Doddy

Duracell Procell all the way.

Have a look at Johnny Shredfreak- I got mine from there They are only a couple of quid and they're really good quality.

I saw him play the other year and he was great. Nice guy too.

[quote name='Bilbo' post='1204899' date='Apr 19 2011, 04:04 PM']In my experience, reading contributes greatly to my ongoing development. I could never do it again and still get better but I have no doubt in my mind that it is more use to me than double thumbing or two handed tapping.[/quote] [quote name='Bilbo' post='1204925' date='Apr 19 2011, 04:47 PM']Nor do I, as an absolute, but I do believe that those who do read and learn theory have a stronger work ethic and are good role models. So I advocate accordingly.[/quote] I see where you are coming from,but it's not totally right. It's not about the work ethic,it's about the instant gratification. Someone can work really hard on a Wooten lick for two hours and nail it,and can play it to their band or mates who will be duly impressed...and that's cool. Whereas if someone was to study reading or theory for the same amount of time you will learn more but you won't have anything fancy to show for it at rehearsal. They're putting the same amount of work in but one will have the instant wow factor while the other will benefit more in the long run.....And most people prefer the instant gratification. Now,if both players split their time doing both,they'd get the best of both worlds. Unfortunately,that often doesn't happen for whatever reason.

Ok.... Let me just say that I don't have a problem with anyone that doesn't read,especially if they can play.My only argument is when people say that it won't benefit them,because I honestly don't know anyone that would say that it hasn't been of some use to them in one way or another. I'm not talking about sight reading the Charlie Parker Omni, I'm talking about a basic understanding. If you decide that you don't want to do it,fine...but if you say it's because it won't be beneficial to you,I will beg to differ.

[quote name='Johnston' post='1204070' date='Apr 18 2011, 08:13 PM']But the bold bit isn't true. I'm among the ones thats never played with a guitarist that read music. If they wanted a specific line it was wrote out in tab other wise it was just a list of chords. I know one guitarist who can read, but yet uses TABS. I've know people who can read because they have done Violin or Flute but play guitar from TAB. The Fact it increases sales but 40% suggest that 40% of the people who learn the theory from these books don't read music and would use TAB in situations outside of the books.[/quote] I have never known one musician who has been on a gig and been presented with a page of tablature......ever. There are no situations in the gigging world where it is used.

[quote name='Johnston' post='1203910' date='Apr 18 2011, 06:32 PM']One thing about that. You don't [i]Need [/i] to be able to read to learn all that. I did however settle on one book. At the start it's the usual beginner stuff "This is a pick, this is a bass, these are strings. Then it shows the notes on strings, their names and of course it's location on the stave which is really what I wanted to and wee exercises, which is where I wanted to start. BUT........ Flip on a a few pages and you get the Scales and things like Traids accompanied with TAB. Oddly not everything but most of the important stuff seemingly..[/quote] You don't need to read to learn a tune by ear,that's why I never mentioned it. Most bass guitar books on sale feature tablature for one reason-sales. I was reading something from Roy Vogt who said that his publisher told him that by including tab in his books it increased sales by something like 40%!! Pretty much every other instrumental book features notation,and I think it's a shame that many guitar and bass books have to rely on a method that is irrelevant to the rest of the music world,and even the bass/guitar world outside of these books.

[quote name='Wil' post='1203830' date='Apr 18 2011, 05:24 PM']You also get a feel for changes, note choice and the rest with experience.[/quote] Yeah you do,but it makes things so much easier if you know some basic harmony and chord theory.

[quote name='Happy Jack' post='1203793' date='Apr 18 2011, 04:54 PM']I don't believe that anyone on Basschat isn't familiar with this song, So ... serious question: How could being a reader or knowing more music theory help me in this situation?[/quote] I've got to be honest-I don't know the song. The way that knowing some theory will help with learning a song is,I find,first of all it makes it easier to work out the root progression even on first listening. Most songs use certain progressions and you can predict where they are going. Then you can find out the rest of the chord.If you know some chord theory it takes away some of the guess work of searching for notes. You know what the chord tones are and what notes are the most likely to be used over the changes. You could work it out purely by ear,but if you know about some theory it gives you more knowledge to be able to work it out quicker and possibly more accurately. A combination of knowing theory and listening is what allows me to learn an entire set in an evening or to be able to busk a whole gig.

[quote name='SteveK' post='1203728' date='Apr 18 2011, 03:53 PM']It's obviously good advice for those that want to be serious about music, but there are many that only intend it to be a bit of fun with their mates, maybe with an occasional gig thrown in.[/quote] I understand that,and have got no problems with it. My argument is a basically against the whole 'it wouldn't/won't benefit me' thing. I honestly believe that any musician would benefit from it in some way,no matter what their level or asperations are,even if it's only a basic understanding.

