Oscar South

Copied the first comp idea from musicianforums.com as it was one of the most interesting there when they ran competitions and it gets peoples imagination going rather than just leaving them looking for ideas. The rules of entry are simple, just compose and record a piece of music of any length containing a notable bass guitar part (whether you choose just to use an interesting bassline, bass in the lead or as a textural instrument is up to you) based on one of these 4 images, I've gone for a Greek Elemental theme: Earth: Water: Fire: Air: Other than these themes and a notable bass part there are no rule really, feel free to experiment with whatever forms and instrumentation you like. I'm going to set the final entry date as June 1st but I'll push it back by one or two weeks if people need more time, its flexible this time as this is just a test run really and I'm not sure how long people will need. Submit entries in this thread. After the final entry deadline I'll collect all the pieces up and create a new thread for voting and feedback.

[quote name='The Funk' post='199228' date='May 15 2008, 01:57 AM']It seems like most people aren't up for a full-on "who can widdle the widdliest widdle" contest but I think people might be interested in attempting various challenges. The first one Oscar mentioned at the beginning seems like it could be a good challenge. Then maybe people could keep suggesting challenges to see if other people were up for having a go at them. For example, you could have a "you don't need a drummer to keep time" challenge. No restrictions or guidelines on what people can or can't play, just a theme for inspiration. So I think Oscar should start a thread in the Recording forum to set Challenge 1. What do you say?[/quote] Ok I'll create one later today.

[quote name='7string' post='199100' date='May 14 2008, 09:59 PM']I'm running away in sheer terror....... No seriously I am. In my opinion, music shouldn't be a competition.... It's bad enough when people get the wrong end of the stick in the forum. Feedback left would have to be carefully worded so there's no offence caused.[/quote] Why do you have two 7 string basses and a 9 string in the works if you're not interested in bass centered music? Feedback wouldn't have to be worded carefully at all, I hope for anything but that, what happened to honesty? If someone gets the 'wrong end of the stick' its their problem, they aren't mature enough to be posting here, the people with enough common sense to give and take honest feedback at face value will have no problems at all.

I was lucky enough to be one of those Claypool/Flea obsessed slapbass-kids when I was younger so it was almost all I practiced, lucky because now I've got it in the bag and I don't have to worry about working on it any more.

I think Primus stuff isn't as hard technically, its just getting the feels right thats almost impossible, Claypool's got pretty much the hardest style in music to imitate. Sikth is just ridiculous.

I'm yet to venture into his Three Mile Pilot stuff, planning to do that over the summer, they're releasing a new album too aren't they? Thing I like about his playing in Pinback is that I didn't realise how good he was until after about a year of loving them, was only after I saw some videos of them playing live it was like "Holy crap, all that stuffs played on BASS!?", obvious after you see it played but the songs are so well composed that it just all blends into one instrument.

Anyone else a fan of this bassist? Really innovative chordal style yet still manages to 'hold it down' and contribute great parts to the songs without unnecessarily drawing attention to himself. Plays a great looking Alembic too. Some videos of him playing: [url="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PURvQocY-6U"]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PURvQocY-6U[/url] [url="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eTX8ND3k_8k"]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eTX8ND3k_8k[/url] [url="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GGNEqMQcwv0"]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GGNEqMQcwv0[/url] [url="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l98ba2OowCY"]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l98ba2OowCY[/url] You get a decent look at his playing there but the full band mixes are pretty bad, I recommend you check out the bands recordings too, some great songs. Also some good views of his playing in this interview with the band with some better mixes of the full band: [url="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JH81PcwNqFs"]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JH81PcwNqFs[/url]

[quote name='The Funk' post='198764' date='May 14 2008, 02:45 PM'] Well, come on then. Let's at least get the categories rolling. Best solo bass composition/performance Best Prog/Metal bass performance in an ensemble Best Funk bass performance in an ensemble Best Swing etc. Fastest, most pointless, and widdliest noodling <- I will be entering this category with a piece I'll call "Single for too long - The Slap It Self-Abuse Suite" Or do you guys think there should be no categories? This is going to end up like the final act of the movie [i]Crossroads[/i], isn't it? [/quote] I don't like the idea of genre or technique restrictions really, and i think 'ensemble' pieces make it too complicated and dependent on external factors. My personal favourate ideas are: -concept piece as described in my original post -one track no overdubs solo bass composition or arrangement -free for all bass centered arrangement or composition I think entries should be judged on audio only, not everyone has a webcam but almost everyone has a means to record audio. This post is hypothetical as its pretty much not going to happen unless theres a sudden boost in enthusiasm. [quote name='The Funk' post='198788' date='May 14 2008, 03:03 PM']The main prize in winning any competition is the ego stroking you get, surely?[/quote] Exactly.

