thepurpleblob

This is going to sound a bit sexist... I don't really mean it that way but it was odd the way it turned out. Placed ad in Gumtree something like, "Band, we play just for fun not for money, seeks new vocalist. Male or Female but must be able to sing xyz styles. Guitar or keys a bonus". We get paid but nobody makes a living out of it. Fair few replies but every single woman who replied started with, "how much will I be getting paid?". What's that all about.... ?? So we got a bloke who split the band up inside 6 months

Something for Kate (underrated band outside of Australia anyway) - their take on Rock the Cashbah... https://youtu.be/6qf4A6JgyO8

Thinking about this some more in the shower this morning (could be worse!)... it occurred to me that I think about rhythm in terms of notation. When there's something tricky that I'm not quite getting I often resort to writing it down. My fellow band musicians are a lot more experienced than me but I get those bits down more readily. It's not a big deal but it's a skill I'm glad I have; even though, in a covers band, it's not directly applicable.

On the flip-side of all this. When I started to play bass I had zero experience of playing *without* sheet music. It was a massive struggle to get my head around playing by ear. All these things are skills worth having - reading notation, playing by ear, harmonic theory, playing a fretless, with a pick / without a pick.... and so on and so forth. However, I suspect most people here don't have the time to cover all this stuff so you have to pick your battles. But to be snobbish or anti-snobbish about certain things is to "cut of your nose to spite your face"!

[quote name='SpondonBassed' timestamp='1503749774' post='3360683'] I didn't write it that way but you can take what you want from it. It was merely an answer to your comment so I see no need to be personal about it. I'll leave it there. Enjoy your weekend. [/quote] Apologies if I misread your comment. You have a good (notation free) weekend yourself

[quote name='SpondonBassed' timestamp='1503741118' post='3360630'] [b]Elite[/b] Definitions n. A group or class of persons or a member of such a group or class, enjoying superior intellectual, social, or economic status: "In addition to notions of social equality there was much emphasis on the role of elites and of heroes within them” ( Times Literary Supplement).[list] [*]n. The best or most skilled members of a group. [*]adj. Of high birth or social position; aristocratic or patrician. [*]adj. Representing the choicest or most select of a group. [*]n. A special group or social class of people which have a superior intellectual, social or economic status as, the elite of society. [*]n. Someone who is among the best at certain task. [/list] It always makes me wonder how intelligent people forget that they are intelligent and that not everyone can or indeed wants to reach the heights of intellectual achievement that they have. For clever folk it is an especially small minded way of looking at life. Don't you think? I can read and write to a standard that suits my needs. There is no need to force me to learn an abstract system like score. It is NOT intuitive. [/quote] Seeing as you answered my comment... that reads of "chip on the shoulder" frankly. I don't know why. I'm far from the best bass player in the world. You're almost certainly a more skilled bass player than me. Does that make you elite? I happen to be able to read notation due to the background I happen to have. I find it handy. Lucky me. Does it make me 'special' - no, I don't think so.

[quote name='DJpullchord' timestamp='1503747082' post='3360663'] How come all you guys play covers???? [/quote] Never had the slightest desire to do anything else. A whole other discussion there

[quote name='bassman7755' timestamp='1503737325' post='3360593'] I suppose its futile for me to point out that OP was in fact not asking about the relative merits of tab vs score but wanting opinions on tab as a learning device compared to working it out. [/quote] Yep. I think that got answered in the first half dozen replies. Then it grew legs....

....and Noris, you *still* haven't linked us to her Facebook page

It must be just me... as long as I don't end up with a knife in my back I quite enjoy the odd nutter. It's a change from my otherwise quiet day to day existence. :-D

One hates to generalise but I've never remotely liked the Stones... which is usually met with incredulity from other band members. BS is one of those songs that never seems to work... most bands play it like they're all playing a different song. I'd rather not play it all. On the other hand I've always liked this take on Jumpin' Jack Flash (and have covered the cover)... [url="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=URR5imwzhtw"]https://www.youtube....h?v=URR5imwzhtw[/url]

I learned to read notation at school when I was about 9. I then played percussion in brass bands of all things where reading was pretty much a necessity. I've no recollection of ever finding it particularly difficult. Sight reading on the other hand is something else... it comes through a lot of experience as you don't have time to *think*. If I have to write out a bass part then it feels natural to use notation. Reading notation is just a handy skill and closes some things off to you if you can't do it but it's no more elitist than being able to play slap (I can't!). If you don't have time or don't care then no big deal. Like many things, if you *really* need it then you'll know.

....and all this is a problem because? I can certainly tell you some stories from bands I've been in. Our old lead singer used to get propositioned all the time - usually not very subtly. Never happened to me but them I'm somewhat visually offensive

There's nothing wrong with tab but plenty wrong with the quality of tab you find on the Interweb. As long as you view it with a healthy cynicism you'll be fine. I very frequently get a bit stuck learning parts by ear and go looking for whatever clue I can use. The guitar chords, the bass tab, whatever. However, more often than not it represents an interpretation. As long as you know that. I do find it slightly depressing watching someone covering (often very well) the bass part of some song on YouTube and there'll will always be a comment, "where did you get the tab for that?". Don't be that guy!!

30-something years ago when I was doing a spot of band promoting (don't recommend it), Chas Chandler came to see a band I had put on at some hall of residence at Newcastle University. Big fur coat - looked like a gangster but quite a nice bloke from what I remember. Dead now, I'm still just about struggling on.

Bought a few things over the years. Generally very positive experience. The place is actually welcoming. Too many shops seem to operate a, "if you're not one of my mates you can $%^£$ off" policy!