Thurbs

Thanks for all of the encouraging comments! I fully accept the videos are a bit of a car crash, however we do rehearse much better than that (even though it has been only 8 rehearsals). I though we would be better than we were and I was most surprised how getting in front of a live audiance changes things. I think the drummer got the biggest sence of stage fright than me, even though he has been playing for decades and gigging with other bands for 2 years. He had a problem with his electric kit so wasn't able to practice as much as he would have liked (or that is his excuse anyway!). As for my own focus, I find it helps not actually looking at anyone, but just looking at the middle distance not focused on any individual but a picture or something... works for me. When I make eye contact with someone it usually puts me off and I make a little mistake... As it happens I have my second gig tonight. This one is a 6 piece and we have been practicing for 9 months. The whole band seems to be gig shy and I am only got them to gig by throwing my toys out of the pram a few months ago. If it isn't perfect after 9 months of weekly practices, there is no hope for us!

A couple more vids: [url="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BNrCID6rdSk"]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BNrCID6rdSk[/url] [url="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NUpJ5g2bWvE"]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NUpJ5g2bWvE[/url]

Hi all. After first picking up a bass this time last year I played my first gig ever last Saturday! Here is my story... The band has only been together for 8 or so rehearsals. We dont have a massave list of songs we can do but attempted to get about 20 songs in all. The gig was at a small village pub which has regular bands on. It wasn't a payed as it was our first and we had no idea how good we would be. I get there about 6 (we are on at 9:30) to set up and get myself all sorted. After moving about with tables, lugging speakers in and faffing about with new lighting gear we were given we were not sound checked and ready until 9! Yes, 3 f***ing hours... how did that happen? We did have sh*t loads of stuff but I think next time we need to thin down as 3 hours is just a joke. One thing which did come out of the sound check is dynamics. Our drummer cant play anything but f***ing loud and it really pissed off the punters and the landlord. We managed to get him to play just really loud instead of f***ing loud and we just about got away with it but at one stage I thought we were about to get kicked out! I even suggested to the drummer if he cant turn it down he should bring his electric kit... I dont think he was too impressed! What does everyone else do? And dont get me started about addressing dynamics between a quiet verse and a loud chorus, he just plays f***ing loud all the time... Anyway eventually it went 1...2...3...4... and we are playing! The first song was a but iffey as everyone is pretty tentative. The second song our singer/guitarist's voice started to go but we pressed on.. and it was getting better. Still nothing like the rehearsals in terms of quality but it was in "get away with it" teratory. Then came My Hero and boy did we cock this up, or should I say our drummer cocked it up. It was so bad at one point that me and the guitarist looked at each other as if to say "should we stop?". We carried on anyway with the drums virtually playing a different song to us and completed the song, but it was pretty bad. Our next song, Maybe Tomorrow, I read wrong on the set list and started playing Morning Glory (yes I know) and I completely cocked up the first few bars. Realised early and was in sync by the 3rd or 4th bar. I did feel a bit stupid and was getting further cross with my self and the band at the poor show we were putting on. Anyway, we carry on with the odd verse missed out here, the odd chorus missed out there and some songs we ended half way through a chrous or a verse. Now, I am no expert by any stretch. I think I made a small mistake in just about every song. A bit too slow here, a bit too keen there, cocked up a note, that sort of thing but we were making pretty fundamental errors with the structure of songs. At one point I just gave up focusing on what came after a bridge or a verse and had to virtually guess based on the drummers fill. Is this normal? I am trying to take some posatives from it as I was able to cover up and recover from those mistakes quite well, but it was quite unnerving. The other thing I commented to the band on is the break inbetween songs. When I have seen bands before once one song is finished it is straight in to the next one. We usually had a few minutes of faffing about and I didnt think it was very good. Again is this normal? Am I too anal? We ended much better than we started. All in all it was a good night and I was pleased with myself. The drummer I am not sure about but will give it a couple more months before doing anything drastic. They gave us £50 each in the end which is preferable to a kick in the teeth... Here are some of our "better" songs: [url="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xOFChCZEUKI"]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xOFChCZEUKI[/url] [url="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yUGxpQNQfBo"]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yUGxpQNQfBo[/url] Set 1 Beautiful Day 20th Century Boy Heavyweight Champion of the World My Hero Maybe Tomorrow Sweet Home Alabama Have a Nice Day Run I Fought The Law Gimme Some Lovin’ Set 2 Morning Glory Bohemian Like You Monster Creep Use Somebody With or Without You Good Riddance (Time of Your Life) Wonderwall ‘59 Sound Sex on Fire Best of You

I find it quite usefull, especally as a beginner. Now I know more about music & compesition + I am developing my own style, I tend to listen to the base notes and then work out my own grove. So as a beginner, invaluable, now no.

I have the 5 string version and it is awsome. Great value, great sound and I often have people commenting how much the bass punches through the mix. The only slight downside is the neck is a tad wide. My tutor has a 6 string which is just as wide as my 5 string!

I like the sound of your project. Was big in to Oasis during their glory days and it would be great fun to be in a tribute band bringing in the money! 32 got all the gear and dont mind putting in the effort. Would prefer weekend rehearsals due to work commitments but can gig anytime. I will try and upload more tracks to the cloud, esp Oasis covers! [url="http://soundcloud.com/richard-thurbin"]http://soundcloud.com/richard-thurbin[/url] Give me a ring on 07917 704 145 or email richard -at- thurbin -dot- me. Cheers.

