AM1

I saw some reports today of contestants saying they couldn't hear themselves on stage.

[quote name='Prosebass' post='641673' date='Oct 31 2009, 09:05 AM']Me too I play open strings as a Root with runs over the top of them, open string harmonics, chords with open strings, open strings with a slide up to the octave , or chord. The fact they may sound different is good, it gives you more tonal variations. Geez guys try something different than 'thump' 'thump' 'thump'[/quote] Totally agree! The use of open strings is a technique as much as any other, in terms of passing notes and pedal tones - Muse's Hysteria gives a great example of this, what an awesome bassline!

[quote name='Buzz' post='642803' date='Nov 1 2009, 08:39 PM']They mime.[/quote] I didn't think they always did as you can hear terrible tuning issues sometimes?

[quote name='BottomEndian' post='642799' date='Nov 1 2009, 08:35 PM']Don't usually watch X Factor, but Mrs Endian has done for the last couple of years. It was on tonight as we munched through dinner (still is, I think), and I noticed that I couldn't see IEMs in any of the performers' ears. Fair enough, I thought, there'll be some wedges down front. Waited for the camera to pan... nope. No wedges to be seen. Then Bon Jovi came on and JBJ did one of the most sexually limp-making vocal performances I've ever heard. Dull and lifeless, like he wasn't really sure of himself (I'm no fan, but the guy should be a pro at this stuff by now). I would've thought he'd have IEMs, but no. So... does anyone have inside knowledge of how the performers actually hear what they or the backing tracks/band are doing in the X Factor studio? If there's inadequate monitoring, it's no wonder they're so often out of tune and unsure.[/quote] They all seem to have been dulled down and the sound is diabolical. Several times, the music has almost been drowning out the vocal!

[quote name='bilbo230763' post='640155' date='Oct 29 2009, 03:54 PM']I would urge caution here - you can easily lock yourself into pattern playing like this and start playing with your hands not your ears and your mind. I know I am generalising (I do that a lot) but pentatonics are, to me, scales with all of the interesting bits removed![/quote] But the question was framed in the context of improving finger strength, not rudiments of playing. As an exercise for improving strength, they worked well for me.

[quote name='Chappers86' post='639898' date='Oct 29 2009, 11:41 AM']Wow, only left for an hour.... Lovin' the responses so far, thanks again guys and Jake I'm appreciating the punt! lol Agree with the idea of finger grace than finger strength...just throw this finger toy thing back at my workmate! Will give these exercises a go, hopefully should get my fingers working more efficiently particularly as I want to go down the road of making jazzy bass melodies. Again mainly the ring finger which causes my other fingers to flinch (3rd and pinky) which when I see others play does not seem to be an issue for them. Is this just part of progression or do I have crazy fingers?[/quote] Pentatonic scales. Do them religiously every day, not for hours though, little and often. Try it - you'll be astounded. Worked amazingly for me and I'm a chick with small hands/weak pinkies.

Don't give up - there's loads of weight distributing harnesses on the market for various hobbies, or else buy some webbing and keep working at it til you make one that works. One that takes the weight off your shoulders and around your waist sounds like the way forward. Also, there are loads of lighter basses, could make a huge difference. You might have to sacrifice some tone but it's a small trade off to keep playing. Good luck.

[quote name='bish' post='608640' date='Sep 25 2009, 12:55 PM']Get in touch if you are the [u][b]man[/b][/u] for the job.[/quote] Ahem. Everyone knows that women have better rhythm and groove.

[quote name='Hamster' post='618887' date='Oct 6 2009, 05:54 PM']although I haven't played with Alex's Big One yet but am looking forward to it very much.[/quote] I bet you are!

Zoe, you are late!!! :-)

[quote name='51m0n' post='637382' date='Oct 26 2009, 09:35 PM']bass -> comp -> tuner -> head I want more pedals for sploinky funkiness though [/quote] Me too! :-) I have to send you a link to the ultimate funk wah toy You will love this, it's the ultimate funkification!

If you don't go to ToP, can I be first in the queue for your ticket?!

I researched quite a few of the London schools a while back, when I was considering studying bass. Having looked through the course material from several, my conclusion was that there was nothing there that you couldn't teach yourself. In other words, a complete waste of money. While I'm on the subject, one phone call to one of these "educational" establishments, was enough to convince me that they didn't have one iota of professionalism. I could have afforded some leniency since the monkey on the phone clearly had no business skills of any description and could have instead contacted the head of the course - but the monolithic incompetence and "can't be bothered" attitude soon deterred me from giving these buffoons a penny. My research confirmed my suspicion that many of these "schools" mainly just take the cash and churn out brainwashed factory boys with no real musicality. Not too dissimilar to several tutors I've encountered, whom will teach you to play bass, but not to be a bass player. These are two very different propositions. The best musicians I know are self-taught or had a few pointers along the way but mainly took responsibility for their own learning. If there is music in you, it will come out. If you see practicing as fun and not a chore, then you're on the way. Paying someone for a course is mainly the domain of someone who needs "structure" and a timetable of learning and someone else pushing the responsibility for that learning. It is better not to be constrained by a framework, especially not one set by someone else's agenda. If you are the type of person that lacks motivation or direction for self-teaching and needs spoon feeding, these courses could get you on your way, but if you have vision and drive and know where you want to go, crack on and do it. Save your cash and teach yourself. There's never been a better time, or a bigger wealth of materials to do so. Or find someone who has a musical personality that you admire - but don't steal it, cultivate your own. I had a private offer of free lessons from a member of this board whose musicality and ethos, I respect and admire and that person is committed to helping me get where I want to go. Just get a few bass "mentors". You'll never look back.

