TimR

Oh yes. Nice!

[quote name='Wolverinebass' post='969334' date='Sep 27 2010, 12:16 PM']... It's possibly a style thing too. I basically taught myself to play bass by learning stuff like Quadrophenia and RHCP stuff. I don't know if that quite comes across in my playing, but that's all bass driven music to a degree, so maybe it has. The ultimate irony (and I have no idea why this is at all) is that my own playing style doesn't translate on my own material too much, which always has quite simple or functional bass parts in comparison with what I've done with or for other people. Maybe I subconciously do that to give other folk room to fill out. I have no idea why it's the case. Maybe I feel deep down like if I sit back, I'm insulting the person who has written the song by not coming up with something really good when possibly simplicity (or just slightly simpler) might be what they want. Possibly I'm just trying too hard and it's coming out in a different way to other people. ...[/quote] There are two ways to come up with a bass line. Start busy and refine or start simple and build. I prefer the second. Start with roots and add passing phrases, licks, unison riffs or whatever you need to add interest to the SONG not to add interest to the bass line.

[quote name='the_skezz' post='969326' date='Sep 27 2010, 12:14 PM']I don't like playing the root note when I reckon something else would sound better, but I'm happy to do it...if the guitarist will let me tell him what to play on the guitar for any songs that I write. Of course, trying to get them to understand this can be a difficult matter. Me: "Right, I've got an instrumental that I've written, nothing fancy but I reckon it could be good. I'll show it to you at practise on Saturday if you want." Guitarist: "Awesome, you play it and I'll start soloing over the top of it..." Me: "Erm...it doesn't have a solo in it..." Guitarist: "What?!? Really?! Alright then, I'll just come up with some other riffs over it..." Needless to say, it never came to frution I'm happy to play a bassline that someone else wrote for their song (my current band doesn't see me slapping a solo into Blitzkreig Bop) but for me it has to be a two-way street. I know there are plenty of bands out there who are all the better because one person pretty much dictates the songs, but I myself wouldn't feel happy in them...guess I'm just awkward that way [/quote] Its the note-for-note dictation that is bad. Why get a bass player in who is expert at playing bass lines then tell him what you want him to play. Asking for a style, then saying I don't like that bit and asking if you can you change it is no problem. Two way street. I'd have no problem telling a guitarist to play a different inversion, rhythm or use a different effect. It's a band and supposed to be a co-operative. Singer-songwriter is different. You just need to be clear what you are in.

[quote name='Alfie' post='969322' date='Sep 27 2010, 12:10 PM']I don't think its unreasonable to dictate what type of instrument to play if it is integral to the concept of the band. People forget that being in a band is a visual performance as much as an musical one. ...[/quote] My Jackson-Charvel went into retirement because I was playing functions and weddings. My choice entirely. Nothing wrong with the sound of it at all.

If I was playing for a singer/songwriter who expected me to play lines he wrote I would expect to be getting paid. Maybe a beginner wouldn't.

[quote name='Lozz196' post='969095' date='Sep 27 2010, 07:57 AM']... Too often, in all walks of life, people want to change things, without learning the original part in the first place, be it basslines, work processes etc. Its ok to show initiative, but in order to change something effectively, you have to know the original part back to front in the first place. That's the area most fall down on. ...[/quote] AND WHY the part is being played like it is. I've played with original bands where the previous bass player has written lines or played lines that the guitarist has told him to play. I've learned those lines and played them exactly as was requested. Occasionally those lines have had musical "flaws" in them. I've pointed out what was wrong and why and asked if I can show them a "better" line. Usually they've said OK. The problem then comes when they say No, they prefer it like they've always done it. You then have to play a line that you wouldn't have written yourself. In an originals "band" that means you could be being perceived as playing a line YOU have written and written badly at that. It's not as bad if you are supporting an originals singer/songwriter "artist". However, if you play the lines as they want, at some stage they will write new material and it's unlikely that they will write the bass part. They will, however, be VERY vocal if they don't like your lines then.

I've got the ER20s and when I first put them in I thought they weren't working because everything sounded exactly the same. When I took them out to check, I found everything had been the same but just a lot quieter. Could even hear the birds singing in the garden.

