risingson

[quote name='J.R.Bass' post='997252' date='Oct 22 2010, 04:22 PM']Pretty much yeh.[/quote] What college are you at? I have absolutely no idea about the content of your course but if it was like my time at LIPA any reasonably impartial lecturer won't mind giving you at least some artistic leeway. Besides, you'll need it to nail the likes of Man In the Mirror for example, due to the complexity of the synth bass line!

[quote name='J.R.Bass' post='997245' date='Oct 22 2010, 04:14 PM']I know i've already posted this in the T&T forum, but as alot more people post in here, i hope the mods don't mind me doing it here also. I've got 12 Jackson tunes to learn for monday, so if anyone has transcriptions of any of these, please please please will you post them up for me I'll send everyone who helps a virtual pint Michael Jackson 1. Rock With You – Off the Wall (1979) 2. Wanna Be Starting Something – The Essential Michael Jackson (2005) 3. Don't Stop ‘Till You Get Enough – The Essential Michael Jackson (2005) 4. Billie Jean – The Essential Michael Jackson (2005) 5. Black or White – The Essential Michael Jackson (2005) 6. Thriller – The Essential Michael Jackson (2005) 7. I Just Can't Stop Loving You – The Essential Michael Jackson (2005) 8. Beat It – The Essential Michael Jackson (2005) 9. Workin’ Day And Night – Off the Wall (1979) 10. The Way You Make Me Feel – The Essential Michael Jackson (2005) 11. Bad – The Essential Michael Jackson (2005) 12. Man in the Mirror – The Essential Michael Jackson (2005) But yeh, any help would be great Jake[/quote] You've got to learn these note for note? As in under complete scrutiny?

They're the ultimate muso band. To be honest I don't care much, Chuck Rainey is one of my favourite bass players of all time.

Simon Merrick who runs the Zender site might have one. He's a top guy.

[quote name='daz' post='995075' date='Oct 20 2010, 04:54 PM']Well what I mean is the old one fret per finger thing, that you constantly hear on just about every tutorial ive ever seen or read. The problem is i just have small hands. As my jamming pal says "you have the hands of a 13 year old girl. When you gonna give them back!" Oh how I laugh every time he quippeth. Untill now I have often counted myself lucky, as i can often get my hands into gaps or places on a vehicle that make it a lot easier to wield a spanner or similar tool, often saving much time and bother (Yes I was a machanic in a former exsistance)[/quote] I've got small hands as well, honestly it was embarrassing the other day having to have my hand span compared to that of a child's by a friend... literally. You're not alone here The idea with the finger per fret thing is not literally to have each finger occupying a fret, rather the ability use your hand as a pivot in order to access four frets with your four individual fretting fingers. This shouldn't require too much effort. I've just been speaking on another post about a warming up technique I used to like to use, the post itself can be found here [url="http://basschat.co.uk/index.php?showtopic=107166"]http://basschat.co.uk/index.php?showtopic=107166[/url] at the bottom of the page. The basic premise is to begin the finger per fret exercise with your middle finger on your low C at the 8th fret on your E string, and playing up and down different intervals, just within the confines of the scale to begin with. The reason you would want to start any kind of left hand warmup in the middle of the neck is because practicing scales lower down a bass guitar neck will introduce an unnecessary amount of strain into your wrist too soon, and will not benefit you if you're trying to get this particular technique together. Once you feel like you've warmed up a bit then creep down the neck a little at a time.

[quote name='jakesbass' post='994606' date='Oct 20 2010, 11:45 AM']I have recorded and gigged with Mike a fair bit. Another great educator and I'm lucky to call him a good friend. Mike has given me pearls of wisdom that have pushed me forward immeasurably more than hours of pointless noodling I have done ever could.[/quote] Mike taught me improvisation, as did Steve. Both were excellent teachers.

[quote name='daz' post='994926' date='Oct 20 2010, 03:16 PM']I am having great trouble, indeed i find it impossible to stretch four frets at the bottom end, or even the top end on the E and A strings. There are supposedly excercizes that can be done. Has anyone had any actual sucess with any of them? If so, where can i find details?[/quote] If you'll excuse me for asking, why would you need to stretch so far? You mean from a low F on the 1st fret of your E to the A at the 5th for example? The only reason I ask is because the interval is a major 3rd which you can always fret on the string above.

[quote name='jakesbass' post='994576' date='Oct 20 2010, 11:22 AM']Steve is one of the most inspirational music educators in the UK IMV and for me it stems from the fact that he's a diamond guy. Being a fellow bass player I have not had much to do with him musically but I have had lunch at his house a few times (I used to hire his DB flight case) and know lots of people that work with him.[/quote] He used to teach me at Uni, inspired me every time I went to a lecture, which is more than can be said for most of my other lecturers. Same with Mike Walker as well should you know him too?

