Page 1 of 2 12 LastLast
Results 1 to 15 of 19

Zen and the Bass Guitar

This is a discussion on Zen and the Bass Guitar within the Music Man Basses forums, part of the Gear Talk category; When I started playing Bass Guitar, with some practice it became easier to Slap and Tap during the execution of ...

  1. #1
    Meister P.'s Avatar
    Meister P. is offline Registered User Newbie
    Join Date
    Apr 2007
    Location
    MEXICALPAN
    Posts
    13

    Thumbs up Zen and the Bass Guitar

    When I started playing Bass Guitar, with some practice it became easier to Slap and Tap during the execution of any song. Then when I started playing with some teachers who I believe are masters, I was tought to slow down and execute a better aproach towards the interpretation during any song.
    So, I found out that simpler is better, because it let's the sound last longer giving the music a more profound atmosphere, giving more space to the main course, either "singer on solo".
    I really understood it when I got my Sting Ray 5 MUSIC MAN, that gave me the oportunity to hear it and feel it.
    So now I say that "WITH MUSIC MAN STING RAY 5 BASSES SERIES, I CAN REALLY GET DOWN WITH THE SOUND, GET BACK WITH THE TAP AND EVERY ONE CLAP FOR THE SLAP". They sound great in all forms and situations.:http://www.ernieball.com/forums/imag...es/biggrin.gif

  2. #2
    Ole Man Blues's Avatar
    Ole Man Blues is offline Registered User Senior Member
    Join Date
    Jan 2006
    Posts
    482
    Hear it and feel it...that's what it's all about........

    Ole Man (Bongo) Blues

  3. #3
    Kristopher's Avatar
    Kristopher is offline Registered User Senior Member
    Join Date
    Apr 2007
    Location
    Tempe, AZ
    Posts
    756
    I've been informally studying Zen a lot lately, I wonder if anyone has tried to combine any of the aspects of Zen with bass playing. I'd love to hear about it.
    Want to add a thumbrest without drilling holes in your bass? Read this post!

    Bass player for Adam's Evil and From Dogs to Wolves.

    As of now only playing Music Man basses!
    1998 Stingray Trans Red/Rosewood
    2007 Sterling HS Pacific Blue Burst/Maple
    GK 1001RB-II | GK 410RBX | GK 115RBX

  4. #4
    jongitarz's Avatar
    jongitarz is offline Banned
    Join Date
    Sep 2003
    Location
    Here
    Posts
    6,071
    I was going to, but zen I had another thought.















    I'm sorry.

  5. #5
    Meister P.'s Avatar
    Meister P. is offline Registered User Newbie
    Join Date
    Apr 2007
    Location
    MEXICALPAN
    Posts
    13
    Quote Originally Posted by Kristopher View Post
    I've been informally studying Zen a lot lately, I wonder if anyone has tried to combine any of the aspects of Zen with bass playing. I'd love to hear about it.
    Meister p. says - The practice of zen is just the practice of focusing the mind on breathing, that's all.
    When you do it for some time, the practice of zen, can be applied on any other activity you have.
    It's like qhen you know the song by heart, the you can actually, hear it and feel it.
    Practice makes better.

  6. #6
    joshbrake's Avatar
    joshbrake is offline Registered User Junior Member
    Join Date
    Jul 2006
    Location
    Nova Scotia, Canada
    Posts
    193
    pass the bong, hippie!
    6/2/06 SR5 Vintage Sunburst/Rosewood E53420

  7. #7
    Kristopher's Avatar
    Kristopher is offline Registered User Senior Member
    Join Date
    Apr 2007
    Location
    Tempe, AZ
    Posts
    756
    Quote Originally Posted by Meister P. View Post
    Meister p. says - The practice of zen is just the practice of focusing the mind on breathing, that's all.
    When you do it for some time, the practice of zen, can be applied on any other activity you have.
    It's like qhen you know the song by heart, the you can actually, hear it and feel it.
    Practice makes better.
    True that. I should have known! Sometimes obvious things aren't as obvious as they should be.
    Want to add a thumbrest without drilling holes in your bass? Read this post!

    Bass player for Adam's Evil and From Dogs to Wolves.

    As of now only playing Music Man basses!
    1998 Stingray Trans Red/Rosewood
    2007 Sterling HS Pacific Blue Burst/Maple
    GK 1001RB-II | GK 410RBX | GK 115RBX

  8. #8
    PocketGroove82's Avatar
    PocketGroove82 is offline Registered User Senior Member
    Join Date
    Oct 2006
    Location
    Denton, TX
    Posts
    827
    studying zen is like practicing breathing underwater.

    just forget everything else, and play.
    05/12/1997 Honeyburst SR4 Rosewood/Mirror
    11/21/2006 30th Anniversary Ray Unlined FL
    MySpace

  9. #9
    Meister P.'s Avatar
    Meister P. is offline Registered User Newbie
    Join Date
    Apr 2007
    Location
    MEXICALPAN
    Posts
    13

    Thumbs up Always tuned...

