2stringsmcginty

as the lug for the strap is on the back of the body where the neck meets it's not too bad, It'll slowly neck dive if you're not holding it but a strap with a bit of grip to it should stop that, besides you're usually holding the neck

wow, longer than I'd thought since my last update, I've kicked a few bad habits that had crept in such as trying to bulk the song out with extra notes, worked fine in a group previously where we didn't have keys, just guitar bass and drums but still steady progress

yeh, sorry left you all hanging for some time as DIY / house renovation projects have taken over Here she is [attachment=189735:photo.JPG] A couple of scratches behind the strings just below the neck, presumably from long nails or a pick but nothing to detract from it need to make time to play it now

So, I've bought the Ibanez AGB, The neck felt good, I've always had a slight issue with my ring finger not liking going quite where I want it to (the reason I failed to learn guitar) but I'm finding it much easier to play using my full left hand instead of just two / three fingers and comfortable doing so sat down. Came with a hard flight case and strap, happy with the deal, only downside is tin's not bright red

Decided I'll carry this topic on showing bits of my progress, Snowed in yesterday and so working from home (motorbike + rutted ice = staying put!) so during the rare moments of there being little I can do (waiting for the computer to run checks for me etc) I got the bass out Got the truss rod adjusted which has increased the amount of fret buzz but I think that's more technique than adjustment causing it now, been practising playing this and it's going quite well, along with the first couple of lessons from 'crash course Bass' G|-----------------------------------------| D|-----------------------------------------| A|-----6-------4--------6--------4-------| E|--7---7-6-5---5-6-7---7-6-5---5-6-| Knowing the song, (the intro from Flower Tattoo by the W's) my wife recognised it so that's a good start I am getting a bit of an ache in my left wrist, not sure if it's just getting used to it again or bad technique - I am sat at the dining table with the laptop / book on the table.

The double has been sold so I have a decrease in budget to £260 but that's enough for a Squire Jazz, the Ibanez AGB or the Ibanez SR300 Just got to decide between them! Jazz has the 50's style that I like but a bit heavy AGB light and feels good to play sat down but neck feels longer due to how the strap fits SR300 feels familiar as it's similar to the tanglewood, but I fancy a change...

Got a guideline price on the double at much less than I paid for it, They've got an Ibanez AGB semi acoustic in with hard case and flats already on which felt nice to play both sat and stood, then, to compare with the AGB I had a go on the sr300 which I struggled with for a moment or two before getting the hang of it after which the semi didn't feel quite so good. The semi felt good sat down but the neck felt longer than I'm used to when stood up but the neck felt like it was making me finger the frets properly and not be lazy. edit - AGB not ABG

Right, determined to get my playing back up to the standard I used to be at. Still need to have a playable bass so looking this weekend at seeing what PMT manchester offer for the double bass as px and if they have anything in my budget. although still tempting to stick it out a bit longer, sell the double bass privately and get a new bass when I've got a bit of skill back - but a bass that's set up properly without a twist in the neck will make this easier...

finally made it to a computer to be able to reply properly, again, thanks for the support and advice, [quote name='Grangur' timestamp='1421243234' post='2658836'] It's a hard choice to make. But regrettably you can only fit so much into one life. You can always come back to bass later. You don't have that luxury when it comes to being there for a child. That time of reading stories at bedtime, or pushing trains round on a carpet, is priceless. Don't miss out on it for a bass. Don't like to tell a guy to leave a bass alone, but being a fellow parent.... [/quote] Completely in agreement, but I do have a bad habit of coming home and vegging out on the sofa one eye on the tv and one eye on the laptop which the wife often complains about so, after little miss ''I can walk when mummy's around but I'm not showing you yet daddy'' is in bed and the wife is watching help I'm a midwife get me out of here I can pick up the bass. TV and computer misses out, never my daughter. [quote name='xilddx' timestamp='1421223976' post='2658503'] I was thinking the same. Perhaps it's accented changes the OP is having problems with. [/quote] I'm a moment or two behind or in front (usually behind) the guitarist who is also lead. [quote name='discreet' timestamp='1421176077' post='2658108'] +1 - Another pet peeve and guaranteed to bring my urine up to 100 degrees Celsius. It's usually the guitarist. 'I didn't really have time to learn this one properly, I'll just wing it - it'll be OK!' ...NO IT WON'T - because I'm about to stick your guitar up your Gruffalo, you twunt! [/quote] I agree, it's been disrespectful of me to turn up and listen to the song on the night and go from there. It's also not helped me.

let us know how you get on!

