Doddy

[quote name='Bobo_Grimmer' timestamp='1332791625' post='1593243'] I really don't want to end up as one of 'those' bass players that seem really technically proficient on their own but lack any kind of emotion or imagination when they play but i do want to be a little more confident when another muso throws me a riff or awesome oddity that baffles my brain as to where to start... if that makes sense. ^_^ [/quote] Studying wont take away any emotion you put into your playing. What it will do is to allow you to understand what you are currently doing and even give you a greater scope for new ideas. The whole idea of studying and becoming technically proficient is so that you are able to apply ideas both musically and technically without having to worry about it.

[quote name='discreet' timestamp='1332783746' post='1593075'] GEEK!! [/quote] Totally.

[quote name='Coilte' timestamp='1332782030' post='1593046'] As well as all the excellent advice given so far, don't forget that blues needs to be played with "feeling". A doctorate in music theory would not go far in blues, unless played this way. [/quote] That's applicable for any style though.....but knowledge and 'feeling' together win.

Ayup. Lot's of people from Stoke appearing lately.

From listening alone I couldn't tell you...... However,I know that Carles Benevante played on that track,so I would assume it would be played on his Jerzy Drozd signature bass,strung E-C and played with a pick. Benevante is an awesome player. Edit....here's the link http://www.jerzydrozdbasses.com/barcelona.htm

Considering that acoustic nowadays generally just mean 'quieter',I wouldn't be too bothered about buying an acoustic bass guitar especially for the radio sessions. I've done a few radio things and nobody went acoustic. I DI'd my bass,and the guitar went through a pod. It sounded great and the band sounded like it usually did. I remember seeing what was classed as an 'acoustic' performance on telly the other year which consisted of vocals,two keyboards running off Macbooks and a Yamaha DTXtreme drum kit. Literally everything was electric. Unless you are going properly acoustic,I probably wouldn't use an acoustic bass....and even then I'd go for an Upright to get the desired volume.

Like Bilbo said,it's not genre specific. However,a lot of Blues is based around dominant 7 chords(1,3,5,b7), knowing about those (and the other forms of 7 chords) will help. Scale wise,there is a lot of use of the minor Pentatonic ( 1,b3,4,5,b7) and the Blues scale,which is a minor Pentatonic with a chromatic note between the 4 and 5 (1,b3,4,b5,5,b7). It's interesting that the minor Pentatonic is used over dominant 7 chords....the b3 of the minor pentatonic scale tends to function as the #9 of the chord. The Blues actually relies on as much theory as any other kind of music....it's just whether you choose to study it or not (like anything else).

[quote name='BassMan94' timestamp='1332704465' post='1591950'] just out of curiosity what do the numbers mean? [/quote] The ones under the stave? It's a form of (*cough*)tablature

Right. According to the booklet..... + - Thumb ∆ - Snap C -Choke (mute) Everything else is pretty much standard notation devices.

[quote name='uncle psychosis' timestamp='1332702108' post='1591895'] Maybe its just me but so long as I can hear what I'm playing I don't really care what it sounds like on stage. Just so long as its good out the front! [/quote] I do care how it sounds on stage. 9 times out of 10 I'm going through the PA which I'm not in control of,so I want my sound on stage to be how I want it. Ideally I then want that sound louder out front,but ultimately that's down to the soundman.

What part don't you know how to read? All the little slap notation bits are explained on the first couple of pages

Honestly,I can't hear a difference between bolt on and neck through...and I seriously doubt that most people (anyone?) can. The only thing that I do like about neck through instruments is the lack of a neck heel,so you can cleanly reach into the upper register.

[quote name='EskimoBassist' timestamp='1332671539' post='1591311'] Suweeet. I'm particularly interested in your Nova Delay demo - I'm looking to buy a Nova Repeater soon (when I shift a few pedals I don't use any more) so I'm really interested to hear how the TC stuff sounds with Bass. Also, I'm hoping it will convince me that the Repeater is adequate and that I don't need to shell out extra for the Nova Delay! [/quote] The Nova Repeater is a great pedal,I use mine quite a lot for solos. It doesn't have all of the programming of the Nova Delay, but unless you need that,it's no big deal. I basically just use the tap tempo function anyway. If you want to hear it on bass,check out Janek Gwizdala-he uses it a lot.

Try the Auralex Gramma Pad,Pete.They work great on boomy stages.

There is a booklet in with the video with a load of the licks transcribed. It's a bad video though,to be honest.

On a lot of electronic tuners you can change the pitch from around A=437-443Hz or thereabouts. Although it will probably be set to A=440 as standard.

