DI, Mic or Both? Perspectives from Bassists and Engineers
Q: Could you do an article or a poll about whether to mic your bass amp during live gigs or to use a direct line into the mixer? I’ve heard opinions on both sides. A: I definitely have my own thoughts and opinions based on my experiences, and I’ve also asked some engineers this question at various gigs lately to...
Butter Strings: A Guide to Finding the Best Bass Strings for You
Q: What’s the best way to smoothen up my playing? I notice that a lot of bass players play like the strings are made of wool. I play a basic 4-string Cort G-series model, but I always get the feeling the strings are way to hard/high to play smoothly, or when I lower them, they make a lousy sound because...
Visual Metronome: A Look at the Metronome App for iOS
You might be sitting there wondering, “Why write about yet another metronome app?” If you were, my answer is this: there are almost as many ways in which to use a metronome as there are metronomes available on the App Store, and some fulfill a need better than others. This time around, we take a look at More Muse’s Visual...
Basses and Skill: Stick to One or Diversify?
Q: Is there any benefit in mastering two (or more) types of basses? I have a 5-string fretted that is my primary instrument, and that’s the one I take out of the “shed.” After finding a great deal on a fretless 4-string at a pawnshop, my thought was this bass would be perfect for playing jazz, and I started studying...
Versatility: A Guide for Bassists
Q: Like a lot of the guys out there on the scene, you make a living playing a wide variety of styles. I have a hard enough time trying to play well in any one style of music. How do you get so comfortable in so many different kinds of musical settings? A: I think that a part of it...
Songsterr: A Look at the Tab Player for iOS and Android
While I am a big proponent of learning to read notation, I do agree that tab can be extremely useful, especially to the beginning musician. Tab has its place and its usefulness is undeniable, so I was looking forward to checking out the Songsterr Tab app on my iPad and iPhone. Man. I wish I had this when I was...
How to Improve Your Phrasing
Q: I’m looking to make my phrasing more dynamic. What would you suggest? A: For this week’s column, I decided to make a little video to answer this question, and demonstrate what I do to work on my phrasing. Check it out:
Building Bass Lines: Navigating More Changes
Q: I have recently begun playing with a pop artist who writes what I would call “chord heavy” songs. These are not your typical I-IV-V tunes, and they definitely aren’t “riffy”; they are tunes with intricate verse and chorus progressions and extended bridges. I have been going off the lead sheets for now, but my question is how can I...
DrumGenius: A Look at the Drum Loop App for iOS
I was recently turned on to DrumGenius by NoTreble’s own Kevin Johnson, and I’m glad that I was. In essence, DrumGenius is a simple library of drum loops in various styles – 201 loops in all. But it is really much more than that. The app is more like an encyclopedic collection of classic jazz grooves and some quite modern...
Dealing with Awkward Keys when Transposing on Bass
Q: I’ve been asked to play Billy Ocean’s “When The Going Gets Tough” transposed down to B, which is down in the murky depths of the B string, and I feel it takes away from the bass line. Going up an octave makes it seem thin. Any advice on how I could remedy this issue, not just for this song,...
Wearing a Ring while Playing: A Discussion for Bass Players
Q: I’m getting married soon and thought about how much wearing a wedding ring could affect my playing. I suppose it takes some time to adjust to it anyway, but I’m especially thinking about fret and string noise, or neck scratches. I noticed that you play with a wedding ring yourself and seem pretty comfortable with it, even on wide...
Getting Recognized: Advice for Bassists
Q: How do I brand myself as an internationally recognized bass player? How does one get endorsed to an international brand? A: You’d be surprised by how many times I get this question. It seems that many think there may be a trick or a simple solution to “making it”, “getting discovered” or “scoring an endorsement”. There are a few...