Lots of scales...and then to piss everyone else in the store off, I play For Whom the Bell Tolls REALLY LOUD. But you gotta know what it sounds like at high volumes before you buy it, right?
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Things you play while trying a bass/amp.
- Thread starter groove9028
- Start date
I don't usually have any agenda when testing a bass, just some noodling, funk stuff, metal stuff etc. All of the different styles of stuff I would play. But I always have to play some Frank Zappa song on bass just on principle...the world needs it!
Higher Ground. Over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over.
(just kidding).
(just kidding).
first thing I do when testing out an electric bass is *NOT* play it. I give it an extremely thorough, almost anally attentive examination...checking for neck straightness, fret even-ness, quality of construction/assembly, etc. There are a lot of common basses that you find in stores all the time that I've never played, simply because they never passed this initial exam.
Then, if the place is quiet enough, I'll play it unplugged, just listening for even-ness of tone and feeling for consistency of resonance.
Finally, I plug it in and wank. I think the only recognizeable riff or tune that I ever play with any regularity is Alphonso Johnson's groove from behind the sax solo in "Black Market" ...something about that line can tell me more about how my hand fits around the neck and how comfortable it'll be to play than any other tune I know.
Then, if the place is quiet enough, I'll play it unplugged, just listening for even-ness of tone and feeling for consistency of resonance.
Finally, I plug it in and wank. I think the only recognizeable riff or tune that I ever play with any regularity is Alphonso Johnson's groove from behind the sax solo in "Black Market" ...something about that line can tell me more about how my hand fits around the neck and how comfortable it'll be to play than any other tune I know.
I sucked alot of cock to get where i am by regurgitator while staring at the sales chick...
usually a bit of anything and everything although i usually kick it off with im too sexy by right said fred just for giggles. Usually have some old Machine head and some opeth in there as well.
usually a bit of anything and everything although i usually kick it off with im too sexy by right said fred just for giggles. Usually have some old Machine head and some opeth in there as well.
Riffs that hit the low notes exclusivley, riffs that hit the high to really high notes. Something with some slides, maybe a tiny bit of tapping. Chords that cover all the strings from the two lowest to all four at once.
Some scales.
Sympathy For The Devil -- The Stones
Children Of The Grave -- Sabbath
Sour Girl -- STP
Little By Little and
Something On Your Mind or Just Won't Burn -- Susan Tedeschy. Just Won't Burn's great for testing out a bass, or an amp. Lots of low notes, open strings, walkups, sustained notes, slides...
Pressure Drop -- The Clash
Sleepin' The Day Away and
All Over Town -- The Knowbodys
Back On Track and
Forevermore -- Chrome Wheels
I nearly forgot...Couldn't Stand The Weather -- SRV. And Cold Shot. It has to sound good on those songs. Has to, has to, has to.
I like to play a bunch of different stuff.
Cherie
Sympathy For The Devil -- The Stones
Children Of The Grave -- Sabbath
Sour Girl -- STP
Little By Little and
Something On Your Mind or Just Won't Burn -- Susan Tedeschy. Just Won't Burn's great for testing out a bass, or an amp. Lots of low notes, open strings, walkups, sustained notes, slides...
Pressure Drop -- The Clash
Sleepin' The Day Away and
All Over Town -- The Knowbodys
Back On Track and
Forevermore -- Chrome Wheels
I nearly forgot...Couldn't Stand The Weather -- SRV. And Cold Shot. It has to sound good on those songs. Has to, has to, has to.
I like to play a bunch of different stuff.
Cherie
- tune it & level all the knobs/buttons etc
- whack a couple of slap licks out to see if its remotely sounding nice to me
- if I like it I'll check every note on the neck (4 fingers chromatic exercise) which also warms me up nicely, listen hard to the thing though, look for dead spots and buzzes
- some fingerstyle funk (bridge vs neck pup & whatever the preamps got)
- American Life, cos its just such a nice riff
- Some tapping groove stuff, not too wanky though
- If I really like it and want to really find out how playable it is still then if its got 24 frets and at least 4 strings then Bach's Cello Suite No1 (best with only 4 strings, since thats how I figured it out), also tends to make people bug out a bit which is fun!
