Intro: About Ray Riendeau

[paul]

Ray Riendeau is a highly sought after bassist whose versatile style and dedication to the instrument has earned him world tours and many major CD recording projects. His musical expertise and knowledge of the instrument keeps him busy as a composer, teacher, clinician and a touring / recording artist.

Ray is endorsed by ZON Basses , Aguilar Amplification and Lightwave Systems. He has been featured in many publications such as Bass Player, Bass Frontiers & Bassics to name a few.

As a clinician, Riendeau has demonstrated his concepts to students throughout the United States & Europe at events such as Bass Day - L.A., the National Guitar Summer Workshop, The School of Bass - AZ and Bass Day - New York 2001 which also featured Victor Wooten, Steve Bailey, Matt Garrison, Mike Pope and Christian McBride. Riendeau is also acknowledged for his contributions alongside highly-revered guitarists such as Gary Hoey, Greg Koch, John 5, Jeff Kollman, Scott Mishoe, Ron Jarzombek and Neil Zaza.

Ray is a bassist most known for his work with singer Rob Halford (Judas Priest). As a member of the band Halford, Ray recorded two studio cds, one double live CD, and toured around the world, most notably playing to a sold out crowd at Madison Square Garden - NYC and Co-headlining Brazil's Rock in Rio festival with Iron Maiden playing to a crowd of over 250,000.

Ray was also a recording / touring artist for Machines of Loving Grace, a band who was featured on the movie soundtrack "The Crow" which sold over 1,000,000 copies. His credits with the band include "Gilt" and the soundtrack for the movie "Hackers."

Riendeau assisted in the research and development of Sunn bass amps and the Fender Bassman series combo amps for Fender Musical Instruments. Ray has also been a Fender clinician and authored an instructional video for Fender as well.

Visit Ray Riendeau on the web at http://www.rayriendeau.net/

RAY RIENDEAU SELECTED DISCOGRAPHY

Ray Riendeau - Arrhythmia - Groove/Theory
Ray Riendeau - All Funked Up - Groove/Theory
Ray Riendeau - Enlightenment - Groove/Theory
Ray Riendeau - Groove Therapy - Groove/Theory
Ray Riendeau - Fender Bass Clinician - Promo CD
Bass-Talk 7 - Lords Of The Bass - Hotwire Music
Greg Koch - Radio Free Gristle - Favored Nations
Halford - Forging the Furnace - Sanctuary
Halford - Crucible - Sanctuary
Halford - Live/Insurrection - Sanctuary
Halford - Resurrection - Sanctuary
Halford - Aggro Active #16 - The Album Network
Halford - Dynamite - Rock Hard
Halford - BW&BK - HMV Knuckle Tracks
Halford - Metalized - EMI Music Canada
Halford - Metal-is.com - Metal-is
Stara Zagora - Self titled - Independent
Joe Morris - Self titled - OCI Records
Joe Morris - One Beat Off - Independent
Machines of Loving Grace - Gilt - Mammoth/Atlantic
Machines of Loving Grace - Suicide King - Mammoth/Atlantic
Machines of Loving Grace - Richest Junkie EP - Mammoth/Atlantic
Machines of Loving Grace - Hackers - United Artists
Machines of Loving Grace - Mega Man TV Soundtrack- Atlantic
Machines of Loving Grace - Spew 4th - Atlantic
Machines of Loving Grace - Mammoth Anatomy - Mammoth
Machines of Loving Grace - Awesome Song Record - Mammoth
Machines of Loving Grace - Wake 'n Bake - Mammoth
Gary Hoey - Money - Surfdog Records
Gary Hoey - Live Hocus Pocus - Surfdog Records
Gary Hoey - Meet the Deedles - Disney/ Mercury
Gary Hoey - Mother Ocean Music - Surfdog Records
Scott Mishoe - Omnidirectional - Legato
Scott Mishoe - Guitar on the Edge - Legato
Oil - Self Titled EP - Independent
NBA Allstars - Jam in the Paint - Turnip the Music
Jeff Kollman - Shedding Skin - Marmaduke Records
Celebrity - Soundtrack and Jingles - Aztec Group
Donna Roth - Donna Roth - Buzzworm Music
Donna Roth - Like I Do - Buzzworm Music
Emilio Castillo- Merry Arizona Two _ United CP
Rudy Morales - Standing on the Line - RCM
King David - Against All Odds - RCM
Robert Jones - Love & War - Merit Records
Dirty Blonde - Passion - Outpost Entertainment
NBK & Ce Ce Peniston- I Know You Want Me - Nasty Boy Records
M.C. Majic - Desert Funk Soundtrack - Nasty Boy Records
Ione Angeles - Hear This Kiss - Independent
Vance Haines - Self-Titled - Independent
Jessi Colter - Pilgrim/ Kris Kristofferson tribute - Emergent / 92e

[Freddels]

Ray is one heck of a player and a real nice guy. Fastest thumb in the west!!

[WillPlay4Food]

Ray's instructional video came with my first bass ever, a Squier Affinity P-Bass. Ray got me started playin' the blues. Thanks Ray!

[Lazaro]

Hi, I'm just curious as to how you name is pronounced so I wont be telling everyone about you incorrectly.

[rayriendeau]

LOL...thanks for caring..LOL

anyways it's pronounced REE-AND-O

Ray

[plopswagon]

Hey Ray, Paul from Course of Empire here, I just wanted to say hello.

[fenderfunker]

Much respect Ray..I give your Groove Therapy a hammering on the radio, in Australia, thought you'd like to know.
If your right thumb is doing up and down strokes, consequently not 'anchored', is that difficult for your plucking fingers to keep going? Practise, I suppose?

[rayriendeau]

Awesome, thank you!

When using your thumb with up and down strokes - I find that keeping your arm stable with no movement will help keep things stabilized. The movement should only come from your wrist. No finger movement as well.

Hope this helps....

[A440Hz]

Originally Posted by rayriendeau

Awesome, thank you!

When using your thumb with up and down strokes - I find that keeping your arm stable with no movement will help keep things stabilized. The movement should only come from your wrist. No finger movement as well.

Hope this helps....

Ray--Joe here. I was actually working for Fender R&D when you were working with us on the Sunn 1200 and 300T amps. Fun times. It was a blast when you came by.

Anyway, I was wondering about thumb technique since I have a dead straight thumb. Any advice for those of us who don't have a hitchhiker's thumb like you and Victor and others? Where should my thumb & hand be positioned, and how do I transition from slaps to pops with economy (which you do incredibly well)? If the tip of my thumb should be perpendicular to the string, then my hand is farther down towards the treble part of the instrument, meaning, I have to move my hand back upwards for my fingers to be able to pop. Help?

[AcidFripp]

Ray, I don't know what I would've done with my bass if your video hadn't come with it. I'm serious, it gave me the push to start learning. Thanks, man!