skej21

[quote name='flyfisher' post='1015491' date='Nov 7 2010, 06:19 PM']I've known a few freemasons in my time, firemen, policemen, salesmen. I was even invited to join a worshipful company of city somethings once upon a time, but politely declined. I can't quite put my finger on it but there's something a little bit creepy about 'secret' organisations. Plus, in my experience anyway, they would seem to be populated by people who seem to need the status of belonging to something as an antidote to their lack of individuality or accomplishment. But I'd hope that wasn't always the case.[/quote] I don't think the Freemasons is really that much of a "secret"... There may be "secretive" bits that go on behind closed doors, but that happens with loads of things. I imagine it's like being in a band. You have a few fellow band members and most other people know who members of the band are and when they rehearse, they do it behind closed doors and out of public view, so they can keep new material to themselves and can work/communicate with each other without distractions and interference. I don't see much wrong with that.

[quote name='JamieBenzies' post='1015510' date='Nov 7 2010, 06:31 PM']I got a merit in grade 8 Bass with Rockschool in October '09 thinking it might be beneficial for music college applications etc. So far I have had absolutely no use for it at all.[/quote] Can I just say something in response to this, as it's a reckless and flippant comment and people could get the wrong idea. Taking ANY (LCM, Rockschool, Trinity Guildhall or ABRSM) graded music examination above grade 5 (theory or instrumental) will contribute towards your total of UCAS points when applying for University places. If your actual A-Level/BTEC grades alone do not supply you with enough UCAS points, any points gained through graded music exams can be invaluable and could secure you a place at Uni (and if your A-Level/BTEC grade is good, it's just a good way to ensure that you will [b]definately[/b] have enough UCAS points) Just because you THINK it didn't do much, this may not be the case for someone else.

[quote name='munkonthehill' post='1015462' date='Nov 7 2010, 05:37 PM']yip the handshake is there, but there aint no process or ritual. Certain words, actions and phrases would direct you to a fellow brother.[/quote] Maybe ritual was the wrong word. What I meant was, you need to signify you are a fellow brother in more ways than JUST the handshake. Which means the learning the handshake alone would be pretty useless, because you would fail to respond correctly to the additional elements, such as the questions and phrases?

[quote name='AttitudeCastle' post='1015447' date='Nov 7 2010, 05:20 PM']Haha thats fine because thats the only bit which is wrong in that post!! Thanks ever so much man![/quote] Anytime That's what this forum is for... helping other bass players in a friendly way Glad I could help mate.

[quote name='skankdelvar' post='1014819' date='Nov 6 2010, 10:35 PM']It's true. I'm not a Mason but years ago I found out how to do the 'I'm a really [i]very [/i]top bloke' handshake and had lots of fun with it. [/quote] I know quite a few masons and they always tell me that even if you know the handshake, it wouldn't get you anywhere because it's just the first step in a series of rituals to show that you are in fact a member. This might not be true, as I'm also not a Mason. Maybe munkonthehill could clear it up for us?

[quote name='Doddy' post='1015101' date='Nov 7 2010, 11:24 AM']I've not taken any of the exams,but I have taught upto(and including) grade 8. It won't do you any harm by going through them. You'll have to cover various scales and arpeggios which is a good thing,and then you've got the play along tracks aswell. It's actually a pretty decent course.[/quote] + 1 I teach Rockschool & LCM upto (and including) Grade 8. I would agree that courses such as this are good for helping you to develop your playing with a specific focus on technicality, musicality and music theory. The way I see them is like when you have driving lessons. The lessons help you to get comfortable and gain an understanding, but you don't really learn to drive properly until you drive on your own for a while. Great starting point and they'll help you to develop your playing skills and help you to gain confidence in your playing, but I always advise students to become an active musician and try applying the stuff they're learning in a practical/musical setting, not just in their lesson.

