Coilte

[quote name='Samfordia' timestamp='1408373855' post='2529551'] finding the right one would be great. [/quote] Very true. Finding not just a teacher who knows his/her stuff, but one who can convey the information in an easy to understand way, is always hard to find, but worth the effort in the long run. Just be sure to get a [u]bass[/u] teacher, rather than a guitarist who teaches bass on the side. My personal experiences with the latter, have been less than satisfactory.

Have you considered Skype lessons ? Might work out cheaper than in person ones. IMO a half a dozen or so lessons would get you off to a good start. In the absence of a teacher, I would recommend this web site : [url="http://www.studybass.com"]http://www.studybass.com[/url] The good thing about it is that the lessons are in chronological order, i.e. each one builds on what went before it, so there are no gaps in the learning process. The best thing would be to start at the beginning and work slowly through the lessons. FWIW, here is my advice as to what you should be concentrating on at this time : 1). Good/safe technique. This will not only have you playing to the best of your potential, but will help to avoid any injury problems that could arise later on, through bad technique. In a nut shell, try to keep both wrists as straight as possible. Search You Tube for L/H & R/H technique. Also check out the "Floating Thumb" technique. 2). Learn where all the notes are on the fret board. Learn about intervals. 3). Learn the Major, Minor, and Pentatonic scales for a start. Just as important is to learn about [i]CHORD TONES[/i] and how these are derived from scales. It is these chord tones that the bassist will play 90% of the time. Here is a link from the "Study Bass" site linked above, that deals with the importance of chord tones. [url="http://www.studybass.com/lessons/bass-chord-patterns/chord-tones-are-primary/"]http://www.studybass...es-are-primary/[/url] Later, when you are comfortable with chord tones, you can move on to inversions. 4). Finally, while tabs are OK up to a point, dont become too dependent on them. Develop your ear by listening to songs and trying to work out the bass lines yourself. You say you are happy making your own stuff up, so that's a great way to start. Most, if not all of this stuff is in the "Study Bass" site. Hope this goes some way towards pointing you in the right direction.

In that clip, it is not easy to hear the bass, so that could be one reason why you found it hard to follow. Here is a link to lessons on You Tube : [url="https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=walking+bass+blues+tutorial"]https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=walking+bass+blues+tutorial[/url] Also on You Tube is a series of lessons by Dave Marks on walking bass. He starts with the basics and builds from there. I think there are about ten lessons in all. Here is the link : [url="https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=dave+marks+walking+bass+lesson"]https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=dave+marks+walking+bass+lesson[/url] Finally, if you are really keen on learning walking bass, then I can recommend this book (comes with a CD). I certainly found it very good. [url="http://www.amazon.co.uk/Walking-Jazz-Lines-Bass-Hungerford/dp/0786659963/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1407936357&sr=8-1&keywords=walking+jazz+lines+for+bass"]http://www.amazon.co.uk/Walking-Jazz-Lines-Bass-Hungerford/dp/0786659963/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1407936357&sr=8-1&keywords=walking+jazz+lines+for+bass[/url]

[quote name='Krysbass' timestamp='1407931053' post='2525420'] [size=3][color=#000000][font=Calibri][size=4] the drummer, guitarist and singer in my band all have a poor sense of time-keeping/rhythm, so it’s always down to me to be constantly on the alert to try and hold the whole thing together and avoid train-wrecks.[/size] [/font][/color][/size] [/quote] This hardly seems ideal....or fair. [i]Every [/i]band member has ( or should have..) his/her part to play with regards timing. It sould not be left to you alone.

[quote name='gadgie' timestamp='1407647679' post='2522541'] I think the bottom line for me is that PF didn't handle it well. In my mind he is as out of order as the people with the phone. So he got pissed off, it doesn't give him the right to damage peoples equipment. Jeezo we would live in a pretty awful world if we all handled situations like that. If PF was not happy with what was going on, he should have stopped the gig until security handled it. The guy is supposed to be a pro. Yet another case of a 'star' acting over the top at fans or a situation. [/quote] I'm inclined to agree with this. While I have no time for people spoiling concerts for others around them by recording with iphones etc, IMO two wrongs dont make a right, and IMO PF was in the wrong to react in the unprofessional way that he did.

[quote name='Bobthedog' timestamp='1407356081' post='2519812'] I am very much a learner, however, the three instructors I have used (different locations) have insisted I learn with fingers before moving to a pick. [/quote] Like ern500evo, I too would be interested to hear the reasoning/logic behind such insistance.

I have always played with the fingers and recently started experimenting with the pick. While I still have a long way to go before I am confident enough to use it at a gig, I think I am making fairly good progress. As has been said already, the more "tools" you have available at your disposal the better. For all those who have said they tried using a pick but gave up because of lack of progress, perhaps you should check out this link from Carol Kaye's site. It has certainly helped me. See tips # 26 & 27 : [url="https://www.carolkaye.com/www/education/tips1.htm"]https://www.carolkaye.com/www/education/tips1.htm[/url]

[quote name='Weststarx' timestamp='1406921306' post='2515976'] My band want to play 'These Boots Are Made For Walkin' so I've just started learning it and I'm by the end of that rundown I'm on the floor asleep![/quote] Perhaps bass is not your instrument after all. IMO there are no "best" or "worst" bass lines. All there is, is what the song requires.