This thread in the Equipment section is a sticky: [url="http://basschat.co.uk/index.php?s=&showtopic=533&view=findpost&p=958996"]Ear Plugs[/url]

[quote name='bubinga5' post='965750' date='Sep 23 2010, 04:06 PM']... the drummer was bashing the sh*t out of the drums, the guitarist had a Gibson and was used to playing rock, so his rythm playing was anything but...The male singer didnt have a good voice, and was just belting them out...they told me there used to playing in rough pubs, not that that has anything to do with it...ok there may be a trained ear in the crowd but most are pissed of high and dont care...the only one i thought was good was the organist but he was lost in the mix.. on top of this they were pissed...i never play drunk...i have too much respect for the music...that and i cant play drunk. ....[/quote] What you have here is a group of selfish people who want to show off to their mates. NOT a band of musicians. Learn - you will meet hundreds like them in your life. [quote name='chris_b' post='965921' date='Sep 23 2010, 06:24 PM']No, but these days it mostly seems to be the oldies who really understand about dynamics.[/quote] It's from years of getting mixed up with the type of people mentioned above.

Isn't this just another example of "It doesn't matter what I do to my onstage sound, the soundman always makes it sound like ....."

[quote name='bassface2k10' post='961386' date='Sep 19 2010, 06:20 PM']Thanks, looks like i lost the bet with a guy at work then [/quote] You'll be amazed how long it took me to get that accent right and overdub it. The scream took alone took me 20 takes.

I spent a morning exchanging emails with Old Git. In that morning he transformed our website from an invisible, hard to navigate, and complicated site to a site that featured on the first page of a search and was easier and more intuitive to navigate. It looked professional and we got business from it. The rest of the band didn't see the importance of even having a website other than having a site with a few songs and pics that we could put on our business cards for people to show their friends. After I left another member took over running the site - he re-built it using a template provided by the webspace provider. His version is here - [url="http://www.revival.cd2.com"]www.revival.cd2.com[/url] There is so much wrong with it from a design point of view - spelling only being one of them. (Hope the new bass player's not reading this ) But if bands can't see what is wrong with it and think that this is acceptable I'm not sure that they will pay for a good web site. Really you need to ask them how much they were expecting to pay. I think £250 max is likely to be the answer (not a lot more than a reasonable demo or photoshoot would cost) So work out how much work you are willing to do for that. Maybe you should have several packages ready, with examples, for when you are next asked £250, £500, £1000, and bespoke?

I've just got back from watching your average pub band. Maybe not so average... The bass player was a bit busy - all over the neck like a rash, could have done with laying down a few solid riffs, but then he was playing and I wasn't.... BUT the drummer had really good feel, control and dynamics. I spoke to him after the gig. He also plays guitar. Maybe it should be law that drummers learn a musical instrument. Maybe it should be law that musicians spend some time behind a drum kit. Bit like the car drivers v motorcyclists argument.

[quote name='waynepunkdude' post='960797' date='Sep 18 2010, 10:03 PM']Bridge adjustments.[/quote] The only time I've ever had to adjust the bridge saddles on a bass is when I've adjusted the truss rod or changed the tuning pegs. [quote name='thisnameistaken' post='960809' date='Sep 18 2010, 10:16 PM']I used to have a USA Jazz bass. Trust me if you'd ever owned one of those you'd be in the habit of taking a set of allen keys to every gig.[/quote] That will be why then. It goes out that much between practicing the night before and sound-check? Wow.

[quote name='JTUK' post='960714' date='Sep 18 2010, 07:57 PM']I don't know why people keep going back to a none existant issue in that regard.[/quote] Because you said you have a loud drummer on a thread where people are discussing situations where a loud drummer who can't play quietly is a problem. If your loud drummer can play quietly then its not a problem for you. What is your point?

What I would do is chose an already cheap do-it yourself web design service. As others have said there are loads out there. Maybe buy into a sub-domain of one of those. Set up the web-space with their band name and then "sub-let" the web-space to the band for £x. They can then upload their own graphics chose a layout and do the basic stuff that anyone can do themselves. As you say most people have JPGs of logos and photos. Once they've done that then you work your magic to correct all the basic errors that everyone makes; photoshop their images, smarten up logo, adjust the page layout, pick a decent font, add meta tags and do all the specialist stuff that makes their site stand out and for google to find it. Charge them half a day labour to do that bit. Job done.

