Doddy

[quote name='Monckyman' post='1200702' date='Apr 15 2011, 02:05 PM']I`ve met a few classical musicians who couldn`t jam a note and get all upset and insecure when you ask them to. I also met a lot of excellent musicians who "know" what they are doing without having a clue why.[/quote] The thing is,90% of classical musicians never need to jam. That's why I said earlier that ears are a given in popular music. I know lots of musicians that don't know what they are doing,and they play well at what they do. But,they all tend to fall in to their stock licks and patterns. They are very much niche players. [quote name='Monckyman' post='1200702' date='Apr 15 2011, 02:05 PM']When I was a child my grandfather tought me piano, which included reading. I hated it and avoided lessons when I could, although I loved playing the piano. Later at college they tried re-teaching me to read rather than using the ears I had relied on for years and it was a real struggle.So much so that I didn`t complete that module. I do believe there is a long dark teatime of the soul when learning the dots after relying on ears and this seems to knock your instinctive feel out of kilter.[/quote] Why were you so adamant about not learning to read? If you enjoyed playing the piano,why wouldn't you not want to get the most out of it? Learning to read will not affect your instinctive feel,unless you let it. In which case it could be argued that there was little feel to begin with. [quote name='Monckyman' post='1200702' date='Apr 15 2011, 02:05 PM']One theory I heard was to do with memory, either visual or aural, and that the visual memory part of the brain was larger and better served, so learning to "see" a visual representation of what you were hearing, helped with retention and understanding. I`m with the "Badger Chewers" though. [/quote] It is not just about retaining information,although it can help. It is also the quickest way of passing on information to other musicians so that they can play it instantly.

[quote name='Sercet' post='1200673' date='Apr 15 2011, 01:48 PM']If I play upright, neither do I. I wouldn't change it.[/quote] Why is that?

[quote name='Gust0o' post='1200650' date='Apr 15 2011, 01:34 PM']For a minute I thought Doddy was going to keep it on track; I suspect he would also take his rules of the game out to the driving range, so I think we'll have to agree to disagree on that one [/quote] I did keep it on track-Everyone knows my opinions on basic musical knowledge. If I still played golf,then yes I would take my rules to the driving range,especially if I was even vaguely serious about it.

[quote name='Gust0o' post='1200608' date='Apr 15 2011, 01:06 PM']I think it's quite right that those who aspire to improve, or who perform professionally, should want to read the music and understand the theory; I'm equally of the belief that large swathes of it would be wasted on many of us. That deals with the good/competent end of the community, mind - and I think it begs the questions of what the basic level of knowledge or ability is for playing with other people in any realistic fashion. If the guy genuinely has no idea - either in knowing the notes he's playing, or at least being able to hear them and work them out in his own fashion, then it's a hiding to nothing until he does.[/quote] I'm of the belief that large swathes of it would not be a waste to anyone-ever. What would I call basic knowledge? Knowing the notes on the 'board, basic understanding of notation,major scales and chords etc. I'm not talking about ears because in every form of popular music,that is a given.

Let's be honest about this,it's not just guitarists that suffer from ignorance. There are tons of bass player and drummers and others who are in the same position. I don't get it......if you are in any way serious about music,why would you choose to avoid an important part of it's communication. Yet,strangely,many do.

Right....I've got loads of basses,which is great because of my position,but I still favour my Jazz Bass over everything else. Too many people swap and change instruments all the time looking for the perfect tone and feel,and never spend the time to really get to know a bass. It's great owning multiple instruments,but I think that there is something wrong if you've gone though 11 instruments in just two years of playing. I'm guessing that you've made the instrument is the priority over the actual playing.

Roundwound strings and favouring the bridge pickup works for me. If you pluck the strings over the bridge pickup too,it'll help.

Check out this really cool interview with Beller by Janek Gwizdala............. [url="http://members.videobasslessons.tv/interviews/bryan-beller-interview/"]http://members.videobasslessons.tv/intervi...ller-interview/[/url]

[quote name='EBS_freak' post='1197361' date='Apr 12 2011, 09:33 PM']I've read about a few people on here breaking strings. I have come up with a one string bass. It means that there are less strings to break, therefore less of a problem. I've seen Sandbergs 2 string bass... this is better![/quote] So basically,you've come up with the Atlansia Solitaire. [url="http://www.atlansia.jp/SOLITAIRE.ARS.JPG"]http://www.atlansia.jp/SOLITAIRE.ARS.JPG[/url]

Bryan has got monster chops-check out his excellent solo albums or his work with Keneally or Vai. He's also [u]the[/u] coolest guy ever.

[quote name='voxpop' post='1197032' date='Apr 12 2011, 05:01 PM']Bass players never pull, they are the tall moody ones at the back.......[/quote] I must not have received that memo.....

