Earbrass

[quote name='silddx' post='1017365' date='Nov 9 2010, 11:51 AM']What really happens is there are one or two people who ... state that in order to play that music one needs an academic understanding of music.[/quote] Can you point to any such statement? Or does it only happen inside your own head? [quote name='silddx' post='1017365' date='Nov 9 2010, 11:51 AM']There are people about who genuinely look down upon the illiterate musician, regardless of their ability to emotionally move people with their songwriting or ability on an instrument, which is the primary purpose of music.[/quote] Really? Who are these people, and where have they said such things? I don't see it. I see thread after thread about how reading and/or theory isn't important. I don't see any stating that no matter how much feel or groove a player may have, they aren't worth anything unless they can read music. What I see are insecure people who feel the need to downplay and de-value the skills they don't possess themselves. I used to hang out on a sampler/groovestation website, as I used to use a hardware sequencer for MIDI arranging, and you'd find the same thing there - kids who could only work a beatbox going on about how just because they'd never bothered to learn to play a musical instrument that didn't make them any less of a musician than anyone else and decrying the "snobbery" of those who thought otherwise. All just a bit sad, and reminiscent of the scene in Time Bandits where Napoleon, trying to demonstrate that shortness is no impediment to greatness, sits and reels off the names of every diminutive commander in history he can think of, along with their precise height, and in the process simply proves that he is deeply obsessed with his own lack of stature. EDIT: just for the record, although I have a fair knowledge of theory and can read music, I am a rubbish sight-reader, and not a particularly accomplished musician. If I had to rely on my musical ability to make a living I'd go hungry pretty quickly, and I have no doubt that either Pete Academy or Nigel silddx could play me under the table any day of the week.

I'm sure it varies from band to band, but in my experience it's usually a combination of player/conductor/arranger and possibly booker. Really come into their own when there's a fair number of non-regular players in the band. They know their own parts and everyone else's, and are often seen "nodding" other players in (like a conductor, but without using hands as they are usually playing at the same time), or signalling to the rest of the band with their eyebrows that they're about to return to the head or somesuch.

[quote name='bassman2790' post='1016743' date='Nov 8 2010, 07:02 PM']I wish I could run to a Markbass but it's way out of my league I'm afraid[/quote] I wish I could carry a 42lb combo one-handed without straining anything - (I'd replace the MarkBass with a Hartke and save some cash) - but [b]that's[/b] way out of [b]my[/b] league, I'm afraid.

[quote name='Pete Academy' post='1016260' date='Nov 8 2010, 12:40 PM']Nope, not even a micro-chip. The tone of your response was totally unnecessary. [/quote] Well, sorry if I was unnecessarily confrontational, but these "theory/readying isn't that important"-type threads pop up fairly regularly here, whereas I've yet to see anyone start a "reading ability - so much more important than feel" thread, or arguing that anyone who can't read music/knows no theory must therefore be a rubbish musician, so I do wonder just what threads like yours are supposed to prove, and to whom.

[quote name='bassman2790' post='1014532' date='Nov 6 2010, 05:32 PM']If anything, the Kickback 12 seemed lighter than the Studio 110.[/quote] Sorry, but I think that's wishful thinking: according to the distributor's site, the Kickback 12 is 42lb [url="http://www.samsontech.com/products/productpage.cfm?prodID=30&brandID=3"]http://www.samsontech.com/products/product...0&brandID=3[/url] whereas the Studio 110 is 24lb [url="http://line6.com/lowdownstudio110/"]http://line6.com/lowdownstudio110/[/url] Of course, if you're reasonably strong, 42lbs is still pretty light. If you're a nine stone weakling like me, however, the Markbass CMD 121P is hard to beat as a truly giggable lightweight combo; at 29.5 lbs it's not a lot heavier than the Studio 110, and although it's a fair bit more costly than the Hartke, there have been a couple going on this site recently for stupidly low prices.

[quote name='Pete Academy' post='1016206' date='Nov 8 2010, 11:54 AM']Correct me if I'm wrong, but this sounds like you're insinuating that I feel guilty about not understanding theory, and so need reassurance that it's OK. I can assure you I don't need that. I said in a previous thread that I'd missed out on gigs and work through not being able to read, but I'm happy enough with the gigs I have done for the last 35 years. I know of good readers that fail in the groove department, and this goes for any instrument.[/quote] If you didn't have a teeny-weeny chip on the shoulder about it, you wouldn't need to keep banging on about how much it doesn't matter, would you?

[quote name='Bilbo' post='1015810' date='Nov 7 2010, 10:11 PM']I think the OP needs to think about what they are actually seeking in the answer to this question. I guess its some form of affirmation that you can be a good player by relying on one's ability to groove without having to do the hard bit (the theory). The good news is of course you can. So now you can go and play Call of Duty for five hours with a clear conscience and leave us nerds to the analytical world of grooveless mathematics...... Enjoy [/quote] Nail >> Head.

