ARGH

Seriously,No one can do a Smiths song justice,except Mozz and the gang. MUSE stuff goes down well,but you have to a sh1t hot band to get away with it,and you have to get the tones right(Bass distortion etc).

[quote name='john_the_bass' post='66268' date='Sep 27 2007, 07:02 AM']we've (bizarrely) been asked to do a wedding in November and have to learn some covers. I'm struggling with going underground by the Jam and have resorted to winging it now - I've only spent about 5 hours on it and it's not bad, but I can't get the rhythms spot on - it shifts between 3/4, 4/4 and 5/4[/quote] Break it down ito sections.....learn each individually,then just piece it together. "Down in a tube station at midnight" is harder,and Eton rifles is a stamina test.

[quote name='niceguyhomer' post='65188' date='Sep 25 2007, 09:09 AM']I only play to gig, I love playing live and if I wasn't in a band I probably wouldn't pick up a bass or guitar again - that's my choice. I certainly wouldn't look down on anyone or make stupid comments to anyone who chose to do otherwise. It's your time and you fill it with whatever gives you pleasure and b*llocks to the brain-dead fungi who talk through their dirtboxes.[/quote] +billions Last half had me spitting my toast!

ANYONE given the time and finances can purchase an uberinstrument and amplificaton,and then polish it and never really learn how to play it,or have it on show in the front room for all to see. ANYONE can sit in their house or bedroom and write about it on this forum...take photos etc I heard a band complain a month or two back along,that 20 gigs a year was 'To much'. Said band members would often sneer that I did covers/functions,and I wasnt a 'real' musician,because I was not in or doing 'original' music with a band. I then pointed out then length of their set (40mins to 1 hr of metal) and then took the timeframe of their gigging schedule (1 gig every say 15-28 days depending on time and distance),the number of musical styles (1...being..well....Metal) and then (and please excuse me but it needed to be said) the standard of equipment used (OK OK OK,not everyone must have the latest greatest modern/vintage plank/noisebox in my eyes,but Ive worked HARD on/offstage to have what I have,and I dont get complaints from soundmen or band members so.....well we can leave that hot potato). Onstage I will do between 5-7 styles of music I will play 2-3 hrs a night I will learn Basslines....no...scratch that...MUSIC from some of the greatest musicians the world has known in modern times. I will travel,lug and chug,myself to many many a dive of a pub and give them a show,get up the next day and do it all again,after a days work. I will read charts to stuff I dont know,usually off the cuff and can communicate that information to other 'musicians' onstage (usually keys) thus in theory no tune is a no go (yeah right..you want me to do Zappa.....I aint THAT good...yet). I will sing (not just stand there like an open mouthed moron) and 'perform'. I will communicate with the crowd,not just announce the next tune..... Its not about the money,But ,and this is the cinch...I get paid......not a Kings ransom,but I get paid,and I like doing it,and it makes people and me happy,Im not sitting about bitching about the monitor mix (although I have I must admit on a few occasions) or compareing/Hating other local bands,Im generally far far FAR happier a person,than when I play,people can never walk away saying what I do or my standard of playing/singing/performance is SH1T.....And I dont spend all day kissing arse,begging for a tour support. You can imagine the above was compressed into a conversation involving colourful words,but you get my point. And to finish it off...just to irritate the 'gear' obsessed 'musicians' around me.......I listed my gear,and how much it was,and how I paid for it.....

[quote name='bass_ferret' post='64931' date='Sep 24 2007, 06:33 PM']I find myself agreeing with you again Ross - must be more careful. It might have helped had they made it clear it was a piss take on the whole "relic" scene people might not have got so upset - but then maybe they thought people would have the wit to work that out for themselves. [/quote] thats the 4th.

Jacks,Cables,strings,pickups,Bass's,Amps,cabs........my own mind. Ive broken them all. I dont tickle my strings,I just want MAXIMUM tone,and more importantly,I want to put on a show.... If you want to not break strings..dont windmill,jump about,dance,hurl your Bass....or yourself around the room,smack,headbutt or punch the guitar,hit lighting rigs,mic stands...other members...etcetc...dont enjoy yourself like I do. If you break strings,so what..........Its not the end of the world, Poor technique,hardware,cheap strings......acid perspiration...none are reasons or excuses in my book for why they break on me,I say its because of the good old fashioned reason called simply 'Playing'. I like them bright so what better excuse to change them by breaking them!!!!! Mine break at the bridge,nut.....on the fingerboard...over the pickup.......somedays I think they are scared to get out of the packet given the punishment they know they're gonna get! But hey,I get paid and the audience call us back.........and thats the point.

just because hes better than you.

Why does this whole thread make me think,the phrase "Who cares, some of you need to get out more"? Its just an instrument....an object. There are bigger things occurring in the world.

Dude THAT IS NASTY! love it!

Mansons in Exeter is easily the best music shop in the UK,both in selection and staff 'attitude'. Very very professional.

Neither.....Buy a Fender P and change the pickup. Get yourself a Sansamp DI and decent cables.

Does it really matter??

Once heard 2 great pieces of advice regarding 'STAGE PERSONA' RE:Playing 1,Make the hard stuff look easy and the easy stuff look amazing. RE:Performing 2,If your gonna move,exaggerate the movement.

THEY LOOK GROWLY!!! Is the tone pi55ed?

Ive touched on this before re:what we do compared to what people THINK we do. best comments I ever recieved were "You shouldnt be doing that" (From another Bassist in a pub,I was moving about onstage....getting the crowd into it) "I never saw a Bassist do that before...EVER" (A flattering comment from a guitarist and a singer,when I asked what 'that' was the answer was "Play up the neck"........"well the frets are there" I replied) "You should be doing this" (From a singer.....The keys player then asked why...adding..."Because..thats...boring") I must admit,Im not a plodder as I call them,If its not fun why do it? Ok the money talks,but everything has to have life behind it,and reason. Be it Cliff Williams to Mick Karn.

