ambient

There was a guy I was at uni with. He was without doubt the most gifted musician I've ever encountered. He could hear something once, and then play it. I'm not talking 12 bar either. He could do it on bass and also on piano, jazz stuff too. His uncle is a well known bassist.

My gig last night[quote name='lowdown' timestamp='1477305842' post='3161187'] I did say both, as you quoted. Mikel said above, that without a rehearsal he wouldn't want to play a song to a paying audience, unless it was easy like a twelve bar. Some experienced players could play more than a twelve bar without a rehearsal. My point was, busking tunes on a gig is using your ears as well. Many do it all the time. Now, that might mean years of playing experience has helped in remembering many tunes, or they have good relative pitch, or a combination of both. To me that is playing by ear. But like you said, that is just my opinion. [/quote] This was my gig last night. Quite an important one because the band wanted a residency, which we got. We don't rehearse, we just turn up and play. We use charts, but playing by ear is a massive part of the gig. listening to what's going on, keys changed at the last minute, the arrangement evolves as the song goes on, watch the MD for cues re solos and dynamic etc.

The distance selling laws will still apply, so you'll be able to return it if you're not happy.

[quote name='therealting' timestamp='1477247062' post='3160851'] My TRB6 MK I was my first bass, still a monster if a little bit for what I've gotten used to now. The JP was always what I really wanted. What a stunner! [/quote] [quote name='bubinga5' timestamp='1477136606' post='3160065'] Love it. I think these are one of the best six string basses ever made. Love the necks. I love the early TRB 6 basses. They have a great clarity but awsome growl. Check out the awsome Deborah Killings on a JP. [media]http://youtu.be/jeZK9BD90F4[/media] [/quote] [quote name='Fisheth' timestamp='1477249556' post='3160872'] Beautiful! [/quote] Thanks. They are seriously such amazing basses. The TRB6P that I had was a superb bass. I sold it to Kevin Glasgow, so it went to a good home. A photo from this evenings gig. [attachment=230636:14729123_1840038219564022_8900643665370322770_n.jpg] It has such amazing clarity, yet there's a real depth to the sound too.

[quote name='landwomble' timestamp='1477239630' post='3160777'] Same here. I play by ear, haven't done any music theory since grade 5 trombone when I was a teen-ager and I've forgotten all of that. I just start with the root note of the chords then work from there. Works for me! [/quote] Is that 'playing by ear' though, if you know the root note of the chord and play that ?

[quote name='PaulWarning' timestamp='1477228333' post='3160689'] I always think it's cheating, if you're supposed to be a live band that's what it should be, same with loopers, very clever, but no different from using a backing track [/quote] Except with a looper you're playing it in real time, it plays it back, and you respond to it. Quite different to a backing track, where you can re-record something until it's absolutely perfect. If you make a mistake with your loop, then you're stuck with it.

[quote name='Coilte' timestamp='1477225576' post='3160656'] Fair enough...but he says he learned [i] theory[/i] on the trombone. My point is that theory is theory, regardless of the instrument, and I would expect that he'd know what key he was playing in. [/quote] Yep, totally agree. That's what makes me think it's that he doesn't know the notes on the bass. It's all well and good knowing the C major scale, but if you don't know where C is on the bass then, you're kind of stuck . It kind of baffles me really, guys spend hundreds, maybe thousands on gear, but don't invest a little bit of time on learning the basics of playing. If someone already knows scales, then how long would it take to learn the notes on 20 odd frets ? If you know scales, then learning that the note on fret 1 of the E string is an F, then you'd pretty quickly figure out the next one is going to be F#, etc. If it's not hampering someone's enjoyment of playing music though, then there's no problem. I am intrigued though, how do you know what note to play first of all, if you've not played that song before ? Then the next note etc. If the song starts on a Cm, how do you know what note(s) to play, and how would you know the next chord was going to be an F7, quickly enough to play something ?

I've played with bands like this a few times. You just have to make sure the drummer has good monitoring, and can hear the click/tracks, and can play in time.

Cello. I absolutely love cello. My composition tutor at uni is a cellist. She brought her 200 odd year old cello into a lecture once, and played. So, so beautiful.

[quote name='Coilte' timestamp='1477222967' post='3160622'] I'm a bit puzzled by this. A "C" major minor scale, or chord is the same, no matter what instrument you play. [/quote] I think he means that he didn't learn the fretboard, or scales/arpeggios on his bass.

How do you play to a song that you've never heard before ? How do you know what note to play first etc ? I'm just curious.

I've never played one. They look beautiful though. I saw one in the flesh for the first time last year, a 6 string too !

A twenty one year old original model John Patitucci bass. [attachment=230483:14718877_580332012175064_6802446200429928455_n.jpg] I'm a huge John Patitucci fan, I've wanted one of these for ages. Physically it quite a large bass, but it is so comfortable to play. I picked it up on Tuesday evening after uni, and used it for a gig the following afternoon. Being one of the original models, it's a 34" scale, as opposed to the current JP2 basses which are 35". It sounds absolutely fantastic, deep, but at the same time very bright. Which is what they were aiming for I believe when they were designing it. It's incredibly beautiful looking, almost like a tiger . I just love the design of it, from the recessed flush mount strap buttons, to the easy open battery cover, it's just so well thought out and built. I believe it would have cost over £3k new, so quite an investment back in 1995. I used to own a TRB6P, that was an amazing bass, and one that I've always regretted selling. This I hope will be a keeper.

They do two models of the Gerald Veasley bass too, an extremely expensive model, and a much cheaper one.

Steve Lawson and Michael Manring. I've always loved the 'sound' of bass, but never really it's role. So discovering them after playing for ten years or so, was amazing.

For 'normal' playing it'd be Anthony Jackson. His playing on everything is amazing, but there's one Hiromi album that's particularly good, and his sound is brilliant on it, need to look up the name of it though.

The pinnacle ? Probably something my Michael Manring, Adhan maybe.

Start with the chords. Ask the guitarists/keyboard player what chords they're playing, and take it from there. Start simple with root notes, and add the relevant 3rd/5th etc.

[quote name='SICbass' timestamp='1476729363' post='3156763'] Ooo-err! Well......,,,somebody had to. [/quote] I was waiting for it 😄.

I used to see a guy most nights at Marylebone. I'm guessing he was a student at the Royal college of music which is just down the road. Anyway, he was only about 5 foot 2 or something, carrying this huge orchestral double bass on his back. Having to lean forward to counteract the backward pull of the bass. I used to feel so sorry for him struggling through the crowded station concourse, and through the barrier. Then consider how lucky I was with my relatively light bass in it's bag on back.

Stand in front of a mirror and play, or betterer still video yourself playing, and look for oddness in how you're standing.

It's definitely the marmite of body shapes 😊.

I wouldn't have thought an inch would make much difference. I tend to do 99% of my playing from the 5th fret upwards. Low F I'd play at the 6th fret B string, F# 7th fret etc. I find that way more comfortable than playing the same notes on a 4 string.

I've got Funkifise too if you want it.