bigd1

[quote name='dlloyd' post='154988' date='Mar 10 2008, 11:25 PM']Why should he be? This original post in this thread was based on a number of misunderstandings. 1. The magazine printed one of the exercises in semiquavers instead of quavers, making it look like Janek was saying he was playing at twice the speed he actually does. 2. The original poster in this thread somehow managed to double the tempo again in his calculation. I've played about a little with the first couple of exercises and, while I don't think I'll ever get them to quavers at 400 bpm, I'm getting pretty comfortable with them. I can see the benefit they could give with finger independence. Just to see what we were talking about, I put the first Hanon exercise into Finale NotePad and set it to play semiquavers at 200 bpm. It's very fast, but no faster than your average jazz guitarist plays. I then set it to the tempo the OP thought Janek was talking about (semiquavers at 800 bpm) and... yeah... that's not possible. Funny though. Had it been a question of challenging him, I would have thought a simple question about it would have sufficed, rather than the accusations of dishonesty, followed by derision of his music.[/quote] I think you will find my calculation was based on notes per min. 4 quavers per beat @ 400 bpm = 1600 notes per min & 8 semi-quavers per beat @ 400 bpm = 3200 notes per min Perhaps Janek didn't help matters by not explaining the error in the magazine in his first post (the typo) If you would care to read my original post, it was never put up as a direct question to Janek, nor was it a challenge, accusation or derision of his music. It was as I have already explained, a request of a clarification on aspects of an article he had written, to be used in open discussion, this is is it not a public Forum ? It really is apparent some of you are not getting what a Forum/Discussion board is. It's for talking about things, in this case Bass things. For F*$k's sake lighten up, and please read a posting before accusing/commenting. BIGd

I was just thinking could this be the longest post/debate we have had on BC ? BIGd

My original post was in no way a "slagging off" of anybody, it was and still is a request for an explanation of an article in a magazine that I found hard to believe. I didn't make any comments about anybodies playing, style, musical taste, ability or any other personal comments. I thought posting a observation I had made would make an interesting topic. Maybe a discussion of this type is to much to ask, although I didn't think it to be that hard. BIGd

Janek, Sorry to have not got back sooner but things happen. In the main your reply seems to ask "why" as in "why do I "care etc. My point just to go over it again was. BGM is read by a wide section of Bass players, I would have thought many are young learners & new to music. You write and put up a learning technique skills section that on reading I still find hard to believe. "Why" do I care how fast you play - I don't, but I do care about the influence you have on learners who do care what you say. "Why" am I concerned about your 10 hour practice sessions, because as a pro musician don't you think you should encourage people to use a constructed practice session of a workable time period. Young players are very influenced by what you and other pro musicians say and do, some will take what you say as gospel. Your kind offer for me to come over to your place to see if I can keep up with you and that I could probably only last 6 or 7 minutes. Doesn't this just confirm my point about music first. Doesn't your offer make it into some sort of contest. I know I could not play technically the same as you, and as you said "why"would I want to but 3200 notes per minute..... really? To just ask "why" to every question is a very easy thing to do and is not addressing the points of my original post. I find what you have written as replies interesting but does not seem answer my points. Those being 10 hour practice sessions and the questions about the speed for playing your exercises etc. You have made the point of saying I should have contacted you with regard to this via email. Not post this "crap" on a forum. I posted this on the forum to discuss it with other people who understand bass playing. Your skills write up is for public reading and therefore open to public debate. I wanted to know was it just me or did others find your claims hard to believe. If you don't like people have a debate about your work then don't publish it, but never dismiss others opinion as "crap" because it's different to yours. On thinking about it, If you are offering a weekend in New York it would be very rude to turn you down, I love New York and could find loads to do for a weekend. Please forward my flight tickets and hotel details. BIGd

One thing I think that is missing in a lot of playing and music in general at the moment is music. I know that sounds odd but music is not a set of technical of exercises strung together. Technique is about developing your skill with your chosen instrument, music is about performing with your chosen instrument, a big difference. How many people do you see at things like Bass Day on the trade stands playing a million notes miles per hour, but can the same people play melodic line, or make what they are playing sing. When I first started to play music, some advice given to from an older musician was "you can tell it's good if you are still singing it on the way home". Using Bass Day as the example to work from, how many of the tech performances can you sing or even remember ? Now I'm not a Jeff Berlin fan but bet you remember what he did on the day and Steve Williams stuff as well. I don't believe a 10 hour practice would improve your playing nor your technique. As most teachers will tell you little and often pays far more that trying to force any technique.

