skej21

[quote name='starman' post='941329' date='Aug 31 2010, 08:13 PM']I've been playing bass with a band for about four months, we've been playing along to original tracks so far as at the moment we have no singer. I was given the task of looking for one and forwarded various mp3 tracks and details from about six interested singers onto my bandmates, who weren't interested in any of them without even giving them an audition (their comments were too cheesy/too heavy/not really us etc etc). Last week I found two singers that were going to audition, one changed her mind as she didn't like the material we were doing, but one had an excellent voice and would have been perfect. She asked if she could audition three of our songs and three of the songs she likes. I checked with the band members if that would be ok (as it was ok with me), of which only one replied saying she would probably want to do Celine Dion type stuff and to tell her no. I had already asked her what songs she would like to do and they were by Pearl Jam and Bon Jovi). When I forwarded this on to the band, they sent a really rude email back saying "If we have to play that stuff its over, tell her to poke it". So we are back to no singer again. The material we were playing was great at first (Motown, Bowie, Squeeze, Ace, Wild Cherry) but it's now getting too diverse (Dusty Springfield, Pulp and Ian Dury, Byrds, Buzzcocks, a song called Pirate Aggro by the Housemartins). I feel we need less diversity and to stick to more of a genre than be all over the place if we want to eventually gig. I've spoken to the band about this and they agreed, though nothings changed. Do you think I'm wrong? I'm 45 and bands are fairly hard to find around this area. Would you put up with it, keep quiet and play something you don't enjoy or quit and have no band? If you've read this far, thanks![/quote] It really comes down to you really and what you class as a reasonable balance. Are the gigs/band paying you enough money to make it worthwhile sticking it out and having no input? Do you enjoy it enough and feel valued enough to do it for free/expenses/small amounts of money/THE GLORY? If not, then there's not much point in playing for a bunch of people who don't value your opinion AND won't pay you the money you deserve for the job you're doing.

ANYTHING with block inlays. Like a moth to a flame...

The endings of songs are always fun. It's the one bit in a song that cheers my day up. Especially when you have a really mundane run-through for a reading gig and you find that one of the songs has a killer ending! The last time this happened to me I was playing for a production of "Hairspray" (which is good/cheesy, but has a lot of boring, BIG rock and roll style endings) and then got to the end of this and it totally rocked my world! Just one of those things that feels COOL as funk when you nail it first time with a huge ensemble

[quote name='Bilbo' post='941005' date='Aug 31 2010, 02:38 PM']My God! Thinking this through, I have just realised that I haven't gigged anything but my Wal and a Status Energy 6 for over 20 years and the Staus only went out half a dozen times! I played a Roscoe 5 when I tried out a Markbass rig at the Bass Merchant about a year ago but that was only for 15 minutes (no great shakes) and I have tried a couple of Warwicks but that was over 10 years ago. I tried an Alembic Epic at the Bass Centre in Birmingham around 1991 and a Yamaha TRB6 a couple of years before that in the Bass Centre in Wapping. Early on there was an Ibanez Musician bass I tried and a mate had a Fender Jazz custom job but I didn't like that very much. Maybe I need to get out more (actually, I don't try basses unless I am buying and I am never buying so why try them out ). So, in answer to the OP, I don't dislike anything really; I just like what I have and have no need to look elsewhere.[/quote] I'm in that boat, until I hear a Warwick and have a bit of spare cash. Then I get G.A.S, go and try one with the intention of buyng it and then realise I just hate the feel of them. I'll just stick to what I have I think!

[quote name='Mog' post='940046' date='Aug 30 2010, 03:53 PM']I've often been called a prick when using the 'wick. Gear snobbery to resentment in 0.9 sec. I'm more than happy to use the 'ol Hohner or Yamaha at any gig. The result will be the same.[/quote] It is at this point that you slam the headstock right into their face before stating; "Even the cheapest bass can break your nose as good as the best of them!"

[quote name='TimR' post='940035' date='Aug 30 2010, 03:34 PM']I thought it was the drummer that was wearing the t-shirt. Making some sort of statement.[/quote] It was the drummer who was wearing it. "Night of the gig he turns up an hour late and doesn't speak to anyone wearing a t-shirt that says "band needs a drummer."

