Graham56

I'll Take You There - Staple Singers Anything by ACDC

The Jam at their best - all three of them.

Murderface! That's all I'm sayin'

The in-ear monitor sounds right. They had a very clean stage with almost no monitors/boxes in sight. Ta.

Oh well, if we're posting SAHB links, here's one of my favourites... The audience look completely bemused...

I saw a Blues Brothers stage show on Saturday. Cheesy as a cheesy thing with extra cheese on top, but great fun. The bass player punched out these Duck Dunn (and some Jamerson) lines with pizzazz and energy using a standard P-Bass and a small effects unit on the floor. But he also seemed to have two leads going into the instrument. I was too far away to work out what was going, but I could clearly see two leads going up to wind through his strap. Any idea why he would do this? Cheers, Graham

Luna Lounge, Leytonstone Lovely little venue. Cheers, Graham

Playing an old (very!) classic. The drummer and I were both deps for these guys. For those that care about such things I was playing a 50-year-old P-bass with flats through a Little Mark and Barefaced Super Compact. Cheers, Graham

OK, so he wasn't a bass player. But he was a damn fine drummer. Died last week at 68 from comp[lications during an operation. See here Was the drummer for the Sensational Alex Harvey Band then also for Rory Gallagher, Michael Schenker and others. The SAHB were a huge part of my teenage years in Scotland - an amazing theatrical rock outfit, but rock-solid under it all. Graham

We were playing a typical pub covers set and there was hen night in. They kept hassling us to let their mate sing - "She's really good!" Eventually we relented and asked what did she think she could sing? She looked down at our setlist taped to the monitor. Pointed to Lady Marmalade. "I could do that." We exchanged looks and started the song.... And she was ace. Yes, really. She belted out the lead with a great soul voice and also fitted in to the harmonies with our singer. Turned out she sang that song in her own band. It meant the hen-nighters ended up our best friends and the whole evening was a hoot. It's never happened like that again... Cheers, Graham

My Ding-a-Ling should be easy enough though...

I bought an amp from Joel. We exchanged emails on the Thursday and completed the deal on the Friday. I arrived to find he'd already sortied out box and packaging to make it easier for me to get it home. He's pleasant and easy to deal with, the amp is as advertised, and I'd be perfectly happy to deal with him again. PS: The only tiny disappointment is that he looks nothing like his avatar... :-)

Freebird Yep, really. (especially the Oakland live performance)

It's not a ballad but why not Bad Company - "Bad Company" Or Free's "My Brother Jake"

[size=3]Some great ones here. But for me, the combination of song and visuals is one of the most emotionally wrenching covers ever...[/size] [size=3]Johhny Cash - "Hurt" (I can't get the embed thing to work...)[/size] [size=3]And then just for a different take on a classic...[/size] [size=3]Pattid Smith's take on "Smells like Teen Spirit"[/size] [size=3]Cheers[/size] [size=3]Graham[/size]

[size=3]I won't add to the advice about making a living from music as I know next to nothing about that. [/size] [size=3]You've also had plenty of good advice about being self-employed. [/size] [size=3]Two things though - I note that you say that you are a: "[b]qualified trainer and provide training courses in my workplace"[/b][/size] [size=3]Have you considered taking those skills into freelance life? It's what I did.[/size] [size=3]I started offering training courses in my workplace skills and have now built it up into a reasonable living that pays the bills. One that I enjoy much more than any previous job I've had. It took about three years though to build up to a decent amount of work.[/size] [size=3]The point is that most trainers are freelance, either working through agencies or direct to clients. [/size][size=3]The advantage is that you can build that side of the business up as much as you need, leaving the rest of the time for building up your music income.[/size] [size=3]And the other thing is: [b]"she understands where I'm coming from and is very supportive"[/b][/size] [size=3]This.[/size] [size=3]This.[/size] [size=3]This.[/size] [size=3]Cheers[/size] [size=3]Graham[/size]

Maybe replace the 'D' song with something easier just this once?

Think Stax/Blues Brothers... Green Onions Peter Gunn Soulfinger (tricky with no horns, but could be done if one fo the guitarists can play the 'melody'

[size=3]OK, as you say, it's time to move on. As others have said, why not advertise for like-minded folk? There are lots of people out there in the same boat - not confident enough to join a band but looking for people to jam with. Put out an ad that's clear about what you are looking for and I think you'd be surprised at the response. One other route is to look for ensemble evening classes. I don't know what's available in your area but if you are near any major city there will probably be something where you can join and get practice in playing in small groups. Have a look at Floodlight or at your local colleges/universities etc. I live close to London so I did a couple of years in evening classes at Morley college. One was a Jazz workshop where we learned to play some 'standards'. While this isn't my favourite form of music, I did learn a helluva lot - especially about how to bluff your way through a bassline with little or no preparation... I also did a basic musicianship workshop at Goldsmith's College, which again gave me experience of playing with others. In both cases I met other participants that I still keep in contact with. Two of us eventually went out and formed a covers band, which is still playing gigs some 7 years' later. And as for your worries about age? I started bass in my late 40's knowing almost nothing and am now in my mid 50s. There are many others on this forum who are of simlar age or older. In my band we have no-one younger than 40. OK, we play covers of 'a certain age', but you can get some fun gigs doing that. 50th and 60th birthday parties have been some of the best gigs we've done! Get yer erse out there wumman![/size]

Depends... If it's a crowd that need a gentle warm-up first (especially if it's a lunchtime gig or a venue that doesn't normally have bands), we start with something mid-paced, such as Van Morrison's "And it Stoned me". If we feel it's time to go in with more impact, we normally do a rocked up version of "Bohemian Like You".

Ah, s***, that's so sad. He was the nearest thing I have to a bass 'hero'. So lets honour his legacy. Raise a glass, get the old Stax tunes out and crank up the volume. I guarantee you'll be grinning within a few minutes... Good on yer, Duck.

I love what Duck does and how he really propels a song. It's interesting to watch his technique though. Thumb coming over the top of the neck. Lots of hand movement. Fretting fingers flailing away. Like many, I was taught to try and eradicate such 'bad' habits and to use minimal, economic movement, etc etc. So whay am I not a better player than Duck? Just goes to show, whatever works is whatever works...

STOP IT! ALL OF YOU!! I'm trying to get some work done here and everytime another clip gets posted my productivity dries up to nothing. If my kids go hungry next month it's all your fault...

So, where have you hidden Wayne this time?

[quote name='JPS' timestamp='1334340625' post='1614956'] Having a bit of a Stax fix at the moment. Can't Turn You Loose by Otis Redding, Who's Makin Love by Johnny Taylor and What A Man by Linda Lydell. [/quote] Me too. I've been doing "Knock on Wood" and "Soul Man". We already do "What A Man" - underrated song, great funky bassline. I love how these Stax arrangements are both melodic and driving while still leaving 'space' (for want of a more accurate description). I'm also still working on "I want you back". Got the notes down, all I have to do now is sound like I mean it! Oh and the singer now wants to transpose it to E which will trash the line on a four string...