Bass Matrix

Videos

Every bassline is based on a grouping.

The foundation of every bassline, drumbeat, and overall rhythmic pattern is a division into groups – a grouping. It determines the rhythmic base accents. Depending on the bass style, tonal material is then inserted into such a grouping. Thus, from one grouping, various bass styles can be created – different basslines often share a common rhythmic foundation. Conversely, you can vary a bassline by maintaining the tonal material and changing the rhythmic base, i.e., the grouping. All of this is the core principle of the Bass Matrix. Take a look: everything is illustrated with fantastic bass examples, notation, and top-view.

6 bass options with a drumbeat

Looking for a cool bassline to a drumbeat? What do “Give It Away,” “Alive,” “Voodoo Chile,” and “Future Shock” have in common? Toolbox 3 sheds light on the world of drum beats from a bass perspective and introduces a step-by-step method for developing basslines for any given drum pattern. The Bass & Drum Groove Atlas encompasses all relevant bass and drum figures and their variations – from the Bouncer to Slick & Straight, Dynamo to extravagant Odd Meters. Stylistically open, rhythmically and groove-oriented, with examples from Rock, Funk, Hip-Hop, Metal, RnB, Soul, Jazz, Afrobeat, Latin. This video introduces you to this principle using the “Sneakers Bounce” – the drum grouping 42424 – which is by the way the basis for the songs named at the beginning. Once again, featuring excellent bassline examples, notation, and a top-view.

Bass Matrix SuperJam

Welcome to a special Bass Matrix Super Jam, where we dive into a 7/16 septuplet groove with a nod to Jaco Pastorius’ “Palladium” – but in 7/16! This is one of my favorite rhythmic patterns, and I’m thrilled to share the stage with some incredible musicians. We’ve played together many times, and this 2-minute jam is packed with groove, rhythm, and unique solos from each player.

Make sure to check out the feature spots:
0:27 – Drums (Ralf Gustke, Germany)
0:51 – Bongos (Claudio Percussion, Netherlands/Austria)
1:15 – Pandheiro (Emilio Martins II, Brazil)
1:37 – Bass (me on the new Dingwall Guitars JT-bass)

Groove Transformation

Unlock the potential of your bass playing by treating the Bass Matrix like a versatile language. Explore a variety of bass styles seamlessly adapting to different rhythms— rock, ‘soul it up,’ ‘disco-fy,’ ‘Jaco-fy,’ ‘Red Hot Chili Pepper-ize,’ ‘Salsa-fy,’ and more, then also in 7, 9, 10, 11, 13, and 14. Toolbox 6 takes it a step further by showcasing how you can apply 16 distinct bass styles to measures with varying time signatures like 5, 6, 7, 9, 10, 11, and beyond. Dive into this video for a clear demonstration, complete with sheet music and a top-view perspective.

How can you develop your own signature basslines and apply your bass repertoire in any groove situation?

Discover the ‚Bass Matrix‘ method applied to three different grooves.

In this three-part video series, we apply the same bass vocabulary to three different rhythms, to get into the groove and develop dynamic basslines based on the basic rhythmic accents. Along the way, we touch on familiar examples. Serving as the rhythmic foundation are the popular groupings 42424 and 44332 for the 4/4 time signature, as well as the grouping 334, most commonly found in grooves in 5/8 or 5/4 time. All three videos are based on the method and examples from the book, providing you with insight into how to craft your own signature basslines! If you enjoy these previews, feel free to delve deeper into the ‘BASS MATRIX’; you can find it in Toolbox1 (Groove Basics), Toolbox2 (Groove Design), and Toolbox3 (Bass and Drum Groove Atlas).

42424 (a common 4/4 grouping):

44334 (also a common 4/4 grouping):

334 (the most commonly used grouping in 5/8 or 5/4):

Bass Matrix in action. Check out the video for Jam-2 from page 58. A play-through with a top-view perspective and sheet music will be available soon.

Full-on Bass Experience: Here’s a more extended version of the jam from page 98, featuring percussionist Frank Wardenier from the Metropole Orkest.

This is the video for Jam-4 from page 82, a short solo for all quintuplet friends and those who want to become one. A play-through with top view and sheet music will be available shortly.