Recent content by jlerner

I bought my first 5-string bass. And I'm struggling! I'm fine playing pattern based stuff, but whenever I need to play like an actual written note, my fret-board suddenly seems like something totally foreign. Probably doesn't help that I used to play guitar a fair amount. I got it on June 26...

Thanks a lot everybody some good stuff here. Coincidentally, a guitarist left a Dunlop 207 here, so I tried it on the bass, and really liked it. With some finesse, it really sounded better and prettier than the felt picks I've been using. Somewhat counterintuitive, since felt is soft. So I'm...

Very expensive. Why are they worth it? Joe

P bass. Polytone amp.

Well, right now it's a little harsh and metallic. I want it to be rounder, and with more "nuance". I mostly play small group live jazz and Latin. Thanks! Joe

Hi, Most bassists who play with a pick do so because they want a very hard sound. I play with a pick because I have a hand dystonia (neurological condition), which prevents me from using my fingers. I'm looking for advice on how to get a beautiful tone, with a pick. Currently I am using a...

I had it done once. It's no fun, but it's more annoying than painful. Good luck!

Fergie - This is interesting. One thing for sure...your exercises are hard for me to do for a full minute, so, I'm looking forward to doing them, and then seeing some results on the instrument. Thanks!

AW: Modifying my right-hand playing position is going pretty well. Hard work. Sometimes I work so hard on my right hand, it makes my head hurt! They must be connected somehow! :D Somewhat more seriously, while working hard, I am also trying to stay relaxed, which, I've heard is a...

TB'ers: I play pretty straight ahead, jazz and Brazilian mostly. In the Brazilian band we've started to get into some funk'esque tunes, and so I've started to do some slapping and pulling. I think I need an effects pedal, to kind of soften the sound. Obviously I don't know where to...

Probably true...I need stamina more than strength. Other than playing the bass, anybody have any good exercises to build up the stamina in my plucking fingers? So that it won't take me years to build up the stamina that I want.

TB'ers: I've come to the conclusion that my plucking fingers (and hand?) need strengthening. I can play tough technical exercises for around a half-hour, and then...I can't--my plucking fingers just sort of stops working nicely. Other than playing the bass, anybody have any good exercises...

Woodstockz: Don't undervalue learning "traditional" jazz, like So What, Autum leaves, etc. Contemporary jazz is frequently based on traditional jazz harmonically, but not rhythmically. Grover, Sanborn, and all those guys learned the jazz standards first, and can play the )@(#$* out of it.

Thanks everybody! Some great (and creative) ideas. I think I'm going to get one of these, which is really cheap, and small: Amazon.com: Meinl Percussion FJS2S-BK Foot Tambourine Steel Jingles - Black: Musical Instruments

This would be awesome, but it's still in the "R&D" phase: Invalid Link Removed