thepurpleblob

Katrina Mitchell, the drummer from studenty Glasgow band The Pastels was in my "PHP Programming" evening class. I was the tutor. She was very embarrassed when I realised.

I really like those amps (I used to have the 300W version and regret selling it). However, there's no way to get a clean signal without going through the digital processing. I liked the sound but you may not. Other than that, get something with big soapbars, active eq and a set of rotosounds and you'll be fine (or not)!!

[quote name='XB26354' post='908286' date='Jul 28 2010, 03:31 PM']I am aware of the different meanings of the word rule, none of which apply to what you have written. In the end it is a discussion about semantics relating to the word rule, which is about as pointless as the original post.[/quote] Except that calling music theory 'rules' might be off-putting to some people. It's just stuff - factual information.

[quote name='Low End Bee' post='908194' date='Jul 28 2010, 01:46 PM']I just looked at the circle of fifths on wikipedia. My brain is hurting already. Maybe I'll dig out the bass scales book I bought 6 years ago and looked at once before making a 'pfft' noise and stashing it away on the book shelf.[/quote] Yeh - that was probably a bad plan. That page is a bit jargon heavy. Try something like [url="http://www.dummies.com/how-to/content/how-to-read-the-circle-of-fifths.html"]http://www.dummies.com/how-to/content/how-...-of-fifths.html[/url] I don't want to put you off

[quote name='Low End Bee' post='908175' date='Jul 28 2010, 01:37 PM']The notes on the neck is the one thing I do know Bilbo. I'll look up the circle of fifths Purpleblob. Thanks.[/quote] I should probably have explained. You often read "practice your scales/arpeggios etc.". The circle of fifths (actually backwards, which is the circle of fourths) gives you a sensible sequence to practice them over with an actual beginning and end.

[quote name='Low End Bee' post='908080' date='Jul 28 2010, 12:22 PM']So where's a good, non boring, place for a non reading, no theory, never had a lesson, self taught chap to start? I'm sure I must know some rules as I know when a note sounds 'wrong'. I'm interested to see what a bit of knowledge could do to my playing even at my advanced age.[/quote] Learn how scales and chords work. Don't go mad - just the basic major/minor stuff and basic chords. Read about the "circle of fifths" (it's good for practice regimes). Don't be put off by Jazzers - they're all mentalists EDIT: Always relate what you read to the bass. Try to relate the theory stuff to the sound and location of the notes on the bass - if that makes sense.

Yep.. pretty much my experience. The choice of bass strings at all is very limited and 5 string next to non-existent. Just Rotosounds usually, which I really can't stand (barbed wire with too much treble ). AND... the ones they do have are usually obscenely expensive.

I used to really sweat over this until I reached a conclusion. Don't! The most I ever do is slide up the octave on the final root and even that isn't very often. I suppose if you must do what (they tell me) guitarists do - figure out some noodly stuff around a pentatonic scale.

BassChat has cost me a fortune one way or another. The result is that I am now convinced that - having been through loads of different instruments - my favourite bass is a 4 string StingRay and, occasionally, a 5 string when required. Fender Precisions are also good. Anything fancier usually sounds a bit rubbish to me Of course - I pretty much started out with the StingRay!

If I had spent proper money in a shop and they laughed at me I would be demanding a full refund and going somewhere else. Definitely take it back. Most shops I deal with will give you a free setup on a new bass - especially if it has been hanging from the wall for ages. You shouldn't have to fight with it.

I'll tell you what I think. People who pedal all this "I don't need music theory" or "music theory will just tie me down, man" are kidding themselves. Just because you can't be bothered to learn it doesn't mean it's not there. I can't understand why you would NOT want to know what rules and conventions underpin what you do! It's *interesting* for goodness sake!!

[quote name='Sean' post='905140' date='Jul 25 2010, 07:50 PM']Does anyone know how to represent dead (percussive notes) on Muse Score?[/quote] Select some notes. Right click. Select Properties. You can now change the "Note Head" to whatever symbol you require (a cross probably).

[quote name='johnzgerman' post='901306' date='Jul 21 2010, 09:13 PM']yes, but if you collect in person then you get the chance to inspect the goods before you hand over any cash, if it is in any way dodgy then you can walk away having only spent the petrol money.[/quote] Yeh - but that was the point. This guy wouldn't take cash for the amp, which is strange!

As has been discussed elsewhere, PayPal doesn't cover collect-in-person deals if anything goes wrong.