Don't think my 2 will change things much... 3Leaf Audio Groove Regulator - 3 Adrenalinn II - 1 Aguilar Agro - 1 Aguilar Octamizer - 1 Akai Unibass - 1 AMT Slap Bass -1 Ashdown Chorus - 1 Ashdown Drive Plus - 2 Asdown dual band compressor - 2 Ashdown sub octave plus - 1 Barge Concepts VFB-2 - 2 [b]Behringer BDI21 - 2[/b] Behringer chorus - 1 Boomstick Bottom Feeder - 1 Boss CE-2 - 2 Boss CEB3 - 1 Boss DD-20 - 3 Boss DS-1 - 1 Boss LS-2 - 6 Boss ME-8B - 1 Boss OC-2 - 9 Boss ODB-3 - 4 Boss SD-1 - 1 Boss SL-20 -2 Boss SYB 3 - 2 Boss TU2 - 7 Boss TU-12H - 1 Boss chorus ensemble CE-5 - 2 Bugbrand Bugcrusher - 1 Catalinbread SFT (clone) - 1 Chunk Systems Octavius Squeezer - 1 Danelectro French Toast - 2 Devi Ever Hyperion - 1 Devi Ever Cherry Pop - 1 Devi Ever SodaMeiser - 1 Digitech Bad Monkey - 1 Digitech Whammy - 3 Dunlop Bass Cry Baby - 3 DHA VT2 - 3 EBS Octabass - 2 EBS Multicomp - 3 EHX Memory Man with Hazarai - 1 EBS Unichorus - 1 EHX Bass Balls - 1 EHX Bass Big Muff - 1 EHX Bass Metaphors - 1 EHX Bass Micro Synth - 4 EHX Big Muff Pi (Black Russian) - 2 EHX Octave Multiplexer - 1 EHX POG2 - 1 EHX Small Stone Nano - 2 EHX Small Stone (Black Russian) - 1 EHX Qtron - 1 EHX Qtron+ - 3 Ernie Ball VP-Jr - 1 Fishman Platinum Pro EQ -1 Guyatone MD-3 delay - 1 Guyatone PS-3 Phase Shifter - 1 HBE Psilocybe -1 Ibanez PD7 Phat-Hed Bass Overdrive - 1 Ibanez SB 7 - 1 Ibanez WD7 Weeping Demon - 1 Korg DT-10 - 1 [b]Korg Pitchblack - 3[/b] Line 6 M9 - 2 Line 6 Bass Pod XT Live - 1 Line 6 DL4 - 1 Maestro Brassmaster (clone) -1 MarkBass Super Synth - 1 Marshall Guv'nor (MK1) - 1 Marshall Jackhammer - 2 Maxon CP9+ - 1 Mojo Hand Cream Pie - 1 Moog MF-101 - 3 Moog MF-102 - 1 Moog MF-105b - 1 Moog MF-107 - 2 Moog MP-201 - 1 Mr Zinky Master Blaster - 1 MXR Blowtorch - 3 MXR M-80 DI+ - 5 ProCo Tubro Rat - 2 Radial Bassbone - 1 Rocktron Cyborg Reverb - 1 Sansamp Bddi - 5 SFX Micro Fuzz - 1 SFX S&M - 1 Subdecay Noise Box - 1 TC Electronics PolyTune - 2 TC Electronics Nova Modulator - 1 Tech 21 VT Bass - 2 Tech 21 VT Bass Deluxe - 3 Toadworks Mr Squishy - 1 Way huge swollen pickle - 1 Z.Vex Woolly Mammoth - 3 Z.Vex Mastotron - 1 Z.Vex Wah Probe - 1

[quote name='silddx' post='1012385' date='Nov 4 2010, 06:18 PM']Chris Squire, one of the most revered bassists in rock music history. He has very little knowledge of music theory and as far as I know doesn't read music notation. My question is, would his bass lines have been any more interesting, thrilling, suitable for the songs, or more accomplished, if he had been able to read music and had a good grasp of music theory?[/quote] Let's look at it another way: Ludwig van Beethoven, one of the most revered composers in music history. He had lost all his hearing ability by the time he wrote some of his greatest works (such as the late quartets). My question is, would these works have been any more interesting, thrilling, or more accomplished, if he had been able to hear a goddam thing? Well. we'll never know, but does that in any way throw doubt on the assumption that in general it's better for a musician to have good hearing than to be stone deaf? Does it mean that wearing ear-plugs to protect our hearing is a waste of time? If you can't be arsed to learn to read music, that's really up to you. But please spare us the b/s "reasons" as to why it doesn't matter. I doubt you're convincing anyone, even yourself

[quote name='Rich' post='1010339' date='Nov 3 2010, 08:14 AM']Bellowhead were on? *rushes to iPlayer*[/quote] +1 Edit: have now watched them on iPlayer - fab as ever. Didn't know they had a new album out. That's one [s]xmas[/s] yule prezzy for Mrs E sorted.

