ambient

It seems to me, that much of the dislike for solo bass, is aimed at the instrument itself. That's what I don't understand. Many other instruments are in the same range, or lower than bass guitar, yet people are fine with those instruments playing solo. Why is that, because I don't understand.

Maybe play along to recordings of the songs ? Bass doesn't have to be unmelodic, lots of rock bassists play very melodically.

Reverb and delay.

Try the Ibanez Gary Willis bass. Really nice and not a lot of money. De-frets can be refretted, but it'll obviously cost you.

You'd be for ever cleaning it. Looks horrible.

Just play it a bit, and adapt. I had a Zon 6 that was 16.5, at the same time as a Yamaha TRB6 that was 19mm, it didn't take much adjustment to switch between the two. Seems a shame to spend money and maybe spoil the bass.

As above, I've worn fingerless gloves when I've played outdoors in the winter. Maybe take a thermos flask or cup with you too ? Plenty of hot black coffee keep you warmed up .

[quote name='lowdown' timestamp='1479028957' post='3173337'] Yes, 'Dave Grusin Presents West Side Story'. I picked mine up in NY quite a while back, but it looks like you can get it in the UK. [url="http://intl.target.com/p/dave-grusin-presents-west-side-story/-/A-11526826"]http://intl.target.c...ry/-/A-11526826[/url] Studio sessions and Interviews. All good stuff. Certainly one of my favourite (big band) albums. Everything is all on a ridiculously high level, playing, arranging, solos, singing and production. [media]http://youtu.be/51dLfy8Gevs[/media] [media]http://youtu.be/sPA3v2OyOis[/media] Sorry for the Hijack. On the other hand, it is John Patitucci playing on and outstanding album. [/quote] I hadn't seen that before, brilliant thanks 😊.

[quote name='chris_b' timestamp='1479033269' post='3173380'] Get a 5 string bass. Playing across the fretboard is easier than playing up and down when you're reading. [/quote] All great advice, this especially so.

I'm a massive fan of Patitucci's playing, particularly his 6 string electric bass. Here's a great video of his double bass playing in a workshop. [url="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fvv468cKM4o"]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fvv468cKM4o[/url]

[quote name='Dad3353' timestamp='1478984862' post='3173192'] Yes, that's what Icarus was told, too. [/quote] He just got a little carried away. Maybe he should have tried at night ?

[quote name='Number6' timestamp='1478983594' post='3173185'] Don't get old and creaky and regret not even trying it. Attempt that steep learning curve and give it a whirl. [/quote] This, most definitely. Betterer to have tried and failed, than not have tried at all.

I spent a summer working on a cruise ship about 6 years ago. In my experience I had to be an excellent sight reader. The singer just called out page numbers from two books of songs, you just turned to that song and played it. It was all standard notation, no chords. There was never any rehearsal, simply because there was nowhere on the ship to rehearse. There was a real mix of genres, one night was cocktail night, so that was jazz, the only exception to reading standard notation, that was just following lead sheets. I did an honours degree in music, graduating last summer. We were encouraged to adopt a portfolio approach to working. So as well as playing, I teach a lot, (I have a Rock school teaching qualification that I did as part of my final year). A friend of mine who's an amazing player, also writes in Bass guitar magazine. I write music and earn a little from that. I did some for an advert earlier this week. Being able to fluently and accurately play a whole mix of styles is important, i.e. being able to a jazz gig one night, improvising off lead sheets, then the following playing standard function tunes, some of the dep gigs that I've done again require turning up and sight-reading charts. I'm doing panto in January for a couple of weeks, again sight-reading.

[quote name='Rocker' timestamp='1478898162' post='3172639'] Just because you 'can' does not mean you 'should'. That video of [url="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xx1RccwlF5g"]Michael Manring "Adhan"[/url] is a perfect example. Makes little or no sense musically while impressing the impressionable with outstanding technical ability. Some instruments work best when played solo: piano, uileann pipes, bagpipes, church organ - all these are powerful instruments that don't need support. [/quote] In your opinion. Like I said, it's personal taste. What makes little sense musically to you, makes a lot to others, thankfully. Otherwise it'd be a pretty boring old world 😊.

I bet he got replies asking if he was gonna do any classic rock. That's all I've ever got whenever I've advertised on there before.

There's a live album out from her shows the other year .

The thing is I guess, most of the really great artists are really getting on. Consequently I think unfortunately we need to expect more of these very sad losses.

2016 in it's final weeks takes another. [url="http://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/leonard-cohen-dead-at-82-w449792"]http://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/leonard-cohen-dead-at-82-w449792[/url]

[quote name='wateroftyne' timestamp='1478851146' post='3172064'] Forget about those dull old bass lines on a P bass strung with flats. What do you think of the songs they're in? [/quote] It's not something I listen to, there's a whole load of artists, and on here bassists that people rave about, and I'm like, why ? I respect what a lot of artists do, I just don't like their music. Let's face it, the purpose behind a lot of music is to make money, the artistry is of little consideration,especially nowadays. I like jazz, classical stuff, experimental music, some progressive metal.

I think that yes, it can work, and indeed it does work, it's just that some folk don't like it. It's taste isn't it at the end of the day ? My musician tastes are different to the next persons, not better, just different. Me, I love it, and would I much rather hear bass playing solo material, by a player with proficient skills and artistry like Michael Manring or Steve Lawson, than someone belting out dull old bass lines on a P bass strung with flats, no matter how 'locked' in they are with the drummer. That's me though .

[quote name='Woodinblack' timestamp='1478800474' post='3171781'] I like that. But I wouldn't really call it a bass solo [/quote] I thought the thread was solo and melodic bass ?

A friend of mine plays a short scale bass. He plays in the jazz collective that I'm a member of. His sound is brilliant. I'd never actually seen or heard a short scale bass until I saw Roger's. It's full and focused, great for walking lines and latin stuff. I'm not sure what make it is though.

Never been there, but it's very sad the way that these places close.