SpondonBassed

[quote name='ambient' timestamp='1500818254' post='3340337'] Bass makes a fantastic solo instrument. It's down to the player and their repertoire... [/quote] I enjoy bass solos. It would be odd for any BC members not to enjoy them. Bass is not an instrument that non-bassists and in particular, non musos, would choose as the only musical accompaniment to a song however. I stand by my words.

Welcome Marc, Plus one to the comment above. The earlier you can get to put your new knowledge into an ensemble situation the better. Play-alongs with recorded tracks are okay but only up to a point. You will only really know what the bass does for a piece of music by playing with other musicians. Enjoy the trip..... because it [i]is[/i] a trip. (S'Express)

[quote name='TheGreek' timestamp='1500809396' post='3340261'] OK folks...lot's of great suggestions - some that came very close. Andy and I have discussed the submissions and agreed on a winner. Personally I liked "[i]Dali's Daydream[/i]" - had it been "[i]Dali's Xdream[/i]" (extreme?) it would have been hard to beat. "[i]Minim[/i]" and "[i]Ghost[/i]" were also close runners - I was thinking along these lines with "[i]Ethereal[/i]", "[i]Stark[/i]" and "[i]Amorphous[/i]". I was hoping somebody would find a word with "[i]And...mic[/i]" - I couldn't. So the winner, with the Greek connection, is "[b]Psilos[/b]" - Many thanks to Bass Apprentice for the suggestion. The Bass is being named as I write. PM on it's way. [/quote] WELL DONE Mick! Not only will it look like you are Doctor Who's bassist, the name sounds like the bass might have been made by a time lord! Andy... how many regenerations have you had? I would hope that Capaldi's playing might go down better as a result of your playing [i]Psilos[/i] too. Too controversial? Sorry Peter. I am not sure that Psilos means "smooth" as was suggested however. Looking for translations of the word Psilos resulted in this definition from two different translation services - ψηλός [psiloːs] adj[list] [*]high, [/list] tallτο πιο ψηλά[list] [*]the highest [/list] or[list] [*]Tall [/list] A lot of sites just threw the same word back without translation. I wondered if the name in Greek letters would have a different meaning. It would look like this; [color=#ff0000][i][b][size=8]ψηλός[/size][/b][/i][/color] Whatever it means it looks awesome. I wish you many happy years with it.

[quote name='Bastav' timestamp='1500566903' post='3338770'] ...Benedict cumberbass [/quote] Hahahahahaha!

I think the Oasis thing needs no further discussion. Anyone for Marmite butties?

[quote name='thepurpleblob' timestamp='1500749286' post='3339995'] The band I just joined plays a couple of Supertramp songs, "Give a little bit" and (of course) "Breakfast in America". They're two of our most popular songs. I was quite surprised. [/quote] I'd love to hear your band's treatment of those.

[quote name='chris_b' timestamp='1500757437' post='3340065'] So you're playing all the right notes in all the right places. That's a good start. Many people struggle with that one for years! Try and play what other players play but don't try to sound like them. Do it all sounding like you and in the end you'll have developed your own identity on bass. Keep playing and building up your mind/ear/hand coordination. It sounds to me like you're ready for the next step. [size=6][b]Playing with other musicians.[/b][/size] Find where your local jam nights are and start checking them out. Join a band. Don't be put off by anything. Just keep working at it and you'll be improving every second you're playing. [/quote] The best point yet. It's crucial to do ensemble. Bass really isn't a solo instrument.

[quote name='Bobthedog' timestamp='1500740677' post='3339915'] Okay, I have been playing a few years now as a bedroom warrior but more and more looking to go public. I have a great tutor who has brought me on leaps and bounds in the last 6 months, but one thing I struggle with is something I think people call "musicality". Irrespective of what I change / adapt in my playing, I do not sound like the original bass line. Generally I play all on my Roscoe 5, but have Fender P and Jazz bases and a Dingwall Combustion 5. I only play covers and always along to You Tube videos and CDs. How do you define musicality? Tone, note length, timing, attack / decay? A blend of all these things? Emotion / feel are they such a thing in shaping what come out to the listeners' ears? Are amps and cabs part of this (I switch between the Glock / BF BT II and my Markbass combo). I do know I play with a very light touch and need to butch up a bit on that, but what else can make a difference? Even on simple songs like Stir It Up where I match all the notes, when they are meant to happen and the right length, it still does not sound like reggae, just a collection of the right notes at the right time but without the love. [/quote] Have you tried videoing your practice sessions so you can look at your technique in the cold light of day? Camera 'phones are perfect for the job. It's a great way to really [i]see[/i] yourself. You can not judge what others hear or see while you are playing. You'll get there in small increments. Just don't loose the will and go stagnant like I have a few times in the past.