[quote name='Gust0o' post='1203580' date='Apr 18 2011, 01:41 PM']I'll add this to the list alongside every player needing to learn to read People will find their own level in this interest. I see nothing wrong in letting them do so. Some people, myself included, will want to collect; or change; or whatever. I suspect, if I were playing for my supper, I might have a different opinion; but, alas, I am safely salaried.[/quote] I've got no problem with people collecting instrument-I've got 23 now. But the OP has gone through 11 instruments in 2 years and feels the need to keep picking up a different one every half hour. I think it's at that point you have to ask questions. If you want to progress as a player,it's better to spend some time favouring one instrument (even if it's a different one every session) rather than swapping and changing every half hour. The OP asked if the constant GAS has hindered them at all,and I would say that if you can't sit down and practise (yes...including reading) for any length of time on one instrument,then it probably is.

[quote name='Bassassin' post='1203591' date='Apr 18 2011, 01:49 PM']The requirement to read notation is entirely dependent upon an individual's musical situation & the direction of their aspiration, and this means inevitably there's a significant proportion for whom it is of no use or consequence.[/quote] This is the part that I honestly do not understand the reasoning behind. Just because you aspire to,or do play in a band that doesn't require the ability does not mean that it would be no use to you. I don't know one musician that has said that the ability to read has not been of any use to them,whether they need the skill for their gigs or not. Everyone that learns will benefit in someway,even if it's only to be able to play the exercises that are written in the magazines.

[quote name='Happy Jack' post='1203237' date='Apr 18 2011, 09:15 AM']Explain WHY others might benefit - if you can't read, then how are you supposed to know? Show HOW others can learn without feeling like 11-year-olds back at school. Give some practical examples: Here's a decent bassline to a well-known song as written by a non-reader. Now here's an alternative bassline written by someone who actually understands the chord structure being used.[/quote] Why might people benefit? One of the big answers is it opens the door to more gigs. There are a lot of gigs where there isn't a chance to spend time rehearsing and learning the material,instead you turn up and read the charts. Alternatively,you may not read on a gig,but if you can give out charts in the rehearsal room it will allow everyone to play the music straight away without spending time listening and learning. You may never do a reading gig,but it will still give you access to a world of educational material. Look in any of the magazines or books and you'll see notation. If you want to gain anything from these you need to know at least the basics of reading. It's all about communicating ideas with other musicians. How can you learn? Practise. There aren't any short cuts to learning. Get a book like 'Simplified Sight Reading for Bass' or the equivalent MI book and you will learn some basic reading really quickly. You may need some help as it progresses though. As far as examples of basslines comparing readers and non readers-all I'll say is that there is a reason why players like Nathan East and Will Lee have been first call players for the last 30-odd years.

[quote name='skej21' post='1202354' date='Apr 17 2011, 07:58 AM']Paul Westwood's 'Bass Bible' as that has A LOT of good small snippets of lines to read and means you can mix it up and change what you're playing before you get the chance to remember any of it![/quote] The Bass Bible is a great book,but I wouldn't recommend it for the early stages of reading because of the inclusion of tablature. I'd try to find books that are purely notation instead,so it removes any temptation to look at the tab. You should still buy it though because it's full of cool stuff.

[quote name='Bassassin' post='1202280' date='Apr 17 2011, 12:28 AM']"Excuse"? Hilarity at your presumptuousness (I'm being polite) aside, both of your responses are pretty much irrelevant to me - which was the point of my post. And I didn't "avoid" anything - I was a teenager with a short attention span & wanted to play in a band & get out gigging - reading would not have helped, and plainly it's been in no sense "essential". I'm not for a moment suggesting what has been absolutely fine for me would be to anyone else, which was, again, fundamental to the point of the post. J.[/quote] Why are my responses irrelevant to you? Y'know I was a teenager that wanted to play in a band and gig aswell,but I still found time to study music aswell as play what I enjoyed. And while it may not be 'essential' to your specific interest it is an essential part of the language of music,which is what I said earlier.

Building and Expanding Walking Basslines are good for note reading as they are mostly just crotchets,so you can focus on just the pitches. Modern Reading Text in 4/4 is great for rhythms,but it has no pitches written. Simplified Sight Reading for Bass is good as is the equivalent MI book. The Motown book is great,but is probably best saved until you can read a bit. Don't bother with tablature-it is an unnecessary shortcut that ultimately leads to nowhere.

