ambient

[quote name='RhysP' timestamp='1455390247' post='2978759'] Having been diagnosed with Aspergers last November it finally made sense why I always hated gigging so much. [/quote] I wouldn't say that I hated it. I'm fine with the actual playing bit. It's the beforehand, interval and afterwards that I don't like. The bits where you have to socialise I guess 😊. This is when it gets awkward if I've not met the guys before. I'm happy to just wonder off and grab a coffee, sit somewhere and drink it. I find idle chit chat extremely difficult. I only play jazz gigs now though. There's no pressure to be a performer.

Again I've never heard of them. But it's terribly sad news. I honestly couldn't count the amount of times that I've driven home from a gig at 2,3 or 4 o'clock in the morning. I guess it's a hazard of the occupation ? Wasn't Marcus Miller's coach involved in an accident ?

I always found that they sounded great on their own, but rubbish in a band. I figured that was why Mark King did all that slap stuff so's he could be heard.

[quote name='bootleg' timestamp='1455376839' post='2978595'] I have some on my Buzz and they are so unique in feel and sound. Had them for years and I find the tension has increased slightly, less of that floppy feel. Was wondering about putting them on a 6 string 34.5 scale fretted which has magnetic and piezo pickups. Any thoughts? [/quote] I've never really found them to be floppy, but I've never tried any others. I use them on my 6 string, get them from DV247 or thomann, they're about £30 less than anywhere else.

I had two 5 string Fenders 3 or 4 years ago. One was a Marcus Miller the other an American standard. Both had neck pockets that weren't cup properly. They were too wide and cut funny. Both had string through body option, and had little cup things in the body holes that fell out when you took the strings out. The US standard just felt cheap. The Marcus Miller was nicer but not worth the money that it originally cost.

[quote name='blue' timestamp='1455389990' post='2978757'] I can see why some of you chose this stay home option. It's less work. I say if you don't like gigging your really not in this. Blue [/quote] Not in what ? There's more to making music than playing gigs. Kate Bush for instance hated gigging. It's quite possible to enjoy making music in a band without doing gigs.

I know a guy who uses a Sei headless, he uses guitar gig bags.

The guitarist saying that down the mic would really bug me ! I have aspergers, and find the people thing awkward. The Jazz bands I play for seem to accept me being who i am, they'd never put me under pressure like yours has, I also hate playing music that doesn't interest me, which is 99% of what most covers bands play, so I don't play it. I wouldn't sell my gear if I was you. Play at home for a bit, maybe play original music ?

I've been selling a 25 key Oxygen usb controller keyboard for ages. I used to take it with me on the train for recording on the move, it's very, very portable. It fits into my backpack. If you have an iPad, then garageband is available from the app store for £3.50 or something silly.

It's odd that people seem to not like it. You get some serious people using it to regularly upload new stuff. I follow Richard Barbieri, Olafur Arnalds, Steve Lawson, Eric Whitacre, William Basinski, Harold Budd, Richard Chartier. So it's definitely a valid platform for music.

[quote name='Skol303' timestamp='1455287201' post='2977836'] ^ Ditto, that's also been my experience of SoundCloud. But... if you're a band wanting space for biographies, gig listings, video clips, moody photos of middle-aged guys in sunglasses stood against brick walls, then it's not for you. I'd say Bandcamp probably does that better than anyone - but that's the only other platform I'm familiar with. [/quote] Love it !

[quote name='keefbaker' timestamp='1455282824' post='2977758'] I got a lot of spam, very little of actual use. [/quote] Spam from Soundcloud ? I joined up to Reverbnation, they were constantly emailing me, despite me un-subscribing from their emails on a daily basis. I've never had anything from Soundcloud, in the 2 years that I've used them.

[quote name='Roland Rock' timestamp='1455263880' post='2977521'] I'm using it more and more these days - I really hope it doesn't go 😕 I will subscribe if the cost is reasonable [/quote] I think I pay £4 a month for s pro plan. That just gives me more space on there.

