Coilte

[quote name='MFD' timestamp='1378639634' post='2202614'] I know where the notes on the fretboard are[/quote] [quote name='gjones' timestamp='1378677777' post='2203247'] Makes things much easier and quicker to learn the notes on your fretboard this way. [/quote] The OP seems to know where the notes are. As I understand his post, he wants to learn the sounds of the notes in relation to each other.

You could check out some bass cover clips on You Tube. They're bound to be as accurate as any tabs out there. [url="http://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=street+life+bass+cover&oq=street+life+bass&gs_l=youtube.1.0.0.1062.6286.0.8624.16.13.0.3.3.0.146.1404.4j9.13.0...0.0...1ac.1.11.youtube.nRUpMsvuJZU"]http://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=street+life+bass+cover&oq=street+life+bass&gs_l=youtube.1.0.0.1062.6286.0.8624.16.13.0.3.3.0.146.1404.4j9.13.0...0.0...1ac.1.11.youtube.nRUpMsvuJZU[/url]

Study intervals. For instance pick a scale, say the Cmaj scale. (CDEFGAB). Play C to D (which is an interval of a maj 2nd), then play C to E ( an interval of a maj 3rd), then C to F ect. Listen closely to how each interval sounds against the root note (C in this case). Intervals are dealt with here on "Study Bass". It is a great all round site, and worth ear marking for future reference. In the exercise diagrams, if you put the cursor arrow over the notes, it will give the sound of that note. [url="http://www.studybass.com/lessons/intervals/"]http://www.studybass...sons/intervals/[/url] All three of the plans you list above are good. IMO your drummer's advice is the best. Listen to songs you like (start with the more simple ones). Try to figure out the bass lines by ear, then play along. There is downloadable software to enable you to slow down the song if necessary. This is a great exercise as it develops your ear and enables you to play what you hear. Use tabs very sparingly as they can lead to a dead end. Combining your drummer's advice with interval training is the way to go IMO. Yes, at first you will find that you have to do trial and error to find the correct notes. Agreed, it is time consuming, but time constructivley consumed. Beginner or pro, you have to be prepared to put in the time, in order to progress. Regularity is the key, as apart from say three or four hour practice sessions once or twice a week. An hour at a time then a break is a good idea, every day. Hope this helps, and best of luck with it.

[quote name='tedmanzie' timestamp='1378550748' post='2201688'] I'd like to find a way to make it more fun. [b]chris_b[/b] you are right, they do like playing tunes they know, so maybe i need to talk to the teacher and get some new ideas. or find a new teacher with new ideas. [/quote] New ideas or a new teacher [i]might [/i]work, but if the children decide that playing an instrument is not fun, then IMO it is not a good idea to push it too much. By all means encourage them. If they are interested enough they will persevere.

[quote name='lojo' timestamp='1378545717' post='2201599'] Either, Niether or both , totally depends on your desires and situation [/quote] This sums it up nicely.

If recruiting new band members, dont be over optimistic that they are going to turn up, or if they do, that they are going to be on time.

[quote name='neepheid' timestamp='1378463242' post='2200608'] It's the same old "opinion expressed as fact" routine that makes me mad. I'm willing to bet that not one single person on this forum has the statistical overview of the entire output of Fender Mexico necessary to be able to make cast iron statements about their overall quality relative to anything. I'm happy with my one and only Mexican Fender, so according to how some people operate around here I'll extrapolate that out to mean that all Mexican Fenders are great. An individual instrument is either good or bad when inspected in isolation. The usual blanket statements insult my intelligence and are little more than borderline racist hogwash. [/quote] In fairness, the majority of posts were merely stating their own personal experiences with MIM basses. In that respect, IMO your post is just a little OTT.

[quote name='Conan' timestamp='1378459093' post='2200498'] Possibly.... horrible headstocks though! [/quote] DEFINITELY !!!! Yes. Lots of people dont like the head stocks. It does not bother me. Plus when you consider the other things a Trib. has to offer, it seems a small issue. For instance, the Tribute PUPS and electronics are the same as their USA cousins. The basic difference between a USA G&L and a Tribute is the finish and the tuners. Also, with the L2000's, the Tribute neck comes in only one size, whereas you have a choice with the USA ones.

