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Every musician has their own style & this is what makes a great bassist. To interpret what is written & make it sound like that is how it goes. If you take two great bassists that can sightread & give them the same piece of music to play, they will both play it the same, note for note & length of time each note is held for but at the same time it will also have "their" sound (due to their finger style & the way they hold the bass & multiple other factors). If they're playing with a band then they would give an indication of what sort of feel it should have. Hope this makes some sense.

Most "grooves" are formed when playing with other musicians, that's one thing, & getting it to sound the way it does depends on the bassist, but the "groove" itself can be written down. Below each note on the stave can be written which finger is to be used (t, i, m, r, p) & can be said to be slap or finger. "h" & "p" on a tie from one note to another indicate hammer-on & pull-off or "tr" for trill & small dots below the larger dots (notes) indicate staccato (which also used with full length notes give that "groove") & X marks a dead note. Like is said above, it helps if you know the genre that you're playing but that's kinda logical. Gotta go, but back soon (hopefully).

Writing score isn't just about putting dots in the right places for the notes. There's note length, rests, timing & multiple terms that help explain the feel or groove of what is to be played. Hope this explains a little. I'll try & get on my mac later & go into a bit more detail(if someone else doesn't).

From what I've found out on this forum is that it's not so much the wattage but how much air is being moved. So in theory a 100w 2x10 combo could sound louder than a 300w 1x12. Personally, I'd steer clear of beringher stuff as you do get what you pay for.

Never been, Kyleakin is a busy wee place tho & it's worth going just for an excuse to go to Skye. Looks legit.

Fetch your ring finger into play. It takes a little practice & you'll say "fijck it" a few times, but it's a useful finger to use on bass. Double thumbing (without making it sound like slap) is another option to get fast notes without a pick, this I'm still not too good at, but practice makes good rock music. As for metronomes, it's up to you. Some folk like em & helps keep timing, other folk can't be arsed with them & make use of a drummer if needs be.

+1 on the LM11. Or LM111?

Mics? Do you want the sound that your cabs make? If so then instead of getting something like MB studio1 or Ampeg plugin thing you might want to consider micing your cab up. I don't mic mine up tho & just line straight from the pedal board & record with either Garageband or Reaper (which was recommended here & I'd recommend it to anyone & is free to use). +1 on getting a decent interface such as the 828 or the 410 mentioned above.

Can't comment on any of the FX mentioned as I've never used em (but wouldn't mind trying some). The Moog MF-101 Does give a more subby bottom end to sounds if you don't use it as a wah/envelope filter & taking a TRS lead from the env out & into the cutoff in with the cutoff set to @ 9 o'clock can give a very good sub/double bass kinda sound. I believe roundwound strings will help on the more sine like sound if, like me, that is what you're trying to attain.

+1 loved Bella Fleck & the Flecktones before I knew of Wooten

Best thing to do is start your own band. You have a wide pallet to chose & you get to choose what you want the band to do. Mines formed by just talking to people. I worked with a folk guitarist who knew a Canadian blues singer who met a jazz drummer in a pub & that's how Frigorifico started.

I think bass needs to be able to add to the song just as any other instrument. Whether that be playing a single note over & over like "the void" or something a bit more technical like "hit me with your rhythm stick" or some flash w@n<ery like "shy boy", take the bass away or put a different bassline there & the punter will notice. They might not know what's different, but they'll miss it if it's good.

[quote name='thumperbob 2002' post='651284' date='Nov 11 2009, 07:44 AM']+1 and I would lower the bass- your wrist needs to be straight- or as straight as you can manage- always seems strange when someone picks up their shoulder- a bit like quasimodo- so lowering the bass I`m sure will put less strain on the wrist. Worked for me - see the dos though Bob[/quote] Another +1 here. That position would suit you of you was a slapper... ...In the Mark King sense.

Bootsy, is that you???

I've had similar before & use my index & ring finger (or grab a pick for some songs). When I first read your title for the post I thought it might be a similar problem to one I have with my left hand where any time my middle finger isn't being used, it sticks straight up & looks like I'm giving everyone the bird.!.. It's only recently that I've noticed I do this after watching a dvd of one of my bands & now I try to make a conscious effort to not raise the flag. I would err on caution & go to the doc's about your finger tho.

Having played for many years I know where you're at. This isn't a bad thing as noodling/jamming helps you to be creative & keeps the simple things easy to play (if you know what I mean). What I don't like is when there is a completed song(s) that a band has but one of the musicians keep noodling it every time! I agree with Funkshui that a couple of lessons may help you there or you could go down the YouTube route & have a look at some things on there, I learned a few good techniques from there. My suggestion to get past that wall would be to listen to a style of music that you don't (or haven't in a long time). Maybe some Americana or Funk might help.

Depending on how much you're spending on the bass, it might be a good time to look at upgrading your amp/cab/combo if you're happy to pay instalments (Depending on what Laney you have tho).

I love the bit that says... Our Price: £1,995.00 RRP: £1,995.00 You Save: £0.00 (0%)

The only opens I tend to play is E & A but will always try & play the A fretted as I prefer the sound of a fretted note as opposed to the flabby twang of an open string. I dare say if I used more of open strings then my technique would be better.

[quote name='silddx' post='639790' date='Oct 29 2009, 10:05 AM']Jesus mate, I think my breakfast is just about to see daylight again [/quote] See, even your brekky likes them!

Ritter Roya's tick the "make me drool" boxes for me, especially if they're made of wood that looks like it would give you splinters.

I too have the 2x10 combo & love it for the amount of sound & portability it provides. I've never had the chance to turn it up as far as 1/2 way. 10 o'clock on gain & vol is usually the max I get to! Would like a 1x15 or a 4x10 mb to pop under it tho.

I can't sing either. which can come in handy if you wanna empty a venue!

Play that funky music by wild cherry. The waking by Kurt Elling

[quote name='danlea' post='634653' date='Oct 23 2009, 05:33 PM']Having seen this post of a [topic="64011"]Fender Jag[/topic] and the subsequent comments, I thought it would be nice to have a thread for people's bass-related photography (distinct from the previous 'Great bass photos' thread). OK, so basses aren't necessarily the most common of subjects, but I remembered a photo (larger image attached) I had taken after re-stringing my acoustic on a sunny day: One for the nerds: What's the shutter speed?[/quote] I'm gonna take a stab at 1/50, but if you tell me the ISO (maybe 400) & Aperture (maybe 2.8) & any stops on the flash (I'm guessing -1.2/3), I'll tell you the shutter speed. Nice macro shot tho. The Mrs took this of me recently.