Doddy

Yes. Depending on the bass and it's set up it can work,but it doesn't sound as good as playing it on a proper Upright.

What's the phrase?

It depends what you're doing. If it's a quick thing on adjacent strings,then I may bar,briefly, or I may bring another finger over. If I can though,I'll move to the next string with my fingertip and fret it like I would any other note.

[quote name='ML94' timestamp='1350573654' post='1840756'] Hey guiys thanks for all that ! Thing is i know where the notes are on bass and stave. Thing is my mind knows its an Ab but my hands dont react quick enough . how on earth do i quicken that reaction ? [/quote] Practice. It's the only way.

In all honesty,I'd save your money. Acoustic bass guitars are limited because they just don't have enough volume. If you want it for looning about at home then that's cool,but you could use you're electric bass. If you want it to jam with acoustic guitars,you'll struggle with volume and will probably still need an amp to be heard. I've got a Crafter fretless....it's alright,but it pretty much just sits there.

I'm working off the assumption that you are playing a four string. If you play within the first five frets,all of the notes fall between one ledger line below below the stave (E) and one ledger line above it (C). Start by learning the notes on the stave one string at a time starting with the E string. Then moving on by learning one more string at a time. Rhythmically,start simply with semibreves,minims and crotchets before moving onto to quavers,semiquavers,triplets etc. It's really not that hard.Just spend some of your practice time every day on reading and you'll pick it up pretty quickly. Like Faithless says,you need to know the notes on the 'board solidly first,but you should be able to do this anyway. With regards to reading in different keys,it helps if you know how keys work to begin with and what notes are in what key. This is where the circle of fifths will help. Start with Cmaj(no sharps/flats),then go to Gmaj (1 sharp) ,Dmaj (2 sharps) and so on.You can also go the other way...again start with Cmaj,then go Fmaj (1 flat), Bbmaj (2 flats) and so on. If you read exercises that go in this order you will be reading in other keys without overwhelming yourself. Edit...don't practice 'sight reading',just practice reading.The ability to read at sight will come naturally when you are comfortable and familiar with everything else.

[quote name='SJA' timestamp='1237040202' post='434609'] both Bassist and Bass Guitar Magazine have been riddled with errors- eg. in BGM they had an interview with Killing Joke bassist Youth- but put a pic of the other KJ bassist Raven with it [/quote] Worse...a couple of years ago,Bass Player did a cover story on Paul Chambers and put a picture of Doug Watkins instead. They also missed the 'O' out of 'The Aristocrats' on the cover of the Bryan Beller issue (although there is a big apology for this in the editorial of the new issue).

Before this becomes a drummer slagging thread,I'd like to say that some of the best 'Musicians' I've worked with have been drummers. Sure,I've done the odd gig with guys who's world ends at the end of the bass drum,but that's also true of just as many (probably more) guitar players. With regards to practice,I don't think it's about the instrument..it's about the mind set.Drummers can easily keep their hands working by spending a bit of time on a pad. I know plenty of players of all instruments who don't play from one gig/rehearsal/lesson to the next,and it shows.

[quote name='gjones' timestamp='1350482351' post='1839482'] There's a lot of brand snobbery among bass players and many wouldn't be seen dead playing a Squier.....however great it played or sounded. [/quote] But,if it was named a Fender 'Skyline' or 'Metro' (for example) people would happily play them...especially the newer Classic Vibes.

I've got no problem with Mexican Fenders. I've got a Mexican Precision,that I got cheap and have modified quite a bit and it's really nice.When I've needed/wanted a P-Bass,it's always done the job well (I also have an '83 Squier Precision). I also have a Mexican Jazz Deluxe V,and it is one of my most used basses.Again,I picked it up pretty cheaply but I really like it.Some people complain about Fender's B string and active circuits,but I've never had anything other than a great sound out of mine.

I keep the tone control wide open on all my passive basses.

