common old school myths and legends

[delta7fred]

So was I, but then I noticed my jazz heroes using opens to great effect on upright bass.

IICR, the great master of bass guitar himself, J Jamerson said "play the open strings". Could have been just a habit left over from his URB days, but I think it contributed something to his "bouncy" feel. Just sayin'.

I can't say I never play open strings because I do and I do like the sound of them, but I never learn new songs using them for the reasons quoted. Once a song settles in a key then if open strings fit then I use them but I always know it in a 'no open strings' way in case the singer happens to spring a key change. He has been known to ask for one on stage seconds before we play a song if he is struggling to hit high notes.

 

[lowphatbass]

:scowl:
That's rough man.

 

[Pilgrim]

On further reflection - I don't see that learning a number on open strings or not makes a difference if the key changes. At least for me, I still have to figure out a new fingering pattern. I've played in bands with a vocalist, and they need to change a key in rehearsal, NOT on stage. When they've suggested that, the answer was "no". It's unfair to every instrumental player in the band for a singer to change the key like that - unless he/she just had a drastic vocal failure and needs to drop the key to salvage the next number. That might happen, but it's not likely to result in a well-played number - on anyone's part.

And that "old boy advice: "don't play open strings" stuff is B.S.. Every orchestral and jazz player around uses open strings when it suits the pattern. I know the sound is slightly - and I do mean slightly - different on an open string, but most of the time I like it better. It also gives your left hand an instant's rest, which can be very handy in a long set.

 

[socialleper]

actually the string-boiling thing is a myth too according to a lot of folks. YES, it will clean the crud out, but it also causes the strings to slowly rust from the inside, or at least that's what lots of thread-folks have said.

Sorry but this one isn't a myth; I used to do it. When I was a kid and played more often but didn't have money for strings, I remember reading about boiling strings in Bass Player magazine so I tried it.
I never tried it on a totally dead string, but on strings that has lost some of their punch, it would bring back a little of the sparkle; not good as new, but better than before.
I never had one rust out on me, I think the key was to blow dry them afterwards and dry them out on a towel. It made a god aweful mess of the silk at the ends (I mostly used Rotosound and GHS Boomers.) but it worked.

 

[lowphatbass]

Sorry but this one isn't a myth; I used to do it. When I was a kid and played more often but didn't have money for strings, I remember reading about boiling strings in Bass Player magazine so I tried it.
I never tried it on a totally dead string, but on strings that has lost some of their punch, it would bring back a little of the sparkle; not good as new, but better than before.
I never had one rust out on me, I think the key was to blow dry them afterwards and dry them out on a towel. It made a god aweful mess of the silk at the ends (I mostly used Rotosound and GHS Boomers.) but it worked.

I boiled out a fair number of Rotos back in the day, used to scratch-up my mom's pans and piss her off something fierce. I don't know if it caused the cores to weaken or anything, usually once the initial punch was gone the second time they were deader than last week's fart and had to be tossed.

 

[delta7fred]

:scowl:
That's rough man.

Not really, I pride myself in being able to change key at a moments notice, keeps me on my toes.

Pilgrim

The guy who gave me the advice back in 1967 was a guitarist but I took notice of it and it has served me well. YMMV. Changing key just involves moving your hand one fret on the fretboard and playing the same pattern unless you have run out of frets. That is where a 5 string comes in handy, lots more scope with the extra string.

My band is a 3 piece, guitar bass and drums. The guitarist sings and I don't mind changing keys at a moments notice on most of them. He is in remission with bone cancer and was given 3 years maximum 5 years ago. The only thing that keeps him going is playing and if he needs to drop a song a semitone then that is fine by me. He is on so many tablets that he rattles when he walks. He always asks, if I were to say no then we would probably not do the song. It only really happens if he is gets a sore throat which takes him a while to shake off as his immune system has taken quite a battering with all the chemo he has gone through.

