Doddy

[quote name='lojo' post='1021867' date='Nov 12 2010, 07:54 PM']Doddy, Did you learn to read early on, or have you played and gigged as a non reader and then decided to learn and achieved reading skills later?[/quote] I was taught to read from the moment I picked up the bass. When I first showed an interest in playing,I was shown a basic root fifth pattern in C over a 12 bar form,and was shown it both on the bass and on the stave.

That's great.

[quote name='Gust0o' post='1021284' date='Nov 12 2010, 12:32 PM']P-Nut had a much more 'accessible' signature bass, to my mind. That one I could have gotten the credit card out for.[/quote] The P-Nut bass looks lovely. Out of the four pictured I quite like the Corvette,but I'm unsure on the rest. The T.M Stevens will surely have very limited appeal due to the finish-especially at that price. The Bootsy model is ok,but is really just an Infinity that's been painted.Also,when I think of a Bootsy bass,I'm thinking Space Bass not Warwick. The Zender model is pretty ugly,I think,and about 12 years too late.

[quote name='daz' post='1021525' date='Nov 12 2010, 03:00 PM']Oh what a surprize the Tab snobs are out again, what a surprize (Yawn) There is nothing wrong in using Tabs to learn songs whilst starting out, especially to learn some favourite songs quickly to give ones sleft a little confidence, and its a waste of time starting another divisive thread about it.[/quote] If you want to do that,fine. But I can honestly say that that 'alpha tab' looks completely useless. It's not a matter of snobbery-I just feel that to recommend it to a beginner is bad advise. Sorry,if that offend you.

[quote name='Pete Academy' post='1021389' date='Nov 12 2010, 01:34 PM']Try PMing Doddy.[/quote] Cheers,but I've already got a six week panto run.

[quote name='JTUK' post='1021366' date='Nov 12 2010, 01:20 PM']We can ( collectively ) get a tad too anal... [/quote] ..and we all know how women feel about that Sorry, couldn't resist.

Or maybe their interest in the bass has diminished (1,b3,b5,bb7 for those that are interested )

Dare I mention Primus? I love them,but most of them are easier than they sound,especially note wise.

[quote name='Pete Academy' post='1021152' date='Nov 12 2010, 11:09 AM']What happened to Zoe BillySheehan and Sarah 5 String?[/quote] They're in my basement,and not allowed near the computer

[quote name='daz' post='1020925' date='Nov 12 2010, 03:39 AM']If you find yourself relying on tabs for certain songs that you cannot find sheet music for, then try doing what i do. Use 'Alpha Tab' I change the tab fret numbers for the notes themselves. So you are at least learning somthing whilst you play to it. Here is regular bass tab: G ---------------------------------------------------- D --------------------5--------------------------17-- A --------2----5-----------------14-----17---------- E ---3----------------------15----------------------- Translated into Alpha Tab: G -------------------------------------------------- D --------------------G-------------------------g-- A --------B----D-----------------b-----d---------- E ---G----------------------g---------------------- Alpha Tab works the same way as regular bass tab. All that is changed is the fret number becomes the note name. To distinguish between the same note name above the 12th fret, you simply use lower case.[/quote] Oh dear I guess people will come up with all sorts of things to avoid reading.

[quote name='funky_numba' post='1020914' date='Nov 12 2010, 02:26 AM']Discovered something else new. Quite often, the open strings vibrate after I pluck a closed string and I don't get such a clean sound. When I listen to music, I never hear any of that. Does that mean that if I'm playing a song, I always have to mute the open strings so that I only hear the string being plucked.. if you know what I mean?? Thanks Paul.[/quote] Basically,yes. You want to develop your muting so that the open stings aren't ringing

I'm really digging these at the moment

[quote name='Lenny B' post='1020870' date='Nov 12 2010, 12:21 AM']Not sure what to call this - is it Jazz-Funk? I do like it though (even with the changes) [url="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m0c38Wtdvz0&feature=related"]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m0c38Wtdvz0...feature=related[/url][/quote] I love that track. The whole 'Thrust' album is super funky.

[quote name='Gazza 2905' post='1020718' date='Nov 11 2010, 09:33 PM']But, when I play a descending chromatic run; for example, if I play 7th fret, then 6th fret, then 5th fret on the A string, should I try to do the reverse of this? In other words, place, in this case, 3 fingers onto the fretboard simultaneously, then lift them off one at a time as I play the relevant notes?[/quote] That's what I do. A simple exercise is to play chromatically C,C#,D,D# (or wherever you like),so you start with your index finger and place each finger down in succession(assuming you are playing finger-per-fret),so when you play D# all four fingers are down. To descend, simply take off each finger until you are back to playing C with your index finger. That's it.

[quote name='skej21' post='1019240' date='Nov 10 2010, 07:34 PM']IMO this is the best Bass book for a range of learners; The Bass Bible - Paul Westwood [url="http://www.amazon.com/Bass-Bible-Verlag-Paul-Westwood/dp/3927190675"]http://www.amazon.com/Bass-Bible-Verlag-Pa...d/dp/3927190675[/url] It has CDs to help those who learn by ear, has notation & tab together to help you learn to read (or just read what is written in the way that's best for you) and then has a range of content starting at Motown and groove based stuff (covering key players such as James Jamerson, Stanley Clarke, Chuck Rainey), moving through world music (African, Latin, Middle East, Guinea etc etc) and moving into pieces that help you develop more advanced techniques (such as slap bass, natural harmonics/artifical harmonics/chordal harmonics and Jazz/Progressive lines)[/quote] That is a great book,and Paul's a top bloke, but for those thinking of learning to read I'd recommend a book without tab,just to remove any temptation. Otherwise,I'd recommend this book any day.

