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Best/worst advice you've ever gotten

#81
Souperman08 said:
Simple enough, what is the best and worst advice you've ever gotten related to bass playing?
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Best: "Let out and git out the way, and come back on the one - man, the funk is in the space!" -- Toddzilla, of JonesWorld.

Worst: "Let the opener use your backline - then you only have to mix it once."

...that last bit of advice cost me about $1,000.00 once upon a time. I think I've made that all back with Todd's advice though, and then some! :)
 
#87
LiquidMidnight said:
I totally disagree. It's very possible to be both. For example, Ph.D candidates are expected to both be students while, at the same time, contributing to their fields through research with faculty and their dissertations.

I do agree that woodshedding in your home studio for 15 years without producing anything or gigging probably isn't the most desirable scenario. However, some of the most accomplished jazz cats I've come across still take lessons.
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For what its worth after Coltrane had his little break he practiced 16+ hours a day, and that was when he, in my opinion, was at the top of his game, contributing heavily to the jazz world.

You can always learn.
 
#89
I don't know really...

Best - Always mark your leads! (very useful advice from my old session-pro teacher of 5 years...its helped keep tabs on them a few times)

Worst - Play it like THIS (sorry, I'm not a clone of your old bassist - and you're a guitard...bye!!)

...either that or "get yourself an ampeg" ...when they sound like $h!t (a heavy-rocker/metalhead to an old-style rock'n'roll/motown/60's beat fan lol...I'm glad I never listened)

Theres probably something worse than that but I've forgotten...
 
#90
Best: Learn to know when to follow the guitar, and when to branch off and do a little extra. And the drummer is your best friend. Pay attention to him the most. And most importantly, have fun! - Sonny Iverson :bassist:

Worst: The bass isn't supposed to be heard - and everything a bass plays sounds better on guitar. - My roommate. :scowl:
 
#93
addylewis said:
OOh dear...is he a metalhead by any chance? Bass IS supposed to be heard, AND felt in yer pants come to that...
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Sort of. He's really just stupid. He'll often hear a shredding bass solo and then claim it's guitar. When I correct him, he throws a little bitch fit, and it amuses me. He later admits that I am correct. I'm a bigger metalhead than him, he's more of a screamo/emo fan who is ashamed of his music so he pretends to listen to metal and acts like he knows everything about it. :eyebrow:

He also has a habit of "making" a "new" song that is just a radio rock song that is popular, and just plays it in different keys. God, I hate that guy. He's a poser, not a musician. He's the whitest guy ever and tries to act like he's black. He thinks he's cool and everyone just laughs at him.

Here's some more to stay on topic

"Your mids are the chunk of your sound, they're what give you the edge to cut right through the mix. Along with the bass, pump your mids." - Sonny Iverson

"Man, metal for bass HAS to be played with a pick. You know that guy from Metallica? No, the one from Master of Puppets. He ONLY uses a pick. Fingers are way too slow, and it's NOT metal." - My roommate
 
#94
Dear lord, EADG, your roommate sounds like someone I would murder, simply for not knowing which bassist was on Puppets...

Mine would have to be..

"Play what you can't play. It's the only way you get better." - Several teachers

"Dude, sort that tone out *other bassist fiddles with amp, leaving a smiley-face EQ* Much better!" - Fellow bassist on my course
 
#95
Psycho said:
"Use all the finger on your left hand. Use your pinky and ring finger, not just index and middle." BEST EVER

"Just use a guitar amp, it won't make a difference." Obviously worse.
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damn man that is some seriously bad advice ^ ^ as well as some fine fret hand advice.

some of the best things ive heard are simple things starting out like ''just because you play bass, doesnt mean you crank the bass and ignore the mid and treble.'' mid is a good friend of mine these days. also that the *clack* noise you can make when using your fingers aggressively is not necessarily a bad thing. :bassist:

the worst stuff ive heard is the old chesnut of 'yeah once you can play guitar good you can play decent bass' -.- i can see where they're coming from, and the opposite is true, BUT only to the extent that you can fret and hold the damn thing, the finer points are so far apart that switching between them feels like going from the real deal to a toy. i play both now, but bass more (though i started on guitar i prefer the bass, the purely physical aspects of the strings and the fretboard just speak more to me.), i feel doing so has benefitted me in each instrument, but it is tiresome hearing guitarists who havent played bass claim like its a poor cousin of their instrument and much easier to play.
 
#96
Best advice: The 3 things you can hope for a gig.
1. You like the music
2. You like the musicians
3. You like the money
If you can get all 3... It's a great gig . 2 out of three... It's worth doing. 1 out of three... I'd think twice before saying yes.
Worst advice: Don't learn or play other peoples' songs, it makes you stagnant musically.
 
#97
velascorp said:
Best advice: The 3 things you can hope for a gig.
1. You like the music
2. You like the musicians
3. You like the money
If you can get all 3... It's a great gig . 2 out of three... It's worth doing. 1 out of three... I'd think twice before saying yes.
Worst advice: Don't learn or play other peoples' songs, it makes you stagnant musically.
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That truly is the best advice.
 

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