Bilbo

Try practising in the dark Or whilst wearing varifocals You'll soon figure it out!

I'm all aquiver with anticipation.....

[quote name='Crazykiwi' post='312951' date='Oct 23 2008, 01:31 PM']I personally have enough problems dealing with a 6 string. For me the biggest difference between a 5 and a 6 is that the 6 sits on my body in such a way that its difficult to see the fingerboard. So a lot of the note choice for me relies on muscle memory - effectively I'm playing blind! I can't even begin to imagine the confusion that a 7 or 9 string would cause me.[/quote] Most reading musicians on most instruments do so without looking at the instrument they are playing and, as such, are reliant upon muscle memory so this is not a credible argument against ERBs. My argument is that the physical demands of the wide neck militates against the effective execution of much that would warrant the effort. My earlier 'I am still waiting' comment relates to a previously expressed willingness to accept the potential of these instruments but I have yet to hear anything played on an ERB that I would consider sufficiently beautiful enough to justify the effort and expense of their production. The day I hear something that moves me (rather than impresses me), I will salute the ERB as an instrument that has come of age. Until then, I consider it to be nothing more than a curiosity.

Still waiting.......

Miles Davis used to say that noboby knows what it does but you sure miss it if it isn't there. Sometimes its like astronomy; you don't see what you are looking for but evidence that it is there. The doubled guitar parts or piano parts may be higher in the mix but the bass is underpinning them and its absence would be obvious if it was not there. Sometimes you can recognise the required notes because of the piano or guitar voicings and the harmonic movement in a piece. In a nutshell, what you are experiencing is the subtlety of our shared instrument. The Victor Wooten/Marcus Miller/Jaco stuff is great; in your face, high in the mix, can't miss it kind of bass playing but most bass playing is much more sophisticated in terms of its place in the music and it takes a practised ear to locate it. But keep trying. Its a bit like those 'magic eye' pictures; once you have learned to see it you can't not!

[quote name='Merton' post='308132' date='Oct 16 2008, 08:32 PM']I'd try Charlie Chandler's Guitar Experience in Hampton Wick to get hold of Paul Herman there, or get another contact no. for him [/quote] What's the chances of this: Paul once fixed my bass and I have gigged with him (Paul is a great guitar player) and Charlie, who I only met once, was my line manager's partner (I used to manage a Probation Hostel in Kew which is near Hampton Wick. In fact, I got promoted to a Senior Probation Officer because Charlie's partner was carrying his child!). Small world!

Good for you - just take it slow and don't damage your hands like wot I did!!

Did you know Plonk is an anagram of Pkonl which is Russian for Pkonl? Welcome on board

{ardon? But seriously, I dealt with it another way. I got everyone to turn down. Radical, eh?

[quote name='casapete' post='308620' date='Oct 17 2008, 02:28 PM']Just great to see players supporting the songs, not afraid of leaving space where required etc.[/quote] Not on my watch

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Strange New Flesh - great LP - 'Down To You' was a favourite! That was when Gary Moore was sounding great and not generic!

Mark Levine's ' The Jazz Theory Book' has it all. You don't need to buy anything else. And all of the examples are evidenced with references to tunes. For cds, just try your local library and ask around' everybody has a copy of Kind of Blue (except you, obviously )!! If I can help at all, PM me. I have mountains of this stuff.

Long before he hit the mainstream with Whitesnake, Gary Moore etc, Murray was the bass player with a UK jazz rock group called National Health. He has some quite credible fusion chops hiding behind the hair and his ability to nail that gig at short notice comes as no surprise. [url="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Health"]http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Health[/url]

[quote name='Happy Jack' post='306382' date='Oct 14 2008, 04:37 PM']Do they do an Ampeg 810 version?[/quote] Fcuk me! How big are your cows?

[quote name='thedontcarebear' post='306306' date='Oct 14 2008, 03:24 PM']Looks like a Fender amp to me? Do you sit on a Fender Amp to milk your cows?[/quote] Best way to get a good sound out of one

Has he still got the gig? Some great music being played on there. Cuban, Salsa, Rumba....

How is THAT in any way cool? Looks like something you'd sit on to milk Daisy!

My first amp was a Carlsboro Cobra 60W - piece of junk.

Nothing crazy, agroupuk, just practice. One finger after the other and repeat 1,000,000 times and you'll have it. It's not rocket science, just incremental. No easy fix, just time.

Looks like a bug splat to me Not my cup of tea but its 'original'!!

My first ever gig was Gillan at Cardiff Top Rank on the Glory Road tour supported by White Spirit (inc Janick Gers on guitar) and a band called Quartz. Remember when the bands used to do 30 date UK tours in the little clubs with support bands like Diamond Head and Trust and Rose Tattoo? I used to see some quality stuff then. Now the name bands all do 4 nights at Brimingham NEC, Wembley Arena, Manchester Apollo and sod all else. Shame for the little people who can't afford £100 for a night out. Rock On!!

Try sight singing - learning to read music without an instrument and using your voice. Its hard but you can get skills that will make you the most employable bloke in Gloucester (!!??)

So he has good days and bad. Me too (grrrr!!)