I bought my Steiny Spirit new from what used to be Digital Village. They price matched it to the one on the Thomann site at the time. They went bust shortly after. Now, I believe they trade as DV247. Although I researched online I made the purchase by telephone. I don't subscribe to Internet banking nowadays. The bass came set up with a low action that needed very little adjustment after bedding in. I thought all bassists tweaked their instruments. If you have any sort of mechanical sympathy you shouldn't go far wrong with minor adjustments on receipt of an instrument. As already mentioned above guidance is abundant on the 'net. If you want a super-duper set-up, I'd suggest you play the instrument as it is (if it is playable at all) for a bit first. If you do this before you hand the instrument over for an expert set-up it will give the strings, machine heads and saddles a work out that will remove production high spots and lessen the chance of you having to do another set-up before it is due.

[quote name='JapanAxe' timestamp='1500761177' post='3340092'] I enjoyed that. As far as as tackling the Stick myself, I filed that under Too Difficult a long time ago. I still need to crack Travis picking! [/quote] Good lad. Just don't get your pickers in a twist by doing the Clawhammer pick on a guitar.

[quote name='SH73' timestamp='1500740283' post='3339911'] Faulty locking nut. [/quote] Good to know that the returns policy worked for you in that instance.

[quote name='jonnythenotes' timestamp='1500645361' post='3339355'] Hey Charic....I was very much aware of the mics picking up sound being fired at them on stage, but my misguided logic thought that 50% less of my bass sound hitting the back of the nearest mics was better than all of my sound hitting the front of the mics, as the only cab facing the stage now is pointing towards the XLR end of the mic, and not the mouthpiece... Would I be correct in assuming this? [/quote] You should be able to get a diagram online that represents the field of gain around the mic. Usually there are dead spots behind the mic and, in studios, engineers place everything carefully using these dead spots to reduce bleed through. This might help; [url="https://ehomerecordingstudio.com/microphone-polar-patterns/"]https://ehomerecordi...polar-patterns/[/url]

[quote name='SH73' timestamp='1500733716' post='3339869'] Nothing wrong buying online. I set it up to my likings. However, I recently purchased a guitar from one of the big boys shops and after 5 mins of setting it up I put it back in box and called then back asking for a replacement but eventually went for a refund. I'm not going to name them as they dealt with the matter professionally. This won't stop me from buyibg online. [/quote] May we know what the reason was for returning the guitar?

[quote name='dmccombe7' timestamp='1500727810' post='3339832'] I'm with you on Oasis. Never really saw the attraction of them. Dave [/quote] It's just the bad boy image. Like Pete Doh! and Amy Winehouse they are almost as well known for their non-musical activities as they are for their music. Bad boy behaviour in the media sells tickets, strangely enough. I don't like them. Lots of paying customers do however so I wont discount Oasis.

[quote name='dmccombe7' timestamp='1500661623' post='3339511'] After reading thru this thread and having just joined a newly formed function band starting from scratch i thought i would take the most popular songs from here and put on one list. It made for a pretty fantastic set list. What do you think ... [/quote] I think I could do a lot worse than work towards getting all of these down to some degree or other. I am currently wanting to practice with some new tunes after a misguided project sank recently so wah-hey! I'm away again!

It's uplifting to read about the band's progress Hiram. Keep up the good work. The effort you all put in is reflected in the clips I've seen so I'll keep an eye out for C2B performances that I might attend. I mean, there's a good chance now as Derby is between Kent and the Scottish midlands... (winks at Dave). Pass my best wishes for continued success to all concerned.

[quote name='DaveFry' timestamp='1500676212' post='3339622'] The baritone player and the trumpeter that does the introductions before the last number of this New Orleans band have been in it since it formed in 1977 . [media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HXr3nrd33U0[/media] [/quote] Thanks very much Dave. I may have heard them but I hadn't seen this band before. I am going to seek out more about them since seeing this! The sousaphone just blew me over.

[quote name='doonaboon' timestamp='1500657735' post='3339460'] nice, thanks for sharing! here's one back - no bass guitar but great basslines! [media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IMyqasy2Lco[/media] [/quote] You'd think that loud noises in confined spaces would set off my Tinnitus but no, all of these are quality. I agree with you about the bass (baritone?) sax Pete but how are you going to work the pole dancing bit into your routine? Wireless would be a start...

MAN! This is a cracking thread to wake up with on a Saturday morning. I'm all revved up and ready to jump.

[quote name='dlloyd' timestamp='1500571438' post='3338814'] There's also the tab collections at uke hunt [url="http://ukulelehunt.com/tab-chords/chords-genre/"]http://ukulelehunt.c...s/chords-genre/[/url] [/quote] I've just passed that onto my mate, thanks for the pointer. I am glad they didn't register it as Uke Hunt dot com though.

