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TKenrick

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Posts posted by TKenrick

    Free Bass Transcriptions

    in Theory and Technique

    Posted

    Not the usual sort of thing that I post, but as it's January I've been thinking a lot about how to get the most out of practising and realised that there's not much point putting in the hours if you can't focus in the first place:

    There's a more detailed rundown of all the books, apps and strategies mentioned in the video HERE

    The site has had a facelift and been transferred to a new server, so things should be looking better and running more smoothly than before.

    New transcriptions on the way next week...

    • Like 2
    • Thanks 1

    Drop C tuning

    in Theory and Technique

    Posted

    Having worked on a project where everyone was in drop-C apart from me, I'd say that the simplest option is to use the same tuning as everyone else - it might be a headache in the beginning, but in the long run you'll probably save some time and effort.

    Most guitar players who use drop tunings tend to write based parts based around the ease with which they can 'bounce' off the lowest open string - if you're playing lots of stuff in unison then it won't have the same sound or feel if you have to use a fretted low C all the time. 

    Do you count when you play?

    in Theory and Technique

    Posted

    14 hours ago, Westenra said:

    I didn't expect so many replies in what I thought was a quiet corner of BC!

    I should've mentioned in my OP that I've been playing on and off for 10 years but only recently (as in this past summer) I've wanted to expand my basic knowledge and learn theory, improve my muting technique and be able to sight read (guess ear training should be in there too!)

    Up till now I've just used tabs constantly and Guitar Pro which helps with rhythm. But I've come to the realisation this is a crutch that I want to do without and learning how to sight read is the way forward.

    its just very tiring at times when it feels like you've taken a massive step backwards and having to learn how to count, read and play when I was doing all of this previously (and with much greater accuracy and speed) with the aid of tabs. But I am making progress and it feels rewarding, it's just this particular area of doing all things at once that feels like challenge I can't wrap my brain around, even when I set the metronome to 60bpm. I find it much easier to parrot!

    16th note rests to me currently feel like an impossible task!

    3

     

    As another person who grew up on TAB and didn't learn to read until 10 years into playing, I definitely know how frustrating the 'back to square one' feeling of learning to read is; the only consolation is that if you stick at it then your musical abilities will begin to advance way beyond the level that they were when you were reliant on TAB. Improved fretboard knowledge, sense of time, articulation, dynamics and the ability to access music written for any instrument are just some of the areas that reading opens up.

    As far as 16ths and associated rests go, I found it helpful to isolate all the different possible 'fragments' of 8ths,16ths and associated rests that can occupy 1 beat and then learn them individually as you would do with new words.

    This may sound like a rather OCD way of looking at things, but much of sight reading is pattern recognition and you need to develop the ability to 'pre-hear' a rhythm before you play it - rhythm reading books like Louis Bellson's 'Modern Reading in 4/4 Time' are great for getting this stuff together (if a little dull!).

    SOLD: Upgraded NS Designs NXT EUB

    in EUBs & Double Basses For Sale

    Posted · Edited by TKenrick
    Re-uploading pictures

    I bought this from another BCer a couple of years ago and haven't touched it in a year, so it's up for sale. This was bought and used as a quiet alternative to arco upright practice and I've upgraded the tuners/strings and stand to try and make it feel as close to an upright as possible.

    There's a small ding on the right hand side of the body - this is about 1cm long and can't be seen from the front; I've done my best to accurately photograph it.

    NS Designs EUB Amber finish with the following upgrades:

    Hipshot HB6Y tuners (£100)
    NS endpin stand (£120)
    Pirastro Evah Pirazzi strings (£160)

    Includes padded soft case, original tripod stand, original strings and an entry-level French bow.

    The bass is located in Teddington (TW11, just off the end of the M3). I would prefer not to ship it, and I travel a fair bit for gigs so could easily arrange to meet at a mutually convenient location. No trades I'm afraid.

    IMG_5616.thumb.jpg.2402b49dc286cf01c0a4f5739c3d35ea.jpgIMG_5615.thumb.jpg.97aa8ed0f6a5d0ac8d404120216fc62b.jpgIMG_5617.thumb.jpg.15479ff1d1f0c342c753a8a684b8e613.jpg

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    • Like 1

    Is it too late for me to learn to read sheet music?

    in Theory and Technique

    Posted

    [quote name='PaulWarning' timestamp='1509264517' post='3397574']
    can't read and have no motivation to learn but I've asked this question before and nobody answered, how accurate is sheet music?
    [/quote]

    As Jay has already said, it's largely down to the skills of the person writing it - the quality of the original recording also plays a huge part, especially if you're trying to decipher basslines.

    Although I spend a fair bit of time writing sheet music, I'm often appalled at the stupid mistakes that I find in my own charts - ears get fatigued like anything else and it's easy for them to start playing tricks on you.

    [quote name='PaulWarning' timestamp='1509285947' post='3397777']
    thanks for that. I guess it depends whether the original composer could write music, otherwise it's down to what someone thinks it is
    [/quote]

    The fact is that there are lots of elements other than the rhythms and pitches that contribute to the overall sound of a piece of music, and these are often very difficult to capture on paper; the phrase 'the map is not the terrain' definitely applies to this. Even the most accurate transcriptions will lack some of the nuances of the original performance, because notation can't fully represent every sound that people produce from their instruments.

    • Like 1
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