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[quote name='peteb' timestamp='1321472401' post='1439677'] I do not think that it is necessarily correct, especially in rock songs that are written around a guitar part that is dependant on open strings For example, try playing Whole Lotta Rosie in 'C' [/quote] Not being from the guitar relm don't they have things called Kapos or Capos? Couldn't they stick one on the 5th fret and pretend the rest of the guitar don't exist?

OMG that is bizzare. No rules though i guess. It looks a bit limiting. (sneaks off to try playing bass balanced on head using elbows and eyelashes)

[quote name='EssentialTension' timestamp='1321398096' post='1438797'] That may well be the case and it's also the case that the massive majority of those songs were recorded with a 4-string bass tuned EADG. [/quote] I said the same thing earlier in the thread. Most of the memorable bass lines were written on 4 string basses. Key is determined by vocalists and rightly so but some songs sound wrong if not played in the right key (Good Times in Eb, for example) - my suggestion would be to choose a song that does sound ok in a transposed key or choose songs in a key that suits your singer. A 5 string bass is not going to make Good Times sound ok in Eb no matter what you do. Key change in itself is not a bad thing and keeps you on your toes. I do find that lots of vocalists don't know which key they like. We did a gig with a "celebrity" recently who wanted to sing a classic jazz standard. I asked her which key she'd like to do the song in and she said she didn't know. It's not the first time its happened.

i love how the strings have been lovingly threaded into the tuners

Sat in on a Jazz jam last night. Was doing really well playing a song called "The Jody Grind" a Horace Silver tune. We were grooving and then the bast**ds turned, looked at me and shouted "bass solo"! I nearly poo'd myself. It was terrible.

[quote name='urb' timestamp='1321352953' post='1438043'] Thanks man - it really is just the start of a new tune - got a lot more to do on this yet... just need to get round to working on it soon! [/quote] i get that. Its what i like about this thread. You can see how people approach stuff and hear it evolve. As i do a lot of recording it gives me some good ideas too ;-0

I kinda built a Precision from different bits accumulated over time. I had this uneven sound problem to a smaller degree until i set it up. I lowered the E A pickup until i got an even sound across the strings. Sounds simple but it worked for me. Took 5 minutes

Band Social Worker Musical ability is only a small part of the band experience. Finding 4/5/6 people (specially "artists") that get along in sometimes trying circumstances is pretty difficult. You people!

[quote name='algmusic' timestamp='1321285317' post='1437319'] There is another thing about 5's. is that they don't sound like 4's... and I mean even when you play the same notes.. I did a gig when I switched to my 5 and it didn't sound as good as my 4 even on the octave higher. The relationship with notes on the 4 for me is king over the 5'... I sometime us my bass synth for some stuff where I need a sythy- low sound.. but have seen less and less use for it.. 5's are flexible, but for me 4's sound better [/quote] It's true which is i think subconciously (one of the reasons) why i ditched my 5 string basses. An open E on a 4 string sounds way better than a fretted E on the the B string of a 5. I know someones gonna say "Yes but what about Eb?" Well what about it. There are a shed load of tunes in Eb that sound absolutely great played on a 4 string. Whats the problem? Really its not an issue transposing songs on a bass. I think its easier to do on bass than a lot of other instruments.

Yes good one. There are quite a few interactive web based training tools that concentrate on listening skills. Some you can tweak so that it gives options outside the octave range - 9ths 13ths etc - some have chords - some just intervals. Its a fun way to kill 20 minutes.

Heres a really soppy ballad . The bass comes in on the second verse. Using the Bitsa P Bass. http://soundcloud.com/bottome/the-proposal-song-thirteenth

[quote name='urb' timestamp='1321213165' post='1436608'] I just added a new demo tune to my page - something I wrote today [url="http://soundcloud.com/munkio/something-i-said"]http://soundcloud.co...omething-i-said[/url] Hope you like it - very much raw and a work in progress - sounds promising I think... (hope so) [/quote] enjoyed the chordage movement. nice.

[quote name='discreet' timestamp='1321193925' post='1436258'] I [i]won't [/i]play a 5-stringer! If you can't do it on a 4 then it's not worth doing, IMHO! (Hides in cupboard under the stairs) [/quote] I think you'll need to find a better hiding place before the 5 string brigade get their hands on ya. Choice of key IME are usually decided by band members in a hierarchical structure normally like this.... Vocalist Guitarist Keys Horns Drummer Members of the Audience Passers-by Bassist There are loads of times we have changed key for the vocalist which i can understand. Guitarists and keys seem to have favourite chord voicings. Brass usually like Bb etc etc. Its pretty rare that the bassist is asked for an opinion and its true that a lot of songs sound very different if you have to play them on a different part of the fretboard. That said, nearly all the great disco lines were originally played on 4 string basses. I don't agree that you need to have a 5 string to play great disco bass. And to prove it heres an absolutely monster bass line from an old fashioned 4 string http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SEtS2cRWjOk

Legend. Plays a mean Latin style too.

Just a bass player and a fraud

[quote name='Mykesbass' timestamp='1321018111' post='1434406'] You play "Young Hearts" at weddings? As in "What's the use of sharing this one and only life, ending up as someone's lost and lonely wife" Tell me you don't do "Band of Gold" as well? [/quote] The Ballad of Tom Jones too? This could be a thread - "The most innapropriate wedding songs"

[quote name='charic' timestamp='1321021728' post='1434470'] I don't even have to open the link huge spinaltap fan [/quote] me too

Small spaces i use 3 metres - larger spaces 6 metres

See if you can spot Frankie

I like using the thumb and fingers. Damned sexy and very funky.

My setup is audio soundcard into dodgy old laptop running Cubase. I always do one track at a time. Unfortunately (or fortunately) the drums are all samples or programmed. My main use of this setup is for practising new songs. If i am learning a Cover song then i will either use a midi file and re-assign the midi tracks to decent synths. More often these days i'll rip something off of YouTube and EQ the bass out and use that. Something that i have noticed is that i often achieve a better bass sound at home direct into my £140 soundcard than i will in a studio with thousands of pounds worth of gear Whats that all about.

Nice question. I think the answer is yes. Don't tell anyone though. Its a song called "The Rent" by a lady called Gwen Guthrie. The bass part was originally done on a synth but sounds great on a "proper" bass in a live band situation played dirty. The band give it a lot of dynamics. Its one of those great tunes to play that gelled almost straight away at rehearsal. It goes down pretty well most of the time but its not always appropriate which doesnt stop us playing it.

nice one. Its a bit daunting the world of soloing - more so for us rhythm section guys. You'll be thrusting with the guitarists before you know it.

[quote name='Blademan_98' timestamp='1320864489' post='1432541'] I don't normally like slap but thought it was good Each to their own and I would be worried if everyone liked it I just hadn't seen a fretless slapped before (but I have led a sheltered life!) [/quote] Yes each to their own I do like slap when done tastefully. Taste is also subjective. Ask that Clutterbuck geezer

Good on ya mate. Bring it down to the FNUK jam at Champions on a Monday night and put it through its paces!