Thunderthumbs

[quote name='Darryll-Profane' post='116271' date='Jan 8 2008, 03:14 PM']Having an open mind I feel helps me enjoy music.[/quote] I agree wholeheartedly. One thing I always tell young kids is not to be ignorant towards any style of music. Don't just go with the flow. Give everything an open ear. Do you know, I'm almost sorry I posted this to start off with. It was never meant to cause some of the "I'm right, you're wrong" sort of stuff that's been going on. He has got tremendous technique, and sadly, this video doesn't do justice to the many other ways he can play, and so it provokes a very blinkered attitude. There is a part of me that wishes I could do some of what he can. Whether what he's doing would fit into a song is of no importance, because I think we all know it wouldn't, so I just wouldn't do it. It would be just for doing something a bit flash, just because I could. He's also doing covers now. Something he's avoided for 20+ years. And he's doing the likes of Mustang Sally like an awful lot of us. And you can bet your bottom dollar he won't be playing like this when he does. As has been pointed out on many posts, it's him just slapping away for the fun of it. And criticising it for the fact that it's a style that was popular 20 years ago is irrelevant to me. Or am I the only one that still slaps to a bit of Level 42 if I'm practicing for fun along to my iPod? Or maybe I pick a plectrum up and play along to a Jam track as they were my first serious influences? I didn't try out one bass at the Bass Day in Manchester.....simply because I'm not a trickster......I'm just a good ole' solid bass player. Instead, I drove all the way to Brighton to try and buy EBS cabs from Bernie Goodfellow.....in private. I want to improve myself, and push forward with my limitations. I want to learn to sight read. I want to be technically much, much better. But do you know, there's still a part of me that wishes I could do what Nigel does......for my own self gratification. Good luck to him.

[quote name='metalmaniac' post='116028' date='Jan 8 2008, 01:56 AM']This was a solid foundation of my bass playing and its a shame my school replaced it with some sh*tty private tutor crap. RGT really do have a solid basis, and excellent structuring imo. The early grades, foundation and 1 are a bit pointless and tedious, but as you start moving higher, they really gain weight. At least in my experience.[/quote] Cheers. I've just reached a point where I want to try and iron out bad points, improve what I'm not good at, etc. Although I'm very experienced having played bass for about 25 years, I know my limitations, but I want to push myself beyond those limitations. It's a little like having been a learner driver for 25 years, and never having passed my test. Did you pass the early stuff in conjunction with a tutor and/or having lessons, or do you reckon it's just stuff you could pass with theory books and practicing at home?

[quote name='wateroftyne' post='115971' date='Jan 8 2008, 12:08 AM']Oooh... almost forgot this one. If we're talking about ICONIC bass images.... Yeah... tell it like it is, Duck.[/quote] Ladies and Gentlemen......we have a winner

[quote name='OldGit' post='115953' date='Jan 7 2008, 11:49 PM']oh What's a "false tab"?[/quote] Probably a northern WMC saying......basically an "encore"......whether they really want one or not!

[quote name='Rich' post='115934' date='Jan 7 2008, 11:28 PM']And what a fabulous pic of the great man it is too. Still sadly missed. Here's another classic: [attachment=4703:bruce_foxton.jpg][/quote] You've only gone and picked my first "bass God".......why didn't I think of that one!

[quote name='dave_bass5' post='115842' date='Jan 7 2008, 10:10 PM']If thats aimed at me then i should explain that i meant when playing WMC's (those who do will understand).[/quote] Yeah Dave, I understand fully. I said pretty much the same. We do WMCs, as it's the bread and butter, and we're doing the best we can to get more and more weddings, corporate gigs, etc. The trouble with an awful lot of WMCs is that the same people go in, and sit in the same seats, week in week out. We are there just as their entertainment for the night, and are of no more importance. They haven't come [b]specifically[/b] to see us. At weddings and the like, the people are there already in celebratory mood. So, they're generally a lot more enjoyable to play at. Some WMCs can be great, because some punters surprisingly [b]do[/b] care about the music, but some do almost try and challenge you, which is why I also sometimes wonder why I'm bothering with them. One example.....a club in Liverpool where they didn't shut up, and virtually didn't clap all night. Then when we finished, we politely did one "false tab", and they brought the house down wanting us to do a second, just so they could stay and drink longer. Needless to say, I told the other guys in the band where to get off. I wasn't doing another under any circumstances.

I'm interested in looking at gaining some form of qualification, and was looking at the [url="http://www.registryofguitartutors.co.uk/exams/bass/bass_guitar.htm"]Registry of Guitar Tutors[/url] examinations. Has anyone any experience of these, and if so, would you recommend them or not? What are your experiences having taken them? Did you definitely improve you as a bassist? Has it gained you anything regards work and/or reputation?

[quote name='99ster' post='115644' date='Jan 7 2008, 06:16 PM']It don't get much cooler than this.[/quote] Yeah, like that. There's just something about black and white photography that captures the feeling of an image so much better than colour.

