Crawford13

6 minutes ago, dmccombe7 said:

sometimes wish i had kept the lessons going and learned more about the theory.

Never too late Dave. Every day is a school day. 

5 minutes ago, Peloquin said:

Yeah, I've sorry of resigned myself to the idea of having to do theory as well but not something that interests me much.

I want to eventually be able to hear a song and at least be able to have a good go at it.

Tbh I'm very nervous about playing in front of someone... Even the wife has only heard me a few times.

One of the lads at work is learning 6 string and suggested we take our gear in and have a mess about after work and play "Iron Man".

Dunno if it'll happen and I'm really half hoping it doesn't but it's something to work to. I'd hate to take the bass in and be terrible compared to him.

That's a really good goal you have there! 

Listen to as much music as you can and at first try to listen to when the chords or notes change, and train your ears to first hear if the note is higher or lower. That's a great starting point. 

If you are not ready to play with your work mate that's OK, but remember music isn't a competition its OK for people to be "better or worse" than you, everyone is at a different stage of their journey. One of the great things about music is that being around other musicians actually makes you better as we all try to help each other out. 

I'm not going to lie, I couldn't care less about the financial background of an artist / band. All I care about is the music.

Rich or poor what does it actually matter to the music? 

The one thing that hasn't been talked about on this thread yet is crowd funding. This seems to be very popular now, sell the album to the fans before it is made. If you have the fan base this works and you can cut out the labels altogether. 

1 minute ago, Peloquin said:

I've spoke to him on the phone and explained exactly what I can do, what I want to be able to do and where I'm really struggling.

I've explained that the theory side is something I'm not really interested in but that I also realise that I will have to say least do my toes into that part.

He seems happy enough to take on the challenge and says he has a few students who started exactly the same.

I'm hoping it's a good sign that the first lesson he could fit me in for was Thursday at half 4 as he's booked until then.

Good that you have already talked about what you want to achieve. It's a good place to start. The dichotomy here is that it's best to keep an open mind to what the tutor suggests as the journey to get to where you want to go won't necessarily be how you have imagined. 

I think theory is much more important for bass players than it is for any other contemporary musician, the idea being you know it so well you don't think about it, the same why you don't think about the theory of the English language when you talk. 

On 25/06/2021 at 09:22, Al Krow said:

But I wonder how many of us actually play the F^# octave at the start of BJ rather than just a single note?

I agree it sounds so much better when played with the octave, also slight palm muting helps to get the tone right. 

1 hour ago, Peloquin said:

... and booked in for my first ever bass lesson.

It's a free half hour lesson at first to see how I like it. 

I'm not expecting much from half an hour tbh but it's a start.

Wish me luck.

Have fun, first lessons are always hard as it's natural to be nervous playing in front of a teacher for the first time, good teachers will see through the nerves. 

Be honest about where you are in your playing / theory knowledge, and be honest about what you want to achieve through your lessons. 

16 minutes ago, OliverBlackman said:

Sadly to my knowledge this is not true. Record labels are after artists who they can just remaster a single/ EP and release.  This means less expenditure and therefore risk for them. If successful you will get a deal to record and release an album.
However, this is from a pop perspective and only based on my insiders experience. 

Fair enough, that seems logical. However I still stand by my point to a degree, ie it makes no difference if the EP cost £5K or £5 if you don't have a fan base they are probably not interested. 

Also surely the rule of the marketing cost atleast 4X the recording costs means this is a bit of a moot point? 

4 minutes ago, ubit said:

If they are selling a product and someone buys it you are in their debt for helping them

Not at all, they would be in debt to you if you gave them money for nothing in return. You have paid for a product or service therefore the transaction is complete. 

Also appreciating support is very different from being in debt to some one. 

6 minutes ago, ubit said:

Bands rely on their fans. Have you never heard a band say it's thanks to you that we have done such and such?

 

Edit- Bands are nothing without their support. They would wither and die and lose their contracts.

I'm sorry but I just can't get behind this point of view at all. That doesn't mean that you are not allowed to feel like that, I just can't relate at all. 

"you" as a collective when referring to a fan base is very different than referring to "you"  as an individual. 

1 hour ago, ubit said:

Many of these bands owe me as I have supported them since they began. The newer ones owe me as well as I might buy their music on the strength of their performance.

Wow, I would never think a band or even a person "owes" me anything. Not really sure why they would owe you anything. I'm sure the appreciate your support, but to feel they owe you something will only lead to frustration on your end. 

