Lfalex v1.1 Posted October 23, 2007 Posted October 23, 2007 Just been playing (what? [i]AGAIN[/i]!) And thought; "What's the SINGLE best piece of advice you could give to your fellow bassists?" Just one piece. And simple truisms are perfectly valid. Mine would be this: "Having achieved your optimum tone by cutting/boosting whatever frequency (Amp or bass EQ) when playing in isolation, remember that it needs to be just that bit more extreme (more boost or cut) to sound as good in a band setting / against musical backing. The same is true of effects. If you're too subtle tonally, it gets lost in the mix..." Off you go folks! But only one top quality piece of advice! Looking forward to your ideas, and who knows, some of us may have minor epiphanies as the result of a fellow B.C.er's comments! Quote
Toasted Posted October 23, 2007 Posted October 23, 2007 On a gear related note: [i]Always, always play your new toys with the rest of the band before you decide if you like them or not.[/i] I was gutted when my (now) favourite overdrive came - I'd spend alot of money on it and I plugged it in at home and it sounded awful. Seriously bad. I put it on my "backup" pedal board and decided in a week I'd probably return it to the maker. Next band practice comes around, I pickup the wrong pedalboard on the way out of the house, end up deciding to give this pedal a go.... WOW, it just fits perfectly into the band mix - couldn't be better. Ace. Quote
niceguyhomer Posted October 23, 2007 Posted October 23, 2007 Practice, practice, practice and don't scrimp on cables. Quote
Kiwi Posted October 23, 2007 Posted October 23, 2007 There's virtually no meaningful relationship between how an amp sounds in the shop/bedroom/lounge, and how it sounds on stage mid set. Quote
funkysimon Posted October 23, 2007 Posted October 23, 2007 Don't over-use effects or flashy techniques. Sure, autowah rocks bells, but use it all the time and it loses impact factor. Quote
cetera Posted October 23, 2007 Posted October 23, 2007 Forget about 'smiley face graphics'. It's ALL about the MIDS in a band situation.... Quote
R,5,R,5... Posted October 23, 2007 Posted October 23, 2007 1. It is cheaper in the long run to sell a bass/amp you're not happy with than to modify it, unless you are absolutely, positively certain that you know what you're doing. 2. You will think you know what you're doing long before you actually do. Quote
stewblack Posted October 23, 2007 Posted October 23, 2007 I've just had an epiphany and I suppose this thread is the perfect place in which to share it. When I started out back int he 70's I was utterly convinced that writing my own songs, creating my own basslines was all that mattered, and the only way to becoming a self respecting musician. To that end I didn't learn one line of another musician's work for 25 years. Yesterday, whilst trying to tell my fingers to follow a bass line I was learning (Four Tops "Same Old Song) and they reluctantly refused to go in a direction to which they were unaccustomed, I realised said epiphany was upon me. In trying not to end up sounding like every other hackneyed musician who just lazily copied other bassists I had got myself stuck in a rut of my own making and in so doing had limited the dimensions that rut profoundly. The lesson I've learned is you cannot learn enough and the wider the variety of music you learn the more strings to your bow. Yes be original, of course be inventive but you'll close your mind to a world of possibilities, and end up trying to reinvent the wheel if you don't learn as diverse a musical catalogue as possible. Of course I utterly failed to sound original as everyone says I play just like Chris Squire - a bass player I've never even listened to! Quote
cheddatom Posted October 23, 2007 Posted October 23, 2007 [quote name='funkysimon' post='78076' date='Oct 23 2007, 10:33 AM']Don't over-use effects or flashy techniques. Sure, autowah rocks bells, but use it all the time and it loses impact factor.[/quote] Yeh, I think with respect to creating music in general, you have to create a structure using "contrast", which doesn't necessarily mean dynamics. Quote
TheRev Posted October 23, 2007 Posted October 23, 2007 1) The spaces you leave are just as important as the note you play. 2) Never, ever leave a drummer alone with the rider. Quote
thumbo Posted October 23, 2007 Posted October 23, 2007 Have a crack at learning a new song every day. Quote
bassninja Posted October 23, 2007 Posted October 23, 2007 Play live as soon as you can. Even if it doesn't go as you'd hoped, you'll have learned a hundred times more useful stuff than you would have done by sitting noodling meaningfully during The Antiques Roadshow... Quote
lovedub Posted October 23, 2007 Posted October 23, 2007 Concentrate on YOUR OWN style of playing, first and foremost. It's inevitable to be influenced by bass players who have impressed you. However, it's better to speak with your own voice as truly as possible. It's YOURS, nobody can do it better than you. That's what pushes things forward. The bass guitar wasn't dragged from the swamps by drones and clones Quote