[quote name='WalMan' post='900937' date='Jul 21 2010, 01:41 PM'][list] [*]there used to be a company called "Knobs & Knockers". Marvellous [/list][/quote] Still is - more or less - [url="http://www.diytools.co.uk"]http://www.diytools.co.uk[/url] Doing a slight "Daily Annoyances" crossover, they are the idiots who failed to put my name on a package and it got lost in my work's mail department for days

There's a company around my way called "Sofa King". Although to be fair they stole the name - it's far from unique. However, they have huge billboards all over the place "Sofa King Cheap", "Sofa King Easy" etc. It's an old gag, but how they get away with it I don't know....

[quote name='Jacqueslemac' post='896752' date='Jul 16 2010, 06:27 PM']Does anyone else's have this change in colour between the back of the neck and the back of the headstock?[/quote] Yes - both my four string with the waxed neck and my older five string with the lacquered neck.

I'm with Bilbo on this - well I think I am - but I'm going to be slightly less diplomatic. If you learn "by ear" and never know the name of a note or a scale, you are still actually *using* theory. You are just doing something that you don't understand very well (or at all). This to me is mental. Why on earth would you want to be engrossed in an activity where you don't understand the fundamentals that make it tick and the language to describe it? I think it's often a kind of macho thing - I don't need no stinkin' theory If you want to learn the bass well - or any instrument. You need some physical ability and technique, you need to develop a reasonable 'ear', you need some understanding of rhythm, and you need to understand what the hell is going on (a.k.a. theory). They are all interwoven and facilitate each other. If you miss one aspect out you are crippling yourself. Yes you *can* get by but you are just making life hard for yourself for no obvious reason. Please excuse rant!

[quote name='dave_bass5' post='895476' date='Jul 15 2010, 11:44 AM']Cheers. I changed the string and it was no different. The old string went on my Ray34 and it was fine. I rotated the neck pup and i "thought" it had cured it but not so sure. It does seem better though but that might be because maybe i havent go tthe pup at the same height as it was before. The bridge pup also seems to be doing it but it could well be my imagination. Im convinced its not the pups away. I think 3 strings is enough to tell its not the string. The Chromes really showed it up and im wondering if its a loss of higher freqs thats making it seem quieter. I does sound ok unplugged, i think. Im probably talking nonsense though. At the gig on sunday (with the XLs back on) it wasn't really noticeable although i did feel that more notes we getting lost on the D string than any other string. for example playing I feel fine up at the 10th/12th fret DA/D string the notes on D would just not be there. I do think at least part of it is to do with freq but im wondering if maybe the D string isnt seated properly in the nut or at the bridge. I have checked it all over as much as i can. Its not something im going to dwell on right now as i have a new bass arriving today, and i wouldn't hesitate to gig it as it is but i would like to get to the bottom of it at some point.[/quote] Is it something as simple as having your action set too low. That can cause all sorts of weirdness.

You've got two pickups and it would be incredibly unlikely if they both had a fault. I would try with one pickup up full and the other off. Then the other way around. If it's just with one then it's the pickup. If it's both it's the string (or something it's attached to). I suppose it's just possible that you could have an EQ issue somewhere that is notching out that particular frequency but trying with a different rig will eliminate that.

Do you look the part? I know a few professional musicians and they are all incredibly narcissistic - all of them. It makes me think that when you go up for that gig you really do need to have the "MTV look" or whatever you want to call it. This probably also means that you have to play a battered old Precision/Jazz and have an Ampeg rig. EDIT: Oh, you have a Stingray. Proper bass - that'll do

Caveat... I'm not a professional bass player so what do I know, however, using a variety of experiences.. Being "good enough to do it" (I assume you mean bass playing ability) will be about 5% of the issue at hand. You are up against loads of people who are "good enough" and most likely a whole load who are better. If you want to become a pro bass player you need to think in terms of being a self-employed professional. That means you need to start to hussle for work - things that pay your rent. There are lots of things you can do - teach, join a good wedding band, join any other band that will pay money, etc. etc..... You also need to get your name about. Being out playing is probably the most important but a bit of self promotion can't hurt. Get a professional looking web site to advertise what you do. Get business cards. Look and act the part. A lot of being successful at anything is bluff. Sit back and it won't come to you. And... you can read music can't you?? Just my $00.02.

Nina Hagen is just brilliant. The Germans do everything properly Back in the 80s I had a huge crush on her. Says something about my taste in women!!

[quote name='Delberthot' post='891732' date='Jul 11 2010, 02:39 AM']That was in the middle of my run of going out with younger girls - I started off with a 19 year old then 18, 17, 16 and then I gave myself a shake as I didn't like where this was heading and met my wife the year after who is 4 years older than me[/quote] My wife is ten years younger than me (I am in my mid forties) - we've been together as a couple for about 15 years. However, she takes immense pleasure in telling people that we have known each other since she was 13!! This is technically true but not in any way that would get me on the sex offenders register. I wish she would stop it