Coilte

[quote name='Eko 4' timestamp='1387463733' post='2312250'] I have the music in piano and guitar and would like either the bass partor a standard system to transpose the exisiting music. [/quote] Why not make up [i]your own [/i](or at least try to..) bass lines to the music, if you have a way to listen to the music. IMO this would make much better for ear training, even if you just played root notes to start. If you use the links I gave earlier, along with looking up the songs on You Tube, you should have what you require.

Obviously a rare bass....three knobs at the front, and one at the back !

I think you need to retrain your ear a little to get the feel of how the bass fits into the music. You could play just the root of the chord that the guitarist is playing but that would get very boring very quickly. As you most likely know already, chords are made up of every other note in a scale, i.e. 1,3,5,7 etc. Inversions can be used, for example 3,5,7,1 etc. Even if you dont care much for it, blues music is great for learning bass lines. Listen closely then play along. A good idea would be to print off some bass clef sheet music from the link I gave you earlier. Then search You Tube for those songs. Another idea might be to have a browse through this site : [url="http://www.studybass.com/lessons/common-bass-patterns/"]http://www.studybass...-bass-patterns/[/url] The lessons are in chronilogical order, so you can jump in at a point you feel is appropriate to your theory level. To sum up : Listen a lot !! EDIT : Found some more bass transcriptions in case you are interested. [url="http://www.thebassment.info/transcriptions.html"]http://www.thebassment.info/transcriptions.html[/url]

[quote name='Eko 4' timestamp='1387132430' post='2308523'] Have found little music written for bass [/quote] Not sure exactly what you mean, but maybe this will keep you going for a while. [url="http://freebasspart.pv24.pagesperso-orange.fr/Bass_Players.htm"]http://freebasspart.pv24.pagesperso-orange.fr/Bass_Players.htm[/url]

Another +1 for the Thomastick flats. Bear in mind that these are one of the lowest tension flats out there. This puts a lot of people off of them. AFAIK, the Labellas are at the other end of the tension spectrum.

[quote name='chris_b' timestamp='1386763734' post='2304123'] CK played on 2 of my favourite numbers... You've Lost That Loving Feeling (guitar) and River Deep Mountain High (bass). [/quote] No...that was definately Jamerson on bass !!!!

[quote name='BetaFunk' timestamp='1386716039' post='2303716'] Oh i know alright and would expect i'm not the only one who knows. [/quote] You'd be surprised. I have met two bassists who'd never heard of her. A great lady who is still playing at 78 years old.

I have the Zoom H1. I use it for personal practice recording, and for band rehearsals. IMO the recording quality is very good considering the price. There are other Zoom models (H2, H3, & H4) which are a bit more sophisticated, depending on what you want. Apart from the recording quality, the thing I like most about the H1 is it's simplicity of use, compared to it's other Zoom cousins. The only negative thing I can say is that it is a bit on the flimsy side, and would not stand up to rough handling very well. All said, I am very happy with it.

[quote name='jmchich' timestamp='1386299954' post='2298540'] Maybe I'm just dumb, but I find a lot of written or video lessons difficult to follow. An example is when they briefly describe the notes in a scale, then the next lesson assumes you have all the notes and patterns implanted in your memory and shoots so far ahead that it's completely disheartening when I realise I have no idea what the hell they're talking about. I've found lessons with my teacher so much better, as he can break things down to the infinite levels of detail my mind requires in order to learn. [/quote] I made the point about video/You Tube lessons below. However, some are good, but you are supposed to wait until you have internalised the information from one lesson, before moving on to the next one. This could take anything from a day to a few weeks. Only then, do you move on to the next lesson. You cant go blaming the guy in the video because you have not done your home work. [quote name='Coilte' timestamp='1385662667' post='2290901'] The problem with a lot of You Tube "lessons" is that there is no chronological order. You are shown a lesson or two, then cut adrift. This slows down the learning time dramatically as the pupil has to keep back tracking, because he did not learn (or was not taught) the basics. [/quote]

Thanks to this thread, my interest in the Groundhogs has been rekindled. So much so that I have gone ahead and bought some CD's to replace my vinyl copies. A great band !!

I'm happy with my playing, but the quest to be happ...[b]ier,[/b] is what keeps me going. There is always room for improvement, no matter who you are.

I think that most of us here, who took up the bass at a late stage in life realise that the likelihood of being the next Wooten or Jaco, are slim. In my case it probably would still have been the same even if I'd started young. However, it is better late than never and if we are enjoying ourselves and seeing some progress in our playing, that... for me at least, helps to counter act the regret of not having started earlier.

[quote name='thebigyin' timestamp='1386246737' post='2297613'] naturally gifted people it just comes so easy to them....that's my view anyway.... [/quote] Not entirely so IMO. I would regard these naturally gifted people as "diamonds in the rough." To polish up and hone these "diamonds" requires a lot of hard graft in the form of focused practice. For example, John Coltrane used to practice for maybe twelve hours a day and practically slept with his saxophone.

I dont think it is possible to generalise here. Some people take to certain skills easier than others. Even at a young age there are child prodigies and then there are the "average" ones. I think it is the same in older people also. That's not to say that an older person starting out is not going to make a good go of it. It is just that time is not on his/her side. Being "great" is a matter of opinion. Some who have being playing from a very young age will readily admit to still having a lot to learn. As for the 10,000 hours rule, whether or not it is true, it depends on the type of practice done. Some regard idly noodling, as "practice".

