The Funk

I seriously doubt it. You'd get the gig on the basis of what you've done previously and how easily you slot in musically and socially. Grade 8 probably wouldn't impress or repulse them. Do it if you want to do it - but I don't think the actual exam/qualification will be of any use in a non-classical setting.

Interesting post! I'm glad instruments are cheaper now than they used to be. I picked up my first bass for $300.

I don't care that you don't have a Grade 8. But how does that affect your progress in your career? What are your career aspirations as far as bass is concerned?

Fantastic budget. I agree that you could get anything you want for that money. My recommendation would be for one of the new micro-heads with a few lightweight, high sensitivity 2x10s.

I was thinking about bass and what it means to different people. Bass guitar, double bass, synth bass, tuba, keyboard players' left hands - they're all used to play basslines. As a bass player how many of those different bass instruments do you feel you have to be comfortable with to fulfill your role properly? And even if you just play bass guitar, how much do you listen to/are you influenced by basslines played (or programmed) on other instruments?

[quote name='wateroftyne' post='477908' date='May 2 2009, 06:56 PM']So... are we all agreed that this is a great final point, and the ideal time to close this thread?[/quote] I'm in agreement.

I've only heard his version off Live From The Greek w/ Billy Cobham, Larry Carlton et al. EDIT: D'oh. You've uploaded the versions you're working from. Downloading...

[quote name='Captain Bass' post='476944' date='May 1 2009, 12:42 PM']It would make sense to have an 'audible' rhythmic accompaniment next time! No hard feelings! and thanks for the advice![/quote] No problem. I can't always get across what I'm trying to say very well. (I'm going to try to steal a few of your licks and tricks ).

[quote name='bilbo230763' post='477066' date='May 1 2009, 02:45 PM']It's both and more, sometimes at the same time and sometimes not.[/quote] I agree with that.

[quote name='wateroftyne' post='476996' date='May 1 2009, 01:35 PM']Y'see.. this is where you lose me. You seem to think that anything that is attractive to a sizeable number of people is musically worthless.[/quote] Agreed, although I do get Bilbo's explanation further down. It seems like there's another debate to be had about whether music is a form of self-expression or a method of communication.

There seems to be an interesting sub-plot emerging about taking your destiny into your own hands v. leaving things to fate - and it seems like those divisions have nothing to do with whether you're a reader or not.

[quote name='maxrossell' post='476899' date='May 1 2009, 12:15 PM']Heh - I just got an email from their keyboard player, who says that she can't really think of anything that she would like to sound like, but she wants her parts to sound full, crisp and clear. I'm kind of wondering what the alternative would be?[/quote] Thin, dull and muddy?

[quote name='51m0n' post='476878' date='May 1 2009, 11:59 AM']I wish vocalists and bands would consider bvs as important as lead - they really are....[/quote] If you've got a crap lead singer, more important...

[quote name='maxrossell' post='476766' date='May 1 2009, 10:19 AM']Really? That's [i]insane.[/i] I would have thought it would be common sense.[/quote] I've lost track of how many times I've heard that advice. It's common sense and I thought it was common advice.

[quote name='funkle' post='476877' date='May 1 2009, 11:59 AM']That said, I can't quite work out why Abmaj (Ab C Eb G) over G7#5#9 (G B D# F A#) works. I'm just on the way out the door to a wedding, so I'll think more on it later. I suspect it is related to the tensions available to both G7#5#9 and Abmaj.[/quote] Would it help if you think of Ab maj as G# maj?

[quote name='bilbo230763' post='476871' date='May 1 2009, 11:54 AM']When you are learning, sometimes you have to go through simpler stuff to get to the richer veins. That's why we all get into jazz in the end. Because its better.[/quote] There's a lot of useful stuff when it comes to harmony that just doesn't exist in other genres, except where it's been borrowed from jazz. Rhythmically though, jazz borrows from everything else.

[quote name='BigBeefChief' post='476788' date='May 1 2009, 10:40 AM']Don't get me wrong, being able to read is hugely impressive as a skill, but it doesn't make you a great musician.[/quote] Agreed. [quote name='bilbo230763' post='476861' date='May 1 2009, 11:47 AM']PS changing keys on a bass or guitar is a lot easier than doing it on keyboards[/quote] Agreed [quote name='wateroftyne' post='476863' date='May 1 2009, 11:48 AM']I don't understand your point here - can you explain it?[/quote] +1 (I wouldn't mind some applause every now and then )

[quote name='dlloyd' post='476578' date='May 1 2009, 12:23 AM']You don't need to read proficiently to access theory, even at an advanced level. You just need enough knowledge to decipher it.[/quote] True. But I like the books.

[quote name='Captain Bass' post='476778' date='May 1 2009, 10:30 AM']Ah you've lost me man, maybe you should put up your own video and show us all what you mean?[/quote] Clearly you've taken offence at what I've said and you now see us as being in some kind of competition. When you play phrases across the barline, as you do, and which I love, and play syncopated phrases which don't have a note on the 1 or 2 or 4, then it can be easy as a listener to lose a sense of where you are. That's what I meant about context and without a simple 1,2,3,4 happening underneath some of those passages it sounded to me like you went in and out. You've now told me that you haven't, so I concluded that my ears, as a listener, are letting me down because there's no rhythmic accompaniment to help me out. If it isn't a problem for any other listeners, then happily ignore what I've said. I don't know if you remember but somewhere near the beginning I said I liked both videos.

You guys and gals are blowing my mind. This is fun.

Thanks for that Jennifer! I was reading something last night about the individual resolutions happening with the basic chord tones in a V-I change and I remember my old bass mentor constantly saying "it's all 3rds and 7ths". It makes sense in my head now that as a bass player we should emphasise these things from time to time.

[quote name='cheddatom' post='474794' date='Apr 29 2009, 09:03 AM']The Line6 rack gear is excellent, as are all of the Pods etc. I'm not sure what this^guy's on about[/quote] He's talking about the awful presets. The actual amp models, cab models and effects models are very good. My friend played The Royal Albert Hall with one.

[quote name='maxrossell' post='476559' date='Apr 30 2009, 11:59 PM']And if you don't want to be called pathetic, as above, don't tell me I'm an ignorant pussy for not joining your club.[/quote] I feel like a guy who's just walked into the middle of a classic bar brawl in a Western.

[quote name='maxrossell' post='476533' date='Apr 30 2009, 11:42 PM']I don't see it as a necessary skill unless you want to do something with music that very specifically requires you to.[/quote] One thing I want to do with music that would specifically require me to be able to read proficiently is access a lot of the material in books to do with different aspects of music theory. I do agree with you though. If you don't want to do anything musically that would require you to read music then you'll never need to be able to do it.

I don't know how far you're allowed to go working on the drummer as MD but I'd love to hear those snares a fraction ahead of the beat. If he's quite a young guy a concept like that might throw him off completely! I'd love to hear a few more ghost notes on the snare too and maybe a few funky kicks as well, without it getting busy or too funky. It's not like the drumming was bad or anything. It would just transform the whole thing if it was a little snappier. EDIT: Depending on how work goes on Tuesday, I'll probably pop along for the next gig!