ... Read More.
Bass Tips Of The Week - You will have access to a huge database of lesson material that has been written on subjects such as Classical & Jazz Music Theory, Sight Reading, Ear Training, Bass Line Construction, Right & Left Hand Technique, Soloing, Jazz Improvisation, Slapping, Tapping, Chordal Techniques, Harmonics, Fingerstyle Funk, Altered Tunings, and Concepts For Solo Bass Playing. All of the lessons are available as downloadable PDF files.
By becoming a subscriber, you will help keep this resource online for you and others to enjoy in the future. Plus, you'll receive "IIB Subscriber" status within the IIB Forums so people will know that you have directly contributed to our efforts.
The IIB MP3 Bass Samplers - You'll receive access to every IIB MP3 Bass Sampler released within your subscription year. Each MP3 sampler will contain selected tracks that have been recorded by many of today's premier bass artists including Marcus Miller, Michael Manring, Adam Nitti, Gary Willis, Norm Stockton, Gerald Veasley, and many more. OVER 1 HOUR OF MUSIC! ... Read More.
Bass Tips Of The Week - You will have access to a huge database of lesson material that has been written on subjects such as Classical & Jazz Music Theory, Sight Reading, Ear Training, Bass Line Construction, Right & Left Hand Technique, Soloing, Jazz Improvisation, Slapping, Tapping, Chordal Techniques, Harmonics, Fingerstyle Funk, Altered Tunings, and Concepts For Solo Bass Playing. All of the lessons are available as downloadable PDF files.
By becoming a subscriber, you will help keep this resource online for you and others to enjoy in the future. Plus, you'll receive "IIB Subscriber" status within the IIB Forums so people will know that you have directly contributed to our efforts.
Advertise On The IIB
If you are looking to increase your online presence and promote your product in front of a serious bass-targeted audience, check out the brand new Advertising Opportunities available on this web site. Through the utilization of the latest banner rotation software technology, the IIB is offering advertisement space in 5 different zones placed strategically throughout the template of the IIB web site and priced well below industry standard. Advertising packages are available at a reduced rate to those interested in securing an advertising contract of 6 months or longer. Purchase a 6-month advertising contract on the IIB web site and receive 1 month of advertising for FREE!. As an advertiser on the IIB web site, you have the opportunity to submit an advertising banner(s), pictures of your product(s), and a text-based ad of any length outlining product specifications, company history, contact information, and links to be posted on a page specifically designed to promote your merchandise within our Advertiser's Index at no additional cost to you. If you'd like to rotate information on your storefront, we can update that information for you on a monthly basis. There are virtually limitless possibilities available with your storefront.
If you have any comments, suggestions, news-related items such as press releases, or products that you would like to submit for review on the IIB, please feel free to e-mail me at: Editor@InstituteOfBass.com.
Thanks so much for your continued support, and I look forward to hearing from you soon!
Editor: The IIB
December 2005
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If you have any comments, suggestions, news-related items such as press releases, or products that you would like to submit for review on the IIB, please feel free to e-mail me at: Editor@InstituteOfBass.com.
Thanks so much for your continued support, and I look forward to hearing from you soon!
Editor: The IIB
December 2005
To Unsubscribe from the IIB's monthly newsletter, simply go to: http://www.instituteofbass.com and submit your e-mail to be removed.