39 minutes ago, Nail Soup said:

OK, let’s talk support bands.

Love: Discovering a great or just interesting new band who are playing support ( ok, you have to kiss a few frogs😃)

Hate: People ignoring the support band.

Absolutely great shout. I always watch the support band. 

Also I have been support gigs a few times thinking that it's a great opportunity to reach out to new people, when in reality about 50 people at best are there actually watching you, I am super grateful for those 50 people, but the expectation in my head is always for more. 

1 hour ago, bubinga5 said:

I emailed Cary Nordstrand yesterday and he emailed me the original spec sheet for this bass.  Im wondering if i should bring it back to its original spec .. that being the Nordstrand 3 band with Nordstrand fatstack pickups.. hmmm. As someone said to me recently, were not into bass guitars to make a profit. 

As much as I am a massive advocate of Nordstrand, my advice would be if you already love the Aguilars that are in it, stick with it. It's a bit like blackjack you currently have 20 and will likely win, but you could twist and get an ace. 

Yup totally agree it's awesome how music is connected to memories. 

I remember reading an article about how you will always love and relate to the music love listened to between 14-18.

This is very true in my case. 

7 minutes ago, uk_lefty said:

If you're doing that out your own pocket I'd say its a vanity project and won't get you very far. My mates have recorded very polished and well produced demos for less than a grand, if that gets them in front of record companies then, I would guess, the record company can advance the money for the credible producer. 

I'm not sure that it matters greatly to a record label how much you have spent recording Demos, EP's etc, I would imagine what they are looking for is an engaged fan base, most likely judged by social media following.  To have a large following a lot of money has to be put into the marketing campaign, especially just now when there are less gigs around to build it organically.

9 minutes ago, Rich said:

I do much the same. I try to get reasonably close to the desk so i can get a good sound. At one gig, I forget whose, I spent more time watching the sound and lighting engineers than the band.

I saw Joyo Mayers Nerve a few years ago, and was right next to their sound man, who is considered one of the band (I can't think of another band that operates like this) I went for the crazy drumming and stayed for the genius sound man. 

I think i have finally found my string of Choice, Dunlop Nickel Super bright 40-100.

The sound, feel and tension of these strings are just exactly what I want. 

It's only taken me 20 years... 

I had no idea this was a cover. 

Yup invest in a good set of headphones.

In regards to your neighbours music, is there any chance it's anger / frustration causing the heart rate to raise, as you don't like that your neighbours are loud but you have no control over it. 

I no longer enjoy the hustle and bustle of busy gigs to be honest. Though I can remember that it was part of the fun in my late teens / early 20's.

If I go to a busy gig now I will generally stand near the back and let the young ones get on with it. 

The roughness of rock concerts is part and parcel of it, and if you no longer like it, I suggest you do what I do and stand closer to the back than the front. 

Have a look at what is on your local gumtree or Facebook marketplace, or any adverts on bass chat that are local. 

Definetly a Shute SM58 for vocals but buy new from a reputable retailer as there are a lot of fakes around. 

Bass Amp - you are on the money with the Ashdon, but as has been said Trace Elliot or Ampeg rigs going 2nd hand would be worth a shout, just look out of crackling pots. 

Bass - Sires are a great shout, should be able to get a 2nd hand one for under £300. But don't rule out modern squiers especially the Vintage Modified series as they are great instruments for not a lot of money. Alternatively you can't go wrong with ANY yamaha bass you can find in your budget. 

11 minutes ago, Lozz196 said:

Yes we were testing basses with a Precision pickup, sorry should have been a bit clearer. From recall we even had a Dingwall in amongst the basses. The test was done with the audience voting with their ears only, I played the basses behind a curtain (couldn`t even play well enough to make my own bass win, lol) was a lot of fun and an unexpected result.

Ah cool that makes a bit more sense. 

3 minutes ago, Lozz196 said:

Very good basses too, in a Blind Precision test the Hoppus was the runaway winner, up against some serious contenders such as 50s/60s/70s/modern US Precisions etc.

Does it not have a Jazz shaped body? 

Bit weird no one noticed that when playing. 

He is the guy that made me pick up bass when I was 15.

I know he will make it through. 

Is it available in the Google play store? 

I would be interested in this but it only seems available for ipad. 

Hopefully that changes in the near future. 

5 minutes ago, itu said:

He plays well, no doubt. But I doubt, too, this has very little to do with live. This is a recording in a bedroom studio.

The guys is much more than a bedroom instagrammer. It's just what everyone has been forced to do in these times.