iamthewalrus

[quote name='SaxxyBass' post='1003930' date='Oct 28 2010, 03:54 PM']I'll check for the awkard angles in the left hand, and the bass height - it only seems to happen if I try to play for longer periods and try to jam along to something - so could be tension creeping in maybe? perhaps I'm just expecting too much too soon Right arm - I'm keeping the wrist in a natural line as possible and avoiding the sharp angle as you say (have had one op for carpal tunnel already so have to be careful there!) my right arm and shoulder is a bit dodgy and I can't hold the weight of my arm up independantly for too long - is this what I should be doing? or is it okay to just lightly rest against the front edge of the bass? [/quote] If you're feeling pain, it might be wise to give things a rest until it goes away. Bass guitar is a physical instrument, & pays to build things up slowly (play your Charlie Parker "heads" at a slow tempo....). A slight bend in the right wrist (IMO) is ok, as is just resting your forearm on the body. If you're "digging in" with your right hand, be careful that the forearm isn't pressing down hard on the body. Let us know how things go.... Cheers, iamthewalrus

Great to see you're progressing on the instrument - welcome to the wonderful world of electric bass guitar! Your left wrist shouldn't be aching - when you play, do you have any sharp bends in the wrist or awkward wrist angles whilst fretting the notes? If that is the case, then you may need to alter the height of the bass in relation to your upper body (depending on how tall you are, a good rule of thumb is to wear the bass across the mid section). If you're using the classical position of thumb on the back of the neck, you may be gripping it too tightly, so it may be a case of releasing some of the pressure. Where your right arm is concerned - if possible, try & avoid a sharp bend in the wrist & forcing the bottom of your forearm onto the body of the bass. A lot of bass players have ended up with a lot of physical problems in the plucking arm as sharp angles tend to decrease the flow of blood into the tendons. If you can raise your forearm off the body of the bass, the wrist angle becomes straighter & the flow of blood into the tendons increases. A guy by the name of Adam Nitti has some great tips on this stuff on his website: www.adamnitti.com Hope this helps? Cheers, iamthewalrus

[quote name='Wally' post='998445' date='Oct 23 2010, 08:29 PM']I started as a punk player with a pick. Older age has brought a mellowing and now I'm back playing I've taken to playing with fingers for the warmer sound. However I play with my thumb for the downstroke and first two fingers for the ups like a finger playing guitarist does. I beleive that this is not regarded as good technique for bass but I don't know why and wonder and ask what the downside for this is. Its been a very natural way to swap a pick for fingers. My thanks in advance.[/quote] It's never done any harm to Sting - he plays a similar way. If it works for you, who's to say it's wrong?

[quote name='Bilbo' post='995798' date='Oct 21 2010, 12:10 PM']No - its a load of people trying to sell gear before the rest of us lose our jobbs and can't afford to buy it.[/quote] Ain't that the truth...

[quote name='Doddy' post='995090' date='Oct 20 2010, 05:05 PM']If it's an uncomfortable stretch then don't do it. Down in the lower positions try using a 3 fret stretch instead-double bass style. Put your 1st finger on the F,2nd on F# and little finger on G. Don't try to stretch your hand further than it wants to go.Instead,use your thumb as a pivot. Even though I can happily play finger per fret style,down low I nearly always play over 3 frets as I find it more relaxed. I usually switch to one finger per fret at around 5th position.[/quote] +1 to this - I've got small hands, & this works fine for me even on a 5 string.

Hi all, This is a question primarily aimed at the teachers or pros on here, but would welcome any feed back or opinions from everyone. I'm teaching myself to sightread at the moment, & am using a metronome to keep time. I know there is a school of thought that says not to use a metronome whilst learning to sightread, & wondered what the pros & cons are? All suggestions / points of view welcome Cheers, iamthewalrus

The Yamaha TRB5 has a great neck (Rosewood board) - the B string is pretty damn good (the 35" scale neck helps that IMO) too. The string spacing is also very user friendly. I've got one as part of my hoard & wouldn't part with it, but I think there are a few on the second hand board up for grabs?

Hi all, Wonder if anyone on here can help? I've got the Crafter 5 string ABG & have reached the point where the strings are now pretty dead (can't complain after 2 years!). I think it's a 32" scale bass, but I'd like to get another set of Bronze strings to replace the dead ones (not a big fan of stainless steels on an ABG). Anyone know where to get a set or which companies make them? Cheers, iamthewalrus

[quote name='Joe Hubbard Bass' post='934752' date='Aug 24 2010, 01:43 PM']Transcription is the best way and quickest route to understand how to create happening lines whether they are supportive bass lines or linear improvisation. This is a direct route to integrating the "attributes"”(not the techniques) as they relate to melody, rhythm and harmony into your playing. In other words, model what has already been done at an expert level. Many are mislead that transcription only involves figuring out what has been played and then writing it down. However, that's only the first step- from there that you have to learn to play every aspect of the performance- every articulation and nuance. Remember, the "music" came first, then people started to formulate and organise systems- not the other way around. Have you ever known people who know and practice scales all day, but can't play? Always, start with the music first; from there, work backwards reverse engineering to come up with skill drills to practice. By adopting this, your playing will improve exponentially within the next three to six months. Hope that helps Peace Joe[/quote] Great to see you on here Joe - remember your classes at the 2nd London Bass Centre Weekend in 1988 very well. Still enjoy listening to "Vanishing Point" from time to time too. Are you still playing your Peavey 6? Cheers, iamthewalrus

[quote name='throwoff' post='930100' date='Aug 19 2010, 06:01 PM']Never met him but enjoyed his posting on here a lot. RIP fellow low ender.[/quote] +1 - never met him, but he was a top poster. RIP

If you get £1k for it, you'll be doing well, I've seen 2nd hand ones up for sale anywhere between £800 & £1,200. If I had the £, I'd take it.... Good luck with the sale if you decide to go ahead with it.

[quote name='Bilbo' post='857750' date='Jun 4 2010, 10:14 PM']I think that is one of the most important aspects of this. It is a great way of maximising your practice time and getting you into the learning material andout the other side.[/quote] Just an update on Bilbo's reply to my original post. I've been working on my reading from an old bass book my first bass teacher gave me 25 years ago called "The Complete Electric Bassist" (which I think is long out of print). Although I'm progressing slowly (playing all the exercises at 50bpm on the metronome), it's all starting to come together. The plus side with the book is that there's no TAB, so it does actually make you read & work on your fingering (which is all 1-2-4 in the lower positions). Am looking forward to continuing the journey & be able to play this stuff fluently.

[quote name='thinman' post='899307' date='Jul 19 2010, 07:30 PM']Say you were playing something that goes across the strings, i.e. same fret, what would be the recommended fingering? E.g. if the following tab makes any sense how would it be best played : string with [font="Courier New"] |--------------------------------------- |------------------------7-------------- |---------------------7----7------------ |---------------5--7-------------------- [/font][/quote] If I've read this right, I'd play A with my first finger, B with my fourth finger, the E on the A with my third finger, the A octave with my 4th finger & drop back to the E with my third finger.

[quote name='Dizzy_G' post='886324' date='Jul 5 2010, 02:48 PM']Hi Scott, Checked out the videos, very good info (for me anyhow) and appreciate the effort. Keep up the good work and the videos rolling. I thought the video quality was fine too if that is of any help, it is youtube after all. Thanks, D_G[/quote] +1 to this, well done Scott, reminds me of some of the stuff I did at an Aebersold camp in Richmond years ago. It's all good! Cheers, iamthewalrus