thepurpleblob

[quote name='DaveFry' timestamp='1464990154' post='3064563'] Hmm, ... here comes a twopenneth : You can play and read percussion , play and learning to read bass , so how about taking up ( wait for it )........ vibraphone ? Understanding melody and harmony would compliment your rhythm and bass knowledge . Vibes is an unusual instrument nowadays and you already would intuit half the technique , the rest would grow with learning harmony and melody at your own pace . Just experiment with a harmony/melody instrument ,(even ukulele!) , till you find your own sound . - Plan B : get an upright . [/quote] My background was orchestral percussion. I've played Xylophone in the Royal Albert Hall (yes really!). Vibrophones, unfortunately, are immensely expensive. It is an interesting point you make....

I quite like my day job, but getting up at 06:30 to take the dog for a run down the woods is a bit restricting. Can't be getting in at 2am the night before. But that's the problem. As soon as half the band is doing it for fun and the other half for the money you have a big problem brewing up.

I've never been to a jam night. I dunno. I really don't fancy it at all. I have a vision of people who know every song ever written or can just make stuff up on the spot. Both are pretty disturbing thoughts

It's cool. I'm not miserable. More, "oh, what am I going to do now?"

Where's the "like" button I'll throw in the ACG as a sweetener shall I...

This is partly one those "all musicians are bastards!" posts but please bear with me. Firstly, I'm a 50-something player and I've been playing for about 15 years, mostly in covers bands. Before that I was a drummer since I was about 10! I'm competent but no expert - I've played hundreds of gigs - pubs, weddings, functions blah blah blah. Anyhoo... I've been playing in quite a successful covers band for a few years and - I won't bore you with the details - the drummer and I effectively got kicked out because we wouldn't play every night of the week like the singer and lead guitarists wanted to (we both have proper jobs). They'd been rehearsing replacements behind our backs as it turned out. That was a kick in the teeth but never mind, that's in the past. Anyway, I have been left with zero motivation. I've sold loads of gear, PA, van the lot and am left with a couple of basses and my decent rig. I can't stand the thought of starting from scratch knocking on pub doors. In any case I can stand even less the idea of playing pub covers fayre any more. The thought of Paul Rodgers turns my stomach!! And anyway, all musicians are bastards. I've been actively learning to read the dots (I was a percussion sight-reader back in the day, and that got me theatre gigs and stuff) on the off chance that leads to something. But, to be honest, I'm a hairs-breadth away from selling up and taking up knitting. Bright ideas appreciated :-)

Yeh - my reading and music theory is pretty good. Well, my reading is. But I have never applied it to the bass. I'm just back from holiday so it's time to get on with it :-D

Great - thanks everybody for your help. There's quite a lot to go at there

Executive summary... I want to learn to sight read the bass. Where do I start? Longer version... I started out as a percussionist in orchestras, brass bands and out bands forty years ago (yes, I'm old but I did start young!). Although technically nothing special, I could sight read that stuff (many percussion instruments) so I got the gigs. So, anyway, I'm pretty reasonable at the basics; I know that stuff. I've been playing bass 'by ear' for about 15 years and I've been playing in pub covers bands. I'm totally sick of it on many levels. So, my plan is to put the hours in to learn to read on the bass and see where it takes me. Even if it doesn't take me anywhere directly, I'm sure it'll improve my all-round playing considerably. I'm looking for suggestions for good starting points and materials to use. I'm aware of the Major's stuff (and I've worked through a few basic ones) on here but I'd be interested in any opinions/thoughts.

Go on then... Mansun - Attack of the Grey Lantern

It's been a long time for me now... but we did a lot of theory and we practiced and analysed a lot of musical styles that I professed little or no interest in. And it was all good for me A good teacher pushes you out of your comfort zone into stuff you would not do on your own!

I think there's no substitute for a real person to help you get the basics right. I think it also gave me some inspiration - if nothing else, you want to look like you have done some work for the next lesson. If you don't feel you are getting anywhere perhaps you have the wrong teacher or perhaps you don't have a clear enough idea of what you want to achieve?

I look like a back-street accountant in a suit, so I try to avoid it. I know bugger-all about clothes but do find that a few semi quality purchases can be the answer. A well tailored shirt will look better than a Primark special. Obviously, I have my lovely wife to thank for this insight

I'm sure someone else has mentioned this but just in case - agree the songs you are going to play and LEARN THEM. I have been on the other end of this so many times and you wouldn't believe the number of times people turn up who have simply not bothered to learn the material. It should be the easy bit. Also, don't be afraid to leave. Bands that are not used to auditioning can be bad for failing to tell you the audition is over. When you have done your thing, pack up your stuff and go. Lastly, if you enjoyed it and are genuinely interested then say so. It saves the band wondering if you would actually accept the position if they like you.

This seems to have been a bone of contention in all covers bands I have played in - how do you (democratically or otherwise) determine which songs to learn next? I've noticed that it always seems to descend into a kind of passive-agressive spiral. Someone suggests something, everybody half-heartedly agrees and then at next practise one or more haven't learned it on some flimsy excuse. Obviously, they never meant to. This isn't a case of us being a dysfunctional band. In truth we are not. I'm just looking for tips/suggestions on getting buy-in and commitment when it comes to increasing our repertoire. Thoughts and experiences appreciated

The triplets in "Roadhouse Blues". The worst thing is that there's a youtube video (the "how to play bass" guy) who describes it as "beginner" level! B*****d I really struggle with a lot of funk style stuff. Although I can nail the notes, the feel is real struggle and I'm at a bit of a loss for how to fix it. Just not in me I suppose.

Just to put the other perspective, I would say I can more-or-less play but I can't think of anything I'd like to go to less than an open mike night. Everything I've ever played (and I suppose it's a hell of a lot by now) has been by sitting in my house and learning it, rehearsing it and then playing in front of an audience. Never jammed, never solo'd, never improvised, not interested. It's the type of player/person you are. Having said all that, it won't kill you to go along and see

Our lead singer just mumbles on for several minutes between songs. Nobody knows what he is saying but he does it with a certain style I suppose

Never taken a spare bass. Never taken spare strings. Never had an issue. Definitely take extra batteries, leads etc.