As per title really. 29th some music products go on sale. I am personally going for: Guitar stand: [url="http://www.lidl.co.uk/cps/rde/xchg/lidl_uk/hs.xsl/index_15760.htm"]http://www.lidl.co.uk/cps/rde/xchg/lidl_uk...index_15760.htm[/url] Tuner: [url="http://www.lidl.co.uk/cps/rde/xchg/lidl_uk/hs.xsl/index_15765.htm"]http://www.lidl.co.uk/cps/rde/xchg/lidl_uk...index_15765.htm[/url] For our drummer: [url="http://www.lidl.co.uk/cps/rde/xchg/lidl_uk/hs.xsl/index_15767.htm"]http://www.lidl.co.uk/cps/rde/xchg/lidl_uk...index_15767.htm[/url] They also have mics, bongos, music stands & more stuff.

We are a 6 piece rock covers band and I often miss the keys/lead/my own vocals in the wall of noise we produce. I am working on getting the drummer to understand "dynamics" (an alien concept to most I know) but in the mean time I have ordered myself one of these: [url="http://www.samsontech.com/products/productpage.cfm?prodID=1696"]http://www.samsontech.com/products/product...cfm?prodID=1696[/url] + [url="http://www.acscustom.com/uk/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=37&Itemid=47"]http://www.acscustom.com/uk/index.php?opti...7&Itemid=47[/url] I know the moulded ear plugs are a bit OTT but I fly a lot on business and I think I will enjoy the 26dB isolation they give you! Neither have arrived but I will update this thread when I have gigged with them next (11th Dec).

Hi guys. I am up for the 9th and happy to pay in advance. I can also bring my Ashdown rig + guitars if anyone wants to try them. ETA: If someone could bring along a Barefaced Midget T I would be very greatfull.

Hi guys. Been playing the bass since January and I am rehearsing at the moment for the build up to my first pub gig... very exciting! Anyway, 1/2 way through rehearsals the guitarist suggested we did "Gimme Some Lovin' in a more relaxed style than we usually play. Rather than play an 'E' endlessly but just in a different rhythm I decided to give a go at some live improvisation... this was my first attempt. [url="http://www.brookband.com/downloads/firstimprov.mp3"]What do you think?[/url] Comments welcome but please be gentle

[quote name='lojo' post='1002361' date='Oct 27 2010, 12:58 PM']If your in a band where you have 2 guitar players who are not competing too much and both are more interested in supporting the sound, then you are lucky and have something special[/quote]We are all pretty new to this game, hence haven't had too much time to build enormous egos! I completely understand where others are coming from. The other band I am in is just a trio and the space is definitely there to fill. I find myself naturally doing little runs or improvised sections, especially on those 4 cord root note songs like U2 seem so partial to. With the 5 piece, there is no need as the bass just gives it an extra feel or soul (if I could be so pompous). As it was my first time playing in a 5 piece, I thought I would share my revelation... If I really want space, Jazz is definitely my next musical progression from the modern rock stuff I am in to now. My teacher is a massive Jazz head and keeps dropping in Miles Davis references all the time...

After picking up a bass in January I have been in a few rock bands for the last 6 months, but only ever had one guitarist and myself (bassist) (plus the usual singer & drummer). We had a new guy join us last night playing rhythm and I was surprised by the difference! Before when playing my part in any song, my contribution was obvious to the sound. Adding a 3rd guitar really fills out the band well. I could hear the layers developing and building more and more as we got tight together. During one song I wondered away from the band to hear the sound as a whole, rather than just me and the drummer (which is what I usually hear). The bass blended in to the background much more than I was expecting. I really understand now what musicians mean when the bass is all about the feel and tone, rather than the sound its self. So in short, I now get my role in a 5 piece band much more than I did before last night. Does all that make sense?

[quote name='dougal' post='999749' date='Oct 25 2010, 10:10 AM']Ibanez (BTB676) Question is: has anyone tried / owned one or all of these who could give me insight? Is it worth saving an extra scoopful and spending 1k on a thumb?[/quote] I have a Ibanez BTB675. It has a great natural finish, weighty fell, great action. I often get comments about how the bass really punches through the sound of a rock band like none of my other passive basses can. This is even with the infamous 'Wolly' Ashdown Engineering Amps & Cabs! Being active you can also turn the knobs for just the sound you need without faffing with a effects pedal. For me it is perfect and I can see little which would make me buy another. The only slight downside is the rather wide neck. I have another 5 string and the Ibinez's neck is quite a bit wider, especially towards the body. Oh, and only fretted, no fret-less option. HTH. R.

Hi all, thanks for the interest. All pics: [url="http://www.brookband.com/band/private/gallery/unknown-guitar.aspx"]http://www.brookband.com/band/private/gall...own-guitar.aspx[/url] There are some scrapes and marks on the body and the neck isn't as straight as me (ooh err), but it plays ok.

Hi all, not a big poster, more of a lurker but thought I should break cover and ask if you could help. Bought this guitar on ebay for the princely sum of £80, the previous owner had no idea what make/model it is. It has no marks or features which could have given me a clue. Any ideas? Thanks, Richard.