Yes, big +1 to Norwich as a shopping centre. Great music shops, great market, and good head-shops too, if that's your thing . [quote name='Count Bassy' post='1009210' date='Nov 2 2010, 01:10 AM']PS: My wife was also happy as one of the shops was a real piano shop.[/quote] I went in there a couple of years ago and they let me have a go on a Hohner Pokerwork melodeon. Lovely thing. I did eventually buy one a year or so later, though not from that shop as it happened. Lots of good stuff in the Cash Converters specialist music shop,too, as you say.

A technique that has worked for me is to impose a "cooling off" period. Say to yourself - "If this still seems like a good idea in a month's time, then I'll get it". Chances are you'll be looking at something else by then (if you're anything like me, which, now I come to think of it, very few people seem to be! ).

[quote name='Doctor J' post='1008192' date='Nov 1 2010, 09:27 AM']Never needed one, never bring one. Keep spare strings in the bag, spare lead, that's it.[/quote] +1

It's sold for £102 this time.... wonder what he'll do now

If I was spending that much on a 2nd hand bass, I'd want to feel totally confident that I could trust the person I was buying from. I think that would be difficult if they were behaving as you describe.

If you spend that much on a gig-bag, aren't you going to want some kind of gig-bag-bag to put it in to keep it nice when you take it out to gigs?

Sold Drew a microphone. He's a pleasure to deal with.

[quote name='Davo-London' post='992887' date='Oct 18 2010, 10:41 PM']Relayer was the last Yes album that counts in my opinion.[/quote] I've always felt the same. Not entirely sure why now . Similarly with Floyd, I still think that everything after Wish You Were Here is pretty rubbish. The Wall, in particular, is just embarrassing, in my humble opinion. I'm sure many will disagree.

[quote name='bassace' post='992261' date='Oct 18 2010, 02:45 PM']Well done Earbrass; that was exactly my reaction when I heard the prog. Johnny Parker he ain't. Keep those good ears tuned![/quote] He he. Too kind.

In my view Jools Holland is a serial offender in this department. He will often play boogie-woogie left hand parts even when playing with a band. It seems to me that the whole point of the boogie-woogie left hand is to simulate a "chugging" band rhythm section, and as such is essentially a solo piano style. If anyone listened to the recent memorial show/concert for Humphrey Lyttelton R4, they will have heard Jools ruin the classic "Bad Penny Blues" by doing just this, and muddying up the bass.

[quote name='markstuk' post='990985' date='Oct 17 2010, 11:35 AM']I prefer 88 note keyboards but be aware they don't fit across the back seat of most cars.... I move my Motif ES8 around in a road ready flightcase, the combination makes moving bass gear around seem easy :-)[/quote] I find a 76-note keyboard a good compromise - you very rarely miss the extra few notes, but the portability is considerably improved.

[quote name='Stingray5' post='982256' date='Oct 9 2010, 03:24 AM']Meanwhile, here's a touch of the remastered video of Yes at QPR football ground. Patrick Moraz on keys; Squire on that Jazz bass again (at least for this number). Spot the...er...deliberate mistake!?! A great gig, nonetheless - I have to say that 'cos I was there. Yes - Yours Is No Disgrace (QPR 1975) [/quote] I was there too! Great gig. That month (May 75) I saw Yes at QPR, Led Zep at Earls Court and Rick Wakeman somewhere or other (Wembly Empire Pool (now the Arena)?? Heady days for a music-obsessed 15 year-old.

On the whole I have no time for them, but I do like West Side Story, and the Brecht/Weill stuff, and Guys and Dolls. I also love the "Trouble in River City" number from "The Music Man" ( the inspiration for the "Monorail" number in the Simpsons episode). Actually, now I come to think about it, I part-wrote one once - a truly awful musical adaptation of Aristophanes' Lysistrata. Quite proud of the libretto, but the music was average to poor and the production as a whole was pretty dire. For those who don't know, it's all about the women of Athens going on a sex-strike to try to force their menfolk to end the Peloponnesian War with Sparta. The humour is extremely broad, and the production featured HUGE dildos in several scenes. One evening, a couple turned up with their young kids, and the director had to have a quiet word to warn them about the content. They stayed, though, and seemed to enjoy themselves.

[quote name='thisnameistaken' post='990267' date='Oct 16 2010, 02:52 PM']FTR I am a bloke and I am straight, I just got the hunky homos avatar recently to balance out all the airhead bimbo avatars.[/quote] Respect! I didn't know you had done this, as I have avatars switched off specifically to avoid the saddo girly pix, and was actually considering doing the same myself, but typically never got round to it.

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