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Best musical advice you ever got
- Thread starter davec
- Start date
Work for the love of money.
Play for the love of music.
As my daddy used to tell me,
"Only 1% - 2% of all people in the creative arts, (Musicians, actors, writers, painters, etc.)
actually make a living from their art. Have a back up plan."
It was his nice way of saying, "Get a day job"
)
If you're in that 1% - 2% my hats off to you.
Play for the love of music.
As my daddy used to tell me,
"Only 1% - 2% of all people in the creative arts, (Musicians, actors, writers, painters, etc.)
actually make a living from their art. Have a back up plan."
It was his nice way of saying, "Get a day job"
If you're in that 1% - 2% my hats off to you.
It's your right hand (picking hand) that adds soul to your playing. Don't neglect that over your left hand.
Also:
It's the spaces between the notes that are important.
Also:
It's the spaces between the notes that are important.
To me this does not sound good. I have seen bass players continue their errors, lines with completely wrong chords, while the rest of the band does not get one chance to put the derailed train back on the track. Once you start listening to what is going on, you can discover the chord structure the majority of the band wants to play. So yes, please stop as soon as you loose your band, and take some time to listen before stepping back, and only come back into it when you are sure you got it this time.
That's a great one. I started recording my sax at rehearsal, close mic'd, and what a difference it made. Everything sounded great in my ears at rehearsal, but the playback was brutally honest. Every hesitation, odd timbre, mistake of any kind brought out in the bright light of day. Really helped me pick up my game.
For some reason I've never done it with bass, go figure. Thanks for posting; time for a change!
It so fast
It so fast
Whatever you do, don't play it so fast.
- Advice from a few jazz musicians from the 1930s to me, in a dream I had
It so fast
Whatever you do, don't play it so fast.
- Advice from a few jazz musicians from the 1930s to me, in a dream I had
“Don’t take advice.” - Gene Simmons
He designed his own basses and straps, played them the way he wanted, was self-taught, can’t read music, and IMHO put out some very cool MUSIC! I like his views on bass playing.
He designed his own basses and straps, played them the way he wanted, was self-taught, can’t read music, and IMHO put out some very cool MUSIC! I like his views on bass playing.
Back in the early 80's I had moved from drums to keyboards. Was struggling as I was classically trained and had no solo chops for pop music. In a conversation with an experienced bass player and guitarist they told me to listen to Aretha Franklin. How she put together notes, how she moved around, and her dynamics. It was incredibly valuable. I moved on to Gladys Knight and Ella Fitzgerald and now recommend them to new musicians.
“Change your major. You’re not good enough.”
That Music professor had 2 therapists, chain smoked and died in her 50’s, bitter, unemployed and alone.
She was right...I wasn’t “that good”, (whatever that means). So I took my hurt feelings to a new school, changed majors, then to Law School. Never stopped playing, though.
Just retired, married 34 years, no addictions, have 3 audio systems and tons of great basses and amps.
Oh yeah, still playing and enjoying it. Thanks for the honest appraisal, Dr. B...I guess I’m only “ good enough”, huh?
That Music professor had 2 therapists, chain smoked and died in her 50’s, bitter, unemployed and alone.
She was right...I wasn’t “that good”, (whatever that means). So I took my hurt feelings to a new school, changed majors, then to Law School. Never stopped playing, though.
Just retired, married 34 years, no addictions, have 3 audio systems and tons of great basses and amps.
Oh yeah, still playing and enjoying it. Thanks for the honest appraisal, Dr. B...I guess I’m only “ good enough”, huh?
I don’t know if that was good advice or not, Jeff...
I’m about to retire after over 30 years in law enforcement. Yeah it was a good career and allowed me to provide for my family. Did I enjoy it? Not really. A lot of the time, I was wanting to play guitar or bass, instead.
Well...no point in dwelling on that. We are where we’re supposed to be, I suppose. We’re not dead yet, so play that F-ing Bass!!!
Best advise I ever got; if your head is not moving you are not grooving.
Look over at the drummer kick pedal to find the groove.
No drummer, lock with the lead vocalist for your rhythm.
When the drummer brings out his brushes a root on one and nothing else - let it ring - till the next chord change.
Look over at the drummer kick pedal to find the groove.
No drummer, lock with the lead vocalist for your rhythm.
When the drummer brings out his brushes a root on one and nothing else - let it ring - till the next chord change.
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I was 19 years old, had only been playing bass for a year, and was playing with a group of much older musicians.
Of the MANY nuggets of wisdom they dropped on me, the 1 that resonated the most and still echoes in my minds' ear....."Play it like you MEAN it! EVERY note is important!!"
Of the MANY nuggets of wisdom they dropped on me, the 1 that resonated the most and still echoes in my minds' ear....."Play it like you MEAN it! EVERY note is important!!"
"Sing from your belly, not from your throat" - my former BL.
"If you don't play piano, at least know your way around it" - some famous bass teacher.
"Sing everything you're going to play" - some guitar teacher. I did it before though.
"If you don't play piano, at least know your way around it" - some famous bass teacher.
"Sing everything you're going to play" - some guitar teacher. I did it before though.
"It's not magic, just hard work."
My college doublebass teacher repeated this regularly. He was right.
My college doublebass teacher repeated this regularly. He was right.
Support the ensemble means lay down the time.
If on an up tempo feel, play on top of the beat.
If on a slow tempo feel, play behind the beat but lay it down.
85 - 95 % of the time play in the low register. Not the lowest if too basset to hear ( 5 during players) but down in that low register. No one else can play there. Be that BASE of the music. Support the root, 5th and if need be, the 3rd if no one else is.
Contrary motion rather than parallel motion to what is soloing or the main voicings is best.
Add space to emphasize li zero your notes - not MORE notes.
Agree all that's said hear. I'm learning
If on an up tempo feel, play on top of the beat.
If on a slow tempo feel, play behind the beat but lay it down.
85 - 95 % of the time play in the low register. Not the lowest if too basset to hear ( 5 during players) but down in that low register. No one else can play there. Be that BASE of the music. Support the root, 5th and if need be, the 3rd if no one else is.
Contrary motion rather than parallel motion to what is soloing or the main voicings is best.
Add space to emphasize li zero your notes - not MORE notes.
Agree all that's said hear. I'm learning
I got the best advice right here in response to my very first posting identifying myself as a total newbie.
To paraphrase:
"Welcome to TalkBass. Now run away before it stunts your musical progress and makes you a gear junkie."
Of course I totally ignored that. Thanks anyway... you tried to tell me.
To paraphrase:
"Welcome to TalkBass. Now run away before it stunts your musical progress and makes you a gear junkie."
Of course I totally ignored that. Thanks anyway... you tried to tell me.
