Recent content by SteveChatterton

I really love Scott's playing too. It's so honest & deceptively simple sounding. I tried teaching myself "Walk the Walk" today. Well, now I know where the notes are, but I may never play them with his apparent ease. But, yeah, as evidenced by the fact that it took over two years to get a reply...

So I guess the consensus is that I should build a solid technique with the alternating & then use this down-sweep doodad for effect from time to time. Since it does come naturally, I'll focus on the more technical approach for now (it'll probably unlock a bunch of doors for me) & use it...

I'm a relatively new bass convert, so I'm highly suspicious of my self-taught technique and I don't know what half these things should be called, but I have this habit and I just wanted your input on whether it's a good thing or a bad thing. When I go from high to low across the strings, I...

This might sound crazy, but lately I've been practicing with flatwound strings while picking with a Dunlop 2mm Stubby pick. They're very short, designed for jazz guitar players, but they are wicked thick with a distinctively round edge. The tone is as close to finger-style I've ever been able to...

I transitioned from guitar to fretless bass guitar when a friend gave me a gift I wasn't expecting in exchange for some pro bono freelance work and I didn't have much problem with it at all. So long as your ears are fairly well developed you shouldn't have too much trouble getting the whole...

Thanks, Brent. I could talk note choices till the cows come home. But since I'm a jazz bass n00b I think I need to make some solid lines with the other chord tones before I have Mr. Carter's confidence to tackle Maj7 on the first beat. Heck, I'm even hesitant to use it on the 3rd beat, but I...

I'm just curious how he handles Maj7 chords in a system where all chord tones are given equal weight. Playing the 7th on the first beat of a I chord can mislead people into thinking it's a V chord or something like that. Does he voice as a Maj6, or does he just stick to the triad? Just...

Go to the Amazon link & click 'Search inside this book' under the cover photo. Then click on 'Surprise Me' to get an expanded preview of what's in the book. I haven't read it yet, but I really want to.

It is possible to do part-time at York. I did a year there & carried a 2-course load; Jazz theory/ensemble (it's a 2-for-1, you can't have one without the other) & a musicology elective that I could have totally dropped (but really enjoyed). You can likely take the theory & ensemble alone &...

Lots of great advice here. I knew I had a bunch of work ahead of me. Now I have a little bit more. Most common keys for a minor blues would be Cm & Fm, right? That's if memory serves. Mr. PC is the obvious Cm head. Any recommendations for Fm (or whatever the other most common key is)? I'm...

That is sort of the approach I'm taking, Huy. But thanks, good to know I'm sort of on the right track. Those are good tunes to know. I'm also looking at Stella by Starlight, Softly as in a Morning Sunrise & But Not For Me. I've been so busy thinking about walking I haven't even thought of...

You make a good point, Jason. Perhaps something less formal and very low key would be best. But first I need to woodshed & relearn some some tunes (and then learn some new [to me, anyway] tunes). This morning I walked rhythm changes at about 100 bpm not as solid as I would've liked, but maybe...

Long-time lurker, first-time poster... I've only been play jazz bass a couple of months now, and I still pretty much blow, so I thought I'd set myself the somewhat realistic goal od sitting in at a local jam night sometime in the next 12 months (when I'm a bit more prepared). But I have some...

Thanks, fretlessguy. I'll take a look at my local shops & see what I can get. I'm totally trying to sound like an upright without the expense of actually buying one for the moment.

When I studied at York U Don was my ensemble leader. Every day was a truly illuminating experience. Getting to pick his mind for a few minutes was always time well invested.