Jam

Looking for a new singer, have found someone locally who plays bass and guitar as well as singing, and on their profile they have to state their proficiency on their instruments. Guitar: Intermediate, Vocals: Lead, Bass: Expert. As far as I can tell from their blurb they've only been playing bass about 4/5 years...I've been playing for twice that and I still feel like a complete beginner... Stupidly, I'm quite annoyed! What about you guys, do you consider yourself an "expert"?

We're still auditioning singers, our last singer left for "Family reasons", turns out she fancied the (married) guitarist, though that horrific maelstrom is another story.. Anyway we had a guy get in touch with us through joinmyband, he was a really nice guy, a bit younger than us (I was 25, he was 18) but he had similar musical influences so we thought he'd be good to go. We'd sent him the list of covers to learn, and he said he was ok with them.. I pick him up for practice and he's a really nice chap, chatty but a little nervous. We get to the practice room and he starts looking really furtive, we play a few songs and he looks really lost, so we gently try and coax him into singing, "no pressure man, no problem". He's not singing anything though, so we ask him if he minds if we have a little jam, and if he wants to join in with some singing then to feel free. We get this crunchy riff going and then out of nowhere he just grabs the mike and growls "WORRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRGHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH". He seems a bit more at ease, but then stops any noise. We go back to the cover, 2 Minutes to Midnight by Iron Maiden, and he tries to sing, goes bright red and then shouts "ARGH FOR GOD SAKE", throws his lyrics sheet on the floor and storms outside. Comes back in 5 minutes later and says "sorry, I got annoyed with myself". We try again, and he shouts at himself again. Called it a night there... Not the singer for us, the drive home was awkward. "So how was I?" " When will I hear from you?". Shame really as he was such a nice guy when he wasn't trying to sing.

I'm the opposite of these supposed "guitards", I'm one of those bassists who tries to play the guitarist's guitar and ends up playing basslines! I'm tempted to start playing, my brother has a few guitars around the house and we have a couple of amps, I'm just worried I'm going to be a jack of all trades and master of none, I already play bass and shakuhachi seriously, and am dabbling in bodhran and mandolin...

I've been playing bass for about 8 years, and while I love it, recently I've felt more and more like I'd like to be able to play guitar too. My favourite band is Opeth, and while their bassist is amazing, the more I listen to them, the more I wish I'd chosen guitar instead all those years ago. Do you guys think it'd be worthwhile learning guitar too? Is it worth starting on acoustic and moving to electric, or the other way around? I realise their guitar stuff is difficult to play but it's so beautiful (IMO, obviously...). Example: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qa65embWO1Y

I've since got a new bridge for my 19th century mandolin and have spent a few days learning some bits and bobs. Mandolin chords are tough! Going back to bass after those tiny frets is such a relief! Still, fun

I've been told in order to play bodhran properly you should never use a book, you should teach yourself. Mind you, I've also read that the best way to play a bodhran is with a very sharp knife..

Any other Bodhran/frame drum players on here? I have a bodhran I picked up from a car boot sale years ago, have recently dug it out (since seeing the Fureys a few weeks ago) and have started learning to play it "properly", ie: with a book/cd accompaniment. It's so much fun! First time playing a percussion instrument apart from Taiko, though that was only for a few days...

Thanks for the heads up, I'll check those groups out. Personally, I prefer the more up-tempo songs, the instrumental jigs and reels rather than the ballads, which can be quite saccharine.

I had the pleasure of seeing The Fureys at the weekend, and I must say it was one of the best gigs I've been to in ages. There's one song in particular that I've not been able to stop listening to since, and here it is: [media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=psVCsnDXVA0[/media] I have a Bodhran somewhere, and a mandolin I'm getting repaired, and this makes me want to play so much! Bass player was very good, also played the keyboard and tin whistle in certain songs, though I did wonder why he wore his bass round his neck like that, it looks very uncomfortable. Any other Fureys fans here? I'm looking to try and get into more Irish music, other than the Fureys and the Dubliners, where's a good place to start?

Bit of mandolin porn! It still needs work but it's beautiful looking (in my opinion, obviously...) [attachment=104953:DSC07177.JPG] [attachment=104954:DSC07181.JPG]

I have just come into possession of a mandolin, it's lovely! I don't know where to start, will try the mandolin cafe. The frets are so small!

Awesome. I wish I could play harmonica well. Wish I could play bass well too!

[media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=78go6Ym3VOk[/media] Colin Edwin from Porcupine Tree. [media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3UpH3qhP_UE[/media] Martin Mendez from Opeth. Two of my biggest influences!

That song turns me on too.

I love this guy's playing. Especially his version of Creeping Death by Metallica.

[quote name='TRBboy' timestamp='1330272132' post='1554956'] Can any of you guys recommend what CD a Rammstein virgin should start with? [/quote] Mutter and Sehnsucht are very good, my personal favourite is Herzeleid. I'd suggest though that you get their new "best of" which is called "Made in Germany".

Just got back from Birmingham. Still the best band I've ever seen live. Definitely not a gig, more of a show. Outstanding. And they played my favourite song, Asche zu Asche!

[quote name='silddx' timestamp='1329950059' post='1550404'] This is the thing. Bruno Mars is not dross, he is almost completely derivative, saying nothing new, but he IS very good at what he does. However, all the geezers on here saying he's great would probably have a vastly different opinion if he was the winner of X-Factor, which is what he sounds like. [/quote] As ever, you've hit the nail on the head. The lyrics that pander to teenage girls are what get to me more than anything else.

I thought the bass playing was quite interesting, it's Bruno Mars that I think is dross.

I think if I had to play that dross, I'd try and make it as much fun for myself as possible.

I have an MX2, similar looking but less stingray esque. Really hard to find any info on it at all!

[quote name='ChristopherGilbert' timestamp='1329813841' post='1547627'] Funny. It was bands like Opeth that made me want to pick up the bass. [/quote] Don't get me wrong, I really enjoy playing Opeth songs on bass. Saying that, some of the guitar work on their stuff is really beautiful. Bleak/Drapery Falls and the Lines in my hand are the ones I enjoy playing most on bass though. What about you?

[quote name='RhysP' timestamp='1329780636' post='1547423'] The two bands you mention in your post are probably my favourite bands. I'd love to be able to play guitar like the Opeth guys. The Porcupine Tree stuff isn't that difficult really - it's the arrangements that make their stuff interesting. [/quote] You have outstanding taste in music Did you know Wilson and Akerfeldt are collaborating and have put together a cd? They're calling themselves "Storm Corrosion" and it'll be out in April. Personally, I can't wait! Probably something else to make me wish I could play guitar!

We played a horrible gig in Oxford a few weeks ago. Lots of pretentious hipster types and wannabe Jack Johnsons. Once we'd finished playing we were out of the door in 1 minute, the guitarist's car was round the corner. Out of the house at 7:30 and back home by 9. Never again!

Does anyone else here who just plays bass ever think about picking up the 6 string too? I've been listening to a lot of Porcupine Tree and Opeth recently and those two bands in particular always make me wish I'd picked up guitar instead of (or as well as) bass. Examples: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rxlHRbi1wT4 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=El9DWtYvOuQ Anything that makes you guys want to play guitar? I wouldn't know where to start with guitar, and I feel like I should get more proficient on the bass before I start making horrible noises on another instrument too.