Nicko

If the vocalist is not listening you're not speaking the right language. I recently got accused of being ill because I said I didn't want to offend anyone. They know I offend everyone so they don't take it personally, but at least when I'm blunt there is no room for misunderstanding.

I don't get this at all. You like Fender, you don't like Fender. Who cares. Personally I love mine, but the best bass is the one you pick up and fall in love with so I certainly wont try to convince the non believers. Don't look at the logo, and try not to look at the price until you decide it has to be yours.

I get a similar problem even though I'm in West London. I don't want to play classic rock, blues or jazz, and at my age I hardly think I'm goone be the next big thing so most f the originals bands are off limits too. It took a good 6 or 7 months to get together with some like minded local musicians but the band is now going really well. Our guitarist is really a classic rock and blues player but he has told me that he likes playing the indie type stuff we do because it takes him out of his comfort zone. So you could start a band and try to "convert" the others to somethig more like what you want to play.

Two playable basses, and my brothers old leftie which is a pile of absolute junk but holds some sentimental value. I'm thinking of selling one of my basses as it rarely gets played. Two 6 string electric lead guitars, one acoustic and one electro acoustic as well. I like to think this covers all my recording needs, but the electro really needs replacing.

Spent too long playing with myself in the bedroom (ahem) before finding the joys of performance at something past 40 years old. Rehearsals and practice are sometimes just a chore, but gigging rarely is.

[quote name='tauzero' timestamp='1442834620' post='2869787'] To some degree, the Precision is a copy of the double bass. Like the Jazz is a copy of the Precision with one more pickup, the Precision is a copy of the double bass with one more pickup. The fretted bass is a copy of the double bass with added frets, and the fretless bass is, of course, a straight copy. How would the 1935 Audiovox Bass Fiddle be a copy of the 1951 Fender Precision? Did Mr Tutmarc have a time machine as well as a design for a solid-bodied 4-string fretted electric bass? [/quote] Well I'm prepared to accept that the fender is a copy of the Audiovox, but it certainly ain't a copy of a double bass any more than a Les Paul is a copy of a violin.

I play a Fender P. Never wanted one originally, but borrowed a squire when in need at a rehearsal. I loved it and basically thought "I gotta get me one of these" haven't looked back. I haven't played a huge number of other basses, and why would I if the P does everything I want? I don't understand this peering down the nose at Fender. If you like something else, fine.

[quote name='JTUK' timestamp='1442415105' post='2866802'] I'd cancel...but it depends how much of an issue you are going to make with that action... If it is a rugby club/pub..they should have known and planned in advance. Depends what the game is...I'd compromise and say you'll start after the first game finished which should be around 21:40..??? [/quote] 'fraid not JT, 4 matches in total on Saturday. 1200, 1430, 1645 and 2000. Really I reckon it should be a 10pm start. I think the LL is planning our start time around his closing time TBH.

[quote name='mr zed' timestamp='1442408496' post='2866743'] problem is that when the rugby finishes the majority will leave just as you're about to come on. Not trying to be grumpy - just experienced this before. You're thinking we've got a great crowd here then there they were - gone. [/quote] Hope this wont be the case. The place has a late licence and is generally just getting busy at 10 on non match days. When we played there before and finished at 11 the doorman was checking what time we were leaving so he could let more punters in.

Thinking the Ska version of Swing Low might need a visit at Thursdays rehearsal.

We have a gig on Saturday. LL has asked us to start after the last match. That's an 11pm start. Some of the punters might have been in there since noon. Sounds like it might get messy.

Somebody Told Me by the Killers. If i keep playing it I might even get to do it properly.

Still not sure if the Scouting for Girls first album is supposed to be a serious music projecty or a novelty album. Either way theres some cracking stuff on it. Surely any song with "You put the meaning in whakaday" counts as novelty.

Thanks guys, Lots of good suggestions here, and a few that are on the long term learning list. I can update this with saying the band failed to get the 3 new tracks sorted this week and we only got one of the new ones up to scratch. Its regretful its the Nickleback one cos it really is a piece of cack!

[quote name='TimR' timestamp='1441716359' post='2861114'] You'll need a few Blur and Oasis tunes. [/quote] Yep, I think Song 2 really should be on there, especially as we're playing the Royal Blood stuff in drop D.

