NoRhino Posted July 29, 2015 Share Posted July 29, 2015 When the sound chap says " And can I have the bass please?" I usually play solid root notes at low middle and high positions on the fretboard. Then I'll play a walking bass figure across the board finishing with a bit of noodling above the 12th. At this point the SM will say "Thanks" and move on to the next muso. Any other suggestion as to a good sound check routine please? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gjones Posted July 29, 2015 Share Posted July 29, 2015 I usually go 'Dunk' and the sound person says 'thanks that's great'. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lozz196 Posted July 29, 2015 Share Posted July 29, 2015 I play the bassline to the song we`re going to soundcheck with. If I were playing anything other than one of our songs I wouldn`t be hitting the strings with the intensity at which I need for our material, so the levels wouldn`t be right. I also - not often but sometimes - have to convince the soundman, yes I do want the sound that gnarly/trebly, and yes I do want that much breakup as well. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
discreet Posted July 29, 2015 Share Posted July 29, 2015 Just a bit of noodling really. That or the first two or three minutes of Bach's Cello Suite No. 1 in G. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
interpol52 Posted July 29, 2015 Share Posted July 29, 2015 I usually play bits and bobs of some of the songs that the band will be playing on the night. It helps me get an idea of what the room and PA sounds like. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
karlfer Posted July 29, 2015 Share Posted July 29, 2015 Open E. All I'm allowed. Bassist remember! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scalpy Posted July 29, 2015 Share Posted July 29, 2015 [quote name='gjones' timestamp='1438203830' post='2832580'] I usually go 'Dunk' and the sound person says 'thanks that's great'. [/quote] Ditto! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Roland Rock Posted July 29, 2015 Share Posted July 29, 2015 (edited) Usually a very simple major triad line in a I IV progression. I might chuck in the V if I'm feeling feisty. Edited July 29, 2015 by Roland Rock Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bonzodog Posted July 29, 2015 Share Posted July 29, 2015 Down in the tube station at midnight Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hobbayne Posted July 29, 2015 Share Posted July 29, 2015 I just noodle a few pentatonic scales from low E making my way up to the top B on the G string. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
paul_5 Posted July 29, 2015 Share Posted July 29, 2015 Anything really. I tend to go in hard, as I'm of the 'Lozz196' school of tone, but anything really. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cameronj279 Posted July 29, 2015 Share Posted July 29, 2015 Generally one of the bass lines to a song that we aren't playing that night. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Funk Posted July 30, 2015 Share Posted July 30, 2015 I'll play some fingerstyle stuff and some slap stuff to see if the engineer can get a good level even if there's a big level difference between the two. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mcnach Posted July 30, 2015 Share Posted July 30, 2015 [quote name='The Funk' timestamp='1438215067' post='2832678'] I'll play some fingerstyle stuff and some slap stuff to see if the engineer can get a good level even if there's a big level difference between the two. [/quote] pretty much... playing something repetitive low, and something higher. If it's one of the bands I use effects on, I'd try that to check level is ok... overdrive, and in particular envelope filters as they can give surprisingly hefty lumps of bassage Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Roland Rock Posted July 30, 2015 Share Posted July 30, 2015 Oh yeah, I always forget effects! We used to start with a song with deep, deep LPF effect but I'd forgotten to tell the sound guy. He sh*t himself at the first note 😲😁 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FuNkShUi Posted July 30, 2015 Share Posted July 30, 2015 [quote name='The Funk' timestamp='1438215067' post='2832678'] I'll play some fingerstyle stuff and some slap stuff to see if the engineer can get a good level even if there's a big level difference between the two. [/quote] Same here. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bassman Steve Posted July 30, 2015 Share Posted July 30, 2015 Checkin' On My Baby in A. A simple line which I can play at gig level and is quavers throughout so the sound man has plenty of opportunity to adjust the gain if needed. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tauzero Posted July 30, 2015 Share Posted July 30, 2015 Mustang Sally. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nicko Posted July 30, 2015 Share Posted July 30, 2015 [quote name='karlfer' timestamp='1438204564' post='2832591'] Open E. All I'm allowed. Bassist remember! [/quote] You mean thers another E. Where is this secret note you speak of? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mcnach Posted July 30, 2015 Share Posted July 30, 2015 [quote name='Bassman Steve' timestamp='1438244718' post='2832767'] Checkin' On My Baby in A. A simple line which I can play at gig level and is quavers throughout so the sound man has plenty of opportunity to adjust the gain if needed. [/quote] yes, keeping it simple is definitely the thing to do, in my opinion. It's not an audition... give the guy something consistent for him to tweak and play with... simple and repetitive is best Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bassman Steve Posted July 30, 2015 Share Posted July 30, 2015 Definitely, he just wants to do his job and yours is to provide him with the best means to do it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
urbanx Posted July 30, 2015 Share Posted July 30, 2015 [quote name='interpol52' timestamp='1438204180' post='2832587'] I usually play bits and bobs of some of the songs that the band will be playing on the night. It helps me get an idea of what the room and PA sounds like. [/quote] This. Normally with my volume knob on about 90% so I've got something in reserve Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JapanAxe Posted July 30, 2015 Share Posted July 30, 2015 'Soul Man' in E Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KevB Posted July 30, 2015 Share Posted July 30, 2015 (edited) We do our own soundcheck between us (pubs) so I'll play what song we've decided to use as a check on the, needs to be something where all instruments/vox are used (though my bvox can usually be tweaked a bit on the fly as we are going along). Edited July 30, 2015 by KevB Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TimR Posted July 30, 2015 Share Posted July 30, 2015 [quote name='Nicko' timestamp='1438248779' post='2832827'] You mean thers another E. Where is this secret note you speak of? [/quote] It's on the second fret on the D-string. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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