SaxxyBass

[quote name='Bilbo' post='1085567' date='Jan 11 2011, 02:58 PM'].... That's why I like jazz. It makes the journey with you. The further out you need to go, the further it will allow you. Doing covers 'accurately' is more of a static thing and fails to move with you into new listening territory.[/quote] Ditto

Jazz is extremely varied in different styles - standards, bebop, modal, blues, funk and fusion etc. It really doesn't mean you only have to play one jazz style - I have found it has helped me immensely to explore more interesting ways of playing [b]all[/b] genres, jazz, funk, blues, rock, soul etc etc

I don't know if this would help but I started out on Sax with this Jamey Aebersold play-along [url="http://www.musicroom.com/se/ID_No/055847/details.html"]http://www.musicroom.com/se/ID_No/055847/details.html[/url] There is some really useful info about commonly used jazz scales and chords at the beginning and numbers are set out a bit like lead sheets with the chord changes above - so you know what scale to aim to use notes from ie D-7, G7, Cmajor7 etc. Hope that helps.

[quote name='Huwberry' post='1067851' date='Dec 23 2010, 03:26 PM']A couple of mistakes, but I didn't want to spend too much time on it: [/quote] Wow - brilliantly played! one of my favourites too - my ambition is to be able to play this song one day, but I don't think I'll be playing when I'm 80 years old somehow! - it'll take me that long to get there! I'm pretty ancient now and only just started playing bass Sorry I have nothing to post!

Thought I'd pop in this thread and say hi as I am said student looking forward to those other exercises when you do them, Yesterday I did lots of major/minor/blues scales to try and learn my fretboard notes you'll be pleased to hear! I got some Blues playalong books in which the chords are given - very useful for giving ideas (on a non-standard 12 bar) for those interesting linking notes in the walking line - was playing for 1.5 hours yesterday poor Sax didn't get a look in

Sorry to hear this - I do know that it is a problem for some woodwind musicians too with their hands and their embouchures. Wasn't there someone on this forum who has it and wears a silk glove? He put up some youtube tutorials but I can't remember who it was.

Good work! I hope I can play like that one day!

[quote name='icastle' post='1033675' date='Nov 23 2010, 11:00 AM']Whilst resisting the terrible urge to make nautical comments about moving anchors and floating thumbs, perserverence, trial and error will get you the solution that fits you and your style of playing best. Put it this way, give me a saxophone and I'll get a note out of it... eventually, but it'd take me weeks to suss out how to get a tune out of it so you're streets ahead ...sorry I stopped concentrating and the nautical thing came back... [/quote] Eye Eye Cap'n Trouble is I am just very, very impatient! [quote name='mcgraham' post='1033691' date='Nov 23 2010, 11:16 AM']It's an easy mistake to make! Floating thumb has no anchor, the thumb slides across the surface defined by the curvature of the strings. Movable anchor has clearly defined anchor points across that same surface, i.e. the strings themselves. Both are fine, but the former is more energy efficient all things being equal.[/quote] Where do you put your thumb when you play the E sting?

Ah.....I think I'm confusing floating thumb with moveable anchor? I only know about moving my thumb from string to string - ie thumb on pickup for E and A strings (fingers muting both as necessary as I walk them) then thumb on the E string for the D string (fingers muting the A and D as necessary as I walk them) and thumb on the A for the G string only (fingers muting D and G as necessary as I walk them). I had a go at this last night and although changing string was a bit slow and I had to think about it it did start to improve - moving down a string was not a problem but coming back up was - and all my coordination went awry! I will keep at it though as I want to get it sorted now instead of having to change it all later.

[quote name='thisnameistaken' post='1033217' date='Nov 22 2010, 09:36 PM']Well no that wasn't the angle I was coming from but I'm not going to tell you that you're wrong. I do often have to play very cleanly because I'm using an analogue octaver which will choke on the slightest hint of noise and often I'm up front in a mix or playing intros like that and so on, but I get away without using floating arms or whatever. So does Victor Wooten and he's quite well-regarded in bass anorak circles. Not to mention Pastorius, etc. I think you'll naturally start muting where you need to mute without really having to put any effort into thinking about it. And I am a big fan of solutions that don't involve doing any work or thinking.[/quote] I'll get on with enjoying it then (because I've been getting all tense about it!) and hopefully it will come naturally when I need it!