I was just wondering if anyone else has this problem, or if I'm just a bit special. Are there basses that you want to love, but can't? I've found Warwicks are the biggest problem for me in this department. I've tried dozens and everytime I pick one up, there just seems to be something about it that I don't like and puts me off buying it. It's such a shame because I love the style and REALLY love the sound! (Mainly because of this) Does anyone else have this problem? Please tell me I'm not alone!

[quote name='risingson' post='939948' date='Aug 30 2010, 01:16 PM']I judge each case on it's merits, I don't think I care as much about what gear they play as it seems a little elitist. I remember seeing a band play a while ago, the bass player had a nice Spector, but it sounded dire, and his playing was pretty rough. After they were finished, the next band came up to play, the guy plugged this Tanglewood bass into the same rig and it just sounded massive, plus the guy was a monster player as well. Gear isn't indicative of how good you are, and I've often found that people with majorly expensive gear are sometimes only compensating for bad musicianship.[/quote] + 1 The saying my bass tutor used to come out with when referring to these kind of people was; "All the gear, no idea" Unlike Bobby McFerrin, he has "All the idea, and no gear"

[quote name='Mykesbass' post='939562' date='Aug 29 2010, 08:12 PM']Ok, having just watched Gloria Estefan on Hot Tub's 80's thread got me thinking - the 80's IMO stank for drum sounds and 80/90% of keyboard sounds. As digital technology was being introduced everyone thought they HAD to use it, often to dire effect. Guitars also suffered (not only in sound but all those pointy headstocks Meanwile, bass was doing quite well with the likes of Mark King, Mick Karn, Pino et al. Meanwhile, not so much from a playing point but from an audio point, bass in the 60's was really way behind. But that was the decade of the Hammond, Rhodes and Wurlitzer. I guess the 70's was pretty good for bass with some of the classic dance music (Chic, EWF etc) but that was overshadowed by great rock guitar and drum sounds. Load of old bullocks or anyone else care to pontificate?[/quote] Glad you found the Gloria Estefan interesting As for the 1960s/70s, what about the likes of Motown and Atlantic (and of course James Jamerson!)... I think it's a credit to bassists everywhere that nearly all of the decades have had room for cool bass somewhere!

[quote name='BurritoBass' post='939540' date='Aug 29 2010, 07:29 PM']I didn't see it & wasn't a fan of the 80s at the time (or now!) musically BUT I think any decade can easily find 100 great moments. I keep finding 80s moments that were better than I'd initially given them credit.[/quote] I reckon they could find 100 greatest moments in this video alone! Okay, maybe not 100 greatest moments, but definately 100 great mullets/moustaches!

[quote name='Doddy' post='939462' date='Aug 29 2010, 05:04 PM']I don't know of anything like Drumsense for bass. Basically all Drumsense teachers use the same body of material fairly systematically-it's a decent idea,but not something I'd personally go for as I prefer a more individual approach. As far as Grades and stuff,I don't have any grades at all,but have comfortably taught grade 8 of both Rockschool and RGT. What level should you aim for? I'd never settle for being anything less than better than I am now. If someone wanted to look at grade 5 for example,could you do it with no problems? I'd certainly expect you to. Can you explain how scales and arpeggios are made up? You should be able to. I know a lot of teachers who have very little experience in the gigging world,have no clue about reading,don't understand the basics and generally teach songs in a rock style (with tab)week in,week out.To me,these guys are doing the students a disservice because ultimately the students learn nothing.[/quote] +1 However, a teacher's enthusiasm and ability to pass on what they know is what you need most. Any idiot can learn the RGT/Rockschool syllabus as it is possible to pass such exams through simple repetition and practicing scale/arpeggio patterns. A good teacher will go the extra mile and explain WHY such tools are important and show/explain how they can be used to improve your playing. This will mean that as a tutor you need a solid understanding of harmonic and melodic function alongside a secure knowledge of the bass in order to show pupils how theory can be practically applied. Don't worry about being the greatest bass player EVER though. I know a lot of EXCELLENT players (including one of my past tutors) who are dreadful teachers and visa versa.

[quote name='BurritoBass' post='939446' date='Aug 29 2010, 04:44 PM']It's Musicground though & they are not the cheapest[/quote] I was thinking, it seems a bit extreme.

