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[quote name='Coilte' timestamp='1366195102' post='2049389'] Must remember this saying. [/quote] It's good innit! I can't believe I'm the first to have thought of it though

Also, nothing kills energy like perfection.

[quote name='MarkW' timestamp='1366191510' post='2049332'] [color=#000000][font=Calibri]A little while ago our band decided to put ‘Hit Me With Your Rhythm Stick’ in our set list. After a bit of practice I’m at the stage where I can often pick up my bass and play it straight through without much difficulty – not as well as NW-R obviously, but perfectly well enough for a pub gig. But then there are just as many times when I pick up my bass and my plucking fingers flat-out refuse to perform. The speed isn’t an issue as they’ll move fast enough on one string, but as soon as I need to move across the strings they just seize up. You know those dreams where you try to run and your legs won’t work? It’s exactly the same thing. I’ve tried various limbering-up exercises and also put in some more regular practice, but I don’t seem to be reducing the frequency of duff performances. Needless to say I’m not going to be doing it live until I get some more consistency, so any advice would be much appreciated.[/font][/color] [color=#000000][font=Calibri]The other thing is that I’ve been recording our gigs, and I have to say I was very pleasantly surprised by how my bass sounded in the mix. For someone who hadn’t played live for 20 years - or even picked the instrument up much in that time – it sounded really good. I even had a (very drunk) punter come up to me after our last gig and tell me with great sincerity that I was an ‘awesome’ player. Bullshit of course, but still very flattering. And then I listened to the bass track on its own. [b]Yikes! There in glorious isolation was every fluffed note, and every inconsistency in dynamics and tempo. Listening to the band I think I had started to believe that perhaps I wasn’t quite as crap as I thought I was, but in isolation there’s no getting away from the fact that I’m one of the few bass players who can claim to have less talent on the instrument than Sid Vicious. [/b][/font][/color][/size][b][color=#000000][font=Calibri]Much, much more practice required…[/font][/color][font=Times New Roman][color=#000000] [/color][/font][/b] [/quote] Never EVER judge your playing in isolation, listen to any isolated bass part and they will sound very odd, fluffs, timing issues, etc. In an ensemble all the players will be doing things they would cringe at if they heard it isolated.

[quote name='Gust0o' timestamp='1366153080' post='2049137'] I'd definitely look to encourage, and use the experience to sound out any potential - it's what I do in the workplace, and I think the same rings true here. I mean, this is a hobby for many players, [i]why wouldn't it be all about encouragement?[/i] It's only where this begins to drift over into business that you'd have to consider any more dramatic outcomes - the honest conversation, etc. [/quote] A very astute post, especially your hobby observation.

[quote name='Lowender' timestamp='1366137272' post='2048873'] I do teach and I'm excellent at it. And my students like me. Many have stayed for years. So...you're wrong again. [/quote] OK cool. So why did you talk all that sh*te then, inferring incorrectly that he had not enough passion, and telling the guy to give up because he said all this new information sometimes feels too much to handle? Believe me, I have great passion for music and the times I have felt I can't handle all the information being fed to me are very many. It's because of passion that I kept doing it and didn't give up. If a tutor had told me I should just give up because I didn't have enough passion I'd have felt crushed and even more doubtful of my abilities. It takes a long time to get over that, I am still greatly lacking in musical self-confidence because I appreciate the possibilities of our chosen art and craft are limitless.

One more band supporting - SEA STACKS - Brilliant! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SBU-zpuKW1M

