Coilte

[quote name='Happy Jack' timestamp='1376484106' post='2174576'] No, my mileage doesn't vary at all - I find that sort of stuff utterly unlistenable, it was even worse than Jaco. [/quote] Good to know I'm not the only one.

Here is my 2 cents worth. 1. Learn where all the notes are on the fretboard. 2. Learn (for a start) the major, minor and pentatonic scales. 3. Learn about chord tones and how chords are derived from scales. 4. Become less dependent on tabs and develop your ear by playing along to songs and figuring out the bass lines for yourself. A great site that will be a lot of help to you is ; [url="http://www.studybass.com"]www.studybass.com[/url]

[quote name='cybertect' timestamp='1376482745' post='2174523'] His name is Michael Pipoquinha. Apparently he was 13 in that video Plenty of him to be found on YouTube. This is what he's up to now [media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eSN6QR12Hic[/media] [/quote] No doubt he is a great bassist and deserves all the credit he gets. However, the music on the clip seems to be more about technique/chops with little in the way of relating to an audience. I could not relate to it. YMMV.

[quote name='iceonaboy' timestamp='1375826488' post='2166308'] Last word I don't need all these experts telling me playing technique , I made a humorous remark about the amount of so called experts on you tube but you have obviously taken offence as its you who posted the experts videos [/quote] OK, my last word. Fair enough, [i]you [/i]dont need any experts, but the link I posted was not particularly for your benefit. It was meant for the OP to check it out in the hope that it might be of some benefit to him, assuming he has not got your closed mind, know-it-all attitude. I am not offended in any way, as it is no skin off my nose whether or not anyone likes or accepts the the advice given in the clip. What does piss me off though, are know-it-alls who dismiss someone who is giving constructive advice, and assume that because they are young that the said advice is somehow invalid.

[quote name='iceonaboy' timestamp='1375824676' post='2166287'] Yeah well you watch whatever vids on you tube you want and Ill just do it my way. I have been playing long enough to know whats gonna hurt and whats not. if you feel the need to be taught by that young guy, go for it [/quote] Good advice is just that.... regardless of the age of the person giving it, or the way he chooses to convey it. No matter how long someone is playing, there will always be something new to learn. BTW, I think that "little whippersnapper" might know what he is talking about : [url="http://adamneely.com/b/"]http://adamneely.com/b/[/url]

[quote name='iceonaboy' timestamp='1375814266' post='2166105'] I get quite pissed off with young whippersnappers telling me how to hold my guitar right enough (bottom vid) Why are there so many folk on youtube who feel that they are experts at telling everyone how to do things? Personally, I found that if it hurt me, I would change my technique, and its evolved from there [/quote] That young whippersnapper is not "telling" you anything. He is merely giving advice, (constructive, IMO) based on his experience, on the safest method to play the bass. I get pissed off with ( I dont know your age) know-it-all whippersnappers, who think they are so expert themselves, that they are above constructive advice. As far as "if it hurts...change you technique" is concerned, that is indeed good advice. The only problem with the likes of CTS and RSI is that it can take years for the pain to manifest itself. So it may not hurt [i]now, [/i]but if a person continues to play in a certain manner, he greatly increases his chances of injury problems at a later time. If someone does develop either of these injuries, it can take a long time to heal. Better to heed good advice and avoid all the pain and hassle.

[quote name='BassBus' timestamp='1375692609' post='2164227'] I do think, though, you would be far better served going to see an osteopath. They can give sound professional advice about the whole muscular skeletal structure of the body. Going to an osteopath will give you better results much more quickly than trying to do it yourself and maybe not fully understanding what you are doing. [/quote] This is excellent advice. OP, your problem may not be entirely bass related, just that playing the bass merely aggravates the problem. Seek professional medical advice. Then when you get the OK to play the bass, work on your technique. The Floating Thumb is a great technique in that the wrist is straight and it helps in muting unwanted string sounds. Constant practice is the only way to master it. Below is a clip that demonstrates the technique, along with a clip on safe L/H technique. [url="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PPVMBPmrblU"]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PPVMBPmrblU[/url] [url="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VRkSsapYYsA"]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VRkSsapYYsA[/url]

