Ambient/Post-Rock/Textural bass playing thread

[JES]

In other news, I've got a question for the extended range players -- @steubig @emjazz @cosmicevan @lordradish and whoever else is listening. For the last year and half, my main instrument has been touch guitar. But after all this focus on it, I'm also hearing things I can do in the high register of bass that just sound different -- less "guitary." Also some recent releases from this group have me thinking about that.

I have never really gelled with a low B string, but I'm wondering about the advantages of a C string. In practical terms, it seems like 2 main things: you get a little more high range -- in practice terms, we're talking 5-7 semitones depending on the instrument, and of course it's good for position playing. But in terms of melodic playing and soloing, or timbre, how would you describe the advantages over playing higher up on the neck on a 4-string? TIA.

PS -- I actually have a Lull 5 string that I bought for the low B and switched to the high C, but I'm curious to hear from people who have really committed to it.

 

[JES]

And on the Beebo/Digit front, I actually bought one and returned it. Brilliant idea, but I just found the touchscreen a little small for the complexity of patches I was setting up, and the documentation was just a bit too thin in a couple places. Seems like that part I might like more in a year or two. But in practical terms I think I just don't love touchscreens for music, and if I want to go that route, probably my iPad is the way to go.

 

[ugly_bassplayer]

In other news, I've got a question for the extended range players -- @steubig @emjazz @cosmicevan @lordradish and whoever else is listening. For the last year and half, my main instrument has been touch guitar. But after all this focus on it, I'm also hearing things I can do in the high register of bass that just sound different -- less "guitary." Also some recent releases from this group have me thinking about that.

I have never really gelled with a low B string, but I'm wondering about the advantages of a C string. In practical terms, it seems like 2 main things: you get a little more high range -- in practice terms, we're talking 5-7 semitones depending on the instrument, and of course it's good for position playing. But in terms of melodic playing and soloing, or timbre, how would you describe the advantages over playing higher up on the neck on a 4-string? TIA.

PS -- I actually have a Lull 5 string that I bought for the low B and switched to the high C, but I'm curious to hear from people who have really committed to it.

Was also thinking of tuning my short scale 30" bass my kids don't use and tune it ADGC.
Any gauge recommendations?
Brands that sell said strings without me buying a 6 string set and throwing 2 in the garbage? Rounds or flats both are considered.

 

[JES]

You can also order single strings, though shipping can be a PITA. I usually wait and order a bunch from fret nation all at once. I like the .030 on the DR Sunbeams but YMMV.

 

[monsterthompson]

I like the title.

I had to call it something.

It started off with pushing pink noise through a filter, and modulating that filter with the Erica Octasource
Black Octasource
It's a wild LFO, so I thought that listening to the patterns it generated by filtering the pink noise would give me a better sense of the wave shapes and module behavior.

Of course, I stated modulating the modulation with another LFO and pushing the signal into a ping pong delay with reverse function, and then modulating the delay time, and then...
It did generate a few textures I liked, but I didn't have the record button on, so this was all I had to share. I figured if I didn't, certain people would say "why didn't you share?"

 

[monsterthompson]

The Cursible
Interesting morphing module with multiple send/return routes.

 

[ugly_bassplayer]

I had to call it something.

It started off with pushing pink noise through a filter, and modulating that filter with the Erica Octasource
Black Octasource
It's a wild LFO, so I thought that listening to the patterns it generated by filtering the pink noise would give me a better sense of the wave shapes and module behavior.

Of course, I stated modulating the modulation with another LFO and pushing the signal into a ping pong delay with reverse function, and then modulating the delay time, and then...
It did generate a few textures I liked, but I didn't have the record button on, so this was all I had to share. I figured if I didn't, certain people would say "why didn't you share?"

Tweak them knobs and patch them cables on that bmw....euh......synth module.

 

[steubig]

In other news, I've got a question for the extended range players -- @steubig @emjazz @cosmicevan @lordradish and whoever else is listening. For the last year and half, my main instrument has been touch guitar. But after all this focus on it, I'm also hearing things I can do in the high register of bass that just sound different -- less "guitary." Also some recent releases from this group have me thinking about that.

