ambient

If they're playing a bass, doesn't that mean that they're a bass player ? Or is there an initiation necessary to be an actual 'bass player' ?

Steve Lawson is the expert at this, check his Facebook and Twitter accounts, and you'll see how useful both can be.

I know Theo Travis is on sax.

[quote name='chris_b' timestamp='1441298533' post='2857743'] So theory gets in the way of creativity? it's a good job no one told Bach, Mozart and Beethoven. [/quote] Or in modern times Steve Reich, Phillip Glass or Terry Riley and a whole host of others.

[quote name='PaulWarning' timestamp='1441291863' post='2857644'] one of the other problems with theory is it can get in the way of song writing, it can stop you putting a certain chord with another because it's 'wrong' but discordant can sound good, I may be wrong but did the Beatles ever have professional lessons? some of their chord structures would have been frowned upon and John Lydon's out of tune singing would have horrified some (probably still does) but it works. I play with a pick because of my bass playing influences do but I'll bet if I'd have lessons some teachers would have tried to stop me. BTW I'm not saying I wouldn't have been a better player with lessons or more precisely theory, but I do think the wrong way can produce interesting results [/quote] Theory doesn't get in the way of creativity. Thinking does. Also how much of what the Beatles did was as a result of working with George Martin, who was classically trained ?

Having lessons from a good teacher is an investment. You may not realise it at the time, but as you progress you will. I've been fortunate to study with some amazing musicians, who have been truly inspiring. Not just bass tutors but others who have taught me so much about composition and arranging, and put me on course for where I am now. Bass wise, the best tutor I've had was Steve Lawson who I studied with for a couple of years or so. There were some amazing bassists at uni who I studied with too, but for various reasons didn't get much from, mainly because I wasn't interested in developing my traditional bass playing skills, it wasn't stimulating creatively for me.

Having never heard uptown funk, or any real desire to hear it really, I think you just have to try and capture the essence of the song, and rearrange it according to whatever instrumentation is available. Floyd albums for example are incredibly well produced and littered with musiqe concrete and other effects, yet that doesn't stop bands from doing great covers of their songs.

Not exactly a pedalboard, it's actually a music stand covered in Velcro, but it puts the effects at the right height. It's an Eventide Space which is amazing, a Korg Kaoss Pad KP3+. The bright glow is from my ebow, and on the floor is a Pigtronix Infinity looper.

I wonder if the pa company are supplying the pa free ? Or the sound engineers, or lighting, or riggers etc ? If you want to do it, I'd maybe ask for expenses, or arrange with someone from the band to give you a lift. I sceptical of these sort of things, someone somewhere is making money out of it, as has been pointed out, it's the profit that's going to charity.

It's just a question of doing it, practicing at volume, and improving your muting technique. I do most of my muting with my left hand, the fingers that I'm not using to fret a note, are lying across the strings stopping them from ringing. Lessons are a great idea. A noise gate cuts out noise from your gear, hiss that's caused by high frequencies, it stops anything coming through above a preset level.

I think for most normal bass parts then B E A D is a good idea. What would possibly cause problems is the fact it's a 4 string. You may have to keep telling yourself that it's a low B, not an E.

[quote name='seashell' timestamp='1440829950' post='2854132'] I'm not familiar with Jonas's work, but I'm about to get educated! :-) I'll be along to the Birmingham gig at Tower of Song. [/quote] I'm going to the Birmingham show. Jonas's playing is very eclectic, from amazing slap virtuosity to beautiful acoustic playing like in the video I posted above, to stunning solo work, I remember seeing a video of him doing a solo bass arrangement of Hendrix's Little wing. So combine that with Steve's amazing soundscaping and it promises to be a pretty fantastic night. The Tower of song is a really nice venue too. There's also a ticket discount if you're a subscriber to Steve's music on Bandcamp.

[quote name='Annoying Twit' timestamp='1440881124' post='2854577'] [color=#000000][font=sans-serif][size=3]Erroneous[/size][/font][/color] used to break them frequently. I'd guess it depends on playing style, but when I read of Erroneous's record, I was gobsmacked. [/quote] I was wondering if maybe there was a problem on the OP's bass or something, causing stress on the string ?

How often do you break a string ? I've never broken one in 20 years.

Just sold my volume pedal to Nick. An extremely quick and easy transaction, and a really nice and friendly guy. Highly recommended.

[quote name='HengistPod' timestamp='1440773518' post='2853768'] ... which is grand, but I tend to only break one string at a time, requiring replacement at the end of a song. If I had a set of new strings and used, say, the A, to replace a broken one, then I have now got E, D and G left as spares. What am I gonna do - replace them all at the end of the gig? And if I only put on the "old" ones a week ago, what happens to them - throw them out? I have not the cash for such profligacy. So when I put a new set of string on, uness the old ones are totally shot they get saved in the packets the new ones came out of. Hence a whole bunch of spare single strings in the pocket of my gigging bag. (They also come in useful for holding bits of my car together on occasion.) [/quote] Buy separate strings ? I'm pretty sure you can buy separate Rotosounds from Strings direct.

I recently graduated from music college with a BMus honours degree. I have excellent sight-reading skills, and a very good knowledge of advanced musical theory and harmony. I have been playing 6 string bass for about 8 years. Throughout this time, I have developed my playing technique to a highly proficient level. I have also written an as yet unpublished book on 6 string bass, that covers general playing, and also advanced 6 string bass playing, including chordal playing and chord melody techniques. Most people buy a looping pedal, and after the initial novelty of being able to record a bass line, and then maybe solo over it, they quickly lose interest in it. Hence the rather large number of used but in excellent condition looper pedals that you see listed for sale on here, and on eBay. I have tried to take looping a few steps further, and use it to create quite dramatic and sometimes ethereal melodic soundscapes, and ambient compositions. I can teach you to use your looper pedal in a far more creative manner, thus improving your general musical ability along the way. I am extremely proficient in the use of most of the music software currently available, including Logic Pro 9 and X, Garageband, Sibelius, Ableton live, Cubase etc. Tuition available throughout the Birmingham and West Midlands area, and also via Skype. Please contact me for details.

Bach, as already suggested one of the cello pieces, or one of his inventions ?

Fingerless gloves. I think the coldest I've ever been was busking in the Birmingham Jewellery quarter at a Christmas market about 4 years ago. There was a mad rush of all the band into the nearest coffee shop at interval time. I played at a garden party 2 weeks ago and was cold, that's the British summer for you I guess .

I think he just wants to praise god by playing. I'd say let him play, see what comes from it. I'm playing in a band with another bassist tomorrow, should be a fun night. I'm sure I'll learn something from the experience, as I'm sure the 2 of you will.

Too short a notice, but I'd have loved this.

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