HughRichardson

This is my current session portfolio on Soundcloud. Will be updating it soon though! https://soundcloud.com/hugh_richardson/hugh-richardson-electric-bass-session-portfolio

[quote name='CamdenRob' timestamp='1429857342' post='2755528'] Morning all. Looking for a bit of advice regarding key signatures. I've been putting together some material for a new band and I've been using modes of the harmonic minor quite a bit. I am also writing everything down in proper notation as I've written stuff in the past only to forget it entirly a couple of weeks down the line and have to spend ages working it out again by ear from recordings... So if I'm playing (for arguments sake) a riff in E Phrygian #3 as a mode of the harmonic minor, which key signature do I put that in? Do I put it in C (same as the regular E Phrygian) and every time I play the G# just note it as an accidental? The answer may well be obvious but my theory is self taught so I have some gaps Thanks folks. [/quote] There are a few ways to approach this. Some would say go with A minor/C Major as that matches with the notes a lot better and have G# as an accidental. Another I've seen a few times is to use the key signature of the harmonic resolution point. In other words if the music constantly resolves on E then you would put it in E Major because phrygian dominant (phrygian #3) is a major tonality. If you opt for the 2nd tactic then you'll have to include a lot of other accidentals on the score so I would put it in Amin/Cmaj and then add the G# as an accidental but having just the G# in the key signature isn't common practice unless you're in avant grade and contemporary classical or jazz music. Hope that helps

[quote name='ChunkyMunky' timestamp='1432471936' post='2781749'] Considering that the bass is originally a rhythmic instrument, could one learn from a drummer's fills for us expand upon our own types of fills? Anyone else had something from this school of thought at all? How about instruments in the same register? I wondered how us bassists could learn from other instruments such as trombone or tuba. Just all thoughts! [/quote] For me it's been a great way to break out of playing "stock licks" and expanding my knowledge of the instrument. I've spent loads of time playing and transcribing music that was written for other instruments. I've done a few that are similar to the bass in terms of range (cello, trombone, tenor sax) and several others that are a long way from the bass (mandolin, female vocals, piano etc) and it's all helped to shape my playing in some way. Personally, I think the best way to go is not to consider the range of the instrument but just follow what you like in the music. I remember watching an interview with Hal Galper once and he said "good art always tells you something about yourself" and I think it's true. He went on to say that he went through a period of listen to Bill Evans everyday and it took him years before he realised it was because his chord voicings needed to improve and Bill Evans music was a way for him to see that. I think what he was trying to say was that we are often drawn towards music that we would like to emulate or be able to play ourselves so just following your ear and preferences within music is a good way to go!

Hello everybody! I've recently launched my new teaching website which is [url="http://www.onlinebassguitar.com"]www.onlinebassguitar.com[/url]. The site is full of free lessons, advice articles as well as bits and pieces on all aspects of bass playing. I'm updating the site each week with new material and I'm always keen to take suggestions on future content so get in touch! I've got some really exciting interviews to add to the site over the summer so make sure you check it out and stay tuned! I have a [url="http://www.onlinebassguitar.com/free-e-book"]free E-Book[/url] available from the site entitled [url="http://www.onlinebassguitar.com/free-e-book"]"Top 5 Tips For Bass Players"[/url] which is full of some slightly less discussed tips to improve your playing. I do offer private lessons from my home in West London or, if you can't make it to London,[url="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QvTcB9XFhsU"] I also teach through Skype [/url]as well as running my [url="https://www.youtube.com/user/HughRichardson1"]YouTube channel[/url] which has lots of free lessons too. If you want to read up on me then you can also check out my personal website over at [url="http://www.hughrichardson.co.uk"]www.hughrichardson.co.uk[/url] Looking forward to talking with you all here on bass chat!

