JapanAxe

Like many people, I often use a one-finger-per fret approach for 'position playing'. I have large hands, but in the lower (headstock end) positions it is too much of a stretch to do this without moving my hand around, so that's what I do. Your student with smaller hands will have to start doing this further up the neck. I would also say thumb-behind-neck, not thumb-over-neck, to avoid 'flying fingers'. Scott Devine covers both these points somewhere in his massive range of video clips1

@ stevie, don't go pi$$ing on Roland's chips! I'd be chuffed if I'd just bought a new high-end piece of kit, so I've subscribed to this thread. @ Roland - what about that valve head with the rocket on the front - don't tell me that's gone!

Lino dots? Yep, when I look along my fretboard I see a [b]line o' dots [/b]

Not again!

Yep, I'll take that.

[quote name='discreet' timestamp='1455884073' post='2983256'] No excuses here - a USA P Bass, sounds great, bought new and 40 years old this year - A Limelight P Bass, sounds great and I wanted a back up - and a Hayman 4040 because it's rare and unusual, sounds great and was refinned and refurbished to a high level. And a Fender Rumble. Which sounds great. Did I say it all sounds great? [/quote] Yes but don't forget the importance of your gear sounding great.

MIJ Mustang wouldn't be far off.

Ooh I forgot the amps: Demeter VTBP-M-800D - enough said Streamliner 900 - spare, plus I can carry it in hand luggage if needed Barefaced Midget and Compact - one, t'other, or both, according to the gig There, all justified!

Given my belief that a decent Precision is all I need, how come I have two of them, plus two non-Precisions? Here goes: '73 P - Woody thump for country, jazz, big band '63 RI P - Growly girth for rock and pop G&L 5-er - For times when only a 5-er will do (an average of once per year for me!) Pawn Shop Mustang - This is the one I struggle to justify, as it is taking up rack space that could be occupied by a '50s RI P! Well it fits in the car easier when we stay with relatives, it's dead easy to play, I wouldn't be that gutted if it got trashed in an aeroplane hold, etc, etc. In hindsight I should probably have got a Japanese RI with a split pickup - then it would be a miniature Precision. Or maybe I should mod it to that spec. *sigh*

IIRC the OP was about a rhythm guitarist who can't take constructive criticism. How did we get here?

[quote name='Roland Rock' timestamp='1455691551' post='2981440'] I tried it on my fretless board but kept getting this buzz... [/quote] Don't tell me - you're here all week...

This reminds me that I haven't had my Streamliner out for a while. Maybe I'll take it to rehearsal tomorrow...

[quote name='The-Ox' timestamp='1455577553' post='2980478'] everyone seems to play slap at some point nowadays, well at least whenever I see people play bass they do. Am I they only one who doesn't? [/quote] Nope, I can't be bothered with it!

[quote name='Colonel36' timestamp='1455454241' post='2979185'] Much prefer this - [media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5rmLMhW_hyM[/media] [/quote] Oh yes!

You might be better adding a light, refined mineral oil instead of a vegetable oil. Baby oil might fit the bill!

I use pictures, stories (if the song doesn't have one), and sets of initials to remember lyrics. The OP is right - the more random the words are, the harder they are to remember.

[quote name='Mr Arkadin' timestamp='1455036987' post='2975289'] I guess Bowie's Ziggy Stardust would count ... [/quote] I've always listened to it in that way, but first-hand accounts in the (many) Bowie biographies I've read suggest it didn't start out that way - the concept came out of the songs, not the other way round. Still one of my favourite albums after 40 years of listening! [quote name='Mr Arkadin' timestamp='1455036987' post='2975289'] ... but definitely 1.Outside. I just wish he'd got round to finishing the proposed trilogy. [/quote] It could still happen. Bowie said that 1, Outside had come from about 20 hours of improv, so who knows what other finished songs may now see the light of day. I live in hope.

All very talented players, but to me that talent has been wasted on an ostentatious arrangement.

[quote name='discreet' timestamp='1455391890' post='2978783'] What, a towel-rail for £6.25..? I doubt it. [/quote] Towel-rail GAS is a bitch!

Steve bought a guitar amp from me. Quick response to PMs, straightforward as you like. A pleasure to meet Steve for a coffee and chat, the deal having been done in a McDonalds car park in the JapanAxe tradition!

Ask me about this tomorrow Steve!

I think the Roland will connect direct to a computer, sending MIDI data via the USB cable, so no need for an extra box.

[quote name='dlloyd' timestamp='1455303345' post='2978084'] It's just convention. I regularly jam with a guy who has a guitar with dots on the fifth, seventh, tenth and twelfth frets. [/quote] Back in the 70s I think the old Eko Ranger acoustics had dots at the 10th fret rather than the 9th.

All good advice. Most of all Kev, stay in touch with your friends - us lot!

Yes, I love doing that!