#1937934 - 05/06/08 09:34 AM
Re: Bass Player Magazine Wants You!
[Re: Bottomgottem]
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Dima
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Play more classical music. You may hate it but classical music accumulated all the techniques you would ever need to be a high-class musician. If you will play classical music a lot you will be amazed how much easier for you will be playing other genres of music. And unlike jazz it is easier to apprehend :-)
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#1938290 - 05/06/08 08:17 PM
Re: Bass Player Magazine Wants You!
[Re: inate]
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dirtbox_heroes
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I don't know how many have experienced bridge saddle wear from a string to the point where the saddle causes string breakage, but I figured out a quick and cheap cure. I had two basses in the $700-$1400 range, one a 5 string, the other a 4 (both from the same company who i will leave nameless due to the fact that they make excellent instruments and figure I just had bad luck with my bridges) After a few years of play, the low B on the 5 and the E on the 4 started to have saw tooth like wear on the saddles, causing premature string breakage. I was short on cash at the time and could not have the bridge fixed or buy new saddles, so I took some sewing thread and wrapped the saddles with it just enough to cover the imperfections. I never noticed any difference in tone or sustain and to this day, over 5 years later those basses sit the same way and haven't had a string break yet. So if anyone out there has a problem with saddle wear and string breakage, go in your mom or grandmoms sewing kit and "borrow" some sewing thread to wrap the saddle. It will get you by until you can get a new saddle or you can be like me and just leave it that way, use it, and tell the wife you have to buy a new bass.
_________________________
myspace.com/dirtboxheros
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#1940044 - 05/10/08 01:38 AM
Re: Bass Player Magazine Wants You!
[Re: Jonathan Herrera]
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Boonok
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When you find that you're overplaying or not locked into the groove as much as you would like to be. In my opinion, the last thing you should do is think about what to play. The first thing I do is close my eyes, feel the pulse, and just let myself do what I know how to do.
Which is groove.
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#1940379 - 05/10/08 06:47 PM
Re: Bass Player Magazine Wants You!
[Re: Jonathan Herrera]
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audiophile101
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In my previous endeavors as a bassist and a musician in general, I have seen many great songs get ruined by over complicating the music. That's why I say the simplest rhythm should always be tried. Simple straight eighth note rhythms are often forgotten as a means of playing in the background, which is where bassists often end up playing. Simplicity also helps your lead parts by matter of comparison. Playing simple and then just letting loose will make you seem all the more impressive just because one part is so much more complicated then the other. So to some it all up, go simple when you can.
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#1940474 - 05/11/08 02:02 AM
Re: Bass Player Magazine Wants You!
[Re: Rocky-o]
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chip6
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Total agreement. This applies to nearly any instrument. Learn how it's built, learn how to adjust it yourself. Yes, you will need help to start off, you'l screw stuff up, but as you go along, you will find the best solutions to neck comfort and best sound come from how you feel about it yourself.
I am back here after getting away from BP for a couple years. Certain shop advice about getting micrometer accurate about setup started to bug me. Just remember, perfectly straight gives no room for strings to vibrate (buzz), there has to be a curve to the neck.
It may feel fast as hell, but fast is not what we do. Tone is what we do. Bass takes muscle, with great muscle can come speed, but it takes a lot of muscle to get tone, and that has to come first. With a good grip on tone, trying different attacks (how I hate the finger vs flatpick nonsense [do both!]), you will make your band a happier place. And that has to come first.
_________________________
"it's all in the fingers, man"
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#1940845 - 05/11/08 08:03 PM
Re: Bass Player Magazine Wants You!
[Re: Jonathan Herrera]
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Jeff Hill
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The Proper Sit In
If you've honed your skills there is no better way to further your development and networking abilites than to "sit in" with an established band in the local club scene. Having been on the receiving end of countless sit in requests I've developed a fool proof list of dos and don'ts
1)Listen to the band for awhile paying close attention to the bassist and his gear. Is he using gear you are famailiar with? Are you knowledgable about the bands style of music?
2)At break time politely introduce yourself with a compliment about the bassist, the band, or the gear he is using. Showing you have some knowledge of equipment goes a long way toward establishing confidence in you as a guest on stage.
3)Ask to be introduced to the rest of the band members. At this point most bands who are open to guests will invite you to play. If you are not invited but feel the door is open now is the time to POLITELY ask.
