arthurhenry

[quote name='Dingus' timestamp='1364385342' post='2025649'] Never been much of a Maiden fan , even in my pre - teen metal days , but Steve Harris is superb bass player . If plays like that using those heavy gauge flatwound signature strings then he must have the strongest fingers of any player since James Jamerson - truly a man of steel . [/quote] He has a particularly light touch, which he has described as "tickling" the strings. Maiden stuff is harder to play, stamina wise, if you dig in hard. [quote name='dougal' timestamp='1364387048' post='2025692'] It was a blue P (looked like a 70's head stock decal) with a sparkle finish 'crazed' under a standard light blue finish. I assumed it was has main bass with a new, sparkly, finish. Album doesn't sound maiden-like: and I wasn't impressed with the singer on the recording, but live he came across much better. [/quote] The decal is almost completely worn away on his main 70's P.

Stu Hamm's Moonlight sonata is a useful example, I think. Can you listen to it without thinking about the technical element of the playing? Would he want you to? It's impressive and probably useful in terms of an exercise in dexterity, but who wants to hear it on electric bass? Do you ever think about about the technical skill involved when you hear it on piano, or just enjoy the beauty of the music?

I went to one several years ago with a similar karaoke style event planned just for singers. Predictably for a Rush convention, there were lots of "musicians" in attendance who got up to play. It was a horrible mess.

I like playing gigs. Original bands I've been in have gigged between 0 and 15 times a year. Covers bands I've been in have gigged between 2 and 15 times a month.

[quote name='Pete Academy' timestamp='1363639652' post='2015199'] I have to agree. Most of the clips were soulless. Give me Meshell every time. She plays from the heart. Sheehan is great but it's mostly technique. Many will no doubt disagree. Bona is never tasteless. . [/quote] Sheehan is great and it's mostly great rock bass playing in rock songs, unless of course you choose to focus only on his solos.

It seems there are some people who can't even see how it's possible to learn a song without tabs! It's the internet and as such we're exposed to the comments and opinions of all sorts. Most of them won't be playing for long.

[quote name='BILL POSTERS' timestamp='1363528094' post='2013641'] If you drive a car, your a driver, ride a pushbike, your a cyclist. play Bass - actually play it - your a Bass Player. There are good ones, and great ones, and not very good ones, but no bad ones, who's to judge whats good or bad ? I'm a Bass Player. I only really play Bass. I been a Bass Player since I joined my first gigging band a hundred years ago..I also only play R&B or Rock n Roll these days. Never bothered with 5 strings, slapping or anything flash. Wouldnt make me a better oneif I did, It would just make me a different one. I dislike the terms Bassist, or Bass Guitarist. [/quote] No offence intended in any way, but "You're" means "you are" and "Your" means something which belongs to you. "[u]You're[/u] a bass player and you play [u]your[/u] bass."

[quote name='Lord Sausage' timestamp='1363439723' post='2012718'] for the record i have no problem with clayton it's just he gets a hard time round here! I'm still waitin for someone to say it tho! [/quote] Japanese, women's clothing.

Velcro?

Tell a landlord or promoter that you require union rates and you won't be booked.

So tempting....

I think the OP was well put and I identify with the vitual bass/music addiction as a teenager (many years ago now). However, don't overlook the fact that this is an internet forum. Anyone, anywhere in the world with a passing interest in bass guitar (or indeed no interest) can join and contribute, It's highly likely that there will be many contributors who have never considered a career in music, or serious practice and just play occasionally for fun, or maybe even don't play and just like bass.

[quote name='4-string-thing' timestamp='1362082890' post='1995605'] Never mind walking off stage, I've left several bands because of Brown eyed girl.... +1 for Gay Bar though, great tune to cover! [/quote] The Beatles split up because of a Brown eyed girl.

Someone must now make contact and let him know about all the fuss!

If it's for a tribute band, where everything must be exact, I can see why you might want the dots. Otherwise, I agree, it'll take 20 mins max by ear and you'll have learnt the chorus for Belinda Carlisle's "Heaven is a place on Earth" at the same time!

Doug Pinnick, David Ellefson, Phil Lynott, Cliff Williams, Paul McCartney, etc, etc.................yawn.

[quote name='Roger2611' timestamp='1361121331' post='1981361'] The smoking ban has had an impact but more so for the venues than the bands, smokers who [u]were[/u] watching the band will try to stand in doorways so the band have difficulty loading out. [/quote] Fixed.

For F's sake...

This is the law for shared equipment gigs: 1. Attempts to ascertain the availability of backline/pre-arrange borrowing kit, prove inconclusive. 2. Load your amp into the car and take it to the venue. 3. Arrive at venue to find bass amp is provided and you're happy to use it and go without "your sound," since you'll only be playing for half an hour to three people. 4. To avoid the theft of your amp from your car, you unload it, bring it into the venue and store it at the side of the stage. 5. Play set 90 mins later than agreed. 6. Load amp back out of the venue and into car. 7. Unload amp from car and back into house. 8. Wonder how long you can go on like this.

King's X, ZZ Top

Does the song sound good? If so, then the bass player is good in that moment, on that song. What else does anyone care about? Does the bass player sound good when he/she's not playing songs?!!

[quote name='MrTaff' timestamp='1360880396' post='1977962'] This really shows how bad the access to the higher frets on the thunderbird is. [/quote] Make some finger extensions out of lego.

If the bridge is closer to the neck, it can feel like a longer stretch to the headstock end of the neck. Don't have any experience of T-birds, but on my Dano, I sometimes adjust where it hangs on my body to compenstate. It's never been a problem though.

[quote name='Fat Rich' timestamp='1360578114' post='1972451'] I had a similar experience the first time I went to the Gallery and thought about never returning, however subsequent visits Alex couldn't have been more helpful. There's another pretty much identical thread, Alex posted and said he could be a bit grumpy sometimes but would try to be friendlier in future. Also didn't I read somewhere he's moving on to other things soon? Or did I dream it?! [/quote] Another thread mentioned that he is studying the knowledge. Make up your own jokes about the suitability of a grumpy demeanor for a London cab driver.

I did. No way was I missing out on the chance of a gig.