[quote name='Chris2112' post='1195343' date='Apr 11 2011, 07:31 AM']And what odd decision is that? If I recall correctly, it was Stu who went to Washburn for a bass. Fender have done the Urge II tenth anniversary bass and the Urge was their first signature bass. Stu and Fender's relationship goes all the way back to when Fender bought Kubicki in the late 80's. Stu had been playing a Washburn acoustic bass since the late 90's/early 00's and built contacts in the company who offered him a new signature model. Stu started playing that and moved away from Fender. Please correct me if I am wrong, as I recall reading what Stu had written about how he got his new bass but it's possibly my nightshift hazed brain is remembering things incorrectly. As for Stu's new Washburn bass, it sounds incredible but I don't like the looks at all.[/quote] I think it was an odd decision for Fender to discontinue the Urge model. Hamm only went to Washburn for his electric bass after Fender chose to tale the Urge out of production. I'm sure the Washburn sounds and plays great,but it isn't the nicest looking bass.

My old band got on a couple of festivals in the US via Sonicbids.

As you've raised the height,is your arm resting on the body of the bass and is your wrist at a sharper angle than normal? Also,are you keeping your rhumb anchored,thereby stretching to much,or are you moving up and down the strings? You shouldn't be feeling pain when you play. If it's only started since changing to the six,it means you must have changed your positioning somewhere. It should never hurt your arm-if it does it needs sorting our. No pain,no gain isn't applicable to bass playing-if it hurts even slightly,it's bad.

[quote name='Telebass' post='1195753' date='Apr 11 2011, 02:30 PM']How does anyone manage to break bass strings???[/quote] Easily.

I know what mean. I love music that's technical and full of great chops,but conversely one of my favourite bands is Ween,who are a total love/hate band. Some of their stuff is really out there and rough as hell,but it just clicked with me for some reason. In the same way that I when I listen to bands like the Spin Doctors or Barenaked Ladies,I get the same feelings as when I was 12 or 13 and didn't even play an instrument.I never feel like picking up an instrument up and studying them-I just listen and dig it. Don't worry....it wasn't an inane statement-I kind of get pegged as a technical jazzer,but that's only part of what I like and do.

Jazz type,I really like the DiMarzios. Check out either the Ultra Jazz ( my preference),Model J or of you can find them anywhere the Area J.

[quote name='Sawtooth' post='1195153' date='Apr 10 2011, 10:23 PM']Much as I respect (and I suppose, desire, the more I learn) the beauty and complexity of musical theory and rhythmical concepts, I feel the more you learn, the more you analyze and criticise? I sometimes feel that you somehow lose that gut instinct and raw unabbreviated passion for 'sound'. At the end of it all - if a tune excites you, you ain't thinking about the mathematics.[/quote] I agree with the fact that it excites you,that's great. No argument there. I don't agree with the fact that you lose your gut instincts and passion the more you learn. There are bands that I love that are a long way from being the best musicians but I totally dig the music. The fact is some stuff excites you and some stuff doesn't. In the case of Lightning Bolt,I heard nothing that I liked on either a musical or guttural level.

Nordstrand are great,but expensive. Seymour Duncan Basslines,DiMarzio,EMG,Bartolini all make great pickups aswell.

Oohhh.... I'll get a pic of my LG up when I get the chance.

[quote name='Oscar South' post='1194844' date='Apr 10 2011, 06:03 PM']There are two types of people in this world; those who like art who's preconceptions they agree with, and those who enjoy good art.[/quote] [quote name='Oscar South' post='1194864' date='Apr 10 2011, 06:13 PM']You shouldn't listen to Lightning Bolt if what you like in music is a pretty melody and gentle timbre, but if you want to accept music as art, there's a lot to enjoy! [/quote] My hypothesis based on these comments is.... Because I don't like this particular brand of music and you do,I do not appreciate music as art. That's the impression I get.Am I right? I watched those clips,and thought that it was a couple of young guys who probably hadn't been playing for long and were playing in front of their mates. To me it sounded sloppy and amateurish.

You don't say how long you've had the strings on the bass. I tried DR Low Riders once and popped the A string in about 3 weeks,so I did what I always do....replace the whole set. I don't like the sound of mismatched strings.

[quote name='bubinga5' post='1194573' date='Apr 10 2011, 01:37 PM']the funk is in your fingers..not the bass..[/quote] This Get a bass that you like the sound and feel of. Funk comes from the player not the bass.

The way I have mine is....... Volume full...blend very slightly in favour of the bridge pickup....bass and treble flat.....mids boosted very slightly

[quote name='Ross' post='1194441' date='Apr 10 2011, 11:35 AM']Terrible for it, always asking to try other peoples basses.[/quote] Never gonna happen. If I'm playing a gig and someone wants to talk about gear,I'll happily talk to them,but if i dont know you,you're not having a go.