Doddy

[quote name='LawrenceH' timestamp='1353945755' post='1880059'] But the OP was asking for ideas on how to aid memorising music, not the 'reading or not' debate. You play an awful lot, so must be a pretty efficient learner when you need to with ways of streamlining that process, no? [/quote] It wasn't a 'reading or not' answer. The OP said he has to have notes to help him remember the material-I just said that after playing from a chart once or twice I just go without it,that way you either have to remember it or you get it wrong. If I've got to learn tunes for a gig,then I can usually remember it after playing it a couple of times.If there is a lot to learn I'll jot bits down on manuscript,but again I can usually remember them after a couple of play throughs.

[quote name='SteveK' timestamp='1353941848' post='1879981'] I think our ideas of what constitutes 'rock' music differ somewhat. [/quote] I'm guessing that it doesn't as much as you think.

I often read on gigs-even pop/rock gigs-because the bandleader often gives us new charts on the night. So,I read them on the first gig (maybe the second),then I just go bareback. One of two things will happen-it'll either be right or wrong.More often than not,it's right. You just have to do it. Edit...40 songs isn't bad. Problems start when you have to remember about 400.

[quote name='pendingrequests' timestamp='1353930451' post='1879772'] Maybe they dont have the luxury of having two rigs. And it seems they are the type of guitarists that if you told them to bring a smaller rig, they might not be best pleased. [/quote] But,they do have the option/luxury of having a smaller rig.If you've got a head/cab set up it's very easy to go smaller-you don't have to use two cabs.I've been told many times to bring a small amp to gigs...it's no big deal. I once did a dep gig with a guy a few years ago who did a similar thing-it was a small pub,so I used my old Hartke HA4000 head and 2x10 cab. The guitarist turned up with a Marshall 100 watt head,2 4x12 cabs and a rack of guitars (including EVH Wolfgang and Blackmore Strat-says it all). Completely unnecessary and way too loud,but it pampered to his once or twice a month rock star ego. I know so many guitar players (and bass players and drummers) who do this all the time.

[quote name='BILL POSTERS' timestamp='1353925199' post='1879672'] OK... How about, Work out a few 12 bar numbers, where the root notes etc are and go for it. You'll be srprised how quickly your playing will improve. Worry about technique and lessons and scales later, [i][b]when you can at least play a song or two, that way it'll keep you interested cos you can see some progress.[/b][/i] [/quote] Yes learning songs will help to keep you interested,but you will get a lot more out of it if you run everything in conjunction with each other. To work out where the root notes are you need to learn where those notes are on the fingerboard,otherwise you are just guessing and/or searching.From there,it doesn't take much at this stage to sync that up with their positions on the stave. If you work out a basic 12 bar pattern you are basically playing arpeggios, so why not learn about those at the same time? Then it's only a short step to learning basic scales. You can do this with a lot of music and while the songs will be fun and keep you interested,the study will increase your knowledge and progress. It will also be easier to do that at this stage than to just learn songs now have to relearn the rest at a later stage. You also need to spend time on technique because no matter what you're playing you want to be able to play it cleanly and efficiently.

[quote name='MiltyG565' timestamp='1353895605' post='1879552'] yeah.... cheers.... Here's the thing, did my cover sound bad? was it any worse because i tucked my wee finger in? i just want to avoid pain in my hands, that's the bottom line. [/quote] You can sound good with only one finger,but you're the one who brought up your technique.You want to avoid pain and you said yourself that your thumb hurts,and you think that it's because of your left hand position. In the same way,by tucking your little finger in,you are taking it 'out of play' and because of this you are making some quite big stretches between your index and ring fingers that would be made easier and more comfortable for you if you kept your little finger closer to the 'board.

[quote name='MiltyG565' timestamp='1353893177' post='1879540'] clearly, you guys would red flag this all over the place. i never even noticed i had my thumb over the top of the neck. that's mental, i never consciously made a decision to place my thumb over the top of the neck. anyway, my thumb hurts... i reckon that's why. [/quote] I'd be just as concerned about how the little finger on your fretting hand often gets tucked in under the neck. I'd personally be really looking at left hand technique in general.

Yeah,Felix took over from Jimmy Haslip back in January. Apparently,Haslip is just taking a break from the group to do some other stuff-he's been playing with Holdsworth lately. I'm not a huge fan of Felix Pastorius,to be honest. He's a decent enough player,but I don't think that he's anywhere near the level of either his dad or Jimmy Haslip.

[quote name='BILL POSTERS' timestamp='1353884642' post='1879467'] Work out a few 12 bar numbers, where the root notes etc are and go for it. You'll be srprised how quickly your playing will improve. Worry about technique and lessons and scales later. [/quote] I don't completely agree. Yes play with other people,but don't 'worry about technique and lessons and scales later'. It's all important to do. On a technical side,if you're not happy with the sound you are producing you need to spend time working on it away from band situations,and good lessons and quality practice time are the way to improve it. Same with scales-don't push them to one side.Learn them as you go along,so that you can understand them and later,apply them-most 12 bar numbers are simply arpeggios and scale degrees.If you know and understand this you'll be better off than if you were to just move your fingers in generic patterns. If you push all this to one side it's easy to get to the point where you just can't be bothered to learn it later (as many people have proven). If you start studying from the beginning (technique,basic theory,reading etc) alongside all the fun stuff (jamming,playing to records,general noodling etc.) it will quickly become second nature and will save you a lot of hassle later on. A good teacher will give you material to work on and be able to point out why you aren't producing the sound you want (it's hard to do without seeing you play),and you will progress quicker and hopefully,with get a better understanding of what you are doing.

