SteveK

In the olden days (before dinosaurs), increasing the speed from 45 to 78 rpm or 33 to 45rpm was the established way of picking out an otherwise inaudible bass line.

Many reasons a guitarist might use a capo: A capo on a guitar allows strings to be played open that would otherwise be impossible/near impossible. Using a capo will alter the timbre of the instrument, usually making the chords sound 'sweeter' a la Here Comes the Sun. The opposite effect of [i]detuning[/i] a guitar to make it sound ugglier. Two guitarists, one with capo and one without, will often sound bigger (Staus Quo?) than 2 non capo guitars. To accommodate a singer, with the added bonus of (as above) 'sweeter' sounding chords, a la James Taylor, Ralph McTell etc.

[quote name='redstriper' timestamp='1350130024' post='1834897'] Chill dude, I'm trying to see your side and I'm not simply trying to win an internet argument here. It's an interesting subject that affects all performing musicians. [/quote] It's really not! But your diplomatic skills are duly noted.

A couple of years back, a blind, one-legged lady, wearing a blue duffel coat and odd socks tripped over my dog... I was most upset, as was Fido. I really don't think that blind, one legged ladies wearing blue duffel coats and odd socks tripping over dogs should be tolerated... I feel I should speak out against this kind of thing. What do you folks think? Only kidding

[old man mode/on] Never, in all my 40+ years of gigging, has musicians/bands playing for free ever been an issue, for me or any other musician... it was never a topic of conversation. In fact, in the 70s, it was the accepted norm for a new band, trying to make a name, to play and lose money. Okay, we would be paid a nominal fee, but the cost of doing the gig etc... I did it for a few years (supportive parents). It was [b]the[/b] way of learning your craft - grotty pubs and clubs, all environments. It was called 'payin' yer dues'. It has held me in good stead... I wouldn't have had it any other way. [old man mode/off] [quote name='swanbrook' timestamp='1350072960' post='1834382'] And now the insults start again, enjoy your free gigs guys [/quote] Insults? Haven't read the whole thread, but this last page, as far as I can see, is 'insult' free. BTW haven't done a free gig (that wasn't for charity) since the 70s.

[quote name='swanbrook' timestamp='1350062409' post='1834248'] As I have said over and over, you playing for free might prob won't affect me however it might other bands that play the same venues you do. I picked music and I have been doing it for over 20 years,[b] what if I did design for the love of it and went to your place of work and did it for free .[/b] Do you really not see the point here after 13 pages ? The way I see it is, we all start somewhere and if your playing for free in a venue that's would normally pay bands then [b]that is the same as me going into your office and working for free.[/b] If your playing for free in a venue that only has smaller bands or might only afford a band on sat night but would love some music Friday and gives you a few free beers, food or a jolly good reach around then that's not hurting anybody. [/quote]If you were any good and clients liked your work, I bet you wouldn't do it for free for long Your analogy would work better if bands that play for free were playing to packed houses night after night... Not very likely... unless they're on some weird tax avoidance scheme.

Just skimmed through this thread. Seems to me those pissed off with musicians playing for free have probably got a lot to learn about either: their craft, their instrument, performing or generally entertaining the paying public. I think of it as survival of the fittest, natural selection. There are those that seem unable to get paying gigs, and there are those that appear to get reasonably well paid gigs. What do you suppose is the most likely difference between these bands? If you can't get paid gigs, take a good hard look at yourself... be super critical! Put in the hours... UP YOUR GAME! It's quite simple: Generally speaking, If you're good, and people want to come and see you, you'll get the paid gigs. If you're boring, doing the same ol' tosh (badly), then you won't! As I said in another thread, you may need to start by doing a few gigs for nothing, or next to nothing, but eventually you'll build a following... if you're good enough! Of course the above doesn't apply to those solely in it for fun... And why shouldn't you be(?)

