At the risk of being self-indulgent...(merged threads)

Mike Flynn · #1 04-21-2004, 06:35 AM

I just added a little QuickTime movie to my site of a little double thumping groove and stuff - if you can be bothered to download it (it will open as a web page in QT) then I'd love to know what you think. Apologies in advance for the darkness of the clip - there'll be another one up soon - I am still getting to grips with iMovies - and the compression has mangled the sound a bit - but you get the idea,

Link
http://www.munkio.com/music/G%20Jam%20Bass%20Solo.mov

**Adam Barkley** · #2 04-21-2004, 06:59 AM

Well met Self Indulgent, Adam Barkley here.

That was about as wanktastic as a solo could be.

Not my style of playing but whatever blows your skirt up.

**john turner** · #3 04-21-2004, 07:08 AM

cool.

Mike Flynn · #4 04-21-2004, 07:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by abark000

Well met Self Indulgent, Adam Barkley here.

That was about as wanktastic as a solo could be.

Not my style of playing but whatever blows your skirt up.

Yeah I know - but I was just jamming by myself - and short of playing lots of long, quarter notes - I don't know how that can not sound 'wanktastic' - but I take your point, and thanks for the comments.

**Adam Barkley** · #5 04-21-2004, 07:28 AM

Take it with I grain of salt man, everybody goes crazy in the playing room sometimes. Myself included.

But maybe tone it down a little if you were playing that live, develop some of the melodies and could have a nice little piece of funk there. A sign of a truly great player is self control instead of just showoff playing.

Trevorus · #6 04-21-2004, 07:31 AM

Wow, I wish my hands could move like that! It's guys like you who humble me in the guitar store!

Anyways, nice stuff. Really cool wanking, most definitely. That's a Warwick thumb, isn't it.

Mike Flynn · #7 04-21-2004, 07:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by abark000

Take it with I grain of salt man, everybody goes crazy in the playing room sometimes. Myself included.

But maybe tone it down a little if you were playing that live, develop some of the melodies and could have a nice little piece of funk there. A sign of a truly great player is self control instead of just showoff playing.

Totally dude - I wasn't offended - live I am a model of restrained playing check some of the tracks here with my band:

http://www.munkio.com/music/music_bobby.html

When I practice improvising I am always striving for melody over flash these days - but the Wooten stuff ends up getting a little crazy if you know what I mean - we're all on a mission for the greater good at the end of the day.

Mike Flynn · #8 04-21-2004, 07:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tmo33

Wow, I wish my hands could move like that! It's guys like you who humble me in the guitar store!

Anyways, nice stuff. Really cool wanking, most definitely. That's a Warwick thumb, isn't it.

Yeah - that's my baby:

1991 original thru-neck
<img src=http://www.munkio.com/music/warwick%20pics/bass_portrait.jpg>

Trevorus · #9 04-21-2004, 08:04 AM

That is one beautiful Thumb! I LOVE the grain on that thing... Where do you live, and when are you not home.....

Mike Flynn · #10 04-21-2004, 08:11 AM

London dude - yeah Bubinga doesn't normally have such pronounced figuring - I just got lucky whenI bought it - Warwicks can suck really badly these days - some that is - vintage beauties like this rock - get one if you find a second hand one in good nick

B'Aces High · #11 04-21-2004, 08:29 AM

Not my style really...but your certainly not short on talent. Good clip!

Trevorus · #12 04-21-2004, 08:57 AM

I think I ought to drop by and get custody of that bass. You were beating it in that movie. Did you hear that noise it was making? That's not right...

Mike Flynn · #13 04-21-2004, 08:59 AM

so I don't think so - she knows how to take some punishment - few basses beat it for playability - though I have to admit I am after a Fodera or similar for sound - preferably a 5 string - i have a custom fretless on the way - I'll post some pics when I get it - gonna be as nice as this one!

Christopher · #14 04-21-2004, 02:59 PM

Most impressive.

Must woodshed now.

**Adam Barkley** · #15 04-21-2004, 05:06 PM

Get out of Jail is my fave, killer grooving. They all are good tracks though. Too bad you are in England, I would definitely check you all out if I could.

Mike Flynn · #16 04-22-2004, 02:23 AM

The band is cool - used to be more funky and we're actually thinking of getting a funk project together on the side just to earn some actual money from our gigis - if you'd like a CD I'll mail you one - my email address is on the site for you to send your details to.

Glad you like the stuff - maybe we'll get our butts Stateside at some point...I know you guys would love it, we're not so much a British sounding band - a lot of our influences are American - Black Crows, Living Colour, Jeff buckley, Audioslave - but then there are King Brits Led Zep at the top of our list - anyway thanks again.

Planet Boulder · #17 04-23-2004, 03:44 PM

Dude! If that's self-indulgent, I sincerely hope you'll be self-indulgent more often!

Enjoyed watching/hearing that, man! I wish like hell that I could double thumb like that. Any technique advice other than "practice" (which I already do)?

Great stuff, man - really dug it!!

Erlendur Már · #18 04-23-2004, 03:57 PM

That was excellent! Hot stuff!

squire_pwr · #19 04-24-2004, 02:18 AM

wow, that was crazy. If only there was more light... and we could see both hands better. and the bass too. =) Took me 1 1/2 times to watch it in order to figure out what this double thumb stuff is... but I'm guessing it happens in the beginning when suddenly, all these notes fly out and your thumb kinda does this big jumpy thing. i can't imagine just playing all that improv.... i suddenly feel incompetent.

Also, is your bass 4 string? What do kind of string do you have on it? It sounds reeeaaally low... or is that just my ears tricking me?

Mike Flynn · #20 04-24-2004, 05:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by squire_pwr

wow, that was crazy. If only there was more light... and we could see both hands better. and the bass too. =) Took me 1 1/2 times to watch it in order to figure out what this double thumb stuff is... but I'm guessing it happens in the beginning when suddenly, all these notes fly out and your thumb kinda does this big jumpy thing. i can't imagine just playing all that improv.... i suddenly feel incompetent.

Also, is your bass 4 string? What do kind of string do you have on it? It sounds reeeaaally low... or is that just my ears tricking me?

My bass is a 1991 Warwick thru-neck Thumb and I added a Hip-shot de-tuner last year as I do a lot of stuff with my band in open D - I like being able to just drop the tuning mid solo or song as well - it's a very cool device, here's a nother look at the bass:

<img src=http://www.munkio.com/music/warwick%20pics/bass_portrait.jpg>

With the thumping stuff - follow what Wooten does as he pretty much explains it on his videos - there are no short cuts - just run stuff with the thumb going up and down then add in one then two plucks. It takes a lot of practice and I've been getting it together for about 8 or 9 years now - Wooten's been doing it for about 30 so go figure! Try getting it into grooves first as this will build both accuracy and stamina - and try, once you have some of the open-hammer-pluck stuff down to play it with a metronome or drummer - this will help again.

<b>The other thing I must add is that the Warwick is a very slap-friendly bass - the little ramp that runs from the end of the finger board on to the body means there is lees space under the strings for your thumb to fall into - this helps the recovery time between strokes, some basses are very difficult to use with this technique.</b>

I will add another clip soon that is lighter - sorry about the darkness of this one - I didn't realise I could adjust the brightness in iMovies on the Mac - but I do now!

Thanks again people - I really appreciate your kind words.