4)Provided you get the thumbs up, limit yourself to two songs. (one if you don't play well) It's important to remember to be humble and keep your ego tucked nicely away in your pocket. Simply groove.
5)Don't touch anything but strings while you are on stage. Messing with EQ settings or adjusting a strap is a quick way to not get invited back. You want the experience to be painless for everyone involved.
6)Thank everyone for allowing you to share music with them and let them know you are new on the scene and looking to meet similiar musicians. Above all be humble and courteous. If your abilities are not yet strong, good players will recognize you as a nice guy with mountains of potential.
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#1941564 - 05/13/08 09:01 AM
Re: Bass Player Magazine Wants You!
[Re: Jonathan Herrera]
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CFL_Wayne
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Hi Jonathan,
Here is a tip that I hope will help all players. You finally get the call to play outdoors at a festival and have been told there is a covered stage, and when you arrive it is just the opposite and the weather outlook calls for cloudy and a chance of rain. This can be a common occurance if you live in central Florida, so to keep from carrying a large tarp around to cover my rig in case it rains I went to my local home improvement center and bought a large waterproof grill cover. It's easily folded and can be carried all the time and depending on the size of your rig it can completely cover it, saving your investment.
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#1941986 - 05/14/08 06:01 AM
Re: Bass Player Magazine Wants You!
[Re: CFL_Wayne]
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rizzo9247
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Here is a tip that I hope will help all players. You finally get the call to play outdoors at a festival and have been told there is a covered stage, and when you arrive it is just the opposite and the weather outlook calls for cloudy and a chance of rain. This can be a common occurance if you live in central Florida, so to keep from carrying a large tarp around to cover my rig in case it rains I went to my local home improvement center and bought a large waterproof grill cover. It's easily folded and can be carried all the time and depending on the size of your rig it can completely cover it, saving your investment.
Well, it depends on what kind of rain you get. We been through every kind of rain there is. Little bitty stingin' rain... and big ol' fat rain. Rain that flew in sideways. And sometimes rain even seemed to come straight up from underneath.
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#1943034 - 05/16/08 10:58 AM
Re: Bass Player Magazine Wants You!
[Re: Jonathan Herrera]
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jlt5x
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Change your strings more often!
As a bass playing hobbyists, we don't have to change our strings very often. As long as they stay in tune, we are probably ok. And let's face it - bass strings are not cheap!
But, I am reminded of how great new strings are, every time I change them. The feel. The sound. It really makes me want to play more. Not only this, but the change in sound really sparks new ideas for songs and riffs.
So go head and splurge. Change your strings a little more often and remind yourself just why you love playing the bass!
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#1943555 - 05/17/08 07:03 PM
Re: Bass Player Magazine Wants You!
[Re: jlt5x]
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Chewbubba
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Here's about the only other tip I can offer. After going awhile without playing, I lost the callouses on my fingers (yeah, I looked everywhere and still couldn't find them).
So after playing again for a short while, the ends of my fingers were in agony with blisters. An important show was coming up and I needed fingers really bad, so I turned to... superglue. I put a layer of superglue on top of the blisters and let it dry, and I was good to go. It lasted nearly the whole show. The sound was a lot brighter than normal so I had to roll off some highs, and it took a minute to get used to, but the superglue definitely saved the day.
_________________________
And you thought Chewie was hairy...
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#1943974 - 05/18/08 03:47 PM
Re: Bass Player Magazine Wants You!
[Re: Jonathan Herrera]
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dirtybuck
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Get an acoustic bass guitar(the cheaper the better).Keep the action high.Use it for practice,or simply warming up before a gig.When it's showtime and you plug in the electric,you'll be flying up and down the neck with noticably greater ease.It's the same approach as a batter swinging multiple bats in the on deck circle.
A guaranteed home run !
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#1944566 - 05/19/08 04:11 PM
Re: Bass Player Magazine Wants You!
