Ryan Madora

Redefining the look of traditional bass players, Ryan Madora is currently lighting up the Philadelphia music scene with old school soul and blues inspired grooves. After graduating from New York University with a B.M. in Music Business, Ryan has returned to her hometown to play with a number of talented musicians and focus on teaching.

Ryan began playing bass at the age of 14 after spending a handful of years playing percussion. Her world was flipped upside-down after seeing the Blues Brothers movies and “Standing in the Shadows of Motown.” Since then, she has always aspired to be a great “groove” player while maintaining a strong sense of melody.

Well versed in various styles including Top 40, folk , classic rock, and zydeco, her true love is the blues. In addition to playing, Ryan has been active in the music industry, focusing on concert production, promotion, booking, and performing rights organizations. Ryan works with various artists in the Philadelphia area, teaches ensembles, bass, and guitar lessons, and is currently working on a blues album with guitarist Don Evans. She has studied with Gerald Veasley, Anthony Wellington, Mike Richmond, Chuck Anderson, and many others.

Learn more about Ryan on her website: www.ryanmadora.com

Articles by Ryan Madora:

Capturing Your Ideas: Transform Your Musical Inspiration into Reality

If you’re a fan of the Rolling Stones, you’re probably familiar with the story of Keith Richards coming up with the lick to “Satisfaction.” If not, here’s the story: the classic guitar riff came to him in the middle of the night, and luckily, he had a cassette player by his bed and was quickly...continue reading »

I Ain’t Superstitious: Personal Quirks and Why They Work

It’s 6pm… time to get the gear in the car, enter the club’s address into the GPS, and get on the road. It takes exactly five minutes and three trips to pack: one trip for each cabinet (the two fit side by side in the trunk), and one trip for the amp head, bag o’...continue reading »

Refresh Yourself: Some Thoughts on Musical Growth

As we grow and develop as bassists, we tend to go through different stages of learning. Sometimes we feel inspired and creative, other times we feel as if we’ve plateaued or burnt out. During the good times, it’s easy to find new concepts to work on, specific ideas to write about, or ways to make...continue reading »

Earplugs… A Love-Hate Relationship (Part 2: Where, When, and Why)

Photo by Quinn Dombrowski In Part 1 of this series, we looked at two different types of earplugs, the over-the-counter ones as well as the custom molded ones, and some of the benefits of each. Now, let’s think about when to use them and how to get comfortable playing with them in. Before we jump...continue reading »

Earplugs… A Love-Hate Relationship (Part 1: Options)

Photo by Quinn Dombrowski Ever rush out of the house in the morning and forget something that you always have with you? Your watch, perhaps? Or maybe your reading glasses? As soon as you realize that you’ll have to go all day without this beloved item, you start to feel uncomfortable, annoyed, and metaphorically naked....continue reading »

Bass Strings: To Change Or Not To Change

For years, bass players have debated the concept of changing strings and most people have asked the same questions: Doesn’t it change the sound of the instrument? Does the funk disappear? How can someone get good tone playing strings that are a year old? Don’t you know that (insert famous bass player) never changed his...continue reading »

Gigging? Make a Reserve Tune List

It’s 11:58, and you just finished a killer set. So much so that the crowd is clapping, fist pumping, raising their drinks in the air and collectively begging for one more song. The band members look around at one another and think, “yeah, this is awesome! But what are we gonna do???” You played through...continue reading »

Flu Season Fumbles and Avoiding Lost Gigs

As we get over the start of a new year and the holidays seem like a distant memory, we enter a new season with the worst surprise of them all… the flu. With the weather, the “warriors” who insist on coming into the office, travel, and the nights off to hang out with friends at...continue reading »

On Performing: Somebody, Somewhere, Is Going To Notice

Just when you think no one is watching… someone comes along and compliments you on your technique. Technique? Really? Of all things… This past weekend, I played a rock ’n roll gig at a smoke-filled, small-town bar with Coors and Miller lights ablaze. A few older gentlemen approached me during a break and asked: “what...continue reading »

Read Up! Part 2: How to Find and Work Through Books for Bass

Ah ha! You’ve reached the oh-so-exciting section of the music store where the possibilities seem endless and you get giddy just thinking about picking something up and taking it home… No, not the bass wall… the bookshelves! You feast your eyes on the “Teach Yourself Harmonica” manuals, the transcription books of Green Day guitar solos,...continue reading »

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