sarah thomas

It's been posted before and no doubt will be again. Welcome to the world of double bass: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iFTqVHEJZ0A

It is difficult if you live at home and your family is actively unsupportive. Keep hold of your conservatoire goal and practise quietly. You can always use an amp for volume later while you're building up your callouses for upright playing. My son had a difficult time from his stepdad. Now he's a professional musician and just about earning his living from it. It was all he ever wanted and he kept to his dream. Is there anyone in your family who supports your goal? It always helps to have an ally.

i've been reluctant to post about the artistworks site because I believe that a real person who you can talk to and who has a genuine interest in your progress is an unbeatable teacher. But finding the right one for you, especially when you're starting out on the upright, is an expensive and time consuming business. I think that these online lessons are a great start and focus on the basics. You can go at your own pace and the video feedback from John Pattitucci is spot on. For me, at least, it's well worth it.

Have a look at John Patitucci's online jazz bass lesssons at artistworks.com. There are structured lessons going from beginner to advanced. It costs about £60 for three months. You learn from the videos, post a video of yourself playing and get video feedback from John Patitucci. I'm enjoying it a lot and have gained confidence.

You could always get an upright, then people won't compare you to anyone at all. Instead, they'll say 'That's a big guitar.'

Hiyo ni msaada mkubwa!

Hoping that I'll be there!

I think it wan't so much apathy, as a change in direction. Your poll has been a victim of thread drift. I'd like to see a section on technique for upright players. I'm trying to learn how to sustain tied semibreves. I've seen people use a sort of vibrato to get long notes but don't know how to do this. Any ideas, links to videos, etc are very welcome. Is it something that just isn't there but comes with practice?

I[i]'[/i]m with Hector as well - it'd be great to have a section on upright playing and technique. For instance, I only recently found out that I needed to give myself more string length to avoid clacking and buzzing and that rather than leaning over the bass uncomfortably, I could just extend the end pin. Simple, but it's made loads of difference to my sound.

You might find scott devine's lessons helpful - http://scottsbasslessons.com/ It's handy to have something to go at whilst tackling the marathon of knowing where everything is on the fretboard! He has lessons for different levels of ability.

For folkies missing Mike Harding, miserably axed by the Beeb, he has his own podcast which comes out on Sunday evenings and can be listened to any old time you like: http://www.mikehardingfolkshow.com/category/podcasts/ Apologies if this is old news.

Just putting in my vote to keep the strings black. All black.

[quote name='lefrash' timestamp='1372622082' post='2127832'] I thought it was awful. I honestly thought it was cringeworthy. Theres plenty bands out there that are in the later years but still pulling it off.... RS were terrible. I appreciate that if I was there then I may have felt differently but that would be more to do with the atmosphere created from the bands reputation and name.... not from the sounds coming from the PA. [/quote] This. The Stones have been doing the same old things for decades, rehash after rehash after rehash. It's a job. The same old job, doing the same old things. If they've been deveioping musically, it's not as The Stones. Hey ho ...

A fine cake! And a fine collection of decanters in the background of the first picture

I've played about a bit more and happily discovered a little symbol at the top right of the screen which led me home. If you learn by pressing buttons and seeing what happens, then this app works smoothly. I needed a button presser to help me on my way.

Had a quick go whilst waiting for tardy students and managed to get it playing Autumn Leaves but then had a devil of a time getting it to stop. I couldn't exit the programme I was in to go onto anything else. This is on an iphone, so maybe it's better on a tablet. I had to switch the phone off in the end. I probably need to set some time aside to learn how to use it. Trouble is, that's time I could spend practising ...

It's also half price at the moment. I'm a fan of iRealb but at £2.49 I had to have a look. I've downloaded it but haven't had a chance to play yet. Work is interfering with pleasure yet again ...

[quote name='ubassman' timestamp='1371195139' post='2110977'] ...I think I need to get a copy of Sarah Quigleys book ( ...know of a cheap second hand one for sale ?! ) ! [/quote] Mine's on Kindle, otherwise you could have it!

No, it wasn't a bad thing. It made me smile, and I'm glad I saw it. I don't think I'd bother going especially though! The women had made a little more effort, with pretty flowers painted over their nipples, that sort of thing. The men just let it all hang.

What a day. Wandered into Cardiff to buy a cymbal stand for my man, decided to try an electric bass or two and ended up buying a Fender Black Top pawn shop jazz bass (two sets of precision pick ups) and saw a leaflet for a Ginger Baker concert. Bought tickets. Left my handbag in the music shop and had to dash back for it. If I hadn't, I never would have seen eighty or so naked cyclists riding past. Bizarre. The Ginger Baker Jazz Confusion was the best concert I've ever been to. Fantastic. Awe inspiring. Alec Dankworth is incredible on the upright bass. Pee Wee Ellis is such a presence. Ginger Baker and Abass Dodoo are amazing. A must for jazzers and even the Eric Clapton T shirt wearing brigade were having a great time. If you get a chance, do go and see them. Thrilling stuff.

Thanks for posting - I really enjoyed reading 'The Conductor' and it was great to flesh out the book by listening to the Symphony. (Or the last ten minutes of it, anyway ...)

Flamenco Sketches - a different modal tune for you Speak No Evil - functional and modal playing in one song

What colour was the car?

Rule 1: The bass player is right. Rule 2: When the bass player is wrong, see rule 1.