lee4 Posted October 23, 2007 Posted October 23, 2007 1 It aint the notes you play,its the space you make. 2 Be open to suggestions from other band members. 3 Help set up/pack away other band members gear. 4 Do'nt eat curry/chillie/pickled eggs before gigs/rehersal/recording. Quote
Geddys nose Posted October 23, 2007 Posted October 23, 2007 Don't get hung up looking for the perfect tone the chances are once its fed into the PA its out of your hands anyway Quote
Jam Posted October 23, 2007 Posted October 23, 2007 Don't use a laptop while playing bass. I use guitar pro and youtube while i'm playing to work on things or to play along, and I just electrocuted myself slightly. I had one hand on the strings and the other on my laptop. Has anyone ever died through being electrocuted by a bass/guitar? I don't necessarily mean a laptop, maybe a mic would do the same if it wasn't earthed properly... Quote
Breakfast Posted October 23, 2007 Posted October 23, 2007 If you can't do it slow, you'll never be able to do it fast. True of so many things in life. Listen to what makes songs work- what the rhythm section do when they want a song to pick up into a chorus or space out for a bridge. The better you understand those dynamics the better you will sound when you are playing in a band. Quote
silverfoxnik Posted October 23, 2007 Posted October 23, 2007 [quote name='TheRev' post='78155' date='Oct 23 2007, 11:46 AM']1) The spaces you leave are just as important as the note you play. 2) Never, ever leave a drummer alone with the rider.[/quote] LOL and +1... My 2p worth would be: 1) Always listen to all of the other musicians in the band, especially the singer 2) Remember that bass is a melodic instrument as well as a rhythmic instrument Quote
ARGH Posted October 23, 2007 Posted October 23, 2007 (edited) Get a job...not a musical job..I mean a REAL job. Learn space.. Buy an Upright If your gonna move....make a BIG move If its encased in plastic it has NO place onstage,trust me IT WILL BREAK!!! Go Passive at weddings Love Neodymium...esp at nightmare load ins. DONT tickle it,its an object,I dont care how much it cost,play it properly. read NO really LEARN TO F%*KING READ.....like yesterday. 600w...in a pub...why? USE THE PA! A good DI beats a carsride of prayers Cheap cables=cheap musician Be the 1st call for your town on Jam nights (if you are asked to stay onstage the longest it means they like you or the resident guy has hip trouble) You cant get along with everyone,so dont bother..unless the pays outstanding or you need a lift home. Buy a 5 string,because you WILL need one Make friends with the Keys player,he will get you out of more sh*t than you can mention SMILE at the drummer,He is the 1,you are the note...... If you think you are brilliant,buy a fretless...see..that'll teach you you cocky little bugger. a record deal is A LOAN! with cashback possibly available if you make it big! You see those upper frets...yes you can use them too. Come 10:30pm..NO ONE IN THE VENUE CARES where the right note comes from. Say Thankyou.... ..and dont hog the light,If your good you could play in a burka in the pitch black and you would still be paid! Edited October 23, 2007 by ARGH Quote
Dood Posted October 23, 2007 Posted October 23, 2007 [quote name='Jam' post='78512' date='Oct 23 2007, 08:12 PM']Don't use a laptop while playing bass. I use guitar pro and youtube while i'm playing to work on things or to play along, and I just electrocuted myself slightly. I had one hand on the strings and the other on my laptop. Has anyone ever died through being electrocuted by a bass/guitar? I don't necessarily mean a laptop, maybe a mic would do the same if it wasn't earthed properly...[/quote] lol... cute. If you have been electrocuted, I'm afraid you are very dead, by definition ;o) um.. my advice.. Don't eat yellow snow. lol.. Cheers Mr Zappa. Quote
Jase Posted October 23, 2007 Posted October 23, 2007 Buy a Fender and only use 4 strings, also tip your hat to the ERB guys Quote
Alien Posted October 23, 2007 Posted October 23, 2007 1) Listen to everything - whether you like it or not is just a matter of personal taste. 2) Listen - no, really, get a cotton bud, clean out your ears and really LISTEN. 3) If you ain't enjoying it, why should the audience enjoy it? 4) Bum notes don't matter - they're in the past and chances are nobody noticed anyway. Andy Quote
ped Posted October 23, 2007 Posted October 23, 2007 Enjoy what you do and forget what anyone else thinks of it! Quote
Jam Posted October 24, 2007 Posted October 24, 2007 [quote name='dood' post='78599' date='Oct 24 2007, 12:08 AM']lol... cute. If you have been electrocuted, I'm afraid you are very dead, by definition ;o) um.. my advice.. Don't eat yellow snow. lol.. Cheers Mr Zappa.[/quote] Fine fine! I recieved a slight electric shock. Happy now?! My god would you feel guilty if i'd actually died. Quote
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