bassbloke

Sounds like you've got the shield and the common mixed up [quote]GROUNDING NOTE Every pickup has at least 2 wires, call them Hot and Common. Normally the Hot is white or red colored. Common must be connected to our board at the screw connector. In the picture below the connections are, starting at the side closest to the plate, Neck Hot, Neck Common, Bridge Hot, and Bridge Common. If you have a 3rd wire and it is a braided shield, this is a Ground wire and can be connected to the Cavity Ground. Do NOT connect the Common wire of the Pickups to the Cavity Ground. Doing so would increase the power pull and cause distortion. If you have 4 wires you may have two Hot wires for split coils. Check with the pickup manufacturer on how to connect the 4 wire pickups for parallel or series operation.[/quote]

what model bass is it?

I would also add that before you do anything in homage to Michael Angelo, you listen to at least one Nitro track before deciding on whether it's a good idea.

Rufus Philpott. Planet X

I did say only striking one note per string and whilst technically a sweep can only involve two strings, I'd doubt you'd get many NAMM bookings if that's all there was in your repertoire.

You'd better be really, really, really, really good before you even contemplate a technique like that live. I've also seen bass players using that techniquelive and the topic of conversation amongst the audience quickly changed from comments about the band to a discussion of whether said bass player was born out of wedlock.

[quote name='bnt' post='106276' date='Dec 18 2007, 11:57 PM']I just did a YouTube search for "bass sweep picking"... first time I've seen any, but yeah, it's being done. Fingerstyle too. [/quote] Sweep picking invoves playing an arpeggio across all 4/5/6/7 strings, striking only the 1 note per string. The difficult bit, as demonstrated by the guy above is getting an accurate sweep in both directions- he can sweep upwards (towards body), but downwards is clearly causing him problems.

I would wait until after christmas when everyone is flogging off the Bass PODX XT they no longer need after getting a POD X3 or whatever it's called. You should also be able to get a great deal on a FBV express controller which will give you everything you ever need.

Find a band that 1) Likes the same music as me and 2) Can play well 3) Are (roughly) the same age as me or failing that 4) can appreciate that it is possible to have a family and job but still be willing and able to put plenty of time and effort into a band 5) Can all drive 6) Can all pay their way 7) Have all members (apart from bassist of course)

Oh, I forgot to say Bah Humbug !

There's nothing I need. I've let it be known that I'm not fussed about presents, but if people do want to get me something, charity presents (chcieken for African villages, etc...), Amazon vouchers or money would be very much appreciated. I don't want chocolate, especially After Eights, Terrys chocolate oranges or Benedicts Mints. books on cockney rhyming slang. Viz annuals. Novelty calendar or any calendar for that matter as I use my smartphone for everything. 2008 diary for the reason above. After shave. I've made it clear that next year, I'm only buying presents for people's kids and I'll use the money I've saved on tat for the grown ups to get them something that really counts.

I'd also like to add that 1 finger per fret isn't the be all and end all. If your hands are big enough to facilitate it then fine, but anyone concentrating solely on using 1 finger per fret runs the risk of injuring themselves. There's nothing wrong with 124 fingering. Upright players have been using it for centuries.

[quote name='queenofthedepths' post='100212' date='Dec 6 2007, 02:05 PM']I see a lot of people here are completely against using tablature - why?! What is it about staff notation which makes it appropriate for basses? I've always thought of it as being best for keyboards but not ideal for any stringed instrument at all... obviously I'm missing something here, so please could someone spell it out for me and also perhaps suggest some good exercises for learning bass clef? I've already started learning it coz I know it's useful, but I can't see why you'd actually want to avoid using tabs altogether...[/quote] I'd be a hypocrite to say that tab is bad, because my reading skills are apalling. However, I have to re-write so much fo the tab I come across because it's just wrong and is so often fixated with playing parts in the open position wherever possible. It's also dependant on the tuning your instrument is in. It seems bizarre to download instructions to play a song that depend upon the tuning of the instrument (usually at the top of the page) being included and correct. The point of being a good musician is knowing the sound of your instrument and the fretboard well enough that you can make an informed choice as to which position to play a part. This is the key to standard notation.

I woud have concentrated more on owning and playing the one bass to the best of my ability instead of wasting my time in music shops trying out new toys. I'd be a better bass player and have a smaller mortgage. No matter how great your current instrument is, it's always possible to find fault with it when there's something new and shiny in the local music shop.

[quote name='The Burpster' post='99375' date='Dec 5 2007, 09:35 AM']Noted, but IMO this is a great way to get folks (especially youngsters, and those of low incomes) playing. And lets use it, so that its not another idea that was washed over.[/quote] Not really. It says over 18s. They'vwe missed a trick. If they said over 14s, then it would be an opportunity to get teenagers playing a musical instrument and, hopefully, spending their evenings woodshedding in their bedrooms rather than inhaling solvents, fornicating in alley ways outside McDonalds and physically assaulting pensioners*** *** I know for a fact that all teenagers do these things because I have read it in the Daily Express.

I have a punch factory up for grabs for £55 inc shipping. It's a good compressor,but I simply don't use it.

Get a second 2.5XLand stick rubber feet on the side of each cab and stack them end up to give you a 4 vertical driver arrangement. These will have pleny of oomph, you'll get a better sense of air being shifted behind you and you'll have a much lighter and more portale rig tat still delivers. Trust me.

[quote name='guitarnbass' post='97844' date='Dec 2 2007, 10:54 PM']What music genre does this taptar shred stuff fit into anyway?[/quote] Depends. I dare say Bach's Sonata in G Minor would be categorised as classical.

[quote name='hogman' post='97813' date='Dec 2 2007, 09:47 PM']I still cant find out why no metronome though and I have been digging for a while now! On the beat behind the beat infront of the beat I understand and express the need to have a deep understanding to all and sundry. There are many songs that dispay this mustang sally behind the beat - midnight hour pushing the beat, any acdc tune on the nail. I get my students to play each tune to a simple drum beat and get a feel for where they are sitting on the beat. Then tell me where they are on the beat. Good fun as well. CrazyKiwi if your drummer cant find his place on the beat i think its P45 time (Unless he drives the van) no excuse in a gigging band. I cant find a single interview where mister Jeff explains why no metronome. Please help!!!!!!! I would like to add, in one of his lessons in the 80's he expressed singing your lines etc I have done this for years now, (stoped me shredding like the teenage metal head i was) well since then but if you heard him solo at bass day where was the breathing space.[/quote] The only intervewI have seen that mentions this states not to use a metronome tolearn good timing, because it's not going to give it to you. That point is certainly true. Metronomes do have their place. If I'm learning a difficult part- a real finger twiser - I'l use a metronome to force myself to first play very very slowly and then up the speed. Metronomes are perfect for that.

Korg Pandora and a decent set of headphones. You can pick up a second hand one quite cheap on ebay. I never use my amp at home- no point. I hook my laptopor MP3 up to the Pandora for jamming along to songs.

These kind of threads always have an aura of sour grapes about them. I cant therefore I dismiss.

I don't think practicing to a metronome is that great, it's too much of a distraction. Too many people I know focus too hard on the metronome and not the quality fo the note they are producing or the feelof the pattern they are playing.