For more or less the same money, a G&L Tribute beats any MIM Fender hands down anytime. [url="https://www.glguitars.com/instruments/TributeSeries/basses/index.asp"]https://www.glguitars.com/instruments/TributeSeries/basses/index.asp[/url]

The best way I can sum up this book is that the concept is excellent, but the presentation/teaching aspect leaves a bit to be desired. Having said that, I find myself coming back to the book often. I find that dipping in and out of the book is more beneficial, as (again IMO) it can be heavy going at times. At the same time, it is definitely worth persevering with. Here are some comments from the "Talk Bass" forum. [url="http://www.talkbass.com/forum/f22/gary-willis-books-31776/"]http://www.talkbass.com/forum/f22/gary-willis-books-31776/[/url]

[quote name='Happy Jack' timestamp='1378381735' post='2199371'] Sits back and waits for the usual "McCartney was over-rated" comments. [/quote] There'll be no such comments from me.

[quote name='ambient' timestamp='1377974176' post='2194322'] People who can't spell or[u] punctate [/u]properly annoy me. Don't ask why they just do ! [/quote] I'll give you the benefit of the doubt and assume this was on purpose.

[quote name='Grand Wazoo' timestamp='1377946749' post='2193904'] Sadly I can't be in that party as I don't drink any alcohol. I know I don't know what I am missing but hey ho! [/quote] They are available to non drinkers too. [url="http://www.ebay.co.uk/sch/i.html?_trksid=p2050601.m570.l1313.TR0.TRC0.Xgrolsch+washers&_nkw=grolsch+washers&_sacat=0&_from=R40"]http://www.ebay.co.uk/sch/i.html?_trksid=p2050601.m570.l1313.TR0.TRC0.Xgrolsch+washers&_nkw=grolsch+washers&_sacat=0&_from=R40[/url]

[quote name='discreet' timestamp='1377941850' post='2193789'] Another fan of Grolsch washers here! [/quote] ......and another here !!

[quote name='cocco' timestamp='1377806575' post='2192236'] It's not as if I can even change my technique to help. [/quote] Why not ? Perhaps your technique is the cause of this problem. As a matter of curiosity, do you use the "one finger per fret" on frets 1-5 ? If so, this could be a possible reason for your problem. Tendonitis can take quite a while to manifest itself. My advice FWIW....do as "ray against the machine" says, i.e see a chiropractor /physio, and rest up for a while. When you get the OK to play again, revisit your technique. Hope you are back to painless playing soon. Bear in mind that this may not be bass related, but that playing the bass aggravates the issue.

[quote name='uncle psychosis' timestamp='1377762987' post='2191365'] G -- - - - - -- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 5 - 6 - 7 - 8- 8 - 7 - 6 - 5 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - D -- - - - - -- - - - - - - - - - 5 - 6 - 7 - 8 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 8 - 7 - 6 - 5 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - A - - - - - - - - 5 - 6 - 7 - 8 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 8 - 7 - 6 - 5 - - - - - - - - E 5 - 6 - 7 - 8 - - - - - -- - - - - -- - - - - -- - - - - -- - - - - -- - - - - -- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 8 - 7 - 6 - 5 Play this with one finger per fret, and do it slowly, you're aiming to sound each note cleanly and clearly, not to race through the notes. To make it harder you can move down the fretboard (1 -2 -3 -4) is a nice stretch or moving it higher up the fretboard makes it easier. For a bit of variety you can vary the pattern eg (5 - 7 - 6 - 8) on each string, just keep doing it one finger per fret. Do this for five minutes every day for a few weeks and you'll definitely notice a difference. If you are still finding it hard at that point its likely that your left hand/wrist position isn't quite right---which I'd recommend seeing a teacher for, but there's lots of stuff online for this too. [/quote] This is a great exercise. I do something similar as a warm up myself. However, I'd like to make a quick comment on the "one finger per fret" technique. OP, this is a great technique, but you need to be very careful when playing on the lower frets (1-5). Here, the stretch can be too severe for some people. In this case use the pinkie in congunction with the third finger. Here is a link on the subject from "Talk Bass" [url="http://www.talkbass.com/forum/f22/3-finger-method-one-finger-per-fret-friedland-book-596287/"]http://www.talkbass.com/forum/f22/3-finger-method-one-finger-per-fret-friedland-book-596287/[/url] Never play through any pain in the hope it will eventually go away. If you do experience pain, STOP the action immediatly. Find out why you are having it, and correct. Sorry !! I did not mean to lecture. It is just that I have come across on forums like this, many people who have almost crippled themselves struggling with the OFPF on the lower frets.