[Re: Bottomgottem]
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bassforjesus
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We as bass players seem to sometimes think that we need to show a huge or vast amount of knowledge pertaining to the bass and the music. And we do, for sure. But to me, that only comes in handy from a compositional standpoint. I've tried to cram all of the knowledge in my head, and quite frankly, when I grab my bass to perform, it goes out the window. The greatest tip that I can share is just sometimes to forget the rules. Forget the technicality of the chords. Find the bass root of the chord, look at the key signature, get it down, and just play. Stop worrying if you've played the minored seventh in a chord. Just play. We call it "playing" the bass for a reason. Enjoy it. We play bass because we love it and we love the music, right? So what if you didn't flat the sixth? Did it sound good? If it did, then who cares? Don't be a dictator to your bass, limiting what it can and can't do. You should be its liberator, unlocking the beautiful music inside of it and presenting it to the world. I'm not saying we don't need the rules. The rules allow us to explain our music in a formal fashion, and that's great that we have that level of communication. But sometimes, just let go. Have fun. PLAY the bass. Don't think it, feel it. Granted, this tip may not make you better technically, but it will musically. And that's what we as musicians are all about.
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#1945017 - 05/20/08 10:44 AM
Re: Bass Player Magazine Wants You!
[Re: Jonathan Herrera]
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Peter The Meter
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This is one that has really helped me on gigs. As bassists we all face the issue of not being loud enough. It seems like the first thing a person does is turn up. Not so fast! A great alternative to turning up the volume is boosting your mids a bit. Most guitarists scoop their mids so that should be our sweet spot. You'll cut through but you won't rattle walls.
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#1950201 - 05/29/08 09:17 PM
Re: Bass Player Magazine Wants You!
[Re: dirtybuck]
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dirtbox_heroes
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dirtybuck i couldn't agree more. great advice.
Edited by dirtbox_heroes (05/29/08 09:18 PM)
_________________________
myspace.com/dirtboxheros
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#1951167 - 05/31/08 10:22 PM
Re: Bass Player Magazine Wants You!
[Re: dirtbox_heroes]
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mrkristopher
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Registered: 05/22/08
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Only five minutes. It's what you say to yourself or your significant other when you sit down in front of the computer or the television. Meanwhile, five minutes turns into an hour and you later wonder where all the time went. But when it comes time to practice, you think about all the time it's going to take to learn that new song or that new setlist, and somehow you find yourself doing something else. My advice is to sit down with your bass and say "I'm going to practice this one thing and I'm only going to spend five minutes doing it". You may get up after five minutes, or you may end up spending an hour getting that riff down (heck, you may even enjoy yourself).
So the next time you groan to yourself about learning that pile of tunes you have to learn by next Thursday, just say: only five minutes.
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#1951218 - 06/01/08 05:04 AM
Re: Bass Player Magazine Wants You!
[Re: mrkristopher]
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Bottom End
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Registered: 05/27/08
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The five minute idea and the acoustic bass guitar idea are great ones I've used as well, but the point about enjoying yourself can't be stressed enough. Unless you are playing a solo bass piece for an audience of musos, no one will notice minor mistakes, nor will they notice how you tied the 7aug to a minor chord, etc. They will notice if you look like you are enjoying performing as much as a patient enjoys a root canal, they'll also notice, if only subconsciously, that you are not in the pocket and grooving.
_________________________
Guitar solos only last about 30 seconds, the bass line goes on for the whole song.
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#1953750 - 06/05/08 05:04 PM
Re: Bass Player Magazine Wants You!
[Re: Jonathan Herrera]
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Rick Lucherini
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A Cure for Pre-Gig Jitters or Butterflies
Very few of us can walk calmly on stage and begin performing in front of total strangers without experiencing some degree of anxiety or nervousness. Many seek help from Mr. Daniels or the Bud Man, only to wonder after the show if they would have performed better at full speed, rather than in slow motion.
I learned this technique many years ago from a seasoned police detective who often became anxious before testifying in court. I experimented with it myself for my pre-gig jitters and I was amazed at how effective it was for curing them.
You can do this while you’re setting up your gear, or while you’re waiting to go on stage; no one will know what you’re doing. Here’s how it works:
Take a deep breath through your nose and hold it for at least 5 seconds. As you’re doing it, picture in your mind your lungs expanding as much as they can.
Now exhale, very slowly through your mouth. Picture in your mind your beating heart. As you exhale, imagine your heart is slowing down.
Repeat this as many times as you need to. Each time you do it, you’ll feel yourself becoming more and more relaxed and calm.
Give it a try. This really does work.
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#1953977 - 06/06/08 07:33 AM
Re: Bass Player Magazine Wants You!
[Re: Rick Lucherini]
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rizzo9247
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I always forget an extension cord when playing live shows...the one attached to you head/combo does not go that far, so keep a 10 footer in your gig bag so your not hamstrung on where you can plug into the holes.
That is all.
