WorkshopLive interview with Dave Overthrow
Started: Age12 in 1975
Education: Berklee College of Music - Western Connecticut State University, B.A. Jazz Bass
Music Styles: Jazz, Funk-Rock, Any style that has great grooves
Instruments: Electric Bass. 4 string fretted, 4 string fretless, 6 string electric bass.
When did you start to play? I started playing the bass at the age of 12. I tried the drums at 10but I instantly gravitated towards the bass after playing one. I loved the sound of the instrument.
When did you start to notice that your playing was different from everyone else's? At the age of 14 I began to pursue music, styles of bass playing and particular bass players who had a distinct and original voice. I never thought of the bass as an instrument that didn't deserve the same attention and consideration as the other instruments. I started to be drawn to bassists who had a unique voice and style.
When did you find your voice as a player? I went through several phases of playing for many years. I concentrated on being versatile and able to play in many musical situations. I absorbed many musical styles and after years of experience found my own voice. I think now when I play someone can where a blindfold, listen to my playing and say, that's Dave Overthrow.
How do you keep your playing fresh? Some of the things I do to help keep my playing fresh are 1) Keep open to everything and draw influences from many styles and genres of music. 2) Practice things that I don't already know. I try not to practice the same licks, grooves and patterns that I played the day before. I'll play my fretted 4 string, switch to my fretless and then play some on my 6 string. Since I play certain types of things on each instrument when I play all three basses in a practice session I find myself playing different styles and approaches and it helps keep things fresh.
What do you do when you get stuck? I think a musician should let the playing come to them. If there is a day whenyou are not feeling that the music is there you can either practice some technique or just put the bass down for a bit. Sometimes if you take your mind off it for awhile that can be a good thing and when you come back to the bass you are revitalized and have plenty of musical ideas.
What do you still find hard to do? I don't know if there is one particular thing that is still difficult for me but in my quest for new grooves, techniques etc.. I definitely encounter things that are challenging for me. If I always played only the things I was comfortable with and didn't take chances things would get stale for me.
How often are you surprised by your playing, or what you're listening to, or music in general? There have been times when I've been on a gig and while everyone is playing great with a lot of energy and the interaction among the musicians is magical. I've found myself with a big smile if not laughing out loud because the moment is so magical and the music is so happening. I also listen to a lot of different genres of music and am often surprised by hearing musicians play things I didn't expect.
Are there one or two core ideas that are central to your teaching that you make sure every student learns? I first let a student know that music should be fun and enjoyable. If you play an instrument do it because you really want to. I also instill in my students to be open minded and open to anything. Being closed-minded is an enemy to any bassist.
Do you find yourself returning to listen to the artists who inspired you when you first started to play? Who are they? I find it enjoyable and re-energizing to revisit and listen to my influences. I don't listen to my earlier influences as frequently as my more recent influences because my playing has gone through a metamorphosis and I don't play much like my earliest influences anymore but I still love to go back and dig there sounds and bass lines. It brings back memories. My biggest early bass influence was Chris Squier of the group Yes. His tone was amazing and his melodic bass lines were the first to make me think of the bass as an individual voice other than solely a supporting cast in the backround. I later discovered Stanley Clarke and then caught wind of Jaco. Those guys pretty much redefined the electric bass in the 70's. Jaco and Stanley and Chris Squier were my main influences because they all had a unique sound and style. All of my bass influences were bassists who contributed something of their own to the instrument. I also dug Percy Jones, John Paul Jones, James Jamerson, Bootsy Collins, Jack Bruce, Geddy Lee, and still do.
Does your playing change when you switch instruments? I have three basses all handmade by Ron Blake. I mostly play the 4 string fretted bass but also play the 4 string fretless and the 6 string. The 4 string fretted is my workhorse. I play many different types of things on that bass. I use the fretless for tunes that I want to play longer notes on or tunes that I want to phrase notes with more expression and not have the frets. I love the expression that the fretless affords me. The 6 string allows me to play extended range chord voicings on the bass and obviously gives me the low B string for low notes that you feel in your chest. I guess my approach to each instrument is different in that it tailors to the strengths of each instrument.
What music would you suggest for your students? This is a broad question. I would encourage the student to realize what music they have a love for and trace the music and the players of it to the roots of the music. Find out where it came from. Before you learn about a modern technique learn what was done before that and how it got to that. I would encourage them to listen to the music that they are interested in as much as possible but to also listen to things that they might not ordinarily listen to. Be open- minded. Open mindedness is a good friend to any musician.
How do you approach practice? I think it's important to have a productive practice regiment. It doesn't make sense to practice something you already know all of the time. Try to divide your practice time into segments. Let's say hypothetically that you have 1 hour to practice a day. Divide the 60 minutes into 4 segments of 15 minutes. Practice chords and scale forms for 15 minutes. Practice working out tunes for 15 minutes. Practice technique for 15 minutes. Practice reading for 15 minutes. This is just a template. You can add other aspects of playing if you wish but always try to stretch your limitations by practicing something you can't already do.
What are you listening to these days? Do you search out music that's new and unfamiliar to you? I'm always listening to new things but nowadays it's hard to keep up with everything as I mainly concentrate on my own thing. I do focus on hearing the latest in the bass world.
Do you have a musical wish list - other instruments to learn, people to play with, artists or styles to explore? I've played with Stanley Clarke, Mike Stern, Zak Wylde, Trey Anastasio, Frank Gambalie and others. That's a pretty good list as I grew up listening to Stanley. I do enjoy playing with any musician that is committed to the music, playing from the heart and is a good human being.
Have you ever had a really great teacher? What made him/her so good? I only took one bass lesson before I attended Berklee College of Music. The instructors there were very good and I learned a lot. The greatest bass instructor I had was Doctor Lyn Christie. I studied with him when I attended Western CT. State University. He's an amazing human being. I studied with him for 4 years and learned a lot more about playing the bass through discussions about not only music, but also about relaxation, the brain, the minds eye, and a host of other things. One of the things I got from Lyn was to not look at your hands when playing. Only then are you hearing %100 of what you are playing. Try it!
How do you learn best? I learn best when the material is presented in a multi faceted way such as auditory, written, visual and experiencing.
visit Dave at www.daveoverthrow.com
