It’s All in the Timing
I recently ran across an interview online with Carol Kaye.
She has played a lot of the memorable bass work you hear on the radio and television and in film. A matter of fact, Carol has played on over 10,000 recordings for music and movies!
Some of the most memorable bass lines she’s crafted:
- “Mission Impossible” theme song (Lalo Schifrin)
- “The Beat Goes On” (Sony and Cher)
- “California Girls” & “Help Me, Rhonda” (The Beach Boys)
- “I’m a Believer” (The Monkees)
- “Wichita Lineman” & “Rhinestone Cowboy” (Glen Campbell)
- “These Boots Are Made for Walkin'” (Nancy Sinatra)
- Freak Out! (Frank Zappa & The Mothers of Invention)
In the video below check out how she practices with the metronome to get a sense of timing. Usually players mark out a square one, two, three four beat on the metronome and then try to match it. I loved the way she used the metronome as a back beat so that it becomes a cooperation rather than a contest.
It’s also what makes The Listening Wall tick
– It’s all about the groove.