jonnybass

Hi George, talking to your bandmates is a great step with this. Tell them how you are, they may be feeling the same and so a break might be good for more than just you, or help them find a dep, either for all the gigs for a few months or for some gigs. These guys are pals and telling them might just help your headspace a wee bit. Ultimately, you need to find whats right for you to help your head, and thats what you need to do, things you might want to think about: keep your favourite bass handy if you can. That way if you do want to pick it up its there nice and easy to get to. Same goes for any other instrument you enjoy. keeping in touch here, even if you arent playing and just fancy the chat Basschat is full of folk who are happy to chat about most things bass or non bass related. I just hope you are doing ok times can be tough just now, so I hope you find your headspace Jonny

To be fair, sometimes in complex music people get hung up on the 'nerd' aspect of it. "oh listen to that Coltrane solo where he alters the modality of the root chord with a subverted inflection to a half diminished interval, very reminiscent of Stravinsky" really sounds like you know what you are talking about compared to "That sax solo sounds incredible, i have no idea what he's doing but it sounds so cool over the piano". That approach alone will put people off. But thats all very Off topic. I'd say there are bass players I don't get, but in a similar way theres pizza toppings I don't like. I avoid both but sometimes I may be puzzled by their popularity, but I also know they aren't 'bad'...unless its Tuna that has no place on a pizza and no good will come of it. Jonny

Funnily enough I forget about Richard Bona, see him advertising stuff for years, seen clips on youtube heard him chatted about. listened and have always been completely underwhelmed, doesnt seem to do or say anything that has made me think anything other than blimey thats fast. Jonny

The thing I dont understand on this thread is the people judging playing and players because someone's definition of bass doesn't fit with theirs. Musicians who play music that requires or has solos (like jazz) should solo. Musicians who play music that doesnt require or have solos dont need to solo. One isn't more musically valid than the other. Why pigeonhole bass as anything? Taste is a different thing, a fretless bebop solo in the middle of a country song is unlikely to get the crowd going..A heavily distorted shredding minor pentatonic bass solo will equally not go down well with an acoustic trad jazz band, or a basic root five breakdown over the chord changes in a djent song... jonny

I came on to say I dont "get" VW, i love hearing him accompany other people, but his solo stuff I find a bit meh. This is the first thing I'd say i liked. Thanks for sharing. jonny

That dosnt sound great Dov65 but at least the wrist bands are helping.

So the doctor has ruled out Psoriatic arthritis, now waiting on a further appointment to try and figure out whats wrong. Still only in one finger, not one i use to pluck strings, still painful to move but not to touch, has been happening since mid december. its worse in the morning and when its cold its allot worse.

Hi Steve, like you Im not into alternative therapies, but some things work on a chemical/biological level. Sounds like this works for you. I'll l;ook into it. jonny

Thanks good to hear, I'll see how I get on

Thanks for the advice, working with the GP to try and figure out as much about this as possible...long process so far

A favourite of my physio years ago was always motion is lotion..

Thanks I'd say fingers crossed but not sure if thats appropriate in this topic. Jonny

Thanks this is really helpful. I am waiting on the bloods and xray results, but Psoriatic arthritis was the first suggestion from the GP. Reading up later, it does describe whats happening with my finger. Only issue is I dont think I have Psorisis...i get red dry skin on my elbows and I have a couple of really small blemeshes on my skin which I have had for years, but thats all. Jonny

That sounds quite frustrating, hope you get to the bottom of it. and you re right, in the words of a certain canadian band ' we are only immortal for a limited time' Jonny