seashell

[quote name='Bilbo' timestamp='1321372496' post='1438363'] I have bought 5 copies of Kind of Blue over the years; LP, Cassette, CD, CD with dvd and now a download (cheap as chips). INteresting thought; has it really sold 3 million copies or have 600,000 people bought it 5x like me [/quote] I'd love to get it on vinyl if I can find a copy somewhere. But I'll probably order a CD off Amazon to be going on with. I'm finding that one of the great things about having lessons is that it all adds to your musical education in general. It's not just about learning how to play, it's also about having your musical horizons widened. Lovin' it.

I enjoy a bit of jazz, but don't know much about it. When I first started going for bass lessons my teacher asked what sort of music I'd like to learn to play and I remember saying something like 'not jazz, it's too difficult'. Anyway, at my last lesson he decided he would teach me the bass line to 'So What' off of 'Kind of Blue'. Not on double bass I hasten to add! He just thought it would be a good exercise for me to learn it. He said it would help my playing in all sorts of ways, including getting to sound mroe flowing and less jerky (he put it better than that though). So that's what I'm practising every night at home now. Absolutely loving it. Loving it so much that it makes me smile to myself while I'm playing it (or rather attempting to play it). So many different moods in it. And the key changes are so beautiful and clever. Must go out and get the whole album now.

bump

Ooh, men in kilts with musical instruments

[quote name='damian' timestamp='1320929260' post='1433259'] One time I overshot, got my left foot on the monitor but my momentum carried me straight over and off the stage, at least my wig stayed on. [/quote] Classic. I would have loved to have seen that

[quote name='BurritoBass' timestamp='1320852997' post='1432279'] One thing I've noticed it it definitely sounds better when I play down the neck, the impact is slightly lost once you get further up the fretboard. Personally I don't have a problem with this guy's tone & I remember the clip when I saw it on Jools Holland's show. However, I do have a problem with his pickguard choice! Just goes to show we are all different [/quote] I've got a problem with his hairstyle

Thank you - Led Zep All in Love is Fair - Stevie Wonder Angie - Rolling Stones and finally, please pass me a massive hanky for 'Soon I Will be Gone' by Free

Thanks Dave. Love your avatar BTW.

Very interesting. I didn't know about this. I might give it a little try.

[quote name='Valhalalf' timestamp='1320754579' post='1430823'] Well here's a pic from back in the day when I played lead guitar for the comedy metal band WAR as the character Valhalalf [/quote] Yay, that's more like it! Kirk Douglas eat your heart out

@ Valhalalf - slightly disapointed you're not wearing a huge horned helmet, but nice pics nonetheless

[quote name='icastle' timestamp='1320749542' post='1430747'] ...or the cat decides to end it all by drowning itself in the toilet... [/quote] Yeh, she probably thinks I'm strangling one of her relatives..

With me it's more the other way round. The friend is sitting there, trapped, and I'm going 'My lessons are going really well, d'you want to hear what I can play, listen to this...er um no, that's not quite right, OK listen to this then I can do this one, ..oh no that went a bit wrong there but you know what it was supposed to be, OK I can play this one really but you just have to imagine it going twice as fast...'' repeat until friend leaves the building, weeping.

[quote name='bassman7755' timestamp='1320410388' post='1426463'] Oh come on where not letting you get off that easily - full blow by blow account please [/quote] Don't encourage him by using phrases like 'blow by blow' Seriously though, that's great news. Well done discreet, you are still my hero!

[quote name='bluejay' timestamp='1320264129' post='1424632'] Absolutely. Bass playing has helped me deal with turmoil in my life in the last few years (splitting up with my partner after 16 years, finding an entirely new group of friends, coping on my own financially, that sort of stuff). Music is medicine for the mind. [/quote] Yay! I can relate to that. The split with my partner (after a mere 11 years) is the main reason I started learning to play bass. It's been an abosulute tonic. And I'm sure I wouldn't have practised every night if he'd still been there cluttering up my flat with his presence. And I'm a gurl, and I'm left handed. But I play right handed since both my hands are equally incompetent fretting or plucking It's a lot of fun on here, hope you enjoy it.

[quote name='Dr.Dave' timestamp='1320331696' post='1425422'] All I can say is I wonder how many of us would get clapped and cheered if we did a solo - and if anyone ever said they were learning bass and reply was 'What - like Dr Dave' I'd be well happy. Good luck to the lass - however thin we experts deem her talent to be. Maybe if a few more of us stopped skulking around in the shadows and got up front and performed then the general public might know a few more of us. [/quote] Ah yes, this too is a good point!

[quote name='LiamPodmore' timestamp='1320316951' post='1425136'] One thing that massively helped me with timing issues i used to have, which might sound stupid to some people, but i started tapping my foot with the beat, which most people seem to do anyway, and somehow that managed to keep me in time. I still do it now when i'm playing on my own, without a track. Edit for spelling failures. Liam [/quote] Doesn't sound stupid to me. My bass teacher is always telling me to do that.

[quote name='leftybassman392' timestamp='1320309104' post='1425001'] I do love a good 'old school' rock anthem: Sweet Child O' Mine by, G'n'R And if anyone thinks it's cheesy and a bit too obvious, well I just don't care. [/quote] That's it, you stick to your Guns! (n Roses) (I'll get me top hat)

And another thing! It's really annoying when I tell someone I'm learning to play bass and they say 'Oh, like Suzi Quatro'.!

I'm not really liking that thing she's doing with her left leg either.

[quote name='discreet' timestamp='1320147578' post='1422811'] The Specials and Metallica! What catholic tastes you have. Edit. [/quote] Yeh, I do like a bit of variety! Was listening to Bach's Violin Concerto on the car radio this morning. Very refreshing for the spirit. Hope that's not too off topic.. there is some nice double bass in the second movement

I would go for the first bass lines I could play all the way through, which were Gangsters by the Specials and Nothing Else Matters by Metallica

[quote name='duncbassgit' timestamp='1319815269' post='1418939'] Oh and we also once had a dry ice smoke machine that wouldn't stop. Even after pulling out the wall plug it kept belching smoke out. Again Martin to the rescue who had to carry the still pumping machine out into the car park. Dunc [/quote] Great thread, am really chuckling at some of these. Not being a proper muso I don't have any gig stories to share. But as a some time dancer in various musicals, I can only add that dry ice is the work of the devil!!

[quote name='KevB' timestamp='1319546513' post='1415514'] Is this 'chimp finger' then? [/quote] No Kev, he looks much too dextrous

[quote name='icastle' timestamp='1319543663' post='1415423'] Could you PLEASE stop swinging off that chandelier while I'm talking to you - it's very distracting... [/quote] Be careful, I might start throwing poo at you