louisthebass

Did a gig at The Rowbarge in Guildford last night, probably only about 20 or so in the area where we were playing but managed to get most of them up and dancing for a good chunk of the night.

[quote name='Coilte' timestamp='1504952362' post='3368494'] I agree. Both Kaye and Jamerson are considered icons of the bass, and Kaye is one of the most recorded bassists. So...millions around the world , including top class artists who used them, would beg to differ with the "ploddy" tag. [/quote] +1.

Not sure you can get the exact sound of a P bass, but you can get close (imo). Roll off the rear pickup volume all the way, front pickup on full and pluck over the front pickup. Take the tone off about 3/4 of the way. It will still "bark" like a Jazz, but only slightly.

[quote name='FinnDave' timestamp='1504780899' post='3367234'] I usually record all rehearsals and gigs then share them with the band. Helps us to improve by learning from our mistakes, and some of us use the recordings to play along to between gigs to keep us fresh. Also very useful to a record of those times when when come up with something new, saves us trying to remember what we did when we next play! [/quote] Both bands I play with do this - what he said above

By the sounds of it, I wonder if it's either the way you've eq'd the bass (too much treble or mids) or if there's an issue with your left and right hand muting technique? Don't forget that a new set of strings will always sound a bit bright & scratchy before you've played them in.. There will always be a certain amount of fretting noise but that will get lost in the sound of the band (if you're playing in one), but it will show up a bit more when you're practising. If your muting technique is up to scratch, then it's part and parcel of playing a fretted instrument. If the pickups are noisy, then the bass may not be shielded properly or maybe a loose connection? That being the case, take it to your luthier, who should be able to sort it out for you.

[quote name='Dad3353' timestamp='1504521803' post='3365364'] Almost off-topic, but are there no 'new' legends being created..? None of the 'greats' can ever be replaced,of course, but is it all over now..? Surely not..? Think of the children. [/quote] There'll never be another band like Steely Dan - I don't know of any songwriting duo currently on the scene that writes lyrics and music with real class combined with that Rock / Jazz / R&B mentality...

Sad news - glad I got to see him play with The Dan in London (about 2007 or 8). RIP Walter Becker 1950 -2017

In my experience here in the UK, a car is essential if you're a gigging musician. The guys who use public transport (buses / tube / tram) probably travel extremely light, and it probably depends on how close to a stop or station they live and where they have to get off to reach the venue. I wouldn't like to have to do that. Public transport for most of us runs between about 6am to midnight, although the London Underground now operates all night over the weekend. There is a night bus service in London (and maybe some of the big cities elsewhere in the UK?) but that runs only on certain specified routes hourly from midnight to about 6am.

Orange looks best of the two colours..

[quote name='philparker' timestamp='1503854536' post='3361191'] I've recently started piano lessons, to improve my overall musicality especially with harmony & chord structure, and Amy Nolte is one that caught my eye, not just because she is good looking with personality, but as the OP says - she knows her stuff. Unfortunately, I'm too much of a piano novice just now to take full advantage of her sage advice! [/quote] Novice or not, you can always learn something from this channel. I've never played piano or keys, but just listening and watching what she does with chords and the way they are voiced is an education in itself..

Hi all, Not sure if anyone on here has checked this site out - this is a video of one of the lessons: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AJ6x14fFfDY Loads of great info on here, and this girl knows her stuff

There have been very few times when I've had to pull out from a gig (can count them on one hand) and dep the gig out. I've been fortunate that in most of those situations, the dep has been of a good enough quality (or better) to cover me. There's only been one time that the dep wasn't good enough, but that was a poor choice by the bandleader. Guy came in for one rehearsal, and even then his prep hadn't been good and the gig (which was a NYE party) didn't turn out so well. Haven't depped on a gig for years now, but consider my prep in those situations to have been as good as it could've and in some cases, has led to being asked to join a band. The only thing I would say is that it's good to have as big of a circle of decent quality musicians in your network if you need to dep a gig out - hardest ones to get hold of are good keys players. Rarer than hen's teeth, and usually busy with multiple projects / solo gigs / pit work.

