peteb

[quote name='BassBus' timestamp='1396720371' post='2416784'] When a player only wants to play in a covers band which means learning someone else's lines parrot fashion, why spend hours learning endless modes and diminished scales when he/she will never use them. If that player then chooses to move into a genre such as jazz then those skills will be useful but not before. So why waist time. [/quote] Surely the whole point is that having a basic understanding of scales will make it quicker and easier to accurately learn the basslines of the cover songs that you want to play??

We stormed it mate! First gig and all that , therefore a bit rough and ready on some of the intros and outros, but we got a big crowd and went down a storm. As you say, can’t go wrong at the Tap with that type of music – loads of reaction on Facebook, etc (link to band’s page below in my sig). We need a few more songs and a bit more work but looks like we may have a decent little band on our hands…

Hey dude, I will resurrect the old Heavy Rock Band Set List thread in off topic and post a set list tomorrow if I get chance..

My new hard rock covers band plays its first gig tonight at the Brewery Tap in Idle (north Bradford). The band features Neil ‘Sak’ Saxton on guitar (ex leader of NWOBHM stalwarts Baby Tuckoo) and singer Rik Finn. Rik is a real find, a cracking rock vocalist who has never played a ‘rock’ gig before, but has had extensive experience as a professional singer and dancer on cruise ships and the like. We are playing well known rock covers, but are trying to avoid the more obvious ones (i.e. no ‘Enter Sandman’ or Whole Lotta Rosie’, etc). We are hoping for a good turn out, but anyone who can get there will be most welcome – should be a good night…

[quote name='ThePapabull' timestamp='1396635735' post='2415969'] Hi all, Can anyone let me know if its possible to get/buy strings for a normal 34" scale 4 string bass that have al low string tension or feel? I realise that this may well be a stupid question as I guess string tension is governed by scale length i.e. the smaller the scale / neck length the lower the tension….. however if you don't ask you'll never know.. many thanks PB [/quote] Technically you are referring to 'compliance' rather than 'tension'. DR Hi-Beams are generally thought to have low (perceived) tension, whereas their Lo-riders have a much tighter feel...

[quote name='UglyDog' timestamp='1396628496' post='2415873'] You scored a Bass 350 for a ton?? Oh you spawny git. That's a fabulous bargain. [/quote] Surprisingly, I've seen a few of em up on here going for a song...! I suppose they are a bit out of fashion as you can't lift them with your little finger, but a real bargain...

I had one for about 5 minutes about 15 years ago! To be honest I didn't really get on with it, but a hell of an amp for £100...

[quote name='skankdelvar' timestamp='1396381445' post='2413010'] Inform, you did. Y'know, I've never done one of these blues jam things. I'd probably have understood 'Quick change' but 'In from the five' would have left me cacking. A brief glossary explaining stuff that people suddenly shout out a pico-second before the count-in would be dead handy. I've had a lengthy Google and can't seem to find anything. Any pointers, anyone? [/quote] The thing is I have done loads of ‘em, so you do tend to pick up the lingo! I’ve done quite a few as part of a house band at jam sessions at festivals etc, where the featured artists (who generally are great players) get up and stand in after they have done their set earlier in the evening. With these guys you are lucky if you get a quick shout of “fast shuffle in D, in from the five”! The worst are the Americans, who for some reason always want to play fast funk tunes in E flat. Occasionally they may tell you the name of the song, not that that is too important in blues! Still, keeps you on your toes and can be great fun…

[quote name='skankdelvar' timestamp='1396380096' post='2412978'] Thanks Pete. I have learned something new today! [/quote] Excellent – I aim to entertain and inform! And when JT comes back and tells us what ‘henpecked 4ths’ are then we will all have learnt something else new…

[quote name='skankdelvar' timestamp='1396378718' post='2412953'] While we're at it, what does 'In from the five' mean? [/quote] Oooh please Sir, I know the answer to that one! It means that you start the intro to the song from where you would normally change to the V chord, i.e. if you are playing a standard I-IV-V twelve bar in the key of A, the intro would be 4 bars long and start where you would normally change to E7… As an alternative, you could start with a 4 bar guitar solo and the band could come in on the change to D7 to play an 8 bar intro, which would be ‘in from the four’…

[quote name='JTUK' timestamp='1396347045' post='2412449'] If you are playing with just one gtr you could always jazz up the turn rounds drop down to the 6th and henstacked 4ths which will turn you round onto the root just in time. That Rosco Beck vid shows a few pointers in that regard [/quote] What on earth does that mean?? I've played the blues circuit up and down the country and I have never heard anyone use the term 'henstacked 4ths'...

