Hello from the Green Mountain State

[Phil Zone]

Hi ... I am a 40 year old librarian from the capital of Vermont.

I have two kids, David, 6 and Maria, 4.

I began playing bass in November as part of my ongoing midlife crisis. Made some progress but still have along way to go.

I like books, reading most kinds of music and the Boston Red Sox

[Stumbo]

Here are a few links that I've collected along the way that I've found enlightening and hope you will as well.

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1. MUST READS
If I only knew then...
Best musical advice
Every bassist should know
Save your hearing

2. NEWBIES
~Basics
Intro/History of Bass guitar
First bass advice
First amp advice
Metronome info

Where to start
Beginners mistakes

Online bass tuning
2 starter books

Find a teacher
How "good" do you have to be to be in a band?
Guitarist switch to bass
The musician's life

~Learning
Bass trainers/practice w/o amps
Pick/not to Pick?
Developing musically
"Go slow" practice method

What are charts?
Tips for writing sheet music

Tab website
Tab/not to tab?
Getting off tabs
Sight read standard notation(SN)?
Nashville Number System (NNS) Book
NNS chart example
NNS online tutorial

~Theory
Easy understanding of chords
Music Theory for Practical People book
Online Visual Beginning Theory, ear trainer

Beginner's Bass Clef tips
"Name that note" online SN game
Downloadable read "bass clef" software
Online bass clef audio/visual trainer
print bass clef flashcards/staff paper

~Rhythm
1 Learn rhythm
2

~On-line
Dmanlamius' beginner's site
1st bass lesson (click on Beginners)
Intro bass-learn songs,videos
Tab based (w/audio) lessons

3. LEARNING
~Practicing
Technique forum
1 How to practice
2

Singing and Playing bass
Protecting your voice
Bassist's guide to singing

Odd time sigs

Headphone amps/mixers/trainers
"Band-in-a Box" software for practicing

1 Good headphones
2

Help! My wrist/fingers are sore/tingling
Carpal Tunnel
Repairing cuts on your fingers

~Backing Tracks & Drum Machines
1 Drum Machines
2
3
Free, full-use,downloadable drumtrack software
Drum Tracks
Free backing tracks
Different methods to play drum tracks
Build your own backing tracks

~Instructional materials
Over 100 DVDs/books
Books, DVDs, all styles/ methods
Looking for the Bass "Bible"
MarlowDK's recommended books
"Best" theory/harmony book
TB Book Links
TB member Jon Liebman's books and more
Books, DVD's, equipment, accessories, etc. (by style)

~Online lessons
Who's the best Youtube teacher?

MarlowDK- videos & more
Read music,lessons, online metronome,bass clef tutor & more
Victor's metronome lesson
Sound files/tab/standard notation based lessons..more
Tech advice,drills, bass sound files & more
Videos & more
Lessons, backing tracks, articles and more. Xlnt site

~Software: Transcribe, Slow Down, Loop, Record, Metronome,Utilities
1 Slow down
2
3
BestPractice-free, easy to use, slow downer/pitch shifter/looper/vocal remover/bass backing track maker

Transcribing
Transcribe/read transcriptions free online
Chord charts w/lyrics
Metronome-odd time sigs.
Let the computer transcribe your played notes

Free music software
Cheap/good recording software
Computer utilities/software

~Ear training
Goodear.com
Test your ear
Free downloadable ear trainer (basic/advanced) Solfege. Great program
Free downloadable sing/learn treble/bass clef program
Trainers/tutorials. Music theory, ear training, read music, chords, intervals, etc.
Discussion of Solfege
Taking transcribing to the next level

~Sight Reading
1 Learning
2
Improving
Practicing
Transcriptions to practice;many with .mp3 files

~Theory
Learning basic theory
Intro scale & chord theory
3rds & 7ths?
Theory links list
Theory (from the DB side of TB)

Learning "modes"
Reason for modes
Using modes
Key signatures/Circle of 5ths/Cycle of 4ths
Circle/Cycle of 5ths/4ths (spreadsheet format)

~Getting creative
Where does creativity come from?

Creating bass lines
Target Approach
Walking bass line examples
Ed Friedland on walking bass lines

For a jam
Jammin'

Playing scales

Playing behind/ahead of the beat
"Feel"
Playing "in the pocket"

~Going "pro"
Becoming a session player
Going pro
Expectations

~Teaching Bass
1 Teaching ideas
2

4.COLLEGE MUSIC
So you want to be a music major?
Virginia Tech Music Theory Dictionary
Auditioning for jazz band
Audition dilemma
Classical sheet music (free)

5. STYLES
~Blues
Blues progressions explained w/ audio samples
Basic lessons/free backing tracks
Slow blues
blues jam terms/progressions

Getting into the blues
ii-V-I
more blues
Abersole's 35 blues variations
Improving the blues

1 First jam
2
3
Gig coming up

Blues bass player's club\

Influential musicians (mostly) pre-1959
History and styles
20 important blues recordings & more

"Blues Bass" by TB member Jon Liebman
Ed Friedland's Essential Styles and Techniques
Blues books
"Complete Rhythm Guitar Guide for Blues Bands" by Larry McCabe
"101 Blues Bass Patterns by Larry McCabe
Turn arounds book for blues/jazz

~Funk, Slap, Groove, R&B
Links to over 20 funk,groove and R&B bassists

TB's Funk 101 list of funk tunes
Funk 102
TB's Old School Funk tunes suggestions

Muted Grooves by Joaquin des Pres
Classic Funk and R&B by Joaquin des Pres
Bass Grooves by TB member Jon Liebman
Funk Bass "
Funk/Fusion Bass "