I have never really gelled with a low B string, but I'm wondering about the advantages of a C string. In practical terms, it seems like 2 main things: you get a little more high range -- in practice terms, we're talking 5-7 semitones depending on the instrument, and of course it's good for position playing. But in terms of melodic playing and soloing, or timbre, how would you describe the advantages over playing higher up on the neck on a 4-string? TIA.

PS -- I actually have a Lull 5 string that I bought for the low B and switched to the high C, but I'm curious to hear from people who have really committed to it.

i forget the range and string number on your touch guitar. for some reason, i thought your instrument went down to at least a low B (?).

in any event, i play a 6-string bass, which doesn't qualify as an erb to most people.

seems to me that the lull tuned E-C would be good thing to try.



my 2¢

i really like the extra notes on both sides (B and C strings).

the high C string isn't *just* about the extra half steps *horizontally*; it's also about being able to get more *vertical* combinations of notes in a chord because you have the extra range. it can also have a more "singing" quality for melodic playing. (again, i prefer lower tension strings, which facilitates this.)

imo, higher notes on a G string can have a more intense sound to them if you are really wacking them in melodic playing than you would have for the same notes being played on a C string. of course, having both a G and a C higher up the neck has its benefits.

last, imo, you'll be able to get more expressive with the higher strings on a 5-/6-string bass than you would from a touch guitar (just my bias). to my ear (and from how i play), it comes down to how you activate a string with your "plucking hand" . . .

 

[lordradish]

In other news, I've got a question for the extended range players -- @steubig @emjazz @cosmicevan @lordradish and whoever else is listening. For the last year and half, my main instrument has been touch guitar. But after all this focus on it, I'm also hearing things I can do in the high register of bass that just sound different -- less "guitary." Also some recent releases from this group have me thinking about that.

I have never really gelled with a low B string, but I'm wondering about the advantages of a C string. In practical terms, it seems like 2 main things: you get a little more high range -- in practice terms, we're talking 5-7 semitones depending on the instrument, and of course it's good for position playing. But in terms of melodic playing and soloing, or timbre, how would you describe the advantages over playing higher up on the neck on a 4-string? TIA.

PS -- I actually have a Lull 5 string that I bought for the low B and switched to the high C, but I'm curious to hear from people who have really committed to it.

Let me just say that I never really started to truly get my mind about anything other than the most basic harmonic concepts until I got that 6 string. Having the C just makes the territory above the 12th fret a new territory. And you're right, it doesn't sound like guitar, which makes it that much cooler. Plus, I'm not sure if you're an ebow guy, but you certainly will be if you have that high C.

As I probably mentioned, recently, my guitar skills never evolved past 'half-assed blues guitarist'. I don't play bass like that with the six string.

I don't use it for everything. I use it primarily with the pedalboard, or if I'm doing something that may involve soloing, or if I'm playing Phil Lesh stuff, I will, too (I'm in VT - there are still lots of Dead jams, here). But I think it's such a valuable tool, I can't imagine not having it.

 

[lordradish]

Well, if 1.5" wide x 3.63" deep (Hammond 1590-size?) enclosures count as "mini" I have three: MXR Phase 95, tc electronic Flashback Mini, and Bananana Matryoshka. I find them all eminently useful...although if I were planning a compact rig for "pads, textures, and ebow" I'd consider strapping the phase shifter and delay to the bottom of the pedalboard and just leaving them always on.

(Note, none of those can be battery-powered, in case that's a concern.)

When I said 'battery powered', I meant a rechargeable power supply. I've thought the Flashback mini covers a lot of ground.

 

[monsterthompson]

In other news, I've got a question for the extended range players -- @steubig @emjazz @cosmicevan @lordradish and whoever else is listening. For the last year and half, my main instrument has been touch guitar. But after all this focus on it, I'm also hearing things I can do in the high register of bass that just sound different -- less "guitary." Also some recent releases from this group have me thinking about that.

I have never really gelled with a low B string, but I'm wondering about the advantages of a C string. In practical terms, it seems like 2 main things: you get a little more high range -- in practice terms, we're talking 5-7 semitones depending on the instrument, and of course it's good for position playing. But in terms of melodic playing and soloing, or timbre, how would you describe the advantages over playing higher up on the neck on a 4-string? TIA.

