Guitar Store chops

[kanonfodr]

"Only Happy When It Rains" - Garbage, one of the first songs I learned and can repeat ad nauseum.

Then something a bit slower and more about feel - Iron Maiden's '2 Minutes To Midnight'.

And then finally a bunch of odd scales, arpeggios, and whatever other messed up ideas I've been working on recently to assess playability and tone.

Peace,
Greg

 

[FretlessMainly]

I do not now anybody who plays with 3-4 mm action but they must be out there as most of the basses are setup that way.

My preferred action is about 4-5 mm at the octave, which has come down a bit as I've gotten older.

 

[Hevy T]

I swear that the people at my local guitar shop think I don't even know how to play because I just play gibberish. I am by no means a soloist and not a huge slapper so I just play notes and maybe a few lines like whole lot of love, come together, walk this way etc...

Lets face it bass IS a rhythm instrument more so than a lead. If I feel nasty and want to upset people I play the basic rythm to Smoke on the water or Jailbreak, if I am really nasty I play Mustang Sally

All songs that I love by the way

 

[henry2513]

What? No Longview?

For me OP, no, I practice the lines so I can play them, the fact that I can play them at the store is a bonus. The funny part is the setups are the store are usually so poor, I have a hard time executing more technical lines. I do not now anybody who plays with 3-4 mm action but they must be out there as most of the basses are setup that way.

I have the same problem lol. I'm just over 2/64ths at the octave so anything over 1 mm or so feels like crap to me.

 

[ZenG]

Can't hear myself playing in a music store.

Damn guitar shredders are always in there with an amp turned up to 11

Where I live they seem to like ripping power chords...or it's some weird lick you never heard before

...and always on a Stratocaster

 

[spade2you]

I just mess around. It's not an audition, although I heard 3rd or 4th hand that my guitar store chops weren't up to par when I was trying out an amp once.

 

[rupture]

I never plug in a bass. I play it acoustically. If it sounds good unplugged and feels good in the hands ,it more than likely sounds good plugged in. Plus they never have the same amps I use so whats the point

 

[Bent77]

I never plug in a bass. I play it acoustically. If it sounds good unplugged and feels good in the hands ,it more than likely sounds good plugged in. Plus they never have the same amps I use so whats the point

Good point about the amps. Whenever I tell people to use the same amp they play thru at home, i get a strange look of disbelief. Good to check against a known variable, thats why most of us play a song we are familiar with, right?

 

[JTE]

Gag, I HATE "guitar store chops". I managed a guitar store for 11 years, and I totally despise the concept and question the humanity of anyone who feels compelled to inflict that peculiar form of torture on the rest of the world. Wretched filth...

John

 

[ZenG]

Anybody here accidentally got into an impromptu "session" in the guitar shop where there's a singer, guitarist, bass and keyboardist....and suddenly you all get dialed in and do a number?

 

[Hevy T]

Anybody here accidentally got into an impromptu "session" in the guitar shop where there's a singer, guitarist, bass and keyboardist....and suddenly you all get dialed in and do a number?

No but I would love that. Would be better than the guitar player playing death metal licks, while a drummer plays jazz and the bass player hammers out a slap solo, while people are yelling to each other trying to decide what keyboard to buy!

 

[Reddog01]

I'm an older guy, so I let the high school kids do the showing off. If I'm seriously looking for a bass, I want to play the things that I find difficult to play. I'm looking for a bass that will give me every chance to play well. I also spend some time playing on every fret, looking for buzzing and off-key tones. I have the advantage of being an old fart, so no one expect to hear me bringing the walls down.

 

[AQUANOVA]

I'm a girl and as soon as I ask to try out a bass in a store,
I get the uncomfortable feeling that all eyes are on me and I have to prove myself.
Silly pride....

 

[ZenG]

Aquanova......that's the EXACT same feeling I get when I go into a Lingerie shop to get something for my wife......

 

[nightwulf]

I sort of freeze up when I try out gear at a guitar store. It is so weird. More comfortable in front of an audience than in a guitar store. So weird.

You are not alone, my friend....I can't think of a single thing to play but scales...Go to a jam, the guys I'm with decide on a song I've never even heard of, they verbally give me a key and chord progression, and I'm good with that...get into a store? can't even remember Peter Gunn...

 

[Bent77]

I'm a girl and as soon as I ask to try out a bass in a store,
I get the uncomfortable feeling that all eyes are on me and I have to prove myself.
Silly pride....

Which sucks. We are all in there just to check out gear.

I like to go in real early. Less clientele, certainly fewer of the young gun gotta prove myself types

 

[SactoBass]

Gag, I HATE "guitar store chops". I managed a guitar store for 11 years, and I totally despise the concept and question the humanity of anyone who feels compelled to inflict that peculiar form of torture on the rest of the world. Wretched filth...

John

+1000

It is definitely bile inducing.

 

[drummer5359]

I play basic blues progressions, rock progressions, nothing that exciting. But I'm not a flashy player, and proud to keep it simple and solid.

 

[sobie18]

I just got back from slapping River People (Weather Report) and Turn Me Loose (Loverboy) for like 40 minutes straight, alternating between songs, trying out various basses, etc. I did give away my business card to 3 people and left with 2 phone numbers from guitarist (to include one chick who worked the counter). All in all, a great day at the store...

 

[vin*tone]

That's nothing. I just handed out 250 business cards, got asked to play for Jamiroquai AND the Rolling Stones.