Hi from Jeff Berlin

[JeffBerlin]

Originally Posted by Hamrhed

Thanks for the advice Jeff! Do you think that your instructional dvd Jeff Berlin - Bass Logic from The Players School of Music is a good follow up to that advice- or would it be too advanced for an intermediate?

This DVD was a philosphy-motivated project for me. I don't believe in DVD's that show licks with the expectations of musical improvement. Others disagree! My DVD is guided toward a pursuit of musical ideals, of improving one's playing, of knowing more tomorrow than one knows today about music on and off the bass. It may be a bit advanced for some guys. I never teach down, but prefer to invite players to come up higher than they are at the present moment.

[Rob Mac]

Jeff,

The link to the Dean website with the video of you talking about the bass - you mention it is passive, yet the spec says it is active. Which is it? Is your personal bass by Dean different from the stock version?

Rob (in Edinburgh, and a fan of you and Steve Swallow)

[JeffBerlin]

Originally Posted by Sub5ound

Hi Jeff, I often play along to older r&b, soul music at home for fun. I have noticed that on many older recordings, rock&roll to, the timing of the song fluctuates more than on contemporary recordings. Do you think that practising to these recordings is more beneficial than practicing to ones that are perfecly in sync?

I do! Music breathes and those old recordings have in them live music, real musicians, not keyboards playing like real musicians, playing in time and a groove that lives and moves and shifts and breathes and is human. Every great player in every musical style imaginable learned from these records so you continue to do the same.

[JeffBerlin]

Originally Posted by Rob Mac

Jeff,

The link to the Dean website with the video of you talking about the bass - you mention it is passive, yet the spec says it is active. Which is it? Is your personal bass by Dean different from the stock version?

Rob (in Edinburgh, and a fan of you and Steve Swallow)

Swallow is the BEST!

My bass is passive. Dean is re-releasing a new J B bass built exactly like the one I play but with an active switch on it because so many bassist seem to like active. I do not!

[topcat2069]

Originally Posted by JeffBerlin

Lessons are not for application. They are for regard. You learn to play better when you improve as a player which means that you need to have knowledge and experience to play. Theory lesson are really hard to apply because the music you are playing may not be lined up for the lessons you are practicing. The trick is the practicing itself. The love of holding a bass and working on new musical information makes us into better players,

That’s what happened when I took lessons because I became bored with playing Bass (I was playing in a country band at the time)
I took lesions from a classical guitarist so I could develop speed and endurance, after three years of practicing the exercises he taught me, I did become a better Bass player. I also got control of my little finger on my left hand and began using my third finger on my right hand. I fell in love with the instrument again! It completely changed the way I think and feel about playing vs. practicing.

[JeffBerlin]

Originally Posted by Muusers

so jeff, why did you chose TB as the forum you want to share your experiences on? there must be tens of other forums you could've signed up to?

I heard that some people on Talkbass have a problem with me. I came here today to find out how I caused them so much anger. But, so far all I find here are decent curious musicians.

[excane]

Subscribed. This thread will become epic due to an epic musician.

[JeffBerlin]

Originally Posted by topcat2069

That’s what happened when I took lessons because I became bored with playing Bass (I was playing in a country band at the time)
I took lesions from a classical guitarist so I could develop speed and endurance, after three years of practicing the exercises he taught me, I did become a better Bass player. I also got control of my little finger on my left hand and began using my third finger on my right hand. I fell in love with the instrument again! It completely changed the way I think and feel about playing vs. practicing.

Good to hear. Keep practicing reading music becasue reading requires every musical element either physical or mental to become an improving player.

[Darkstrike]

What are your thoughts on Distortion, for bass of course?

[Lonnybass]

Welcome back Jeff and it's good to know we'll have some new and thought-provoking ideas around here. Always appreciated what you have to say and have definitely gotten some necessary kick-in-the-pants insights from you to get my playing together.

I'm generally happy with my level of play but would really like to improve my sight-reading to the point where it is like reading a newspaper for me. What do you recommend in terms of an approach? Obviously the best way to do it just comes from constant practice at my own pace - are there specific books or methodologies you recommend in terms of putting together my own sort of sight-reading curriculum? Very much looking forward to your thoughts. Thanks my friend! Hope all is well since our last correspondence probably going on about seven or eight years now.

Lonnybass

[eatdrinkbass]

Jeff, a drummer and I once discussed/debated on which instrument created the platform(was the bottom) for the jazz/fusion we were playing. Any thoughts?

[Jazz Ad]

Originally Posted by Darkstrike

What are your thoughts on Distortion, for bass of course?

Or on effects at all, by the way. Do you sometimes use them, what's your opinion about them ? I can't think of a record of yours with effects in it.

[JeffBerlin]

Originally Posted by El-Bob

I'm a decent and curious musician

Do you have any experience playing death metal?

No, but you might not believe it if I told you that I can get a bass sound more hellacious than almost any rock bass player in the world. If any rock band ever hear what I can come up with, my jazz career would be over.

[Commreman]

Jeff, I just logged on, and I am delighted to see that you are back on board here. I love your playing, and I absolutely respect your opinions and insight. I hope and pray that we can all benefit from your presence here for a long time to come!

[El-Bob]

Originally Posted by Darkstrike

What are your thoughts on Distortion, for bass of course?

+1

[JeffBerlin]

Originally Posted by Darkstrike

What are your thoughts on Distortion, for bass of course?

I LOVE distortion. It has to be used wizely however. But I really love the sound.

[El-Bob]

Originally Posted by JeffBerlin

No, but you might not believe it if I told you that I can get a bass sound more hellacious than almost any rock bass player in the world. If any rock band ever hear what I can come up with, my jazz career would be over.

I can make my bass sound like a truck idling

[Muusers]

Originally Posted by El-Bob

I can make my bass sound like a truck idling

win

[JeffBerlin]

Originally Posted by Lonnybass

Welcome back Jeff and it's good to know we'll have some new and thought-provoking ideas around here. Always appreciated what you have to say and have definitely gotten some necessary kick-in-the-pants insights from you to get my playing together.

I'm generally happy with my level of play but would really like to improve my sight-reading to the point where it is like reading a newspaper for me. What do you recommend in terms of an approach? Obviously the best way to do it just comes from constant practice at my own pace - are there specific books or methodologies you recommend in terms of putting together my own sort of sight-reading curriculum? Very much looking forward to your thoughts. Thanks my friend! Hope all is well since our last correspondence probably going on about seven or eight years now.

Lonnybass

The best way to learn how to site read is to not do it in time, but play your music repeatedly until you learn it well and then go to the next page. Some people have the idea that you learn sight reading by, well, sight reading. You don't! You BECOME a good sight reader, you don't really practice it except to continue reading new music until you ghave learned it and then go to new stuff and learn THAT.

[excane]

Originally Posted by JeffBerlin

No, but you might not believe it if I told you that I can get a bass sound more hellacious than almost any rock bass player in the world. If any rock band ever hear what I can come up with, my jazz career would be over.

Please.....do share!