Rocker

[quote name='ambient' timestamp='1485820266' post='3227049'] Is this any good ? It's from the Hal Leonard TV theme real book. Can't vouch for it's accuracy, cos I'm not familiar with the programme. [/quote] Thanks Ambient but I can't read music. I struggle with tab but usually get there in the end. One of my problems with this tune is that I only have it online, which is poor sound quality and hard to hear what is going on. And I don't have it on CD....

Way back in the 1970s, I had a country, Irish and country rock pub band. We played typical songs of that genre and one guy asked if we could play AC/DC.....

My wife's niece plays piano and she can play Hill Street Blues. Everything else she plays are classical music pieces. I would like to play bass with her playing HSB. The key is Eb and any help/guidance is much appreciated. There is a video posted somewhere of a guy playing this tune on bass but the picture quality is poor....

I needed a tiny bass amp to fit on a shelf of my computer desk. I already have a Pignose amp there for six string work. The Pignose works but it sounds average with bass and great with six string. The little Blackstar fits the bill. Not experimented much with the controls, more or less switched on and started using it. Impressive for its size. [url="http://i1230.photobucket.com/albums/ee495/RockerDIY/IMG_0420_zpsjgavfn2w.jpg"]http://i1230.photobucket.com/albums/ee495/RockerDIY/IMG_0420_zpsjgavfn2w.jpg[/url] The duo work well, Pignose for six strings, Fly for bass.

You may recall that a drummer friend has arranged for a fortnightly session/get together where we can play and have fun musically. It has now expanded to drums, lead guitar/vocals, rhythm guitar/vocals and me playing the bass. I started off playing rhythm/lead guitar and brought the bass to try it out with the drummer. It turns out that bass sounds are required and add something positive to the overall sound. We play for our own enjoyment and have no ambitions to gig or perform in public. Two of the guys do that as it is and one other plus myself did that sort of thing many years ago. My bass playing ability is pretty much beginner level so most of my input is root, fifth and seventh notes with the occasional run from one note to the next. It works and sounds reasonably good most of the time. Some songs [we only try songs and not jams] need a little bit more than root, fifth and seventh notes, songs like 'Hotel California' by The Eagles, 'Wonderful Tonight' by Eric Clapton for example. These I play the root note of the guitar chords and when combined with runs to the next note keep me busy. And to my ears, sound very good. The other guys, especially the drummer, love this kind of playing. It is still very basic playing in the overall scheme of things but it is good fun. And it works. What I am trying to say is that there is a difference between learning something and actually playing it with others. A simple bass line works. The slightly more complex bass line in 'Wonderful Tonight' works and challenges me a fair bit more. And by works, I mean that the total is greater than the sum of the parts. When everybody contributes, amazing things happen. This happening does not happen when at home on my own trying to play something on the guitar. So my suggestion is to try to get playing with others a.s.a.p. And not just endless blues jams in A or E. But actual songs [despised and often described on guitar forums as covers], songs that when you all get your bits right, sound right. If my experiences are anything to go by, you cannot lose.

One of the songs I hate but crowds like it: [b]Galway Girl[/b] - Steve Earl & Sharon Shannon.

Recently I decided to 'ease off' on contributing to internet forums and to use that time to try to learn guitar and bass. I stuck to this policy for a few weeks and it works. I think I am a bit better on both instruments than I was around Christmas. There are lots of pretty good videos on YT showing 'how to play' named songs. I positioned my Pignose guitar amp and Blackstar Fly Bass on the computer shelf, just plug in and away I go. So obvious but it required discipline and determination to start doing it.

Gibson SGs and my Aria TA-50. I just hate the neck heaviness of these instruments. Why the hell did Gibson not fit the forward strap button in the correct place? The TA-50 is a copy of a Gibson so presumably the Gibson [335] has the same problem. To play, the SG is a nice guitar but I could not live with the neck diving towards the floor....

Welcome Spark. I am from Co. Westmeath so probably not too far from you. What area are you living in?

Not a bass but a guitar. A Hofner Shorty is what I am hoping to find in a charity shop. For about a tenner. I have a fantasy of doing something to it to make it into a 'real' guitar. My search to date uncovered one in a music shop in Cork but at around €150, too high a spend to see if my ideas for this guitar would actually work.

Sergent Pepper.......... dross by The Beatles. Yet every radio show that 'compiles' a list of the best or most influential albums of all time name this at or close to number 1. Makes me wonder if they ever get out these days.....

Not familiar with the CA preamp but be aware that you need a phono stage before the preamp if the preamp does not have a phono stage built in. And most modern preamps do not have a built in phono stage. You can get a standalone phono stage for smallish money but this is one situation where the more you spend, the better the sound. Also get a wall mounted shelf for the turntable - securely fitted to the wall if you don't want a very costly crash to happen. Get the shelf absolutely level, front to back and side to side and you are good to go.

Just wondering. A lot of posters say they prefer passive basses or come across as against active basses. I have an Aria STB-series, which is not a top drawer instrument but satisfactory for learning on, but is an active bass. Not planning on changing it or getting another bass (???) but wondering why some think active basses are not as good as passive instruments.

SomeNeckGuitars in Dublin. They are on the internet thing....