[quote name='FinnDave' timestamp='1421237578' post='2658712'] I play (and therefore have bought) Fender only (plus a Squier which is at least half Fender) and I am not in the least discerning. I also ride a Harley Davidson, case proven. [/quote] While wearing a 'born in the USA' T-shirt?

[quote name='blue' timestamp='1421240673' post='2658788'] Then based on the nature of the issues you outlined and that you haven't been able to pick up your bass in the last couple of days, I would give thought to whether this is the right time in your life to be studying the bass guitar. Blue [/quote] True, time is required. Had I not been out the last two evenings (one of which was practice) I would have had time. I've been playing bass since 2002, not made the time as much since graduating which would definitely be a contributing factor to the issues I'm having now.

[quote name='dadofsix' timestamp='1421203499' post='2658457'] How good is your drummer? Is his or her meter solid? [/quote] Drummer is very good, he's great, helps me get the count going and if he notices I'm lost shouts 'chsnge' then nods his head in time with the kick drum for a couple of bars until I'm back in. Unfortunately he's in Durham at uni and we're in Lancashire do he's MIA at the mo and we're coping without.

[quote name='xgsjx' timestamp='1421219773' post='2658472'] Going by a previous post, at least 21. [/quote] I wish! +10 work full time married + toddler. Not managed to pick up my bass since Monday evening

I used to work part time in a model and hobby shop. My job was to arrive at 11 and put the CCTV on (tape wasn't long enough to last from 9am!) and then walk a lap of the shop dusting product and shelves, ensure product looked good on the shelves and in the right place. On a delivery day, put product out fitting it into the shelves and refreshing displays ant top up display cabinets Then I was to sweep / mop the floor Then get onto the repairs booked in All the while stopping to serve customers. Working in this routine ensured no part of the shop got missed and, along with good customer service ensured we were always top 3 of the small chain of stores. We'd often have an item in that we knew would be a slow seller but would catch attention and draw people into the shop. My manager would often plan a window display around such an item, my aim was to sell it before he had chance! I often succeeded

[quote name='Geek99' timestamp='1421162944' post='2657854'] You're not the first to see this problem, you won't be the last either, lots of people have solved it too, so you're actually in a pretty good place [/quote] Thanks, I was pondering giving up as I love playing with the band and I enjoy playing in worship - it's what I learnt bass for. [quote name='Bilbo' timestamp='1421163768' post='2657870'] My first thought when I read the OP was that the bandleader/MD needs to sort himself out. Tell him to prepare proper charts and not to rely on the musicians knowing everything in advance. A lyric sheet with chords over the words is arguably the most useless piece of crap you can give someone. I have a couple of people I work with who do that and it almost always ends in a car crash. It doesn't tell you anything. Nevertheless, an intimate knowledge of the idiosyncracies of your chosen genre is really important. Most Jazz tunes do certain things at certain points. Most funk songs do other things at other points etc etc. I am sure that it is the same with gospel stuff. [/quote] we do spend a lot of time with the chord sheet listening to the song a few times, making notes, working out what our parts are and how we'll play the song - the stompy example I posted earlier is not so folksy when we play it. It's quite normal in churches to work in this way, the thoughts being we're there to provide backing and atmosphere, not a performance. Something with a bit more direction on the sheet for me may be useful however so it's worth me trying to get my head around sheet music and track down a copy (we're given the track and chord sheet in advance for new songs so we're familiar with them before practice nights) we don't expect to practice on the monday eve and play it on the sunday, it takes a few weeks

