Author Topic: How to train to play melodically..fun for all to try check this out (Read 95 times)

john_judge · « **on:** July 23, 2009, 04:45:47 PM »

I recently came back from a trip to Vancouver where I did and assisted on scoring a piece for film at the wonderful Bridge Studios, it was a great experience but there was something I did years ago that helped to train me to do this type of work and now I will share it will you all.

First find approximately a 2 minute scene of your favorite movie but be sure it is a majestic type scene, love scene, maybe showing nice landscape etc.. but soft...then turn off the sound, time the piece to see how long it is and work out a draft of your music, next watch the film and try to play expressively to and along according to the visual dynamics of the film..
Work on this and you will be totally surprised, this is what got me obsessed with being a producing Bassist, go for it, sit back and critique your work and when it's right you will fall in love with your Bass all over again..Please try this you won't regret it.
you might be a little frustrated at first but trust me it will come to you. Thus you will make a big step towards playing Melodically. enjoy brothers..John

artswork99 · « **Reply #1 on:** July 23, 2009, 06:27:48 PM »

Really nice idea and excercise John. Using visual inspiration to create an audio interlude. Thanks!

elwoodblue · « **Reply #2 on:** July 23, 2009, 08:26:33 PM »

Fantastic idea, I can see how that would get things to flow,

thanks

basicvoo · « **Reply #3 on:** July 24, 2009, 12:17:01 AM »

Hhmmmmm. I think I'm going to have to take a stab at this.

peoplechipper · « **Reply #4 on:** July 24, 2009, 01:51:58 AM »

Neat idea john, but I might actually get good if I follow this excercise...I know! I'll only watch war movies and then I'll just be a better peoplechipper!!!
A friend of mine had a songwriting idea for creating riffs; use the phone book...open a page and stab a number; the number is fret position.forces your hands out of their normal patterns and that's always a good thing. I have actually written a few songs using this approach...
John's excercise is a n excellent idea for fostering expressiveness, despite my joke I will try it...Tony

john_judge · « **Reply #5 on:** July 24, 2009, 11:52:23 AM »

Don't be scared of this one people just dive in, if you got running water then flow your playing during it and if you got a moment of crashing waves or even a soft breeze then flutter an imitate a flute passage, let your mind and your eyes guide you through it and your ears will follow and learn from what the eyes see and feel, then transfer the feel into your dynamic expressions. Yes this is way out of the box and on the other side of the wall, but you can climb over it and grab the beauty of this exercise..enjoy and seize the moment.