Hector

Congrats dude!

I passed my grade 8 DB, but only by a few marks. It was right at the time as all my A-levels so it was kinda hard to get it all together is my excuse. It's opened a lot of doors for me - I now play in a few orcestras at uni, and reading music is always helpful.

Nobody?

[quote name='Andyalfa' post='399741' date='Feb 4 2009, 10:07 AM']The hardest bit, however, is going to be learning to read music. It didn’t help that the printing was so small. Even bringing the stand closer didn’t really help. I could barely make out the individual notes despite wearing my glasses. For the first few exercises, I could just make out finger numbers underneath the stave, but I know that there will come a time when they aren't there and I have to learn to read. I confess, am dreading it.[/quote]

Welcome to the DB world! Having lived there for the last two or so years, I can tell you it's great fun! It is hard to play at first, but stick with it and after a while all sorts of doors start to open.

If you're dreading sight reading, do lots of it! Naturally you avoid doing things that are difficult/fiddly, but if you never practice the difficult things how are you going to improve? Good reading is an important skill to develop, especially if you ever want to get involved with orchestras etc. (Sounds like you aren't too keen on it, but the feeling of blasting out some powerful stuff is great, and it really improves your playing).

Remember, the only limitations on your development as a DB player are the ones you impose on yourself - in fact, your potential is night on limitless! So get out there and enjoy that thing, hopefully you'll fall in love with it as much as I have.....

Hi Guys,


Was wondering if anyone had any good practices for arco technique?

Having come from an electric bass background, I've found my arco technique is somewhat lacking. I can use a bow fine enough (classically trained up to grade 8), but I just don't feel at all comfortable with it. My tone isn't fantastic, and my speed is very limited (both of which I think are a product of poor bow control). I play in several orchestras, so I get a bit of practice from that, but I play mostly jazz. I'd love to have my arco as comfortable and fluid as my pizz though.

Also, was tempted to get that Rabbath DVD "The Art Of The Bow", since I can't afford to get a classical teacher as well as a jazz teacher. (Plus Jazz is where my heart really is, despite me not seeing any real difference between the two styles). Anyone had any experience with it?

[quote name='silddx' post='401690' date='Feb 6 2009, 01:00 AM']Horrible to my ears. I listen to my pop music and suddenly realise how one-dimensional a lot of Jazz can be. None of them in that clip exhibits a shred of sensitivity.[/quote]

Please, do place your opinion of an entire genre on a single video.

Felt I ought to chip in as one of my pet peeves is people getting hung up about what instrument people play. The end goal is to make music, it's that simple. People should be allowed to make music with whatever they want. If you feel that expressing yourself via the medium of a Chapman Stick doesn't suit you then fine, but it might suit others.

I'd like to think of myself as a musician first and bass player second.

Paradigm breaking is part of the game!

Awesome playing man, and fantastic choice of track! It's the track that really turned me onto Anthony's playing.

No way to say this without soudning like a massive tool, but is there any chance you have the dots for this? I would try and work it out by ear, but I'm desparate to learn it and my ear is pretty poor.

Esperanza Spalding - Esperanza


I really fancy her.

[quote name='YouMa' post='383708' date='Jan 18 2009, 02:43 AM']Cool pub! when i was there you could still kill yourself smoking inside and they had burning spear on the dukey.Is oranges and simple simons still going? I doubt it.[/quote]


Simples (actually owned by a teacher at my old school) has been replaced by The Parrot. Not as good really, and the barman is decidedly unfriendly. Not sure if they still have those jazz nights going. Not sure about Oranges, but I think they're still going strong.

Having been to school in canterbury through my teenage years, I've had many a day of sneaking off for a cheeky pint! Supposedly the canterbury area has the greatest pub density of anywhere in the uk......

[quote name='waynepunkdude' post='373666' date='Jan 7 2009, 11:22 PM']Just found a nice pic with me and some friends.


[/quote]


Looks like that pub in Canterbury. Can't remember the name of it, but it's off the high street and they serve the love pigf***ers on thursdays. I think it's called the Cherry Tree? Could be totally off though..........

[quote name='Toadonroll' post='376035' date='Jan 10 2009, 11:59 AM']When I was at uni in Oxford I had lessons off a guy called Domonic Lash. Excellent teacher. Plays upright and electric. Teaches jazz, reading etc.

Would definitely recommend him. He used to live off Cowley Road. Don't have a number for him, but he was very good.

Here's his myspace.

[url="http://www.myspace.com/dominiclash"]http://www.myspace.com/dominiclash[/url][/quote]

Cheers mate, will check him out!

[quote name='waynepunkdude' post='377811' date='Jan 12 2009, 03:32 PM']A bass player from Faversham, you in a band mate?[/quote]


Hiya! I'm from Faversham, but most of my time is spent Oxford. I was in an originals band, and we were getting some good music out, but we all went to our separate Unis. I've started up a new group that's Oxford based instead, but might get something together when I'm back in March. Used to play in various function bands and I did some studio sessions down at a place in Dover and I really miss playing with a group. We should get together sometime if you're up for it, is your band playing much over Easter?



