ambient

[quote name='phlebas' timestamp='1363995892' post='2020875'] Once I know the key, the notes are scale/chord tones - so in C I don't think of open E as E, but the root of iim and as the fifth of the V chord. Seems more useful to think of it that way since 95% of the tunes I play are completely diatonic. [/quote] I'm sure I've probably just misunderstood what you've said - but in C the II chord is indeed minor, but it's Dm, the V chord is G7 and its 5th is D. Probably due to my lack of confidence and insecurity, but I do know every note I play, and it's relationship to the chord or scale that I'm playing over.

[quote name='Badass' timestamp='1361884515' post='1992373'] The first Fedora @ £49.99 I'll have first dibs on in that case [/quote] Isn't that a type of hat ?

One of the good things about going to college is the contacts that you make whilst there. You need to practice loads, obviously, but also network to make contacts to get you the work.

[quote name='LiamPodmore' timestamp='1362350310' post='1998884'] I'm planning on heading to ICMP to study bass next year, with a friend who's doing songwriting. Whether it will lead to anything, who knows, but if it doesn't, I'm fairly well qualified in IT for my age so I have other less interesting avenues. I know there's a guy on here who went to uni doing bass and plays for Jessie J at the moment. Liam [/quote] That's where I go. I figure it's best to at least try, if a career in music doesn't happen then at least you've tried. Having a degree opens doors for you anyway, teaching etc. Having an open mind and having a portfolio of skills should mean that you do OK.

I'm a student at a music college in London. One thing that we're told is that session work pretty much doesn't exist anymore. To make a living from music you need to have a portfolio approach, session work when it comes up, gigging, teaching, writing and composing, writing in a journalistic way e.g. magazines and online. Playing more than one instrument is a must, we're taught keyboards as well as percussion and vocals. We're also taught music technology and production, as well as arranging, so those are other avenues open to us after we graduate. I'm doing probably about 30 hours a week practicing my bass playing. I also spend about another 5 hours a week on aural practice, doing lots of transcribing and interval practice, and another 20 hours or composing and working on music tech projects arranging and mixing. I also try and do at least 30 minutes to an hour a day practising keyboards.

[quote name='icastle' timestamp='1362262038' post='1997808'] I don't recall seeing the phrase here, but in the climbing world we have a saying - "all the gear and no idea". Latest boots (with the price ticket still on them), latest rucksack, latest waterproof GPS and yards of the latest high performance, multiple layer Goretex. They're usually the ones who end up getting lost or need to be carried off the peak on a stretcher. The purpose of that story is to point out that, no matter how much money you throw at something, if you don't know how to use it, you'll come a cropper. [/quote] Kind of what I said. Too many people seem to blame the gear, or lack of it for the shortcomings in what's happening, or not happening in their playing, not just on this site, but take a look at the for sale section and you'll see what I mean. People change amps and cabs 'cos their slap sound isn't happening, when in fact it's their technique that sucks. I find it amazing to see that people will spend thousands on a new Bergantino rig, but won't spend considerably less on a few lessons that will improve their sound and playing. Then 6 months later, the Bergantino rig is for sale, at a huge loss, cos guess what, it hasn't done what they hoped it would.

[quote name='hamfist' timestamp='1362243917' post='1997504'] No, but it'll probably sound nicer ! [/quote] Why ? A poorly played instrument is just that, be it a badly played beat up Mexican P bass, or a £10, 000 Fodera.

I've seen people play amazingly on budget instruments, and others play crap on expensive instruments. It is the player, not the gear. Maybe that's why guys on here keep changing what they've got, they're searching for something that can't be bought. If you buy an expensive bass, string it with the latest highly fashionable and expensive strings, and play it through a boutique amp and cab that a guy in bass shop tells you, you absolutely must have, but then proceed to play it using your less than good technique (sloppy fretting, uneven picking etc}, then unfortunately you'll still sound crap. Jaco Pastorius was once talking to a fan. The fan kept saying how amazing Jaco's bass was, how amazing it sounded, and how he wished he had one like it. Jaco took his bass off and stood it in the corner, turned to the guy and said "does it still sound amazing now ?" Look at guys like Pino, Tony Levin, Jaco, Guy Pratt, Victor Bailey, Louis Johnson, Bernard Edwards, Marcus Miller, Paul Turner, Julian Crampton and dozens more, they use 'normal' basses on the whole.

College days little, except Tuesday when I get home early, then I'll try and do 2 or 3 hours, though I play at college anyway. I read theory books on my commute, and do production/arranging stuff on my laptop. None college days I'll do between 6 and 10 hours a day, depending on what else I've got on.

Brilliant idea, I know a few people that I play with who do this. An Ipad is on my shopping list for this very purpose when I get my next student loan money through.

[quote name='Lenny B' timestamp='1359122270' post='1950190'] Would need to get a keyboard, but that sounds worth trying, thanks [/quote] You only need a cheap midi keyboard, I've got an M-audio Keystation 88ES which is brilliant and only cost about £60 off Ebay.