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#1955681 - 06/10/08 06:05 AM
Re: Bass Player Magazine Wants You!
[Re: Jonathan Herrera]
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LeeTron
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Registered: 06/10/08
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Sounds silly, but to get better, you should purchase and regularly use a guitar stand. Unless you are transporting your bass, have it out of it's case/gig bag and accessable to play at all times.
The ability to just pick up your instrument and pluck a few notes, even if you only have 60 seconds while you are waiting for your spouse to get out of the bathroom, will result in more overall "fretboard time" than if you pack it away in it's case every time you finish playing. I used to be a bear for packing my bass away to "protect" it, but the result was I played it less. I now have a stand with the bass next to my bed and I find it in my hands a lot more these days and I am becoming a better player for it.
Also, a big ol' bass sitting in a stand looks bitchin' as a room decoration. It tells everyone who comes in "a musician lives here."
Get a sturdy guitar stand, put it in an area that you frequent often, and park your bass in it. You will find yourself playing a lot more than you used to.
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#1956513 - 06/11/08 03:37 PM
Re: Bass Player Magazine Wants You!
[Re: LeeTron]
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Bottom End
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Great idea, I found myself playing more when I could just reach out and touch my bass as well.
_________________________
Guitar solos only last about 30 seconds, the bass line goes on for the whole song.
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#1956542 - 06/11/08 04:45 PM
Re: Bass Player Magazine Wants You!
[Re: Bottom End]
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Chewbubba
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That's just not feasible for me yet. My son is still just 2 years old. While I don't think he'd stick my SR1000 in the toilet like he does so many other things, I can imagine it on the floor with a broken neck.
_________________________
And you thought Chewie was hairy...
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#1958037 - 06/15/08 12:44 PM
Re: Bass Player Magazine Wants You!
[Re: Chewbubba]
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LeeTron
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I hear ya. My 2 and 3 year olds are generally into everything as a rule, but don't seem interested in my '78 P-Bass or my BTB unless I'm playing it. I keep them and my little practice amp in the master bedroom where they are not allowed unless I am in there amyway. Try distracting him with a toy guitar of his own. Tell him "that's yours and this is mine." Get him a strap and little stand of his own and put his guitar on it. Jam with him! It won't be too long before he gets it. And who knows, you may plant the seed for a love of music and wind raising the next Wooten, Zappa, or Mozart...
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#1958197 - 06/15/08 08:50 PM
Re: Bass Player Magazine Wants You!
[Re: Jonathan Herrera]
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sugg22
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Tip:
Know what you are doing. It can be real easy to get caught up in the music, and it can also be easy to run through the motions. The best thing to do is play the song. Know the people that you are playing with. Observe their skill level, their tendencies, their unique sounds. Play for the song. You have to hold them together. Its not about being real flashy, its about keeping it going. If you just keep slugging away, providing the rhythm, you'll notice that you will unintentionally be clicking with the drummer and the guitarist(s). You'll make the band sound better, and you yourself will sound better. Know your role, and run with it.
_________________________
"He asked, 'Be you angels?' And we said, 'Nay, we are but men!' Rock!" - Tenacious D, "Tribute"
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#1958681 - 06/16/08 09:30 PM
Re: Bass Player Magazine Wants You!
[Re: sugg22]
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jcdlc72
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Registered: 12/11/07
Posts: 292
Loc: Caracas, DF. Venezuela.
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Well, my first tip. 
Usually one is required to read lead-sheets on the fly. Most of the time are last-minute arrangements, or maybe something you haven't played before, and the gig is in a couple days and there is only one rehearsal... you're handed the charts, and then you find you're spending more time trying to know what's on them than usual. Specially if you're trying to hook-up the phrases with the drummer.
Then the advice follows: Develop a basic language, you might even make yourself a reference chart, for an instance: Find a three-syllabed word you can associate with a eight-note triplet. A four syllab word you can associate with four sixteen-notes, three sillabed words with different accents you can associate with the different usual syncopations you might find, and so on... Once you do your chart, have it handy. When reading the chart at the session or the stage, you will find it quicker to hook up on the proper rhythmic figure and easier to remember if you're required to play live without reading. It's a little mnemonic exercise, but I've found it really useful in a lot of situations!
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#1958688 - 06/16/08 09:47 PM
Re: Bass Player Magazine Wants You!
[Re: cassius]
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jcdlc72
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Registered: 12/11/07
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Tip #2,came quickly to my head.
