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Bilbo

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Posts posted by Bilbo

    Neil Peart RIP

    in General Discussion

    Posted

    I read the article and realised that the drummer thing was not the most important element in his story. It was his relationships that were important and, whether we recognise it or not, we all have that in our lives. Things to be be proud of, things we regret but, most importantly, the people to share them with. It's there in all our lives. Some stories are big, some are much smaller but that is simply not the point. Be kind and appreciate who you have. The rest comes from that.

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    Getting Started with Fretless

    in Theory and Technique

    Posted · Edited by Bilbo

    The first thing to remember about playing fretless is that you are probably always going to be out of tune to some degree. Get used to it :lol: I have slightly been out of tune since 86.

    Seriously, though. It is a constant concern. Hearing yourself on stage, making sure your bass is properly intonated, using your ears constantly not your eyes (using a tuner doesn't work EVER as it is always a few seconds behind you and what you are seeing is where you were two seconds ago and not where you are now - also lined fretlesses can be bear traps - don't trust the feckers), understanding that it may not be  you that is out of tune but it may be a saxophonist or singer clashing with the piano or guitar, understanding that there are ways that your tone can play tricks on your ears so you sound out of tune when you are not and in tune when you are out. The 'secret' of good intonation, and, yes, it is not hard to play in tune, is to understand that you NEVER EVER get to the point where it is not a concern. You will never have 'nailed' intonation. It requires your attention FOR THE REST OF YOUR PLAYING CAREER :lol:, not because you are in any way a substandard player but because that is simply how it is with fretless instruments.

    Having played fretless bass with an orchestra (Karl Jenkins' The Peacemakers), I have sat next to a viola section. The simple fact is that, listened to close up, they are all slightly out of tune with each other. Nevertheless, the overall effect is not one of being out of tune but one of a subtle chorusing - the whole is greater than the sum of it's parts. With fretless bass (and double bass), you are constantly making microtonal adjustments to stay on piste. Sometimes this is a slight twist of the knee, at other times, you have one leg in the air and are flailing around like a crazy person. It only really matters if you are recording, otherwise, no-one notices you unless you catch fire.

    • Like 1

    Bilbo's Transcription Archive

    in Theory and Technique

    Posted · Edited by Bilbo

    I got 163 transcriptions done this year which feels pretty satisfying. There is no way I could have done that much work if we weren't in lockdown but, with no gigs and no other distractions, it was pretty much a breeze. I usually get around an hour's practice time in a day* with some additional time every now and then. I haven't spent every second of that time transcribing and have got some bass playing practice in but this project has kept me motivated this year. The website now has just over 200 transcriptions on it and has had over 26,500 hits since I went public with it on 6th July, 2020. If every one of those hits is a downloaded transcription, then I have achieved what I set out to do and can go to my grave a happy man ;)

     

    Happy New Year to all my Basschat chums

    * I am not a professional musician (thank, God for that this year)

    • Like 1

    Bilbo's Transcription Archive

    in Theory and Technique

    Posted · Edited by Bilbo

    On 26/12/2020 at 18:46, cb1 said:

    If you are using Sibelius you are getting ‘electric/bass’ at the start of each line because you are printing the Score rather than the Part. They will look more professional without the names at the side

    I have started using the Parts as you have suggested, cb. I am finding out new details about Sibelius all of the time (it doesn't help that I use two versions, depending on the conputer I am using - one is an ancient Sibelius 2, the other an up to date version),. For instance, I recently found out how to change note heads on Sibelius 7 but it doesn't work on Sibelius 2. Makes ghost notes problematic if I transcribe on the old PC.

    Bilbo's Transcription Archive

    in Theory and Technique

    Posted

    A supplement to the transcription of 'Sean En La Madrugada' from the 1997 Jeff Berlin CD, 'Taking Notes'. This is the second overdubbed solo that was not included in the transcription I posted in November. This is a tough one to crack. The sliding and bent notes that Jeff employs are a bit like catching smoke rings. It is important to acknowledge that this is MY transcription of the piece and is presented as I hear it. There may be disagreement in the detail,partcularly with the idiosyncracies in Jeff's phrasing.

    https://bilbosbassbites.co.uk/sean-en-la-madrugada-overdubbed-solo-jeff-berlin/

    Georgia On My Mind - Live

    in Share Your Music

    Posted

    I just came across this recording I did live in 2013. I think it is pretty sublime. The band had never played together before and was coming in cold so these results are nothing more complicated than what happens when the stars align. Not a hi-fi recording but you can hear it all.

     

    Clip on tuners

    in General Discussion

    Posted

    3 hours ago, bazzbass said:

    I don't give a rat's derrière what anyone in the audience thinks. I play solely original music in 3 bands. We play because we like each other's company and the music is fun for us. If any members of the public like it too,that's a bonus. At our age,(over 50) life's too short to worry about if the audience can see my tuner......

    They all let themselves go eventually. 🤣

    Bilbo's Transcription Archive

    in Theory and Technique

    Posted · Edited by Bilbo

    An act of benign lunacy :) All 12 charts are up there now

    1. The Eve Of The War - 1. The Eve Of The War – Jeff Wayne – Bilbo's Bass Bites

    2. Horsell Common and The Heat Ray - 2. Horsell Common and The Heat Ray – Jeff Wayne – Bilbo's Bass Bites

    3. The Artillery Man and the Fighting Machine - 3. The Artillery Man and The Fighting Machine – Bilbo's Bass Bites

    4. Forever Autumn - 4. Forever Autumn – Justin Hayward – Bilbo's Bass Bites

    5. Thunderchild - 5. Thunderchild – Jeff Wayne – Bilbo's Bass Bites

    6. The Red Weed Pt. 1 - 6. The Red Weed Pt.1 – Jeff Wayne – Bilbo's Bass Bites

    7. Parson Nathaniel/The Spirit Of Man - 7. The Spirit Of Man – Jeff Wayne – Bilbo's Bass Bites

    8. The Red Weed Pt. 2 - 8. The Red Weed Pt. 2 – Herbie Flowers – Bilbo's Bass Bites

    9. Brave New World - 9. Brave New World – Jeff Wayne – Bilbo's Bass Bites

    10. Dead London - 10. Dead London – Jeff Wayne – Bilbo's Bass Bites

    11. Epilogue Pt. 1 - 11. Epilogue Pt. 1 – Jeff Wayne – Bilbo's Bass Bites

    12. Epilogue Pt. 2 - 12. Epilogue Pt. 2 – Jeff Wayne – Bilbo's Bass Bites

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