$%#@@&&&$#@!!!

[roballanson]

Make that a "+2" for the "rarely venture beyond the 8th note" crowd!

When I was much younger, I played with a pick and worked so hard at trying to play fast...

When I came back to the bass 6 years ago, I decided it was the fingers that do the talking, and I decided it was more important to "speak" articulately than “speak” fast.

I permits people to better understand what I'm trying to say!

I know what you mean man. Sometimes a flurry or a flash bit of slap is needed but for me when I am playing sometimes just well placed and chosen notes leaving space can be better than a whole series of 16th.

Although if I am honest I do wonder up beyond the 8th fret...sometimes even the 12th!! But you know its horses for courses.

 

[Joe Nerve]

Damn, you have the best stage moves in the business, Joe!

Thanks. I just know how to pick the best pictures.

Glad yer all on my side with the blizzard thing. I thought I was going to hear it bigtime. Yeah - I wish I could do that stuff, but I think I would do it differently. Fer instance: At one of the stands where I first wanted to check out a bass. The well meaning guy there siad "Let me explain the electonics first." He did, and then said "then you can dial in the sweet spot here... and" blpitttyblipppitbrbrbrbrbrbrbrbblipty btbtbtbtbtbtbtbtbtb! "And if you EQ it for slapping...like this" qlkqlkqlkqlkqlkqlkqlkqlkqlkqlkqlkqlkqlkqlkqlq. "Here, YOU check it out," and hands it to me. Uhh... thanks. I WOULD NEVER DO THAT TO SOMEONE! I've had the opportunity passing a bass over to someone I play a million times better than, and I would never want to show them up before handing them a bass. I can hold my own slapping a bass, and whenever I do at a music store or public place where I'm just checking something out I always turn it down, and if I start catching people's attention I go back to simple wanking till they leave. I like to show off as much as the next guy, but I think there's an art involved to doing it tastefully, and doing it when the time is right. Wankers.

The back of BPs head was really nice. I was happy I got to see it.

 

[strummer]

What he said: "Let me explain the electonics first."
What he meant: "Let me blind you with my chops"

I really, really hate that kind of showing off.

 

[Randracula]

I not only saw a lot of clickity-clackity-clickity-doodily-doo on the bass at NAMM, there was also alot of Turkey Gobbling Malmsteen-esque geetar soloing going on throughout the show. Everytime I tried a piece of gear I just played the intro to "Running With The Devil"

 

[roballanson]

What he said: "Let me explain the electonics first."
What he meant: "Let me blind you with my chops"

I really, really hate that kind of showing off.

Are we talking about the "Stairway to Heaven" syndrome or the "look I learnt this Chilies riff - therefore I am cool ergo worship me" phenomenom in music shops?

I always feel really embarassed sometimes trying a bass out in a public place - as opposed to a small sound booth - and I have been playing for about 23 years now

Time and a place I say.

 

[Psycho Ward]

Thanks Joe, I enjoyed your notes from the NAMM show. I totally agree with you on the billion notes thing.

Maybe it’s from my country music background but I’ve always felt “less is more”, I’d rather play the right four notes than a thousand technically impressive notes. I’m classically trained as a woodwind guy and have studied and practiced many, many years and I can play very fast (on woodwinds), but in the real world I’m almost never called upon to do so.

Having taken up the bass guitar I look at music differently, well a little anyway, I’m much more impressed with the musician that can lay down the groove. The ultimate for me would to be able to play like Wooten, but don’t… unless the song called for it. You just don’t need monster lick for “Blues in E”

 

[BigBallz]

Thanks Joe, I enjoyed your notes from the NAMM show. I totally agree with you on the billion notes thing.

Maybe it’s from my country music background but I’ve always felt “less is more”, I’d rather play the right four notes than a thousand technically impressive notes. I’m classically trained as a woodwind guy and have studied and practiced many, many years and I can play very fast (on woodwinds), but in the real world I’m almost never called upon to do so.

Having taken up the bass guitar I look at music differently, well a little anyway, I’m much more impressed with the musician that can lay down the groove. The ultimate for me would to be able to play like Wooten, but don’t… unless the song called for it. You just don’t need monster lick for “Blues in E”

Less is more has been my style, after all, I was born that way.

 

[Dr. Nick]

Thanks Joe, I enjoyed your notes from the NAMM show. I totally agree with you on the billion notes thing.

Maybe it?s from my country music background but I?ve always felt ?less is more?, I?d rather play the right four notes than a thousand technically impressive notes. I?m classically trained as a woodwind guy and have studied and practiced many, many years and I can play very fast (on woodwinds), but in the real world I?m almost never called upon to do so.

Having taken up the bass guitar I look at music differently, well a little anyway, I?m much more impressed with the musician that can lay down the groove. The ultimate for me would to be able to play like Wooten, but don?t? unless the song called for it. You just don?t need monster lick for ?Blues in E?

+1

Less is more.

Jamerson, anyone?