[quote name='AttitudeCastle' post='1015353' date='Nov 7 2010, 03:36 PM']I'm testing the water here as i feel very foolish indeed, BUT surely then its 4ths from E-A-D-G But if you were "tuning backwards" as it were from Highest to lowest, G-D-A-E (normal tuning just saying it backwards?) Then its in 5ths? [u][b]Ie Decending, but E to G is Ascending so its 4ths?[/b][/u] ^ Is that correct or am i still wrong and confusing myself?[/quote] If you were tuning backwards BUT still ascending, as in GDAE in place of EADG retrospectively, then yes. That would be in fifths, because in ascending intervals, G to D is a perfect 5th, D to A is a perfect 5th and A to E is a perfect 5th. As for the bit in bold/underlined, you've lost me entirely with that lol

[quote name='AttitudeCastle' post='1015319' date='Nov 7 2010, 03:03 PM']As the circle 5ths is B E A D G C F Bb Eb AB Db Gb[/quote] Also, I think you have confused yourself a little bit, the note sequence above is a circle of [b]fourths[/b] (not a circle of fifths). A circle of fifths is - C G D A E B Gb Db Ab Eb Bb F (which is the circle of fourths backwards) Hope that helps

It's tuned to 4ths because the only way you can work out intervals is if they are descending or ascending. When tuning, you start with the bottom (lowest) string and work UP to the top (highest) string, which means you are dealing with ASCENDING intervals. This means that the bass is tuned in 4ths because E to A ascending is a perfect fourth (rather than if it were descending, then it would be a 5th) For example, A is a 4th above E. So B to E is a fourth upwards, E to A is a fourth upwards, A to D is a fourth upwards, D to G is a fourth upwards and G to C is a fourth upwards. Might be a bit of a lengthy explanation but hope it helps?

I was thinking about this the other day and wondered what other people would think. Freemasons are a fraternal orgainsation and have secret handshakes etc which allows each member to recognise another and in some situations, offer sort of perk/advantage for those involved. Whether this is true or myth, it's a bloody good idea IMO. Here's the important bit. Why don't we have a "bass players" version? We already offer some advantages in the "for sale" section when we know that we're selling/buying to a fellow bass chatter who can be trusted, for example. However, imagine this. You spend a lot of time at work, and on the whole it's ok but the other people you work with lack any passion for music (or worse, they're a guitarist) Imagine now, that you knowingly employ a fellow bass player (thanks to the complex system of handshakes etc) and now you get paid for having lengthy discussion about GORGEOUS basses, your inability to control your GAS and whether you should be a reading bassist or not Alone, such an alliance cannot be created but together we could make the world a better place (even if it's just for bassists!)

This; I'm teaching the kids at school about Gamelan and Bali-based fusion music, so this was in there. Super catchy and great groove. Shame about the guitard solo

[quote name='Truckstop' post='1014195' date='Nov 6 2010, 12:56 PM']Isn't anyone worried that it's so light? I find that ultra light cabs tend to lack that certain... je nais se quois? I dunno, they just seem to lose a bit of projection and bassiness. I can't describe it! Truckstop[/quote] Personally, no. I have a GS112 and that packs more punch than pretty much every cab I've ever played through! Will have to try the SL112 but have a lot of confidence in it being good! If the rumours about these mini amp/cabs are true, I'm going to be all over it like a tramp on chips!

I would agree. Revolver (and in particular "Taxman") is one of the reasons I picked up the bass!

[quote name='silddx' post='1014291' date='Nov 6 2010, 02:12 PM']I agree. A cabbage with theory is still a cabbage.[/quote] Never a truer word spoken. Some of the nicest/best players I've played with couldn't even spell "theory" and some of the "best" (on paper) have been total cabbages! Let's forget about learning to read or not, how about learning something about professionalism!