Thanks for the help guys. As far a synths are concerned, I'm now [i]absolutely convinced[/i] that I can't live without an Alesis Micron. Damn. Now I know what to ask the parentals for my birthday soon! Been on this forum for less than a month and my GAS levels are off the charts. I've already bought a bass and I intend to buy a synth now.

Would absolutely love a copy.

Hush hush, wink wink, say no more.

Hey guys, recently I've been listening to alot of synthy stuff and wanted to get a nice bass tone to emulate that sort of thing. Sort of stuff might be MGMT, Justice, Kraftwerk and stuff like that. Can anyone point me in the right direction?

Sort of tone I'm going for:

[url="http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=IZnGVKXBwFk"]This.[/url]


Any thoughts on getting a similar tone would be much appreciated.

Hiya Westone, and welcome!

Epic university challenge reference btw.....

Wow, thanks Tiernan! Will check it out as soon as I'm back.

That club is a max of about 10 minutes walk from where I live so huge bonus - can't believe I've never heard of it/seen it before!

That Michel Camillo track "From Within" was my first proper exposure to Mr. Jackson, and having loved that one I went on to find more of his stuff and got into the Chaka tracks. He's a big inspiration for why I play a 6. I love Anthony's playing and really look up to him as a player, but god am I scared of him!

I'm scared of the dark, but only because it's easier for Anthony so conceal himself and jump out at me to tell me how disappointed he is in me.......

I have a BR-600 and I'm still getting to grips with it. Kick-ass little bit of kit though, I really really dig it! I've only really worked out how to record/overwrite and how to use effects pre-recording. Next stop is to explore the drums and post-recording stuff.

[quote name='budget bassist' post='373757' date='Jan 8 2009, 01:57 AM']I have some SERIOUS post christmas GAS for a bongo, hence the selling of my jazz and my tobias....[/quote]

I have serious GAS for a reggie jazz, which is why I'm buying it!

Well, the title says it all.

[url="http://www.myspace.com/danakio"]My Tracks are "Waterfall" and "Has No-one Told You"[/url]


EDIT - In case anyone recognises the names, Aubrey Nunn (of faithless fame) was the other bass player and the songwriter was Alex Von Soos (All Saints, Atomic Kitten)

[quote name='Hamster' post='372617' date='Jan 6 2009, 11:43 PM']Please help. I have terrible GAS and it's got much, much worse since I found this site - is there a cure?

Wibble[/quote]

I think it's a deep freudian thing. Are you satisfied with the size of your, y'know....? *whistles*

Only cure is more gear I'm afraid! (I think that comes from the bassist part of me!) Part of the joy of playing the bass is collecting new gear, and continually searching out new things to enjoy and try out. If it's what makes you happy, at the end of the day why cure it?

Hey Guys,

Just wondering if anyone knew of any good teachers to study with in the oxford area? I'm at Uni there, so would be hard for me to travel outside the city too much (although I would consider reasonably close outside). I've been playing classical DB up to grade 8 with a teacher for the last year and a half but since then, my technique has gone to pot and I'm getting lazier and lazier with my practice. Basically I just want a good jazz teacher who could also go over arco stuff to kick me up the arse!

Thanks,

Hector

[quote name='MickyGinger' post='364475' date='Dec 27 2008, 09:34 PM']Hey there, just a uick not to say hi. I am 27 rs old, bassist, playing a court precision at the moment, looking out for a sweet ass 5 string tho! I love my soul and funk, big fan of jaco pastorius and james jamerson. Looking to get my soul function band on the road as soon as possible.

Nice to meet you all!



PS. The main reason I'm here is to start to get my hands round some cool ass funky soul lines. Does anyone know of anywhere to get some bass transcriptions. Things like California Soul, Take Yo' Praise etc etc. Can't find many resources online for the bassist! [/quote]


Hey Micky!

Nice to meet you. Sorry to greet with an annoying post, but why not try learning them by ear? You'll internalise those grooves and that feel and you'll also develop your ear enough to play what you hear. [i]That[/i] takes some serious soul......

Also, you'll never be tied down to learning a song through tab, you can learn literally any song there's a recording of!

Hi everyone, my name's Hector.

I've been playing for about 4-5 years on electric bass and 2 years on upright. My gear at the moment (about to go through a rehaul though) is a Yamaha bb604, Yamaha TRB6-II (mid 90s model), a vintage v940fl, a 2001 Upright of Hungarian origin (not much more than that known about it, but it's got tone for days!) and a seifert bow. I'm playing these through a Markbass LMKII head and an Aguilar GS410 cab.

At the moment, I'm at university studying psychology. I've played a few professional recording sessions (playing at www.myspace.com/danakio) and worked in a few function bands (weddings birthdays etc.) but right now I'm concentrating alot on my studies so most of my music is at university. I play the odd jazz gig, have my own post-rock band on the go and play in the philharmonic orchestra every week.

Found this place through talkbass.com and I look forward to getting to know you all!