thepurpleblob

My band is called The Barking Spiders (see Viz's Profannisaurus for an explanation). We are four fat blokes in our forties only one of which has any hair. It's all covers with a definite lean towards punk and indy stuff although it's not that fixed down. No cheesy ballads, no Summer of 69, you get the idea? The main point seems to be to play very loud. We are based in the Glasgow area and usually play in rowdy pubs to drunks. Currently actively seeking more gigs if anybody is interested. I'm the new boy (of three years) and have been playing my instrument the least (ten years). Website: [url="http://www.thebarkingspiders.org/"]http://www.thebarkingspiders.org/[/url]

It's just musicians.... all idiots and sociophobes. I've certainly found playing in bands to be a character building experience with all manner of hassle and disapointment thrown at me. I've come to regard it as all part of the fun (in a twisted kind of way). I don't think finding a covers band (even better an established one) can hurt at all. I've had great fun playing covers and you can actually make some money at it. I actually perversely enjoy having to learn 50 songs over a weekend too

Drove down to "The Borders" last night to do a deal with Alex. His Trace cab for my G&L Tribute. The fabled "meet half way". Really nice guy and very tolerant fiancée (Alison with one L - I have one of those too ), considering they're getting married next weekend! Very pleased with the combo - it's like it just came out of the box

Sounds like fun.... it was all the Sound-of-bloody-Music and Blood Brothers in my day!

[quote name='faceman' post='801352' date='Apr 9 2010, 10:54 PM']So my college is doing a production of Rent this summer and I've signed up to audition for the bass chair. I've never done this sort of thing before but it's my last chance before graduating to do a musical band and after listening to the soundtrack, it sounds pretty good! Some fun 80s/90s styled pop numbers, with some nice bass parts too. The more I think, the more I want to do it. However, the audition states that musicians need to be of grade 6 level and sight read well. I'm not sure if I'm up to those standards as I've never had to do either. I'm wondering if I should take up a few lessons before then to prep me in sight reading bass lines? I can always work out the lines after sitting down and following what each note is and such and then using the music to follow the progress of the song. None of the bass sounds too hard and I'm sure I can do it all, I'm just not sure about how capable I will be in the audition if I'm just given the music and told to play. I was thinking of buying the sheet music in advance, learning it and hoping the arranged versions are similar Thanks [/quote] I used to play the drums in pit bands hundreds of years ago. Sight reading is everything. I doubt the music will be all that difficult but they'll expect you to turn up at the dress rehearsal, have the dots put in front of you and play it first time. I wish I could do that with the bass (I'm a lapsed classically trained percussionist). You haven't to fall asleep either - the conductor will be looking for his cues and might not give you much warning of the next song. Other than that minor difficulty, I used to really enjoy it.

It's a good idea but where's stuff by Kasabian, Oasis etc.??

[quote name='allighatt0r' post='798949' date='Apr 7 2010, 04:57 PM']Like a bass version of this then? [url="http://www.bonnersmusic.co.uk/buy/Epiphone/Valve_Junior_Amplifier_Head"]http://www.bonnersmusic.co.uk/buy/Epiphone..._Amplifier_Head[/url][/quote] Brilliant.... don't you think the on/off switch is a bit indulgent though??

[quote name='OutToPlayJazz' post='797097' date='Apr 6 2010, 12:04 AM']Big hair seems to be in at the moment. I'm jealous of people with hair... [/quote] I'm not. I have enough trouble picking out a T-shirt without worrying about a hairstyle too

This any use? [url="http://www.nationalgigguide.com/"]http://www.nationalgigguide.com/[/url]

[quote name='jezzaboy' post='798042' date='Apr 6 2010, 09:14 PM']Well said Professor Blob- b.m.a, a.a., b.d.s, r.a.c. Jez- t.i.t.[/quote] I'm never entirely sure if you're taking the p*ss or not I was going to say that we'd need to go for a beer some time then I remembered I don't drink!! I'll need to come and see your band then! H.