I know for a lot of band members that I have played with changing keys is a real headache, in fact some flatly refused, once they had learned a song in one key that was sufficient. It was like learning a completely new song to them.

 

[lowphatbass]

Not really, I pride myself in being able to change key at a moments notice, keeps me on my toes.

Pilgrim

The guy who gave me the advice back in 1967 was a guitarist but I took notice of it and it has served me well. YMMV.

My band is a 3 piece, guitar bass and drums. The guitarist sings and I don't mind changing keys at a moments notice on most of them. He is in remission with bone cancer and was given 3 years maximum 5 years ago. The only thing that keeps him going is playing and if he needs to drop a song a semitone then that is fine by me. He is on so many tablets that he rattles when he walks. He always asks, if I were to say no then we would probably not do the song. It only really happens if he is gets a sore throat which takes him a while to shake off as his immune system has taken quite a battering with all the chemo he has gone through.

I know for a lot of band members that I have played with changing keys is a real headache, in fact some flatly refused, once they had learned a song in one key that was sufficient. It was like learning a completely new song to them.

A large majority of the gigs I play I have to ask what key some of the songs are before they're counted-off, I play in a lot of bands, some of the same songs, different singers, etc.
I would think within the context of one band a vocalist would want to choose a key and stick with it, if it's too high on a rough night there's a good chance it's a little taxing on a good or average night.
I work with a lot of pretty talented vocalists, many of which do songs lower than the "stock key", but none of them switch keys depending on their vocal health on that particular evening. I guess it's something I'm just not used to.

 

[delta7fred]

I would think within the context of one band a vocalist would want to choose a key and stick with it, if it's too high on a rough night there's a good chance it's a little taxing on a good or average night.
I work with a lot of pretty talented vocalists, many of which do songs lower than the "stock key", but none of them switch keys depending on their vocal health on that particular evening. I guess it's something I'm just not used to.

It doesn't happen often, but if he is a bit off form he knows which songs he will struggle with. It's no different to you asking the key before you start a song, and as I say it keeps me on my toes and stops me getting complacent.

I play in a number of occasional bands and can play the same song in different keys depending on which band I am with. My main problem is singing harmonies in several keys, not playing bass.

 

[lowphatbass]

It doesn't happen often, but if he is a bit off form he knows which songs he will struggle with. It's no different to you asking the key before you start a song, and as I say it keeps me on my toes and stops me getting complacent.

I play in a number of occasional bands and can play the same song in different keys depending on which band I am with. My main problem is singing harmonies in several keys, not playing bass.

Well, at least he knows the keys and doesn't direct the band to change keys during an improvised interlude after the first verse and throw a body-language BF acting like it's the bands fault!

 

[de la mocha]

Not really, I pride myself in being able to change key at a moments notice, keeps me on my toes.

Pilgrim

The guy who gave me the advice back in 1967 was a guitarist but I took notice of it and it has served me well. YMMV. Changing key just involves moving your hand one fret on the fretboard and playing the same pattern unless you have run out of frets. That is where a 5 string comes in handy, lots more scope with the extra string.

My band is a 3 piece, guitar bass and drums. The guitarist sings and I don't mind changing keys at a moments notice on most of them. He is in remission with bone cancer and was given 3 years maximum 5 years ago. The only thing that keeps him going is playing and if he needs to drop a song a semitone then that is fine by me. He is on so many tablets that he rattles when he walks. He always asks, if I were to say no then we would probably not do the song. It only really happens if he is gets a sore throat which takes him a while to shake off as his immune system has taken quite a battering with all the chemo he has gone through.

I know for a lot of band members that I have played with changing keys is a real headache, in fact some flatly refused, once they had learned a song in one key that was sufficient. It was like learning a completely new song to them.

You are a hero!

 

[Midfour]

How about this myth...rub the back of your bass neck with an old hambone. I actually tried it....what a freakin mess.

what?