diskwave

Whats really extraordinary here is if I was to ask a question or make a statement about 'practise'.. it'd be lucky if it ran to a couple of pages yet this subject of 5 v 4 strings appears to occupy so much thinking? My moneys on practise..,Practise enough and you can sound great playing anything and forget about how many strings you have.

In case all the above is just a tad difficult, try using a small amp live and kill all the bass with just a smidge of mid push then turn volume down a bit. You'll be surpirsed just how short a distance that configuration actually travels. Oh and letting everyone know who you are etc is solid currency and likely to give you some positive credit with ur fellow tenants.

Reading back thru this thread. The only person who cares about how many strings you play is you. Ive worked with band leaders that have never even heard of Fender/Gibson/Ludwig/Tama etc.. tho in the main they do know their keys etc etc. At the end of the day if your groove cannot fill the dance floor then its time for a re-think.

I suppose if you play in a modern pit, or on a boat where everything is in Eb for the horns then yes a five is gonna make sense. Personally Ive never liked either the look or the feel and during the short time I did both I muddled thru rather well on my ole P bass.

For a lesson in just about everything live.. Joni Mitchell at the IOW last night. Superb.

As already mentioned bass lines add structure but do they make you feel emotional? I dont think so..never really thgt about it that way before. I love many many bass lines but its the lead melody that pulls my strings. Still it has got me thinking, I'll get back to you if I find one. Having said all that the question of how to make a bassline does sound a bit naive. Ive always been of the mind youve either got the talent to do it or you haven't. I'm not that creative but I do like playing other peoples ideas.

Broke my SD PU and to tie me over I bought an el cheapo no name Chinese thing off ebay. Its still in the bass, the Duncan is still in the draw.

This 100%, but not forgetting also and just as important, this too which has always given me great punchy tone. What ever cab you buy or use and in whatever situation you use them none of them will perform at their optimum unless you dial back the amps bass a bit and push the mids a bit.

You win. Congrats.

I think I really do need to redress the balance here a bit. Yes I read as do many others, but yes I also play by ear .. a lot and Im sorry my input has caused so much offence to so many. To the OP. There are many ways to learn bass guitar, and what ever suits you will be the best way for you...

Its not "my music" its just music. What I meant to say was. If you are able to study charts/jazz etc it will make you a better musican, period. It does seem just a little bit silly that on this particular site for musicians, Im having to defend a process that thousands of serious musicians use. Pity really.

Agree, and its all fun. I use YT cause for me personally it seems easy to see whats coming but any platform works. I prefer specific genres but only because I'll probably have some handle on whats coming but yes its so satisfying not to have to mess about with charts and just play... Playing by ear is fun indeed.

Please read my first post. This all started when someone offered up a sad emoji. All I tried to do was help someone out, but what on earth is the point. And if you think Im the only one who talks straight, try reading a few more.

And there you have it more evidence that 'woke' is destroying what used be just normal discourse. So lets go back to my original post on page 1. Where on earth does it read Im being "snarky".. or sarcastic"? I stated a couple of helpful bare faced facts.. thats all. If you need to find a "safe space" because someone with a bit of experience is happy to impart some knowledge.. then heaven help us all.

Get back to me if you ever want to play in a groovy modern Jazz unit, or big band, or theatre pit, or.....I can go on but probably dont need to. But sure, you can learn the easy pop stuff by ear no probs .... been doing it for ever, but a lot of musicians whilst busking the tricky styles etc will have learnt the stuff off the page.....It's quicker and just plain more sensible and fun too and also improives ur chops because of the accuracy needed. As I said to that other bloke.. Just trying to pass on some age old wisdom even if its deemed "sad" for doing so.

We're all here trying to help this fellow and you plonk a sad emoji on my comment? Dont mean to be rude and pass judgement but reading the above, I think I might just b a smidge more experienced than yourself.

This very minute? Mrs Disc just clicked on this as we potter in the lounge. Super tune.

Bin the tabs and learn notation.. Without notation you'll always be stuck playing in pub/club bands. Also... try and study Jazz. The shapes and patterns in jazz can be applied to all other styles. If you can play jazz then everything else is a piece of cake.

Same here really. Been playing on and off for 40 odd years. Did a dep four yrs ago with a very good 60's covers band which wasn't easy.. (Beatles etc) and knew that was it...It was all too loud, too serious and too tedious. Maybe Im lucky, I have a nice extension out the back looking onto fields. I open YT plug in stand by the window and play along to stuff Ive never really played in all those years. Maybe find a chart or two to work from, huge satisfaction. Pretty sure I dont miss the stage one little bit.

Played it back in 84. Great tune indeed, not sure Ive ever heard another band do it.

Another 70's legend gone. A legendary figure indeed. Kinda grew up with him always in the back of my mind as he used a long list of my bass heroes. The work he did with Michael Jackson, Rod Temperton, Patti Austin, James Ingram, is sublime to name just a few. Also did a lot of those 70's groovy TV cop themes.

For my money the greatest 'Boogie Woogie' bassist that ever lived. The way he digs in but keeps the groove flowing on this is exceptional.. and that tone.. P bass, SVT mid range brilliance.

Just casting my mind back to when I was but a sprog. I got into a very good six piece prog rock band (Punk sadly killed us) ...mutiple keys, Moogs, mellotone etc, guitars etc with an old school 5K EV/JBL PA and, played amongst the bigger places small pubs too, and always had a balanced sound. I think for a drummer in a small space it is quite an art but it can be done. MInd you I was always bitchin about having to be so quiet on stage too which is kind of annoying when youve got a 70's V4B rig behind you... haha

A good drummer "plays" the drums the way you and I play our instruments, he does not "bash" the drums as loud as possible. How old is this guy fgs, sounds like a teen that hasn't a clue.

It comes to us all. Hit me about eight yrs ago.. Still got tons of hair/slim etc but the old face has gotten thin and ragged, so yes it does matter, especially under pub/stage,lighting. The entertainment game has always been a harsh flippin mistress when image is concerned, wherever/whatever you play.