The Mediocre Bassist Club, pt. 4 - We can count to four!

[Uncajohnny]

Surely I'm a Mediocre Bassist... Can I join! Can't slap; my solos are mostly backward scales or simple arpeggios, but can nail the root & sometimes gets some good slides in to get off the wrong fret. (Even my wife claps when i play with my buddies). Took up the bass guitar at retirement@62. Was a music major in college @100 years ago, but not many job prospects for tuba players & that instrument was mostly a chick repellant. Getting better, really do try, & hope to get some skill before arthritis get me. Best reason of all is that gotta live a LONG time to get my 10,000 hrs in!
All Hail the Geezers of Rock!
Thanks,
j

[Adam Bomb]

Originally Posted by BayStateBass

Bomb, you are the MAN!

Seriously, you'd be an awesome dude to hang out with. You're one of many TB'ers I'd love to meet one day.

Due to my current band situation, I also am of the "hat brigade". It wasn't what I envisioned myself wearing but I'm becoming fond of it, actually.

See if you can pick out which one is me.

Hint......I am the youngest in the group by about 10 years.

Thanks, man! Dude, that is a serious hat. And you are rocking it!

Originally Posted by rosanne

Bomb, the hat reveals a whole new you!

It really does. I totally get it about hats now.

Originally Posted by My name is Mudd

I want the other dude's sunglasses!

LOL errbody does

--Bomb

Numbers presently

[mystic38]

First post here..in the (certainly for me) most appropriate place..

By intro, I doodle with the piano & synth, less so now with guitar (though have played on/off for a looong time) and always wanted to get a bass .. and given its winter time what better time?.. So i picked up a used Ibanez SRA500 and used Ashdown Five-Fifteen, booked lessons and read the bassist jokes..

Remember the one about the guy who didnt come back after the third lesson because he got a gig after learning the notes on the E & A strings?.. Well, after having the bass 3 days and before my first lesson i got invited to a band practice... lol those jokes are clearly founded in reality.

So i went, used a pick (rather than attempting fingerstyle) plumped roots mostly in time for 3 hours...and had a blast.!.. It seems that everyone wants a bass player around and so i got complimented too..(i doubt it was the playing, more to get me to come back methinks)

[Lady Kayri]

Roots, fifths and octaves can get you a lot of milage, meat and potatoes of bass playing. Get those down first, and start adding the occasional fills, walking lines etc once you start to get your head wrapped around theory and technique. Far more bands seem to like a bass player who doesn't mind playing 'simpler' bass lines so long as you keep locked in with the drummer than those who prefer 'busy' bass players. Mediocre isn't necessarily bad! And most bands don't mind the occasional fancy fill, so long as you play what the song needs the rest of the time. Leave the wanking to the guitar players...

[M. Owen Santy]

I definitely belong here. Will say was pretty damn good at one time, now I'm just old & arthritic!

[caeman]

Roots, 5th and octaves got me to where I am today. And my hat.

[rust_preacher]

Our birthday bash gig is less than a month away now and the "Ängry Nerds" have added a second practice to the weekly routine. Too bad I was on a bit of a cross-country skiing holiday so I missed both this week's rehearsals. Next week, double the action! Need to start trying on hats.

[mystic38]

ah... so its all about the hat!

[Jay J]

This thread made me join the forum! Can I join the club?

I have been at it for just under a year now. My bass teacher said it was time to join a band, so I should be mediocre enough at this point, right? Regardless, a guitar player at work wants to jam so we will see where that goes.

My gear so far is an Ibanez gsr200 and an Acoustic bass amp,
B15. Looking to add a VM Jag to the family soon.

Well, at least I can impress my son, who I am currently introducing to a Squier Strat... Since my daughter plays a sax, and starting on piano, I just need to get the wife on drums...

[ShowLow]

Hi mediocre ones,

I started studying bass in May of this year. I've been working through the Hal Leonard Bass Method and taking not-quite-weekly lessons with an excellent instructor.

Today I took a bass to church at the invitation of our music director. Obviously, he had never heard me play. I chose my A series MIJ Fender Precision Lyte Deluxe bass. Got there early. The sound man plugged me in wirelessly to the house PA system. Kind of intimidating. Turns out the sheet music the MD had sent me (and that I worked through with my instructor yesterday) was for NEXT week. Even more intimidating.

The choir was rehearsing so I just joined in and played along. The MD must have thought that was OK, since he rehearsed two pieces with me for about 5 minutes each (him on piano, me on bass) and said we were good to go. (!!!!) Out of time at any rate. I was set up discreetly with a chair and music stand behind the stage piano and in front of the big stage monitor.