[quote name='thisnameistaken' post='1033070' date='Nov 22 2010, 07:12 PM']I wouldn't stress about learning the so-called "floating thumb" picking technique. Hardly anybody uses it because it's an over-engineered solution to a non-problem.[/quote] Do you think that's because under normal playing conditions (ie youre not doing a harmonic melodic solo) no one would notice any unwanted sound? If that's the case I'll carry on with what I'm doing (cos it's easier )

[quote name='icastle' post='1032513' date='Nov 22 2010, 12:57 PM']I think that's perhaps very likely. I can remember thinking "there's no way I'm ever going to manage to do that" and nowadays I have to go and pick up an instrument to remind myself just what it is that I do because it's become automatic and I no longer think about it. On the other hand that could just be senility of course... [/quote] So true - same with me on the Sax! And yes could be that with me too

Thanks for your suggestions. I had a stroke some years back and it's difficult to explain but I have altered sensation in my skin and the fine coordination in my arm isn't up to scratch (luckily my hand is unaffected), so when I try to use floating thumb I'm finding it difficult to find the correct string quickly enough. I am supporting my lower arm on the bass, but because the skin is a bit numb it just feels more secure having my thumb anchored in the same place - having said that it might just feel awkard to everybody at first? I think I'll go and look up John Patitucci and Janek Gwizdala and try mcgrahams second suggestion - muting with the ring and little finger as that way I can leave my thumb where it is and see how that goes.

Hi all, I'm finding my way round my bass quite well now and have no problem muting open strings with my left hand if necessary but I'm having a bit of a problem with string muting if my left hand is fairly busy. I can't do floating thumb as I need to anchor my thumb on the pickup because I have a permanent problem with my arm - hand is fine just the arm (long story!) So for instance If I'm playing a blues progression and I need to mute the strings that are not in use I'm struggling a bit. I'm fine muting using each finger individually as I "walk" them, I'm doing that quite naturally but then if I move up to play the D and G strings then the E and A strings can ring out - any suggestions how to mute them with my right hand without taking my thumb off its anchor?

[quote name='barneyg42' post='1031142' date='Nov 21 2010, 08:23 AM']Living on a Prayer-Bon Jovi. Did this for the first time last night and instant dancing was produced! The Chain is in our setlist and one of my favourites, not just because of the F1 bass solo at the end but I love the vocals. Did a gig a while back and a guy came up to me afterwards and said " I loved the way you put the F1 theme at the end of that song, did you just decide to do that tonight as a jam or have you done it before!" I nearly choked on my beer! But he was -30 years old so probably had genuinly never heard the song before. Made I larrf though it did![/quote] Brilliant! [quote name='Shambo' post='1031171' date='Nov 21 2010, 09:49 AM']...Wha about Around The World by Daft Punk?[/quote] Brilliant track! Here's one that ppl may not know (certainly not the average man on the street - their loss IMO ) - but umistakeable opening bass line [url="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T3zbnkaP3QE"]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T3zbnkaP3QE[/url]

[quote name='icastle' post='1030680' date='Nov 20 2010, 06:15 PM']Obviously keeping some semblance of self control though... I saw it get totally out of hand back in the mid 90's and the world has to endure Riverdance ever since... [/quote] [quote name='Mr. Foxen' post='1030818' date='Nov 20 2010, 08:10 PM']Keep time by thrusting your crotch. It's not Doom, but it is awesome and manly. I sometimes find I'm standing on one leg and swinging the other one like a pendulum, playing pretty slow stuff though, heavy boots make it slower.[/quote] Ooeer! think I'll just tap my foot in a womanly fashion

[quote name='steve-soar' post='1030935' date='Nov 20 2010, 10:35 PM']It certainly was.[/quote] I love that track....now I know why

Miles Davis' "So What" (for the average jazz man on the street ) Enjoy [url="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P4TbrgIdm0E"]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P4TbrgIdm0E[/url]

[quote name='Doddy' post='1030365' date='Nov 20 2010, 01:04 PM']The dot doesn't make it twice it's note value-it's half it's note value again. So a dotted crotchet is a crotchet and a quaver length.[/quote] Yes I know I actually re-read what I put and corrected it before I read your post - honest!

[quote name='stingrayPete1977' post='1030358' date='Nov 20 2010, 12:58 PM']I like the bit " the symbol for a tie is identicle to a slur and confuses some students" Well it will then! All in good time.......[/quote] Yes it is confusing - a slur would mean you use legato or as smoothly as possible for several notes which change pitch but a tie is usually used on one note of the same pitch to lengthen it - hth Edit Doddy beat me to it! Also get yourself a copy of the Associated Board Guide to Music Theory Part 1

[quote name='silddx' post='1030334' date='Nov 20 2010, 12:34 PM']Christ, that's good! Can someone explain tied notes to me please? The only point I can see for them is to make it possible for a note length with a dot to go down to a further fraction. Is that right?[/quote] Is the dot at the side? that dot will take the note to 1.5 its note value and if it's tied to the next note as well then you keep the note going for that value too so ie a crotchet with a dot beside which is tied to another crotchet = a crotchet beat plus a quaver beat + a crotchet beat. hope that makes sense! Edit - because I got it wrong!

This stuff is right up my street I'm a big Incognito fan - very similar feel

I find myself tapping my foot with the bass but never with the Sax because it jogs the mouthpiece and ruins my intonation! Oh and I meant to say - I think you should do what feels right for you!

Hi and welcome - I'm a beginner too and they're a very helpful and friendly bunch here

woohoo 1.74 secs Bass Master - getting there!