What I find wrong with this kind of thing is. New players read this kind of rubbish and believe it. Janek & the editor should have more respect for the people who are going to read what they write & publish.

Just been re reading Janek's "Modern Bass Improvisations" in issue 35 of Bass Guitar Magazine. I say re read as I find what he has to say rather hard to accept. Firstly he claims to practice his exercises up to 10 hours a day ! Now we all know players who may play their given instrument all day or night, but to just be playing exercises for 10 hours, hmmmmmm yeah right. Second, he says start slowly about 50bpm, and then increase by 10bpm to improve speed. (no problem with that great advice) He then claims to go up to 400bpm playing through the first 3 Fragments. Now that means as the [b]1st & 2nd Fag[/b] is in quavers (eighth notes) at 400bpm he is saying he can play 1600 notes per minuet ! but then[b] Fag 3[/b] is semi quavers (sixteenth notes) making 3200npm. I'm would say this is not possible and even if it was, what would be the point. At that king of speed it would just sound like one long note or glissando. Some might say the point is the challenge of playing at 400bpm. I can sort of see that although, you may think I'm a bit old fashioned but, music is about just that making music, not how fast can I play it.

I had to use the dispute option with a supplier in America. I needed some parts for my Richenbacker, contacted them by email about parts before ordering, then placed my order with payment. 2 weeks later get an email saying they don't deliver outside the USA but I can use an address they supplied in America to get the goods sent to, then pay for them to ship to me. Sounded very very odd to me. Asked for a refund, 2 weeks went by nothing, sent more emails nothing. Put it into dispute with paypal got refund in 2 days. Don't mess around, if people take your money they should supply the goods or return the money. I would put this in dispute now, and let Paypal help you get your money back. BIGd

I never said I had a problem with people taking a spare bass etc. I find it interesting that people don't have the confidence in there equipment and feel the need of a spare. I think you will find there is a world of a difference between playing at a wedding gig no matter haw big it is, and being on tour as your Dream theater example. It is as was pointed out, very hard to break a string on a Tuba. Having said that I don't think I've ever broken a string on bass guitar. The battery going dead problem. I always put a new battery in for each gig so again never been a problem, although I do carry spare. As I did say before, I was just interested in if anyone has really found they really need a back up, this has not been answered or is it habit, or just you feel more confident having a back up. I don't see this as a good or bad thing, although some seem to be talking the stance that I see this as a weakness. Far from the truth, if you want to take a spare guitar, stack, amp, speaker, car, cloths, partner, band or anything I have missed of this list thats up to you. My point was just to hopefully be clear, has anybody found they really need to take spare instruments when playing gigs?

Some have said you need a spare bass because the gig is a big one or you are being paid a lot for the gig. My question is, if you do carry a spare bass have you ever really needed it, or is it as I said before just a comfort blanket. I have played most "big venues" including the Royal Albert hall, Symphony Hall & Bridgewater Hall. These gigs have been on Tuba but, I have never needed a back up. I don't think you get much bigger than these, and I've never even thought of taking a back up.

Any reason to get more basses is a great idea but, quite a lot of people on here say they take/have or even must have a "back up " bass. As I said before I have been a musician for 30yrs and in all that time never used or needed a backup bass. I've seen post where backup amps & pedals are "needed". The only backup of any type I take is a Leatherman tool kit, strings, batteries & spare lead. How many of use have found the need of a backup bass guitar ? I don't just mean the need to have one but ever really needed to use a backup instrument. I find the build quality etc of instruments now to be in most cases very high, little if anything seems to go wrong. Even basses from the lower end of the market for say less than £500 are of a high standard. Yet it seems there is no confidence in the instruments you all use. Or is it just a "comfort blanket" type of thing. I think it could be interesting to know. Is the backup bass really needed ? BIGd

Why do you need a back up ?? I've never in 30yrs of being a musician, found any need of a "back up". As well as bass guitar I play tuba maybe I need a back up one of them as well ?? don't think so.

I have both tendonitis and carpul tunnel problems in both wrists. Please seek advise from a professional like a Physio. Your wrist is made up of lots of small bones and tendonds, you can do a lot of damage staining them doing the wrong things to try to solve the problem you have, if you don't know what you are doing. Go see a Physio private probably only cost you about £25 but could be the best £25 you might spend. PLEASE don't try squeezing balls etc until you have got pro advice. BIGd

I think I can make it this year, I can bring G & L ASAT & Rickenbacker 4001 1973 + SWR workingman combo BIGd