sarah thomas

How about singing a line and then trying to play it back? It helps to make that leap from theory into creativity.

I try things out on an electric piano first, to get the sound in my ears. Then my dodgy intonation doesn't mislead so much. NJE - you might like a listen to Skinny Lister, recently signed by Sunday Best. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BCgv6ruGCB4 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AAkDfQXj6b4

Wonderful. Mine is bevelled. Hooray!

Why do some have a bevel? There must be a reason.

He can't smile and count at the same time. Drummers ... "One and two oh sh*t .... One and two and three a - almost there! ... one and two and three and four and ... Yeah!"

The TV Pal is made of plastic, as is the Islander on the far right. The Islander plays fine - made by Maccaferri, but the TV Pal is a bit of a gimmick. My own attempt sits between the two plastic fantastics. The one on the far left (La Foley) is the finest - and the one I'd save if the house was on fire. And I always thought there was something oddly appealing about Wallace - now I know what. Cheers for that.

That's why the drummer is hiding.

[IMG]http://i291.photobucket.com/albums/ll287/redsedge_photos/soprano%20world/SS850240.jpg[/IMG] [IMG]http://i291.photobucket.com/albums/ll287/redsedge_photos/soprano%20world/RIMG0243.jpg[/IMG] Alas, no Stuart Longridge ukes but the one next to last is one I put together myself from a Stewmac kit.

[IMG]http://i291.photobucket.com/albums/ll287/redsedge_photos/WTJ%20Quartet/smiling.jpg[/IMG] [IMG]http://i291.photobucket.com/albums/ll287/redsedge_photos/WTJ%20Quartet/moresmiles.jpg[/IMG] Our second public outing and here's to many more!

Here we go 2 3 4 - [IMG]http://i291.photobucket.com/albums/ll287/redsedge_photos/Engineeratwork.jpg" class="ipsImage" /> [IMG]http://i291.photobucket.com/albums/ll287/redsedge_photos/Andwereoff.jpg" class="ipsImage" /> Thanks to Himself for photo tips and many thanks to Simon Moore from Cardiff for his patience, time and cymbals.

I found this quite useful: It uses D Dorian as an example. If that sounds like gobbledegook, D dorian is just the same as C Major, only it starts and ends on D. No sharps, no flats. http://www.enablebass.com/modal.htm Have a listen to Miles Davis "So What". 16 bars of D dorian, 8 bars of Eb dorian (shift up a semitione, or a fret), then back to D dorian for the last 8 bars. It'll give you loads of practice at playing over the same chord!

Make that three members. I'm really pleased that my original request for a second hand jazz kit has opened up so magnificently. No apologies are needed! I look forward to learning about double para-diddles and the like.

The Mapex Has Landed. Woohoo!!!!

+1. Drums are fundamental after all. And not enough bassists understand about them (me included).

Ten to ten, ten to ten, ten to ten, ten to ten, ten to ten, ten to ten swish ping! I am EXCITED.

The drum shop rang up and said there had been a mistake in their advert - we thought so, as it was advertised as a 5 piece set. We assumed they meant the drum riser was a fifth piece. Anyway, what a great shop. After checking that I did in fact want what they were selling, they upgraded us to next day delivery. It should be here tomorrow! Phil's teacher is coming round Sunday to advise on tuning it and the band gets together next on Tuesday. Exciting times (must have a lie down).

Did you sell the DB you advertised a couple of months ago? (Strange song - starts strong and then fades out ...)

Because I'm lucky enough to live in Cardiff, last night I went to a 'Jazz Chat' thing hosted by Paula Gardiner, head of jazz at the RWCMD. We went in her office and she showed me her two basses - one a full size Hungarian strung with Rockabiilys. She said that she endorsed Innovation strings but that wasn't why they are on her bass. She likes them. And they bow well. And they're black. How cool is that? I know I'm on the list for the Honeys, but could I go on the list for Rockabillys as well please?

Thankyou very much for the recommendation for the Drum Tuning Bible. I've downloaded and saved it. Hopefully, Phil's teacher will help with the tuning (he wants a Mapex Meridian himself). Thanks also for the thumbs up on the store - it's reassuring to hear. Hopefully the kit will last him. At least he shouldn't be wanting another one in four years time - although he said that about his Ducati ... Now, I am going to play my bass.

I'd love to try a set of Innovation Honey strings. I had Golden Slaps on while I built up my callouses and then changed back to the Helicore Hybrids that the bass came with. I play pizzicato jazz. Please add me to the list.

You could find a teacher for less than £30, perhaps. All you need is someone a bit better than you. My teacher charges £20/hr and £10/half hour. He's a final year student at the Royal Welsh college doing a jazz degree on double bass and is a lot better than me! As I suffer from carpal tunnel syndrome, I wanted to get things right in the first place. It really is a worthwhile investment. Buying a double bass and not having a few lessons is like buying a car and never putting in any oil.

How fantastic! It's really exciting/scary isn't it? I feel about sixteen again. Our aspiring-to-be-a jazz quartet has its second public outing tonight, at The Gate in Cardiff. Woohoo!!!

The saga continues and the denouement is close to hand ... The ebay seller cancelled and made a full refund so I ordered what the man really really wanted in the first place. Mapex Meridian Maple jazz kit - http://www.drumshop.co.uk/buy/mapex-meridian-maple-5-piece-drum-kit.htm And I thought double basses were money pits ...

Thankyou everyone for your encouragement and suggestions. We now have a hi-hat stand, bass pedal and snare stand but are still waiting for the drums ... I've contacted icore couriers who say they specialise in drums and have my fingers crossed. The seller seems kosher but either clueless or rushed for time. If anyone has any ideas on getting a shell kit from Hartlepool to Cardiff, I'd love to hear them, however daft. This is a great forum with a great bunch of people.

Ha! We had our first public outing at an open mic evening at Cafe Jazz in Cardiff. Luckily for us, the house band didn't turn up and Phil made his debut on a drum kit cobbled together from the club basement and the house of a friendly audience member. Later Phil said he couldn't hear me. Funny, I could hear him very well indeed. We seemed to go down pretty well and were asked back to do a set, although that may have had more to do with our two stars, the young and attractive pianist and vocalist than it did with the grizzled, cynical drum and bass corner of the stage. So, just need to learn another 12 or so songs ...