• TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
    Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
    Join free Log in
    Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.

8-Strings (octaves) - Gimmicky?

8-Strings (octaves) - Gimmicky?

  • Yes

    Votes: 27 23.9%

  • No

    Votes: 86 76.1%
  • Total voters
    113
#21
I am a beginner on bass, but have found myself accompanying myself at open mics on my bass. At this point, I have only a four string fretted bass.

I thought an 8 string strung in octives would be cool for this application, so I consedered one of these:

Link Removed

However, a friend owns a music store and is a Hagstrom dealer, so I asked him about one of these:

Invalid Link Removed

He said he ordered one months ago, but is ready to tell the supplier to forget about it.







I bought a set of drums instead.





I needed to work on my timing.

Build your bass and enjoy it. The people who hear it will enjoy it, too. No question in my mind about it. Your dad will even come to apppreciate it. If my son (24 years old) built something like an 8 string bass, I'd dig it.
 
#30
UncleBalsamic said:
Wouldn't a fretless 8 string be kind of hard to play in tune. Perhaps it isn't. but I think I'd struggle (which is not all that unusual).
Click to expand...

Props for the modesty. Yeah, such an instrument would likely be difficult to play and, thus, result in lots of struggling-to-play.... But, hey, we all struggle to play: When the struggle's gone, we're not really playing music; we're just playing around.

Go easy on yourself. Beethoven struggled. Anyone who denies struggling with growing musically is either lying or slacking. :D
 
#31
Stickk said:
I have diffuculy playing different rhythms with each hand, and I'm having trouble using the other fingers (besides my index finger) on my right hand (I play right-handed). Any suggestions?
Click to expand...




One very basic exercise you can work on is a two part rhythm/melody developing movement.


Lets take the C major scale and the D major scale.

With your left hand only. first play the entire C major scale and then the entire D major scale ascending and descending. This will be your left hand rhythm basis. If you have excess to a drum machine find a rhythm that you feel comfortable with and play along to it. Spend at least 15 minutes doing this.


Your right hand(fingers) will act as your melody.


With your right hand.


Take the 5th and 7th of the C major scale and while applying the left hand exercise, play the root and the 2nd then with your right hand move to the D major scale and play the 5th and the 7th scale degree and with your left hand play the root and the 2nd.

While doing this apply the exercise with drum lines from the drum machine.


This is a very basic exercise but if you take the proper time to work on it you will definitely see and feel very positive results.
 
#32
JAUQO III-X said:
One very basic exercise you can work on is a two part rhythm/melody developing movement.


Lets take the C major scale and the D major scale.

With your left hand only. first play the entire C major scale and then the entire D major scale ascending and descending. This will be your left hand rhythm basis. If you have excess to a drum machine find a rhythm that you feel comfortable with and play along to it. Spend at least 15 minutes doing this.


Your right hand(fingers) will act as your melody.


With your right hand.


Take the 5th and 7th of the C major scale and while applying the left hand exercise, play the root and the 2nd then with your right hand move to the D major scale and play the 5th and the 7th scale degree and with your left hand play the root and the 2nd.

While doing this apply the exercise with drum lines from the drum machine.


This is a very basic exercise but if you take the proper time to work on it you will definitely see and feel very positive results.
Click to expand...

Thank you, I appreciate it.
 
#34
Years ago I saw King's X at a local venue and stood chest up against the stage. Dug Pinnick stepped on my hand at one point and after the show bent down and apologized and gave me a pick.

He played a 12 string Hamer for almost the entire set. They're just a 3 piece so he really acted as bassist and rhythm guitarist. I remember a Bass Player mag interview (this was long before the internet) where they showed his signal chain and he used a crossover and two completely separate rigs, a bass and a guitar one.

It's one of the best shows I've ever seen, the sound was massive and it was not gimmicky at all. Gimmicky, to me, would mean he was playing it to show off, or worse, to cover up for a lack of skills. Dug was playing it because the sound could nearly knock you over.

Best example of an 8 is go listen to Pearl Jam's "Jeremy" with headphones. That's an 8 string fretless at the beginning, including the harmonics. I love that sound.
 
#37
Listen to 'Gonna raise hell' from Cheap Trick's 'Dream Police' album.
That's played on an Alembic 8 string. Not gimmicky at all.

I use a Dean Rhapsody 8string (occasionally) and it looks no different to any other bass
and I don't start shouting "Hey look at my 8 string!!!" on stage. It has a great big sound.
Well worth making an 8string bass if you're doing a project.

[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]
 
#40
Matter of interest - enquiring minds want to know - I would imagine it would be easier to string the octaves Rickenbacker-style i.e. with the octaves vertically below (as you play)?

I say this as I can foresee problems holding down an octave E if it was *above* the main E, due to the thickness of the string - i.e. Ee instead of eE.

So, Ee, Aa, Dd, Gg instead of eE, aA, dD, gG?
 

Latest posts

Top Bottom
Back