Coilte

[quote name='RhysP' timestamp='1348403002' post='1813150'] Waste of time & money IMO. You don't need any more strength in the wrist or fingers to play a guitar or bass than just regularly playing your instrument will give you. Things like this can also actually increase the risk of developing tendonitis. [/quote] +100. I can never understand why people seem to think that you need strength like "Popeye" to play the bass or guitar. [quote name='Matt P' timestamp='1348404124' post='1813161'] i haven;t tried the powerball but i did buy a gripmaster a while back, and didn't get on with it at all, the guy in the climbing shop recommended one of these [url="http://www.blackdiamondequipment.com/en-gb/shop/mountain/accessories/forearm-trainer"]http://www.blackdiam...forearm-trainer[/url] [/quote] That looks like a gripping device too, in which case it is useless from a bass playing aspect. Why ? Because it is the opposite of gripping that is required to play the bass,. i.e. the lifting of the fingers [b]off [/b]the fretboard and placing them elsewhere to play another note, is what's important. Dexterity and stamina are quite different to strength. Minimal strength is required to fret a string.

[quote name='cloudburst' timestamp='1348335289' post='1812522'] But it just needs to be a bit more creative. [/quote] Why ??? People are bumping an advert.....not writing a novel or a song.

[quote name='risingson' timestamp='1348329904' post='1812436'] It's a free bump and a compliment, so no I don't find it in the least bit annoying. Quite the opposite in fact! [/quote] +1. Or someone could just post "bump".

I dont play bass to be a hero (unsung or otherwise), but because I love both the instrument itself and actually playing with others. As for people who think that bass is easy....when I hear that, I usually smile to myself and let them continue to wallow in their ignorance, as [b]I [/b]( and we on this forum) know different.

Not really much use having either, as on a desert island there is nowhere to plug them in. So, I vote for a semi acoustic.

As usual, G&L basses always get overlooked in threads like these. You should check out either the USA or Tribute G&L SB2 ( G&L's answer to the Fender precision) or JB2. The tribs are made in Indonesia to USA specs. They have the same PUPS and electronics as their USA cousins. IMO a Trib SB2 beats any MIM Fender precision, hands down. The SB2 has a jazz width neck. Here are some links : [url="http://www.glguitars.com/instruments/TributeSeries/basses/SB-2/index.asp"]http://www.glguitars.com/instruments/TributeSeries/basses/SB-2/index.asp[/url] [url="http://www.glguitars.com/instruments/TributeSeries/basses/JB-2/index.asp"]http://www.glguitars.com/instruments/TributeSeries/basses/JB-2/index.asp[/url] Another G&L worth considering is the L2000. One of the most versatile sounding basses out there.

Welcome to the low end ! One of the best all round bass sites out there IMO is [url="http://www.studybass.com"]www.studybass.com[/url] A browse through the "Technique" and "General Instruction" forums on [url="http://www.talkbass.com/forum/f45/"]http://www.talkbass.com/forum/f45/[/url] be time well spent too. As a total beginner to the bass, it would be a good idea to check out good technique first. Apart from allowing you to play at your full potential, good technique will hep prevent hand/wrist /finger injuries later. Below are some links to get you started. Best of luck with it. [media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IeRoQuXlj9w[/media] [media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PPVMBPmrblU[/media]

[quote name='silddx' timestamp='1347978754' post='1807554'] It's ok, same old same old really though. [/quote] +1. I felt the same about "Morph the Cat" despite many plays in the hope that it might have grown on me. I kept on getting that "deja vous" feeling.

[quote name='BigRedX' timestamp='1347790968' post='1804912'] Because hardly anyone uses them. [/quote] I disagree also. While there is no doubt that they are a minority taste, I think more and more people are discovering and liking them, especially on the other side of the pond.

[quote name='4 Strings' timestamp='1347754314' post='1804715'] why are flat strings so much more expensive? [/quote] Depends on your idea of "expensive". I have read on other forums where people have had the same set of flats on their basses (still sounding warm and mellow) for up to twenty years. Even if you only change your roundwounds every couple of months, flats work out a lot cheaper in the long run. However, I suppose the question still remains, i.e. are flats more costly to make than rounds ? My guess is that they are not.

[quote name='chris_b' timestamp='1347437414' post='1800666'] I think they sound good but I’ve found that my DR strings last a lot longer. [/quote] +1. After hearing some great reviews, I bought a set of nickle roundwounds out of curiosity. I found that they became dull a lot quicker than my DR's.

[quote name='wishface' timestamp='1346175411' post='1786155'] This is interesting; advice taken from other discussions has led me to focus solely on SA. [/quote] The Internet is a big vast place, so naturally you are going to get varied views and opinions. As has been said on numerous occasions it is up to each individual to take on board any information given, then use or omit, according to what works for them, or what the music requires etc. If you think that SA is the best way, then by all means, stick with it.

[quote name='wishface' timestamp='1346158191' post='1785888'] I understand, but practicing SA seemed the best way of doing things given that there are certain situations where raking isn't the best answer, and developing equal strength/independence in both fingers (assuming standard 2 finger playing) is vital. Isn't it? [/quote] Well Jamerson used only one finger. Granted, he is/was an exception. The ideal thing is to be able to do both SA and raking, and then you have the option of using whichever is appropriate to the particular music being played. Both have their place.