I am old enough to remember this being done for the first time. I could never see the point of venting anger on a musical instrument, especially one that as a teenager I would have given an arm and a leg for. Even back then, it seemed to me, like a childish thing to do.

Another plus 1 to seeing a doctor. When you get the all clear to start playing again, here is a great exercise away from the bass, for developing the pinkie. Hope you get the all clear soon. [url="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ab-dtzrAnkg"]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ab-dtzrAnkg[/url]

[quote name='Dom in Somerset' timestamp='1385752451' post='2291917'] ...and we spend so much time worrying about string gauges, active/passive? ,set up,nut widths , which amp for metal? is plywood any good for bass bodies? etc etc .... [/quote] +1. Imagine what the guy would be like with....TWO strings !!

[quote name='BigRedX' timestamp='1385812176' post='2292424'] Just buy a guitar and be done with it! [/quote] Yep ! Jamerson, Marcus Miller, Jack Bruce, Jaco etc were more than able to express themselves with four strings. It's not how many you have, but what you do with them.

I think it all depends on how far you are along the learning road. If you simply want to know how to play a favourite song, then I suppose showing the final product is acceptable. However, if you want to delve deeper and find out the nuts and bolts of how music works, then it is not of much use. Also, if you want to be able to come up with your own bass lines rather than being a human duke box, then being shown only the final product is not going to help. The problem with a lot of You Tube "lessons" is that there is no chronological order. You are shown a lesson or two, then cut adrift. This slows down the learning time dramatically as the pupil has to keep back tracking, because he did not learn (or was not taught) the basics.

[quote name='AntLockyer' timestamp='1385548807' post='2289472'] I think every part of what you wrote is fine in theory I think it breaks down in real life for all sorts of reasons. I'm not good at everything but I care a lot more about the outcome than anyone else. I also know that I am very fotunate to have a massive capacity for learning which does make it all the easier for me to help myself. I've been badly let down by the medical profession on many occasions. The last one was going to the doctor about finger pain and being told it was wear and tear. Other groups that have let me down plumbers, electricians, mechanics, gardners etc. Most knowledge is available to us nowadays and the truly skilled labour needed rare. Things I need others for. Surgery, playing instruments other than the ones I've practiced sufficiently, heavy lifting, things that require sign off (I get a spark to sign a piuece of paper saying my work is OK) etc. [/quote] You are entitled to, and I respect your opinion. However, IMO self diagnosis and treatment for certain illnesses and injuries can be a recipe for disaster. This is not to say that we should be hypochondriacs and go running to the doctor as soon as we start sneezing. A little common sense should prevail.

[quote name='AntLockyer' timestamp='1385505923' post='2289208'] No they don't. They just know what to try first based on probabilities and are only as good as their research and knowledge of the patient. No one knows me like I do. [/quote] In fairness, I think what Zampa meant was that while no one may know you like you know yourself, only a trained professional knows the best treatment or therapy for a given problem, based on the information given to him/her. I always think it prudent to direct people who are looking for medical advice on a forum like this, to the appropriate professionals.

[quote name='Zampa' timestamp='1385409298' post='2287977'] I forgot to mention that my hands are 53 years old decorators hands also [/quote] Yes, that's an important factor. Sometimes the pain we feel may not be bass related, but playing seems to aggravate a given problem.

[quote name='Zampa' timestamp='1385327732' post='2287030'] Interesting, I was going to post a question about this tonight myself.. Im not in the same league as you folks...but I do practice for about 1.5 hours every night...I love it. But since I have been practicing I have notice two things...my little finger on my left hand always feels 'bruised' and a little stiff but worse, I have a mild pain down the outside of my wrist (on the other side to my thumb) which radiates about 5-6 inches down my arm... It might not be linked to my practicing...I suffer with very mild occasional arthritis anyway..but I was wondering if anyone else has had this?..I have an habit of playing with the guitar on my lap and resting my thumb on the pickup..which forces me to curve my hand a little..is this a form of repetitive strain injury... Additional information..I have been married twenty three years...but I dont think the strain on my wrist is down to anything else...get my drift!!! [/quote] I am a great believer in warming up (and down afterwards) with gentle stretches even before I touch the bass. Resting the thumb on the pick up forces the wrist into a severe angle, which over time can lead to problems. Sometimes people think that because they dont feel pain [i]now,[/i] that all is OK. It can take years of playing in a certain way for the pain to show itself. It is not called [i]repetitive [/i]strain injury for nothing. As for the pain in the left (fretting..I presume) hand. Hard to say what could be causing this, but gripping the neck too tight could be a factor. Your overall stance plays a big part in safe comfortable playing. If you practice sitting down, use a strap and try to have the main body of the bass at about belt buckle height, i.e. the same as if you were standing.

[quote name='Pete Academy' timestamp='1385307495' post='2286646'] I was planning on seeing the doc this week. [/quote] That would be the best plan of action alright.

[quote name='Phil Adams' timestamp='1385284235' post='2286307'] That's not Paul, he's dead. The "image" of him on the crossing at Abbey Road with no shoes on proves it. [/quote] Well then, that guy on the cover of Abbey Road is a genius twice over, i.e. a great impersonator and a great bassist.