Goodbye, Good Playing and Fairwell...

TomGale · #1 07-05-2008, 01:02 PM

Every time I try to post something to try to help bass players consider various techniques or approaches, I get flamed by people I've never heard of. I hope the present posts on neck fingerings, 1/2 - 1st pos fingering alternatives, thumb position comparisons, open hand (4 finger) tech. etc. help some players somewhere but it is no longer worth the effort it takes. See Ya!
Tom Gale

Muusers · #2 07-05-2008, 01:28 PM

sorry you feel that way
hope you visit us once in a while!

damonsmith · #3 07-06-2008, 08:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TomGale

Every time I try to post something to try to help bass players consider various techniques or approaches, I get flamed by people I've never heard of. I hope the present posts on neck fingerings, 1/2 - 1st pos fingering alternatives, thumb position comparisons, open hand (4 finger) tech. etc. help some players somewhere but it is no longer worth the effort it takes. See Ya!
Tom Gale

Tom, I have never seen you get flamed for trying to help. All I have seen is you getting called on pushing the method/music you wrote.
It just isn't objective for you to assert the superiority of your method over the existing methods on a daily basis.
Clearly, you are an experienced player with some great information to offer - it would really be nice if you could find an ethical and objective way to impart some of it here.

David Potts · #4 07-07-2008, 03:46 AM

The saying is that "the older you get the more you know but the less you are asked." I too am an old bastard (in the Australian sense!!), 67 and semi-retired after playing for 45 years and teaching for 38 of them.

There 'is' a use for our comments here, Tom. We can pass on our experience and help shorten and clarify the process of learning. No-one claims to be the holder of all knowledge. Once past learning the basic building blocks of core technique the process becomes lots of "Tips and Tricks", to quote the title of Duncan Mactier's book. This is where I think oldies like us have something to offer.

Keep offering please, Tom!

DP

Felessan · #5 07-08-2008, 05:37 PM

If I may....

Let us not forget that it is wonderful to have different opinions, but it is not so wonderful to assert that methods you may use are absolutely correct and universally applicable. Hell, someone with three fingers on their fingering hand may assert a particular method and forget to mention that they gained this technique because of their condition.....

I, personally, appreciate your ideas, Tom, but I feel it is good for all of us to not spend too much time wading through the murk of the digital world. I hope to see more posts from you in the future.

-Trevor

anonymous12251111 · #6 07-08-2008, 07:46 PM

Tom, I completely respect your decision, and I just wanted to personally thank you for your wonderful advice, and also for your great method book. Best of luck.

mxr255 · #7 07-09-2008, 10:07 AM

Tom,

I am not a big poster here, but I read a lot and I am very thankful for your contribution.

Matt

CT DB · #8 07-09-2008, 10:43 AM

Tom,
I would venture to say that more people read and benefited from your remarks than wrote derogatory responses. I love to hear new ideas, I try them and if they work for me, I learned a new skill, if not I don't use it. I couldn't care less if you agree with or disparage other methods. The talk bass community is better off with the advice given by someone who has obviously spent a lot of time thinking about how to play the bass efficiently, and is willing to impart that advice to everyone.

In short, please come back.

bassbuddie · #9 07-09-2008, 12:52 PM

Tom, I read your post and find them very useful, I am sure I am not the only one. There will always be some guys who think they are smarter, but the fact is, for one negative reply, there is maybe 50 -100 people who read and improved there playing with your advice.

Jason Sypher · #10 07-09-2008, 01:48 PM

It's the nature of the beast. If it's really getting you down why not take a break for awhile and come back when you feel like contributing again.
There are some strong personalities in any room full of bassists. I have enjoyed your contributions. Thanks.

damonsmith · #11 07-09-2008, 02:27 PM

I for one respect Tom's advice and experience. What several others and I have an issue with is him using every question as a opportunity to push his books and music and in fact starting threads to do so. This has nothing to with how much or how little money is involved wiht publishing, it has to do with how objective the advice can be.
If every time a question came up about improvised music I said "Don't bother with Listening to Mark Dresser, Barry Guy or Peter Kowald" and then a few lines above or below I said "buy this cd of mine" it would be just as inappropriate (another crucial difference is that I actually respect the past and present masters in my field).

