thepurpleblob

[quote name='Hot Tub' post='777782' date='Mar 17 2010, 06:24 PM']Figured this was the best place to post this - Mods, please move it if this is incorrect and accept my apologies. :blush: OK, question is, these (below) are the guitar chords for a song I'm trying to work out: Cadd9 G D A A5 C5 D5 C#5 E5 G5 G#5 The guitar tuning however is half a step down, so Eb, Ab, Db, Gb, etc. So, what should I be looking at for roots on bass? :wacko:[/quote] Unless I'm missing something, the guitar tuning is irrelevant to you. A Cadd9 is still a Cadd9 (etc.). Geetards do that to make the chord fingering easier - you don't care about that. EDIT: *Unless* - you mean it is *written* as Cadd9 and then they have tuned down to transpose down without changing the fingering. In which case, Badd9, Gb, Db, Ab, Ab5..... etc

You can get this if your truss rod adjustment is wrong. The string is rattling off all the other frets when you fret a note. Fret each string at both the first and last frets (use a capo or a friend if you need to). Check the clearance at the 12th fret. It should be just clear of the fret, certainly not touching (and not a huge gap either). A good setup might be the answer. It's well worth learning to set up a bass yourself but if you are not brave enough then a decent luther will do this for a smallish amount. EDIT: A small warning... there's lots of resources online for doing bass setups. Read them. It *is* possible to break things adjusting the trussrod. Understanding how it works and making cautious adjustments with the right tool is the way forward.

I want to learn to play solo bass. Mostly to help my technique and to be able to look cool trying instruments in shops But.... I have absolutely no clue where to start. My experience is entirely cover bands so learning other people's stuff. This is, almost certainly, not for performance. Just for my own gratification. Where do I start? The hurdles seem to be (although I stand to be corrected), knowing some sensible chord sequences to play over and then working out what sort of things to play over them. Then what? Any pointers / exercises appreciated. Or, just tell me I've gone mad.

Oh - you guys. Thanks for the support. I'm still out there, don't worry. I'm playing in a band of similarly aged sickos playing to drunks in pubs to great success. Never being satisfied, I'd added band No.2 which was a much more mainstream band with a female singer - something different. Didn't work out - fair enough. The guy they kicked out is still out gigging and they are in the studio dreaming about gigging. See the irony

[quote name='Conan' post='777520' date='Mar 17 2010, 03:19 PM']46?!?! Jeez, I once had a relative that lived to be that old.... I'm 43 (good age for a fan of Level 42!) and I still think of myself as "young". Sadly, my knees are starting to disagree with me... [/quote] Not here in Scotland.... 46 is well past the normal life expectancy. Pass me more deep fried pizza!! I know what you mean. I've turned into my dad. I have to take off my glasses to read small printing

[quote name='thumperbob 2002' post='777510' date='Mar 17 2010, 03:11 PM']Too old!!- I`m 48- been playing for 30 odd years and still feel 25- all about the mind set- looks like they are probably too old for you- short sighted prats!![/quote] I think to be absolutely fair.... I've not been playing for 30 years, I've been playing for about 10. I'm an ok player but I'm not great. I don't fall into the "good laugh" category and don't look like a film star. Apparently the drummer was struggling to work with me, I wasn't "fitting in" and "age was mentioned". Fair enough, in my world, grown ups discuss these things face to face not by an email first thing in the morning. Happened to me before (I'm sure I've ranted here) yet there are other bands I've played in where it's all been a breeze. Ho hum.

[quote name='Jerry_B' post='777507' date='Mar 17 2010, 03:10 PM']Well, it ridiculous that they think you're old, in comparison to their age. Perhaps they think that if they all appear roughly in the same age group they'll get more groupies...? Send them to a Henry Rollins gig and dare them to shout 'Old man!' at him...[/quote] Oh well, maybe my trainers weren't expensive enough. If only I had some hair. Who knows

[quote name='Les' post='777387' date='Mar 17 2010, 01:46 PM']Bummer mate. Why did they give you the job in the first place and how come your suddenly too old ? I'm 46 too so I feel your pain.[/quote] They must have been desperate . Then they found out I have no personality. Of course I don't, I'm a bass player for God's sake. If I had personality I'd be a rodie

[quote name='Jerry_B' post='777390' date='Mar 17 2010, 01:47 PM']How old are the rest of the band?[/quote] Mid 20s to Mid 30s. Not exactly teenagers. Sod it.... still got the "rough as f***" pub band!

[quote name='throwoff' post='777384' date='Mar 17 2010, 01:44 PM']Im a youngster compared to many on this board (23) but Im pretty sure it would be a pleasure to jam with any of you regardless of age or talent.[/quote] You wouldn't. I'd be in the wrong key and playing at the wrong tempo and I wouldn't know because I'm hard of hearing. I need to order one of those chairs that tips you out when you want to stand up - Eeeeee.. lovely!!

