risingson

Man, I'm so jealous! But what a great way of keeping your father's memory alive I'm a sucker for Fender's 60's custom block colours. My favourites are Shoreline Gold, Sonic and Daphne Blue, Surf Green and Fiesta Red. Got to love Olympic White with a Rosewood pickguard too but there's a lot of them around at the moment. For me, it would be a maple fretboard and an ash body, a la the MV line. Matching headstocks with these colours just look killer as well. Really looking forward to seeing the pics whatever you decide on!

[quote name='Lfalex v1.1' timestamp='1349283492' post='1824301'] So here's a mention for Eric Avery (in case I forgot him earlier!) [/quote] Chris Chaney played with Jane's Addiction as well didn't he? Phenomenal bass player!

The issue sometimes with keys players is that they can fill a lot of space, especially with Rhodes-style sounds that really tend to thicken out in the low end. As long as there is a good spacial awareness with every player in a band then it is a problem that can quite easily be overcome. The thing to remember is that we don't just occupy one bit of low end as bassists, we can overlap with guitarists and keyboard players as well.

My personal feelings about tablature aside, I think it's a bit OTT for publishers and owners to be so heavy-handed with these types of sites. There are much worse things going on out there with regards to copyright infringement than dealing with tab sites, it's just finding that line.

I doubt I'll ever get rid of my Lakland DJ anytime soon but I've not found anything that I can honestly say that I would never part with. Instruments matter a lot to me and I'd like to seek out a classic Fender P or J next that I'll never get rid of, a bit like what Clarky described in his post.

I like this as well, mental 'behind the iron curtain' sustain and clank!

[quote name='Big_Stu' timestamp='1348854772' post='1819237'] Amazing! Thank you so much for sharing! While to my shame I know very little about the band, though I never fail to love listening to them; I do remember watching a drama-doc about the Beach Boys and it seemed to link the drying up of the Smile sessions with Brian's first hearing of Sergeant Pepper? [/quote] That's right Stu, Brian lost the plot after hearing Sgt. Peppers with the mindset that nothing could ever top the sheer achievement of it. I suspect his mind wasn't all there either!

[quote name='4 Strings' timestamp='1348848423' post='1819120'] Great quote, thanks. The Beatles had George Martin to do the 'music' stuff (for example Eleanor Rigby - fab!) whereas, assuming Wilson did the scoring, it was just him, no partner to test ideas etc. [/quote] I don't think either George Martin or McCartney's ability to arrange can be underestimated. They likewise inspired each other, GM certainly had the classical training but McCartney had the ears and ideas that paired perfectly. Comparing the Beach Boys and The Beatles is apples/oranges. They drove each other on so much, and in their attempts to draw influence from each other they kept upping their games until Brian ultimately crashed out.

Floating anchor and floating thumb depending on how and what I play, it's usually the former though.

Our drummer just built one, I'd recommend it doing the same to save a bit of money!

Are they available for weddings?

I can only really applaud Muse for trying something new like this. It's at the least interesting. The bass is totally mad!

[quote name='spinynorman' timestamp='1348611939' post='1816111'] When I first took up bass I read a thread on a forum (not this one) where someone had been to see some hotshot bassist and reported "it was great, he didn't play a root note all night". Down the years I've sometimes wondered if that was actually a good thing. [/quote] That sounds like 1.) my idea of a nightmare and 2.) like the guy talking had probably disappeared up his own arse!

Restrung my P-Bass with flats, it sounds... like it's got flats on again! Wonderful, big round sound that fills out lovely in a band setting. Also got the new masters of our new EP through, so I'm excited to get it all released so people can hear it.

[quote name='jakenewmanbass' timestamp='1348580531' post='1815466'] If you can play root and fifth in all it's permutations, still serve the song, and keep it interesting then you are worthy of some of the best bass playing jobs on earth... If you can't then I would suggest that your quest to play other notes is a little early. Be f***ing awesome with root and fifth before you decide to move on... (I am being deadly serious) [/quote] Absolutely, I wish I'd been astute enough to have said this.

[quote name='Dr M' timestamp='1348575536' post='1815367'] Ah, so the sound on the record is actually a synth? Been a while since I've listened to it, but in that case I'm impressed by whoever played that synth. Not easy to imitate hammer-ons and slides on a keyboard. [/quote] Aye, it was Toby Smith on keys at that stage still, very talented, also played synth bass on 'Canned Heat'. Fallings out were had with Stuart Zender and he left (or was chucked out of?) the band. The original bass parts are floating around out there, I got to hear them a couple of years ago I think but I can't remember what they were like.

