bass_dinger

Rather than something to play, I would get somewhere to play. So, would $4k be enough to fit out a basement room with soundproofing, a few mics, PA, drumkit? Then, you can invite your friends round for a jam session, and the $4k would buy you a rehearsal space. For me, playing with others is what has made me a better musician*, rather than buying additional kit. It is the hours invested in playing that gave me the skill to appreciate those better instruments. * better, when measured from a very low basepoint . . . .

For people on the Abstinence Thread the correct answer is "A bass, and double lessons"

A child drummer in the church asked me to learn Come Together by the Beatles, and Mr Brightside (because it has a "great bassline"). Happy to learn these new songs, if it encourages her to play drums in a band. I am still trying to think of songs for her to learn, for which I already know the bassline. Maybe Good Times by Chic, Crazy Little Thing Called Love, or I Wish.

Spoken like a true musician!

If I had $4,000 to spend on musical gear, I would not spend it on musical gear! But if you are forcing me..... Lessons. Bass, piano, mandolin, theory. That should keep me busy, and on track for the 2024 Bass Abstinence thread.

The bass looks huge, until I compare to those organ pipes! They seem to have put the big ones at the front. I was surprised to learn the 25w amp is enough to boost the sound- but I guess that it is mostly the acoustic sound that is filling the space.

That lack of variety was why I took up bass! I also struggled with strumming patterns - I got bored easily, and found it a bit dull. Bass has now become my mother tongue, my first language of expression. If I want to say something musical, I prefer to say it on the bass. So, I want to revisit the guitar and see if I can still do it.

I have been asked to play guitar in church. Or rather, I asked if I could play as the second acoustic guitar one morning, just to see whether I could still do it. I have not played acoustic guitar in church for over 20 years. At the time, I was a big fan of dual capo settings (me capo 2 in G, the other guitarist in A. Or indeed, me on Capo 5 or 7, to give the harmonic spread). Any hints or tips? Any YouTube lessons?

Not yet, but I will fall soon. I am tidying out my dad's loft (to make space for a rewire) and rediscovered two big boxes of marvel comics. Mostly British stuff, but also, some random American stuff. Tales to Astonish issue 57 in near-immaculate condition, and in the rare Pence Variant (the cover price is in pennies, rather than cents), already bagged and carded, to protect it from my sweaty hands. So, perhaps that (and other comics) will fund a replacement neck and refinished body for the Washburn XB925 bass that I have. Or more, likely, a pack of ukulele strings from eBay . . . .

Nothing better than playing in a band with good musicians! It lifts your own game, and makes it easier to play with them.

@Jason Karloff would have looked 37 years younger, for a start - enough to get him into a boyband!

Does that make it more valuable, or less?? "62 jazz hacked about by a legendary bassist."

After a certain scale length, it's Legs Together again...

So, technically, they could indeed not look at the music. But in this case, they don't need to! Well done for finding a church band of such high quality. Enjoy yourself, and be sure to let us know how it goes.

You have forgotten the ultimate church band excuse - other band members not looking at the music!

I have books that I couldn't use 20 years ago - too complicated, beyond my capabilities, etc. However, when I look at them now, I can use them easily. I can read the dots, count the beats - and use what I learned when I play.

Note to myself: if Bassfinger ever sells a Bass guitar with buckle rash on the back - it isn't buckle rash.....

I appear to already have been entered into this year's challenge - thank you. I am likely to be out - last year's failure was a purchase of a bass guitar that needs a new neck. Not so much a repair, as a rebuild. Can I sign up for 2025 now....?

Everybody wants to rule the world, but you will need a 5 string for the low D

Yes - it makes them appear married, and thus, unavailable to the groupies..... I used to take my ring off to play, but not now. The difference seems to be better technique (and the fact that I had the ring enlarged to fit my finger, which had grown 3 sizes fatter over the years). I am reminded that I once caught a cheap and rough ring on a push-plate on a fire door. I carried on walking, the ring carried on being stuck on the plate, and I only stopped when I couldn't move forwards any more. I then spotted that the top layer of skin on my finger had peeled off. I pushed the skin back onto my finger, and once it was stuck, I removed the ring and binned it.

I can play Mr Blue Sky Crazy Little Thing Called Love I can sight read, at speed: You're my First my last... Silly Love Songs Mission Impossible but will make mistakes I can't play all of Good Times (not enough dexterity) Master Blaster The James Bond theme Fly me to the moon (too many accidentals, and too fast) I have no chance with Hit me with your rhythm stick.

I want to create a plan for learning bass, and music. I see that I have a habit of playing what I already know, and giving up on the difficult stuff. What I want is a schedule for learning, along with techniques and habits. I recently found an add-on for the Chrome browser that allows me to slow down YouTube music and change the pitch, and loop sections. That has allowed me to slow down Good Times by Chic, and move from 60 to 70 to 80% and play the dots under the A13 chord. Next step, 83%, and so on... I primarily want to learn to read music - I am improving, but want to be able to do it accurately and consistently. Is there such a thing as a practice schedule that I could use? What sort of things should I include? Ear training? Music theory? Warm ups? I play mainly in church (where the ability to play the root notes in the keys of G, C, and A are enough to pass the audition, but not enough to sustain my interest). In a moment, I will share what I can play, and what I struggle with....

Is the small yamaha doobrie in fact a Yamaha Reface CP1? If so, a wood worker and sound engineer took one, and added a bigger keybed to it, along with a wooden case. I would have just midi'd the keyboards up to each other, but that is because I have no wood working abilities, no studio, and no YouTube channel! It's a great video, nonetheless.

Good grief - that is a full-on workout! Agreed - it's harmonically rich, with chords from outside of the key. But I shall be having a try at this tomorrow! Thanks for transcribing it.

One picture has an instrument that divides opinion, and is fiercely defended by its few fans. The other contains a ukulele.