[quote name='Old Horse Murphy' post='777364' date='Mar 17 2010, 01:35 PM']Tell them all to f*** Off[/quote] A sound, measured response. I like it!! I actually said "Good luck. I hope it all works out with your new bass player!". I am so weak

[quote name='Bilbo' post='777369' date='Mar 17 2010, 01:37 PM']NOW you know why we play jazz!! [/quote] That's it.... if was good enough to play Jazz then that would be an option........

[quote name='Musicman69' post='777358' date='Mar 17 2010, 01:33 PM']Never too old to play bass.. once the ol arthritis doesnt set in! Cheer up.. its Paddys Day [/quote] It's times like this that I wished I liked Guinness!!

[quote name='Sibob' post='777351' date='Mar 17 2010, 01:29 PM']Clearly its just the rest of band being too young . Chin up, peaks and troughs and all that noise Si[/quote] Yeh - oh well, 46 doesn't feel quite like I'm tottering on the edge of my grave. Well, not every day anyway

Sorry for psychiatrists couch moment...... been a bad week in bass land. I'm not the greatest player in the world - far from it. I've been playing for less that 10 years and now I've been told I'm "too old" too. Great. At least bass guitars are made out of wood and they'll burn

[quote name='Twigman' post='775212' date='Mar 15 2010, 01:40 PM']My #1 tip would be SLOW DOWN.... now I've never heard you play but I guarantee that inexperience and nerves will result in either you or the drummer getting into a 'race' to the end of the set....LOL Take it steady IT IS NOT A RACE![/quote] That one really sorts the men from the boys. Nearly *all* covers bands play too fast.

I found that getting decent results on a fretless was a lot easier than I expected. Until I get past the 9th fret when it becomes a lot harder than I expected!!

If you think you might dry up, don't be afraid to write the chords (or even the key) on the set list for each song. Even now, I have the occasional "how the hell does that go". The main thing is not to be flustered. Make sure you are organised, give yourself lots of time, make sure everything works properly, put new batteries in everything and double check you've got everything. And when you've got all that cr*p out of the way.... have fun

[quote name='peteb' post='775015' date='Mar 15 2010, 10:46 AM']I am very much a fan but to be honest I think that this clip is OK but certainly not the best thing they've ever done. It’s just a live set piece that is trying to be a little bit different from what the audience might expect with a bit of extra showiness thrown in, which, seeing as they are on a stage is perfectly acceptable! What is strange is how some people here seem to really resent this, seeing it as a gratuitous display of musicianship and showmanship (which of course it is) and therefore conclusive evidence that anyone who is better than them is in fact rubbish and deserving of all the scorn their bitter little hearts can manage![/quote] It's just entertainment and there's nothing wrong with that. I'd sure as hell like to be able to play with that level of skill. I don't necessarily aspire to it, though. I think as a mere mortal you have to keep a bit of perspective - it's a good start to be able to play the right notes, in time in a band situation

[quote name='andy67' post='774259' date='Mar 14 2010, 01:01 PM']Yep! It's called being a weedgie! [/quote] It's worse than you think. I'm a Yorkshireman who lives in South Lanarkshire.

[quote name='peteb' post='774223' date='Mar 14 2010, 12:13 PM']I think that you are arguing with Andy here when you are pretty much saying the same thing (thru if no one ever disagreed on a thread it would get a bit boring very quickly)! If you go beyond the mainstream pop (not that there is anything necessarily wrong with that) or the latest X Factor karaoke act then pretty much everything is a niche act – the narrower the niche the less recognised the artist will be among the general public and the more devoted the aficionado are likely to be![/quote] I'm probably arguing with myself - there's probably a name for that mental disorder

[quote name='andy67' post='774163' date='Mar 14 2010, 10:53 AM']Agree! definitely flawed logic. By applying the same logic you could also ask 100 people: do they know, Victor Wooten, Jaco, Reggie, Jack Bruce, Dennis Dunnaway etc... This is what Billy and Paul enjoy doing in front of Japanese fans of whom love it so why knock it if its not for you? do as I do...don't post! Two incredible musicians performing at a level most of us here will never achieve - its their thing let them enjoy it! andy[/quote] If that was aimed at me then please do me the courtesy of actually reading what I wote. I didn't knock the band, or even as much as say I didn't like the OP's clip (fwiw, I enjoyed listening to it - and I have heard much more unlistenable, self-indulgent bass playing). If you want an example of flawed logic then I much prefer the "if you don't like it then don't post" line of thought. Without some lively discussion and (friendly) differences of opinion then these forums would be dull and, probably, have died out ages ago. BTW... I can't imagine a more niche act than Victor Wooten. It doesn't make him a bad person (or bad musician), just that (admittedly guessing) 90-something percent of music listeners won't have hear of him or (mostly likely) like what he does when they do. Which was my assertion. Apologies for offending anyone.

[quote name='peteb' post='773635' date='Mar 13 2010, 02:53 PM']But a musos' band with a number on hit in America and many other countries (no 3 here)![/quote] They did? There's loads of bands with top 10 hits I will never have heard of I suppose