Jam

[quote name='johnny_frog' post='1091790' date='Jan 16 2011, 08:39 PM']how about zz top gimme all your loving ?
nice easy chord changes, good solid rhythm[/quote]

Ah good call, he likes ZZ top!

Do you play fingerstyle or with a pic?

My dad's expressed an interest in starting to play bass, and I'm really looking forward to trying to help him learn, but for some reason I can't think of any songs that are easy enough for a [i]complete [/i]beginner? Bearing in mind he has to cope with fingerstyle playing, fretting, reading tab etc.

He likes Deep Purple, Hendrix, Led Zep, Rod Stewart, Motown, that sort of thing.

Does anyone have any experience helping family members learn bass? I expect some frustration from both sides along the way!

[quote name='thatgrantboy' post='1086482' date='Jan 12 2011, 10:39 AM']Hello to the basschat forum! Been browsing for a fair bit, so finally decided to join up to share my views and whatnot, and take advantage of what seems like a thriving sales section!
Not to mention some of the chat in the manufacturers section has me GASing for some sparkly new gear that I can't afford

So Hi...I'm Grant

A breakdown of my gear list is in my sig, but I'll be upgrading my main rig soon![/quote]

Croeso (Is that right?) Grant, enjoy the forum

Oh god I want it I want it I want it I want it I want it I want it I want it I want it I want it!

Can't justify having one though, too many basses as it is :/

I managed to go through the bass clef with:

[url="http://www.studybass.com/tools/bass-clef-notes/"]http://www.studybass.com/tools/bass-clef-notes/[/url]

today when I had a spare few minutes. Great practice if you don't have a bass to hand..

[quote name='Doctor J' post='1085369' date='Jan 11 2011, 12:24 PM']Might as well introduce [b]Acrid Nebula[/b] - we're plying a trade in original heavy, riff-laden Metal. Probably more of a 70's and 80's influence in our sound, the drummer and I have been in bands for almost 20 years each. We're not too concerned about sticking rigidly to one style of Metal, we've been described as doom, death and thrash metal in equal measure, even death 'n' roll though I don't know what that is. There are no screechy vocals and no dragon slayings here. We write the music we like and that's all that matters. Despite being a bassist first and foremost, I play guitar in this band so I can guarantee it being free from guitar w***

We've got everything we've recorded available for free on our website - [url="http://www.acridnebula.com"]http://www.acridnebula.com[/url] - there's an mp3 player up there to for those who just want a casual listen and our previous demo and E.P. can be downloaded for free. This year we're going to put out an album and continue gigging around the country, hopefully get over to gig in the UK this year too.

We'll be playing with fellow Basschatters - Castero - in Nenagh on the 28th. You should all come along.[/quote]

Had a quick listen, like what I hear so far dude, good stuff!

...nothing wrong with dragon slaying though...!

I have one, I like it but as others have said it lacks that oomph, which I believe is down to the electronics. Scratches and shows fingerprints terribly and digs into your arm as people have said, but has a good range of tones.

Enthusiasm 99%
Musical Perception 100%
Emotional Connection 100%
Social Creativity 96%
Musical Curiosity 99%
[attachment=68403:Screen_s...23.04.10.png]

I have a feeling this isn't entirely accurate..

[quote name='Bilbo' post='1084279' date='Jan 10 2011, 02:45 PM']You are learning to [i]read[/i] not to [i]play[/i]. If you are on a gig, you don't get a second chance but what you do get is to get used to the process of transferring what you see to what you do with yoiur hands. If you keep stopping and going back, you are focussing on the [i]content [/i]and not the [i]process[/i] of reading. Best reading lesson I ever had, with a guy called Dan Quinton from Otis Grand and the Dance Kings, was him putting new stuff in front of me one after the other without any breaks for half an hour. If I stalled, he took the chart away and put another one up, no comment. Completeley exhausting but a massive learning experience.[/quote]

Christ that sounds brutal, but very logical. I made a mistake playing the other day, and like other people have mentioned, I've gone back to fix it. Gonna approach reading with this in mind from now on, cheers!

Nice! I enjoyed that.

This thread has been interesting reading. I'd quite like a Bongo at some point, I played one and initially thought it looked like a toilet seat but it was a joy to play. Maybe one day.

Outstanding, I love your playing, especially your Metallica covers, and your bassfaces . How long have you been playing? Jealous of your chops!

[quote name='thumperbob 2002' post='1084107' date='Jan 10 2011, 12:25 PM']Or just strive to go through every song in In the Shadows of Motown!! You`ll be there at the end!!

Bob[/quote]

That's my ultimate goal in all of this! I WILL be able to read the pieces in that book!

[quote name='timtoomany' post='1084031' date='Jan 10 2011, 11:12 AM']I've also found that saying the note out loud as I play it is a good way of reinforcing the learning, although it makes me feel like an idiot.[/quote]
Cheers Tim, I've taken to trying to sing the note as I play it too, so don't feel too silly!