I love soundcloud. People do look through it. I was approached by the national sound archive to supply them with some music. That was through soundcloud. It's extremely useful to just send a link to it for someone wanting to hear what you do. I found Reverbnation to be a total waste of time and absolute pain.

[quote name='bubinga5' timestamp='1455233222' post='2977438'] i got 1 out of 10 [/quote] Don't be too despondent, that's still 1 more than me

[quote name='Jazzjames' timestamp='1455048262' post='2975469'] I respectfully disagree with this- it sounds different and not always in a good way. I'd say get used to playing down in half/first position, as that's "where the money is". Playing everything from the 5th fret up is a bit of a cheat. Glad the OP has made what sounds like a sound decision. I hope you're happy with your bass! [/quote] I play 90% of the time from the 5th fret upwards. I just find it easier when I'm reading or playing off an unfamiliar lead sheet, less position shifts.

[quote name='MacDaddy' timestamp='1455193610' post='2976845'] There are few bands that you can genuinely say you have no idea what to expect. Off the top of my head, the only one I can think of is The Cardiacs. [/quote] I think Radiohead quite often surprise you when they bring out something new.

Steven Wilson play bass occasionally when Nick Beggs is playing Chapman stick.

[quote name='keefbaker' timestamp='1455189702' post='2976790'] I refuse to do any quiz that considers Steel Panther to be metal. [/quote] I'd never heard of them until I did the quiz. Which ones were they ? Why do metal/rock bands have to have to silly names ?

[quote name='Dad3353' timestamp='1455132340' post='2976321'] A few remarks and a couple of questions, if you would..? There are not many folks that get through life in general totally on their own; if there are any at all, I don't know them. Many tasks and skills are so much more assimilable given either good tutoring or good support. Practise is one thing; quality practise is another. Maybe you're trying to run before walking..? Three years is not that long to become proficient in any instrument, more especially if you're on your own. Whatever the reasons for not taking up regular, costly lessons, is there really no way at all of putting in the effort of taking, say, a monthly lesson for three months, or similar..? Do you get to play bass with other folks..? Whatever the (perceived...) level, there is certainly someone not too far away that would appreciate your contribution, however modest. It may not be in your favourite style or context, but playing bass is playing bass, for whatever formation, when cut down to the very basics. Often, that is exactly what's required. This would not preclude the continued self-improvement you're striving for, but meanwhile you're playing something useful. Turn your bass around, and play it 'lefty'. Do you find that difficult and uncomfortable..? Well, that's how you started out originally, the very first time you picked up the instrument. The difference in sensation is a modest measure of the improvement already found in those short three years. It matters little enough what others think of your passion (as long as no-one is really hurt, of course..!), and not everyone will understand the pleasure to be derived from small successes and victories after weeks or months of stagnation. When it starts to go right, it may not be apparent to others, but you'll know. Persist, as long as the effort involved brings pleasure, but be patient and not so hard on yourself. It's true, some folks take up tasks with more ease than others, but they are not [i]you[/i]. In a 'worst-case' scenario, there is more to music than bass guitar, but that would involve adopting a totally different mind-set. There would still be effort and frustration, anyway. Not sure if this helps, of course; others will surely have other views. [/quote] Some very good points here. Place an ad on Bumtree for others to play and jam with, and see how you get on. Maybe that will give you the desire to carry on.

[quote name='Cameronj279' timestamp='1455148178' post='2976559'] I done the quiz whilst in a pub...I didn't do very well though. So I'm confused about where I stand here! [/quote] If you did better than zero, then you did better than me .

I've just done it for a 2nd time and got 1/10. I'm most definitely not metal at all. 😊

[quote name='Zenitram' timestamp='1455109857' post='2975955'] I really enjoyed that. It fits perfectly. It sets a mood, and is very much 'there', without distracting from the voice, and allowing us (rather than you, if you see what I mean) to interpret what is meant by the words, and the images, and the point of the piece. Nicely done. [/quote] [quote name='fingers211' timestamp='1455112628' post='2976008'] +1 Exactly ! [/quote] Thanks

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