interpol52

^^^^ It is an annoyance against 'off' responses to perfectly normal posts, dismissing a different view or experience of gigging as 'nonsense'. That is what got under my skin a bit, it's pretty obvious that we all have differing experiences in pubs or clubs or wherever when doing gigs. The list of songs earlier in this thread are definitely standards and very useful to know off the cuff when gigging in pubs and functions. We all go in to being in bands from different angles, some people can sight read and play a song instantly, others rely on a rehearsal or having past experience of doing a song. There is no right or wrong, 'nonsense' shouldn't even come into it.

[quote name='Bilbo' timestamp='1421061559' post='2656606'] That's nonsense. Your formative years and mine are completely different. Pub bands aren't homogenous. I have never played Sex On Fire and you have probably never played Birdland (I have; in a pub in Surrey). People come at this from different angles and the idea that everyone should know certain stuff is nonsense. My first band did 2 covers, Dazed and Confused by Led Zeppelin and Silver Machine by Hawkwind. Never played them again. I was 45 before I played Mustang Sally and 48 before I ever played 'Good TImes' or 'Ain't Nobody' This idea that there are 'required' standards for pub bands is nonsense. The implication is that, if you don't know 'Son Of A Preacher Man' you haven't 'paid your dues' or aren't properly 'schooled'!! The reality is more like 'Do you know -------'? 'No'. 'OK, Let's play something else'. 'O.K' [/quote] This kind of post will become one of my Daily Annoyances in the Off Topic section. I'm biting my tongue here.

[quote name='stingrayPete1977' timestamp='1408134878' post='2527578'] I really like the yellow but I am just not cool enough to pull it off [/quote] I'm with you on that! I am oddly drawn to this bass even though it goes against all my 'traditional' bass leanings. It looks like something off Back to the Future 2. Then again it is 2015 now!

I had a USA Fender Jazz, black with black pickguard and rosewood neck. It was a 2005 I think with the S1 switching thing, even though I never used that feature. A good solid bass that never ever let me down and did all kinds of mileage with me. So although it's not a 60's P bass, or anything near as special as that, I wish I still had it!

Its been great reading through all of these replies and thank you to everyone who has given their take on this. The audition will be next week so I will post on here my experience, whether it be good or bad! I will be taking everything I have read here on board, I will definitely be auditioning them too, [size=4]I will be making sure that they are the kind of people who I want to be in a band with. [/size][size=4]The only things I can fully control are my gear, my appearance, punctuality and knowing the songs inside out. Anything else will be part of the fun and not something I can really prepare too much for.[/size]

Good point!

I was reading through the Squier range thread on here and was interested to see how some people have ditched Fender and now now only use Squier basses. Has anyone done this? What are the lessons learned from it? I had a VM Jazz, it was a great instrument and I regret selling it now. I have seen a Candy Apple Red one on Thomann at £200, an absolute bargain!

Thanks everyone so far, that's all good stuff! Shall I take a music stand to help me out? Just kidding. The two way audition thing makes good sense and I will be taking a P bass!

After the disastrous attempt at getting my old group back together I have decided to look for a band or project to join. After looking in the usual places I found an advert on Gumtree that was of interest and made contact. So in the new year I will be going for my first ever audition. It's for a covers band doing functions/pubs and the like. The thing is, I have been playing for 26 years and been in a load of bands but never actually had to do an audition. Usually groups have been formed with friends or have come about through knowing other musicians and bands. This one will be with people I have never met before. I'm not nervous, just a bit apprehensive about what may happen! I have been given the audition songs and no problems there, I've got good gear so I won't be worried about any issues there either. I have heard some recordings of the band and they are pretty good musicians by the sound of it. Any advice anyone? This might also be an opportunity for any horror stories you have from auditions so that I can be aware of these extremes of what may lie ahead! Cheers Julian

I started playing bass in 1988. My dad played guitar in pubs and clubs around the north for about 20 years so I always lived in a very 'musical' house. Dad never pushed me into playing the guitar, the thing that got me into picking up the bass was Iron Maiden. My best friend and I listened to Live After Death and decided that we were going to start a band, he would play guitar and I would play bass. We both got Squier Bullets for Christmas 1988. My bass version was great and I wish I still had it, I still have the Gorilla 20w combo though. We listened and tried to play all kinds of metal and thrash, I think that [size=4]liking that kind of music[/size][size=4] helped our development. As the years went by we expanded our horizons as we all tend to. [/size] The bassist in my dads band gave me a few pointers but for the most part I was self taught. The two things that were the most important for me were being able to tune my bass by ear and knowing what each note was on the fretboard. Most of the musical theory knowledge I have was absorbed through playing covers, in recent years I have made more of an effort to get to know a bit more about the theory side of music. Then I realised that I knew most of it already, I just wasn't aware the musical terms or the reasons why some things work and some things don't. I have developed my playing more in the last year than I did in the previous 15 years combined. The internet has helped, having access to just about any song and hours upon hours of tutorials on youtube has enabled me to be 'instructed' by many different players who in years gone by I wouldn't have even heard of. About 10 years ago I was in a signed band and lived out some of my rock and roll dreams, strangely enough through at the time I didn't really care about gear and technique that much, I didn't fully appreciate how lucky I was to be able to quit my job and get paid for being in a band - we got dropped after a year though!! I am 39 now, I feel like I have had a new lease of life with playing bass in the last 2 years, it has helped me through some truly awful times and given me the new condition of GAS on a regular basis!

Simon came up to Wakefield today to buy my GK cab. Top bloke. He contacted me a couple of weeks ago to say he wanted to buy the cab so I put it on hold for him and we made arrangements for the sale. Top communications and a pleasure to do business with! Highly recommended! Cheers Simon!

Just picked up a Bergantino HD112 from Rich. Top bloke and a brilliant basschatter! We had some good coffee and good conversation. Its a shame I dont live nearer Rich because I would like to go and see his blues band play. Cheers Rich and Happy Christmas!!

Cheers mate but I am sorted! GLWTS!

You just beat me to this! I texted him on the morning of the day you went round!

I went to try out a P bass earlier in the week and ending up playing the same old same old that I always do when trying out a bass in a shop. For me it's always I Am One by the Smashing Pumpkins for pick, Scam by Jamiroquai for slap (even though I hate slap at the moment) and How Long Has That Evening Train Been Gone for fingerstyle. Maybe Wrathchild by Iron Maiden for some aggressive fingerstyle too. Then just random noodles. It got me thinking, anyone else have standard bass lines they use when trying out a new bass?

Raking! Thats the word I was looking for! Yeah its a great vid!

Have a look at this live video of Marvin Gaye performing Whats Going On with Jamerson on bass. He is using 1 finger but uses it in a back and forth motion in some parts to enable the quicker lines it seems. Check it out around the 2.34 mark and see what you think. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S67ETkOzAck