[quote name='Dad3353' timestamp='1432680889' post='2783976'] Good evening, Hugh, and ... Plenty to read and amuse you here, and lots to learn and share. Have you seen our section specifically for tutors..? [url="http://basschat.co.uk/forum/26-tutors-available/"]Tutors available ...[/url] [/quote] What a great idea!! I'm looking to promote my online teaching services at the moment so is it cool for me to bend the rule a little and list that rather than my London location? Don't want to make a bad first impression

Hello everyone! I'm a full time bass player currently based in London and I do a mixture of recording work, gigs, writing and teaching. I also run my own teaching website at [url="http://www.onlinebassguitar.com"]OnlineBassGuitar.com[/url] if you want to take a look! I'm always up for discussions about playing, other bassists or music in general and I specialise in performance, applied music theory, creative music theory and technique. Looking forward to talking with you all!

[quote name='timhiggins' timestamp='1430779798' post='2764575'] I have a question for you Jazz cats, when walking through a chord pattern in lets say D minor is there anything wrong with using the minor/dorian scale, and just walking through the changes or should one always be aware of every chord and the appropriate arpeggio ? [/quote] I would consider your most role within the band when playing walking bass. 99% of the time it's going to be to support and outline the harmony. This means that the modes approach is useful but personally, I wouldn't just chose any old notes from each mode. I would try to go for chord tones (1,3,5,7) as much as you can. You don't need to hit all of them but try to use ones that outline the base quality of the chord (usually 1,3,5) and connect them together with other notes from the mode. If I wanted to outline a D min7 for example I might start on D (1) then pass through E to play F (3) then up to A (5) etc or play D, B, A, F to get a little more of the dorian sour in there. In either case, because I'm still using chord tones I'm able to play something that supports the harmony, is relevant to the music and also get the modal quality into the sound of my line a little more. Does that make sense?

[quote name='Marvin' timestamp='1326240984' post='1494499'] The suggestion came up that we, that is my band, write a few original songs. The aim to begin with was to just play covers but what the hell . I said I'd be up for that. As I don't actually play anything else, bar the fool, I assumed the song writing would come solely from the guitarist. However, the others are keen that I should come up with some ideas. I don't know if this just means a nifty riff to work off or a whole song, probably the former. That aside though, and just as a sort of idle question, has anyone else written songs starting with the bass/on the bass? [/quote] [color=#141414][font=verdana, geneva, lucida,] Marvin, it's perfectly possible to write music on any instrument and doing so on the bass is something you shouldn't shy away from. I have just started a free youtube series covering things like using chord tones, what the role of a bass player is, how to start building a line and what you can get by listening to others. [url="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NHIHncaNaDw"]Check out part 1 of 3 here[/url]. Hopefully it will shed some light on this subject.[/font][/color] [color=#141414][font=verdana, geneva, lucida,] Best,[/font][/color] [color=#141414][font=verdana, geneva, lucida,] Hugh[/font][/color] [color=#141414][font=verdana, geneva, lucida,] www.hughrichardson.co.uk[/font][/color]

[quote name='Hitman14' timestamp='1401111549' post='2460127'] Hey guys! Very new to the board and new to playing bass. I am jamming with friends and I am not really good at writing bass lines but can play from tabs. I am looking for someone who would be interested it writing some basslines for me and tabing them out and if they have paypal I will be more than happy to pay for the effort. If anyone is interested please drop me a pm or email. It would be very helpful to me and I can ensure regular work. Many thanks guys. H [/quote] [color=#141414][font=verdana, geneva, lucida,] This is a really common problem for a lot of people. I have just started a free youtube series covering things like using chord tones, what the role of a bass player is, how to start building a line and what you can get by listening to others. [url="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NHIHncaNaDw"]Check out part 1 of 3 here[/url]. Hopefully it will shed some light on this subject.[/font][/color] [color=#141414][font=verdana, geneva, lucida,] Best,[/font][/color] [color=#141414][font=verdana, geneva, lucida,] Hugh[/font][/color] [color=#141414][font=verdana, geneva, lucida,] www.hughrichardson.co.uk[/font][/color]