oldbass

Agree about her irritating personality but I kinda like the idea of who she is..a fully rounded professional electric bassplayer which I most definitely am not and never will be. I love to think about the stuff she has played on...all those 70's Lalo Schifrin TV cop themes, films and the rest etc...she was/is top class and was around at the right time.

Cant go wrong with Bootsy. Put a drum machine app on ur phone, set it to play a lazy straight four beat and then play a single note on the 1st beat of eachbar..thats it ur playing funk and then add little connecting notes between each beat as you become more comfortable.

Not sure if you read music. After nearly 20 yrs on and off I'd become sick to death playing the same old pub rock type tunes..and so I had a six month break. I then realised that in order to keep sane I had to learn to read....and it's been a life saver. I cannot explain the excitement I get from playing Big Band to Bach, Sinatra to simple jazz (Im still a novice) reading the dots..its changed my musical life completely. In fact I don't think I ever want to go back to playing those same old pub rock tunes....ever, or for that matter anything without music. Learning to read has been a revelation. Just my 0.02p

Great band...very clever quirky writing and Rhythym Stick is a masterpiece of originality. Love em. Rhythm Stick is a bit tiring..trouble is it is the No1 Blockheads tune and if you want to play them u have to play it..took me a good few yrs to get it.

Boy that 64 above is the biz..beautiful piece of work..just wish I was a J fan...its PJ's for me now.

[quote name='rjs1909' timestamp='1454024943' post='2965679'] Fair point. I wish I had his ability too, I prefer simple understated lines with some fills. That doesn't mean just sitting on the root or anything lines can be melodic without being overly busy [/quote] I just think Jamersons sense of musicality is way above that of most of us which kinda sounds like he's overplaying so personally I dont think he does...the guy is just extraordinarily musical.

Depends what the mood is...if I want polish and sparkle its Motown if I want straight up grit its Stax..both are hugely important genres...

Love both bands and both guys are extraordinary musicians neither of which I could begin to emulate..but who musically do nothing for me.. way too busy..etc but I can see why they are held in such high regard.

I was very sceptical about the hype etc so I bought a Jazz and checked it over. For starters it felt resonant and sounded lovely..plenty of snarl etc but the really fascinating thing was its build...forget the Mex thing these are very different instruments. It seems the body and headstock thickness are both thinner than my USA J bass...no idea why they do this but it makes a heck of a difference to the feel. Lovely bass which sadly I had to sell...

Just started to learn to read again after many, many failed attempts and at last I'm lovin it. Oh and quick props to Mr Major Minor of this parish. I've tried loads of different books etc but his brilliant excercises trump the lot...most grateful indeed.

If it all gets too much then at least make sure you play the hook in each song..you know, the line thateveryone expects to hear...the rest, just bluff it always worked for me in the past.

The R&R lifestyle....guess it catches up in the end....and sadly so it seems sooner than later.

Havent played live for years so take this with a huge pinch of salt but from memory. Few of us get the chance to walk out intoa room full of punters during the actural gig to hear what we sound like.....bet you'll find that poor tone on stage and clankyou describe sound full and cutting out in the room.

Another of those musicians that I grew up with as a young teenager no longer with us. What a strange start to a year with so many musicians and musical influences that many of us grew up with now gone....

Just blubbed my way through a playalong to the beautiful Life on Mars...my 71 P has never sounded so woody and kinda early Bowie sounding.... Yep Life On Mars does it for me..

..ziggy played guitar....... I cant believe it. A real icon, the first avant garde musicaly visual artist...influencing so many acts that followed and never to be repeated. I feel bit teary.

+1 I'm just starting with 8th notes and rests...seems just when you think you've figured it all out you turn the page and more and more difficulty is heaped on top...but it certainly feels good when it comes together. Checkout a German guy on the Tube called Tom Bornemann he seems to have a knack of writing easy melodic eight note rythms which are just a delight to play...Ive found his stuff a huge help.

Love this thread cause this is exactly my situation too. Played for decades, tried a few times but unable to read a dot until recently when it dawned on me that I'd had it with pub bands and the same old R&R. Started off with Stu Claytons Crash Bass...not easy but Im trying...Did a search for easy bass pieces on Google, one site has all those first yr school pieces which is a really good way to learn whilst actually playing real tunes. Agree with all the above...you've gotta learn the simple 4/4, 1/4 note stuff till it hurts then move to the next level. Ha..wish I'd never quit the violin when I turned 16..

Any slowish version of autumn leaves will get u started, there are hundreds of versions out there on the tube.

Bruce Thomas brilliantly musical. Norman Watt-Roy....unique.

Try the Squire VM range. I bought one last year and didn't really expect much..have to say its a very nice bass for the money. Fit and finish are perfect,its light too and easy to play...doesn't have quite the tonal heft of my vintage P but the J PU is very handy for anything needing a bit of a Jaco burp!

[quote name='BigRedX' timestamp='1450431542' post='2932664'] I really don't get this attitude. I very much doubt that anyone on here was able to play a tune competently the first time they picked up their chosen instrument. Song writing is a skill just like any other that is developed by being rubbish at first and then practicing until you are not. [/quote] Good song writings not a skill u can learn it's a gifted ability which some have but most of us don't have, believe me if I had it I probably would'nt be sat here clicking away on a basschat forum.

[quote name='wateroftyne' timestamp='1449841278' post='2927390'] I always take how a bass sounds in isolation with a pinch of salt... [/quote] Too true. I'm always amazed if I'm noodling on my P with the tone turned down a bit..you know that slightly indistinct muddy sound....until that is the room fills with people, someone in the kitchen making a racket, a plane goes overhead etc etc....all of a sudden that muddyness starts to cut clearly through....ha one of lifes little mysteries I guess.

We used to pass a big old 'classical'music shop now and again on a naughty detour from middleschool. For some weird reason the shop got in a load of HH gear one of which was that classic 100 watt bass combo... Will never forget the impact that 15" speaker had on me, it seemed out of this world to a 14 yr old spot riddled oik, incredibly exciting. A couple of yrs later my best friend turned out to be a very good guitarist so my fate was sealed really.