[quote name='silddx' post='1084005' date='Jan 10 2011, 10:44 AM']I'm doing the same thing, with the same book. My opinion is quite contrary to your own. Stick with it, it is the sort of thing that requires much repetition and there are few shortcuts. It's only boring if you can't see your progress.[/quote]

Yeah, I think I just need to keep at it, I can see progress which is a start.. Baby steps!

[quote name='endorka' post='1083855' date='Jan 10 2011, 02:29 AM']Frank gives good advice - I remember reading somewhere that your ability to remember things you are trying to learn starts to fade after 20 minutes of practice, so it is advisable when doing practice that involves any kind of memorizing to only work in 20 minute sessions. Even taking a ten minute break between sessions will help.

Everyone is different, but three hours a day for this type of practice is almost certainly too much. Sure it can be done, but the law of diminishing returns quickly sets in as your ability to retain what you have learned vanishes.

Jennifer[/quote]

Yes, I think you're right. I just got so engrossed in it, and as I felt I was making some progress I just carried on. I imagine small bursts daily will help more than one huge cram once a week anyway, I need to get a schedule set up!

I've stuck some Steve Harris Sig flatwound Rotos on my bass, they sound fantastic. I expect I only paid a little extra for them as they've got his name on it.

I have a feeling they're only normal roto flats with his logo on the box but I'm pleased with how they sound.

[quote name='paul_5' post='1083658' date='Jan 9 2011, 09:55 PM']If you want to concentrate on note pitches (which dot/line) and don't necessarily want to focus on the rhythms or note lengths, then why not try "JS Bach for Bass" from the same guy?.
*Edit* The book comes with a CD that is fairly shocking - you have been warned*[/quote]

I have that book too, I bought them both together but I thought it would be a better idea to work through the other book first! What's wrong with the cd?

[quote name='Doddy' post='1083647' date='Jan 9 2011, 09:46 PM']That's a good book.
While it's nice to read a melody,at this stage I think it's more important to actually become competent with recognising the notes.
It might be me,but if you are not comfortable yet,I don't know how it can be boring.You've still got plenty to do from that book.
If you want a change,find some simple transcriptions where you can apply what you learn[/quote]

I think you're probably right, I just need to keep at it. 3 hours of pretty constant working-through has burnt me out. I feel a little more confident with some notes on the stave, just gotta stick at it I suppose.



[quote name='stingrayPete1977' post='1083662' date='Jan 9 2011, 10:00 PM']I am going to get this book as it sounds better than the one I have (the MI one) I'm always so busy playing to learn how to read , the irony! I keep having a look and doing a bit I wonder how the rest of the bass clef YTS are doing it's gone very quiet? Have you played the bass clef game Jam? (by the way I'm doing this on my iPod with 2 cavaliers on my lap! Jam knows what I'm on about )[/quote]

I would, despite my original post, recommend it. The exercises aren't exactly exciting but I can see progress, albeit slowly

Lucky you with your cavaliers, I remember you saying you'd taken one in. I hope they're well, I'm jealous!

I decided as a resolution I would learn to read standard notation this year, and have finally found time tonight to sit down and get stuck in. I've spent 3 hours going through Josquin Des Pres's "Simplified Sight Reading for Bass".

My brain is utterly fried, I'm not too bad with the rhythm side of things for the moment, and I'm working on actually reading the dots (as the first half of the book is about 100 different rhythms all played on the same note :/ ).

Question is, is there a better book I can use? This one is doing my head in, the exercises are so boring. It's not that it's not a challenge, perhaps I'm just tired.

I've been out of the country but am following up various emails/Pms. Thanks for your help!

[quote name='oldslapper' post='1075870' date='Jan 2 2011, 10:57 PM']Jam, if you're looking for reading & theory in particular at this time, and you can't find a decent bass tutor in your area, then go to a piano teacher......seriously.[/quote]

Hmm I'd never thought about that, if I can't find anyone perhaps that'll be the route to take!

Why is it, in somewhere like Oxford with a young music scene along with scores of academics, is it so hard to find a decent bass teacher that isn't just a guitar teacher teaching bass on the side?

I've met a few good teachers, one in particular who focuses mostly on Jamerson material who is a phenomenal teacher, but he can't take me on at the moment. I was looking to get a good handle on theory (and reading in particular) in the New Year but I now have to find someone else.

Has anyone here had a lesson with a guitarist teaching bass? I'm reluctant to do so...I'm sure there are good teachers but I'd much rather learn from someone with bass as their primary instrument..

[quote name='Jean-Luc Pickguard' post='1074059' date='Dec 31 2010, 11:12 PM']Proper music!

I assume you have Mr Friedlands excellent book on some of the players:

[url="http://www.amazon.co.uk/Bass-Masters-Way-They-Play/dp/0879308699"]R&B Bass Masters: The Way They Play by Ed Friedland[/url]

[/quote]


Would you recommend that over Standing in the Shadows of Motown?

I would love to hear your rendition of Fade to Black (I presume the Metallica song?). Especially with a harp player!