Coilte

[quote name='blisters on my fingers' timestamp='1479607387' post='3177844'] Never seen this lady play guitar before [/quote] Guitar was her first instrument. A bassist could not make it to a recording session, and she was asked to stand in. She made such a good impression on everyone with her bass playing, that she was asked to do more recordings. The rest, as we know, is history. To the people who are putting her down, I can only say.... I respect your opinion, but as she is one of the most recorded bassists around, she must be doing something right.

Like with the OP, it depends on whether you need the money to make ends meet. I'm with walbassist, in that for me, it's all about playing.. to lots of people. Yes, you get hassle from time to time with drunks etc., but if you can't stand the heat......

[quote name='steve-bbb' timestamp='1479546232' post='3177326'] is he a drummer? [/quote] I think at this stage ..[i]HE"S HISTORY !!![/i]...with the OP, and rightly so IMO.

At least it will give those who DO wish to learn, the opportunity to pursue their dream. IMO if kids are encouraged, rather than cajoled (like in older times) to play an instrument, it might make an important difference. I don't agree that music does not "cut it" with todays kids. IMO you are making a lot of general sweeping statements, i.e. tarring all teens with the same brush. I think it is a good idea to make provisions to encourage a potential musical "diamond in the rough".

[quote name='solo4652' timestamp='1479327004' post='3175724'] I've already done that, actually. Here's the message thread for you, starting with his reply to my question; "What songs would you put onto a blank setlist?" Him: "U boy jaco pastorouis . I'll bring acoustic guitar . Play few riffs pointless saying influences as there's thousands lol. Give ya no. I'll call you have a chin wag . Peace" Me: " “u boy jaco pastorouis” Sorry – not quite sure what you mean." Him: "I was saying my favourite bass player is jaco pastorouis am crap at emails etc . Especially on blumming phone ." Me: "OK. I’m still not sure what you mean by “u boy”. Googling doesn’t help me to understand. Apologies for my ignorance." No reply. [/quote] Let me tell you what it means. It means...find someone else to form a band with. If the guy can't list a handful of his favourite songs, it does not auger well, for good communication if/when you did get a band up and running.

[quote name='solo4652' timestamp='1479252830' post='3175173'] I don't know what this means. [/quote] So, why didn't you reply to his email, asking precisely that ?

Be careful when using the OFPF technique on the lower (first five) frets. The stretch can be too much for some people. Here is a useful clip : http://www.scottsbasslessons.com/technique/2-great-tips-perfect-fretting-hand-technique.html

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RL5uQfKPSBg https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SkyqRP8S93Y Same chord sequences.

Another great gone !! R.I.P.

[quote name='Rocker' timestamp='1478005076' post='3165884'] I believe that the so called 'retail therapy' can make us feel a lot better about ourselves. [/quote] Agreed...unless the item does not come up to the expectations we have gleaned from the retailer's hype. A little "all round" knowledge is never a bad thing when making an "educated guess" on something we will be spending our hard earned money on.

I was particularly intrigued by the article on tubes.

Came across this while doing a search. http://blog.ovnilab.com/category/snake-oil/

Yes, I can remember the finer details about all the songs on our set list. As mentioned, sometimes I may get a mental block and have to "wing it" for a bar or two, but generally I'd know how many repeats etc.

[quote name='stingrayPete1977' timestamp='1477312997' post='3161290'] I'd call that working it out by ear, [/quote] Obviously everyone has a different interpretation of playing by ear. Without wishing to split hairs...I learned by playing along to LP's and later CD's. This not only taught me what notes to play, but also how the bass "fits into" a song, and the general feeling of groove and syncopation. So, I consider myself to have learned to play the song by listening to it...i.e. by ear. I'm inclined to agree with MisterT in that going up on stage without any prior knowledge of what is to be played...would be .."playing on the fly". Also, as with MisterT, I admire people who can do both.

[quote name='lowdown' timestamp='1477297879' post='3161113'] Ear playing to me, is doing gigs without practise/rehearsal as well as learning tunes from recorded media. [/quote] I accept your opinion, but I have always assumed playing by ear to mean...[u]learning[/u] a song by working out the bass lines yourself without tabs. I also assumed that this would be done at home, tweaked if necessary at rehearsal....[u]THEN[/u]...go and gig it. Personally, I would never try to perform a song for the first time on stage without having worked on it before hand. YMMV.

[quote name='ambient' timestamp='1477223315' post='3160625'] I think he means that he didn't learn the fretboard, or scales/arpeggios on his bass. [/quote] Fair enough...but he says he learned [i] theory[/i] on the trombone. My point is that theory is theory, regardless of the instrument, and I would expect that he'd know what key he was playing in.

[quote name='archie84' timestamp='1477167742' post='3160357'] i understand music through playing the trombone and did my theorys with that instrument. [/quote] I'm a bit puzzled by this. A "C" major minor scale, or chord is the same, no matter what instrument you play.

No doubt it's a major asset to be able to play by ear. However, IMO there is also no doubt that knowing some basic theory.. (you don't have to spend hours every day hunched over a theory book))... enhances your enjoyment of music because you are learning how it works. I am no theory expert by any means , but I have found that simply by knowing how to harmonise the major scale and what chords are in a given scale, has held me in good stead down the years. A little theory knowledge never harmed anyone...quite the opposite in fact.

[quote name='mikel' timestamp='1476803696' post='3157397'] Glen Cornick on the early Jethro Tull albums. A great musical bassist who's lines defined a lot of the tracks. Not complex but so inventive and melodic. [/quote] +1. Great lines...great bassist.

To each their own, but I was never much into the bass as a solo instrument. No doubt there are great artists doing this. For me, while it may not be "nirvana," I have always loved Peter Cetera's playing on the early (first four) CHICAGO albums, especially their first one, "Chicago Transit Authority". His playing was influential in me taking up the bass, and today I often listen to and admire his playing on these albums.

[quote name='TheGreek' timestamp='1476528385' post='3154972'] Because she's got a huge discography of work I'm never sure where to start with M'shell's work - any recommendations? [/quote] +1. I'd be interested in this also.

It's never a chore. I love both gigging and practicing at home. Sometimes after a practice session at home, I'll put on and play along to some CD's. I always get a buzz from this.

[quote name='bonzodog' timestamp='1476341105' post='3153393'] There are dozens of threads on here about flats that will give you info on peoples personal preferences. It comes down to what sound you want. Some retain a certain zing and others are very dead sounding. Tension is also a factor. [/quote] +1 to the above. For me, there is only one brand of flats...Thomastik Jazz Flats (TI's). No doubt they are expensive, but like all flats, after the initial out lay, they last for years, and so in the long run, are at least at equal value with rounds. I have a set of TI's on my G&L L2000 Tribute and I love the tone. The TI's do have VERY low tension, which is not for everyone.

[quote name='Bilbo' timestamp='1476015401' post='3150423'] Can't be a Jazz gig then..... [/quote] It was... They were dancing along to "Moondance".

[quote name='scalpy' timestamp='1476009305' post='3150356'] It's perfectly possible to do this without much theory knowledge, but begs the question, what could you do with a little more knowledge? [/quote] For me..the above is the key point in this thread. It's hard to argue against this.