[quote name='andydye' timestamp='1332520970' post='1589581'] They look superb! Not cheap at all, but superb! (moderately heavy though yes?) [url="http://www.mikobass.com/iGig/G515.htm"]http://www.mikobass.com/iGig/G515.htm[/url] Is there a UK dealer who has them or are they only from igig themselves? [/quote] They're not particularly heavy at all...plus they've got really good straps. I find it dead comfy to carry over my shoulder ( always put my bag over one shoulder). Bass Direct did stock them,but I'm not sure if they still do. I deal direct. [quote name='discreet' timestamp='1332521041' post='1589585'] Protection Racket have a good rep and seem good value, but I must point out I've not used their bass gig bag. Yet. [url="http://www.djmmusic.com/itemdesc.asp?ic=GB7051"]http://www.djmmusic.com/itemdesc.asp?ic=GB7051[/url] [/quote] I've had one of the older Protection Racket cases for years-it's the thinner model with minimal pockets and sheepskin lining.It's a really good bag and still perfectly giggable,although nowhere near as well appointed as the iGig.I used it all the time before I started using the iGig.

As usual,I totally recommend the iGig cases. They are really well padded and have a load of extra pockets too. I haven't used a hard case for years.

[quote name='charic' timestamp='1332451966' post='1588697'] Kind of agree but conversely why take one more step than is needed? [/quote] Why read one more stave than is needed? Seriously though,why read one stave for rhythm and one for where to put your finger when the 'proper' stave has both? It just seems like far more work than is necessary to me,especially as you can already read.

[quote name='Sean' timestamp='1332420104' post='1587997'] Leland Sklar sold most of his basses after switching to Dingwall but seems to have kept hold of some of his Yamaha BBs. Maybe that's a sentimental thing, I dunno. [/quote] Is that why he's doing adverts and clinics for Warwick?

[quote name='BassBod' timestamp='1332439735' post='1588469'] Think about the Clifton EUB currently in the for sales (in Leeds?). They are very close to acoustic double basses (close your eyes and everything is in the same place) and sound very good. I've been playing one for over ten years and I'm just moving over to an acoustic. They pack down into a bag that isn't a whole lot bigger than a BG. If it doesn't work out you can probably sell it without any loss (they are 2 grand new). [/quote] Good call.....I've had a Clifton for years. They are on a whole different level from most electric uprights,they are one of the few basses that are actually convincing-along with basses like Clevinger,Eminence and Azola.

[quote name='TPJ' timestamp='1332422808' post='1588075'] Not sure I'm with you on this. If you play an upright with the same action and setup as the EUB then chances are you'd be fine. Getting proper instruction would very much help in this regard. I think fumps has already suggested that he has a small house so the Stagg is probably a better option...for now [/quote] The problem is that many electric uprights tend to have light gauge strings and low action which makes them quite easy to play pizzicato..you don't have to 'work' the instrument much to get a good tone from the notes. Also,because of the (lack of)body shape,I've seen a number of players completely avoid the whole thumb position and use pretty much the same technique throughout the length of the fingerboard.Most aren't particularly good for arco playing either.

[quote name='Walker' timestamp='1332412996' post='1587834'] Thank you gents. To be honest, I feel I’m not ready for a custom build just yet – I need a few more years under my belt. Maybe for my 50[sup]th[/sup]. I think a fairly easily re-sellable bass that will hold its value will be a better bet for me as it’s going to be my first five string and who knows – lots of folk don’t get on with them. That’s not a defeatist attitude – I’m just trying to be realistic! [/quote] If you are concerned about resale because you are unsure i you'll get on with a five,I personally wouldn't be looking at spending 2 or 3 grand. You can easily buy something like a Warwick,Fender or Musicman 5 string for well under a £1000. In fact,my Roscoe LG3500 and Shuker Singlecut 5 were under a grand and my (German) Warwick Streamer LX5 was under £500!!

Don't get hung up on being US or Jap made. The quality of Korean and other eastern made instruments right now is brilliant...especially around that price range.

Books and websites are great,but if you are serious about this you should really look at getting some lessons yourself. I'm not being patronising here....I make a living as a musician and I still take lessons when I can. The reason I'd take lessons is that you are getting instant feedback as to if you are doing things correctly or not. Take reading for example-sure you can learn it from a book/online but it is easy to think that you are playing something correctly for ages when you're not.You can't beat the feedback of being corrected instantly. You don't want to be learning something incorrectly and then teaching it to someone else...that's just bad form. Also,the Internet is a great source of material but unfortunately there is no sh*t filter so you get a lot of bad 'lessons',so it takes time to actually find the good stuff.