PS -- I actually have a Lull 5 string that I bought for the low B and switched to the high C, but I'm curious to hear from people who have really committed to it.

my new half scale will be EADGC so I can get into the upper range but not in a guitar-y way. Hoping my idea works.

 

[lordradish]

my new half scale will be EADGC so I can get into the upper range but not in a guitar-y way. Hoping my idea works.

I think you're going to be happy with that.

 

[monsterthompson]

I think you're going to be happy with that.

it’s gonna be pretty, at a minimum

 

[ugly_bassplayer]

Always had my hands more than full with a 4 string.
That's all I'll say about erb instruments.

All this erb talk makes me want to convert a bass to fretless.
(My brain makes weird connections. By now you guys probably know that)

 

[steubig]

my new half scale will be EADGC so I can get into the upper range but not in a guitar-y way. Hoping my idea works.

as i recall, your low string is gonna be a like a regular 6-string guitar's low E string. based on that, my assumption (**and it's only that**) is that it's gonna be more guitar like than you might expect. if it is, you may want to go more along the lines of a baritone guitar, which would either be a 4th or 5th (A or B) lower.

fwiw, before i went full 6-string, i was using a few different tunings on 4-string; one was tuned A-D-G-C, which sort of approximates the bari range.

 

[steubig]

Always had my hands more than full with a 4 string.
That's all I'll say about erb instruments.

All this erb talk makes me want to convert a bass to fretless.
(My brain makes weird connections. By now you guys probably know that)

i'll infer that you're not in favor. (and to get really good at anything, it's always gonna be a handful.)

fretless is always a good way to go.

 

[steubig]

ps on the high C string

thinking cello really works for me. and @lordradish is correct about the ebow, imo.

and . . . i went full 6-string in 1985—after i got my first 6-string, i sold all my 4-strings to bankroll a fretless 6. sometimes i think it's the best thing i ever did; sometimes it seems like the worst. as far as me doing what i do, probably the best (though hearing stuff i did on 4-string back then sometimes makes me wonder); in terms of people not being able to hear beyond what they're seeing/expecting, that's a problem (meaning i'm sure i've lose work).

i've only played 4-string bass guitar twice since then, and that was sitting in using other people's stuff.

 

[ugly_bassplayer]

i'll infer that you're not in favor. (and to get really good at anything, it's always gonna be a handful.)

fretless is always a good way to go.

I’m all in favour of ERB instruments. They are freakin awesome in the right hands.
I take it as insult that you think I’m that closed minded (joking......)

Guess why I’ve been tuning my mains lower than EADG for over 12 years ....to get them extended notes.
I had many 5 things and one 6 string in my life. They never felt right even when I set my mind to play only 5 string for a while. Did many gigs on a 5er for a while.
I just never felt « at home » on a 5 or a 6. No other complicated explanation, no other reasons.

Maybe my feeling of being a « limited » talent contributed to this also?

Only other one I really liked was upright. For about 2 years I didn’t even play my electrics except on gigs.

@steubig the Fretless enabler!!!!!!

 

[emjazz]

ps on the high C string

thinking cello really works for me. and @lordradish is correct about the ebow, imo.

and . . . i went full 6-string in 1985—after i got my first 6-string, i sold all my 4-strings to bankroll a fretless 6. sometimes i think it's the best thing i ever did; sometimes it seems like the worst. as far as me doing what i do, probably the best (though hearing stuff i did on 4-string back then sometimes makes me wonder); in terms of people not being able to hear beyond what they're seeing/expecting, that's a problem (meaning i'm sure i've lose work).

i've only played 4-string bass guitar twice since then, and that was sitting in using other people's stuff.

I always feel like an imposter on 4 string. For me there's too much history and expectation on a 4 string. I'm always amazed by players who are able to ignore all of that and find something new on it.

 

[ugly_bassplayer]

I always feel like an imposter on 4 string. For me there's too much history and expectation on a 4 string. I'm always amazed by players who are able to ignore all of that and find something new on it.

I guess I feel like an imposter on a 6er??
Makes sense?