JohnSlade07

I play in the GNT Experiment. A cheesy function band based in Kent. Website designed by the singer. Band nutrition by Ginsters and Fosters. www.gntexperiment.co.uk

Cheers guys. I imagine this sort of approach can be quite useful for a soloist as it provides a strong outline and anchor so to speak.

Ah I see. Well if it was good enough for Mr Brown it's certainly good enough for me.

Is this common? I was listening to Ray Brown the other night and he seemed to repeat the same note quite frequently For example over a Bb7 is it fairly common to play Bb Bb F F, or Bb Bb Ab Ab. Im my ignorance I assumed that this was a jazz "sin" and that a different note had to be played on each beat of a basic walking line. Cheers.

I had a brief spell of buying a few basses (none of them very expensive). The way I looked at it it was more fun browsing the internet for new gear than having to contemplate playing Daydream Believer for the 200th time at my next function gig. Now I try to spend my spare time actually learning to play something more challenging and useful than looking at gear. I still don't play that well, but my bank balance and relationship with my wife have both improved.

At the age of 40 I'm struggling to improve my woeful reading "skills" and it's a big regret that I didn't learn properly years ago. It's such a block when I look at a James Jamerson line for instance and struggle to work out all the syncopated parts, or can't sight read a fairly simple walking line without a struggle. Being able to read confidently would open up a lot of possibilites for me musically on a personal level, although it wouldn't get me more gigs etc

I notice that he "outlines" a new chord by using a 3rd or 5th in quite a few places e.g. Eb for Cm7. Is that quite a common device in jazz?

Good advice bilbo thanks. I've only been working at my reading for about 10 days but it's amazing how quickly reading skills improve with a little patience and commitment (in relative terms obviously). I suppose the key is not trying to move too quickly and learning each exercise thoroughly before moving onto the next. Shame it took me until the age of 40 to realise this!

Thanks mate that is really useful. I'm trying hard to improve my reading skills after years of neglect and I can add this to my growing list of tunes I can't read very well yet!. Will also provide a breather from trying to get my head round syncopated 16th notes etc.

I think that having a goal (or two) to work towards is also helpful in terms of moitvation be it getting in a band, learning a favourite song, taking an exam whatever. I'll quite happily work on learning scales, arpeggios etc for a few weeks, but then I'll lose heart because I don't really use them/need them. I play in a function band which is really good fun but doesn't provide the biggest motivation for "pushing" myself. In fairness that might just be my short attention span and lack of self motivation.

Great stuff. Mind you makes me want to play guitar - which is a bad thing!

Thanks guys. All sorted now.

Can anyone recommend a decent PA company based in Kent (preferably East Kent)? My band are playing a gig at Dover Town Hall and are hoping to hire a PA and engineer for the evening. Cheers John.

Finally come to terms with a change in right hand technique to help overcome Carpal Tunnel Syndrome. Oh and to stop falling asleep and making stupid mistakes when we play Daydream Believer, Angels, Hi Ho Silver Lining or whatever dreadful rubbish we have to play at the end of the night.

PM sent mate.

I'm no expert obviously but the PUP seems to do a decent job to me. The neck is great, as is the ability to set the pickup selector halfway between the P and J pickups. Great bass for the money.

I've got a G&L Tribute SB2 and love it. Really solid sounding bass that can sit well in a bandmix. Took me a while to find the right strings as the pickups are very hot and it can sound a bit trebly. Once I got used to it however and put nickelwound strings on, I was really glad I got it. Unfortunately, I've developed Carpal Tunnel Syndrome and for some strange reason my other basses seem easier to play now so I tend to leave it at home when gigging.

Take Me To The River - beautifully packaged, 3 CD history of southern soul. The Weekend Starts Here - less than beautifully, cheesy double CD of "Mod" soul/mod band favs. Elvis Costello & The Imposters - Momofuko: growing on me with each listening. Razorlight - whatever the new one's called. Some of the worst lyrics I've heard in a while.

This week. 1. John Entwistle - The Who. 2. James Jamerson - Motown 3. Bruce Thomas - Elvis Costello & The Attractions. As you can probably tell I've got highly contemporary tastes in music and bass playing.

I've got a Fender BXR200 that I foolishly bought back in the mid 90s. I still use it occasionally just out of nostalgia. Sounds muddy, not a hint of definition etc, but for some reason I quite like it, especially when I playing slightly earthier pubs.

Cheers and oops!

I've got a Dean Pro Edge 4 which has a fanstatic neck, looks great etc. However, I've never been that happy with the sound which IMHO is a bit sterile and boxy for want of a better description. It has 2 Dean made soapbars and a 3 band active EQ. Couple of questions: 1) Can anyone recommend a replacement soapbar pickup that is a bit fatter and warmer? 2) Would replacing the pups make that much difference? Cheers John.

Thanks escholl. I've measured them and they seem pretty standard so should be good to go.

I've got a Yamaha RBX460 which has got a great neck, looks fine etc, however, the pickups aren't the greatest. It's got P/J pickups which ideally I'd like to upgrade. Would the standard Seymour Duncan et al P/J sets fit, or would I need to find something more exotic as it were? Cheers.

I checked the frets, couldn't see anything wrong there. Adjusted the truss rod (carefully) and it's much more playable now. Cheers guys. Next stop - fine tuning the intonation.