- whack a couple of slap licks out to see if its remotely sounding nice to me
- if I like it I'll check every note on the neck (4 fingers chromatic exercise) which also warms me up nicely, listen hard to the thing though, look for dead spots and buzzes
- some fingerstyle funk (bridge vs neck pup & whatever the preamps got)
- American Life, cos its just such a nice riff
- Some tapping groove stuff, not too wanky though
- If I really like it and want to really find out how playable it is still then if its got 24 frets and at least 4 strings then Bach's Cello Suite No1 (best with only 4 strings, since thats how I figured it out), also tends to make people bug out a bit which is fun!
I play the songs I play. Why play something you don't normally play if you are trying out an amp that you might purchase?? 
When I'm trying a bass, I almost always play:
-Only Living Boy in New York (Joe Osborn, Simon & Garfunkle). IT covers the mid-neck area nicely, and has some high glisses to check neck & fret evenness.
-The last chorus of "America" (same bassist, earlier album.) Really works out the high frets. There ain't nothin' higher to play than that.
-Spiderwebs from No Doubt. Works the low frets well.
Those tunes give me a good feel for how playable the neck is.
Of course, I haven't bought a bass since 1976. I only play them in the store when I'm helping one of my kids buy a guitar, or when I'm at a multi-band gig and the other bass player(s) are swapping bass tips.
-Only Living Boy in New York (Joe Osborn, Simon & Garfunkle). IT covers the mid-neck area nicely, and has some high glisses to check neck & fret evenness.
-The last chorus of "America" (same bassist, earlier album.) Really works out the high frets. There ain't nothin' higher to play than that.
-Spiderwebs from No Doubt. Works the low frets well.
Those tunes give me a good feel for how playable the neck is.
Of course, I haven't bought a bass since 1976. I only play them in the store when I'm helping one of my kids buy a guitar, or when I'm at a multi-band gig and the other bass player(s) are swapping bass tips.
sadly i just improv to try things out, to 'feel' the instrument.
then i might bring out the pink panther theme
then i might bring out the pink panther theme
Seriously? I find myself playing fusiony kinds of things. Like...
Blue Wind - Jeff Beck
School Days - Stanley Clarke
Etc. etc...
MM
Blue Wind - Jeff Beck
School Days - Stanley Clarke
Etc. etc...
MM
I check tuning first, and then I'll play random riffs(slap and pop riffs, riffs with picks, riffs without picks...you name it.) While I'm doing so I'll mess with the tone and volume settings.
I'm not a great technician, so I'm never going to impress anyone playing solo. What I usually do is go for the goof factor. TV game show themes, commercial jingles, etc. I've got about 20 that I can "whip out" on a moments notice. I can't dazzle them with technique, but I sure can make 'em smile.
Is that anything like Country Music by Stu Hamm?
I've got a few:
Diamonds on the Soles of her shoes by Paul Simon.
88 by Level 42
School Days by Stanley Clarke
Prime Mover by Rush
some of The Aga of The Ladies and Glad To be Back From Paris by Jonas Hellborg.
i ask to go to a lesson room with the stuff i want to play
if i am serious and have money to spend
i cant stand how people wank on stupid songs to get attention
i play what i need to in order to make a decision
most places are cool about it
i can take the amp i want or the bass i want to a lesson room and just jam for a while and make my decision
anyone else do that
if i am serious and have money to spend
i cant stand how people wank on stupid songs to get attention
i play what i need to in order to make a decision
most places are cool about it
i can take the amp i want or the bass i want to a lesson room and just jam for a while and make my decision
anyone else do that
I'll slap a few lines from Low Rider or Shaky Ground, then do Crossroads, Sweet Emotion and Ramble On for fingerstyle, then a few walking jazz lines to see if the amp or bass has good jazz tone