Worth learning your chordal notes and which ones sound stronger than others. Playing a C in the key of Gmaj isn't a strong candidate and will sound unusual if played out of context (the key word, as perhaps in some cases the C may very well work). B and D (the major 3rd and 5th respectively) are stronger candidates, especially your B but remember, if everyone else in the band is working on a G major chord then playing a B under it all is going to change the chord to a G/B (G on a , which will alter the sound of the rest of the band. Don't fear root notes, try and develop the ability to play between the changes tastefully and without detracting from the song with what you're playing. No one is going to notice if you're getting root notes right, but people will certainly notice if you're throwing in notes that don't work against the chord.

Colin Greenwood used a Shin Ei Fuzz on 'Exit Music', Thom Yorke nicked it and used it later on 'The National Anthem' on Kid A as he was the one who ended up recording the bass part. I really love the tone on Lenny Kravitz's 'Rock and Roll Is Dead', it's a really throaty drive that gets used on the bass part and it sounds really cool. Also love Black Rebel Motorcycle Club's 'Spread Your Love', there's probably quite a few others! [quote name='Dr M' timestamp='1348574711' post='1815350'] The bass riff in Deeper Underground by Jamiroquai. (Unfortunately, I've no idea who the bassist is!) [/quote] It was Stuart Zender originally until his parts got scrapped and replaced with synth bass.

[quote name='Coilte' timestamp='1348476361' post='1813905'] As pointed out above by "risingson", endurance (stamina) and dexterity are what's needed. The former is best achieved by gradually building up your playing time on the bass. [/quote] I couldn't offer you any more than conjecture concerning the science behind it and I'm definitely no expert, but I noticed a marked improvement in my ability to play far more dextrously after extended weeks at the gym. Your muscles do have the ability to 'endure' extended exercise after training, so by extension there is no reason at all to assume that this premise couldn't be carried through to the act of playing a bass guitar or even drums as well, which requires a degree of upper body strength also.

[quote name='EssentialTension' timestamp='1348477078' post='1813920'] Now you know we want the Bruce Johnston story after that teaser. ... and +1 on 'God Only Knows'. [/quote] + 2 and yeh do tell!!

[quote name='Lord Sausage' timestamp='1348521532' post='1814835'] With regard to the 'clinical' thing. It may be, may not be, but by trying different things that you haven't before over time it will become part of your natural ear and ability etc. [/quote] It wasn't my intention to sound condescending with my comment, although it probably did come across as such. But I'll never be convinced by bass parts being pieced together so methodically, with notable exceptions of written bass parts for example being brought to life by the quality and idiosyncrasies of the bass player. Theory is very important, interval training and a strong understanding of chordal tones is everything but it should always compliment a musical ear.

To the OP. This is meant with the greatest of respect, as you're obviously keen to learn and that is a wonderful thing! But there is something quite clinical in the way you're discussing expanding on your bass lines. The notes on your fretboard should fit in your head and feel as natural as speaking and in the meantime, maybe it's worth paying attention to bass players you like who are able to string notes together in a way that directly appeals to you. It's less about learning what intervals work best, more to do with you perhaps improving your ear. There will be a serious lack of bass players that will look at creating their bass lines as theoretically as the way you describe. The theory of music should be leant and referenced when necessary, but a good ear is invaluable and that's what you'd need to work on. Just my 2p.

[quote name='Wil' timestamp='1348442960' post='1813785'] Has anyone seen the Pet Sounds live performances Brian did with the Wondermints? If so, anyone else think the bassists Lakland was just totally WRONG for the music, tonally? Way too much sustain and none of that lovely, tic tac character at all. [/quote] I'll have to check this out. There's a video of Carol Kaye talking about how much of a hard time she had getting on with her P-Bass somewhere back in the day, but IMO nothing compares!

[quote name='gapiro' timestamp='1348471119' post='1813856'] Excuse me for ignorance, but how can building more strength have a negative effect as opposed to a lack of positive effect? Is it because you have more to move ? [/quote] I wouldn't say that strength has a negative effect on bass playing whatsoever. But the point is that you shouldn't have to fight your bass guitar to play it as it's not considered proper technique, consequently strength shouldn't come into bass playing at all. Endurance on the other hand has a lot to do with bass playing.

[quote name='Hobbayne' timestamp='1348440605' post='1813761'] Mike Love? The singer? Tell me more [/quote] A controversial figure, seen as ousting Brian Wilson during a time in which Brian probably needed him most. He shunned Wilson's attempts to move forward with his music and ended up taking the Beach Boys over in a legal capacity, the name, everything. Also noted apparently for his right-wing tendencies.