[quote name='skankdelvar' timestamp='1396299980' post='2412141'] Quite so. HM is for individualist musos. Any homogeneity of appearance - white, male, long hair, tatts, black t-shirt - is just evidence of their rejection of bourgeois ideas of 'conformity'. We must excuse Bilbo for - as a Jazzer - he embraces a musical form which has absolutely no predetermined image in the eye of the public. [color=#ffffff].[/color] [/quote] Or indeed any interest whatsoever from the public! Of course, we must remember that Bilbo was once a fully paid up member of the HM community before he saw the error of his ways and took up jazz as a penance…

[quote name='xilddx' timestamp='1395303002' post='2400776'] I just want to make it clear that everyone in Kit's band has a day job, including Kit. None of us is involved in music for the money, we are in the band (and other bands) because we are passionate about music. Of course most of us would love to make music our sole source of income, but I think we all want to be in a successful band, rather than the session/teaching/cover band/pit gig route. [/quote] BTW - I wasn't having a go at you or your band in any way! We all lose gigs we love from time to time and of course it can be very frustrating. But there is always something around the corner - a new gig and a new challenge...

[quote name='seashell' timestamp='1395320809' post='2401032'] I'm not sure if it's that unusual but I always take plasters. Never know when there's going to be some equipment related accident. Or blisters. Edit to add - they have to be fabric plasters. Can't play with waterproof plasters on your fingers. [/quote] Very difficult to play wearing plasters so I always have superglue in my gigbag. Obviously you just superglue over any blisters or cuts on your fingers. Also, a couple of spare clean tee shirts...

[quote name='xilddx' timestamp='1395258795' post='2400422'] The music industry is only interested in money. But then plenty of musicians are too. [/quote] IME if a musician is only interested in money then they should have trained to be an accountant or a lawyer! A lot of musicians are overly interested in glory but at the first sniff of a bit of money become completely infatuated with it! Onwards and upwards...

I've gone off black basses as a rule these days (despite having owned a few in the past), but tort on black with a maple neck can still look pretty cool...

[quote name='xilddx' timestamp='1394240027' post='2389569'] If I played Tempus Fugit with RS's tone, the whole song would sound completely different. Same as if I played Pull Up To The Bumper with CS's tone. The bass tone affects the music quite substantially. [/quote] True, but rather extreme examples! You could play different types of music with the same tone and although it may well sound completely different it could work equally as well in both musical situations (reggae and prog rock stretching this concept somewhat)…

[quote name='xilddx' timestamp='1394237918' post='2389553'] I don't agree with that mate. Otherwise Chris Squire would sound the same as Robbie Shakespeare. [/quote] I have to agree with you there very strongly…! To cross-reference with another thread, it certainly true that a lot of your tone is in your fingers but, when it comes down to it, a hell of a lot of it is down to EQ. Hence the huge difference in sound between Chris Squire and Mr Shakespeare…

[quote name='xilddx' timestamp='1394235836' post='2389526'] Exactly. [/quote] Funnily enough, I have a completely different approach to you. However, I don't think that is really the issue here! I basically use the same tone for every occasion and would never use a pod or similar if I could help it. But the main thing is to have the basic tone in your head, know how to use the EQ to get there and not be too anal about it…

People can get way too hung up on this subject…! There are hundreds of great bass tones out there and even more bad ones! Pick a good tone that you like and works with the music that you play, then get a decent amp that can deliver what you have in your head and learn how to EQ it. All you need then is a good playable bass that is compatible with that sound and forget about it and concentrate on playing…! The chances are that you will have to compromise many times (use different amps, etc.), but if you have a decent technique and know how to use the EQ on an amp, you should pretty much get a decent sound that is something close to the tone that you want…

Actually, I think that generally, only chrome looks right on traditional ‘Fender’ shape basses. On more modern designs I much prefer gold (or black) hardware…

Well, if nothing else I have learnt something from this thread. I was under the same misapprehension about Basswood as the OP! Enjoy the Fodera, absolutely cracking instruments. However, speaking as someone who compulsively mods most basses that pass thru my hands – even I wouldn’t take a router to a £3.5k Fodera…!