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Archive for May 2017 - Page 7

In Memoriam: Cel Revuelta
In Memoriam

In Memoriam: Cel Revuelta

Former Black Flag bassist Cel Revuelta has passed away after fighting brain cancer. The news was shared on a GoFundMe page that was set up to assist with his medical bills. “Today we lost a wonderful person, our hearts are broken Cel passed away this morning Wednesday, May 3rd, 2017,” Adriana Martinez shared. “He was surrounded by his immediate family....

The Lightbulb Moment: Key Change!
The Lightbulb Moment

The Lightbulb Moment: Key Change!

There comes a time in every player’s life when we listen to a song and are able to identify a perfectly executed lift in tonal center. The energy heightens, the chorus takes on a slightly new character, and the band keeps grooving with a new sense of intention. This extraordinary moment can only be one thing: a key change. Take...

FORQ: Ultraviolet
Bass Videos

FORQ: Ultraviolet

FORQ released their sophomore album, in April. The band, which includes Snarky Puppy bassist/bandleader Michael League, Snarky Puppy guitarist Chris McQueen, Rudder keyboardist Henry Hey, and drummer Jason “JT” Thomas, just shared the video for the track “Ultraviolet.” The musical ties in this band are strong. “I met Chris McQueen the summer before our first year in college at the...

In Memoriam: Kevin Garcia
In Memoriam

In Memoriam: Kevin Garcia

Kevin Garcia, who laid down the low end for indie rock outfit Grandaddy, has passed away after suffering a stroke. He was 41 years old. The news was announced by the band on their Facebook page. “There are no accurate words to express what we need to,” the band wrote. “We are absolutely shattered to say that we lost our...

Groove – Episode #29: Chuck Rainey
Groove Podcast

Groove – Episode #29: Chuck Rainey

How does one concisely (and intelligently) write something meaningful about an artist like Chuck Rainey? It’s easy to say that Chuck is an American bassist who was born in Cleveland, Ohio and went on to play with artists like Aretha Franklin, Steely Dan, Marvin Gaye, The Jackson 5, Quincy Jones, etc… He’s so much more than that, to those who...

Steve Lawson and Andy Edwards: Over Time
Bass Videos

Steve Lawson and Andy Edwards: Over Time

Bassists and drummers always share a special bond, but Steve Lawson and Andy Edwards have an incredible musical camaraderie. The duo recently performed an entirely improvised set at Tower of Song in Birmingham and it’s astounding. Here’s an extended clip of “Over Time”, which will be available to Lawson’s Bandcamp subscribers. “Everything here is live – I’m playing bass and...

Hotone Audio Now Shipping B Station Bass Preamp/DI
Pedals & Effects

Hotone Audio Now Shipping B Station Bass Preamp/DI

Hotone Audio is now shipping the B Station, a bass preamp and DI in a pedal format. Designed for studio and stage, the unit packs in a 3-band EQ, a Drive channel, and an optical compressor as well. The Drive is kicked in via a dedicated footswitch, while the compressor has a simple one-knob control. For further connectivity, the B...

Do I Have To Like Jazz To Improve My Playing?
Ask Damian Erskine

Do I Have To Like Jazz To Improve My Playing?

Q: I’ve read some interviews of yours, and you mentioned that when you started studying jazz, you weren’t actually all that into the music, but you came to appreciate it later through study, etc… I’ve been trying to work through standards, exercises through chord changes and bebop/chromatic-type stuff, but I don’t know what I’m trying to achieve, in a way....

Mr. Big: Next Time Around
Bass Videos

Mr. Big: Next Time Around

How can you not love Billy Sheehan? Besides being a phenomenal bass player, he’s the epitome of cool. Here’s a great clip of Sheehan in the video for Mr. Big’s “Next Time Around,” which showcases his supportive playing with some great licks thrown in for good measure. Be sure to check out the fill at the 2:17 mark.

Reader Spotlight: Russ Webster
Reader Spotlight

Reader Spotlight: Russ Webster

Meet Russ Webster, who was first drawn to the low end when he was around 12 years old, thanks to bands like AC/DC, Kiss, and Rush. Today, Russ plays in a successful band in the midwest. Russ is this week’s No Treble reader in the spotlight. Here’s his story… Bio: My name is Russ Webster and I’m from Indianapolis, Indiana....

Creative Bass Lines: Increasing Fingerboard Knowledge – Part 3: Minor Arpeggios
Creative Bass Lines

Creative Bass Lines: Increasing Fingerboard Knowledge – Part 3: Minor Arpeggios

Continuing our series on increasing fingerboard knowledge, here’s the accompanying Minor Arpeggio Exercises to play all across the fingerboard. This is the same principle as the Major types. I’ve given you a number of variations to try, and you’ll see this gives you more options when playing over a minor chord type. As usual, practice everything slowly, paying partucular attention...

The Other Brothers: Joe Dart’s Isolated Bass on “Boogie On Reggae Woman”
Bass Videos

The Other Brothers: Joe Dart’s Isolated Bass on “Boogie On Reggae Woman”

The Other Brothers guitarist John Morrison shared this clip with us after having Vulfpeck’s Joe Dart sit in with them on a performance of Stevie Wonder’s “Boogie On Reggae Woman.” They recorded the performance and isolated Dart’s bass from the rest of the band. And if that’s not enough, they set it to a Mario Bros. video.