Tip of the Week??

[slucas]

Thinking about it I believe the main initial reason I signed on this forum was to gain more knowledge musically, sonically, and in the area of instrument care/performance. Although I have no doubt benefited in these areas I got to thinking about a possible enhancement of such things. If there were say, a "Tip of the Week" posted by EBMM staff, mods, or whomever (good tips for beginners, intemediates, and professionals as well). This may or may not be difficult to implement but I thought I would throw it out here for any commentary. I think it could be an exciting concept and something to look forward to from week to week in order to expand the Knowledge Of Observant Knuckleheads (KOOKs). Or maybe it is just a lame %*# idea .

Thoughts.............................................................................

 

[GassieBall]

I think it's a great idea. Just like the toothpick-with-Elmer's-in-the-hole-when-the-strap-screw-doesn't-fit-well trick that I learned here.

 

[Big Poppa]

Adouglas thanks for joining the staff.

My tip of the week



"take a lesson"

Thank is meant to be a little funny but is the best first one I can give you. Playing is an outlet for your inner self....It beats you down...it pats you on the back... and is a personal way for you to challenge yourself and break through new boundries. It can be a going through the motions deal but really should be another voice and creative outlet.

What happens is that people usually get to a place where they really stop progressing either because it is too hard or they dont think that they are any good or whatever.

Whether it is from a pal, formal educator, jamming with a CD, Tab I want you to learn something new and different. Then find a way to fit it into your sound or style..... Keep challenging your self and keep growing as a player....THere is no end to the guitar. NOBODY has perfected it. It is the perfect challenge. Kids go nuts for the next video game buteventually they beat the game. You cant beat the guitar.

 

[Kirby]

Adouglas thanks for joining the staff.

My tip of the week



"take a lesson"

Thank is meant to be a little funny but is the best first one I can give you. Playing is an outlet for your inner self....It beats you down...it pats you on the back... and is a personal way for you to challenge yourself and break through new boundries. It can be a going through the motions deal but really should be another voice and creative outlet.

What happens is that people usually get to a place where they really stop progressing either because it is too hard or they dont think that they are any good or whatever.

Whether it is from a pal, formal educator, jamming with a CD, Tab I want you to learn something new and different. Then find a way to fit it into your sound or style..... Keep challenging your self and keep growing as a player....THere is no end to the guitar. NOBODY has perfected it. It is the perfect challenge. Kids go nuts for the next video game buteventually they beat the game. You cant beat the guitar.

Well said BP. One of my current instructor's quotes is "People always gravitate towards what they know. You need to be pushed to try something new." I thought that phrase was awesome because it described my playing at times. It is always easier to go with what you know but challenging yourself rewards in the end much more.

 

[Tim O'Sullivan]

I bring a spare amp. For guitar, that is. It s an old Peavey Bandit, it lives in my trunk and its got me and band mates out of trouble on many an occasion. At least as a bass player you can plug in the PA if push comes to shove.

 

[Caca de Kick]

"take a lesson"

In my desire to expend my musicianship, I've recently been taking vocal lessons...something I prevoiusly thought I never needed nor wanted to do. It's great I love it.

 

[Frantic Slayer]

My Tip:

If your learning a new instrument (Bass, Guitar) practice standing up, instead of sitting down.

 

[phatduckk]

Kids go nuts for the next video game but eventually they beat the game. You cant beat the guitar.

one of the best quotes i've ever heard/read! its way too true.

 

[adouglas]

Sterling, you are a very wise man. (You're also a wise guy, but that's a different subject.)

I think you've touched on the reason why I'm so fascinated with music at such a late age (I'm 48). It's because there are no boundaries. I can only get better...I can't become perfect. And everything I experience along the way is pure joy.

I hate the idea of reaching some predefined ultimate limit. There should always be something more to strive for.

I played a gig last night and it was truly electric...the energy was fantastic, and the crowd loved us. Right now, my band and I are as good as we've ever been, and we're having a Ball (har har).

But we're not "there" and we never will be. After the gig? What we talked about was new material. We're all pushing to make it even better than it is. And we'll keep on doing that until old age catches up with us.

Music is a big part of what keeps me interested in life. Work is work...rewarding in its own way, but it's my vocation, not my avocation. I want to get better. I want to learn more. Today I was woodshedding on one of those odd skinny-string creations, trying to build some guitar muscle memory. I may never use it, but that doesn't matter. It's more knowledge.

It's ALL good!

 

[Alvabass]

My Tip:

If your learning a new instrument (Bass, Guitar) practice standing up, instead of sitting down.