[quote name='Doddy' post='797971' date='Apr 6 2010, 08:17 PM']The last time I started a band from scratch,myself and the singer/guitarist spent a week looking in our old diaries at places we used to play,and then found new venues by looking at the websites of a bunch of bands(mostly tribute) and then calling up the venues. So basically,I'd suggest going on the websites of bands who are on a similar scene to yourself- most of them should have links to the venues sites so you can find the info you want pretty easily. If you can't get the info,just phone up places and ask questions. I filled my diary by doing this for a week solid-after that it was easy to get more.[/quote] None of the covers bands around here seem to have websites. If they do they are never up to date. There could be a website opportunity here. Not sure I can be bothered personally. This is why I am not wealthy.... "what a great idea, oh sod it!"

[quote name='cameltoe' post='798017' date='Apr 6 2010, 08:59 PM']The others usually just need to toy with their level a bit, whilst I'm tearing my hair out trying to get 'that sound'. Carpet, no carpet, high ceilings, low ceilings, wood floor, slate floor, stage, how many people are in the audience..... the variables are huge.[/quote] I *think* the issue is that bass wavelengths are much nearer the size of a room, so weird interference patterns, resonances and suchlike are much more pronounced than higher frequency instruments. Could be talking bollox mind you!

I used to just set everything flat.... now I dial in a little bit of mid but I don't know why. To be honest I have no idea what I'm doing. The best sound is to be had by pressing the button on my Ashdown amp that cuts out all the EQ and dials in some fixed preset thing. It's just a bass... the point is to make things shake I have no idea why nobody makes amps with two knobs... input gain and master volume. That and one of those Precisions with only a volume knob... perfect!!

[quote name='Oscar South' post='791664' date='Mar 31 2010, 11:00 AM']They're exactly the same as modes, just for arpeggios. There's no big harmonic secret to all that stuff, its just a way of mapping out the notes of a key to your fretboard.[/quote] I've been around the houses with modes too. They seem to make perfect sense to some people and appear completely useless to others. My only observation is that the Dorian and the Mixolydian seem to turn up quite frequently in "popular music" but are otherwise mostly confusing. I still can't get my head around "what key is this in" when the scale used is some mode or other.

Thanks guys... there's some stuff to think about there. Interestingly, I don't really understand inversions - well, I know what they are I just don't see how they are applied or used. I'm really trying to get a lot more fluent around the fretboard.

Anybody got any good excercises for 2-octave scales? The only one I know is the 2-octave major. I guess pentatonics are more use for some up and down the neck fills.

[quote name='tonybassplayer' post='788439' date='Mar 28 2010, 12:17 PM']Brilliant gig at Montey's in Harrogate last night Wild audience with at least two 21st birthdays being celebrated Can't wait to play again ( see pics ) [attachment=45877:IMG_3311.JPG][/quote] Was the blonde with the prominent "assets" in the photo just a coincidence then??

Last night was Bar Bliss in Kirkintilloch. A small gig but a good one. John the owner is a good guy too. Lots of new sockets installed this time..... why can't other pubs do that if they have regular bands rather than one cracked socket at the other side of the room??? First outing with my newly acquired Stingray5. Even better than anticipated (you were right, Stewart !!). Couple of new songs in the set - Gomez's "Get Myself Arrested" (sea of blank faces) and Midnight Oil's "Beds are Burning" (went down well). Singer pissed as a fart and forget a few things and the drummer almost killed him. Don't think anybody noticed though [attachment=45932:photo.jpg]

[quote name='Sarah5string' post='788400' date='Mar 28 2010, 11:46 AM']Well, he said backline but I know they already have a PA etc there so would just be amps and drums presumably.[/quote] There's PA and there's PA. If you are D.I.ing into some huge house PA then your existing rig will be do (just). However, if the PA is vocal only and that's it for the bass then I don't think so. The wisdom seems to be more like a minimum of 300W but do make sure that you read the small print. Some amps only give their rated power into certain speaker combinations. Even that is an oversimplification as how "loud" a rig is is down to many more factors than just watts. For comparison I have a 500W-ish Ashdown into a 2x10 and 4x10 and mostly do pub gigs. It's more than I really need but it's nice to have the headroom! Either way, good luck with your new band and sorry the vague and unhelpful reply