It’s interesting how drastic of an impact note duration can have upon a groove.We’ll be sticking with the same drum groove as last time...

Audio Example 1

...and playing the same pattern on the bass, emulating the kick drum figure...

FIGURE 1

 

...which you can see (and hear) is hitting beats 1, 3, and the “and” of 2 (the 8th-note after beat 2).

Groove Approach #2 (Focus: Note Duration)

Listen to that groove when phrased in a very tight, staccato manner.

Audio Example 2

 

Compare that to the “normal” version from the previous lesson...

Audio Example 3

 

See how the two versions make entirely different musical statements? A relatively minor adjustment of technique to cut short the duration of the notes has a profound impact upon what is being said, musically.

How about the other extreme? Let’s hear that bass line played very legato, with the notes ringing for the full note value.

Audio Example 4

 

That has yet another starkly contrasting musical feel. Compare it with the audio clips for Examples 2 and 3, above.

It’s the same basic rhythmic figure, but manipulating the note duration allows the bass line to be tailored to make the most appropriate statement depending upon the desired musical effect. It truly is ALL about the subtleties.

Mixing It Up

One of the easiest ways to give a song dynamic variation (i.e., louder/bigger sections alongside comparatively quieter/smaller sections) is by keeping the overall loudness of the bass fairly consistent, but using variations in note duration to create a sense of building up and dropping down. Gradually going from a tight staccato phrasing to a ringing legato phrasing is also incredibly effective for transitioning from one section of a tune to another.

Here’s a groove where both the drums and bass are transitioning from staccato to legato. Hear how the hi-hat gradually opens up as the phrasing of the bass line becomes more legato.

Audio Example 5

 

That sort of approach can be perfect for building from a verse to a chorus, etc.

Let’s hear that reversed: here’s the same groove, but going from legato to staccato.

Audio Example 6

 

Again, notice how the overall volume of the drums and bass hasn’t significantly changed, but the variations in note duration have a big impact upon the perceived dynamic level.

EXERCISE 1

Play along with our earlier drum groove, again using just the E at the 7th fret of the A string (allows for easy control over note duration). Emulate the kick drum’s rhythmic figure, but phrase the notes in a staccato manner (very tightly - don’t let them ring beyond the initial attack). As last time, really focus on locking with the kick drum. Record yourself and listen back to evaluate your success and/or “area of potential musical growth” (ha).

Audio Exercise 1

 

EXERCISE 2

Repeat Exercise 1, but change the phrasing to very legato. Let the notes ring right up to the next one, but ensure that the attack is still tight with the kick drum.

EXERCISE 3

Practice gradually going back and forth from staccato to legato and back again. Keep focused and make sure that the time and groove aren’t being compromised by the attention to note duration!