[quote name='spinynorman' timestamp='1349956583' post='1832648'] Last time this happened (Pink Floyd, Genesis, Yes) they invented punk to put a stop to it. [/quote]Yeah, and what a disaster that was! Muse? I feel that I [b]should[/b] like them, but they just don't press any buttons.

[quote name='Doddy' timestamp='1349888539' post='1831872'] I've never liked this attitude. Once you hit the stage you should be performing,not rehearsing.If you are treating a gig as a rehearsal (I often hear the phrase 'paid rehearsal') then you shouldn't be on the gig,because you have completely the wrong attitude towards the gig. Since when should new bands play for little or nothing just to get out there? I've never done this,ever. Like I said in the 'playing for free' thread,I once booked my old bands first gigs and got over a grand for 2 nights (plus accommodation). [/quote]Come now Doddy, it's just semantics. Maybe the term "warm up gig" would be more acceptable. Almost every band in the world worth their salt does them. Most likely a set, or an aspect of the set, will be changed after a "warm up gig". I'm sure the OP's band will do their utmost to put on a show and perform to the best of their ability.

[quote name='Hobbayne' timestamp='1349782321' post='1830361'] Our guitarist has been trying to find our new rock covers band some work and got this email from a promoter in Sutton. I think it sounds dodgy, what do you think? We are are new band who have yet to play live and have yet to attract a following. [/quote] Considering that you are a "[i]new band who have yet to play live and have yet to attract a following[/i]" I think the email is quite reasonable. [quote name='gapiro' timestamp='1349782607' post='1830363'] Sounds like he hasn't researched your band at all, and hasn't got a clue that you are a covers band. IMHO YMMV etc. [/quote] The OP states that they are a "[i]new band who have yet to play live and have yet to attract a following[/i]". How would he go about researching such a band? I would have thought that it was up to the guitarist (assuming he approached the promoter) to give the promoter as much info as possible in the first communication. I think that as a first gig, it would be unreasonable to expect much more than a beer and a sandwich as payment. The gig would more likely benefit you than the promoter. If he offers you a gig I would bite his hand off.

[quote name='mep' timestamp='1349209587' post='1823433'] The Beach Boys were disapointing and had way too many people on stage. I lost count of how many guitars there were (4 or 5?) [b]and everyone seemed to do backing vocals.[/b] [/quote] ha ha!... er, you were being ironic, right?

By all accounts (being an old progger) I should dislike PIL and enjoy Muse. Oddly though, the reverse is nearer the mark. Muse just don't press any buttons for me, whereas PIL I kind of like. I couldn't stand the Sex Pistols or anything resembling 'punk', but Mr Rotten and his gang make me want to listen. And, how the hell does that guy make a mandolin sound so good?

[quote name='Rayman' timestamp='1348766099' post='1817965'] Pilgrimage is still the best album. [/quote] [quote name='seashell' timestamp='1348772741' post='1818083'] Pilgrimage was the first album I ever bought!:-) [/quote] Ahh, Pilgrimage... wasn't that a jazz album? [url="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ia73dAETiGk"]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ia73dAETiGk[/url]

Just seen this thread. Had my Precision since about 1972 and never liked or used the tone control. About '82 I fitted a switchable cap - don't remember what value. Even though there's a 100% improvement, I still don't use the tone control For me, a more worthwhile addition was a series/parallel switch... now, that does get used. There's plenty of space for a microswitch between volume and tone controls, or tone and jack socket.

[quote name='thisnameistaken' timestamp='1348602971' post='1815925'] Also, when does anyone ever have the audacity to use a whole-tone scale? I think I've heard Stevie Wonder do it once, but is that how useful it is - you can use it once if you're lucky and mega talented? [/quote] Another example of a [url="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CjexmfdXXhQ"]whole-tone scale @ 0:06[/url] blink and you'll miss it!

