It is I, the Artist currently known as Baldy Locks. For my latest installment for the folks here at Eden I want to discuss a little something I call "Bass Yoga." No, I'm not talking about playing pan flute lines via MIDI on a 7-String. (You know, that could be kinda cool but I digress.) Actually, Bass Yoga is the concept of flexibility and being "in tune" with your surroundings as a bassist. Bass Yoga can take on many forms, as do most things I go over, and it actually expands on some of the concepts from my prior articles. You may find some usefulness in the following ramblings and they will (hopefully) help you develop as a player and as a professional in the music industry. So, hang on to your booty and lets do this thing.

I was extremely fortunate to be raised in a music family; my mother and my uncle were both professional jazz and blues musicians. That being said, I cut my teeth on music centered around improvisation. This obviously meant I needed to have a good grasp of what was happening with the music. With jazz especially, being able to listen to everyone and interacting is "king". That aspect of being "in tune" with those around you is what we all strive for. That feeling of actually being "in" the music is better than any high you can create artificially. But getting there is sometimes easier said than done.

This can particularly suck if you want to slam the horn player's fingers in his case because he wants to stay up all night playing obscure avant-garde jazz tunes. Especially while you're trying to get some sleep before driving to the next city. Yes, kiddies, that's unfortunately part of being in tune with your surroundings, too. Personal interaction with those you're trying to create with can make for some amazing musical journeys. It's so much easier to find that Happy Place in your music if you can keep from ripping someone's head off. Strange but true. . .

"So how does this apply to Bass Yoga?" you ask. Well, before you can reach your harmony with the world of playing, you have to get in tune with those around you and - more importantly - yourself. To start this process, begin by setting aside a certain amount of time in your daily musical endeavors to really make sure you understand what makes those around you tick. We all have that certain band, artist, or player that just "does it" for us. But do you truly understand who "does it" for the other folks you're playing with? If you can discover this secret, it can make the difference between sitting at home or being on a stage. Make a conscious point to listen to the cats around you as much as possible and really listen to what they have to say, both musically and verbally. I also suggest that if you want to take it to the next level, you should purchase some of the music from a few of their heroes to really get into their headspace and begin your voyage to musical oneness with the galaxy. (All of a sudden I feel like pan flute again. )

This leads me to the other portion of Bass Yoga and that is flexibility. Even though a double jointed bassist on a Cirque gig could be interesting, that's not where I'm going. No, being flexible about music means getting out of our own personal safety zones and trying something new, or a different approach to what we're doing for the music itself.

You may be an old school finger style player, hardcore pick fan, or a slap fanatic. From a technique perspective, it's extremely beneficial to spend substantial time learning all of these techniques - but that's actually only part of being flexible. We all have our "go-to" bass parts - those riffs and lines we hear on a particular tune but may or may not be what the tune calls for. Depending on the musical situation and the folks you are working with at the time, the occasional " What the $*%& are you playing ? That's not the right part." is inevitable. Even worse, you've poured your heart and soul into a gig thinking you've done everything right only to find out you're being fired because "It's just not working out." Remember: things are not always as they seem but don't you fret, class. This can all be avoided with the almighty Bass Yoga. Now you say "Sean, I've done all I know to do to get 'in tune' with these poor sacks. I've listened to them play, bought some of their music, and even listened to them go on about everything from obscure recordings to bad Sci-fi films. What else can I do?" It's actually very easy, my Perpetuators of the Groove. All you have to do is lose anything you have resembling an EGO !!!!

More times than not, our own musical ego is the CAUSE of our inability to be flexible. Case in point: I was on an audition years ago for an artist that I still work with. It was a full band audition and everyone came in cocked and loaded with their bag of tricks and their interpretation of how the music should be represented. Lucky for me some of the life lessons regarding my own ego had already taught me a couple of things.

I was prepared for anything but the guys I was auditioning with-- not so much. Keep in mind, the guys I was auditioning with had played with major musical legends during their careers, so it wasn't that they couldn't cover the gig. But the award-winning producer for the artist was in the corner of the room and I could tell he just wasn't digging it. I knew I had to be flexible to do what he and the artist wanted and, more importantly, to find what the song needed. So, with the ego dropped, it was time to embark on my Bass Yoga techniques by a) being "in-tune" with the producer's needs and b) being flexible and venturing away from my own approach.

Now, one thing I haven't hit on yet with the "in tune" concept is WATCHING people. Be sure to watch everyone you're working with as much as possible. By watching body language, you can find out what people want and ultimately get in tune with them. This works very well, and has been a huge part of my success. So, armed with all of the Bass Yoga techniques I had, a solution for the gig finally presented itself like a beam from the Heavens. The producer stood with his eyes closed and started playing a bass groove on his chest. Thanks goodness I was watching him because, without pause, I immediately started to cop what he was doing feel-wise. After a few moments he very subtly opened his eyes and smiled. There it was. I had just won the gig!

He proceeded to move to the next guy but, unfortunately, ego had the best of the auditioner as he wanked away mindlessly with his"vision" and was totally oblivious to the fact that he was not "in-tune". By being flexible and in tune I had already captured the ultimate vision of the artist, whereas this guy was blowing it. His own inabilities to adapt and, oddly enough, everyone else auditioning whose egos didn't let them get "in-tune", cost them the gig. They also missed out on a wonderful hang as the producer and artist have both become two of my dearest friends in the world. Of course it doesn't hurt trying to make my house payment either. Somehow creditors enjoy it when you send them money. Go figure !!!

So there it is gang. Light a few candles, burn some incense, and begin your Bass Yoga practices. Not only will it help you prosper in getting in tune with the music, it will make you a very successful musician and a friend to those you work with. Now, I'm going to go chart some 7 string pan flute parts.

So, until next we groove...

Later, S

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