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How Bass Players Should Listen to Drummers

Better Bass Lessons

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🔥 Become the bassist every drummer wants to play with:
👉 https://betterbasslessons.com/locked-...

Great rhythm-section playing starts with listening, except most bass players don’t know exactly what they should be listening for.

In this video, we explore the 3 ways to hear a drummer differently: their time, dynamics, articulation, phrasing, and feel.

But hearing it is only the beginning.

The Locked-In Bassist shows you how to turn that awareness into a deeper pocket, stronger time, and a real musical connection with the drummer. If your notes are correct but the groove still doesn’t feel completely settled, this course will help you understand what’s missing.

Stop simply playing alongside the drummer. Learn how to become part of the rhythm section.

👉 Get The Locked-In Bassist here:
https://betterbasslessons.com/locked-...

7 Comments

@dave-d 2 weeks ago

Yes yes yes. In the big mix when you think everyone else is playing to their own time you have to be the one keeping the faith. It's so hard as a bassist to believe enough in your own time. Had a big session tonight without drums and I had to be the one laying it down. Stay the course and don't be surprised at someone else making up the missing or extra 16th note at the end of the measure. Those big old country style string bands get this. It's all good.

@brianfunshine 2 weeks ago

You mention that the musicians don’t want you playing the substitutions they are playing, but when I played with a very good piano player, he complained that I didn’t notice and follow his substitutions. So is that something that’s just limited to non-chord playing soloists? I’m getting mixed information from different people trying to figure out what’s the best approach. Or are you just referring to soloing versus the chord substitutions they are playing in their left hand?

@m.k.3136 2 weeks ago

For a second I thought that was Jack Stratton on drums and thought, oh boy, here we go…

@M4-V 2 weeks ago

100%

@mangiatito 3 weeks ago

Cole, what kind of gut strings do you have on that bass?

@karlrobertosterman 3 weeks ago

I think this is a situation where the observer influences the experiment. I don't know if it would be possible to not be influenced by the "time" being played by the other musician, but intentionally playing "against time". I think it takes a level of trust between a bassist and drummer to let that kind of "organic time" occur. Speaking as a bassist.