tedmanzie

[quote name='Davo-London' timestamp='1462914496' post='3047006'] I am a drummer and it takes many years of practice as far as I can tell. Eventually muscle memory takes over and you can focus on everything else. Useful tips include: 1) Tap your left foot heel on the ground to keep rhythm 2) practice with a metronome that can be silenced for a bar. SO you start playing along with it and then you need to keep rhythm during the empty bar. Then you can tell if you're on track when the metronome cuts in again. 3) Practice as slow as possible that you can bear, such as 50 bpm. Count one-ee-an-er, two-ee-an-er etc, which splits each crotchet into four parts (1/4 notes or semi-quavers). This also helps you to keep in time and enables various off beats to be executed accurately. In my opinion playing along with tracks drumless or otherwise is great fun, but I'm not convinced it does much. Playing to a metronome is more telling and you can spot errors more easily. Beginners usually mess up the tempo during fills. So either keep the left foot rhythm or practice these against the metronome. Learning the drums is a lifelong activity. However, you will be in demand if you can keep it simple and keep it rock steady. Best of luck Davo [/quote] Good advice, thanks. 'Simple and rock steady' is my new mantra

I've got a friend's set of drums in my studio and also my daughter has a cheap & cheerful set at home - I've tinkered on and off, and for the past few months I've found myself having fun by teaching myself some rhythms. I've never had any lessons but I can do some basic kind of grooves. I'm late 40s, I've got no illusions about being the next John Bonham - my [b]ambition[/b] (!) is very simple - I'd like to be able to play like one of those old Roland/Casio rhythm boxes - simple, metronomic, tight, basic. I tried recording myself the other day and although it wasn't too bad, it's plainly obvious that I'm not 'a drummer' (yet?! Having slugged away at guitar and bass for years I'm used to practicing with a metronome or playing along to records, but tiny rhythmic flaws are so exposed on the drums that another level of super-human tightness is required. Has anyone here got any tips for improving towards that tightness and feel of a drummer? What exercises pay best dividends? Is it always best to play with a metronome? Etc. Jack of all trades master of none I know, but it's fun

54ri's have the round string tree, 57s have a rectangular. There must be something else but that's all I can remember

Those are very nice guitars - I think it will have a soft V neck profile? I had one for a while, it was very light - about 6.5 lbs. A funk machine!

this looks good! £140 http://thefretboard.co.uk/discussion/74289/fs-ibanez-sa260fm#latest

You're definitely not too old. I've been playing guitar for 28 years and have only reached half decent busker level! But for what it's worth here are my thoughts! - In my experience the tension of guitar strings can be worse than bass for hand problems (I get left arm problems) and I think you have posted here before about having left hand issues on bass. With that in mind I would say you could consider trying out a short scale guitar like a Fender Mustang, you can pick them up new for £270 so might get one second hand for near your budget. Definitely worth trying though, the necks are small and the strings will be much lower tension, I think they are great guitars. Next up from that is a 24.75" scale and that is the classic Gibson scale length, 24.75 is easier to play than 25.5 - basically Stratocasters, Telecasters and most other guitars are 25.5" scale length (including that Ibanez I would expect). It's not a deal breaker but I would definitely try some different guitars out to see what you think. Whatever you get I'd string it with 009 - 042s which is extra light guage and will make learning easier, and get it set up so the action is spot on - it makes all the difference. The next thing is what kind of music do you want to play? If you're happy to busk through some pop tunes or become a rhythm guitarist in a rock band then you're in luck as you can probably be doing that in months rather than years If you want to be in a metal band you can build a career on one chord shape! (i'm not joking)

[quote name='Paul S' timestamp='1460735140' post='3028340'] It had something completely different on when it arrived. You may recall (now I have said it) that you were selling the strings - I bought them. After a bit of chat we came to realise that it was the same bass they were going back on I believe I bought the bass from the guy you sold it to (Kristo). Still my best and favourite [/quote] Oh yes I do remember now. There you go Fuzzbass2000 - two votes for the DR's!