Learnt Upright. How to read properly....and drunk less. BUT I still have time.

[quote name='ped' post='61083' date='Sep 16 2007, 11:26 AM']Searching google is pretty useless - I tried 'Dodgy basses' and it came up with a GB ;0)[/quote]

In those situations you describe Alun,seriously speaking,when writing or playing for those parts (given the constant is actually the ride cymbal usually in metal terms anyway) do you try to double the kick (playing a screwy pattern) or just ride through along with the guitars?....Making the 'WALL" as such. I know,for me writing in oddtime is a swine,I dont like making life difficult......but I do 'feel' odd some days (dont we all)

To be honest good quality,driven and committed musicians are hard to find full stop. I know a fair few of the above,but they usually have some total b1tch or B@rstard of a partner that just DEMANDS they never leave the house.... "Why are you going out with them,when you SHOULD be with me..." Im not making the above up.

Thankyou for everything so far! Im trying to fill gaps,and praying my technique and taste are good enough for this band,They are educated..VERY competant,signed,and have big backing companywise. Ive even started exercising in the attempt to be physically fit for this. Ive found breaking down the timing helps so far into 2s and 3s..like 1-2-3-1-2 (as in 5/4) or 1-2-3-1-2-3-1 (for 7/4)....phonetic..or vocalizing it is the best as said by Mikey and Dan. Im hoping my staminas enough as well (2-3 1hr sets playing multiple styles of music vs 40mins-ish to an hour of just one..) will help. Just waiting for the audition cd now.

2 fretted 4s 1 fretless 4 2 fretless 5s 1 ERB later this month 1 Upright.

[quote name='bass_ferret' post='58907' date='Sep 11 2007, 07:23 PM']Did not watch the Diana gig so can't comment but yes, even though I hate to say it, you need a 5 if you are wanting to pick up a lot of session work, recording or gigging, and Kylie's backing band, Spice Girls etc all use a 5. A four is only any use for second rate bands like Pink Floyd. But most of the guys playing bass in bands are still using 4 strings, and apart from Dave Swift who uses an SR5 most of the bands on Later, whatever music they play, use the humble 4 stringer - even the bloke in the White Stripes.[/quote] Considering Roger found playing on records a chore,and they have only played one gig in 20+ years.........if you think the great Floyd are 2nd rate... Cant help following where the moneys at.....Most of,if not all,the backing bands Bassists on 'Later...' are using 5s,6s. (I wouldnt actually mind playing for Kylie,or the Spice Girls.....Heard that the pays good,I bet my morgage would be paid off by the end of the year )

Back on topic. White stripes are a lo-fi band that write a catchy tune.

The 5+ and the standard....? Didnt the last half of the Diana gig have a backingshowstyle band with a bassist that played nothing other than a 5? When I watch Jools Holland and see an 'old' (forgive me..please I use it in the the descriptive term) artist (usually soul or reggae) Im seeing 5s and 6s backing them (usually Warwicks,Im sure Wilfer and co are creating a factory of guys and girls in suits playing 6 string thumbs) .The BBC3 Soul nation had a similer set of musicians,with a quantity (not totally sure of majority) using a 5+ stringed instrument Versitility surely...surely is our instruments means of survival. The 5 isnt limited to genres (ok in metal it does help to have that low because I see and hear 5s and 6s in fusion and Jazz and to reiterate Reggae,soul,funk,R and B (yes that modern 'urban' stuff too) Even C&W. This next line will come across as really snotty,no doubt,you will be inflamed and eager to burn me WITH SHARP WORDS!!!!!...please stop..remain calm...and reread what Ive typed again. The 5 (or more) seems to be the professionals choice,alot of the classic,recording/session, guys from the 60s/70s...4 stringers...aint gonna be here in 20 years time,because they will be passed on to the next world,and the guys who are taking their seats on the bandstand are taking 5s with them....taking 6s with them,I swear I caught a 7 on TV the other day. So dosent it make sense. It seems to me (ive just grabbed a 4 month old edition of Bassplayer magazine beside me) that if you stay in a strict genres boundary,doing one thing then yes the 4 is all you want and need ,set it up,downtune it (Justin Chancellor's on the cover..I think Tool are C sharp) or punk or a retroesqueband (Kings of Leon) its fine.But Ive Alain Caron (Fretless 6) and Richard Bona (Fretted 5) and Nathan East (Fretted 5) Adam Nitti (Fretted 5) and Claypool (kitchen sink) staring back at me too,legit session,or master musicians in touring/chops circles. (I also have Ron Carter here on the page too,one of the finest Bassists regardles of instrument on planet earth.) But if you have to do everything stylewise onstage or cover more...erm....bases...(sorry) i.e. Weddings,parties,everything,Sessions,recordings,jams,sit ins,gigs...please add more,to do it all,a 5 seems to...no..IS the logical choice,and thats increasingly so as time and music marches on. Surely,Im not the only one thinking this Tide & Broom comes to mind. (see Rich I put the sea thing in there......xxx) Please dont take a single line from this and twist it,read it as a full piece,and please answer as such. (Oldgit,Dood...I know you guys dont want to rock boats,but you have fivers and in Doods case more.....but hey what do you think,Im trying for a discussion here) Im not Dreaming John,Im just seeing it as it really is,some of us want to do this for a living,not just an on/off weekend.

[quote name='dood' post='58647' date='Sep 11 2007, 11:47 AM']I think that pretty much sums it up IMO![/quote] +2 Agreed