dmccombe7

AHA but you could look at this in another way :- you are one of the common denominators alng with GF. Makes you think now

Aha so that's the reason for staying with the band. Understand your predicament but can't you and your GF find a better band or slowly replace the lazy ones until you have what you need. The problem there is that once you've gathered first class musicians around you it means you are now the weaker link and could get kicked out by them Dave

That's a bit extreme. You should never play slides in Zep songs. Tsk tsk tsk. Seriously though that's taking it too far for any band and i you did the right thing and moved on. Dave

Some pubs up here still have some good DJ's where you'll get a good mix of rock and some punk thrown in occasionally. Anything with a bit of energy usually goes down well. A lot of the bike festivals i attend have pretty good DJ's blasting out some real classics like Smoke On the Water. You just can't help but enjoy that song when you hear it loud at a bike festival with a beer in your hand. If i'm honest tho i'm quite happy with a DJ provided its energetic enjoyable music and only an occasional more chart type song but i don't go out much these days. Dave

I obviously don't know your circumstances but are there other opportunities in your area to join another band or form a new band with guys that share or equal your own commitment. I'd really struggle with that attitude long term so you have my sympathy. Dave

I tend to agree with you altho if its a DJ playing good rock music that i like then i'd be ok with that but not the usual chart pop music that i just find too boring and samey. Dave

I'd have to say that's more CBA syndrome and not sure how you get around people not really giving a s**t. For me that suggests people not really taking the band seriously and rehearsals are more a social event than a meeting to polish of the finishing touches. I've been in bands with guys like that and i struggled with them. Last time I was the new guy and it took a short while for me to get up to speed with their existing set before moving on to new songs which is when i first started to notice the lack of commitment. Have to say the band folded as guitarist running it decided he had enough of them and packed it in. No point in staying with them after that. Funny part is they continued and eventually guitarist came back and since his return he sacked the 2 that were slacking and replaced them. Wanted me to come back and replace the existing bass player too but i was already in a new band. Dave

Yep spot on Paul that's how we've done most of our songs. Where different endings are done we pick the one we feel most comfortable with or usually the version that comes naturally but we'll try them all to make sure we are happy. Dave

If someone suggests a song its probably the first thing i ask. What version ? You could get them to send the version they want to learn to all band members. Pretty easy to do that these days with modern technology. Dave

Got this album for Xmas and quite enjoying it.

Someone needs to lead the band and tell them what version. Take the lead Dave and dictate to them see how you get on. Otherwise the person suggesting a new song dictates what version. Dave

I saw a youtube VID of Neil playing this at an open air gig using his Kramer bass and the tone was sublime. Crystal clear and so easy to hear his fills. He jas admitted on here that he ad-libs a bit when playing it live so the fills aren't always the same but they are all exceptional and just great when you get the famous ones just right. Dave

where do you draw the line in reproducing the exact original as i play fingerstyle and many of the original bands i cover used a pick. I can use my index finger or thumb as a pick but i'm far more comfortable using fingerstyle and unless stipulated by other band members i'll stick with what i prefer. Perhaps that's just taking things to extreme and more what a tribute band might consider. Dave

4th - 26th January was the given delivery for mine. Dave

I can relate to so many of your points its funny to read it all laid out. To be fair i've not come across the clique of musicians that busk it or wing it as that's not really my scene but the rest is brilliant observation and well put together comments. Liking that. Dave

I've been in bands where someone was a little weaker than others and i enjoyed it because we all worked towards making the best of what we had. It can take a little more work and a little longer to get to gigging status but if its fun and enjoyable i stick with it. As long as everyone is putting in the same or similar effort i'd be ok with that altho these days i'm more used to a level of playing and commitment similar to my own. I guess that's maybe because as the age group i play with we have all gained a fair bit of experience and know our instruments quite well. That's one of the benefits of being a more mature player Love that Pro Tools comment Dave

You enjoyed it. It was fun. Job done and that's what its all about for me. Well done and many thanks for keeping us posted on how you are doing. I'm enjoying the updates and progress. Cheers Dave

Had to go and listen to that song. I'm guessing its Lenny Kravitz. I know the song but never really listened to it much but i hear the little quiet bass run before the solo. Nice song to play too. Dave

That's the 1st time i've seen the A on a bass tab.

Yep that's the tricky part playing that A. Took me ages to get that right by watching VID clips of Andy Fraser playing it. I just knew i was missing something until i saw him actually play it slowly on a documentary clip. He had a similar technique to Jack Bruce using fingers and thumb. Hugely talented bass player and songwriter. Dave

All of the covers we do were singles in 70's and usual endings were faded out. We had to derive our own endings without making them sound the same no matter who the band was. That is down to what "feels right between us" We try a few different endings for a song and then agree on best option. We record that version for our own records for the next reherasal to make sure there's no debate which is very rare anyway in this band. On a few of the solo's we had to re-arrange to suit our instruments too but the general feel and sound of the songs needs to remain true to the original. Occassional ad-lib notes from someone during a rocking out section is accepted when you get in the zone but only if it suits and fits with the song. If it doesn't one of the other guys will say so and suggest not to play that particular run again. That's quite rare tho. We specifically aim to capture the parts that people will know ie the guitar riff in the instrumental section of Jean Genie needs to be exact as people recognise that. Siren in Blockbuster people remember so we ensure that's in the song. We're not a tribute band but we are aiming to replicate the originals as near poassible. Dave

The Cort Rithimic bass isn't hugely expensive either. Sure Bass Direct had one new at £750 and i've seen them 2nd hand for under £500. Bass was demo'd by our very own Dood and he liked it so it must be pretty good. With regards using the Markbass set up i recently saw a 15" cab in Guitar Guitar that was as deep as the JB combo next to it. I didn't check the detail of whether it had a tweeter but you can usually switch the tweeter off anyway. Add the standard Markbass head and you have almost the same set up in seperates. Its quite a chunky looking amp or cab altho lightweight. The physical depth of the JB combo quite surprised me when i saw it. Its good reliable gear, lightweight and if you can get 2nd hand its great value for money. Dave

Quite fancied the fretted version but i currently have a PJ so not really worth having two of the same for me anyways. I prefer my basses to be different and have different sounds to play with. Dave