[quote name='JapanAxe' timestamp='1421155664' post='2657706'] Do you read music 2strings? Part of your problem may be assuming that chords change on a beat, whereas they (or at least the bass line) change just before - known as anticipation. EDIT: More thoughts! Some people have a confidence problem that stops them playing on the beat - they sort of wait for everyone else to play the beat, then join in. Is this you? [/quote] There was a point at which I could play 'all the small things' reading the music and 3 strings but playing chords for the last 8 years and not playing for a couple of years until recently it's chords only all round for guitar, keys and bass. We listen to the track and make notes Before attempting to play and it seems to work for everyone else (the drummer was 12 when these guys took on the task, he's left for uni now) I do have a bit of a hesitancy problem, or I can hear the timing clearly but not confident enough to trust it. I think, taking advice on board I need to know my way arround my bass again, playing on only the E and A strings can only be holding me back when going from D to F# and do the timing exercises prescribed earlier but also play some stuff to music

[quote name='JapanAxe' timestamp='1421155664' post='2657706'] Do you read music 2strings? Part of your problem may be assuming that chords change on a beat, whereas they (or at least the bass line) change just before - known as anticipation. EDIT: More thoughts! Some people have a confidence problem that stops them playing on the beat - they sort of wait for everyone else to play the beat, then join in. Is this you? [/quote] There was a point at which I could play 'all the small things' reading the music and 3 strings but playing chords for the last 8 years and not playing for a couple of years until recently it's chords only all round for guitar, keys and bass. We listen to the track and make notes Before attempting to play and it seems to work for everyone else (the drummer was 12 when these guys took on the task, he's left for uni now) I do have a bit of a hesitancy problem, or I can hear the timing clearly but not confident enough to trust it. I think, taking advice on board I need to know my way arround my bass again, playing on only the E and A strings can only be holding me back when going from D to F# and do the timing exercises prescribed earlier but also play some stuff to music

[quote name='tedmanzie' timestamp='1421149913' post='2657600'] you don't put the metronome and the song on at the same time. set the metronome to a slow tempo (50bpm) sit in a darkened room (optional!), count 1 2 3 4 so that your '1' is on the click. nice and steady and even, play a note on the 1. do this for 10 mins. then play the note on the 1 and 3, do this for 10 mins. then play the note on the 1, 2, 3, 4. do this for 10 mins. My prescription is once a day for two weeks. Dr Manzie [/quote] Cheers doc, It appears the pharmacy is out of metronomes at the mo, I'll try an app

I've got a music book for one of my favourite bands (Switchfoot) I'll dig that out and get playing. I'm guessing I can find a metronome app for iPhone. Probably take a few attempts to get metronome in time with the CD!

Having read the advice you've all given (thanks for being helpful and supportive) I've realised how little I listen to music these days. As a student I always had music on when working At work Radio 6 Music is on but a bit quiet, I can't have headphones in and motorbikes don't have radios. I'll work something out Never got on with metronomes before as I couldn't work out if I'd got it at the right speed!

[quote name='Geek99' timestamp='1421138040' post='2657428'] i had exactly this issue. I'd got very lazy, mostlyh through not working with a teacher or playing with anyone else who would have picked me up on timing. The only solution I found was to go back to basics and learn timing from scratch, with a metronome.It takes a certain amount of guts to admit you have a problem and you're through that stage. I used to listen to records at work on headphones and really listen for the drumbeats and tap along. Then I'd listen for the bass line and tap that out whilst thinking about the drum beats. This helps break up the metronome monotony.I did some drummer tests online, where you hear beat one of bar one and have to tap out the other beats and you get scored on how accurate you are (yamaha site, I think, but try google for others). You get better (at that part anyway) a lot quicker using those, I found. Obviously you also need to train your hands as discussed above, but training your head is important first, in my humble opinion. [/quote] I used to play drums but struggled with timing, coordinating 4 things going on at once was hard and I could just manage to keep the beat, I could not do a fill and drop back into time or offer much variation beyond switching from hi hat to ryde I am dyspraxic - found out when I was 21 after I'd learnt to do many things I apparently shouldn't be able to do so I accept it may take longer for me to crack, but it's not impossible.