[quote name='Bassassin' post='1202075' date='Apr 16 2011, 07:48 PM']Much like reading notation. I did start to teach myself a year or two after I started playing bass, because I thought I should - but quite quickly arrived at the conclusion that it wasn't going to make me better at playing the music I wanted to play, & I gradually lost interest.[/quote] I hear this excuse a lot (along with 'I don't need to know this stuff to play in my band'),and I don't buy it. Just because you like a particular type of music doesn't mean you should avoid an essential part of it's language. When I started playing I had to use my ear to learn the music that I was into and wanted to play,but I still learned how to associate the bass with the stave....and believe it or not,it actually helped with learning the music that I wanted to play and made it easier. [quote name='Bassassin' post='1202075' date='Apr 16 2011, 07:48 PM']I prefer to record complete arrangements to give to the band to learn/interpret - I think that way they get to hear what I hear rather than having to try & explain it verbally.[/quote] Which is cool if you have the luxury of being able to spend time learning the tunes as a band. But,like I often say,there are many situations where this isn't an option.

[quote name='iconic' post='1201517' date='Apr 16 2011, 08:57 AM'][font="Century Gothic"]Introducing the Castrato Bass from Knough Knutts Inc. If super high octave finger popping tones are your funky fing , our centregenistic approach to this sector specific solution is the result of our revolutionary evolution of the 6 string bass: sky scraping frequencies attain, reach and accomplish volume levels to deafen the gods of Mount Olympus * enable simultaneous , synchronised & multiple string combinations *(NB volume control non adjustable)[/quote] That looks remarkably similar to the Decibel Industries 'Shredasaurus' piccolo bass that was featured in the April '92 issue of Bass Player and played by Darian Dimrose.

I think it looks really cool without the pickguard

A guy came upto me after a gig in a club in St. Louis and told me that my playing reminded him of Victor Wooten!! That was pretty cool,as the Flecktones had been there the week before. It was also really cool when Janek Gwizdala told me he liked my playing and enjoyed jamming with me.

[quote name='skej21' post='1200832' date='Apr 15 2011, 03:26 PM']I hate to throw the spanner in the works, but even the great GREAT musicians of Jazz and music we would associate with music theory in practice, play without knowing what they are doing at the time. Miles Davis - “I'll play it first and tell you what it is later.” The guy has the knowledge and he can tell you what he played by analyising it after, but it's obvious that (in the musical moment) he plays probably from a combination of his ear and patterns he's played before. The quote also implies that he has not purposefully affected the harmony/melody of the piece, but simply played something that fits at the time and can explain/justify it through further analysis at a later point in time. Again, apologies for the spanner in the works![/quote] The thing with this is that players like Miles had spent so long playing and studying that when they are on the bandstand they aren't thinking "Cminor7..2..3..4../F7..2..3..4.." or "A minor=A,C,E"-It's ingrained. They know about scales and arpeggios and chords and all that stuff and it allows them to just play. When you are on stage you don't want to be thinking about every note,that is why you spend time in the 'shed,practising.

[quote name='wateroftyne' post='1200773' date='Apr 15 2011, 02:48 PM']Will you all stop comparing music to golf? I find it offensive. Thank you.[/quote] Sure-my golf analogy has run out anyway.

[quote name='Gust0o' post='1200745' date='Apr 15 2011, 02:32 PM']You can do that without the rule book, Doddy. So many have. Again, as you say, it's the same with music [/quote] Technique wise,yes you can. But eventually you will hit the golf course where the rules will apply. On the driving range you can do what you want,the same as when you sit in your room playing by yourself. But when you hit the course/stage you should at the very least,understand the basic rules.

[quote name='Sercet' post='1200733' date='Apr 15 2011, 02:26 PM']Because I'm not very good at upright - I just move my fingers until the note sounds good. On a fretted bass or a fretless bass I'll know the note, but on the upright I would have to work it out.[/quote] But why wouldn't you want to change that,like you said earlier?

[quote name='Gust0o' post='1200725' date='Apr 15 2011, 02:22 PM']Good for you, Doddy. Massively wasted on the driving range, but good for you. A bit like musical theory being wasted if you're highest ambition is to play covers on Youtube, which is almost certainly the musical equivalent of a few post-work balls on the driving range.[/quote] You can go to the driving range and hit a few buckets of balls and occasionally you'll fluke a shot that goes straight for miles but most will fall short and go all over the place. If you want to consistently hit decent shots you need to learn the basics of swing and grip and all that lark. It's the same with music.