A great technique both for muting and for keeping the wrist straight ( having the wrists bent at a severe angle can lead to injury later on) is the "Floating Thumb Technique." [url="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PPVMBPmrblU"]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PPVMBPmrblU[/url]

I suppose it is just a habit, like how some people stick out their pinkie when drinking a cup of tea or coffee. If it does not interfere with your playing and is not likely to cause injury (unlikely IMO) at any time, then I dont see any problem.

[quote name='Josh' timestamp='1375627828' post='2163593'] This is down to my drummer who is a great drummer and I love the guy to bits, but he is also a producer/engineer and as such he does our demos and E.P's, [/quote] ......but he is NOT a bassist. Personally, I would not bother having "heated discussions" or trying to reason with him. Not worth it IMO, from what you say. You are the bassist in the band and you are happy with your set up........'nuff said.

I think I am too long in the tooth to give a **** about such trivialities.

[quote name='hollywoodrox' timestamp='1375550892' post='2162852'] Chord tones and arpeggios are an excellent and musical way to play over chords [/quote] +1...as well as approach notes etc. OP, while scales are very important, equally so are chord tones and arpeggios. In the progression you mention, why not simply play the actual chord itself ? i.e. 1,3,5,7 and 1,b3,5,b7 (for the minor chord). You could use inversions of these too, such as 3571 etc. Check out this link : [url="http://www.studybass.com/lessons/bass-chord-patterns/chord-tones-are-primary/"]http://www.studybass...es-are-primary/[/url] The site itself is well worth while spending some time on.

[quote name='icastle' timestamp='1375135897' post='2157246'] This is a nice little tool to keep in your Favourites. [url="http://ampservice.de/impcalc.php?lang=e"]http://ampservice.de...calc.php?lang=e[/url] [/quote] Yes that's a very helpful link alright. Here is another, which people might find helpful also. [url="http://www.tunemybass.com/bass_amps/how_to_hook_up_heads_and_cabinets.html"]http://www.tunemybass.com/bass_amps/how_to_hook_up_heads_and_cabinets.html[/url]

[quote name='EssentialTension' timestamp='1374859179' post='2154202'] Thomastiks are red silk at both ends. [/quote] Yes. You are correct. My bad !

They look like TI (Thomastik/Infeld) jazz flats to me.

OP, here is a link that might save you a trip to that charity shop : [url="http://www.billygreen.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/Music%20Theory%20-%20Basic,%20Intermediate,%20Advanced.pdf"]http://www.billygreen.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/Music%20Theory%20-%20Basic,%20Intermediate,%20Advanced.pdf[/url] Also, as well as working on scales, you could work on chord tones and their inversions (see link below). Later, you can start adding approach notes. [url="http://www.scribd.com/doc/2087887/a-comprehensive-chord-tone-system-for-mastering-the-bass-jeff-berlin"]http://www.scribd.com/doc/2087887/a-comprehensive-chord-tone-system-for-mastering-the-bass-jeff-berlin[/url] In case you are not familar with chord tones, here is a site that explains them well. It is a great all round site, and IMO one worth spending some time on. [url="http://www.studybass.com/lessons/bass-chord-patterns/chord-tones-are-primary/"]http://www.studybass.com/lessons/bass-chord-patterns/chord-tones-are-primary/[/url]

On the CD that comes with the "Standing in the Shadows of Motown" book, McCartney admits that Jamerson was an early influence on him. AFAIK, Jamerson seldom played above the fifth fret, and used open strings a lot, which he brought with him from his double bass playing days. This may have something to do with McCartney's style of playing.