Got taught music by Steve Berry for a long while. It's difficult to comprehend a musician so finely in tune with rhythmic, harmonic and melodic ideas as Steve until you've spoken to him, but he is flat out one of the most brilliant musicians I will ever encounter. I'd consider him very advanced as a teacher indeed.

Check this video out. Jaco Pastorius, someone who I consider to have excellent technique (give or take him as a player for some people) alludes to what I've just (badly) described above from 4:35 in. Whilst the video concentrates on what Pastorius is doing in his left hand, I'm certain it will help both your hands warm up if you just take it nice and easy to begin with. EDIT - the video has disabled bedding so just go straight to the site.

[quote name='fjbarton59' post='993989' date='Oct 19 2010, 07:38 PM']If I practice any slower i wouldn't move Perhaps it would sound better if I didn't. I blew the cobwebs off my metronome, it's set to a nice speed. I think bass played slow but steady sounds better and there's room for more intricket little improvisations. As for the warming up. Do you know any warming up exercises that might help? Thank you[/quote] I'll try and explain this the best I can. Practice this with your metronome. Major scale starting at C, 8th fret on your low E string, with each of your fingers on your fretting hand occupying the surrounding frets in the finger per fret position, you should never have to move your left hand out of position. Don't just play the full scale however, try and introduce a degree of complexity by running up in 3rd or 4th intervals to begin with. So starting on the C going up in 4ths each time, you would group the scale like this (1st C, D, E, F) (2nd D, E, F, G ) (3rd E, F, G, A) (4th F, G, A, B ) (5th G, A, B, C) (6th A, B, C, D) (7th B, C, D, E) followed by the ascending scale in the reverse manner. Three things. 1. fret with your fingertips, you'll get the most out of the note, flat fingers will introduce strain in your wrist. It's tough but just persevere. 2., whilst this technique can be applied to any key, major, minor, modal, anything you can dream up, begin the exercise in the middle of the neck and not low down, big stretching lower down the neck to begin with will result in you cramping up fast. 3. Most importantly, concentrate on the rhythm and speed of your right hand. Make sure you don't introduce unnecessary strain into your right hand by playing at an angle, and remember just because the closer you play to the bridge means that there is more tension to be had doesn't mean to have to dig in. Concentrate on playing lightly and with your fingertips to get the biggest sound out of your bass as possible. Don't waste energy plucking too hard because it's not necessary. Once you've exhaust moving in 4ths, try moving up 3rds and landing on the note you started with (e.g., C, D, E, C - D, E, F, D - E, F, G, E etc.) purely for example, or try jumping 3rds, 4ths, 6ths even. The point of all of this is that you want to get both your hands working together and not having to struggle paying musch attention to either, as I'm sure you're aware with scales the repetitive nature of them can become dull but it's all about challenging yourself to see how tight you can get it all together. If this has been in any way unclear (as no doubt it will have been, I'm not good at explaining this) then tell me and I'll do my best to get a video up or something that would explain this concept of warming up better. Equally, on the off chance you're in the North West I'd be happy to give you a few pointers, I hope it wouldn't be too partonising of me to suggest. Unfortunately a lot of the ways I warm up it would be much better me just showing you! Equally if it's not helping then I would ask around for a good teacher in your area and strongly recommend consulting a specialist. I know what works for me, but not necessarily what will work for you, but give it a shot.

[quote name='fjbarton59' post='993568' date='Oct 19 2010, 02:22 PM']Actually, you're not . My hand is sometimes an a 45 degree angle fron the strings. I often play sitting down but when i stand up a have the bess across my chest rather than ocross my waste as a really struggle to finger pick when it's across my waist, beut saying that, the bassists i have seeen playing accross thier wastes use plectrums. I prefer to finger pick. It's a softer sound [/quote] I consider it to be fairly bad technique having your bass strap too low, it places unnecessary strain on your wrists (both hands). My advice: take practice slower, warm up, muscles as I'm sure you're aware will perform better once they're warmed up. Don't have your bass too low, practice getting the most out of your bass with the least amount of effort and I would say all of this in conjunction will minimise any potential wrist problems and finger locking. If it continues to be an issue then it would worth consulting a specialist over it.

