Yank

Check you-tube, there's some great tenor vids with one about doing uke tuning.

Thanks guys. There's a few different tunings that folks use, the main one being C G D A, like a tenor banjo which it was designed to give them a second instrument when Dixieland was on the wain and big band jazz was on the rise. Viola and mandola also use this tuning which if you capoed at the seventh fret is the same as a mandolin. Some tune them like the four high strings of a guitar, known as Chicago tuning.

Just picked up a new 4 string for my wife who plays tenor guitar. A 1956 Gibson TG-50. Straightened the neck, adjusted the bridge for intonation. This thing just oozes mojo. One of the last of the big bodied f-hole acoustics. We can't seem to put it down.

Died yesterday at the age of 67. He will be missed.

When I was growing up in the Northern US, the confederate flag had (to my peer group), lost it's connotation as being racist. It had been appropriated by southern rock musicians to show pride of place and music preferences. It has been re-appropriated now and is deemed racist. It's all about context. Someone flying the Union Jack in London is probably seen as patriotic. Fly it in the carribean islands where the British installed slavery to get cheap sugar, or in Ireland or India and there would be different connotations. For all I know, the logo for the New England Pat's or the Boston Celtics, might be offensive on your side of the pond. Maybe I'll just fly the Jolly Roger...... oh, wait, are we allowed to say Roger or to be jolly about it?

Keep playing/ learning. Go hear other musicians for inspiration. Music is a lifelong journey. Stay commited.

Don't confuse learning with gear lust. You can learn on any bass. In the words (kind of) of Steve Stills, "If you can't be with the bass you love, love the bass you're with."

Yes, I'm in the northeast and use a Mesa. Head north from Boston, Ma. 3/4 of the way up the coast of Maine. If you hit Canada, turn back.

There have always been cover/function bands. People like to hear songs that they know and are willing to pay musicians. Why would this bother you?

You forgot the Sex Pistols.

The foam under the bridge works for getting the thump, but it's more versatile to palm mute or in my case, thumb mute. I use fretless and flats, but any bass will do. It's all in how you play it and what you play (or don't play).

If there is a next time, play a set that yobs dislike, say jazz or sugar pop or slow droney stuff. They'll bail in disgust.

Thank you all. Gig went great! Whew, that was a lot of work, but well worth it. Looks like it might develop into something more.

I teach music on the side. When working with students learning to read, sometimes they play the notes in the right place but something is missing. When, for example, playing Bach's "Minuet in G Major" , a beautiful piece, it helps to think of the people of that time in their huge dresses. When dancing, they made small, stately movements. You have to let the piece breathe properly, instead of rushing through the notes. Sometimes a synth doing, say, a flute sound, won't sound right unless the keyboardist breathes like a flute player would. I guess what I'm trying to say is that there's more to playing a part than just the note in the right place, or maybe I'm being too esoteric. Would a punk bass sound right if you play like you're happy instead of angry?

Hey, Blue. Not "Teen Town". Genre is "red dirt Americana", some 1-4-5, but a lot with w***y chord structure, so not "mustang sally" either. Beyond chord structure, you have to keep your antennae up for things in the arrangement like dropping down dynamically or dropping out in spots, double turn arounds, punching certain notes, etc.

Oh Yes! I will have notes. I've now got a handle on the songs but could never memorize them all in a week. Hopefully it will turn into a steady gig. Then, I will memorize.

Thanks all. I've got CD's to listen to while driving. Others have done, and do it. I just have to cram.

Part of your problem is that tone changes with the room you're playing in, how full or empty the room is and the tone of the other instruments. Some rooms are high-endy and some are low-endy. You need to adjust your tone taking these variables into account.

I need to learn 24 new songs in 7 days for a gig. Got them on CD last night. Wish me luck.

Through the years, I've noticed that some musicians seem to stagnate at the level that they're good enough to get a gig, but don't put in the effort to improve beyond that. They've reached their personal pinnacle. Others will always strive to improve.

I've got a Levi mock crock leather gig bag for my Tele. It's beautiful. I get a lot of comments on it.

If you play an instrument, you're a musician. We all just play differently.

You could look up the event to see who played, then try to match members names with signatures.

Kinda like a hammered dulcimer?

I seem to remember an ad for strings with a hot female bassest, Greta something or other who sported a green bass.