Gazza 2905

I assume that most of us have been in this situation at least once in our bass playing lives. A friend comes round to your house one evening and they know you play bass, or maybe they spy one of your basses in the corner of the room. So they say to you:- [i]"Go on, - play me something"......[/i] Now, being a bass, you can't just trot out a load of songs like you can, on say, the guitar. So, I was wondering: What do you guys play when you want to impress someone?

I've been messing about lately leaving fingerprints all over the dusty end of the neck. - In other words, I've been exploring the upper reaches (quite literally, as it happens) of the fretboard. Now, it seems to me that it is not so easy to use ones pinky higher up the neck. Particularly on the E string, I find it almost impossible to fret, say, a G at the 15th fret with my index finger, then a Bb at the 18th fret with my pinky. Now, I know that the Bb is available elsewhere on the neck, but I'm talking here about practising scales, for example, and trying to use the same fingering pattern as you would lower down the neck. And also the fact that your arm moves in closer to your body, seems to change the natural angle of the wrist, which just adds to the problem. Maybe it's because I have small hands, (my pinky is only 65mm long), but it just seems to me that there are some notes you just can't reach with your pinky! Am I right in this assumption?

[quote name='Wilco' post='1223971' date='May 8 2011, 11:08 AM']Three brilliant basses - I couldn't pick a favourite, they're all gorgeous! I would say they definitely should [b][i]all[/i][/b] be keepers - a trio of excellent basses in your mums memory is even better than just the one.[/quote] Absolutely right! My sincere condolences for your loss. Gary.

Bought an Ibanez BTB 475 from Phil earlier today, a very friendly chap, and incredibly hospitable. Spent about an hour chatting, a real pleasure, - well worth the trip. Previously Phil had answered all my questions very promptly, and even took some extra photos for me, and when I went to look at the bass, it was exactly as he had described it. All in all, a really top bloke, I would have absolutely no hesitation in buying from him again, or in recommending him to anyone else here on the forum. Nice one Phil, - thanks. Gary.

[quote]A simple exercise is to play chromatically C,C#,D,D# (or wherever you like),so you start with your index finger and place each finger down in succession(assuming you are playing finger-per-fret),so when you play D# all four fingers are down. To descend, simply take off each finger until you are back to playing C with your index finger.[/quote] Yes, like so many others I've practiced that particular exercise, going up chromatically, - then back down again. It's just that I struggle a bit when I try to go straight to a descending chromatic run, from say, a riff, or something where my fingers are not already 'in position', so to speak. Thanks for the advice though guys, I'll keep practicing!

I've been struggling with this for a while now, & I'd welcome any advice on this one please. Basically, I'm not sure how to play a descending chromatic run correctly. Now, I know that when I play an[i] ascending [/i]chromatic run I can play the first note with my index finger, then place the remaining fingers onto the fretboard in sequence, as I play the other notes, & end up with all my fingers touching the fretboard at the same time. But, when I play a descending chromatic run; for example, if I play 7th fret, then 6th fret, then 5th fret on the A string, should I try to do the reverse of this? In other words, place, in this case, 3 fingers onto the fretboard simultaneously, then lift them off one at a time as I play the relevant notes? Although I find this difficult, if I don't do it this way, when I play the first note (with my third finger), I tend to end up with the index finger, & others, flapping & hanging away from the fretboard; & that looks awkward & messy! Over analysing probably, I know, but any technical advice would be greatly appreciated. Many thanks, Gary.

Thanks for all the replies everyone. I think I'll just have to try one for myself, - it's the only way I'll find out if it suits me. Thanks again, Gary.

Hello everyone, this is my first question on the forum, - so be gentle with me please! My girlfriend asked me the other day: "What would you like for Christmas?" And my immediate reply was: "Another Bass, please!" Now, I've been playing for about a year so far, having decided to try & master the bass, as best I can, after several previous failed attempts! And I thought that an acoustic bass might offer me something different, & would be a worthwhile addition to my growing collection! However, I have a couple of questions. Firstly, as there is no pickup to rest your right thumb on when playing, do you have to make any changes to the way you play? And secondly, the few acoustic basses that I have seen so far seem to have a 32" scale length, is this the case with all acoustics? as I am used to a 35" scale length. I play only for fun, so no intention of gigging etc.. but I would welcome any general advice that anyone could give me on this matter. So if anyone out there has an acoustic bass they love to play, please tell me what I'm missing out on. After all, if she buys me one, & it ends up sat in the corner gathering dust, - I'll never hear the last of it! Many thanks, Gary.