SteveXFR

Everyone and their mum plays guitar. Drums are what you need to learn.

But it won't weigh as much as a cow

There isn't. I've been looking for a while now. Lots of people wanting to start bands but they all seem to want to play pop punk. I'd be quite happy playing a good mix of grunge and 90's alternative.

I'd like to play grunge covers. I think it would be fun.

Planets - Teenage fanclub

Cheer up London - Slaves

I feel like he needs to swap one of those cheap far Eastern engines for a vintage US engine from the Harley custom shop.

Celebrity skin - Hole

If you follow all the rules all the time, you'll end up with Ed Sheeran and no one wants that. You can't have character without imperfection. Sometimes a carefully used very out of key note can really add interest.

Down in a hole - Alice In Chains

I think a 130 string tuned to C# might snap the neck of a Thunderbird

I'd have thought most can play above the technical level of the song. Especially in rock and metal, you want a bit in reserve so you can still play well while moving around the stage. It's pretty boring to watch someone stood perfectly still while they concentrate on shredding.

This morning I've been listening to Total Invasion live by Killing Joke. I don't normally like live albums but this one seems pretty good. Even Youth's bass is tight, he's been a bit sloppy when I've seen them before.

I think it all went wrong when O2 Academies moved their ticket sales to Ticketmaster.

I was about to book tickets to see Killing Joke in Bristol O2 Academy but been put right off by the price. £45 to see them in a venue with terrible sound and ridiculous drink prices just isn't appealing. I love seeing Killing Joke live but for that price I could pay for two gigs in Bristol at venues with better sound, better atmosphere and not get fleeced when I get thirsty. Last time I went to Bristol Academy, it was a double headline show with Skints and Interruptors and tickets were £28 and that was shortly before first lockdown. If they want to get people back to gigs, pushing up ticket prices isn't the way to do it.

Die on a rope - Distillers

Angry inch - Type O Negative

It's stoner and doom stuff I'm playing on my tbird so super clear and defined notes aren't really what I'm looking for. Maybe I'll try 110-50, I'm finding 105-45 a little too slack. My Thunderbird is only an Epiphone, not the real thing so I'll take the risk.

I've decided my Thunderbird will only be used for C or C# tunings so I want to set it up with appropriate strings. My usual 105 strings are a bit slack tuned this low. Is there a method for working out which strings to use?

I'm also unsure exactly what I like. I just have to try it and see what I like. There's no obvious connection between the basses I like. I had a Fender Jazz and hated it but I've played very similar basses and loved them. Maybe it's just a spiritual connection with the trees the instrument is made from but I don't believe I any of that old toss.

The reality is often the opposite. At the jam session I go to there's a couple people with expensive gear who are average at best and one gnarly looking old dude with a scruffy Squier P bass who absolutely blows them away

I avoid asking that question otherwise I'd feel guilty playing the cheapest bass available.

Word up - Gun

Baby Got Back - Sir Mix A Lot

Heaviest matter in the universe - Gojira