One piece was straight ahead Christian rock. New tune for me, had never heard it played. Driving rhythm! During the service I got it pretty much note for note, playing root notes only and holding down the groove, until we got to the complicated part where the chorus goes off, changes keys and repeats. I couldn't see the MD's left hand on the piano and couldn't tell where we were in the sheet music, so I was lost for a minute. Fortunately he covered for me on the keyboard and the choir was in full voice. I was able to come back in at the end, and later, people said they couldn't tell.

The second piece was a contemplative ballad with some very emotional chord changes. Also new to me. Wouldn't say I nailed it, but the bassline was smooth and blended well with the piano and choir.

Not ready to quit my day job, but hey, just over 6 months after starting to play bass, I now have exactly one little bitty gig under my belt! Do I qualify as mediocre yet? If so, number please!!

I will soon be looking at hats. I need all the help I can get...

SL

[ewe2]

Well done ShowLow That's pretty good! I still cringe about the outdoor gig at which important politicians attended and we were being driven through Stevie Wonder's Jammin' Man I did unusual things to that.

[Adam Bomb]

Got a gig tomorrow! I have the songs all pretty well memorized, thus creating the illusion that I know what I'm doing.

--Bomb

I dint forget about tha numbas!

[Downunderwonder]

Crapping myself here. Today I got asked to sub for a guy who doesn't qualify to join this club. It's New Years and I didn't have a gig lined up as my rock band is sans drummer.

It's a jam band, my jam chops are pretty solid, maybe even better in some ways than their regular guy. Unlike him I can't slap to save my life, as I told the drummer, them's some big boots to fill. He's an animal, gets all over the fretboard like Jaco's lost cousin. "No problem". So I said ok.

Then he tells me they are having a guest chick sing covers as well. This is disturbing as I have enough trouble learning covers quickly without having to learn them in a new key as well. It's 8pm now and no setlist has been emailed.

[darrellj]

So I attended my kids band concert (grades 6 and 8). My kids did fine and appeared to enjoy themselves. The 'Performance' band also played a couple of jazz and x-mas tunes. They were very tight and had some talented young musicians.
In particular the bass guitarist was unbelievable. By listening you wouldn't guess she is 13 or 14 years old. Unbelievable groove. If I could be as good......
Guess I better keep practicing, maybe one day I can be as good as that young lady. Something to aspire to.

[My name is Mudd]

Originally Posted by Downunderwonder

It's 8pm now and no setlist has been emailed.

When in danger
Or in doubt
Run in circles
Scream and shout

[Adam Bomb]

Originally Posted by jasongil1

1&2&3&...hold on, let me try that again. Can I join?

Do it twice and call it jazz. You’re in.

Originally Posted by BeJay

I'm a Mediocre Bassist... Can I join!
Keeping the roots and blues alive!

You are exactly who we’re looking for!

Originally Posted by Uncajohnny

Surely I'm a Mediocre Bassist... Can I join! Can't slap; my solos are mostly backward scales or simple arpeggios, but can nail the root & sometimes gets some good slides in to get off the wrong fret. (Even my wife claps when i play with my buddies). Took up the bass guitar at retirement@62. Was a music major in college @100 years ago, but not many job prospects for tuba players & that instrument was mostly a chick repellant. Getting better, really do try, & hope to get some skill before arthritis get me. Best reason of all is that gotta live a LONG time to get my 10,000 hrs in!
All Hail the Geezers of Rock!
Thanks,
j

Geezers!

Originally Posted by mystic38

First post here..in the (certainly for me) most appropriate place..

By intro, I doodle with the piano & synth, less so now with guitar (though have played on/off for a looong time) and always wanted to get a bass .. and given its winter time what better time?.. So i picked up a used Ibanez SRA500 and used Ashdown Five-Fifteen, booked lessons and read the bassist jokes..

Remember the one about the guy who didnt come back after the third lesson because he got a gig after learning the notes on the E & A strings?.. Well, after having the bass 3 days and before my first lesson i got invited to a band practice... lol those jokes are clearly founded in reality.

So i went, used a pick (rather than attempting fingerstyle) plumped roots mostly in time for 3 hours...and had a blast.!.. It seems that everyone wants a bass player around and so i got complimented too..(i doubt it was the playing, more to get me to come back methinks)

Yes! Don’t suck + be easy to work with = Teh Secret of Success.

