flaxholmelis

So are we saying that we are aiming for 4 Sept 21 at Doveridge?

I will say, yes, I hope to be there, but I have 2 grandchildren due that weekend, so things could change very rapidly (not twins, just both daughters due within days of each other - you couldn't make it up). 

In the event I am able to come along I could bring stuff - electric and acoustic basses/amp(s)/pedal board, depends how much room you have and whether I need to book in advance.

I could also bring cake - I imagine that will not be dependant on available space/booking constraints 😉

The lesson over Zoom was very good  - much better than FaceTime and apparently much better than Skype, although I've never used Skype for video myself.  The picture was very clear and the sound was also good. I did disable the ambient/background noise filters and it seemed to work pretty much.  Latency is, as we thought, still a problem - we tried to play something together, but there is about 1 sec delay - so sounds great to one person, but not the other! In the end I played the relevant track on my laptop and played over it and Simon could hear both together well enough. That will have to do for now.  

I did have a quick look at NinJam that someone suggested. Probably no good for a lesson situation, but could work for getting a group of people playing together. I wonder if anyone on here has tried it, seeing as it seems we're going to have get used to isolation for a while yet.

So we're trying Zoom later today and I've disabled the background and ambient noise settings, so I'll let you know how it goes 😊

Looking forward to hearing how this goes for you guys

Thanks for all the feedback. I actually had a family group chat on Zoom last night and was impressed. The picture was very clear.  Seems like it's could be the best option.  I'll let you all know how I got on.

Thank you, I'll try that.  

I'm not a complete computer/audio biff, but I've only been doing all this for a few years and learning all the time. Wasn't sure if my question was completely stupid, but thought someone out there might be able to help.

Thanks, yes something like that would be best for jamming as it removes the problem of latency, which I suppose is going to be an issue. 

I am currently having my bass lessons over FaceTime. The problem we are having is that the audio to me is muted if I use the mic, ie make the slightest noise, while my tutor is speaking and vice versa. Does anyone know if this is a software or a hardware issue? I realise it's probably to reduce the chance of feedback etc, however I haven't noticed it while group chatting with my kids over Messenger.  We are going to try Messenger for our next lesson, but we both have Macs and it involves logging into Google as Safari does not support video on Messenger - not a big problem, if it works, but we were hoping to be able to play pieces together as normal.  My tutor has tried Skype (unstable) and Zoom (most stable platform but still cuts out) with other pupils. Just wondering what other people's experiences have been, as I don't particularly want to download and try each of the 100s of platforms available out there, especially if it's a hardware thing.

Cheers

I'm supposed to.be working this weekend, as I was last year, but I may be able to work something out. Seems a shame to miss it when it's only a few miles from home.

I've been to The Guitar Show for the past 3 years with my guitarist BH and always find it a fun day out. In fact it was 3 years ago that I tried a Fender P-Bass at this show and ended up buying one a few weeks later. I wasn't disappointed this year, although work commitments meant we could only spend a couple of hours at the show and there's nothing like leaving before you're ready to make you feel you want to go back for more. I always love the curry and samosas as well. Glad to see Ashdown were back this year and also Lynx cables for the first time. I love these cables and ended up buying another - you can never have too many! Dunlop had actually remembered my grumble last year that they hadn't got any Max- Grip Jazz 3s on the stand and had brought some (I don't like buying online as I've done this before and got the wrong size - they weren't Max-Grips but 'once bitten...').  So not exactly a big spender this year, but fun all the same. Now looking forward to the UK Bass Guitar Show in Manchester

Just tried to book tickets and it still said it has expired.  I'll try again later.

If anyone ever laughs at you, they deserve to be strung up by the proverbials!

Do you have any local jam nights that you can go along to and even just sit, watch and applaud for a while...    get to know people...     have a go.... 

Love my P-Bass to bits. It's a simple instrument  - but you can always build on simple if you want a different sound. If I've been playing on something else, when I come back to it, it's like that homely feeling of putting your comfortable slippers on!!

A great afternoon out. Thank you. 