A good all round (theory/technique) structured site is : [url="http://www.studybass.com"]www.studybass.com[/url] For actual on line lessons, one of the best IMO is from Scott Devine : [url="http://scottsbasslessons.com/online-video-bass-lessons"]http://scottsbassles...eo-bass-lessons[/url] As you are interested in jazz, learning the basics of "walking" would be well worth while, not alone for just jazz, but the knowledge gleaned form practicing walking bass lines can be incorporated into most types of music. Dave marks has a series of lessons here : [url="http://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=dave+marks+walking+bass+lesson+01&oq=dave+marks+walking&gs_l=youtube.1.0.0l2.2889.9831.0.12504.18.12.0.6.6.0.129.1190.7j5.12.0...0.0...1ac.1.11.youtube.y_SCXwe4dJc"]http://www.youtube.c...ube.y_SCXwe4dJc[/url]

[quote name='EssentialTension' timestamp='1374244811' post='2146859'] The reason I point this out is that, in my experience (but yours may differ), people who play or copy merely by ear have a tendency to get it wrong or at least to copy inexactly. [/quote] I agree, plus using tabs, apart from being a crutch (another can of worms opened ), is often incorrect.

[quote name='51m0n' timestamp='1374244684' post='2146858'] But you wont know why it works, you wont be able to write your own stuff outside of a formula you have already heard. [/quote] This is exactly the point some of us have being trying to get across to "iceonaboy" since early in this thread. As far as I am concerned, you are preaching to the converted.

[quote name='EssentialTension' timestamp='1374239876' post='2146779'] Theory is the same whether you're playing someone else's song or your own. [/quote] I agree. My point was that if you are playing strictly by ear, i.e. copying exactly what is being played in a song, you dont necessarily need to know theory, or for that matter, the actual notes you are playing.

I suppose it all boils down to what a person wants (i.e. their goals). If the preferance is to play covers, then it is possible to get by with little or no theory knowledge. However, I have come across, in this and other forums, people who grow tired of the confines of playing covers. They find themselves in a rut and want to "spread their musical wings" a little. The only way to do this is through learning some theory.

[quote name='iceonaboy' timestamp='1374156663' post='2145906'] If that was me and I was doing scales all the time, I would be cheesed off in no time. [/quote] See....you are still missing the point. At no time did anyone say you need to practice scales [b]all the time. [/b] A well balanced practice session will consist of scales/theory, ear training, timing and groove, reading, transcribing, etc. Anyway, as "bassman7755" says, we dont want to derail this thread any further. If you wish to debate this further, feel free to start a new thread.

[quote name='iceonaboy' timestamp='1374148108' post='2145767'] for a complete beginner scales can be a test. I learned by playing along with records. Scales came later [/quote] For a complete beginner [i]everything [/i]can be a test. No one ever said that learning to play an instrument to a reasonably high standard was going to be easy. To bring your idea to a logical conclusion would be... "if it seems hard, drop it". It does not make sense to dismiss at the start, the building blocks of music, i.e. scales. There are many approaches to playing the bass. Learning scales (and chord tones) is one, playing along to records is another (there are many more). They are all important in their own way, and one should not take preference over the other. [quote name='iceonaboy' timestamp='1374148783' post='2145786'] Learning by ear gives you a love for the instrument. Learning theory can turn some people off [/quote] Again, as above, all aspects of learning are important. There is no denying that developing your ear by playing along to music is a major asset. However, if this is your one and only way of learning, and you neglect basic theory, you become a human duke box, regurgatating other people's lines all the time. Some people might be happy with this....fair enough. However, learning some basic theory (no one is saying you need a doctorate in music ) will help you in being able to construct your own original bass lines. If you [i]really[/i] love the instrument, you will do whatever it takes to learn it to the best of your ability.

[quote name='iceonaboy' timestamp='1374144548' post='2145706'] Forget scales mate. [/quote] Where did you get this idea from ?????? Yes, playing along to music is another good step (of which there are many) in the learning process. Scales, and how chords are derived from them are one of the most important things to learn at the start. Dismissing them in this way is just..well...silly. You have to build from the bottom up, and scales are the foundations.