ambient

It’s a marvellous sensation though, being part of a huge ensemble, listening to what’s going on, watching the conductor and interpreting the score. It’s a real sense of achievement when you’re finished and it’s worked well.

Have you considered Leeds college of music? They have a great jazz course there, it’s got a great reputation and brilliant facilities. A friend of mine did his MMus there.

With the internet, social media and good transport you can have a career living anywhere. The last ‘normal bass’ work I did was for a guy I knew from Goldsmiths university who lives in Italy. He sent me files, I sent him files. London is a very expensive place to live, it’s also not the only place where live music takes place. Leeds, Manchester and Liverpool all have very vibrant music scenes. Steve Lawson moved from London, and now lives near me in the West Midlands. I remember him saying that he’s only two hours from London if he needs to go there. You’re a bit further away, it’s not the other side of the world though. The thing with studying music, like I said earlier, it’s not all about your instrument. They’ll teach you arranging and composing, music technology and production, I did a teaching qualification in one of my optional modules. The idea is for a career in the music business, not just as a bass player.

You also get to meet other people, networking is vital in a musical career.

Do it, you’ll only regret it if you don’t. I did the BMus at ICMP, I graduated in 2015. It really opens your eyes, not only about your playing, but other aspects of music too. I’d never written any music until the second year of the course. We had a composition module, run by a very inspiring tutor. I graduated with a Masters in composition in 2018, I’m now in the second year of my PhD. I’d never have been doing this if I hadn’t studied music. Bear in mind I originally went to improve my bass playing.

Amazon sell it.

There was a really lovely store by me, it was great for studio stuff, I once spent about five hours there one day A/B’ing studio monitors. It’s closed now. Romford must be their one and only store. I know everything I’ve bought online has come from Germany.

I’m pretty certain they’re now based in Germany. They’re still very good though.

It all comes down to price I guess. There’s a friend of mine has bought some quite expensive instruments without actually seeing them. He’s never had a problem, if he hasn’t liked them, he’s sold them on.

I like to try before I buy, that’s just me though. I was wondering the other day though; how much on an impact ‘it’ that we shouldn’t mention will have on sales, especially bearing in mind that anything other than the UK will have import charges.

Ibanez do some nice instruments.

Phone Bass direct and speak to Mark. He’s very knowledgeable and helpful.

Guitarists don’t for instance start of on a guitar with only four strings, then buy one with five, before making the leap to six. I’ve had students who’s first instrument has been a six. These are influenced by guys like John Myung etc. It’s best to get along to a few different shops, or maybe the bass show, and try a few models out. Getting the string spacing, and neck width and shape right are really important.

I found five string basses awkward, there’s a symmetry to a six. You still have the four string there in the centre. A six is wonderful for chordal playing.

That’s quite ridiculous, he obviously doesn’t care very much, so you were right to turn him down. I’ve done more dep gigs than I can remember. The most important thing is getting the song right. I’m pretty good at busking, just following what’s going on if need be, however if there’s time then I’d prefer to prepare properly. I’ve never played with anyone who’s objected or even batted an eyelid at me turning up with a music stand and charts, though nowadays if I was doing that kind of gig it’d be my iPad.

I guess most of the songs would be part of the ‘pub gig repertoire’. I have done a few where I’ve sight-read them. The important thing was to get the songs right, the bands weren’t concerned about me having a music stand on the stage. I’ve got hundreds of songs written out from when I used to do dep gigs.

I’ve not necessarily enjoyed it playing different stuff, but it’s certainly brilliant practice.