[quote name='Doddy' timestamp='1346152434' post='1785800'] I never seen anyone use strict alternation all the time. Everyone starts raking when string crossing when descending,especially at higher tempos. [/quote] +1. It all depends on what the music requires. If SA is not required in a given piece of music, I dont see much point in applying it, unless you see it as a "rule". We are supposed to be playing [b]music [/b]after all.

[quote name='dincz' timestamp='1346086078' post='1785073'] Well done! You obviously have a good feel for the timing. One small point - the E string is ringing at times when it should be damped. You probably should look at moving your right thumb's anchor point, i.e. pickup for E string, E string for A string, between E and A (muting both) etc. [/quote] [quote name='rogerstodge' timestamp='1346086618' post='1785081'] my tutor told me to keep my thumb on the pick up at all times?? We're all different i spose, [/quote] Yes, we are all different and we all have our own way of muting. However, it is generally accepted that from an injury aspect, it is better to have the wrists straight. The technique described in the top quote fulfills this criteria, but resting the thumb on the pickup can cause problems in the long term. Yes, lots of players do it without problems, but others do experience wrist trouble with this technique. The "Floating Thumb" technique is ideal because apart from muting the strings, the wrist is straight. Here it is demonstrated. [url="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PPVMBPmrblU"]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PPVMBPmrblU[/url]

Great stuff !! Your over all technique is very relaxed, considering the comparatively short time that you have being playing. Keep up the good work.

[quote name='BottomE' timestamp='1345830150' post='1782235'] I've developed some great hand and wrist strengthening exercises which i have been using for years, even before i started playing bass [/quote] Minimal strength is required to play the bass. Stamina and dexterity are what's required.

That's a pity, especially when you all get along well. However, if it's not fun anymore then it's time to move on. No doubt you will find a new band, where hopefully you wont want to stay at home.

[quote name='debwilliams' timestamp='1345585769' post='1779248'] I've begun to notice that when I'm playing things that are more challenging I'm holding tension in my jaw. I was playing tonight and was really aware by the end of it that I was closing my jaw very tightly shut after concentrating for what seemed like eternity - it was in reality only for 6 minutes and 23 seconds Anyone share my pain?? Have any suggestions how to sort this out or just how play Floyd's Money perfectly without breaking my jaw? Cheers Deb [/quote] The fact that you are aware of this is a good start. Some people dont realise they are tensing up until later on, when they experience pain. Before you play, try breathing in and out deeply and slowly ( in through the nose, out through the mouth) for a couple of minutes. While it is not easy when you are concentrating on the music, try to be aware of tension in the body. Breathing deeply and slowly while playing, helps to relax the whole body.

[quote name='Jam' timestamp='1345588182' post='1779310'] I've also been watching some Scott Devine videos and he makes a lot of sense too [/quote] He is one of the best teachers on the net IMO.

[quote name='Jam' timestamp='1345587403' post='1779296'] No man, not harsh at all. It's something I need to know (and I appreciate the guidance!), I've had bits and bobs explained to me and learned from books but that's never something I've had spelled out. I understand what a minor third is, and I can tell you what it is/show you when I have a bass to hand, but not without, if that makes sense? [/quote] Yep, that makes sense alright. The only disadvantage with learning on your own through books, the net etc is that there is a LOT of information out there. Sometimes it is hard to know where to start, and how to proceed. Theory has to be learned from the basics up. If you jump in at the middle, then you may not understand certain things, because you have not learned what went before. Hope this makes sense. That "Study Bass" site is excellent IMO.

[quote name='dood' timestamp='1345587079' post='1779282'] p.s. - yes, I think it's all too easy to drown a student with waaaaay too much detail when it's not needed (yet). [/quote] + 100.

[quote name='Jam' timestamp='1345585956' post='1779253'] Cheers man, that helps a little, but how is it that D to F is an interval of a minor third? Say, if you fretted D on the 5th fret of the A, F is the 3rd fret on the D, that's how you know it's a minor 3rd? Is there no other way of working that out than fretting it? I was trying to see if there was a logic behind it that I could work out if I didn't have a bass to hand... [/quote] I hope I dont seem harsh when I suggest that you should forget about modes for the time being, if you dont know your intervals. I think you need to take a few steps back, in order to get the basics down. Intervals are explained well here : [url="http://www.studybass.com/lessons/intervals/"]http://www.studybass.com/lessons/intervals/[/url] Another reason for not getting too bogged down in modes, but to concentrate on chord tones instead for now, is explained on the same site here : [url="http://www.studybass.com/lessons/bass-chord-patterns/chord-tones-are-primary/"]http://www.studybass.com/lessons/bass-chord-patterns/chord-tones-are-primary/[/url]

If you stack your thirds, it should make things clearer. C maj = CDEFGAB If we build in thirds from the bottom up we will get all the diatonic chords in the C maj scale. So, from the bottom up this gives us : BCDEFGA GABCDEF EFGABCD CDEFGAB So, reading from the bottom up, from left to right we have the seven diatonic chords of the C Maj scale. The intervals between each note of a given chord determines whether it is Maj, minor diminished etc. For example : the second chord ( second line from the left, from the bottom up is DFAC. This is minor because from D to F is an interval of a minor third.

Without hesitation, I would go for a G&L Tribute JB2. [url="http://www.glguitars.com/instruments/TributeSeries/basses/JB-2/index.asp"]http://www.glguitars.com/instruments/TributeSeries/basses/JB-2/index.asp[/url] You should be able to pick up a used one on your budget, but if you put in a little extra cash you could get a new one. Worth the extra money IMO.