Let the man tell you himself. [url="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gwpGXfHmY-A&feature=related"]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gwpGXfHmY-A...feature=related[/url]

[quote name='Truckstop' post='960329' date='Sep 18 2010, 12:39 PM']Isn't it funny how we all seem to have a thousand sizes of Allen key... but almost every gig I ever go to I hear "Aw, sh*t. I've not got the right size key! Can I borrow yours?" and then that's how I lose mine! Truckstop[/quote] In 25 years I've never needed an Allen key at a gig. What on earth do you use them for?

[quote name='hillbilly deluxe' post='960272' date='Sep 18 2010, 11:26 AM']"Why do we call them kettle leads?"..........we can if we want,why do people call vacum cleaners Hoovers ?[/quote] Different argument. A hoover and a vacuum cleaner both do exactly the same thing. An amp lead will not work on a kettle.

[quote name='Marvin' post='960114' date='Sep 18 2010, 05:53 AM']Great thinking from all 5 of you. Nothing like a brew after some hard work, but do remember to pack the tea bags and chocolate digestives. [/quote] Which, being pedantic, is quite funny. Why do we call them kettle leads? They're IEC leads, kettle leads are keyed and rated for high temperatures - although they will fit amps, amp leads will not fit kettles. As you were.....

[quote name='Lozz196' post='959441' date='Sep 17 2010, 01:56 PM'].... And when gigging, couple of Mars Bars[/quote] Good call. I used to take cereal bars. I keep meaning to buy spare nail clippers but keep forgetting.

Music folder, music stand, clip on reading light, pencil, A4 lined pad. Spare strings, 9v battery, screwdriver. Fuses, spare leads one of each. Cheap DI box.

How would many bass players react to a drummer telling them they should be using pick not fingers or vice versa? In the end I left my last band due to the drummers attitude. He could keep excellent time and was solid, wasn't too loud but he thought he should be louder. I tried to explain that if the crowd were dancing at the far side of the dance floor or pinned against the far wall, we were probably already too loud, but that fell on deaf ears. He didn't know what a triplet was, couldn't play 16th notes for longer than two bars and had no idea what a shuffle was. If we started at the wrong speed there was no adjustment it would continue to the end of the song at the wrong speed. He had no feel whatsoever at whatever volume he played. I can usually lock in with a drummer as soon as we start playing but I was having to do all the work to make the songs groove and there was never any lock. All of that I could cope with if it wasn't for his attitude. He had been drumming for 20years so who was I to suggest he tried things differently? Every one should be able to make a song work played at low volume or slowly. It's called the "Amateurs Disease" - play it louder and faster and it will sound better. Often it does, but that is because you can't play it properly in the first place and the imperfections are hidden in the resulting noise. Before blaming the drummer for not sounding right at low volumes check that your other musicians know what they are really doing in the space between the drum hits

I'll add some info here that I got from my guitarist friend who saw a tinnitus specialist last year. It's second hand so I hope it is as accurate as can be: Your hearing slowly degrades over time. The hair follicles in your ears get worn. The brain is very clever and as the follicles get worn, it 'turns up' the amplification to compensate. This is why you don't notice it and why it is so dangerous. Eventually the follicles are so worn and it can't turn up the amplification any more and all you are left with is the hissing. The problem is in a quiet environment you are left listening to the hissing/ringing, it becomes more noticeable and you focus on it and so it gets louder. You can learn to tune it out by not worrying about it, the brain will then 'turn down' the amplification, forget about trying to listen for it and the hissing/ringing will become less. The more you worry over it the worse it will become. It's a bit like living next to a train track or a busy road. When you first move in your brain recognises the trains/cars as a new and alien sound, after a while your brain learns that its just normal background noise and you don't hear it. Its still there but you don't hear it because you're not listening for it. By playing other sounds you are not 'drowning out' the tinnitus, you are giving your brain something else to focus on. Your hearing is the first sense to get dulled by Alcohol, your hearing is affected even well before your balance, both are centred around your ear follicles. Ever wondered why people shout when they are drunk? Another reason why drinking and playing is not a good idea.

This is a sticky! [url="http://basschat.co.uk/index.php?s=&showtopic=533&view=findpost&p=4287"]http://basschat.co.uk/index.php?s=&sho...post&p=4287[/url]