skywalker

I don't play in a band - but I'll bring my kit just in case I can get a game!!

[quote]In the example Skywalker gave you, he suggested playing "C-C-C-C-F-F-C-C-G-F-C-C"

when he says 'thirds' he means 'the third note in the root's scale' and by 'fifths' he means 'the fifth note in the roots scale'

So the scale of C goes: C D E F G A B ©. Imagine these notes are numbered 1-7:

[font="Courier New"]C D E F G A B
1 2 3 4 5 6 7[/font]

The fifth is the fifth note, C D E F [b][size=3]G[/size][/b] A B C
So Skywalker was saying, when you're happy playing "C-C-C-C-F-F-C-C-G-F-C-C", try throwing a G in where you' put a C:

C-C-C-G-F-F-C-C-G-F-C-C [i]or[/i] C-G-C-C-F-F-C-C-G-F-C-C [i]or even[/i] C-G-C-G-F-F-C-G-G-F-C-G.

Some will sound a bit weird, some will sound great.

Not sure how well I explained that.[/quote]


Hi Mhuk

Just expanding on can't do sleepy's explanation, bear in mind we are playing 12 bars, in the sequence i showed above c-c-c-c-f-f-c-c-g-f-c.

You should play four quarter notes per bar, on the count of 1-2-3-4, so first four bars the notes are c-c-c-c, then for 2 bars f-f-f-f, the 2 bars c-c-c-c, then 1 bar g-g-g-g, then 1 bar f-f-f-f, then two bars c-c-c-c. Listen to this as you play, it will sound familiar after a couple of goes - thousands of songs are written with this progression. Once you have this down and can do it time with the metronome at a speed of say 60-80, try this:-

c-c-c-c / c-e-g-e / c-c-c-c / c-e-g-f# / f-f-f-f- / f-a-c-f / c-e-g-e / c-e-f-f#/ g-b-g-f# / f-a-f-f/ c-e-g-a-a#-a-g-e (over 2 bars)

This adds thirds and fifths, to make the line more interesting, and at bar 4 adds an f# to "walk" the line naturally down to the F in bar 5, this happens again at bar 8, where using anf F and F# the line "walks" to the G in bar 9, where after root-3-root use an f# to walk the line naturally back the f in bar 10. Over the last two bars play the simple boogie line which delivers you back to start. Once you have this down you can experiment over the same 12 bars forever and never play the same twice, and it should always sound ok.

Happy experimenting

Steve

Find some songs in 12 bar blues, so the chord progression is the same every time (well - almost). Three chords, so you can start with 3 root notes, and in the key of c the structure goes

C-C-C-C-F-F-C-C-G-F-C-C

Try quarter notes over this pattern, use a metronome for timing, and once you are familiar with it add some fifths or thirds and find some rythmic kicks. If you want to here how this can "swing" listen to In the Mood, the old Glenn Miller thing ( i am sure others will come up with better ones than this, but it is a place to start). Even when the key changes, the fingering pattern is always the same.

Steve

This is one of those things that goes in the diary and every thing is planned around it. Mid june is fime for me, I am usually away early July before the schools break, so it fits well for me.

The balance of the photos will be on here I hope today. Rob has had a couple of fraught days at work, and fitted in an interview for a promotion, so I think he is a bit frazzled.


Steve

Hi All

A big thanks to Nick for giving us a unique venue, no other bass bash anywhere in the country can top that. And extra thanks for the surgery on my neck. Everything is as good if not better than ever. Some great instruments and the opportunity to play basses we've never even seen before let alone been allowed to play was excellent.

Hope everyone had a safe journey. Robert is tweaking the photos and they will be on here by tomorrow.


Best wishes to all

Steve

My son, navigator in chief and wizzy photographer is coming along for the ride, he will be happy to do the photos.

Leaving about 12, be there about 1-30.

See ya all soon

I'm planning on being there, but just bringing a clunker practice bass and a practice amp. Mainly I want to listen and learn from some of you guys. I will also some bring some non-alcoholics for the drivers and some alcoholics for the non drivers if NAS has no objection.


Steve

Hi Dave

I watched the lesson on With or Without You which makes the whole thing simple.

I would go from D (A string 5 fret) to A ( E String 5 fret) to B (A string 2 fret) to G (E string 3 Fret) and maintain the box pattern. Do you have any preference on the way this is done?. The tutor book prefers playing "close together" to avoid jumping all over the neck.


Steve

UPS has a guarateeed overnight service, but charge extra for Saturdays. You may need to open an account with them, but if these are regular items I can probably sort something out with them for you.


Steve

Thanks for all this - I will ask my newsagent to get BGM and give it a try.

The J-Basses have been sold - but I dud try

If I had known earlier I would have a day off from the day job and driven up there. I could have even taken her indoors to the seaside in the same trip. Theye even had some base guitars - if they can't spell does that mean they don't know how much they should be asking??

I might call them tomorrow and see if there is anything left

Does anyone know if there are magazines for Bass Players which are published in the UK. I subscribe to Bass Player but it is an American mag with American content, and no information on the UK Bass scene.

It would be nice to have a monthly read of what is going on over here

Any date except 7 and 14 July is good for me.



Steve

[quote name='skywalker' post='4697' date='May 22 2007, 10:34 PM']If you have a bass and a small cab it should be okay, I have only a practice amp at the moment so that doesn't take any room, and just one bass. Cleobury Mortimer shouldn't be too bad. If NAS is prepared to have us there that is generous, so I am happy to support that. I'll also bring some food and drink, if others will do the same. I can get you from Swad if that is covenient. Let me know.

Steve[/quote]

I don't have an estate car, just my Passat, hence the limit on space, but if it fits we can take it.

Steve

[quote name='Gazm' post='4676' date='May 22 2007, 10:02 PM']I'm in Swadlincote so not a million miles away
I think car sharing sounds like a good idea, depends on what we're taking gear wise.

Cleobury Mortimer would be about 70 miles which is probably a bit far.[/quote]

If you have a bass and a small cab it should be okay, I have only a practice amp at the moment so that doesn't take any room, and just one bass. Cleobury Mortimer shouldn't be too bad. If NAS is prepared to have us there that is generous, so I am happy to support that. I'll also bring some food and drink, if others will do the same. I can get you from Swad if that is covenient. Let me know.

Steve

16th should work for me. Pete whereabouts are you?? If you are South Derbyshire and I am Kegworth then it seems daft to take two cars - we can't be that far apart.


Steve

Any of those dates suits me, so long as someone gives us a venue, I am Yorkshire Ex-pat living in the East Midlands, and whilst I know Birmingham reasonably well I don't know the particular venues.

Steve

I asked the same question on Basstalk yesterday but so far noone has replied. We could have in the East Midlands -there must be at least three of us. an anyone understand the accent over tere anyway??


Steve