Bilbo

Learn to read music. The rest will come. Actually, I think the main thing to remember is that development comes in tiny inrements and worrying about what you achieve each day is potentially counter-productive. It is better to concentrate on the tiny little thing you are doing than worrying about the mountain of stuff yet to do.

There are several threads already on here of this nature, Bob. Try these.... http://basschat.co.uk/topic/67545-no-pain-no-gain/ http://basschat.co.uk/topic/9103-double-bass-buying-guide/ http://basschat.co.uk/topic/171751-how-to-buy-a-double-bass/ THere are 55 pages of threads on Electric uprights and double basses here and most of what you will want to know will have been discussed in there. ALso, if you let us know where you are, someone will probably arrange a meeting with you so you can try a bass out etc. Nice to have another jazzer one here!

Will follow that up. Am really into Fly st the moment. Mark Turner, Larry Grenadier and Jeff Ballard. Check them out.

As a 26 year dedicated Wal user . if you want ' classic', it' s got to be a 5 string Jazz.

[quote name='Dr.Dave' timestamp='1357044070' post='1916628'] Excellent. I hope your non-capitalist conscience allowed you to take your fair and rightful share !! [/quote] I got paid the same as everyone else: Stratford St Mary is a communist state

I think there is a erroneous assumption that what we are as musicians is a homogenous thing. There is art as entertainment and there is art that exists for other reasons. Someone who writes soundtracks for movies can be 'better' at that than someone else who may be 'better' at working an audience. Until we define what element of being a musician we are referring to, we cannot say who is 'better' anymore than we can say who is 'worse'. Paul Chambers could swing like no-one else on earth but his Latin playing was pretty lame. Jeff Berlin is all over the bass technically but anyone with half an ear will prefer John Lennon's 'Imagine' to Berlin's. A great reggae player may not be able to play funk and vice versa. Any discussion regarding 'best' cannot continue without clarification as to which aspect of being a musician we are referring to. Although, of course, all Jazz bass players are better than anyone else

Place was rammed at £150 a head. Recession my a***

[quote] name='tonyf' timestamp='1356970512' post='1915831'] There ya go Bilbo..... [url="http://www.karaoke-version.com/custombackingtrack/van-morrison/moondance.html"]http://www.karaoke-v.../moondance.html[/url] [/quote] Oh, look. Hell has frozen over! I can open that file now. (karaoke AND Moondancr! I must have died and gone to heaven)

I just turn up at the gig read the dots or watch the guitar players hands

[quote name='lurksalot' timestamp='1356714354' post='1912874'] . 6 hrs today , and f*** all to show for it , mostly fannying with midi drums and not even getting as far as a simple drum pattern of any worth . [/quote] You have passed the test and may enter, brother.

Fugly

I am at The Talbooth, a place just of the A12 in Essex, with Ipswich function band Kayona. How's that 'Good Times' riff go again? Who else will see the new year with their boots on?

Came This was recommended to me and I love it. Muhal Richard Abrahms Orchestra - 'Blu, Blu, Blu'. It is on Spotify so give it a listen when you have a quiet hour or so.

I got a German bow at first bubt then got one of these ..... [url="http://www.stringemporium.com/carbon-fiber-upright-bass-bows.htm"]http://www.stringemporium.com/carbon-fiber-upright-bass-bows.htm[/url]

One bass, my Wal Custom fretless 'stock, off the shelf' that I have had since '86. I also have one double bass but they don't do the same gigs anymore so I think that still means one bass per se.

I play a 4 but if anyone said that to me when I pulled out a 5-string I would put it back in the case and walk out, letting them know that they need to think about the things they say before they say them otherwise they may advertently put themselves at severe risk of looking like a bunch of morons.

Can't seem to download it, mate. I cans ee it on screen but it is too small to be of any use so I woudl like to copy it but it won't let me. Can you email me a pdf?

I knew a guy who was a great bass player who got his 1st tv work backing up Madonna on Wogan. He was miming a keyboard bass which he couldn't play. All that practising paid off then.... I also know a drummer who auditioned for a gig backing someone on tv and was filmed, and not listened to at all, to see if he 'looked the part'. Puts it in perspective, doesn't it.

Get this!! It has been selected as one of the 'Books of the Year' in the December issue of the 'New York City Jazz Record'. It ain't the Booker Prize but, hell, I'll take it .... [url="http://www.nycjazzrecord.com/"]http://www.nycjazzrecord.com/[/url]

The main riff on Sir Duke is all pentatonics and is a lot easier than it sounds. Learn it by ear and the playing it is not that hard.

Just heard my copies are on their way and will be with me this week!

I am told that the thing is now being touted around various places and I have had an enquiry about an interview from a Miami radio station and a piece appeared in The New York City Jazz Record putting the book forward as part of their 'Holiday Gift Guide'!! [font=arial, helvetica, sans-serif]Seems its happening at last![/font]

I regularly look at mine because I want a Wal 5 or 6 string but I can' t let it go, I love it too much.

Interesting perspectives but I had to vote for the one I would buy.

French bows are supposed to be more flexible/versatile and German bows louder. It is easier to find a French bow teacher in the UK than a German one if that makes any difference. Paul Chambers's teacher, Gaston Brohand, had to be ordered to teach arco with a French bow because he was anti-French arco techniuque and, until this point, had refused. Fortunately, PC played German but other players like Dan Pliskow in Detroit had to fight to get lessons and then had to put up with Brohan looking like he'd stepped in s*** for their whole lesson. Really motivational.