Does this help? [size=4][b]Pickup design/selection issues:[/b][/size] [size=4]There are far too many variables in pickup design to even approach a thorough treatment of the subject here. However, the following tips will help you understand how pickups affect tone so that you can make a more intelligent decision if considering aftermarket pickups.[/size][list] [*][size=4]How "hot" the pickup will be depends primarily on two variables; how strong the magnet is, and how many turns of wire are on the coil. However, both of these factors also affect the tonal response of the pickup.[/size] [*][size=4][size=4]Any coil of wire is an inductor, and the impedance (total resistance) of an inductor varies with frequency (the higher the frequency, the higher the impedance). When you add more turns of wire to a coil, you are increasing the inductance and thus altering the frequency response. "Overwound" coils and humbuckers usually have less high frequency response (cleverly marketed as "stronger midrange").[/size][/size] [*][size=4][size=4]Changing the guage (diameter) of the coil wire changes inductance and thus alters the frequency response of the pickup.[/size][/size] [*][size=4][size=4]Changing the size or shape of the coil changes the inductance and thus alters the frequency response of the pickup.[/size][/size] [*][size=4][size=4]Coils not only have a certain inductance, they also have a certain amount of "parasitic" capacitance. Different winding techniques will result in slightly different capacitance and thus affect the tonal response of the pickup.[/size][/size] [*][size=4][size=4]Making the magnet stronger also has an effect on tone, in that the stronger magnet will generally give a sharper attack and "harder" tone. However, the greatest impediment to simply using very strong magnets to get a very high output is the fact that strong magnets will kill sustain by "dragging" the strings.[/size][/size] [*][size=4][size=4]As a generalizaton:[/size] [/size] [list] [*][size=4][size=4]"Soft" magnet and fewer turns on coil - sweet, bell-like clear tones.[/size][/size] [*][size=4][size=4]"Hard" magnet and fewer turns on coil - glassy hot Strat sound.[/size][/size] [*][size=4][size=4]"Soft" magnet and more turns (or humbucker) - smooth, buttery midrange.[/size][/size] [*][size=4][size=4]"Hard" magnet and more turns (or humbucker) - grunge or "Texas" sound.[/size][/size] [/list] [/list] [size=4][size=4]From: [url="http://www.guitarnuts.com/wiring/pickups.php"]http://www.guitarnut...ing/pickups.php[/url][/size][/size]

[quote name='Skol303' timestamp='1366125222' post='2048657'] I wouldn't want to get him started, Nige! Lots of obvious variables in a car, of course. Perhaps less so with coffee (in very simplistic terms). I think that example is closer to my old man's Devil's Advocacy over pickups - i.e. "just magnets and copper wire / beans and hot water, innit". He's actually got a good head on him for audio stuff; he used to work on projects for Marconi and other telecoms companies. But he's also a stubborn so-and-so! Still, it got me thinking about what it is we actually [i]pay for[/i] when we spend money on pickups - as the 'workings' of them are ultimately very simple (as opposed to the inner workings of a stage synth, for instance). Like I said, I've been geeking out and doing lots of shop trials and research into p'ups recently. There's an undisputable difference between top and bottom end products. I guess if the 'secret' ingredients were widely known then everyone would be at (the filthy swines!). [/quote] The price of R&D, materials, production. Does he realise the variance in alnico magnet types for instance?

Tell me and I will forget. Show me and I may remember. Involve me and I will understand. (or something like that) Confucius.

[quote name='timmo' timestamp='1366124719' post='2048645'] I don`t believe it was whining.If it did come over as whining then i am sorry, i must get better at expressing myself .I was Merely asking for a little help which most people seemed happy to do,which have been very helpful to me.I also never said i was going to give up, so not really sure where that came from.But if you really want to say how it is, don`t attribute things to people that were never said.I took on board your quote saying it doesn`t get any easier.But if want to come over with attitude, that is your choice. [/quote] Don't worry about it mate. I think he decided you were whining when all you said was it's a hell of a lot of information to take in and sometimes it feels like it's impossible to take in. I was taught guitar in my teens in a similar way, teacher was a greast guy and a great musician and player. However, he was teaching me notation, modes, Mahavishnu Orchestra guitar chords when I'd been playing for about six months. I learned a lot and forgot a lot. I still don't really read notation, my theory is small and patchy, but I have good ears and I'm a decent guitar and bass player with some great artists. Don't be discouraged, you really do need some quick wins to go with all the hard work, and boy, you will really get plenty of times where you feel you're going backwards. But just persevere and enjoy it. When some confusing knowledge all snaps into place and you get one of many Eureka! moments, it's all worth it.

[quote name='Lowender' timestamp='1366121069' post='2048573'] This is obvious in response to my post in the other thread which was misunderstood. I think it's important to encourage when someone shows effort. I do not believe in coddling someone who's been playing for 4 weeks is whining how hard it is. I realize also that whenever anyone has a difference of opinion or adds any perspective that isn't in concensus with the majority, it's considered trolling. My point remains -- when someone is enthusiastic, they'll love the process and nothing can stop them. That deserves encouragement. If they ask questions...that deserves encouragement. If they complain how hard it is and say they may give up...let them give up. [/quote] And this is entirely why you should not teach.

I will see you there Mike! At last!

[quote name='Skol303' timestamp='1366121692' post='2048586'] Yep, you've nailed it! That's exactly the question I was trying to find answers to here. You just put it much better than I did [/quote] The properties of both being highly variable. Type of wire, type of magnets, etc. Windings are also highly varied, I hear scatterwound are the most characterful. The cost of materials and production are big factors. Ask your dad if he thinks all cars are the same because they have four wheels and an engine. Or if all coffee is the same, just beans and water, etc.

[quote name='Lowender' timestamp='1366120735' post='2048565'] Obviously you did misunderstand my points. It's okay though. [/quote] Then please explain.

[quote name='JTUK' timestamp='1366119500' post='2048539'] Nice try N, but you can just tell that music is going to be hard work with some. It is not like objective subjects.... it is far more involved than that..as you know, of course. If you have to be spoon-fed every inch of the way, whenever is that person going to be ok left to their own devices. Ok, I learnt pre online..by some way... but you pick things up or you don't... That is fine, just don't expect me to get involved. And no, I don't teach anymore... [/quote] That's fair comment mate One must have a degree of passion before embarking on the journey.

[quote name='JTUK' timestamp='1366117915' post='2048513'] Depends how I read it, depends how I tell it. [b]but there are pretty banal questions at times that I think if you can't work it out, you'll never get on with it anyway.[/b] [/quote] Really? It depends who's doing the explaining. I know people who did crap at school in a subject they ended up geting a degree in. It's usually down to the tutor. Motivation to learn can be quickly killed by a poor tutor.

[quote name='waynepunkdude' timestamp='1366117509' post='2048503'] It was just a funny thing to put in a rider, f***ing hell guys. [/quote] It was quite funny, but we're talking about the relative merits of the Behringer DI box at the moment. Maybe Mr Funny should invest in his own little DI box ?

[quote name='EBS_freak' timestamp='1366117430' post='2048501'] Its cos they cheap and get the job done. Lets face it, spending alot of money on a DI seems quite a dull thing to do, especially when live, it's hard to appreciate the difference between a good DI and a poor DI. [/quote] They seem fine, I carry my own of course

We are all at different levels of beginner Timmo. The more you learn, the more you find there is to learn. There is no 'best' there is only you and your music. Listen to lots of music, work out what you like and don't like, give what you don't like a chance, often the most interesting music has to grow on you.

I usually see Behringer DI boxes at gigs, I see them everywhere, nowt wrong with them.

[quote name='JakeBrownBass' timestamp='1366114902' post='2048439'] At 4 weeks all of this is a natural feeling. You're trying to learn everything at once and too quickly for it to properly sink in. I think you need to take a step back for a second and separate your learning of 'playing' and your learning of 'theory'. IMO all you should be thinking about right now in terms of theory on the bass is a) where the notes are on the fretboard (and i mean really knowing them) and b ) knowing where these notes are on the stave. With the theory, start at the beginning with theory books, a pencil and some manuscript paper. Work through it and learn it as theory. As you progress through your lessons things will start falling into place and making sense. Things that didn't make sense in the book before now makes perfect sense on the bass. By trying to do everything applied so early on you are going to get yourself in a rut trying to make everything perfect first time and get yourself frustrated. Also, your tutor seems to be having you learning the 'proper' way in learning your theory, technique & reading/writing music. Please stay on this course and don't be tempted to stray onto the web looking for tabs. They will only hinder your progress, you are in the perfect state right now as learning to read music when learning to play is the best & easiest way. [/quote] This all sounds good to me too.

I used to play in FISTER but we're going back 15 years. [url="http://soundcloud.com/silddx/fister-apathy-in-the-uk-1999"]http://soundcloud.com/silddx/fister-apathy-in-the-uk-1999[/url] I'm not on this recording. I used a fretless MIJ Jazz which was lovely to play in this context.

I'm delighted people are coming around to the fact that you don't need an SVT and a 8x10 Fridge to be a 'proper' bassist. Digital modeling is the way to go.

[quote name='Dad3353' timestamp='1366108782' post='2048313'] It would be unfortunate to derail this interesting thread, but this whole subject (how to motivate, learning curves, stimulation, telling it like it is...) deserves perhaps it's own thread. There is a lot to say, and many (apparently different...) points of view. Can we take this up elsewhere, maybe..? [/quote] Fair comment, probably needs its own forum actually

[quote name='Lowender' timestamp='1366108104' post='2048302'] Sorry but it's your post that's drivel. I made a valid point. Perhaps you just don't understand it. [/quote] I understand perfectly thank you. Unbridled joy and passion when learning an instrument is your pipe dream, it is not reality. Throughout any decent musician's life frustration, plateaux, and failure to understand meaning and purpose of teaching will be (or should be) a regular feature. Advising someone to abandon their new found instrument because their feelings do not match your theoretical posturing is totally ignorant and irresponsible. People like you seem to be happy to make your pronouncements without realising the effect they can have on people. You really ought to bone up on your subject matter before makeing these ridiculous misleading statements.