I have never once seen anyone, myself included take a big issue with his actual advice.
Tom is clearly a serious thinker about the instrument and has a lot of experience to offer, as I said before it would be great if he can find an appropriate way to impart it.

anonymous12251111 · #12 07-09-2008, 05:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by damonsmith

What several others and I have an issue with is him using every question as a opportunity to push his books and music and in fact starting threads to do so. This has nothing to with how much or how little money is involved wiht publishing, it has to do with how objective the advice can be.
If every time a question came up about improvised music I said "Don't bother with Listening to Mark Dresser, Barry Guy or Peter Kowald" and then a few lines above or below I said "buy this cd of mine" it would be just as inappropriate (another crucial difference is that I actually respect the past and present masters in my field).

dude..so what? the guy wants to pass on his ideas to help others...from what he's been typing so far, they all seem extremely valid and helpful towards bettering the bass methodology.

Jake deVilliers · #13 07-09-2008, 06:51 PM

What, he's taking his ball and going home? (Imagine sound of Bronx cheer here.)

Maybe he'll come back when he's all grown up - that would be nice!

anonymous12251111 · #14 07-09-2008, 06:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jake deVilliers

What, he's taking his ball and going home? (Imagine sound of Bronx cheer here.)

Maybe he'll come back when he's all grown up - that would be nice!

It's not like that. He's 71, and has a lot of useful information to share. I personally enjoyed his musings on bass pedagogy, it was really insightful. I would probably be a little ticked off if I were in his shoes as well, all he was trying to do was share his ideas and experience

damonsmith · #15 07-09-2008, 08:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Calvin Marks

all he was trying to do was share his ideas and experience

If that were true this thread would not exist. Only rarely did he address any playing issues without referencing one of his publications. It has been an ongoing problem since I have been here and the mods have been involved a few times.
Like I said, I am sure all of us respect his experience.
Also, we are all selling something be it books, cds, dvds, lessons or bass methods.
There are ways to do that and be appropriate on this forum.

Jake deVilliers · #16 07-09-2008, 09:18 PM

If he's 71 Calvin, then that's really sad.

Age doesn't equal maturity, and telling us that he's going to take his precious information away is the behaviour of a two-year-old.
If he was feeling as though we weren't hearing him, he could have just left the thread alone for a while. He didn't need to stick out his tongue and slam the door.

And it's self-defeating behaviour - where else is he going to peddle his wares - when I Google 'Bass Forum', Talkbass is the result.

anonymous12251111 · #17 07-09-2008, 11:04 PM

Bahhhh. This is obviously an impossible topic to discuss. All I wanted to say is that I valued his information and didn't find anything he said to be worthy of this unfortunate reaction. Why can't we all just...get along?

Phil Smith · #18 07-10-2008, 05:47 AM

TomGale,

You'll be back, they all come back.

Vincent P · #19 07-10-2008, 06:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by damonsmith

I for one respect Tom's advice and experience. What several others and I have an issue with is him using every question as a opportunity to push his books and music and in fact starting threads to do so. This has nothing to with how much or how little money is involved wiht publishing, it has to do with how objective the advice can be.
If every time a question came up about improvised music I said "Don't bother with Listening to Mark Dresser, Barry Guy or Peter Kowald" and then a few lines above or below I said "buy this cd of mine" it would be just as inappropriate (another crucial difference is that I actually respect the past and present masters in my field).

I have never once seen anyone, myself included take a big issue with his actual advice.
Tom is clearly a serious thinker about the instrument and has a lot of experience to offer, as I said before it would be great if he can find an appropriate way to impart it.

The first impression I had when reading this thread.

The nice thing about TB is that although there are many educated individuals with great advice, there are also just as many if not more individuals with open minds. I think this is what annoys you the most. The fact that those who can keep an open mind, do not take all your advice as being law.

My second impression is that you're just going to stomp out of the room because your not patted on the back every time you post your opinions.

Watch the door on the way out.

Mr.Phil · #20 07-10-2008, 08:23 AM

This thread is taking up valuable space for actual technique related issues. While I have found some of what he has posted to be interesting, I feel that starting this thread was really uncalled for. So everybody shake hands, make up and get back to real bass technique discussion. Lock this thread and let it float to the end of the forum. It's not like he really left anyway, see below: