Keeping The Bass Alive...
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38 Comments
PAUL J JAMES
July 15, 2019Very cool but I’ve never heard of 12/8 time so the counting is a little weird. Would love to see this in 4/4.
Dan
April 22, 2021It turns our 12/8 does have 4 beats per measure, but each beat is a triplet, so you count as Griff demonstrated “One and uh Two and uh Three and uh. Four and uh” for each measure. At least that’s my understanding.
Tom Paine
October 16, 2021Griff.I appreciate your lessons..well done…I have purchased several of your courses and you are a great teacher….It is so satisfying to understand guitar playing better..Tom
rz
October 17, 2021Hi Paul,
The 12/8 gives the same feel as 4/4 triplets. If you think in all eighth notes there are 12 in both.
1 & a 2 & a 3 & a 4 & a -In 4/4 with 4 beats
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 – in 12/8 (technically 12 beats per measure and 1/8 note gets one beat. But in practice feels like 4 beats and triplet feel
Chris Roper
October 26, 2021123 1
223 2
323 3
423 4
👍🙂
Michael Drevyanko
July 17, 2019Griff,
Is there anything wrong if you use a drum machine pedal instead ?
Mike
Dan
April 22, 2021I’m pretty sure Griff would tell you, using a drum machine is a good thing in that it helps you keep time and provides a drum for the music, so you don’t have to. But if you don’t have one handy, you can keep the bass and beat going with your thumb if you develop the skill.
It’s hard at first but you can get it. I developed an independent thumb playing House of the Rising Sun where I can now pick out short two or three note bass melody licks with my thumb (rather than a single note) while finger picking the rest of the notes, since it’s a simple thumb, index, middle, ring finger and back pattern for each chord. It’s a technique I frequently bring into other songs.
rustie
July 23, 2019Far, far too much wordy explanation for a simple idea. This could be explained in 2 minutes, but instead its an overcomplicated ramble more likely to confuse than clarify. Keep it simple, Griff!
Mongo
September 26, 2020Griff,
Another great teaching!
Love your series!
I’ve been a player around 40 years (OMG!). Multiple bands with CD’s and some airplay. Blues was never my genre, so it’s great how you take the time to include a foundation within your teaching.
Sure, it’s really simplified and many of us can go ‘ok, I get it’ and mirror what you’re doing first pass. But to go the long distance in a blues context we need to build a vocabulary which requires a disciplined foundation.
Thank you!
Tully hood
October 6, 2020I think Chris is doing is showing it real simple so students like me can’t pick up on it for someone that’s kind of like a professional it would probably sound too simple
RFK
October 15, 2021Not a useful comment Mr. Rustie.
R
October 27, 2022I think you meant to say thanks for the FREE lesson. And the time and energy for creating it. You might want to consider starting your own lesson page where you can keep it simple.
Bob S
July 23, 2019Hi Griff, While it’s a good introduction to Travis picking, this video never quite gets there. It poops out before you show where practicing the right & left hand fingering techniques can go. Was there supposed to be another video linked in succession? Your pal, Bob
rz
October 17, 2021look at it as an intro then
Rev.Harmon Biehl
July 23, 2019I like to play in different times. 3/4…6/8…traverse picking. Single string picking mixed with power chords produces a bluesy sound. I would like you to do something with single notes/chords/ and triplets or arpeggios in one simple song…
Like Willie Jean for example….please.
Rev harm…
John
July 23, 2019I like your detailed explanation. I can always speed through it if it’s too detailed. Thanks for covering all the bases.
Bob Wire
July 23, 2019Skip to 4:47 and he starts with; “Let me show you what I mean by this idea of Thump Bass”…And it pretty much addresses everything I was looking for from this. I think if you want more, you have to buy the course–kind of how most of these videos work here, but he does give a great example, complete with counting starting at 4:47…Thanks Griff.
Frank Cordaro
July 23, 2019I read a lot of the comments. I’ve noticed there are a lot of expert guitar players that have responded and respond with useless nonsense. If there is nothing to contribute thats positive and helpful you’re wasting your time n everyone elses. Kind of like my post here. Why not just enjoy the free lesson or shut it down.
GREAT JOB ON YOUR LESSONS GRIFF. PLEASE
KEEP EM COMING AND THANK YOU….
Ira Braden
August 9, 2019This is very close to Travis Picking. Merle Travis popularized the Thumb Base.
tony
August 11, 2019good job . this style of playing is a bit like a Kansas tune . Just more involved .
tony
October 1, 2020A Robben Ford thing . He is good and he uses the E and A also for bass notes.
Eric
September 19, 2019Griff, all your lessons are great u are a kool kat ill be with ur lessons for a long while. Thank you for makeing it easey. Eric
Pete
September 22, 2019Thanks for this lesson. I’ve tried to learn how to play in this style before and I’ve always had trouble keeping the bass part steady and flowing. You’ve made it easy to understand and learn. Great stuff.
April
August 10, 2020Thank you Griff. Well done.
David Conner
September 10, 2020Would you please demonstrate what I call a Percussive strum between chords . I see a lot of players use it. Thanks
Tony
September 25, 2020More please. Love steady or alternating bass.
Tully hood
October 6, 2020I think Griff is doing a great job for beginners like me that’s great that you’re showing this real simple so that people like me can pick up on it thank you Griff
David Bloomfield
October 31, 2020Out of the Blue I find I cannot open any of your tabs ?
David
March 17, 2021I believe we used to call this “dead thumb” or something, Doing it this way is easy for an intermediate player. The hard part comes when keeping a consistent thumb going while playing a riff or notes or any melodic type playing. The coordination needed has always been hard for me. I’ve yet to find a lesson that can put that together with a solid routine. I dont know if your acoustic unleashed explains a new or proven way to do this. How about it Griff, if anyone can get this through my head its you!
Marek
May 7, 2021Griff,
This is really a valuable advise. Thank you
Ronald Heim
June 12, 2021Can you teach the Travis method? Doc Watsons’ style is one example.
Thomas Guitarman
February 17, 2024I knew Doc and Merle well , though he could play this way to a degree like on Deep River Blues , he really did it more simply than Merle T, would have BUT HIS SON MERLE , was one of the best Ive ever seen and heard in this style but rarely showed it off , then you can bring it all forward to insane level with Tommy Emmanuel .
Mike
January 4, 2022Just wondering what the “Trackbacks” tab is for. I’ve never noticed it before but… this one seems to be empty.
Bob C
January 17, 2022I have been smitten by the Delta Blues sound where thump bass is fairly standard. Your explanation is great – simple and straight forward. I have been working on this idea for about 6 months and have been trying to keep the thump pulse while adding alternating bass line and a running bass line. It can be frustrating but when you get the timing right and the fingers cooperating (and I have occasionally) its great.
Richard
April 25, 2022I so appreciate these blues lessons. I’ve been playing guitar for many years and am still excited to learn new things to do on guitar. Thank you Griff
Steven Daniels
April 25, 2022Thanks Griff looks like a awesome challenge.
Thomas Guitarman
April 29, 2023This is a great lesson check out Rev. Gary Davis , or John Hurt for the mastery of this .
Thomas Guitarman
February 17, 2024Rev Gary Davis is the one that gets me the most