Still buzzing after the get together yesterday evening! The setup in my friends music room was pretty impressive. He had a small PA system with a microphone for the singer. The singer played acoustic guitar which was plugged in to his guitar amp. My biggest problem, one that took about a half hour to sort out, was my amps low volume. Turn it up is the obvious answer but it took that long to figure out the correct volume level, one that the other guys could hear clearly yet still hear themselves. My little Stinger guitar amp, one I built myself, has a switch that bypasses the tone stack. This gives a hotter sound and suits the Les Paul perfectly. The Minimark had no problem with volume, again it was a case of determining what the 'right' volume level was. I found that playing with a drummer was easier than I had feared. Much easier than I hoped it would be. From the first strike, we were on! My limitation was my little skill as a bassist. But the vibe was that mistakes were to be expected and not to be afraid to try something even if it did not come off. During the evening I progressed from playing straight root notes to root notes and ascending or descending runs to the next root note. Progress indeed. Nothing spectacular but the two lads loved it. They said the bass really helped them and filled out the sound. The singer tended to sing in odd keys. Odd to me, I 'seldom' try anything in Bb or Eb. This was less of a problem on the bass than on the Les Paul. Most of the intros and fills I knew were in the standard recorded keys, I found transposing to a different key 'challenging' if not impossible but it was fun when I got it right! Lessons learned were the little bass runs, the need to practice intros and fills in keys other than G, A or E. But the most important lesson learned was that at a certain volume level, less is actually more. By less a sustaining power chord on the Les Paul gives great support to the amped up acoustic guitar. And playing thirds instead of full chords adds a lot to the overall sound. We started around seven and started packing up just after ten o'clock. My fingers felt a bit numb and this morning my wrist is slightly painful. In a nice way. And I got texts from the lads inviting me to the next get together in a month or so time. So thanks to all you guys who offered tips and strategies for dealing with the demands of the evening. It was great fun, I am looking forward to the next outing. And knowing what we might be playing gives me greater impetus to practice more. And to practice with a purpose.

Guys, the get together is 'on' for Wednesday evening. My drummer friend, in whose house the session is being held, has arranged for a guitar playing friend to join us. I will bring my Markbass, bass and Strat and my Stinger amp. He has a Marshall valve combo (Bluesbreaker??] in the room which the other guitar player could use. Wish me luck.....

What idiot decided that the front strap button on an ES335 or clone guitar has to be at the back (at the end of the neck). Guaranteed to introduce serious neck heaviness. The SG I had once had the same failing, it is gone now. Front mounted jack sockets on guitars. Means you have to have at least one guitar lead with a right angle jack...

[quote name='Mykesbass' timestamp='1483043724' post='3204416'] I can see why, but would think getting the balance right across them would be very difficult. I broke a roundwound D once and put a fresh one on to carry on playing - it was so loud and bright compared to the rest of the played in strings it made it difficult to play. Had to change the others in the break. [/quote] How on earth did you manage to break a bass string? I am in awe......

Two lines is all I could manage. And I found that I had forgotten the first line at that stage. Did he mention that the bassist had to be a Liverpool supporter? That requirement may be in there, so check it out before applying... Age restriction limits my further interest in this advert. Good luck to them....

Don't neglect your studies. Music is a business as well as a hobby. You learned from the experience so let it go and as several others have said, move on. The world is round, you may get an opportunity to work with this guy/band again so act gracefully even if you feel otherwise. But don't neglect your studies. And keep on playing....

What links? There are none on this thread for example. Only one way to get back, the back arrow on my browser. Thanks for your reply.

First I select 'New Posts' (since my last visit). If I open a thread and close it to return to the new items list, a black box showing the word Loading appears mid screen. I can still scroll down, it usually disappears when I select Page 2, disappears until I open a thread on Page 2. You get the picture. Is there something I can do to stop this happening? Thanks.

A decent vinyl setup costs a lot of cash. It is very true that a chain is only as good as its weakest link, vinyl replay proves this and vinyl replay is a very long chain..... When CD started to get decent sound, it showed up the failings in vinyl. But the vinyl fraternity fought back and now there is little difference in sound quality between a good CD system and a good vinyl system. The notion that vinyl sound is warmer than CD really shows the upper bass emphasis that some vinyl systems give. Pleasant to listen to but it is wrong and CD showed this up as such. The more recent usage of FLAC or WAV files stored on a NAS or computer system with a USB connection to a DAC is a much easier system to accommodate in modern rooms. No CD or vinyl storage needed in the room. And with the advantage of control from an iPad or smartphone. It is simply daft to listen seriously to music on low resolution formats such as Spotify. By all means evaluate music on Spotify but if you like it, then get the CD and rip it to your file system. But do try to hear a top flight vinyl system sometime soon. The best bet is at one of the Hi-Fi shows. Problem with Hi-Fi shows is the choices of music they use to demo equipment. Drab, boring and dull, I horrified several listeners by asking to play my Appetite for Destruction by GnR at a show. It sounded brilliant and it got a mention on one of the internet forums that were covering the event.

Thanks guys, the bass drum is the key. I learned this much tonight! Way back then the drummer was very good and I expect he has lost little since then. Really looking forward to the session now. Thanks again. And I will report back here on how the evening went. If anyone is interested..........

Took up the bass a few months ago, got the hang of playing the notes G, C, D [for the key of G] etc. and not much more. Today I met a friend who is a drummer. He asked me to call to his place after Christmas and to bring my guitar. I have 'played' electric guitar for years and only took up the bass to see what a bass player does and what he brings to the sound. So I will be armed with a Les Paul, my Stinger amp, my Aria bass and MiniMark bass amp for the session. Another friend, a guitarist who sings will probably be there too. Should be a lot of fun, mainly country songs, Simon & Garfunkel etc. I have heard a lot about the bass and drums locking together to underpin the guitar and singer. What exactly does that mean? Falling flat on my face is not a problem as there will be no audience but I would like to get as much out of the evening as I can. Any suggestions or help will be appreciated. Thanks. Note: we are not auditioning for or planning to form a band. All of us did that 40+ years ago and none of us want to do that again. This is just purely for fun and for the joy of playing music together again after all those years..