[quote name='Sean' timestamp='1353781388' post='1878456'] It's capable of monstrous sounds (obviously) and if you want the full Billy thing I believe you'll have to pop a FatFinger on it. [/quote] ...Although you'll probably never notice any difference.I've got one on my Jazz-I can't say that it does anything. The Attitude is a really nice bass. It's like a Precision crossed with an EB0 and modernised.

[quote name='dood' timestamp='1353667997' post='1877111'] I'd seen the Jemini pedal and did wonder what it'd be like on bass. Can you have both halves on at the same time? [/quote] No,you can't have both on at once-when you turn one side on,it turns the other off.

I've been looking for another distortion pedal (well,more overdrive really),despite already having the EMMA, Pigtronix and a EHX Bass Big Muff. I was looking at all the funky stuff and was very tempted by Fuzzrocious and Wampler,and I was leaning towards the Xotic BB Preamp. But....the other day I tried a pedal on a whim and bought it there and then-an Ibanez Jemini. What a great pedal. It's got a really good overdrive channel, based on a slightly modded Tubescreamer,and a good distortion channel based on Vai's modded Boss DS-1. I was expecting it to have a lot of low end loss,but with the tone knobs you can dial in quite a lot of low end if you want. I think I'm going to be using this pedal quite a lot.

[quote name='pietruszka' timestamp='1353537855' post='1875927'] Tony Skinner used to work with my dad in London and has always been extremely thorough, I would imagine they'd all be CRB checked. Especially given how widespread the RGT is. [/quote] As far as I'm aware you don't have to be CRB checked to be join the RGT,but by joining you can get a discount on the check.

[quote name='lojo' timestamp='1353531216' post='1875789'] cocky bstad [/quote] Is it just me who doesn't think that 'Rhythm Stick' is the pinnacle of bass playing? Why not try some kind of solo piece? Maybe a standard arranged for solo bass? Or a Bach Cello suite?

[quote name='Parker85' timestamp='1353499475' post='1875180'] Thinking about picking this book up, just wondering if it includes tab or is notation only? Thanks. [/quote] Judging by Joe's other books I would guess (hope) that it's all notation. Let's be honest...you don't get any information about the harmony in tabs. Also,just out of interest,I'm another one who doesn't really bother with the CD's that come with books. If all the information is present on the page (it usually is),you (I) don't need to listen to it to be able to learn it.

[quote name='jim_strings' timestamp='1353000132' post='1870374'] I run a business selling strings and accessories. We currently only stock D'Addario, Elites and Ernie Ball bass. While these are popular with our customers what other brands are popular? [/quote] I would think that they were popular with your customers if that's all you stock Anyway...I use Elites Stadium Series .45-.130

I've not used a hard case for years. Usually I use my iGig,although I've got a few others that I may use for ease (usually an old Protection Racket).I normally drive to all of my gigs so there generally isn't an issue,but I've also had them in the back of vans and trailers with no problems.Plus,when I'm flying I can take it on as hand luggage.

[quote name='MoJo' timestamp='1353364800' post='1874357'] Does anyone else use a fretless for rock? [/quote] Les Claypool,Steve DiGeorgio,Steve Bailey,Jeff Ament,Bryan Beller,Jack Bruce,Tony Franklin, Sting,Juan Alderete,Colin Edwin..................

[quote name='thumperbob 2002' timestamp='1353357693' post='1874248'] When I was pro I couldn't give a monkeys about my tone and It was all about convenience. Now it's about fun, tone and musical chops- but not in that order. [/quote] I'm really big on tone,but I don't think that that means huge gear. I've gone through the big rig phase with Hartke HA3500 and HA4000 heads with matching 4x10 and 2x10 cabs and it was nice to have it,but I've gradually gone smaller and smaller until I got to where I am now with the Ashdown MiBass rig and I am just as happy with the tone, actually more so,as I was with a bigger rig (I replaced a Bergantino 4x10 with the Ashdown Mi12). And I can carry it all in one trip.

[quote name='gjones' timestamp='1353357163' post='1874236'] You obviously like a challenge. I feel they are a example of 'Style over function'. I bought a set for my Jazz because they looked pretty. Then I realised that they seriously compromised the way I played and off they came. They're in a draw gathering dust now. [/quote] I don't find them challenging...at least not the front one alone. The only compromise I can find is there are 3 or 4 false harmonics that I can't reach because the cover is over the node point. Not really a big deal though.

[quote name='largo' timestamp='1353350844' post='1874125'] It stays with the band if anyone leaves and last one(s) standing if we were to ever split up will own it. [/quote] This is one reason that I don't like doing the 'band ownership' thing. It means that someone is benefiting majorly from everyone else. If one guy leaves does his replacement get a share of the gear? If the new guy is the 'last one standing' does he get the PA even though he never put anything towards it?

I like the neck pickup one on my Jazz Basses-I've got them on my main 4 string Jazz and my Marcus signature and don't have any problems with them. I'm not really a fan of the bridge cover though, especially on the Jazz..I find them a little too big.They look pretty cool on a Precision though.

I'd never buy the PA as part of a band-there is too much potential for hassle later on. Let one member of the band buy it,then there is no problems.If that person wants to charge more,that's up to them and the rest of the band.

[quote name='Stacker' timestamp='1352785612' post='1867359'] Were Pastorius' pups rewound? I don't recall hearing anything about that. [/quote] I believe that Seymour Duncan made some pickups for Jaco in the '80's, but before that he was using the stock Fender pickups.

Bloody Hell Pete. Hope you can get back to playing soon.