 

[bassmonkeee]

+1

Less is more.

Jamerson, anyone?

Um...Jamerson had some pretty note-y basslines. The man knew how to keep it busy while staying out of the way, but "less is more" is NOT how I would describe Jamerson's style.

He played a lot of notes--he just always knew the right ones.

 

[tkarter]

Glad your experience was fun and educational too Joe. I myself will never get to the level of some players either. Specially since quarter notes are my gravy.


tk

 

[Big Poppa]

AHHHHHHHHHH! The age old arguement.....

Most guys who can't play fast dont like people that can.......


most guys that can only play fast dont appreciate someone who speaks loudly in the pocket with beautiful efficiency.....

My take is speed is like cayenne pepper, some bassists with chops are brilliant, some are like clawing the chalkboard. I hear guys that play sparingly that couldn't find the pocket with a guide dog. ALso has a lot to do with the genre....

The real beauty is that well played bass whether fast or slow it is a wonderful thing when played correctly

 

[strummer]

AHHHHHHHHHH! The age old arguement.....

Most guys who can't play fast dont like people that can.......


most guys that can only play fast dont appreciate someone who speaks loudly in the pocket with beautiful efficiency.....

My take is speed is like cayenne pepper, some bassists with chops are brilliant, some are like clawing the chalkboard. I hear guys that play sparingly that couldn't find the pocket with a guide dog. ALso has a lot to do with the genre....

The real beauty is that well played bass whether fast or slow it is a wonderful thing when played correctly

Well spoken!
Sometimes I forget that you are foremost a musician because you make those wonderful toys for us

 

[Golem]

I never slap. It's not a protest or musical politics or anything like that. I don't know how, because I never learned how, because I don't bother learning things that don't serve me or interest me. I've got friends that slap, wildly, well, and appropriately, and I dig their sh*t in some ways, but can't listen to more than a little at a spell.

OTOH, rube, noob, and hack that I am, when I check out a bass in a shop, I just play what I play when I play. Fairly "normal" playing [my words] must be quite a novelty because I'm no virtuoso at what I do, but it gathers an audience and sometimes, even on a shop visit where I don't see a bass I want to plug in, I'll be asked to "do one of those jams for us, we like it" or a similar request.

I'm not *bad* at what I do, but I'm not an outstanding player. It has to be that the old school approach is just a fascinating novelty to many people today.

Quite seperately: As a fan of the old school sound, huge heaps of thanks to BP and crew for inventing the Bongo Jeeeesssisiszzsz what an ax !!!!!

 

[BigBallz]

I never slap. It's not a protest or musical politics or anything like that. I don't know how, because I never learned how, because I don't bother learning things that don't serve me or interest me. I've got friends that slap, wildly, well, and appropriately, and I dig their sh*t in some ways, but can't listen to more than a little at a spell.

OTOH, rube, noob, and hack that I am, when I check out a bass in a shop, I just play what I play when I play. Fairly "normal" playing [my words] must be quite a novelty because I'm no virtuoso at what I do, but it gathers an audience and sometimes, even on a shop visit where I don't see a bass I want to plug in, I'll be asked to "do one of those jams for us, we like it" or a similar request.

I'm not *bad* at what I do, but I'm not an outstanding player. It has to be that the old school approach is just a fascinating novelty to many people today.

Quite seperately: As a fan of the old school sound, huge heaps of thanks to BP and crew for inventing the Bongo Jeeeesssisiszzsz what an ax !!!!!

You are SO right Golem!! Just set mine up completly, aligned neck, string height, new strings and neck warpage...(very little)....and it plays like olive oil.....

 

[Figjam]

Lately in my playing i have been trying to work with timings a bit more, really emphasize the kick drum too. I still play more than a 'less is more' person, but in a band setting i also dont bust out the bitatybipaitybip stuff, i dont find that adds anything to a band setting.

 

[BigBallz]

"bitatybipaitybip"


Excellent band name!!

 

[Psycho Ward]

Well here is an example of what I’m trying to say.

I go to a couple of blues jams every week and there a couple of really good bass players that often show up. One guy in particular is a chop monster and just burns all night, sure he’s over playing but it’s a jam, let your hair down.

But I also do gigs with him from time to time, (I’m still a keyboard guy), and on gigs he’s a totally different guy. He plays just what’s needed, very solid, strong groove and very reserved. Of course we’ll let him have a little show time, but even then it’s always something tasty, he’s not a show off.

I want to be like that.


He also was one of the guys that turned me on to EBMM basses; he plays a SR5 and has expressed an interest in a Bongo.

(Jack, I told him who to call. )

 

[Mobay45]

(Jack, I told him who to call. )

Bass Central?

 

[Psycho Ward]

LOL!

I'm having a little trouble with BC... in a way, not sure if it's their fault, but I've promised Jack my next EBMM purchase. I figure if I send Jack a bunch of business he'll keep Dude from licking my bass.

 

[bovinehost]

I can play a lot of notes; it just takes me about a week or so.