Coilte

Your very first post on the forum, and you use it to promote yourself. Guess you wont be partaking in any discussions.

[quote name='Musky' timestamp='1339543958' post='1690481']
But yes, "thanks" is the best reply.
[/quote]

That's all I am saying.

[quote name='Skol303' timestamp='1339517874' post='1689761']
Crikey... what a question! Off the top of my head. mine would be something like (in no particular order):

Cliff Burton
Jaco Pastorius
Geezer Butler
Charles Mingus
Horace Panter
Aston Barrett
Tom Jenkinson (aka Squarepusher)
Dave Ellefson
Rob Wright
Jasper Høiby

...ask me again tomorrow and I might give a different list
[/quote]

What ????....no James Jamerson ????

Surely any list worth it's salt should have him at the top.

[quote name='Happy Jack' timestamp='1339514848' post='1689650']
Nope.

Firstly, no one is likely to compliment me on either my clothes or my car (you've not seen either, have you?).

Secondly, my bass playing - at whatever level it sits - is something I'm genuinely proud of.

My clothes are things I chose in a shop, my car's just a box on wheels which I paid money for; no skill or effort was involved.
[/quote]

Lets not split hairs here. If someone compliments you on your clothes or your car, they are complimenting your taste and your ability to choose well. The fact you dont dress well is neither here nor there. I just picked these examples to make a point.

As I said, a compliment is a compliment.

I'm curious as to whether the people who get tongue tied with the word thanks, when complimented about their bass playing, can manage to get it out, when complimented about something else, say their clothes, or their car etc ?

If yes, then what differentiates this from bass playing ?

After all, is not a compliment a compliment. ?

[quote name='bluejay' timestamp='1339503260' post='1689357']
I'm just saying that being unable to say thanks in this case usually isn't as rude or awkward as in other social situations.
[/quote]


Possibly, but regardless of the situation, a person should be able to thank someone in [b]any [/b]situation.

[quote name='charic' timestamp='1339503140' post='1689350']
Because some people can't say what they don't mean
[/quote]

You dont have to "mean" anything. Saying thanks merely acknowledges the compliment that was given.

[quote name='bluejay' timestamp='1339502683' post='1689337']
Yes, but there are ways of expressing gratefulness for a compliment even without uttering a word. All a bit too subtle for someone, but not for others.

Also, we are talking about a special situation in this case, I think, not quite the same as giving a presentation at the office etc., as music is art, and isn't "measurable" in the same way as other kinds of performance.
[/quote]

Again, I respect your opinion. However, I still cant get my head around someone who cant simply [b]SAY [/b]thanks.

[quote name='neepheid' timestamp='1339502252' post='1689330']
If someone says something nice to you it seems only sensible to thank them - regardless of whether or not you agree with them. File under "mmm, this is delicious" and "thank you for the lovely gift, you really shouldn't have".

I always thank them for the compliment and thank them for coming and say how glad I am they enjoyed the show. If it's an actual bass player you sometimes get into a chinwag about gear etc. which is always good fun.

I may not be the world's best bass player (and don't suppose I ever will), but at that particular point in time I was the best bass player playing on that stage
[/quote]


+ 100 !!

[quote name='bluejay' timestamp='1339502094' post='1689324']
It's instrument-related only in the sense that bassists tend not to be over-confident arses like - erm - some other musicians
Lack of [b]excessive[/b] confidence is not a bad thing, and does not equate [b]total[/b] lack of confidence.
[/quote]

I agree, but IMO someone who cant simply say "thanks", lacks basic confidence, regardless of "excessive", "over confident" or the instrument in question. You dont have to be an egotist to say thanks.

[quote name='steve-soar' timestamp='1339502017' post='1689320']
Next time we get compliaments, why not say, "yeah, cheers. I mix the output of both pickups to a kind of low mid thump, with a dark overtone, then I let the compressor add a cool slam, boost 180 Hz by about 3 Db, add a notch of 7K, just to let the bottom end have a bit of air, then the signal is sent to the 4 ten inch speakers, with a hot DI feed going FOH".

And then watch their faces change.
[/quote]

Doubt if that'll happen, if people cant simply say "thanks".

[quote name='bluejay' timestamp='1339501470' post='1689306']
or even how to say thank you without feeling awkward
[/quote]

I would say this is a simple lack of confidende and down to personality, rather than any instrument related issue.

[quote name='EskimoBassist' timestamp='1339500621' post='1689286']
I don't think there's anything particularly outstanding about what I do as a bass player, I just try and fit in with the band as best I can!
[/quote]

Obviously the compliment giver thinks other wise. So why not just accept and enjoy it in the spirit that it was given ?

IMO, when someone gets a compliment, replying by saying "this was not right/that was not great", somehow throws the compliment back in the face of the giver. It is actually saying, "your opinion is wrong". A lot easier and friendlier to simply say "thanks".

Maybe it just that bassists are not, by the nature of the instrument's general role in the band, used to getting compliments. I'll bet most lead guitarist's would know what to say.

Personally, I think it's a great "problem" to have to deal with.

[quote name='Happy Jack' timestamp='1339499176' post='1689259']
+1 I have no idea what to say in response.
[/quote]

A simple "thank you" would usually suffice.

