Franticsmurf

I like to think of the original as the starting point. As has been said above, if someone wants to hear the original version, note perfect, the studio recording is the place to go. Even the bands I like play their own songs differently live to their original studio versions. If there are essential elements that make the song special, then consideration should be made to play those parts correctly but for the most part I think there is merit in bringing something new to the cover version. If that version is rubbish, punters will vote with their feet. If it adds something to the song, then to me that's what playing live music is all about. The caveat is, of course, tribute acts. If the tribute band is about bringing the original to the audience, then there is a requirement to play it as the original band played it. I've played in tribute bands and haven't enjoyed the restrictions it places on me, although I understand and accept them. But by far the most enjoyable for me is playing in a band where there is a certain amount of freedom to develop a character or style in which the band plays it's set.

When we played it in A I'd head straight for the dusty end and use the 12th fret harmonic. Now the band I'm in do it in G so I'm on the 'D' string, fifth fret. And I tend to play single notes with the bass drum during the verses, because it's our version and that's what we like. 😃

60th birthday bash for our percussionist in the Hulla band last night. We played in a marquee of a sports club to around 100 people and had a great night. I was struggling with bursitis in my right knee so the guys brought a high stool for me. I went through FOH as is usual with this line up but had a small cab and TCE BAM200 for the drummer and used my in ears. Ironically, I'd just got a wireless system for the bass to allow me to move around, and I was stuck at the back for the whole gig. 😃

Just started learning Rio and while I wouldn't say I've got the bass part nailed, it's getting there and its a good one.

I used to sleep grounded, but then I began to develop a hum, so I lifted myself off the ground. It worked, too 😀

When I played bass in a duo, years ago, I got so bored with the set that I used to try and get Hawkwind baselines in there. In particular, the 'Angels of Death' riff works nicely with the instrumental bit of You Really Got Me and the 'Hey hey hey hey' bit of Treat Her Right. 🙂

Not the official bass line, but the one I'm playing on our take of Sheryl Crow's version of Sweet Child of Mine makes me smile. I much prefer her version to the original. I'm combining the bass part with elements of the guitar melody and links I've made up myself into a busy bass part that works with our arrangement. I even get to play the bass melody from the start of the GnR version.

I was 25, it was 1989 in a well known pub venue and as I recall I was obsessed with getting my guitar tuned correctly and spent far too long with the tuner. Only to have the sound guy (who introduced us) knock the headstock and tuners just as the drummer was counting in the first number. 😃

As I suspected. Ah well, it was good while it lasted. 🙂

I'd be grateful for a ruling. I've recently bought a HB Stomp Control unit, which allows for the connection and selection of up to four effects loops in any combination. Yes, it goes in the signal chain but it doesn't actually affect the signal itself other than routing it. Am I in or out? 🙂🙁🙂🙁

Confirmed Yes fan. I found that when Jon and Chris were no longer in the band, the thing that made it 'Yes', disappeared. Before that, when Rick was out, it wasn't the same but for me Yes was always the distinctive bass (lines and sound) and the distinctive vocal. Listening to the new song/video, I find it a bit bland. Very, very competent but not interesting or exciting. It's difficult to compare it with the second video above of Jon and the Band Geeks as they are doing a cover version of a well known Yes song, but of the two Close to the Edge was the track I played in its entirety while the other one went off after about 5 minutes. To me, the current Yes is a completely different band and not one I would have listened to much as the music doesn't interest me.

In addition to the advice above, I've found that we've picked up some gigs through contacts on the night. So some nice business cards (IMO looks better than fliers) with a logo and contact details, including any online content, allows you to make the contact. In the past, we've played a pub or small club and picked up a function or wedding from it.

Not a gig as such, but the first rehearsal of a new three piece, 'The Rip', last night. I've played with the drummer and guitarist/singer individually, but never in this line up. All competent musicians but great to have something that works from the start and for everyone to be on the same wavelength. It was formed to play a one-off gig at a festival but we all agreed last night that there's more life in the project. 😃

I've just signed up to singing lead on several songs for a one off gig in June. They're simple songs, but never having been a lead vocalist (I've sung the odd song now and again but not on a regular basis) I wonder what I've let myself in for! Rehearsals start next week so we'll see. I struggle with this as well when singing BVs. I find singing along to the original track at home helps - I can warble in and out of unison until it sound ok without anyone else having to suffer. 😃

I have an MS60b on the board for special effects (by which I mean combinations of filter/modulation/compression) that are song specific. I use a B1Four as a silent rehearsal tool and I occasionally use a Boss ME80 (at one point several years ago it was my main effects unit).

On mine, there's a knurled knob on top of the bridge above the E string. (It's in the photos of the OPs XT2 above). With the detuner flipped up (i.e in detune mode) use the knob to tune the string to D. It should return to E when you flip the flap back.

And an ache in the pelvic region! 😃 I used to love their live versions of this. Back to the original topic - if I play a lower mid heavy bass solo, will that free me of fear and guilt and ultimately lead to a longer bass solo - with all the vicious circle implications that generates. 🤣

I can (and do) sing basic backing vocals but the bass lines tend to suffer and I try and modify them to keep them simple. As has been mentioned above, most punters listen to the vocals over the bass so where I am doing Bvs, it is those that get priority. I have taken a few lead vocals on songs but generally where either I know the song backwards or the bass part is simple and on the beat. I don't enjoy singing and I don't have a great lead vocal voice, so taking the lead vocals is a very rare occurrence. Which is probably a good thing for band and audience. 😃

I was in a band called 'Fragile Earth' and it came to a planned end with one gig left to do. So we formed a fun band to do it with ex-members guesting and called it Frantic Smurf. I've used the name across social media ever since. Some time later, I found one of those little Smurf toys playing a bass guitar - hence the photo. (I know, you thought it was me. Sorry to disappoint). 😃

I feel your cringe. About 10 years ago we were booked to play a function with the local mayor et al in attendance, supporting a well known local comedian. The venue was a large upmarket bar. Our singer/guitarist at the time was taking all the bookings and sorting the times but he failed to mention the dress code. Not being stupid, the drummer, other guitarist and I turned up all dressed smartly for such a gig. The singer arrived late and was dressed for a rock pub gig. The bar owner (who was the MC) had a go at him (as we had done when we saw him in his pub gear). We played the first half but it wasn't good and sometime during the break the singer had managed to further p*** off the MC. We were told to pack up and leave. The singer tried to bluff it out to us by claiming he was refusing to play but we'd seen enough to know the truth. Packing up was the worst bit as people were watching, well aware of what had happened. It started a run of gigs where the singer managed to get on the wrong side of the venue owners and our local gigs dried up. We survived for a while on agent bookings but the band no longer exists.

Hi Mark.

Hi Kevvo.

Mine too - I paid about the same as you for it in the mid 80s from one of the shops on Tottenham Court Road. I'll always remember it because as I was trying it out, a bloke tried to pay for something expensive with a dodgy credit card, got rumbled and made a dash for the door with a couple of sale assistants in pursuit. He didn't get away with the goods. I decided to pay cash. 😃

My band mates sometimes say that to me! 🤣

How about a headless bass? Not everyone's cup of tea but full scale and easy to transport if necessary?