[quote name='fjbarton59' post='992889' date='Oct 18 2010, 10:45 PM']Hello everyone. I am new here so first I'll introduce myself. I am Frankie. I have had a little tuition but for the most part I am a self taught bass player and I have a few books on the subject to help me. I Like to play blues and punk but occasionally play other stuff too. If i like the sound of it I usually try to play it and I'm pretty good at playing by ear or from meory however i can read tab and score, to some degree. As a self taught basist I imagine i have missed a lot of basic stuff you should know but my problem s that my playing fingers often lock especially on short repetatives riffs. I like to play with my fingers rather than with a plectrum and i usually play with two but it's the seconds finger that locks. I try to keep my fingers relaxed as a play but Ifind this difficult I would imagine that properly experienced and trained bass players would know how to defeat this demon so I would appreciate any advice. Frankie.[/quote] Hi Frankie, Is it a case of the muscles in your wrist feeling like they're all tensing up and making your fingers lock? If this is true of you, then you need to approach practice at a slower pace, over the course of the years I've been playing and especially when I initially started gigging for long periods of time, I found my right hand locking up, especially when I used to play hard. I resolved the issue by warming up a little at the start of gigs, and by taking things slower as I was learning. You're correct in saying that relaxing will also help, playing with a softer touch will allow you to execute faster runs with considerably more ease. You should never have to play too hard to be heard as a bassist, playing too hard will place unnecessary strain on your wrist. Finally, your right hand should not be at an unusual angle over the strings. I'm happy to personal message you some pics demonstrating what I mean by all of this, I'm fairly rubbish at describing it!

[quote name='JDH' post='992653' date='Oct 18 2010, 07:44 PM']They should take a leaf from Fender; they’re currently listing 50 Precision and Jazz basses. Surely that’s way too low for just 2 designs… JDH[/quote] I get choice with bass guitars. Do you get a jazz? A precision? A precision/jazz? 4 string, 5 string, fretted, fretless, passive, active and if the latter 2 band EQ or 3 band, ash/alder body, block inlays or dots, rosewood or maple and the list goes on and on. Conversely amp companies realistically only have so much to offer in the way of cabinets before they're just repeating themselves but charging more for the same product.

Already briefly spoke to you on this via PM but I've been busy finishing off an album! Get in touch if you're still interested in a trade for my WT-800A + 410XLT mega rig.

[quote name='Ukelele Salad' post='992404' date='Oct 18 2010, 04:34 PM']£554 for the traveller - £589 for the Club - £616 for the NY - £687 for the standard according to GAK[/quote] Yeh I don't get that part. The components are going to be all the same, and the slight difference in construction materials won't be enough to merit such a jump in price IMO. Like Markbass stuff and would buy from them but I think a lot of it is smoke and mirrors.

[quote name='51m0n' post='992352' date='Oct 18 2010, 04:02 PM']Yeah, except only one may fit into your car boot, and the other may not, just as a result of an external dimension tweak that leaves the internal volume the same, just for instance....[/quote] What's the price differences in all of these?

[quote name='51m0n' post='992311' date='Oct 18 2010, 03:30 PM']Explain to the terminally dim (ie me) what you mean please![/quote] What I mean is is it actually choice or a perceived level of choice that actually is non-existant? Put it this way, to my ears, a good 15" cabinet is going to sound pretty similar to most other good 15" cabinets out there, I don't think you can vary a product enough to merit multiple variations of that cabinet. But it's just a thought really.

I love using my Eden rig in the studio, WT-800 and 410 with an Audix D6 up close and a AKG C414 further off to capture the top end as well.

[quote name='51m0n' post='992277' date='Oct 18 2010, 02:59 PM']So more choice from a particular manufacturer is a bad thing??? OK....[/quote] Depends whether it's choice or 'choice'.

I opened a can of worms last time I mentioned flavour of the month on this site, but I think it's pretty ridiculous you can offer so many variations on what is essentially the same product but clearly they're doing good business and they've got the buyer in the palm of their hand. They're the only company to offer that many different configurations of cabinet but all of a sudden they've tapped into a market that bassists are suddenly looking more at, i.e. portability, downsizing etc. that caters for the working player. They're great sounding amps though.

[quote name='rmshaw37' post='991677' date='Oct 17 2010, 09:44 PM']ok, so here's a track we recorded for the new album, then sent it away for mix and master [attachment=61657:NG26___Otherside.mp3] thing is, distortion was added to it, so how do i get it live? in the studio i used punisher (emg goodness) sansamp rpm (DI'd) ampeg svt3 (just to power the cabs) ampeg 115en (miked) marshall 2 12 gu**ar cab (miked) i believe the distortion was only added to the guitar cab channel? was looking at the sansamp rbi or psa1 to try and re create it, obviously i will be splitting the channels to different amps and cabs but am i best to look at guitar distortion or one of these units? is a crossover needed? low end is more than nicely dealt with with the rpm through the 15 btw! thankyou my fellow bass chatters!![/quote] So that's three channels of bass then (D.I from the Sansamp, two mics from the bass and guitar cabs)? Plugins or anything from Tools to get that distortion or was it purely from the Sansamp?

[quote name='Protium' post='991716' date='Oct 17 2010, 10:18 PM']Who is Stanley Clarke?[/quote] I was under the impression he was the new chancellor of the exchequer. I've been wrong before though

[quote name='Doddy' post='991640' date='Oct 17 2010, 09:17 PM']What???? What's this system,and why does that make them our enemy?[/quote] My guess is that someone spent their Sunday afternoon dropping acid and watching The Matrix.