[quote name='XB26354' post='198781' date='May 14 2008, 02:57 PM']I'm all for players getting more exposure here (and getting to know each other better). What's the point having a competition that isn't formalised with some kind of reward? Every competition has a winner (and a prize) so how can it just be friendly rivalry? As someone once said - if the score doesn't matter, why keep a count Which leads me back to the key point - how you gonna judge who is better? I like a lot of players but I couldn't say any one player is the best.[/quote] The 'Funk is its own reward' is a great analogy here, funk representing all music in general. If you don't care about music and just about material gain then sell your instruments and buy lottery tickets. I think it'd be good for the winner to be awarded a special title or something by the mods though, if they agree. Winner will be determined in a separate thread by voting, also everyone who entered will have to give feedback on everyone elses entries or else be barred from winning themselves (these comps usually don't end up with more than 5-6 submitted entries anyway).

Thats just not fun though, its like the 'slow race' at sports day for kids who had no chance of winning any other sporting event.

Heh ok, no problem.

Anything by Michael Manring.

Surprised at the feedback towards this. Few key themes would be: -"Whats the point of entering if I can't be sure I'll win?" -"Whats the point of entering if theres no prizes?" -"We're not capable of handling voting/feedback/competitiveness properly" Musicianforums.com (probably the most immature music forums on the internet) has been running these successfully for years and I figured that they'd work better on a forum with a less stupid user base. Its not about prizes or 'commercial exposure', its about friendly competitiveness, getting a few more people to hear your music, getting some decent feedback and having fun using bass in a less traditional way. Anyway this thread served its purpose.

[quote name='the_house123' post='198436' date='May 14 2008, 03:47 AM']Im sorry, how can you not like funk!? Ok it may be jazz's deformed cousin but you cannot dislike it. Its almost not agressive enough to be taken seriously. Go and listen to some Parliment songs and if they don't bring a smile to your eye then your just cold. Oo[/quote] Got all their albums between 1975-78 (5 in total), listened to them all. This is the attitude I was talking about in my original post.

With regard to having to develop his sound I think that some of his compositions come off feeling a little sterile in places, with amazingly expressive sections linked to sections that feel they could be improved or replaced, also I think he needs to develop parts more throughout the course of a song rather than just repeat the same notes with the same dynamics at the buildup and climax sections. I love his use of delays though and there aren't many other musicians that come near him.

I learned vanishing and frosty acres ages ago, one of the best solo bass composers but I felt he needed to develop his writing more, definitely ordering and look forward to seeing what he's come up with. Can't decide whether to buy the CD or mp3s for half the price : /

Also I hate charity gigs where some overzealous staff member tries to rope you into trying every attraction at the same time as the organiser is asking when you'll start playing. Not the most common situation but annoying nonetheless.

I meant more Mingus and less Jaco in my definition of 'proper Jazz'.

Just trying to start some interesting discussion but it seems that disagreeing with some peoples opinion is equal to insulting their mother. And for the Nth time in this thread now, I was into playing and listening to funk for 3-4 years, started on funk-rock type stuff when I was younger and went all the way back to the roots as I researched it more, I'm not uninformed. Read into my posts however you like, thats the truth.

[quote name='The Funk' post='197470' date='May 12 2008, 08:21 PM']Don't be an idiot on purpose. Bootsy never used any effects with James Brown. That was only later with the P-Funk.[/quote] Simmer down, it was a joke.

[quote name='chris_b' post='197450' date='May 12 2008, 08:06 PM']Sorry, but Mark King isn't funk. And funk isn't about technique; it's about the feel and the groove. Listen to George Porter Jnr, Galactic and Charles Wright. Not a single slap or pop anywhere. Anyone can play the notes Boots Collins played with James Brown, but they can't play them the way Bootsy did. That's funk!![/quote] No actually thats an envelope filter

Yeah its a high C. I bought his CD/DVD Arcoluz a few months back, one of my favourate double bassists and his bass is beautiful.

I knew I'd get picked up on that, I just rattled off a bunch of random names really, I guess I did go for the more funk influenced rock ones. I've got 3 or 4 ToP albums and used to love em, was into electric pianos/organs and vintage synthesizers in a big way a few years ago so I got into a lot of funk bands through that.