Do I Really Need to Go To Music School?
Q:I’m a bass player from Mexico and I am currently studying in Paris and looking for some gigs. I am a little overwhelmed right now by school, which is a jazz-oriented school. I like jazz, but I feel a little forced to learn licks and that stuff. I’m not saying I’m the greatest bass player or anything, but I don’t...
Bass Ramps: The How and Why
Q: I see a lot of people talking about the use of bass ramps. I see that it’s basically a piece of wood in between the pickups, but I’m not sure what the benefits are. Also, how do you make one? A: A ramp (or finger ramp) was created out of the desire to broaden the range of feeling one...
iDouble Bass: A Look at the App for Learning Double Bass
iDouble Bass was recommended for review by my friend (and fantastic luthier/bass/educator Laurence Mollerup in Vancouver, BC). This is a simple app with a simple goal: to help educators and beginning upright students to learn the proper techniques, teaching techniques and provides a wealth of information regarding application. There are plenty of pictures included which will help you to learn...
Controlling Rhythm and Expressing it Musically
Q: This week’s column was written in part from a response to a FaceBook question I had about controlling rhythm and expressing it musically. I was also asked about my approach with my right hand, and where it came from with regard to rhythm and how I use it in my lines. I took that response and expanded on it...
Playing Bass: To Right a Left or Leave It Right
Q: I have been playing right-handed ever since I started playing bass, even though I am a left-handed person. Recently though, I have noticed (by messing around) that when I switch the bass around, I can pull off previously difficult techniques a lot better with my left hand, right off the bat. I am considering trying to switch to left-handed...
AudioStretch: A Look at the Slow Downer App for iOS
Another slow downer app? Yes. Why? Because AudioStretch does something that no other app has, at least the ones I’ve tried. What could that be? Speed = 0%! I can’t believe that no one thought of this before (and I apologize if someone has and I haven’t seen it yet). This feature is simply a fantastic way to figure out...
Boutique Basses: Are They Worth It?
Q: I see so many people spending thousands of dollars on handmade basses, but so many of the recordings I listen to are recorded using a standard P or J bass. What is it about these high end basses that is so “worth it” to so many? A: There are so many possible answers to this question! For some, it...
Cable Considerations: A Guide (and Discussion) for Bass Players
Q: Are expensive boutique cables really worth the expense? A: There are two ways we can look at this question. One is tech, the other is a combination of perception and experience. The technical explanation involves more of a scientific look at how cables work: signal purity, conductivity and so on. I’m not a technical guy, so I’ll share with...
Mapping Tonal Harmony Pro: A Look at the Harmony App for iOS and Android
I recently stumbled upon Mapping Tonal Harmony Pro, an app that blew my mind. If I had access to this app in college, I would’ve understood my upper level harmony courses so much better. This is an app that’s not only useful, it is also fun to play with. If you have a desire to explore functional harmony and are...
Stage Volume: Turn Up and Play Light (and Other Considerations)
Q: In hard rock and metal music, many players – including me – resort to playing with a heavy right hand to cut through the mix of distortion. As time goes by my right wrist starts to experience some pain and I’m thinking I should be playing lighter. Jeff Berlin and Gary Willis have been advocating “turn up and play...
Playing Through Changes with Arpeggios: Exercises for Bassists
Many of my past columns have focused on answer readers’ questions related to playing through changes. So for this week’s column, I decided to put together the video below to cover a few approaches to getting comfortable with changes, through the use of arpeggios. (Side note: I’m frequently asked about the software I’m using in these videos. The software I’m...
On the Music Path: A Look at the Music Lessons App for iPad
On The Path released a beautiful app that I’ve enjoyed for the past year or so, called On the Music Path. On the Music Path is an iPad app designed to offer in-depth lessons for a multitude of instruments by masters of their craft (like Roscoe Beck, Leland Sklar, Russell Ferrante, Eric Johnson, Lee Ritenour and many many more). While...