[quote name='Truckstop' post='1014269' date='Nov 6 2010, 01:49 PM']I'd agree that a sound knowledge of theory could possibly impinge on your ability to groove and think abstractly.[/quote] I think I would have to disagree. My bass tutor/s have always told me that you should understand as much as possible and then choose to leave stuff out. Bassists without theory knowledge and technical ability are limited in what they can play, but a lot of players who get so theoretically/technically competant find it difficult/"below them" to play "easy" lines which results in overplaying. This is just an issue due to lack of discipline IMO and I think it's better to have a wide knowledge base and be selective in what you play across a large variety of music, than be a player with no knowledge and no choices. That IMO is the best way to work.

[quote name='silddx' post='1014186' date='Nov 6 2010, 12:45 PM']Most of us could probably sing that couldn't we?[/quote] Hell no! I'm a bassist which means I can't sing (unless it's at a poor backing vox standard!)

[quote name='peety' post='1009392' date='Nov 2 2010, 10:30 AM']Need to learn this pretty quickly and haven't reall got any time just wondered if anyone has got either a decent tab or the notation for it any offerings gratefully received thanks steve[/quote] In the time it took you to type this, you could have just tried typing "take that shine bass tab" into google? Also, "decent tab" is an oxymoron

Bad times. I hope he gets this back soon! I'm sure the Basschat people will be keeping eyes wide open, but any extra/specific info you could give would probably help massively!

Joe Osborn played bass on this track I think - [url="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joe_Osborn"]http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joe_Osborn[/url]

[quote name='Bassassin' post='1007137' date='Oct 31 2010, 11:17 AM']So I take it you're looking for American tat rather than a proper Japanese one? Jon.[/quote] Haha, nope. Ideally just looking for something that's in reasonably good condition that I can look after I'm even open to something like a '72 Reissue Jazz from 1985. I just want a bass from 1985 that plays well, looks cool and is in quite good condition. Too much to ask? (P.s. I actually agree that Jap Fenders are incredible! Most of the recent Jap builds [like the Geddy Lee Sig] play better than most US basses IMO)

[quote name='BurritoBass' post='1006962' date='Oct 31 2010, 07:43 AM']Very much of it's era (& don't forget customs charges) [url="http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/FENDER-JAZZ-BASS-Special-Japan-1985-Precision-J-PUs-/200536469478?pt=Guitar&hash=item2eb0e7afe6"]http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/FENDER-JAZZ-BASS-Spe...=item2eb0e7afe6[/url][/quote] Man, this is REALLY tempting!! Such a perfect specimen I've never had a bass brought in from America that hasn't travelled in my hands before. Any idea what the customs charges would be?

[quote name='skankdelvar' post='1006904' date='Oct 31 2010, 01:00 AM']1985 was a bit of an odd year for Fender. After the CBS sale in March, the Fullerton plant closed down. With no US factory, all instruments were sourced from Japan. In October, Fender opened the Corona (USA) facility, but with only 10 staff and a limited, 'high-end' output, while supplementing this with Jap instruments badged as Fenders. Odds would probably have it that lots of 85 Fenders are Japs from outsource factories. Which is, of course, neither here nor there.[/quote] This is the reason I'm looking for one! Pretty unusual times for Fender and the basses will be an interesting collectors item because of that... It will also be a bass made in the year I was born (december) 1985 so that's the other main reason I'm looking

I was thinking that it might be difficult to get hold of one because it's kind of a mid point. Fender were still making good basses around 1985, but people may have twigged by then that collecting them for future investment might be a good idea. If anyone sees one, please let me know!

I'm trying to find a 1985 Fender Jazz or Precision Bass. What do you think the chances of finding one are?

[quote name='Doddy' post='1006182' date='Oct 30 2010, 11:52 AM']With the bands I play with,we'll usually get an email from the bandleader of any new tunes to learn,and then we'll play them on the next gig-normally within the same week.[/quote] + 1 I couldn't imagine spending 6 weeks learning a new song, especially a cover. I think I'd end up hating it before I even got to gig it!