Hi Kevstein, For the fingering problem, try placing each finger on a fret. Then slowly lift them off one at a time. This clip shows how. Spend about fifteen minutes a day doing this and in time your fingers will do what you want them to. [url="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IeRoQuXlj9w"]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IeRoQuXlj9w[/url] Dont worry too much about speed for now. This will come of itself with time and practice. Instead concentrate on getting a good clean sound. Tabs are OK up to a point but dont become too dependant on them. Train your ear instead, by listening to songs, working out the bass lines yourself and then trying to play along. Learn the major, minor and pentatonic scales to start. Learn about chord tones and how they are derived from scales. "Studybass" is a great all round site. Start at the beginning of the lessons and work your way through. [url="http://www.studybass.com/study-guide/"]http://www.studybass.com/study-guide/[/url] Finally, be patient with yourself. Take the learning process in small steps.. It took Victor Wooton and others like him, many years of constant focused practice to get to where they are now. Best of luck with it.

Another vote for Dolphin. I bought a bass amp from Dolphin, which turned out to have a problem. I emailed them and within a few hours they had emailed me a shipping barcode to put on the amp for returning. I shipped it off and within a week (bearing in mind that I live in Ireland), I had my replacement amp. After a further fortnight, I had a phone call from Dolphin asking if all was OK with the replacement amp and was I happy with it. Of course I said that I was. I would have no hesitation about dealing with them again.

[quote name='witterth' timestamp='1376692467' post='2178237'] bloody hell, you can be a miserable lot at times! [/quote] For my part, I gave him credit, as did most posters. It was the music he chose to present his talent, that did not do it for me. Besides, if he is going to present himself at jazz festivals ( I assume that's what the clip features) then he has to be prepared to take the good with the bad. He is a "big boy" now.

Flatwounds !

It is an interesting question. You dont have to stretch too far to cover four frets. You can use your thumb as a pivot, and swing the whole hand to where the finges are required. I suffer from "Dupuytren's contracture" in my left pinkie. This is where the finger(s) is pulled towards the palm of the hand. If I hold out my hand, palm facing upwards, my pinkie is at about a 90 degree angle to the palm and wont straighten out. It is probably not as bad as your problem, as there is no pain. Though it slightly impedes my playing, I get by OK. Personally, I would find it very hard to switch and become a "leftie." However, people differ in this regard. Some may find the switch easier than others. In case you are unsure about the pivot, check out this clip (about 06.36 into it). Best of luck, and hope you find a way to continue playing. . [url="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IeRoQuXlj9w"]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IeRoQuXlj9w[/url]

[quote name='Roger2611' timestamp='1376502071' post='2175078'] Practice, practice and more practice....the more you play the better you will get, the odd lesson here and there will help you get the correct technique and hopefully keep you enthused [/quote] I think it's a given, that we need to practice. I think the OP is asking[i] what[/i] to practice as there is so much information available out there, that it can be a bit overwhelming to know where to start.

My dislike (call it rational...or otherwise) is designer made "road worn" basses/guitars.

[quote name='KevB' timestamp='1376486612' post='2174674'] Poor bastard, stuck there in[s] jazz[/s] hell [/quote] There......fixed it for ya !!!

[quote name='xilddx' timestamp='1376484032' post='2174572'] Learning off the web is ok, but it's haphazard. [/quote] I agree entirely. That "Studybass" site I linked is great in that the lessons are structured, i.e. each lesson builds on what went before.