2wheeler

The Jazz Bass Book - John Goldsby (so good I can't believe it's legal, an example of how to write any book well)
Vol. 54, Maiden Voyage: Fourteen Easy-To-Play Jazz Tunes - Jamie Aebersold (brilliant for timid novice like myself)
The Jazz Theory Book - by Mark Levine (it's immense! - not sure where to begin with this one)

Thank you to the Basschat gurus who recommended these books on various threads.

Ouch. Can't do the 15th. Of course if my training on the 15th gets cancelled, I will be right along.

15 and 22 are in half term. Could be ok but it will depend on the rest of the family. 1 and 8 fine.

Hoping for the best but preparing for the worst, I am prepared to help clean up after any little accidents we might have
I offer that to make up for not having any exciting skills or kit to show off

Can we have the address?
Thanks

On the subject of duff screws - this week-end I was putting together a flat-packed bookcase. We have another one just like it so it was very easy to repeat the assembly process ... until I came to the self-tapping screws that hold the rear cross bracing in place. With the other bookcase, they all just went in with no pilot holes or anything. With the second one, I had one stripped head and two of them snapped. After that I gave up on their screws and used proper wood screws with pilot holes, which all went in very easily. I just don't understand what was different other than that I had a weak set of screws with the second bookcase.

Go for a modest estate car. We have an Astra estate and it is absolutely brilliant.

I would like to come along but I generally need a lot of notice. For example, I am already committed to something else on the 3rd Sunday of every odd month in 2009. Totally free for 2010 though!

I had a really good time at this gig. I couldn't stay for the whole of Radio Gypsy, who were actually very good but the singer's antics were a bit wearing.

I enjoyed Meet me in Vegas hugely. It didn't sound like a first gig and they have some great songs. Their singer just stands there and gives it to you between the eyes, which takes more courage and has more effect than all that leaping about

When you sold be your BTB555 I thought I understood that you had decided that 4 strings was the way to go...???
By the way, thanks again for that bass, it's GRRRRREAT!

Euuugh

There's ugly and there's that bass

[quote name='CHRISDABASS' post='322860' date='Nov 5 2008, 06:33 PM']hey!!

if your in the york area on friday the 14th of november you should come along to the stone roses bar in York where my band (Meet Me In Vegas) will be playin our first ever gig!! you can check us out here

www.myspace.com/mmivmusic

we are supporting a band called Radio Gypsy! they're awesome! check them out on myspace too!!!!

[url="http://www.myspace.com/radiogypsyfm"]http://www.myspace.com/radiogypsyfm[/url]


anyway i think we're playing around half 8 or 9 ish! it would be great to see someone from basschat there! come and say hi if you get chance!


cheers guys!


chrisdabass[/quote]

I should be able to get there about 8:30. My most recognisable feature is ... I am 6'7"
See you there.

[quote name='2wheeler' post='312175' date='Oct 22 2008, 02:13 PM'][url="http://www.pocklingtonartscentre.co.uk/content.php?TSID=20085"]Michelle Shocked[/url][/quote]

Was very good. Very accomplished South African bass player (couldn't catch his name despite being referenced several times, sorry about that). Afrobeat meets John Entwistle, maybe. Warwick Dolphin 5 string but with jazz pick-ups (not the current Pro1NT model, then), Hartke head and 2x10 cab.

Violin, mandolin and electric bass.

Started on violin - and so I only wanted to play the tune on the bass at first

Beginning to get the idea now

[url="http://www.pocklingtonartscentre.co.uk/content.php?TSID=20085"]Michelle Shocked[/url]

[quote name='Josh' post='299744' date='Oct 5 2008, 09:03 AM']A tad bit OT but I really like what this guy has done with Toms Diner:



I never get tired of this song.[/quote]


Aaaaaaaaaarrrghghgghghghghgh

Not how I heard the harmonies in my head at all. Oh well.

Great post - made me just go on youtube and start learning it myself

[quote name='waynepunkdude' post='272288' date='Aug 29 2008, 09:44 AM']Buy one of these

[/quote]

I wanted it 12" high, not 12' ...

I bought two books on Latin bass: "Funkifying the Clave" and "The Latin Real Book" (which has a number of bass lines written out). I like 'em both.

Thanks for all the great replies. The one about making the metronome click disappear is a particularly good exercise, from what I can tell so far. Yes, it is hard!

I have tracked part of the problem to string crossing, so I am specifically working on that in my metronome practice. Things seem to be improving already so that's quite encouraging.

Also I now have a good drummer to practice with. He is happy to work with me on some really basic exercises. We both agree with the post about having a stripped down rhythm to force you to make your own timing.

For what it's worth I think this is a great forum and next time I hit a wall I will be right back here.

After more than two years on bass, I am sad to say that I cannot yet play in time. I put the metronome on and try to play along at 80bpm or so and I just can't nail those crotchets. Every now and again there's one that gets away. I don't know if it's lack of concentration, excess tension or anxiety, right hand position or what but I am getting fed up with it. Any ideas?

Thanks in advance.

With due respect to my esteemed colleagues who have uploaded transcriptions, the rhythmic structure of the bass line is a 3/2 Latin clave diminished to one bar. So each bar is based on:
dotted quaver, dotted quaver, crotchet, quaver, crotchet

Then there are embellishments on top of that (rests and extra notes) but that's more down to feeling it at the time, I would argue. I would wait and see what the drummer is up to before adding too much of that.

Lincoln Goines and Robby Ameen have put together a great book called "Funkifying the Clave" about the mechanics of afro-cuban rhythms, including how they influence rock and pop. You don't have to work your way through the book to play Valerie tonight but it's a good one to add to the collection and it is very relevant here so I couldn't resist a little plug

I am in Ireland that day. I can ask around locally if you like...

Thanks for the comments above. I am checking out the resources.

For myself, I have ended up playing either very little or quite a lot but never anything in between:

When the music is ticking along, I tend to play the root on beat one and nothing else. I might advance or delay that note by half a beat or whatever, if the rhythm demands it.

When there's a gap or some other kind of opportunity, such as doubling the tune, I put in a run then peg it straight back again.

I don't know if it's really that great but it does get away from the dangerous area of twee, plodding bass lines.

If I could work out a way to do anything else and not have it sound rubbish, I would give it a go. I am still just getting started on this.

Very good

[quote name='phsycoandy' post='214565' date='Jun 7 2008, 07:33 PM']I wonder if we would be quite so eager defend the origional poster if it wern't for the fact thats she's are rather attractive female, just a thought for us machos out there!

Clearly the bloke is a plonker![/quote]

Err.... yes. I couldn't help thinking that I might act like an idiot too if I thought it would get me closer to such a beautiful woman. Of course that was in my bachelor days, when my brains got turned to pulp by testosterone. Now they get turned to pulp by the kids.

I am even more interested now I know I can't make it to the Yorkshire Bass Bash.