[quote name='iiipopes' timestamp='1350415697' post='1838610'] BUT...the real reason to have five strings is for technical faculty so that scales, leaps, runs, motifs, etc., can be played more efficiently across the fretboard rather than up and down the fretboard. [/quote] I don't buy this argument particularly....it's easy to play the same runs up and down the fingerboard on a 4 string. Sure,you can play in position,but if you know your way around the 'board it's not a big deal. The reason I play five strings nearly all the time is because you never know when you might need it.You might be playing modern stuff that was played on synth so you need the lower notes, or you may be reading charts and people are getting hip to writing for the lower range. I can do everything on a 5 that I can do on a 4,but there are things I do on a 5 that can't be played on a standard tuned 4.

[quote name='RandomBass' timestamp='1350343183' post='1837718'] Im a fan of Ashdown amps, but the mibass didnt float my boat. I found the 550 version I had just didnt have any oomph behind it. The preamp went into nasty clipping before the power amp was being driven properly. Nice design and facilities though. Cheers Geoff [/quote] I've never had that problem with mine.It's always had plenty of power and oomph with no clipping. It's just a matter of familiarising yourself with the controls.

[quote name='bigd1' timestamp='1350294243' post='1836798'] Perhaps I have the wrong attitude, although I did think I understood the world of musicians. We have a band who need a dep, they are not your normal 4 rock/pop band, there are 8 musicians playing. The songs are not a great challenge to a experienced Bass Guitarist, but the band wants to (as we all do) put on a great show. So to be safe they want any deps to do 4 rehearsals, money is not great but when is it ever. What is the problem ? Some of you seem to think if they are only offering £50 it's an insult ? You are worth far more than that. Come on, get over yourselves, it's a gig, not very often you get to play with a group of 8. They NEED a bass player. How many of you who think this is beneath you play in this band, and have you done ANY gigs in the last few months, for any money ?? Get out and play, I have never worried about how much I'm getting paid, I like playing music far to mush to worry about that. [/quote] Seriously....Yes I do find it kind of insulting. It's not that I think I'm worth more than that,it's that it's a one off dep for a party that requires 4 rehearsals which are usually about 3 hours each.(Out of interest,would the dep be expected to divvy up for the cost of the room?) It's a lot of work and hassle for £50. Like you say,they NEED a bass player.Therefor they should be prepared to pay properly for one.They might get a mate to do it for one rehearsal and the gig for that price,but if you want someone they don't know to learn the songs,rehearse 4 times and then do the gig (which is essentially a private function,so may involve an early set up/late pack down),then it's taking the piss,to be honest. If the band wants to make sure that the music will be played right,the simple answer is to get charts written out-the horns are reading in their demo videos,so clearly someone can transcribe.

[quote name='morgano' timestamp='1350336632' post='1837611'] Thanks for the comments so far... Doddy, which Genz Benz did you replace? Would be interested to know how they compare, because one or other of the various Genz Benz offerings is on my shortlist too. [/quote] I used (and still own) the Neo Pak 3.5,which was the predecessor to the Shuttle series. I ran it through a Bergantino HS410. It's a really good amp...it did the modern tones brilliantly-it's very clean and hifi,although you could get a bit of grit out of it if you cranked the gain.It's got a single valve in the preamp,but I don't know if that makes that much of a difference really. I can't knock Genz Benz at all,but the Ashdown is what I want from a bass amp,right now.

Yes...They are ace. I replaced my Genz Benz with the 550 pretty much as soon as they came out,and I've just paired it with the Mi12 cab. I love these amps..Ashdown,I think,have got it right with this amp. It's small,loud and has a really good EQ section. I generally have a pretty full range,modern sound and it does this easily..but it will also do the old school sound too. It's really flexible. I've used it for pretty much everything since I got it and it's always sounded great.

