sound Archives
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... »
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... »
Getting to Know Your Bass: Part 1 – Tone Controls
Last night, I got to experience a true musical treat: the Tedeschi Trucks Band at the historic Ryman auditorium in Nashville. The band is somewhat of a super-group of talent and each player has a distinctive voice that contributes to the overall awesomeness of the music. Listening to players like Oteil Burbridge and Derek Trucks,... »
Choosing the Right Tone for the Song: On Stage and In Studio
Q: How do you decide what tone to use for different songs? A: This is a great question. And it is one that is very subjective. This will be different for everyone, but I’m happy to share my personal take on it. This is also something that may be very different live than it is... »
Performing Live: Adapting to Your Environment
Q: I had a gig last night at a church and the room resonated right on F#. The designer of the church could not have designed it any better to mess up anybody playing F#. When I would hit an F#, it would instantly double or almost triple my output. Very crazy. I tried to... »
Q: I’m an amateur bassist, and my current setup consists of an active bass, multi-effects pedal and a combo amp. All of these have equalizers built in, and I’m really unsure how to use them all to the best of their potential. The multi-effects pedal has the most versatility, having separate modules for high and... »
Nikki Sixx Selling Stage-Played Basses from Motley Crue Concerts 
The Bass Solo: A Guide to Soloing More Freely 
Fabienne Gilbert: Come On Come Over 
Performing Live: Memorization vs. Reading vs. Improvisation 
Eric Avery Quits Nine Inch Nails 
NHØP: Autumn Leaves 
Capturing Your Ideas: Transform Your Musical Inspiration into Reality 
Ibanez Introduces Mike D'Antonio MDB3 Signature Bass 
Funk Bros: Love Is Like An Itching In My Heart 
Musical Growth: Thought Process, Practice and Dedication 
