Burns-bass

That video is everything that bass shouldn’t be. My wife thought I’d dropped some pans in the kitchen all that clanking!

The biggest rookie error (I certainly did it) was staring at the side of the fingerboard to check intonation. It fundamentally alters the position of your arm, so that when you then look forward at the crowd or sheet music, your intonation goes out again. What helped me was working though drones to get my intonation and then using arpeggios in ii V I s in all 12 keys to help me shift position. StilL working on it.

Cut old credit cards and plastic into picks. https://www.amazon.co.uk/Pickmaster-Plectrum-Punch-Make-Your-Picks/dp/B004SHGBDG

Absolutely. The last gig I saw he was playing electric bass. On my first lesson with him he very generously let me play his Martin Penning bass. It sounded incredible. I therefore assumed it was the instrument that made him sound great, before he started plucking my battered old Czech bass and I realised it was the other way around. Very reasonable price for a lesson and nice and relaxed and informal too.

Good advice. If you’re interested in jazz I had some lessons with the outstanding Greg Cordez who is a member here. Lovely bloke, brilliant teacher and formidable musician. I’m hoping to woodshed as much as I can then get some lessons when my technique is better.

That’s a really interesting point. My job demands quite detailed mental focus, so I can remain engaged for quite a long time - but I take your point. Personally I think 2 or 3 shorter sessions would be better, but I don’t have that freedom sadly.

Good point. I’ve got a reasonable hand strength but I understand it can be a strain and will never do anything that would jeopardise my health.

After a lay off of a year or two I’ve now got some time - and more importantly the space - to play DB. Aiming to do about an hour a day, with my focus on getting up to speed to play jazz. My practice is based on what I used to recommend to young students. (Just finished my hour now, hence the questions!) 15 minutes of scales and arpeggios through all 12 keys 15 minutes of reading practice. I use some jazz books that I own (currently the Ray Brown book and the Evolving Bassist) 15 minutes working on a track (Anthropology at the moment - but at about 100bpm) 15 minutes playing along with some tracks (John Martyn, Gregory Porter, whatever takes my fancy!) I hold no aspirations to be a pro, but I do practice with a couple of bands. Ideally I’ll be out playing a few jazz gigs within a year, but that may be fanciful. Does this sound reasonable? Am I missing anything specific to DB? Once I get a bit of confidence back I’ll start refular lessons again.

iPad stuff has been reserved. Will be adding more tomorrow...

I know they're unfashionable, but my Dacia Duster is brilliant and will fit in pretty much everything.

It is! Mark and his dad are still there. They’re no longer Fender dealers and more guitars than bass but still a great and very friendly little shop.

This is exactly the same process I went through. The only one I kept is a 66 jazz bass that I'd owned for 12 years and used on recordings and tours. That's under the bed in its case loved, but unused. The bass I use the most now (and absolutely love) is a Mexican jazz I got in the Richtone sale for less than £400. It's beautiful, cheap and always makes me smile.

Yeah, it’s a lovely thing. Now I’ve got two kids and no time I really miss it.

Great shop. Used to go there and Remus Sounds in Gloucester all the time. When a 70s Ricky could be had for £600. Great days...

I’ve seen your beautiful car and there’s no way you’re getting a DB in there!

My dad once ordered a Dire Straits album from the Brittania music club (remember that?) and he was sent a Run DMC album. Wasn't happy! Think of the B-boyer who had to spin Money for Nothing however...

Agreed, sometimes this stuff does happen. Brands get a bad press, but it's not always the case. I took my work MacBook into the store as the battery had been fried and the charger not working. I explained how important it was I had this working (as it was my working machine at the time) and was getting a little irate. The manager sauntered out from the backroom and explained that while my computer was out of warranty, they would replace the battery an the charger immediately as a gesture of goodwill because these components shouldn't fail. Saved me about £200 and earned a customer for life. Subsequently spent about £5,000 on work gear with the same guy.

If you're in Bristol they're also playing the BeBop Club at the Bear in Hotwells on Friday which happens to be one of my favourite old school boozers in Bristol.

Great. I'm going to buy one at the gig and will post a report when I've seen the gig.