[quote name='ZMech' timestamp='1339025246' post='1682733']
Search out material on walking basslines.
[/quote]

Yes, even if you dont particulary care much for jazz, walking bass lines are great for learning how to out line a chord. I found this book very good. Has a play along CD too.

[url="http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Mel-Bay-Presents-Walking-Jazz-Lines-for-Bass-Jay-Hungerford-/120920628430?pt=Non_Fiction&hash=item1c276e5cce"]http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Mel-Bay-Presents-Walking-Jazz-Lines-for-Bass-Jay-Hungerford-/120920628430?pt=Non_Fiction&hash=item1c276e5cce[/url]

Being able to play scales and modes all day long is all well and good, but 90% of the time, a bassist will play CHORD TONES. I would suggest that you start concentrating on these now. Chord tones and why they are so important is explained here :


[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]

I found the book (see link below) by Jay Hungerford a big help. He covers what you ask, and a lot more. Comes with a CD.


[url="http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Mel-Bay-Presents-Walking-Jazz-Lines-Bass-Jay-Hungerford-/120920628430?pt=Non_Fiction&hash=item1c276e5cce"]http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Mel-Bay-Presents-Walking-Jazz-Lines-Bass-Jay-Hungerford-/120920628430?pt=Non_Fiction&hash=item1c276e5cce[/url]

[quote name='AlanJ' timestamp='1338235897' post='1671409']
I am also quite sure that I would do myself an injury if I didn't warm up,
[/quote]

Possibly, but you seldom hear much about warming [b]down.[/b] This is just as important (maybe even more so) than warming up, as far as avoiding injury is concerned.

Warming up helps to stretch and prepare the hand for the task ahead. Warming down helps to rid the body of toxins that can build up from activity, and allows the hand to return to it's normal relaxed state gradually.

[quote name='Bilbo' timestamp='1337871031' post='1666767']
At home, I suppose its depends on what you are practising?
[/quote]

Sorry, but I have to disagree here. The tendons in the hand cant differenciate between for instance doing scales, playing songs, or merely doodling. All the hand knows is that it is being asked to do something that nature never intended, i.e. play the bass. Warming up gives it time to adjust and prepare for the task at hand (pun intended ), and IMO should be done every time you play, regardless of other circumstances.

[quote name='wal4string' timestamp='1338211418' post='1670842']
Several years ago I worked with a keyboard player who woke up one morning with RSI. The night before he had played an energetic gig playing 16th notes during a RnR set. He has never played pro keyboards since and now plays tuba in a funk band. He also admitted having never warmed up as he 9/10 his keys were set up on stage. I was taught that to play a gig without a warm up was asking for trouble sometime in the future. All athletes have a warm up routine before an event and musicians should do the same. Like the keyboard player 9/10 my bass is normally set up on stage so I simply perform some simple hand stretching exercises, bending the wrists back and fore as far as I can with my other hand and clenching my hands into a fist and slowly relaxing them. Another tip is to squeeze a squash ball tightly in in each hand. Yes, I can already imagine the kind of comments I will receive after this post. But for those of you who ignore a warm up routine don't be surprised to hear yourself in a few years say "if only I had done some warm up".
[/quote]


Good post, all of which I agree with. To be honost, I'm surprised at the general air of complacency in the thread with regards to warming up.

As we all know, the bass guitar is a very physical instrument to play. As pointed out above, it is prudent to warm up before physical activity. Doing this can contribute to a life of trouble free ( from a physical aspect) bass playing.

My routine goes like this. Before I even touch the bass, I spend about three to five minutes doing gentle finger stretches. I then stretch out my arm, and gently bend the wrist, using the other hand, for three seconds. I then bend the wrist the other way for three seconds. I repeat for the other hand.

Then I pick up the bass and slowly do some chromatic scales. Finally I open the fingers wide, hold for five seconds, relax for five seconds, then make a light fist and relax again. Then I am ready to play.

It may seem like a lot, but the whole procedure takes less then ten minutes. Time well spent IMO.

BTW, it is also prudent to warm down, with some gentle stretches.

Here is a clip containing some of the exercises I mention :


[media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7_0aVxFxBa0[/media]

I would love to do some "Steely Dan" songs live. Songs like "Peg", "Haitian Divorce", and "Rikki Dont Lose That Number" for example.


It would be a tough task to fill Mr Rainey's shoes though.

Speed comes with playing at a comfortable tempo, then increasing it gradually. Just keep alternating those fingers. You can even do this while watching TV etc. without the amp. After a while it will become second nature. As for your thumb.....float it (see link). BTW, if you ever experience pain while playing, STOP immediatly. Never play through pain.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PPVMBPmrblU

[quote name='BassMan94' timestamp='1336209614' post='1642451']
How would I look for the soloution though ? Any kind of checklist laying around ?
[/quote]

While you may not have a complete solution,(there is none IMO), you certainly have a few things to be trying out, from this thread, i.e.

1. Have a spare set of strings and soak the other set in Meths.

2. Wash your hands before each practice session.

3. Wipe down your strings (preferably with Meths) after each session.