OliverBlackman

guitar guitar is walking distance if you like walking a distance :-p. Not a fan of fair deal, they only really stock the cheaper bass gear and everyone in there has long hair. PMT is great though, i've had lots of great experiences in there even when i was in my teens.

when i was 15 i was being taught by a player called nathan rainer. One lesson he tried to teach me intervals. I had no interest and forgot it the second i was out the room. Fast Forward 3 years and first lesson in ACM, intervals........ sh*t. It took me 2 months just to get my head around the most basic of music theory and chord substitutions. If i had that together before i went in i have no doubt i would be much better now and probably doing bigger gigs instead of practising. Not so much a missed opportunity in terms of gigs but a good lesson for anyone thinking of studying music

im loving the flame maple fingerboard on the precision

just got back from london...... eurghhhhhhhhhhhhh

it needs to still have resemblance to the song! i would want to solo on the pre chorus horn section just by playing around the melody. However, for idea's on cool bass parts for superstition this take was pretty good from what i remember. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_ul7X5js1vE

clever use of articulation

should be similar to this then.... [attachment=95447:overwater 1.jpg]

[quote name='jakenewmanbass' timestamp='1323999812' post='1469749'] I don't make a fortune but then I couldn't give a sh*t what car I drive, I meet and have met some fantastically interesting people... It's there if you want it... EDIT.. seriously mods... s_wan_ky gets asterisked? [/quote] Dont think you cant get a nice car though. I met a session trumpet player who had his brand new 5 series BMW broken into at a gig in london. It's down to the priorities that you decide to spend money on, as with any other earner in any other industry. I think now the only reason this thread is carrying on is because people want it to for their own boredom and lack of things to complain about. write to the BBC complaining about the cold or whatever you boring bastards do but stop ruining basschat with your wrong opinions and negativity.

to the op. A good idea may be to PM Jakesbass. He's a fantastic guy and is a professional working musician. i'm sure he will offer you plenty of things to think about and it will be far more useful than reading through this any longer.

[quote name='Chris2112' timestamp='1323890139' post='1468433'] I could be snide and make a comment about how your illiterate posts give me some idea of why you're working as a string plucker [/quote] You're right. I'm studying music. I've chosen to not promote myself and audition for gigs as i really want to get my chops together before im (hopefully) out gigging most days of the week. Im only just 21 and my student loan keeps me alive while i practice. I thought after just completing my exams i would have a quick look on basschat and you've ruined my nights practice of transcribing and latin grooves

as an example of music courses working. Tom Kent, who is a basschat member, finished ACM 4 months ago and he seems very busy with all the work hes got as a musician

[quote name='Chris2112' timestamp='1323889798' post='1468419'] Bitter? No, A realist, surely. I studied at uni for a year and left when I got a job with a 35 year contract. I don't mean to rain on anyone's parade or make their dreams sound silly but the real world is a tough, unforgiving place and the competition is more numerous and better qualified than ever. You owe it to yourself to give yourself the best chance. [/quote] so your not a professional bass player then... think that pretty much sums up how relevant your posts are

chris 2112 i would love to know your background. You sound like a bitter old git in these posts

and in terms of the music industry. its all word of mouth!

Forgetting most of whats been posted already which is just bollocks, after you've decided you want to study music. You have to decide where and what skills you need to get a spot at that university/institute ect.

firstly as someone who's been studying music for 3 years i will say its a great thing to do and there is lots you can get out of it. For me there were two key areas. 1 Professional tuition i couldnt get in leicester. 2, The chance to join in with some really talented people the same age as me. I've not regretted it at all as becoming a professional performing musician is something im very passionate about. The only thing is is that its not like university that all my mates have gone to (ie getting pissed for 3 years). The work you have to put in and hours of practice is very very very tough. The music industry is full of some very talented people so competition is tough. You just have to smarter, and more determined than everyone else. As a piece of paper a degree is unlikely to get you many gigs. But the experience you have got from taking part in the degree. That will get you gigs. So if you really want it do it!

most guys that play jazz have really good levels of levels of improvisation. I think this could come from a lack of dots and the need to fully understand harmony. The best thing to do is to get Mark Levine Jazz Theory book and start transcribing. Then once you have a good idea of how guys and girls can do it, you can start improvising your own walking lines. A lesson from a decent teacher can also go along way If you want to learn melodies, get hold of the real book

[quote name='JakeBrownBass' timestamp='1323393717' post='1462985'] Also, as a working player I'd personally say image is about 50% the deciding factor of getting the gig or not. You can be the best player in the world but if you don't look right, you won't get the gig. [/quote] sorry to stir off conversation a little bit. But i think image if not already will definitely soon be almost 70%. Students are finding it easier to get a good education in music. There must be at least a dozen good contemporary schools and even more conservatoires that a producing amazing players ever year. Back on conversation. With a 5 string you have to accept that your probably going to want 35inch scale to get the best tone from the low B, also i like the neck to be wider nearer the pickups side for solo'ing. As a small being, 5ft 10, this completely takes away any "badboy" image that being in a band is supposed to create. 80% or so of my gigs that are on electric bass are done on the 4 string basses for that reason and also i dont need the low B without showing off

very lucky! if i didnt have one already i'd be on the phone to chris everyday begging for an endorsement!

dont see why people are having problems with these and jazz basses. Dont leave it at an angle because that just hightens the risk of it falling over. I have it so that the back part is off centre, about an inch and a half. It never falls over and even if you knock it, it would have to take a fair bit of force for it to move

im afraid the further you delve into music the more of a beginner you feel. There is so so so much to learn and its not often anybody truly "masters" their instrument. But i still remember when i was first handed a bass guitar in a music store by my dad, my response being.... "what the hell do you expect me to do with this" of course if you only want to cover tunes and songs you can pick it up to a good level in 2 or 3 years with the right teacher. If like me you want to know the in's and out's, well i'm at 10 years now and im definitely not there