Damian Erskine
Damian is known for his ability to fit into any musical situation, his extraordinary reading and improvising skills as well as being an educator and columnist. He has played in the studio or on the stage with the likes of Peter Erskine, The Jaco Pastorius Big Band (featuring Richard Bona, Peter Erskine & Damian Erskine), Teri-Lynn Carrington, Gino Vannelli, John Ellis, Shawn Pelton, Sveti w/ Marko Djordjevic, Luis Conte, Brandon Ross, Les McCann, Jeff Lorber, Vardan Ovsepian, Charmaine Neville, Jessy J, Tony Furtado and many others as well as being featured on the GospelChops.com "Shed Sessionz Vol. 1" DVD. Whether playing as a sideman or with his own group, he is known for his rock solid bass work, virtuosic solos and thoughtful chordal abilities.
Damian is an adjunct professor at both Portland State University and Marylhurst University in Portland, Oregon and has also appeared as an instructor at Gerald Veasley's Bass Bootcamp, the National Guitar Workshop as well as the Berklee College of Music's Guitar Week.
Articles by Damian Erskine:
Exploring Turnarounds
Q: I really enjoy and find great value in your columns on No Treble. In your last column, you discussed the modal and chordal approaches and mentioned this: “Don’t forget to also practice and transcribe things, which will make you a stronger bassist (walking, common endings and turnarounds, time, various time-feels, and so on.)” Could...continue reading »
Audio MIDI Connect: A Look at the Instrument to MIDI Converter for iOS
If you’re like me, the existence of an app like Audio MIDI Connect is a dream come true. This app allows you to take your instrument signal and convert it to Midi and send it over Wifi! The implications are pretty cool, because this means that your instrument of choice can be a midi controller...continue reading »
Playing Chords: A Guide for Bassists
Q: I recently bought a 6-string bass and started working on playing chords. How should I voice more complex chords (e.g. Gm13) using few (3 to 4) notes, while maintaining the quality of the chord? A: It is important to note a few things when doing this. Much of this is learned by doing it...continue reading »
To Effect or Not to Effect? A Discussion for Bassists
Q: What’s your take on effects pedals? Do you use any? A: I have been exploring many different pedals and having fun with the sonic possibilities, though I rarely use them outside of my home. My most used pedal is my reverb pedal, because I like the what it offers when playing in small group...continue reading »
Figure: A Look into the Music Making App for iOS
When it comes to music making apps for iOS, I’ve generally been quite disappointed. Most of what’s out there is convoluted and confusing, making for a poor and often awkward experience. Propellerhead Software is looking to change all that with the release of their newest app, Figure. Figure offers three different voices to work with:...continue reading »
Choosing the Right Webcam in the Youtube Era
Q: I am looking at starting a Youtube channel, and I was wondering what you’d suggest for a webcam solution. I’m looking for one that has good audio. Alternatively, what is the best, cheap USB interface to buy? A: As many of you may know, I could stand to focus a little attention to my...continue reading »
Following the Singer: A Guide to Dealing with Rhythmically Challenged Vocalists
Q: What do you recommend when you’re tasked with accompanying a seriously rhythm-challenged vocalist? I was both music director and bassist for a recent musical review, with our band backing up a variety of vocalists. Two talented singers passed the audition with their carefully prepared selections, but with new show music, we discovered some serious...continue reading »
Master Tour: A Look into the App for Gig and Tour Management
If you’re a gigging musician, especially if you’re on tour, Master Tour by Eventric is an app you’ll want to check out. I was first introduced to this app by our tour manager’s wife, who hailed it is “100% indispensable”. The app is a companion to the company’s desktop app and web portal, which allows...continue reading »
From Groove to Changes to Soloing: Damian Erskine’s Practice Routine
Q: You answer a lot of questions to help bassists out. But I’d like to know, what are you personally working on to improve your playing? A: I am in a constant state of flux with my practice habits. Different things bug me about my playing depending on the gigs I have one week versus...continue reading »
A Guide to Making the Switch Fretless Bass
Q: I’ve just removed the frets from my first bass, and this is my first experience with a fretless bass. What advice do you have to start out? A: There are two areas of focus for making the switch. At a glance, these might seem to contradict each other, but one applies to practicing and...continue reading »