Some players are led by the looks of their heroes, hence buying their instruments/straps/accessories according to the fashion ruling of their favourite bands/players. However, this don't always bring the best out of each player because of something we tend to forget about in order to keep the "look", and that is Ergonomics.
The advice, then, is to check yourself with the instrument first and foremost. Feel it, feel the balance and the weight, check carefully how the length of your arms fits within the instrument's scale, and once you have "weighed in" with it, find the right spot in where you can better reach the entire fretboard, or the area you'll be most likely to spend the most time playing. Same with your right arm/hand, feel the right place where you can find the better sounding plucking spots (according to your style and the sound you want to get), and where you have the most control of what sounds and what does not. THEN you'll have found YOUR proper position and strap placement for that particular instrument, and you' ll have assured a comfortable experience when playing a full length show. 
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#1958690 - 06/16/08 09:58 PM
Re: Bass Player Magazine Wants You!
[Re: Jonathan Herrera]
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pocketboy
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Jonathan,
Reader's Tip: Get to know the gain control
It has been my experience with a variety of amps (Galien-Krueger, SWR, Eden, Mesa) that a most critical adjustment to be made is the level of the input gain control. For years I struggled to get a big time sound from my amp, but I never realized how big a difference can be made by making sure the input gain is as high as possible without clipping. The difference in sound between, say, one o'clock and two o'clock is amazing. I use the clip warning light to make sure I am still in the safety zone, but edging the input gain up brings out a room-rattling sound, even at low master volume levels. I have found that whether my bass has an onboard preamp or not is not as important as whether I have found that sweet spot on the gain control. Explore the upper levels of gain and see for yourself.
David Anderson
Vancouver, BC
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#1958909 - 06/17/08 11:03 AM
Re: Bass Player Magazine Wants You!
[Re: Luke73]
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neworleansbass
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Registered: 06/17/08
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Speaking in terms of defining personal playing style, and standing out for have a recognizable , signature technique, Its not just about the notes being played (which are finite), but is more about the space between the notes. The dynamics of how you connect the notes creates the space which defines you as a player. Be it a straight 1/8th note pulse or a frenzy of arpeggios, it’s the duration of the space which creates the dynamic differences. Just like a drummer can pull back and play at the back of the beat to give a more laid-back feel, you to have the ability to shift dynamics with your own space. So pay attention and listen to your choices and notice how it defines your own personal style. –Robert Manganello, New Orleans, La. – 3rd Echo.
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#1959565 - 06/18/08 01:48 PM
Re: Bass Player Magazine Wants You!
[Re: neworleansbass]
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JESSEntheRIPPERS
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I would have to say one of the most important things I have done that has improved my playing was learning how to read music. Bass Method books are a dime a dozen and the ability to read music has several benefits: the ability to sight read (an invaluable skill), increased dexterity in both hands, a better feel for time, and possibly a small bit of theory knowledge (basic things such as scales and the circle of fifths).
To top it off you don’t really need an instructor to help teach you how to sight read, most books will start you off slow enough for you to be able to pick it up on your own. Also the CD that accompanies many books serves as your personal instructor and a vital source to play along to.
One last note, I would try to avoid any books that have a lot crutches such as tab. One of the books I used did have tab and i could feel my eyes wandering down. To solve this problem I just took a thin piece of paper and paper clipped it to the side of the page to cover up the tab portion.
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#1961980 - 06/23/08 06:04 PM
Re: Bass Player Magazine Wants You!
[Re: Jonathan Herrera]
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satyavati
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Registered: 06/23/08
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The anti-exercise
I tend to lose focus very quickly when I'm doing exercises. I get bored or frustrated because it's usually some kind of pattern that isn't even always musical. So what I do now is find a song that has in it what I need to work on. For example, when I started working on triplets I began learning Bach's Partita 2 in Dm. This way, I'm still working on triplets, but it's a lot more satisfying to me to be learning an actual piece that has musical appeal. I find that doing it this way I can concentrate better, I pay more attention, I get more done in less time. Plus, it's nicer for those who happen to be in earshot: if you've ever had to listen to someone run through endless triplets and sextuplets up and down the neck you know it gets like drilling a tooth after awhile. They're happy, I'm happy, it's all good.
_________________________
talent=desire+hard work
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Moderator: Bob Gollihur (bob@gollihur.com), Tom Capasso, _Sweet Willie_
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