[quote name='bengovier182' timestamp='1350330338' post='1837479'] Any bootsy, larry graham, flea, mark king (for some slap) Paul simon has some excellent bass lines, 'call me al' [/quote] Paul Simon does have some great songs with great basslines ('Slip Sliding away' being my favourite),but they aren't exactly funky (neither is Mark King...I don't think). For some more modern funky stuff check out some Me'Shell NdegeOcello(especially her first 2 albums), Raphael Saadiq (Tony,Toni,Toni) and Pino's playing with D'angelo ('Voodoo'). The John Legend/The Roots album 'Wake Up' has some funky stuff too. These aren't old school funk like Parliament or Sly,but they've got the whole funk/hip hop kind of vibe. I also notice that nobody has mentioned Graham Central Station or Tower of Power yet (if you ignore the fluff, there is some really funky stuff there)

[quote name='BottomE' timestamp='1350322968' post='1837315'] [url="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marcus_Miller"]http://en.wikipedia....i/Marcus_Miller[/url] It has a list of everything hes played on. [/quote] Not everything..... http://www.marcusmiller.com/music/discography/ That doesn't include the jingle and soundtrack work either.

I've not tried the Cort,but take a look at Ibanez-either the Soundgear or the BTB. I've got a BTB 6 and it's really nice,but it does have a wide neck-the Soundgear is slimmer. I stuck a Roland V-Bass pickup on mine

Take a listen at Janek Gwizdala's Podcast. There is some really cool stuff to learn on there.

Gig verdict......Ace. I had no problem being heard on stage with a 6 piece tonight-even with just one cab,I was plenty loud enough. Tonally,I was really happy tonight. I've been using 10" speakers for pretty much all of my gigs since '99,and have never bothered with 12",but it was great. Importantly,I was getting the sound that I want-clear and full range (the bass was a Warwick LX5,if you're interested),even with the OC2,it never got muddy. There's no attenuator for the horn but I didn't need one because it wasn't harsh like some are,even when slapping. Plus,it was dead easy to carry. I'm not just saying this,but the MiBass 550 and the Mi12" cab is a great choice for a gigging musician,both for tone and transportation.

[quote name='eude' timestamp='1350028499' post='1833591'] That's excellent news Doddy, I had read somewhere else that the high end was very nicely voiced, not brittle or unpleasant, slightly more vintagey, which isn't a bad thing, I'm sick and tired of slap sounds that could burn human skin, I love a much more old school slap sound. Are you planing on running two of these cabs then? Oh remember, pics or it never happened... [/quote] Yeah,I'll probably go for a second cab pretty soon. They look just like they do on the website Although I'll try and get a pic at the gig tonight.

[quote name='MiltyG565' timestamp='1349993375' post='1833444'] i have to say, i like slap, but i see it as a performance art as much as a playing technique. i want to see that thumb come down and strike that string like it just shot your mother. and pick that string up like its trying to defend its mother shooting mate. I don't like wooten's slap, for a couple of reasons. It doesn't have that emphasis on performance as a regular slap would. also, i tend not to like songs that are only played on bass, i find them w***erish and show-offy. Yeah, i know, the bass guitar can be used as a solo instrument, harmonics etc etc and yeah, that takes alot of skill, but i would rather hear a tight groove in a song, than a song that is just a groove. and anybody who isn't a bassist, or at least a musician, won't be interested in it really. so yeah, it is boring. [/quote] Ok... Victor's technique may not have the big flash motion of someone like Louis Johnson,but he can be quite animated on stage so the performance is still there. It's fine that you don't like 'songs that are only played on bass',but,with the exception of his first solo album,all his albums have been band orientated and there is a lot of really cool stuff on them.

The best advise is to listen to rock. Go and listen to the bands that he's listing as influences and check out what the bass is doing.Then have a listen to some of the 'classic' rock bands and their bass players. That's really the best way of familiarising yourself with a genre.

[quote name='TimR' timestamp='1349990892' post='1833379'] In every band's list of things to do should be to record a live gig so a dep has material to practice to if you're doing non standard arrangements. [/quote] Or have charts. It's pushing it a bit to ask someone to play a party for £50,but expecting 4 rehearsals too is taking the piss out of whoever deps.