GROOVE VS CHOPS - Can one exist without the other?

Hey everyone!

Hope you're all well. In today's video, I decided to talk about the neverending debate surrounding grooving and "chopping".

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Recorded and Edited on Logic Pro X and Final Cut Pro X

[markarolee]

Yoooo. Sick intro groove without a click!

[AleksP]

Thanks for the video! Being a professional bass player for many years, I've noticed that in the music business nobody cares about you chopping crazy licks, even in the jazz bands I had played, musicians rarely cared about bass players improvisation skills. The most important thing - is to keep a steady and solid groove, read charts and being able to play chord changes in different music styles.
By the way, many bass players I know in my place, play primitive grooves, doesn't know how to improvise but they are very confident and getting the best gigs .

[luquann]

Aye that groove at 2:43 👀🔥
Love the conclusion at the end. Great video

[owenspence]

Saw those kind of comments on a Nathan Navarro video, he was playing this unbelievably complex solo piece on bass and people were saying 'yeah, but can he play a groove'...like what he had played didn't require any rhythm to play. Its mind boggling that after seeing that they question his ability to play a simple groove. I can only imagine it's down to jealousy and bitterness.

[rafaelosuna]

Thanks for this wisdom!Truth be told I am guilty of thinking because cats are flashy and have lots of chops their groove might suffer. You have opened my mind and I will no longer fall into that way of thinking.Btw you were laying down some sweet grooves!

[MarceloBenavent]

At the end of the day I think that what matters most about the work of a bassist is that it improves the joint work of a band. Even if it means playing fewer notes. Sometimes, less is more.
Thank you teacher for always teaching important things to bassists.

[Mtb-TrailTime]

debates come and go. New ideas too. But the fundamentals of playing bass remain. The bass has a purpose. To lock in with drums (pocket). To maintain the groove. Licks are cool and important but at the proper time. “Licks bring thrills but grooves pay the bills”.

[izethewise]

I'm a bassist. I love bass and I think about bass more than anything else however, I walked out of a Victor Wooton gig because he solo'd excessively. The only part of the gig I enjoyed was the 5 mins he actually stopped soloing and played a groove. His time and groove is mind bendingly good and I mean stunning! What am I trying to say? The bass has a role to play in a band and nothing else comes close to the bass at fulfilling that role. I really like bass solos as well (Port of Entry anyone?) but if I listen to a Jeff Berlin album with lots of bass solos I get bored quickly. I much prefer to hear Jeff comping amazingly and hear a sax play over that. Everyone has to follow their heart and practice what inspires them and the chops that all the great bassists acquire when building their soloing ability no doubt raises their overall level as musicians but I would much prefer to go to a gig and hear top class comping and average soloing from the bassist rather than the other way round. That said, it's not an either/or thing - you can be amazing at both or mediocre at both (unfortunately I fall into the latter category :-( )

[judahyumul]

Anthony, you’re such an awesome teacher! I have a problem and maybe you could address it in one of your videos someday. Whenever I play a lick or fill, I always have a hard time getting back on the beat if it’s not on the 1, kinda like what you were NOT demonstrating in the intro!

[tlotlisanglehlwesa]

Thanks Anthony "
Following you from South Africa.
co-incidentally had this in my thoughts in last nights practice session.
this is extremely informative and widens my insight into developing my signature bass playing.
Many Thanks
Bernie.Govender.

[mrdjr]

Awesome video. Plus we've had licks, grooves and chops in quick succession!.

[philreid]

I like that is sounds like you're working the front pickup on this one too. I dig that back pickup Jaco sound but sometimes some forget there's more tones that can come from a Jazz, like that P sound you're getting today :) Thanks for that!

[pierre-emmanuelyougangnjom]

Hi Anthony great video as usual. Btw, this bass sounds way better than the (new 5 strings)

[mhpb]

The cat at 4:03 came for the chops left the groove at 6:48

[eddieness]

You're such a great teacher man, and your playing and tone are both phenomenal.

[christopherroa]

Love your stuff! This makes so much sense

[stephenleslie]

Hi Anthony could you possibly go through the step on how to create a bass line for putting your own track together there probably.many ways to do it the most basic would do thank you 🙏🏻

[JonathanWareMusic]

Yea you can definitely groove without great chops

[FunkadelicPancho]

I've never understood why people think that just because you can chop, you can't play root and fifth in time. Chops are more challenging rhythmically than someone who cant do it can even fathom. Being aware of what notes hit the strong beats etc. Bass forums are the worst

[omg_wtf]

Speed is easy to appreciate. Most people would get bored listening someone to groove in the pocket... People want "wow" sadly