Jam

I like Songsterr but sometimes (usually while loading a 10 minute Opeth song) it freezes on me and I have to restart firefox. Useful for getting the gist of a song/rhythm, but I wouldn't imagine the transcriptions are perfect!

Steve Harris, the bass player from Iron Maiden writes all of their songs. What a hero!

I wish I could play flamenco..

[quote name='gaz66' timestamp='1326142216' post='1492950'] If you do go, bear in mind its very expensive so the promoter must provide everything..... prices can go up to £18 a pint ! [/quote] £18 a pint? Where have you been drinking?!

I enjoyed that Malmsteen video. Interesting points about clapping. It[i] really[/i] winds me up when people clap when there's no need. Especially morons on programmes like Xfactor or britain's got "talent" that whoop and clap/stand up when someone sings/does something "talented" while they're[i] still performing. [/i]Tv for morons. Still, I like Wooten, he seems like a really nice guy and he is a talented guy. He's pushed the boundaries of solo bass , and I guess he has to do that stuff for the bass playing audience who go to those things. His playing doesn't grab me, as such, but I can appreciate what he does. It would be nice to have that much talent!

I love your way with words Nigel!

[quote name='lowdown' timestamp='1325946444' post='1490199'] It was more to do with the [color=#282828][font=helvetica, arial, sans-serif]bureaucracy and time it could take.[/font][/color] [/quote] Japan is all about bureaucracy, especially paperwork. I guess you could blag it if you had just your bass but if you came with an amp, a drummer and his kit, etc, they'd start asking questions and I imagine you'd be stuck in the airport for hours.

I haven't gigged there but I have lived there for a number of years. I think a lot of people gig on a tourist visa, though I don't know if I'd personally want to risk it. I don't think they'd deport you though. Let me know if you have any language questions or anything you need translated.

I started out playing violin in year 3, I played for about a year but I hated it, my teacher was so strict and looking back, probably not great for teaching kids. After that, I picked up the piano (strong arms!) in about year 8 and played for about 2 years, but due to studies I couldn't focus on both so that fell by the wayside. It was only in 6th form that one of my guitar-playing friends suggested I might enjoy bass. I mentioned it to my brother and he surprised me with a bass for my 18th birthday When I spent a year abroad in Japan I found an odd looking flute at a flea market, and long story short, that's how I started playing the shakuhachi. I've since been playing for about 5 or 6 years, and I love it just as much as bass. I'd quite like to go back to piano but with bass/shakuhachi as well as work and training, I don't think I'd be able to commit. I also want to play the banjo, the western flute and the uilleann pipes. Too many instruments, not enough time (or skill)!

Wilkommen im Forum!

Yep, going through a similar thing now with our new singer. Good on you mate, it's a wonderful feeling!

Like my profile thingy over there <----- says, I've also played shakuhachi (which is a Japanese end-blown bamboo flute) for the last 5/6 years. Very different to bass but I love it just as much!

Ball of Confusion by the Temptations is pretty much the same all the way through, good fun to play!

Run with us : Lisa Lougheed http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UXFX369O7Gc

Great bass playing, I especially enjoy Lateralus, Schism and 46 & 2.

Ooh pretty!

I'll have the free bass, is it a 4 stringer? Damn, wrong spelling.

Tasty!

I've got nothing but praise for warwick, though I've only ever played mine and a thumb (which was amazing). I have an Orange Terror Bass amp, which I got because my lower back was getting a bit sore lugging huge amps around, I'd recommend that too!

Sounds good! I knew a guy at school who had a 4 string Ergodyne in orange, it looked beautiful but I never got round to playing it. My favourite bass is my Warwick Corvette $$, which I got from Silddx on here. I've been through a couple though, have a Status S2 and a Fender Aerodyne, but nothing compares to the Warwick!