Top 10: The Top Bass Lessons, Columns, Features and More for November
No Treble columnists offered up a bunch of popular how-to’s and lessons in November. Here is the most popular among them, along with our most popular basses of the week and a few stories and features that got the most attention.
Thanks as always for reading, commenting and sharing.
1. Bass of the Week: Convolution Bass
When longtime friends Edwin Paanakker and Frans Haarmeijer decided to join forces to build basses, they knew they wanted to make something different. Enter the Convolution Bass: a lightweight, handmade bass that shares mechanical properties of an upright bass…
2. Playing in One Position: A Workout Guide for Bass Players
A reader asks Damian, “Do you have any exercises that might help with playing in one position on the fretboard? I have a hard time getting away from reorienting myself from root to root.”
3. Bass of the Week: Schecter Blackjack ATX C-4
This week we check out the Schecter Blackjack ATX C-4, a 4-stringer with attitude. Available in Sunburst, Black Satin, and Aged White finishes, the bass is built with a mahogany body, 3-piece mahogany neck, and an ebony fingerboard. The company explains ebony has a “snappy, crisp attack” that lends itself to picking…
4. Playing Fast (and Cleanly): A Discussion for Bass Players
A reader asks Damian, “How can I improve my left hand and right hand coordination to obtain a more cleaner and legato sound? And how can I achieve more speed avoiding the fret buzz that I think I’m getting because of my left/right hand coordination?”
5. Transcription: Stu Hamm’s “Going to California”
This month’s transcription is Stu Hamm’s live performance of the Led Zeppelin classic “Going to California”. This performance of the song opens with a chord. Check out Stuart Clayton’s awesome transcription…
6. Krist Novoselic’s “Smell Like Teen Spirit” Bass to Be Auctioned
The famed bass played by Krist Novoselic and smashed by Kurt Cobain in Nirvana’s “Smells Like Teen Spirit” video went to Christie’s in London for an auction. The 1960?s Japanese Zen-On bass was bought by Novoselic from a pawn shop, because he knew it would be destroyed in the video…
7. Enclosure Tone Exercises for Bassists
One way to give more interest to your improvisations is to add enclosure tones to otherwise simple note choices. Enclosure tones are two tones which “enclose” (i.e. one higher, one lower) another note. Generally, but not always, the note which gets “enclosed” is a chord tone. Dr. D breaks it down…
8. Giveaway: Win a BH250 Head and BC210 Cabinet
TC Electronic and No Treble are teaming up for an ultimate gear contest! One lucky Grand Prize winner will receive a TC Electronic BH250 Head and BC210 Cabinet. Five runners up prize winners will receive a coveted No Treble t-shirt, sticker pack and bumper stickers. Enter to win, no later than December 14…
Science just got a whole lot cooler thanks to Victoria University of Wellington engineering student James McVay. As part of Bachelor’s degree, McVay designed and built the MechBass, a 4-string robotic bass guitar. And yes, it rocks. Built with lasercut and 3D-printed parts, MechBass has four separate units for each string controlled with PCBs…
10. Underrated Bassist: An Interview with Colin Hodgkinson
This is part one of a new series on underrated bass players. First up is Colin Hodgkinson, best known for the innovative blues, rock and jazz group Back Door. While players like Jaco Pastorius were still in high school, Colin Hodgkinson was playing solos, counter-melody, bass lines and chords with Back Door…