[quote name='geoffbyrne' post='591494' date='Sep 6 2009, 04:32 PM']I certainly find the bass lines in a lot of Steely Dan's stuff inspiring. You won't know till you try! G.[/quote] Yeah you're right! I'll have a listen. Cheers!

[quote name='pete.young' post='591619' date='Sep 6 2009, 07:47 PM']Especially when it turns out that he got the wrong band.[/quote]

[quote name='YouMa' post='591104' date='Sep 5 2009, 11:51 PM']It depends what you class as punk really would you say you were in a punk band? it sounds slightly oi to me. In my book there was only one real punk band and malcolm maclaren invented them.I always thought the ethos of "real"punk was that you couldnt play very well,and thats why bands who could ie the stranglers had trouble fitting in to start with. Im sorry but i dont find bands like sham 69 and the uk subs very versatile.Although i do like some of there stuff.[/quote] My question was not about cultivating a style for one type of genre or one band in particular. It was about my basslines as a whole. The fact that you think one person/band defined an entire genre is quite clearly ludicrous and with that one sweeping statement you have dismissed a considerable piece of music history. Furthermore, bands like Sham 69 and UK Subs represent only a small percentage of the genre. Indeed, the fact that you lack the insight to identify derivatives or sub-genres galvanises my belief that you are commenting from a position not borne of education, but of generalisation. You need to go off and listen to a wider range of examples and then reconsider your position. This thread is about development of creative basslines, irrespective of genre so please keep it on topic - if you want to debate punk as a genre, may I suggest you start a new thread. But please do so only after you have educated yourself properly on the genre, or you run the risk of making comments that will again reinforce the view that you have a propensity for narrowminded/uninformed views of musical genres and history.

[quote name='YouMa' post='591090' date='Sep 5 2009, 11:21 PM']try string skipping moving around the neck more,if you are playing oi/punk type three chord stuff though i would keep it simple and do exactly what you are doing.[/quote] Ha. Guess who doesn't understand the versatility of punk as a genre.

[quote name='EssentialTension' post='590594' date='Sep 5 2009, 01:09 PM']Hmmm... I tend to have a a rather dusty area that begins around the seventh fret. And next to the first five frets I have written the word 'money'.[/quote] Ha! "There's no money past the fifth fret".

[quote name='GreeneKing' post='591073' date='Sep 5 2009, 11:02 PM']I suppose the use of space, dynamics, timing and ghost notes, hammer ons and pull offs are all things to add to flavour the sauce. There's more variations out there methinks than you could ever use. Not to mention slapping (I told you not to mention slapping!). All the best with it, it's a constant learning curve.[/quote] Nooooo....man...vibrato....vibrato's where it's at. I fear I may be at the overkill stage with it though :-)

[quote name='GreeneKing' post='591062' date='Sep 5 2009, 10:48 PM']Inversions or Modes of any help? I'm getting to a similar place and inversions seem to be a way out at the moment. Fun isn't it, and sooo much better than free time that's overrated imo [/quote] Free time?! Whassat?! The only reason I'm on here now is that my fingers feel like they've been sliced by a cheese grater due to going onto heavier strings....ouch!! Tried modes yeah and inversions...hmm.....still getting back into that arpeggiated trap though i.e. playing inverted triads etc.......I need to think about this some more......

[quote name='waynepunkdude' post='591036' date='Sep 5 2009, 10:17 PM']I know what you mean, I do the same fill everytime [/quote] Ha yeah but in punk you can get away with it, if you play them fast with tons of gain on, no one notices :-)

[quote name='geoffbyrne' post='591032' date='Sep 5 2009, 10:14 PM']Bowling!!!! How about listening to Steely Dan? G.[/quote] Alright Geoff! How's it going! Will Steely Dan help me to break on out of the bass fill rut I'm in!

Help! All my basslines are starting to sound too similar! How can I break out of the arpeggiated fill style and become more creative?

[quote name='bubinga5' post='590937' date='Sep 5 2009, 07:42 PM']Went to Bass Direct today to pick up my bits for my jazz bass..i walked in the place and was in bass heaven!!! for anyone who has been there you know what i mean...the first thing i clocked was a Nordstrand VJ4 with a Champhor top..plugged it in and it just blew me away..amazingly light...it was like 7 ibs!!!??? incredible tone.. The place is wall to wall bass...and im not talking off the shelf basses..these are all made to order instruments...you have all seen Marks site.. Bass Direct is the best bass shop in the UK, not expensive, lovely man who runs it, great service...the best basses in the world..[/quote] Sounds like an amazing day! Where is this place?! [quote name='bubinga5' post='590937' date='Sep 5 2009, 07:42 PM']I wanted to try all of the basses, especially the £5000 Spector,[/quote] Wish you had done....am starting to get really into Spectors! Damn....GAAAAASSSS!!!

[quote name='Dmanlamius' post='590813' date='Sep 5 2009, 05:16 PM']Just started my series of slap precision "lessons". The "how to" part of the lesson, and tab's of the lesson are here, as well as the vid. [url="http://mrlamius.blogspot.com/2009/09/slap-precision-exercise-1.html"]Clicky[/url][/quote] COOL!! [quote name='Dmanlamius' post='590851' date='Sep 5 2009, 06:21 PM']A blog? They can if you let them breathe, and give them a few years to mature. It's hard work, and you have to stick with it. But even then, many people earn nothing. I don't. I have quite a big following on youtube as well. Luckily, i'm a youtube partner, so I make a bit (very little) from that. If you take a look, you'll see there are a LOT of how-to sites out there. You gotta work hard to register.[/quote] Keep at it, the work you're doing is SO valuable. There's loads of people who couldn't keep going without your efforts!