This guy has being doing this for forty plus years. Seems to work for him. [url="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=obFcsEtFIKA"]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=obFcsEtFIKA[/url]

[quote name='witterth' timestamp='1406635233' post='2513204'] [b]MMmm, I think I hate Jazz then...[/b] [/quote] Whatever floats (..or does not..) your boat.

Here are my favourites : [url="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qWG2dsXV5HI"]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qWG2dsXV5HI[/url] [url="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lJHr7U5QiLU"]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lJHr7U5QiLU[/url]

Yep ! You seem to have a good approach to (re)learning, i.e. practice slowly until the brain and fingers "get the message". The speed in the fingers/hands will come of their own accord in time. As for the fingers being stiff, do a search on You Tube for clips on hand stretches for bass/guitar. Best of luck with it. [size=4] [/size]

Herbie Hancock - Fat Albert Rotunda Noel Keelahan Quintet - Ozone Rick Margitza - Colour Dave Holland - Seeds Of Time

[quote name='Bilbo' timestamp='1406301237' post='2510403'] I forgot Shadows and Light by Joni Mitchell!! [/quote] You also forgot "Moondance" by Van Morrison !!!

[quote name='Leonard Smalls' timestamp='1406100250' post='2508230'] The secret with superglue is to use it unless you know that your fingers aren't going to blister! [/quote] OP, the "secret" is to play with a light touch (up the amp volume) and thus avoid the problem completely.

Ian Dury's "Hit Me with Your Rhythm Stick" should keep any bassist busy for a year or so.

Dont forget to work on your timing and groove. Being a master of good technique and theory amounts to very little, if your timing is not up to scratch.

Sad news indeed..and still comparitively young. R.I.P.

[quote name='Meddle' timestamp='1405027816' post='2498184'] McCartney's left hand thumb technique is totally legit, as it imparts a fatter tonality you cannot get by other means. Great for dub or reggae tones.[/quote] I agree. My point was that while it lacks finesse, it delivers on what is required.

[quote name='steve-bbb' timestamp='1405017102' post='2498003'] whilst not expecting berlin or pattitucci levels of technique is it not reasonable to expect that after 40 plus years of playing his left hand would demonstrate at least some finesse regardless of the complexity of the lines he is playing? [/quote] Once your technique is safe and you can express yourself well, then finesse does not matter. This guy has being playing a while too. Look at his left hand. [url="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=obFcsEtFIKA"]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=obFcsEtFIKA[/url]

First of all, I'd strongly suggest that you try to rest the finger, or things could get even worse. The probable cause (apart from over use) is that you could be digging in too much. If so, hire up the amp and let that do the work. Is the action on your bass too high ? What type of strings are you using ? If heavy gauge, perhaps you could switch to a lighter one.

I am in the "no tab" camp. However, tab if used sparingly (e.g. on music where it is hard to hear the bass lines or for very fast passages) IMO does not present too much of a problem. It is over reliance and over use, rather than tab itself that causes problems. As for "casual" players. IMO they would be better served to use their ear to figure out songs. As to whether you yourself should use tab in your transcriptions......NO would be my reply.

I agree with what has been already said, i.e. if it sounds good, then it [i]is[/i] good. Also, where on the neck you play, and what strings you use, will depend on the song and your interpretation of it. As for coming up with some bass lines. You may like to try out this experiment. Works for me a lot of the time. Try to get a recording of the song(s) requiring bass lines. Then [b]without[/b] the bass, try to sing/hum an appropriate bass line by humming along to the song. Then try to play what you have sang/hummed on your bass and see how it sounds. Doing it this way frees up the brain to come up with something, and avoids the distraction of having to concentrate on playing as well. Works for me...might do so for you also.

[quote name='ead' timestamp='1404129445' post='2489497'] honorable exception to Martin Barre, although even he has fallen out of favour with Mr Anderson [/quote] Had not heard about that. What happened ? It would appear that the same Mr Anderson was/is not the easiest man in the world to work with. According to the "History of 'Tull" DVD, Glenn Cornick found out about being surplus to requirements, out of the blue at an airport while waiting on a flight home after a gig. What really seems to irritate him (Cornick) to this day is that Anderson had not got the courage/decency to convey the news himself, but left it to someone else to do so.

[quote name='icastle' timestamp='1404001387' post='2488509'] I kept bumping into Clive Bunker and Mick Abrahams many years ago but never actually listened to anything they were working on back then. [/quote] Abrahams is a bluesman at heart. The main reason he left 'Tull after the first album was that he and Anderson had a difference of opinion as to what musical direction the band should take. No one seems to know exactly why Bunker exited the band a couple of albums after Abrahams left. He (Abrahams) went on to form "Blodwyn Pig" which were a great band, but never gained the recognition or world wide fame they (IMO) deserved.