[quote name='TrevorR' timestamp='1503700967' post='3360476'] Is this the one with Will Lee et al that's been Kickstarted like crazy on Facebook? Didn't know that was out yet. And, yes, SITSOM and Muscle Shoals are great too, so long as you can filter out Bonio's white ring on the latter... [/quote] Will Lee doesn't feature in the version I've seen - it looks like a great chunk of it was filmed in the late 1990's when the likes of Tommy Tedesco and Al Casey were still alive. All the interviews are (mainly) with the musicians and some of the artists who recorded with them. There's a copy kicking around on YouTube at the moment, well worth spending an hour and 40 mins of anyone's time

Managed to finally see this movie doc, and along with SITSOM and "Muscle Shoals", has got to be one of the best music documentaries I've seen in a long time. Also seemed appropriate with the recent passing of Glen Campbell, who was part of that outfit. It's still amazing (even in this day & age) at the body of work they produced in the commercial music and film market from the late 50's to the mid to late 1970's, and none of it ever comes across as being cold & mechanical. Carol Kaye and Joe Osborn get a fair bit of air time, and the stories of Hal Blaine and Tommy Tedesco are tinged with sadness, but at the same time fascinating to see and hear. A bygone age we'll never see again, especially with the advent of technology in the last 10 years... Recommended viewing

[quote name='lowdown' timestamp='1500114306' post='3335692'] Nah, don't give up and sell your Basses, just practise more. [/quote] What he said...

I initially learned the basics (mainly triads & 7th chords) from a couple of teachers I had in my early days of learning to play bass. There were also a couple of good basic tutors that also helped: "The Bass Line Book - A Workbook" by Arn Evans & Jim Stinnett's "Creating Jazz Bass Lines". Can also recommend the Ed Friedland "Building Walking Basslines" book, and some of the resources on SBL too. Haven't investigated them but the Todd Johnson Jazz Bass modular books are also supposed to be excellent. Maybe someone on here has got them and can recommend them? These are also great once you get started, there's a few of these on Youtube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c9VsU5WqrVk http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HcurgsXiPaI

Try doing your scales in thirds, fourths, fifths, sixths, sevenths and octaves ascending and descending - that will really test how efficient your alternate plucking is. Playing funk lines (like TOP's "What is Hip") is also a good workout as well, and will show up any flaws in your technique.

Loads of good viewpoints here on the for / against TAB. It obviously works for some people, but not for others. I've never really got on with TAB, always gravitated towards learning from records / cassettes and worked on my theory and harmony until I made a conscious decision to learn how to read a few years ago. I'm too old to make a career out of music but reading does tie all this stuff together, especially in terms of note length and rhythms.

[quote name='blue' timestamp='1503177429' post='3356299'] I spent so much time as a youth learning to play songs, not understanding what I was playing. It's an awful mistake to learn that way. If the OP wants to learn bass, learn with structure and disipline. It might not be very much fun initially, but it will pay off in multiples. Blue [/quote] What Blue said - I'd add that just learning the basics effectively and efficiently of good technique (not including the slapping or tapping thing) and harmony takes you a long way in a short period of time. It's then a matter of adding all the extra stuff on on top as you improve.

I would've said mid 70's, but more a customisation by the player than an actual factory issue by Fender. There's some pics of Carl Radle using a sunburst PJ with a Jazz neck floating around on google images?

It really depends on the chord quality when it comes to 7ths & 3rds. Any Maj7 chord contains the following intervals - 1 (root) Maj 3rd, Perfect 5th, Maj7th. Any Min 7 chord contains - 1 (root), b3rd, Perfect 5th, b7th. Any 7 (or Dom 7) chord contains - 1 (root), Maj 3rd, Perfect 5th, b7th Any Min 7b5 chord contains - 1 (root), b3rd, b5th, b7th. You'll only encounter these three types of chords from a Harmonised Major Scale in any key: I Maj7th II Minor 7th III Minor 7th IV Maj 7th V Dom 7th (or 7 chord) VI Minor 7th VII Min 7b5 As you're still in the early stages, it's a good idea to have at least that under your belt as the vast majority of Rock & Pop music from the last 50/60 years uses chord progressions from the info above.

Get this: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Hal-Leonard-Bass-Method-Complete/dp/0793563836 Best beginner bass method book ever - takes you from beginner through to intermediate standard. Vast majority of the book is notation & tab, but it also does get you started on the reading thing (if you want to go down that route) as well.

[quote name='SpondonBassed' timestamp='1502026176' post='3348802'] Thanks for the detail. Seeing The Jam perform on TOTP with matching Rickys left a powerful image of a tight little band. I suppose I got caught up in the marketing image myself. [/quote] Same here (almost) - wanted a Ricky when I first started playing bass because Bruce had one. When I eventually got to try one out after playing for about 18 months, I was pretty underwhelmed and put it back on the rack. Didn't like the glossy fretboard and the shape didn't fit either.. However, it is an iconic instrument that has it's own sound and loads of great rock players have used them so it can't be that bad. I found the video quite funny - I wonder if Dave had been at the Jack Daniels before he started.....

Red Tort for me

[quote name='Rich' timestamp='1501627836' post='3346131'] Speak for yourself I'm still Class-D'ing it, and still perfectly happy. And most importantly, my back loves me. [/quote] Same here. As much as I loved TE, it was just a bridge too far in terms of weight for the weekend warrior musician. I'll stick to my TH500 and Epifani cabs that weigh a lot less....