R&B/Funk book
"Standing in the Shadows of Motown" James Jamerson book/CD
Funk Bass Bible
New funk groups
Modern Funk bassists

The late, great, James Jamerson
1 Get that dead flatwound string sound
2

TB slap bass references/links
Over 60 slap/funk lessons by MarlowDK
Video lessons w/Dmanlamius

Books/Videos from
F. R. Prestia/Tower of Power
Anthony Vitti
Alex Sklarevski
Bill Dickens
Tony Oppenheim
Larry Graham

~Latin
Learning Latin music
"The Latin Bass Book" by Oscar Stagnaro/Chuck Sher

~Jazz
1 Learning
2
Improvization Primer (Book/Online)
Theory, soloing, videos by Ethans1980 website
Walking bass lines examples
Walking bass lines books
Jazz Scales
History of Jazz website

~Metal
Play Metal bass
Demystifying metal styles
Tuning your bass for metal discussion
How to scream/growl

~Hip-Hop
1 Hip-Hop bass
2
Hip-hop bands with instruments

~Reggae
Reggae bass
Aston Barrett

~Urban Gospel
Examples of songs
Gospel/PW basses/rigs/strings

~[i]Sixties/[i]
Essential 60's songs

[Phil Zone]

wow!!

Thank you Stumbo, quite a welcome

Looks as if I've got some reading to do ...

[Stumbo]

BEING IN A BAND
~Band management
Intro
Books

First band
How to handle a big band
Playing in a band w/o rehearsing
If your significant other is a non-musician
Democracy/dictatorship?
Band "funds"?
Why many bands don't last

Originals Band "paying dues"
Is playing for "free" really "free"?

Getting gigs
The "art" of closing the deal
Gig pay
Advertising yourself
Business cards

~Band names
Real band names
Infamous band names
Changing band name
Bandnamemaker.com
1728.com

~Starting
Playing in a 3 piece band
New band
Cover band
Cover band setlists
Covers vs. Originals
Tribute band
Advertising for new member(s)

~Joining a new band
Finding a new band
Questions to ask before joining a band

~Auditioning
1 For new band
2
Getting back in the game

1 A new member
2

1 Red flag stories
Hilarious/Scary/Bizarre Audition Stories
"Never got to audition" story

~Replacing a band member
Firing a band member

~Leaving the band
Quitting
Giving notice
Getting fired

~Reheasals
Protect your hearing! Wear ear plugs!
Band rehearsal/headphones

Learning a band set list
1 Rehearsal tips
2 -efficiency
3 -how often?

1 Sound proofing/reduction
2-w/ room pics
3-w/ room pics Drummerworld.com
Building a Recording Studio by Jeff Cooper - great for pros or DIY'rs

Gigs
1 Moving equipment
2
3
Coiling cables

What's in your gig bag?
In-ear monitors
Going wireless

Music stands on stage?
Designing/Managing your sets
Managing sound on stage
Directing the band on stage-hand signals
1 On-stage Banter
2
Being asked to turn down the VOLUME
To noodle/not to noodle?

Overcoming gig anxiety
1 First gig
2
3
What to do when you don't know a song or forget your part

~PA/Lighting
First
1 What size?
2
Configuring
DIY monitors
1 Upgrading
2

Low cost lighting

~Mixing/Recording rehearsals/gigs
Recording rehearsals/practice/gigs
Recording/Mixing
Recording software recommendations

Cheap but good studio mics

Learn live sound mixing
Frequency ranges of band instruments
EQ primer (all instruments)
FOH vs. on-stage sound

COOL RIGS, EQUIPMENT, INFO
Upgrade bass/amp first?

Polishing/cleaning bass
Setup a bass
Strings: Flatwound vs. Roundwound
Bass stands

1 Buying cables
2
3
4
High end vs. low end

1 Comfortable strap
2
3

Amp FAQs
How many watts do you gig with?(poll)
Amp "watts" vs. cab "watts"
Benefits of vertical speaker cabs

>30 light-weight cabs,amps, combos

1 Buying a combo
2
Opinions/experiences-great small combo amps
The ultimate custom built combo?

Combos vs Head/Cab
Pre-amp/Power Amp vs Head/Cab or Combo
"I want a monster amp!"
Powerful,reliable rack amps

1 10s v. 12s v. 15s v. 18s
2
4x10 vs. 2x10/1x15
Using a full range cab (Carvin LS1503)
1x15/6.5 custom cab
Big cabs

1 Happy with my rig
2

Micro-rigs of doom
Mini-rigs of doom
Rigs of doom
Cheap rigs of doom
Ulitmate fantasy rig

Benefits of compression
Compressor FAQ's and reviews
1 Benefits of a rumble filter
2

Gear insurance thread
Isolating Head/Cabs from stage/each other

BUILDING/FIXIN' STUFF
1 Upgrading/changing speakers
2
3
4
Cabs
fEarful 15/6(plans included) + discussion
fEarful pre-cut kit assembly discussion
Bill Fitzmaurice cabs
Cab coatings explained
Fiberglass cab

Building a tube amp
Learning to fix tube amps
Sunn 2000s amp
How to turn on/off a tube amp
Tube amp techs- recommendations
Speaker reconer recommendations

TB's Luthier's Corner
Custom bass pickups/pots
Bass Setup and Repair
Fix stripped neck/strap lock holes
Getting your bass refinished

Digital music "stand"

OTHER INSTRUMENTS
Buying/learning harmonica
Best guitar forums
Visual guitar automatic chord finder website

OTHER
~Tips 'n Tricks
Packing a bass
Shipping a bass
Shipping/packing bass/amps

Gadgets/Gizmos
Instructions on how to do a whole bunch of stuff
Tips for living
How to save $
Improving your sleep
Lose weight the TB way
Flashlights discussion
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