[quote name='randythoades' timestamp='1500304653' post='3336793'] ...Does anyone have any recommendations for a good tab book specifically for ukulele with rock and pop songs for learning rather than Amazing Grace and Scarborough Fair?... [/quote] As promised, out of my mate Jack's collection there are two books to fit the bill, both from the Ukulele Playlist series; [b]The Ukulele Playlist Red Book[/b] 32 Rock and Pop Classics arranged for ukulele! Featuring:[list] [*][i]Queen[/i] [*][i]Oasis[/i] [*][i]Rihanna[/i] [*][i]Green Day[/i] [*][i]Amy Whitehouse[/i] [*][i]Sonny & Cher[/i] [/list] And many more... [b]ISBN10: 0-571-53390-6[/b] and [b]The Ukulele Playlist White Book[/b] 33 Rock and Pop Classics arranged for ukulele! Featuring:[list] [*][i]Bob Dylan[/i] [*][i]Kylie Minogue[/i] [*][i]Ian Dury & the Blockheads[/i] [*][i]Robbie Williams[/i] [*][i]Michael Jackson[/i] [*][i]Red Hot Chili Peppers[/i] [/list] And many more... [b]ISBN10: 0-571-53391-4[/b] There is also [b]The Ukulele Playlist Purple Book[/b] Over 30 Jazz Classics arranged for ukulele! Featuring:[list] [*][i]Fly me to the Moon[/i] [*][i]Let There be Love[/i] [*][i]Lullaby of Birdland[/i] [*][i]Moondance[/i] [*][i]Stormy Weather[/i] [/list] And many more... [b]ISBN10: 0-571-53566-6[/b] I hope these help. Looks like you'll have a lot of fun.

[quote name='dlloyd' timestamp='1500620967' post='3339082'] Reverse alphabet champion 1982-1986. Never beaten. [/quote] Great! Now put a funky bass line to it and audition for Sesame Street. Heeheehee. I love to play with stuff like that. It's fitness training for the mind. I sometimes play difficult sections backwards to try and understand the more complex lines

I am undecided as to whether I really like the Chapman Stick or not. I was initially impressed. I'd watched clips of Levin, of course, performing with Gabriel. That is a striking image that suits Gabriel's stage shows very well. Yesterday I sought out some more clips of various performers using one after I watched Howard's arrangement and delivery of Time After Time (OP). I found a few. All of them were played well. There were covers of Beatles numbers like Tomorrow Never Knows, Eleanor Rigby, A Day in the Life and Blackbird. There was an interesting arrangement of Bach's Toccato and Fugue in D minor. Pachelbel's Canon in D was played on two sticks as a duet. There was a even a cover of Walking on the Moon that seemed to go Jazz at times! The instrument covers the three roles of bass, rhythm guitar and lead guitar if played so. It can be likened to a keyboard in that both hands are selecting notes independently but it is more than a keyboard. It is all of those things and none of them all at the same time. I think the common thing between all of the clips above was the percussive nature of the sound the instrument makes. In other ways it reminds me of zither music. Maybe it is just how the music was arranged in the clips that I saw but every one of those clips was [i]busy[/i]. I'd have to say that it is not an instrument that I would put front of stage. It would be one of those things that has great effect when used but sparingly. My humble bumblings.

[quote name='randythoades' timestamp='1500304653' post='3336793'] Well, here's the thing. I am learning concert ukulele to take camping and impress everyone with my natural musical ability!! Doing ok so far but at the stage of playing full songs now. When I try to play songs I know on ukulele they just sound wrong somehow. I think it because I am playing the songs as I know them in guitar keys. Does anyone have any recommendations for a good tab book specifically for ukulele with rock and pop songs for learning rather than Amazing Grace and Scarborough Fair? I got a couple off Amazon (playlist series) but some of these also sound a little odd and a lot of the tracks are a little obscure. Others on Amazon get very mixed reviews so I would prefer t go with a recommendation. I want to learn some good and easy campfire songs for people in their 40s. Thanks in advance [/quote] I have a house-mate who dabbles with uke. I'll see what he recommends out of the books he has bought. Do you tune to a high g (gCEA) or low G (GCEA)? He has strung his home-built baritone ukulele with a low g to get a guitar like sound.

[quote name='dlloyd' timestamp='1500570848' post='3338809'] Most of the time I can transpose directly, but occasionally I have to count back through the alphabet... I have a really stupid mnemonic device for doing that quickly... rather than try to recite, "G F E D C B A" (which I can't do quickly), I say: "Gee if he de-ceive B.A." which is much quicker to recall. It's part of a dumb rhyme I learnt as a kid to beat other kids saying the alphabet backwards: "Said why eggs? Double your fee... your tee is our Q.P. Oh animal K.J., I hate Gee if he deceives B.A." [/quote] Hahahahaha. That's good! I like your style.