Weekly Roundup: RIP Rawbiz, Top Bass How To’s, Fender Rascal, Michael League Transcription and More
Summer is ending, and it looks like everyone is getting back to work. Our top 3 stories this week were all in the “how-to” categories.
But there were still some great videos and gear stories that made the top ten.
We were also saddened to report about the passing of Tim “Rawbiz” Williams this week.
Here are the top 10 most popular stories and videos on No Treble for the week of August 24-30, 2014.
1. How Much Should I Practice?
This is a question Dr. D gets often from both serious students and amateurs alike. Since the answer depends on a person’s goals, and every person is unique, there is no single answer for everyone. However, he makes some general suggestions in this Lowdown column…
2. Fretboard Exercise: C Major Triad Reggae Groove
As bassists, it is important that we know our chords and arpeggios. Coupled with that is the importance of knowing the entire fretboard. In this exercise, we’ll play only three notes – the C Major triad. To make it fun, MarloweDK set it up as a reggae-style groove…
3. Fingernail Care: A Discussion for Bass Players
This week, Damian Erskine answers a reader’s question about fingernail care for bass players…
4. Fender Introduces Classic Player Rascal Bass
Back in 2013, Fender Master Builder Jason Smith created the retro styled Rascal Bass to display at the NAMM Show. This week Fender announced that the Rascal Bass would be put into full production…
5. Mono Cases Slims Down with Bass Sleeve Gig Bag
“Being a musician requires traveling with a lot of gear, but sometimes we want to downsize and travel lighter,” says Mono Cases CEO Daniel Kushner. And that’s the idea behind the company’s latest offering called the Bass Sleeve…
6. In Memoriam: Tim “Rawbiz” Williams
Tim “Rawbiz” Williams, who played with artists from Toni Braxton to Suicidal Tendencies, has passed away. Suicidal Tendencies announced the new on their Facebook page…
Vulfpeck is back with a brand new album, Fugue State – and it is killer. This video features the second track on the album, “1612”. Joe Dart is laying down the killer groove as usual, and singer Antwaun Stanley makes a return appearance…
8. Thomas Laffont Group: Pop & Slap Blues
Bassist Thomas Laffont sent us this video of his new project. He said he recently finished music school, and that this is his first video project as a band leader, bassist, composer and producer. The tune is “Pop & Slap Blues”, and it sounds like Thomas is off to a fantastic start…
9. Bass Transcription: Michael League’s “Continuum”
“Continuum” is one of the most well known songs for bass players, and guest columnist Thomas Milacher argues it is one of the greatest tunes on Jaco Pastorius’s self-titled debut album. Michael League made it his own, and that inspired Thomas to transcribe it…
10. Louis Armstrong, Featuring Arvell Shaw: How High The Moon
Here’s a fantastic video of Louis Armstrong handing the spotlight over to bassist Arvell Shaw for a bass feature on “How High the Moon,” from a 1963 performance in Sydney, Australia. Shaw pulls out all the stops during the nearly 7-minute romp…