Originally Posted by SpectorErector

I definitely belong here. Will say was pretty damn good at one time, now I'm just old & arthritic!

So’s Lemmy.

Originally Posted by Jay J

This thread made me join the forum! Can I join the club?

I have been at it for just under a year now. My bass teacher said it was time to join a band, so I should be mediocre enough at this point, right? Regardless, a guitar player at work wants to jam so we will see where that goes.

My gear so far is an Ibanez gsr200 and an Acoustic bass amp,
B15. Looking to add a VM Jag to the family soon.

Well, at least I can impress my son, who I am currently introducing to a Squier Strat... Since my daughter plays a sax, and starting on piano, I just need to get the wife on drums...

Dude ... you are about to have so much fun ...

Originally Posted by ShowLow

Hi mediocre ones,

I started studying bass in May of this year. I've been working through the Hal Leonard Bass Method and taking not-quite-weekly lessons with an excellent instructor.

Today I took a bass to church at the invitation of our music director. Obviously, he had never heard me play. I chose my A series MIJ Fender Precision Lyte Deluxe bass. Got there early. The sound man plugged me in wirelessly to the house PA system. Kind of intimidating. Turns out the sheet music the MD had sent me (and that I worked through with my instructor yesterday) was for NEXT week. Even more intimidating.

The choir was rehearsing so I just joined in and played along. The MD must have thought that was OK, since he rehearsed two pieces with me for about 5 minutes each (him on piano, me on bass) and said we were good to go. (!!!!) Out of time at any rate. I was set up discreetly with a chair and music stand behind the stage piano and in front of the big stage monitor.

One piece was straight ahead Christian rock. New tune for me, had never heard it played. Driving rhythm! During the service I got it pretty much note for note, playing root notes only and holding down the groove, until we got to the complicated part where the chorus goes off, changes keys and repeats. I couldn't see the MD's left hand on the piano and couldn't tell where we were in the sheet music, so I was lost for a minute. Fortunately he covered for me on the keyboard and the choir was in full voice. I was able to come back in at the end, and later, people said they couldn't tell.

The second piece was a contemplative ballad with some very emotional chord changes. Also new to me. Wouldn't say I nailed it, but the bassline was smooth and blended well with the piano and choir.

Not ready to quit my day job, but hey, just over 6 months after starting to play bass, I now have exactly one little bitty gig under my belt! Do I qualify as mediocre yet? If so, number please!!

I will soon be looking at hats. I need all the help I can get...

SL

Lessons? Sheet music?! You’re almost overqualified. But you get a pass.

jasongil1 - #880

BeJay - #881

Uncajohnny - #882

mystic38 - #883

SpectorErector - #884

Jay J - #885

ShowLow - #886

Welcome, all!!!

--Bomb

[michaelandrew]

After playing mediocre piano for...a long time, I "inherited" a Yamaha 765A from my son who switched to guitar (more chicks, I assume). I decided to learn bass and thought it would be easy. That was about 18 months ago and I hereby request a number.

[ShowLow]

Second church gig today, four pieces, including one rollicking Dixieland Gospel tune! Actually played root-fifth in time on that one and almost got the chromatic walkup. Luckily for me, you can't fire a volunteer.

Thanks for the number!!

[rust_preacher]

Quick update on "Ängry Nerds": Got in two rehearsals last week. In the first one, we played the prospective setlist from the beginning to more than halfway through. In the second, we started at the backside but left the 12-bar blues encores out. I think this is a mistake. We'll see today, and our singerbabe is supposed to join in with her transpositions to some of the songs.

My instruments for the upcoming gig will be my G & L ASAT Bass neck equipped Squier Jazz, I need that one to play Beatles' "Birthday" (Otherwise I will have tendonitis halfway through the set); my 1974 Telecaster Bass for most of the way through (and I can't play "Cinnamon Girl" with a Jazz sound); my 1980's G & L SB-2 tuned to DGCF - I need that one to plunk down the low D rumble on "Premonition" and "Easy Livin'"; and finally, my 1970's mandolin with a Shadow piezo pickup - for "Losing My Religion", "Copperhead Road" and "O Sole Mio" that one of the singers wants to serenade the birthday girl with.

30 songs, about half of which I know without tab/chord charts, and 5 of which we have never even rehearsed - guest guitards have been invited with these requests... less than 3 weeks to go!

[My name is Mudd]

Originally Posted by rust_preacher

..."Cinnamon Girl" with a Jazz sound...

...eeeww...