Comments on: Bass lessons

By: John Cramer

John Cramer — Wed, 09 Dec 2009 01:15:36 +0000

That’s no joke, K. Man, is that no joke.

I am very jealous of you, Charlie, you have a great set up with a great group of guys. I’m glad to hear it.

By: Mr. Lost His Way

Mr. Lost His Way — Tue, 08 Dec 2009 16:30:53 +0000

Band chemistry is such a tender thing. When you find yourselves amongst a group of talented musicians; who show up for rehearsals; where no one has pretensions about the situation that exceed the abilities and desires of the group; AND these abilities and desires match one’s own, one has a precious thing that one should get down on both knees and thank the floor for –whilst also reminding oneself to take it all with a grain of salt because it could all be gone tomorrow for some reason or another.

By: Charlie Naked

Charlie Naked — Mon, 07 Dec 2009 15:46:27 +0000

I can definitely attest to the difference it can make to creativity when you’re playing in a band full of mutual respect and everyone getting along. Linus is like that, and I look forward to every rehearsal, recording session, and show like the ray of golden sunshine it is. I’ve been in other bands where every bandmember interaction involved bickering and arguments about “direction” or whatever, and everyone telling everyone else what to play and how to play it, and it was just misery, to the point where you just don’t want to talk to anyone in the band at all.

I also think technique is what you make of it… it may not be what someone would teach you in an orchestra situation, but as long as you’re thinking about what you want to play and sound like, I think that counts as at least making an effort. I certainly am no gem of a guitar player, but part of that is my conscious decision at some point in my early college years to move away from pentatonic blues-based guitar playing, and towards something based more on intervallic playing, something more intuition-based, and though I think that’s given me a more personal sound and style, it’s also meant that I find myself pretty much incapable of playing a nice old-school rippin’ guitar solo anymore. I guess it was a tradeoff, but it’s definitely a decision I have to revisit once in awhile, and wonder if maybe there might’ve been a middle ground I could’ve chosen. Maybe I’ll look into that again.

By: Hannah

Hannah — Mon, 07 Dec 2009 01:21:46 +0000

I’ve had the honor of witnessing, first hand, this bass-tastic journey over the past year-plus, and I have to say that I am beyond inspired by your plan to take on a new ownership of your instrument! Thank you for taking your bass playing to another level, Sparky. What you’ve contributed to the band, thus far has been absolutely suffice bass playing which makes what’s to come sure sonic magic!! By all means, play to bleed. I’m delighted to be a part of the bass-evolution-plan and I’m sure this will only encourage us to evolve with you! Xoxox Ps my two security words below that I’m required to submit to post on this blog are “dogma coupee.”

By: Mr. Lost His Way

Mr. Lost His Way — Sun, 06 Dec 2009 18:43:27 +0000

I’d love to hear about what tunings you find. The only tuning variations I’ve played with re: bass is drop D and using the tuning pegs to shift the melody in real time.

By: jdenkmire

jdenkmire — Sun, 06 Dec 2009 15:43:36 +0000

Oh, that’s funny. Yeah, Mark Ibold looked pretty much lost that whole show. I like to gloss over that fact in my mind when I’m remembering how unbelievable it was.

What’s funny is that I think Lee and Thurston have done what they do in part to make it considerably easier for them so that I’m not sure they’ve had to get any better, really. Is that cheating? Hardly.

By: mrshl

mrshl — Sun, 06 Dec 2009 14:32:00 +0000

No apologies necessary. I’ve been playing guitar for years, and not only have I been doing it wrong all that time, I’ve actually gotten worse.

At this point, I don’t even play guitar, I play chords.

Also, for a minute there I thought you were going to say Mark Ibold had taught you something. Glad to hear that’s not the case.