howdenspur

[quote name='JamesBass' timestamp='1364340057' post='2025261'] If you get a squash ball, place it between your thumb and fingers and squeeze, do that for 5 reps, as if you were in the gym doing weights and then change finger and work your way through that a few times, you'll be surprised at how much stronger your fingers will get and the quicker you can do it the better as well for agility on the fret board. Also adjust your strap so that when you are playing stood up your left wrist isn't bent too much as you'll cause some problems with RSI and the like. As with anything make it comfortable for you and just practice and practice and practice! A good exercise I do/came up with is running up the neck on the G string i.e; 1st finger 1st fret up to the 4 fret, then jump 4th finger 4th fret on the A and proceed down, then 1st finger 1st fret D and up the neck, 4th finger 4th fret on the E and down the neck, try and make it OFPF if you can't then just do it till you can, do that a few times in your warm up and you'll soon have the hang of it! [/quote] ~+1 This. You can also buy a finger strengther aimed at climbers I think which will help. I've flirted with tennis elbow (that's where it hurts on the o/s of the elbow) which I'm pretty sure was caused by going hard a a finger per fret with the guitar slung too low. I guess the answer is to keep the position comfortable and stretch gradually.

Heaven Knows and Charming Man are both excellent lines - musical and almost Motownesque. Not the easiest to play for "sausage fingers" here either

Avon EB0 copy. Sort of purpley colour, lump of cardboard supporting the bridge. Chopped it in for a musicmaster.

Giving a listen to CDs I got for Christmas from the offspring...an Eddie Cochran compilation and the first Blondie album. Both fabulous

Bass lesson at lunchtime - creeping up on "Heaven knows I'm miserable now". Whatever you think of the Smiths, that's one heck of a groove!

Thanks for this alert - we've been doing a spot of promoting and who knows where my enthusiastic band mates might be posting...

Came in waves I guess. Mates' older brothers records - Jack Bruce and John Entwhistle; blimey that's a cool name and they've got 3 guitarists! - Joe Bouchard (Blue Oyster Cult); "punk" - Paul Simonen, Bruce Foxton and Norman W-R; and an undercurrent of pop/soul - James Jameson, Macca. I know, don't know when to stop...

Hi guys Having stalked the forums for a while, time to say g'day...be rude not to! I've been messing around with basses (and those 6 thin-string things) for around er, blimey, nearly 40 years, but have only recently taken it seriously(ish). I play a MIM P bass which is pretty decent and will be fab after a set up. Back up is a Danelectro Longhorn, which is very travel-friendly but ergonomically compromised - so bit awkward either standing or sitting. Would like a Thunderbird (no problems with ergonomics there lol) but am undecided as to which one to go for (make, 4 or 5, active or passive, reverse or NR etc). I play in a band called the Levharts and we gig in and around York - a combo of covers and our stuff, a sort of rock/pop/country mix. Cheers Rod