[quote name='thisnameistaken' timestamp='1348599680' post='1815860'] Yeah I know what they are (although I can never remember their names) [/quote] [quote name='peteb' timestamp='1348601251' post='1815887'] I can never remember the names either, but it's not really important. [/quote] You're right knowing the actual names isn't important, unless you're trying to verbally communicate them to someone else. For anyone interested - a little mnemonic device (of my own creation) which helped me to remember them: [b]I[/b]onian[b]; D[/b]orian;[b] P[/b]hrygian[b]; L[/b]ydian[b]; M[/b]ixolydian[b]; A[/b]eolian[b]; L[/b]ocrian [b]I[/b] [b]D[/b]o [b]P[/b]lay [b]L[/b]ike [b]M[/b]y [b]A[/b]unt [b]L[/b]ucy

[quote name='Bigwan' timestamp='1348566568' post='1815171'] I'm assuming powering a speaker is an afterthought. The pandora mini covers everything else i think. Just ordered one myself actually! [/quote] Ah, so this is the latest version of what I linked to. I thought that my Pandora PX4B was mini enough (about the size of a large cigarette packet). Looks to be exactly what the OP's after.

I have one of [url="http://www.ultimate-guitar.com/reviews/bass_effects/korg/pandora_px4b/index.html"]these chaps[/url] [b]The good news[/b]: It does all you require, except power a speaker - can still be used live though. Has an aux in for yer CD, mp3 or whatever. Has a useful little sampler built in, so you can play a phrase/chords in and loop it to play along to. [b]The bad news[/b]: Having just looked for a link for you, it seems that they aren't manufactured anymore . ebay may be your friend in this instance.

Will, I find your post a little perplexing. On the one hand, you sound like your fairly new to music... and on the other hand, with phrases like: [quote]playing the 7th in a dominant 7th leading to the root of the tonic chord, something like that.[/quote] makes me think you have at least a little theory under your belt. Asking for suggestions of 'cool degrees of the scale' is pointless. Basically you're asking for a short-cut to more creative bass lines, but it's a short-cut that's waaaay too short. OK you have some suggestions... now what? Are going to stick a minor 10th in at every opportunity? Or perhaps a 6th? Or maybe a minor 5th ? That's really not the way to good creative playing. There's plenty of good stuff on BC in the Theory and technique sections. Get stuck in there... that will hold you in much better stead.

[quote name='EssentialTension' timestamp='1348477078' post='1813920'] Now you know we want the Bruce Johnston story after that teaser. [/quote] I won't go in to any embarrassing details, suffice it to say: It involved Bruce Johnston dressed totally in white (about to go on stage), and me with a bottle of disappearing ink in my pocket

I had the great fortune to have toured with The Beach Boys in 1991 along with The Allman Brothers. Probably one of the highlights of my career... apart from an embarrassing incident with Bruce Johnston that still makes me cringe to this day. 'God only knows' gotta be one of the greatest 3 minute songs ever recorded! Great stuff!

[quote name='jamesbass116' timestamp='1348422126' post='1813441'] Good point! There's a lot of the industry that really does rely on image as well. Which a fair few guitarists in my band have found out the hard way simply because they don't look the part or actually have been accused of looking 'old' which I found harsh. You could always look into joining one of those [b]M[/b]a[b]n[/b]n-bands! [/quote]Fixed. BTW I did... 26 years ago

[quote name='jamesbass116' timestamp='1348369256' post='1812826'] Now this is by no means a rant, nor am I trying to incite any kind of hateful retorts. This is simply meant to be a discussion on an issue of ageism in correlation to the perception of musical experience. [/quote]And if a boy band were auditioning for a bass player... assuming similar "musical experience" and ability, who do you suppose would be more likely to get the gig? You, at 19 years... or me, at 57? That's showbiz Thankfully, the music world isn't just full of boy bands.

Don't see too much difference in height from the two pics... although, an adjustment of an inch can feel like a yard. Gotta say, comfort's my priority. I've always been of the opinion that, regardless of strap length, if [b]I'm[/b] playing it... it looks cool

I bump into Martin Turner from time to time, last time a couple of months ago. Jolly nice chap, and always happy to share an anecdote or two over a drink :-)