[quote name='Davemarks' post='115093' date='Jan 6 2008, 11:31 PM']If they can't do something (read, improvise, solo, compose) they just ignore that part of their musical makeup and probably miss out on opportunites because of it. It's a sad fact that people rarely work on things they are not good at, and those are the things that need the most work![/quote] I'm humble enough to admit that I've done pretty much that for some years. I've recently been inspired by a few bass players, and it's given me new impetus. I'm trying to concentrate on the things I know I'm not good at. I may be in my 40s now, but it's never to late to learn and improve.

[quote name='lwtait' post='115611' date='Jan 7 2008, 05:41 PM']not read all the replies, so has anyone put london calling album cover yet?[/quote] Yes, bremen's link

[quote name='Hit&Run' post='115599' date='Jan 7 2008, 05:23 PM']One of [url="http://www.tascam.com/details;8,21,17.html"]these[/url] may help you to learn parts of recordings where the bass is quite difficult to distinguish. I picked one up locally second hand for £60 with a PSU, though you can probably get one new for about £70 now![/quote] Aah...that reminded me of some software I use now and again, and does pretty much the same thing.....but with MP3/WAV files as well as CDs. Free software, and it's worked a treat for me. [url="http://www.tucows.com/preview/371954"]Download BestPractice software[/url]

One of my favourite bass images..... [attachment=4693:69574_6526.jpg] What's yours?

Bought Stuart's 4 string set of Elites that Santa delivered in error. Really nice bloke, great to deal with. Cheers Stuart, and all the best, Pete.

[quote name='dave_bass5' post='115481' date='Jan 7 2008, 03:04 PM']Just wanted to finish this thread by saying the gig went well and the song went so well we played it twice. Cheers.[/quote] Nice one......and we all lived happily ever after Glad it worked out for you. Cheers, Pete.

[quote name='OldGit' post='115479' date='Jan 7 2008, 03:02 PM']...and wearing a black polo neck[/quote] Mmmmmm........niiiiiice!

[quote name='dave_bass5' post='115474' date='Jan 7 2008, 03:00 PM']Playing the same songs week in week out im finding im not really putting much effort in. I put this down to the fact that we arent putting nearly enough new songs in the sets (and i dont like 70% of the ones we do now) so as i dont have to think about what im playing my mind wanders (normally thinking about the next day).[/quote] Good point Dave. This was part of what I was saying earlier. I got into a habit of not practicing because of gigging regularly, and we weren't learning new stuff regularly either, so I just went stale. I stopped doing covers on a regular basis for about 10 years. With my current band, we're learning new stuff all the time, so I'm always learning. I mix learning covers, with just general practicing for fun, and I'm happier now as a bassist than I have been for years. I've got the love of playing back.

[quote name='OldGit' post='115420' date='Jan 7 2008, 01:47 PM']Yeah typo .. no bass player... geddit?[/quote] Oddly enough, we do a cover of "A Little Respect"......without a keyboard player! (And it's not bad, even if I do say so myself.....bearing in mind I didn't even want to do it at all to start off with).

[quote name='Machines' post='115218' date='Jan 7 2008, 08:42 AM']Check this site out - very useful: [url="http://www.musictheory.net/"]http://www.musictheory.net/[/url][/quote] Good post......very good site that. Very well explained an simplified.

[quote name='stingrayfan' post='115345' date='Jan 7 2008, 12:08 PM']There's been a rise in the number of [url="http://news.sky.com/skynews/article/0,,30100-1283144,00.html"]ultra-modern tribute bands[/url] because the new bands get too big too quickly. I wouldn't mind playing in a Killers tribute band but I'd be bored stiff doing Queen and the like![/quote] Yeah me too. We got asked by an agent recently if we'd considered doing a Killers tribute set, just because we had two Killers tracks in our set. I'd like the idea if we weren't already doing our current setup, but I don't think we'd have the time to combine both at the moment.

[quote name='bremen' post='115318' date='Jan 7 2008, 11:38 AM']Anyone playing in a tribute band here? looks like fun as you get paid AND get to choose music that you like playing.[/quote] I don't, but I was talking about one this morning. Some years back, I saw a covers band in Wigan called Magic, and they were a top class covers band at the time. They were all talented musicians, could all sing lead vocals, etc. They covered the sort of songs that most bog standard covers band wouldn't touch.....like a full length version of Bohemian Rhapsody with the full operatic part in the middle, and full length ELO/Beach Boys covers, etc. with really good harmonies. They were one of the first bands I knew that really took the tribute thing by the scruff of the neck, and for years now, have been touring solely as a Queen tribute act. They no longer play "clubland", and instead play venues such as the Palace Theatre in Manchester and that sort of place. They must be seriously creaming it in by now.

No experience of Aguilar cabs personally, but I have read great things about them. I used to have a Trace Elliot 4 x 10 many years ago, and to be honest, I found it to be very middley, not great bottom or top ends. Can't comment on the newer stuff, but it's just my two penneth.

Hi there PJ. Welcome.

[quote name='NickThomas' post='115078' date='Jan 6 2008, 11:06 PM']Whoa! we both said prominent after 11 at night on a Sunday ![/quote] Great minds think alike. Love your signature by the way