Oh, the whole set list is: Are you Gonna be My Girl (Jet) - Chelsea Dagger (Fratellis) - All the small things (Blink 182) - Cigarettes and Alcohol (Oasis) Hard to handle (Black Crowes)- Dakota (Stereophonics) - Creep (Radiohead) – Valerie (Zutons) Flourescent Adolescent (Arctic Monkeys) - Are you gonna go my way (Lenny Kravitz) - Learn to fly (Foo Fighters) - Take me Out (Franz F) - Sex on fire (KOL) - Buddy Holly (Wheezer) - Somebody told me (Killers) Bang Bang You're Dead (Dirty Pretty Things) - Last Nite (Strokes) - Place your hands (Reef) Little Monster (Royal Blood) – Rocks (Primal Scream) - Use somebody (KOL) -Wake Me Up when September Ends (Green Day)

Sorry - yet another set list thread. We are ramping up the effort on new songs basically cos the LL at our last gig told us we were great but the set is too short (and he's right!). We mostly play 90s and 00s indie stuff with a few older and a few newer numbers thrown in. Ideally I'd like to get to a position where we can add 3 or 4 new songs a week. We already play a lot of the "groundhog day" setlist so I'm looking for suggestions for songs that are a) easy to learn and a bit off piste When we get enough songs together I think the plan is we can drop some of the cheese and spend some time working on more complex songs. To give an idea of where I'm coming from this weeks songs to learn are: Scar Tissue - RHCP Smooth Criminal - Alien Ant Farm version How you remind me - Nickleback I suspect and hope Smooth Criminal will only take a week cos the lines are straightforward (if a bit fast) and structure is fairly easy. Scar Tissue is something a couple of us have played before so should be an easy win. Songs like All the Small Things and Place your Hands were an absolute doddle for the band to learn and go down really well. Rocks is a set filler (I f***** hate it) but it was basically giggable after a couple of plays through. Little Monster has taken 3 weeks which is fine, but I think that's two easy songs we didn't get to learn and put in the set list - I hope you see where I'm coming from here..

There s a couple of pubs open band nights near me. One is a pain in the A, write your name on a board and wait for the house band to crack out a few standard numbers, then wait for regulars to finish playing a 20 minute version of some lesser known Eric Crapton solo that they do every time they're there, and then do two songs. The trick is to leave before the Jazz nazis take over. To be honest only the musos were really interested. The only point of this is as a new band to get some stage time under your belt. I steer well clear of the jam nights - completely pointless IMHO. The other allocates a set time and set length up to 45 mins. We have used it to test out new songs (basically a free rehearsal with an audience) and it worked OK.althogh the gear was shocking and the beer wasn't much better. It depends on teh audience but sometimes you get decent feedback about the song choices. I've also done a few open mic playing six string acoustic with a singer from a former band, just an excuse to play, have a few beers and try to spot local talent. So I guess its great for "bedroom" guitarists and bassists to have a go in public.

All the Plans by Starsailor and Sleeping with Ghosts by Placebo are both great albums, not bass orientated but worth a listen.

I think Tre Cool plays bass when Green Day swap instruments for a song or two in their live set.

[quote name='PaulWarning' timestamp='1441291863' post='2857644'] one of the other problems with theory is it can get in the way of song writing, it can stop you putting a certain chord with another because it's 'wrong' but discordant can sound good, I may be wrong but did the Beatles ever have professional lessons? some of their chord structures would have been frowned upon and John Lydon's out of tune singing would have horrified some (probably still does) but it works. I play with a pick because of my bass playing influences do but I'll bet if I'd have lessons some teachers would have tried to stop me. BTW I'm not saying I wouldn't have been a better player with lessons or more precisely theory, but I do think the wrong way can produce interesting results [/quote] I have a reasonable knowledge of theory, and its never stopped me playing discordant sounds. Sometimes even intentionally

[quote name='Coilte' timestamp='1441283664' post='2857520'] For me, this is the nub of the problem. A "real" teacher will (should be) be able to assess your ability/status reasonably quickly, then proceed to teach and guide you based on this. A pupil is not in the position to know how the lessons should go. [/quote] Yes, a good teacher should be following a curriculum, of sorts. If you decide face to face is the way to go I'd suggest looking on the RGT site. [url="http://www.rgt.org/info/about.php"]http://www.rgt.org/info/about.php[/url]

I've said before, but.... As a six string player I played for about 15 years before taking lessons. I learnt more in the 2 years of lessons than I had from 15 years or reading books. I never had bass lessons, which may explain my faltering technique and bad habits, but the guitar lessons - particularly the theory - were valuable when I switched to bass. If you don't know your root from your 5th your minor from your major your progress could be severely limited unless you want to play what the tab says to play. One of the best things they taught was stuff like ear training to recognise intervals. I don't think I have much natural (or for that matter artificial) talent though. Never had t'internet in those days though, and I guess most of this can be had for nowt online these days.

I'm getting a lot of noise from the jack socket of my Peavey BXP Cirrus. I had the jack replaced a while back, and now the noise is back. Originally I thought I might have damaged the socket by using a straight plug and putting too much strain on the plug when the guitar was on its stand but now I'm not so sure cos I hardly play the thing and very rarely is it plugged in and stood up these days. Sounds like it might be a dry joint butt - it just cracks and pops a lot. Its definitely the guitar as I never get the same problem with my main bass. My soldering skill level is pretty low, and I'm not keen on spending more money getting it done if the fault will come back. Any ideas what might be causing the problem and/or how to gat a permanent fix?

Cant get you outta my head. Anything by Bryan Adams Anything by Dire Staits