Is this about the right price for this bass? For some reason, it seems wrong. [url="http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/1957-Fender-American-Vintage-Reissue-P-Bass-Precision-/260627580660?pt=UK_Musical_Instruments_Guitars_CV"]http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/1957-Fender-American...ents_Guitars_CV[/url]

Jay-Z and Beyonce - Bonnie and Clyde '03 What a brilliant bass line!

[quote name='BottomEndian' post='938978' date='Aug 28 2010, 07:14 PM']Ah, yeah. I'd forgotten about them. I remember looking in when I was trying to find venues to gig in a few years back. I think their policy was "no drums, no distortion, no feedback"... not much good for the stoner-doom stuff I was playing at the time. Might have more luck this time![/quote] Last time I played there the set-up did not include drums, but we had a big PA rig and every member of the band was either mic'd, playing with a pick-up or DI'd from an amp in it, so they are pretty reasonable. REALLY nice venue to play too, good atmosphere and good space (maybe a bit small, but you want intimate gigs for acoustic stuff )

The Bridge Hotel also like their Acoustic acts! (Or at least they did a few years ago when I used to gig on that scene!) Try there

[quote name='The Goatreich' post='938118' date='Aug 27 2010, 02:28 PM']The main struggle at the moment is playing along to the metronome, maybe it is time to point him towards someone that can help him out long term.[/quote] Don't get fooled into thinking that a student's failings are due to the standard of your tuition. The chances are, it is partly your fault (for allowing him to have free lessons based entirely on his terms - learning songs he likes and teaching him techniques that he requested, such as slap) but the main cause of this problem probably lies with him. Because he has learnt on his own terms, he is obviously going to resist when you ask him to do something tedious and easy yet VERY time consuming (as progress will only come through a lot of practice.) Unfortunately, students will do ANYTHING to learn the cool stuff and avoid the hard work and as the tutor/experienced musician, you have to find a fun way to engage them so that they will do both. Good Luck!

This is a classic. And the added bonus of Pino playing the live version. Quality! [url="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qYRmQRtS3cw"]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qYRmQRtS3cw[/url]

[quote name='risingson' post='934925' date='Aug 24 2010, 04:01 PM']Touring is a good laugh, although you need to be prepared for hanging around a lot of the time which can be such a pain. I love seeing new places on the continent though, that's what's great about it... being places you're unlikely to have seen had you not embarked on a tour in the first place.[/quote] +1. The hanging around bit makes me crave a useless sound engineer so I can at least spend some of the time doing something. Then you actually get a bad sound engineer and the extra work/poor night's sleep/sugar and caffiene rush combination just makes you more angry than you've ever been! But I bloody love it!

I once played in a band and went off on tour and the singer, who was a MASSIVE tool, started to really annoy us all. He also used to insist on wearing a scarf/pashmina thing for shows. This led to the guitarist suggesting that we all dry-wipe our arses on his scarf before he puts it on for the show. We did and the keyboard player even managed to squeeze a fart on it. The worst thing was, he never noticed so we proceeded to do it for a full 8 days before he noticed and threw it away. *hangs head in shame*

[quote name='CHRISDABASS' post='648822' date='Nov 8 2009, 03:48 PM']Thanks I'd never dream of selling that bass! ever!! im gonna teach my kids to play it one day! lol [/quote] It's now up for sale/trade! What are you thinking?!!

[quote name='bubinga5' post='925220' date='Aug 14 2010, 10:02 PM']i dont think i have ever seen a guy play the bass like this guy can...hes a magician...IMO there is nothing that is not good about Sharay's playing...solid sh*t with fills that just take ur breath away...the more i hear this guy play the more i think he is the best in the pocket player in the world... [url="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ff2CCSzjeHg&playnext=1&videos=aahhFS6QsOA"]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ff2CCSzjeHg...eos=aahhFS6QsOA[/url] I know Pino is good but this guy has got it locked.. [url="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2JBPFYjY01I&playnext=1&videos=q38ziwbZSKY"]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2JBPFYjY01I...eos=q38ziwbZSKY[/url][/quote] That guy is good, but Pino and Steve Jordan are a pretty difficult rhythm section to top! [url="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TesSAq6uY34"]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TesSAq6uY34[/url]