    Quote Originally Posted by Kristopher View Post
    True that. I should have known! Sometimes obvious things aren't as obvious as they should be.
    A real zen master, can never play the bass guitar as a monk, because monks do not play bass guitar.
    To create great bass guitar lines, all shall only understand where to place the taste of basse......., and there you have zen interpretation...

  10. #10
    CW Zing's Avatar
    CW Zing is offline Registered User Junior Member
    Join Date
    May 2004
    Location
    Lake Forest Park, WA
    Posts
    72
    Check out Zen Guitar by Philip Toshio Sudo. Great book about, well, zen, and you guessed it, guitar. But the concepts are easily applied to bass. After getting this book I was able to leave my ego in the van during the gig...

  11. #11
    Kristopher's Avatar
    Kristopher is offline Registered User Senior Member
    Join Date
    Apr 2007
    Location
    Tempe, AZ
    Posts
    756
    Quote Originally Posted by CW Zing View Post
    Check out Zen Guitar by Philip Toshio Sudo. Great book about, well, zen, and you guessed it, guitar. But the concepts are easily applied to bass. After getting this book I was able to leave my ego in the van during the gig...
    Awesome suggestion. I'm going on a road trip tomorrow (band driving from AZ to Texas for a gig, 18 hours each way in a van with guys I just met two months ago WOOOO) and I was thinking of picking up something to read to pass the time. Now I know what to get, thanks!
    Want to add a thumbrest without drilling holes in your bass? Read this post!

    Bass player for Adam's Evil and From Dogs to Wolves.

    As of now only playing Music Man basses!
    1998 Stingray Trans Red/Rosewood
    2007 Sterling HS Pacific Blue Burst/Maple
    GK 1001RB-II | GK 410RBX | GK 115RBX

  12. #12
    CW Zing's Avatar
    CW Zing is offline Registered User Junior Member
    Join Date
    May 2004
    Location
    Lake Forest Park, WA
    Posts
    72
    Quote Originally Posted by Kristopher View Post
    (band driving from AZ to Texas for a gig, 18 hours each way in a van with guys I just met two months ago WOOOO)
    Sounds like a lo-o-ong hot trip. Got air conditioning?

  13. #13
    Kristopher's Avatar
    Kristopher is offline Registered User Senior Member
    Join Date
    Apr 2007
    Location
    Tempe, AZ
    Posts
    756
    Quote Originally Posted by CW Zing View Post
    Sounds like a lo-o-ong hot trip. Got air conditioning?
    I believe so! Even when we load up all the equipment we'll have enough room to put a small loveseat in the back.

    Thanks again for the book recommendation, by the way - I picked up the book today and it's just the kind of thing I've been looking for. So much so that I may finish it before I actually leave for the gig!
    Want to add a thumbrest without drilling holes in your bass? Read this post!

    Bass player for Adam's Evil and From Dogs to Wolves.

    As of now only playing Music Man basses!
    1998 Stingray Trans Red/Rosewood
    2007 Sterling HS Pacific Blue Burst/Maple
    GK 1001RB-II | GK 410RBX | GK 115RBX

  14. #14
    Spectre's Avatar
    Spectre is offline Registered User Senior Member
    Join Date
    Apr 2007
    Location
    VA
    Posts
    419
    Quote Originally Posted by joshbrake View Post
    pass the bong, hippie!
    Should that not be " Pass the Bongo, hippie!"
    1979 SR4, Silver, Maple Neck
    2000 SR5 H, Pearl Purple, White Pearloid PG, Maple, Matching Head
    2007 SR4 HH, Dargie Delight, Rosewood, Matching Head
    2007 Bongo 5H, Dargie Delight (1 of 2)
    2006 30th Anniversary SR4
    SR5 HH, 20th Anniv., Rosewood, Matching Head

  15. #15
    CW Zing's Avatar
    CW Zing is offline Registered User Junior Member
    Join Date
    May 2004
    Location
    Lake Forest Park, WA
    Posts
    72
    Quote Originally Posted by Kristopher View Post
    Thanks again for the book recommendation, by the way - I picked up the book today and it's just the kind of thing I've been looking for. So much so that I may finish it before I actually leave for the gig!
    You bet! The line "You're welcome here if you're of the spirit to make a sound" knocked me for a loop. It's a book that needed to come my way after so many crappy 'method' books, ya know?

Page 1 of 2 12 LastLast

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •