uk_lefty

I used to get this in an old band, usually "just play twelve bar blues" yeah thanks but when you're just blaring out a solo I don't know where you're going next to support it. Or it would be the farking Status Quo medley. I know it's only three chords but which three... Oh you're now in a new song, great. It's demoralising and not a constructive use of time if you're not bringing everyone along. Maybe you suggest that either you jam around a structure so everyone can competently join in, and solo, or you don't bother with unstructured jams. It may be the height of guitar-god look how great I am wankery but if they can't explain the structure they're just bluffing. If they're not willing to then they're not good band band mates. Maybe you need to say words to the effect "I can't support your self indulgent ego build exercise without the most basic instruction so you can either look like a tit with a full band behind you or look like a selfish tit who excludes their bandmates, your choice"

Ah so I can do it on my laptop.... D'oh! Hadn't actually tried that yet Thank you all!

Random IT help query here, would be grateful if anyone can help... My band has had a few people upload videos of us to Facebook. They've tagged us in so it appears on our page and I have saved these within Facebook for quick reference. However, I'd like to put them in the bands Dropbox along with all photos and other stuff and be able to send these out to people. Does anyone know how I download these videos off Facebook? Is it possible? Thanks!

I've only ever depped a few times and only for people I know. Last time was a young girl who occasionally songs with my band gave me about 48hrs notice that her bassist couldn't do a festival gig. She got her band moved to be on just before mine so I'd be there and sent me the set list of covers... i got introduced as a last minute cover and got through the first few songs including an improv section I wasn't prior warned about and all went well. Then Seven Nation Army was up next. I just stood there. Singer says "it's you". I had ear plugs in. "It's you. Now, it's you" I'm just standing there. "It's you" "what?" "Play the riff" "what riff?" This went on for ages until she basically spoke like to an elderly relative who thinks he's escaping from the nursing home "seven nation army. It starts with the bass riff. You need to start playing it"

You sir, are an inspiration! I wish my Dad had your get-up-and-go when he found himself in the same position. Has made me think it's not too late and I just need to push him towards one of his former passions. Thank you

I've now been on YouTube and watched their Live Aid set. Film could have done better! Not complaining though.

It was entertaining. Haven't been to the cinema for years and it was a good film for the big screen and surround sound. I don't know the biography of Queen so I wasn't aware of the exact liberties taken with the timelines etc. So for me it was very enjoyable and a great reminder of what a unique and formidable group they were

Aha! I was out running along the river and stopped on a park bench to listen for ages to that gig. Open corners on the ground gave us quite a clear sound for miles

Orange Crush was the first single I ever bought. Aged 4.

Sounds like the end of 2018 is definitely pointing you onwards and upwards! Best of luck

I had a pair of Sony DJ headphones off eBay years back, very good for bass practice. 3m lead and you can swivel the ears really well. I'd look for DJ headphones if I were you. Oh, and they can be had quite cheap. Mine were probably £20 ish, have lasted years with lots of use. Very good quality.

I expected to want to swap out the tuners and bridge but a few months in and a fair few gigs including outdoors in the cold and it's fine. The battery boxes are a very tight fit, not a job you can rush. I think they addressed this with the newer versions but not sure.

Or the guitarist goes "No! I'm sacking YOU!" like twelve year olds arguing over who dumped who

I know how you feel. Sometimes the set my band plays bores me. We try to get away from typical pub covers and I am pushing us towards being an "80's mix tape" band. The big 80's tunes go down well and we have now got 45-60 mins of this. But there are others in the band who want to either stay true to their blues roots (you guessed it, guitarist) and others who think we need to play utter tripe like Take That's re-launch songs from the mid-noughties just to get more gigs. I don't really practice because the set is burned in my memory. I often discuss with the singer doing originals or doing heavier music, but life is busy, sadly. One day!

I am happy if someone wants to ask me to try some over drive or chorus, or if they say hmmm that isn't quite right. I usually will try what they ask or I already know I've not got it nailed. However, if this was constant and they wanted to take my personality out of the bass playing they can get a sequencer or whatever and play samples from the record, I'd be off like a shot. I don't play carbon copies, I play my interpretation. I'm not in a tribute band, I'm in a band that plays its own interpretation of classic songs. That's my viewpoint. If you feel this guy is stamping out your personality, such as the accents you throw in, hand him your bass and ask him to demo... Then watch him make a hash of it. I'm sure there are many other bands that would want an accomplished bassist who can do their own thing without having to instruct them, you hold the power here!

I chose the vintage V7 jazz fiver, ash body maple board. Mainly because that's a combo of specs that I'd have to spend three or four times as much to get elsewhere. There's so many options with the body and board that you can be spoiled for choice. I'd personally go for the one that gives you the most variance from what you already have. But, you might be looking for a quality but inexpensive backup, so you need as close to what you've already got. Your choice. I've been no help whatsoever.