A big +1, unless you play all of your gigs seated.

My offers:

- Work on your stamina. It is not enough (specially as a rhythm section player) to know how to play a cool and demanding riff just once or twice. Try to play it during five minutes non-stop.

- Don't depend 100% on looking at the fingerboard while playing. That's something I always wish someone told me when I was a beginner, specially after realizing that my sight-reading skills are much better** on double bass than on bass guitar.


**: But far from excellent, anyway.

 

[slucas]

Maybe by putting musically first on the list of 3 things I listed in no order of particular importance I gave the impression of wanting to learn to play bass based on the idea of a weekly tip. I was speaking about tips on tone and instrument care/maintenance and the like as much if not more than musically. An example: Once I believe BP said lemon oil could have a somewhat negative effect on frets and that was why the wonder wipe fretboard conditioner did not contain any. That is good information but how many gazillion players of fretted instruments have been putting the stuff on their axes like forever. Things like that would likely be seen by more people interested in learning new things on a tip thread or sticky or whatever that than it just slipping by on a regular thread as some do not read every thread all the time and that would be missed. It was just a thought, thanks for the input.

 

[adouglas]

I was speaking about tips on tone and instrument care/maintenance and the like as much if not more than musically.

Okay, how about this:

Bass tone that sounds good soloed does not necessarily sit well in a band mix. Mids are your friend. Too much bass just adds mud. Scooped EQ makes the bass magically disappear when the rest of the band kicks in.

A tone that punches through and sits well in the band mix sounds (to my ear) kind of honky and midrange-heavy when played solo.

The magic frequencies for punch are somewhere around 125-250 Hz.

 

[GassieBall]

A tone that punches through and sits well in the band mix sounds (to my ear) kind of honky and midrange-heavy when played solo.

It took me a long time to figure that out. It seems so counter intuitive. I wish you had told me that years ago!

 

[GassieBall]

It's so funny how the "scooped" setting is so irresistable when you're playing by yourself and how things change in the mix.

I really learned how to tweak the mids on my Sterling when I would just ask one of my guitarists to play my rig and walk far far away and "re"listen. And boy, how different does it sound. Then I ask him tweak the eq until I think it sounds good and then when I come back to the bass, I look at the knobs and say "I never ever would have set it like this playing solo."

I'm going to ask Santa for a wireless set up so I can do this on my own. Of course for you "professionals" with a sound dude, I guess it's moot, but I suppose it's always good to learn from what the sound person's doing.

 

[GassieBall]

Another unsolicited tip that I have yet to master. Not mine, but I forgot who said this:

"Do not lose the groove searching for a note."

 

[tommyindelaware]

never throw a 9 volt battery in yer pocket w/ yer loose change.....

 

[Big Poppa]

Slucas...if you dont think expanding your abilities does not exponentially expand you tone approach and understanding then we need to talk.....

OK here is my tips which is my pet peeve with active basses......Do not raise the pickup like you would a passive bass.....It just gets really bad especially with ou big ass magnets You interupt the strings vibration due to the magnetic pull and the preamp is designed best to be at the factory spec....Also dont ever dime all knobs at the same time...sound like poopoo

 

[PocketGroove82]

Here's a tip for all musicians, everywhere.

I was thinking about all the random gigs I've done this year and I've discovered one thing is for sure. If you are on stage, visibly having a great time playing (even if you're faking it) then the crowd is gonna enjoy it a whole lot more than if you just stand there looking bored.

So I guess the tip would be, the more bored you look on stage the more bored the audience will look to you.

Sometimes, it seems like I'm playing the same songs for the same people week after week, but when I'm up there having fun with it, then those people come along for the ride and actually get entertained....which makes it worth while.

 

[slucas]

Slucas...if you dont think expanding your abilities does not exponentially expand you tone approach and understanding then we need to talk.....

I totally agree with you there BP, I didn't mean to come off as discounting the value of a lesson. I never dime anything. Sometimes I get close on the mids if I am not coming through on stage but other than that I don't usually get carried away from center that much on the eq's. I never fiddle or stray from factory setups either. I keep my stuff out of extreme temperatures at all times and humidify in the winter. By doing that it has been exremely rare to even just tweak the wheel a little unless changing string types. I have since decided to stay with super slinky's on all my Balls so that really isn't even an issue anymore. I still would like to get a wireless so I can step out during rehearsal and hear myself from the other side. That is probably next on my wish list, other than my 4H LE Bongo getting shipped (any day now I hope).

 

[Rano Bass]

Back on topic!

Always unplug your active bass when you're not playing it, and change the batteries every 4-6 months.