I am just reading with this while having a short break from practising - still with bass on my knee. My cat, who is at the larger end of the domestic cat size scale, keeps standing up behind the chair and sticking his claws in my back while I try to play. If this doesn't attract enough attention, then he will usually jump on the desk and sit on my laptop. I generally have a cat audience while I play.

My husband has just called through to say our other cat is sat in my bass case.

We also have to shut them out of the room when the tutor comes round, as one of them will try to sit on his knee.

Lol - or hockey, netball! Not likely to be football in this house.


Actually when I say 'goals', it's more the fear of utter humiliation at my next lesson encourages me to practice more, but I didn't want to say that.

Hi Nick, welcome from another fairly new bass player.

I hadn't played a musical instrument for some 35 years, when I ventured into the world of bass last year - and then I'd only played wind instruments. Stringed instruments were some sort of dark art. My OH (a guitar player) arranged some lessons with a local tutor, who comes round to the house, so no getting out of it. I'm not sure I would have stuck at it without someone to give me goals to work towards, provide encouragement and also to pick up on things I'm doing wrong. There's loads of stuff online as well - I've found Scott's Bass Lessons good and might suit you if you already have some understanding of music theory.

Most of all have fun

Not that I'm an experienced player or anything - only been playing a year - but my OH insisted on me having lessons and I'm not sure I would have stuck at it without them. I work away quite a bit, so they're not every week by any means, but the tutor can see/hear things that I haven't noticed, such as overtones because my muting hasn't been up to scratch for instance. It also gives me specific things to work on so I have a goal. He doesn't insist on doing loads of theory and in fact he's quite happy if I want to just play basslines I Iike and will fit in a little chord/scale learning based on what I'm playing.

To be honest, different people learn in different ways and theory from the start is not going to suit a lot of people, whereas actually getting playing is more likely to keep you hooked and then you can work on the theory as you go along if that's what you want. When I was younger I gave up the clarinet because I couldn't get my head around the theory I needed for an exam after Grade 5. Many many years later I now find that I'm quite enjoying the theory side of things and why particular notes sound better together, but it's not essential to know if you just want to play your favourite basslines.

The Stranglers - Down in the Sewer - final movement. What got me into listening to bass many many years ago and still makes the hairs on the back of my neck stand up.

[url="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vNOREJB5JqE"]https://www.youtube....h?v=vNOREJB5JqE[/url]

I was also a fan of The Cure a very long time ago and Primary is still a big hit for me. Maybe not technically challenging, but 2 basses....

[url="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0xrZ61cuKLk"]https://www.youtube....h?v=0xrZ61cuKLk[/url]

Also loving the tent session Not from N Oxfordshire either, but I do spend quite a bit of time in S Oxfordshire for work.

Yep, sounds good Len_derby.

As for the place name, last time I went on the bus - which was a couple of years ago at least - they still called it Flaxholme. Other than that there's not much mention of it any more. Both me and my OH have lived all our lives in this area and we both used to buy home made ice cream from The Oak Stores as children.

Hi Mark - good to hear from other Derbyshire peeps

Yes, I've been up to the Holly Bush at Marehay a few times on their open mic night. They seem like a good bunch and have encouraged me to join in when someone needs a bass.

Thanks for all your replies. Andyjr1515 you probably have an idea where I am from then.
I've been having lessons and had a chance to play with a band a couple of times when I was working away. Where do people around here go for jam sessions etc?
TheGreek - yes, I like the Washburn, but I would like to try it with some roundwounds. The flatwounds are a bit dead on it - but of course that could just be my playing. They seem to need a bit of hammer though.

Hello there! Another newbie from Derbyshire. Been playing for a year now and also the wrong side of half a century - seems to be quite a few of us (hmm) 'late starters'. I started playing a Washburn Force 4 ABT with flatwounds and a few months ago went for a complete change with a Fender P-Bass with roundwounds. Finding that quite a challenge as it couldn't be more different to play than the Washburn, but it sounds great when I get the muting right. Would love to hear about events/goings on in the Derby area.