I've not used that particular book,but judging by the other 'Bass Builders' books I'm guessing that it'll be pretty good. This looks like a good book too [url="http://www.amazon.co.uk/Music-Reading-Bass-Complete-Essential/dp/0793581974/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1289416215&sr=8-1"]http://www.amazon.co.uk/Music-Reading-Bass...6215&sr=8-1[/url]

[quote name='cheddatom' post='1018997' date='Nov 10 2010, 04:51 PM']Fiendish!! If they don't fit on the board they're wasted. Perhaps I could store them for you?[/quote] Let me think........... nah,you're alright You're welcome to check 'em out though.

[quote name='cheddatom' post='1018913' date='Nov 10 2010, 03:58 PM']HAHA Doddy, for some reason I thought you'd be one of the "don't touch my TOAN, your pedals make me SICK, I can't heard the true sound of of bass" brigade. Nice board![/quote] Far from it. I love pedals I've got a ruck more that won't fit on the board aswell.

[quote name='BottomEndian' post='1018890' date='Nov 10 2010, 03:39 PM']Please tell me you use the Octabass and OC-2 at the same time. [/quote] I should,but alas,no.

Here's my board taken at a recent gig. [attachment=63581:IMG_0083.JPG]

[quote name='dan670844' post='1006752' date='Oct 30 2010, 09:04 PM']The most common scales however that I use and for that matter most bass dudes are Pentatonic major (its your c major scale above but only using note 1 2 3 5 6 of the scale) you can move it up and down the neck the first note is the root, `i use this for fills and twiddly bits over major chords Pentatonic minor (its like the A aeolian scale above but only using the 1 3 4 5 7 and the octave this is used for twiddlys over minor, minor 7th chords. Dorian mode this is the D scale above use this over minor chords and minor 7th chords a more rocky sound mixolydian the G scale mentioned above, i play over dominant 7th chords the above represents my playing style there are many possibilities, of using certain scales over certain chords to make your groove. for example chris squire often uses the lydian mode over major chords for fills etc creates a bright melodic sound. Thats not me I am more forceful! play with it at rehearsals. Learn the chords of your songs "the changes" cheers D PStwo scales i fogot that are important, which i dont use are the blues scale like the A aeolian mode i meantioned above but with a b5 and b7 added notes. and the mixo blues scale with is the combined notes of the blues scale and the mixolydian[/quote] I'd like to clarify a couple of points if you don't mind,because I got a bit confused Just going off the 'most common' scales that Dan mentioned...... The Minor Pentatonic is taken from the minor scale and uses chord tones 1,b3,4,5,b7 (eg. C,Eb,F,G,Bb). The blues scale is the same but with an added flat 5... 1,b3,4,b5,5,b7 (C,Eb,F,Gb,G,Bb) The Dorian mode is a minor scale with a raised 6.... 1,2,b3,4,5,6,b7 (eg C,D,Eb,F,G,A,Bb,C) The Mixolydian mode is a major scale with a flattened 7..... 1,2,3,4,5,6,b7 (C,D,E,F,G.A,Bb,C) Hope this makes sense. Any questions,just ask.

With most songs I can normally have an idea of it after the first listen. If it's a simple song,I can probably be playing along with it pretty much straight away. If it's more difficult,I may listen to it a couple of times first,but even then,I can usually play it in about 20 mins. I'll play through them a couple of times after I've learned them,just to solidify them but the majority can come from the first one or two listens.

I practice and study things that I either can't play yet or am struggling with. It may be a transcription or learning a song or it may be some fingering exercises or whatever. Often I'll set up a loop and play over the top until I come to something that I didn't play well enough or totally screwed up,and then break it down and come up with a load of exercises based around that. Or,if I've been working on some particular exercises,I'll play them over the loop and try to get comfortable with them all over the bass. I can play scales and arpeggios up and down all day long,so I don't need to practice that,but I will come up with ideas that break them up and go all over the place. There's no point practising stuff that I can already play very comfortably-I'm always trying to push my playing further.

I totally dig it.....I also dig straight ahead jazz. Sure,there is some fluff,but there is alot of great music there.

[quote name='algmusic' post='1017609' date='Nov 9 2010, 02:39 PM']Theory is important, but I'm not sure to key for a successful musician to read... I'm juts putting it out there. I'd personally teach a student to read to help them learn, but I wouldn't make it the centre of their learning.. their Ears are the centre of their learning.. once they have nailed that.. everything slots into place.. nothing worse than a player than can read, but can't understand if the music they're playing doesn't sound right because there was a mistake in the score... You might as well use logic and sack the musician ;-)[/quote] Which is why,in this and other treads I have recommended both reading and ear training,both are as important,to me,as each other. [quote name='silddx' post='1017618' date='Nov 9 2010, 02:42 PM']I do truthfully understand where you are coming from, but there is a big difference in "knowing" and [b]being taught[/b]. There are plenty of great tutors out there who can make learning music notation and theory seem pleasurable and easier than it could be, because they understand the student. However, there are many who make it overcomplicated and daunting, and that can severely hinder the student's progress and possibilities. Other than that though, I agree with you, KNOWING can never be a hinderance, but a caveat is that you can never KNOW it all, there is an assumption that KNOWING means it can be applied.[/quote] So really it's down to poor teachers-of which there are many-who make more difficult than it is. I can see why this would put you off,and it's a great shame. I agree that you can never know it all,but that's part of the fun. I like constantly learning and pushing ny knowledge further. Incidentally,I'm also really open to discussing things,and if anyone wants to talk to me via PM,email,phone,whatever,feel free to get in touch. Paul