ambient

Like someone said to me on Facebook a few days ago. Apparently the sales of instruments are soaring, he said that musicians need to adapt. Lots of people I know are doing streamed gigs, that might be the future for a lot of artists. It’s certainly an avenue to explore until there’s any semblance of normality.

I’ve owned several, normal long scale strings work just fine.

Depends on the crowd and what the pay is. I’ve done a lot with various jazz ensembles, usually on a Sunday lunchtime. They’re usually nice affairs, abc generally pay OK.

They seem to start here. https://www.instagram.com/p/B-7EbQLn6Tr/?igshid=1lzi40qfmurc7

Yeah, it contains just the main parts needed.

My bass is tuned E to C by the way, though it doesn’t really make a difference. Check out Steve’s videos though, they’re on his Instagram page.

Minor 7. All in a row. Again the root is the lowest, then the 7th and the 3rd has dropped a fret so it’s now a minor.

This is my fingering for a dominant 7, the 7th has just dropped down one fret, I’m playing it with my 2nd finger rather than 3rd. Root is still the lowest note, the major 3rd is the highest note still.

Hopefully you can make this out. It’s my voicing for a major chord. The lowest note is the root, then the 7th, I put the 3rd on top which makes it sound clear and open. Bass chords can sound muddy if the notes are too close together. You can move this anywhere, the lowest note like I say is the root.

If you like later I’ll TAB some of the shapes I use? Here’s a very brief video.

Have a look at Steve Lawson’s Instagram page. He’s been doing a series of tuition videos, one of them was based on chords. He taught me a lot of the chord shapes that I use. If you’re playing a 6 string then they shouldn’t be too difficult, certainly not as difficult as on a 4 string. I voice chords quite differently on a 6 than I would on a 4.

It’s fabulous isn’t it? Well worth waiting for.

Bet he didn’t play anything like this though.

You’ve probably already done so, but check the battery in the bass. The number of times I’ve worried something is wrong my amp, only to then realise my stupidity and it’s the battery that’s gone.

Set the VLE and VPF controls to off, then set the other controls to flat, and start from there. I’ve been using MB for years, it seriously shouldn’t sound dull.

Then this is for you. https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Custom-made-double-neck-electric-bass-guitar-6-and-4-string/133395646550?hash=item1f0f000856:g:VkAAAOSwznZdrvJh I have to say, it’s got to be the ugliest thing I’ve seen.

The 4ths is basically the notes on the first fret on your bass starting on the E string, going up and continuing, so F, Bb, Eb, Ab etc. The circle of 5ths is it in reverse, starting on the G string. It’s fourths ascending, fifths descending, or returning.

Nice playing.

I was looking at the Nordic essentials one on Amazon, it mentions bass. It’s for a 5 string E to C tuned instrument.

No, I didn’t find it awkward, you’re not aware that the app is doing anything.

NinJam works well. It’s included with Reaper. I’ve used it to play with another bassist, and with a laptop ensemble from uni. A friend had used it a few times with his jazz ensemble. It takes a few minutes to set up, but they all do. It doesn’t work to remove latency, it actually adds latency to the signal when needed, to bring whoever is out, back in.

I think on the whole musicians are quite adaptable, resourceful and innovative people. You’ve only got to look on social media to see how people have started using technology to continue gigging and collaborating etc. Music is what we do, a large part of that is performing with others, so I’m sure we’ll all adapt to whatever the requirements are that enable both ourselves and others to continue doing that, whilst remaining healthy.

I bought stuff off them last week. It arrived next day. The shop is closed, I believe there’s something on their website about email and phone calls; could be wrong about that. They are still filling orders and shipping though.

James Jamerson at number one?