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Ask Damian Erskine: Teaching (Part 2)
Q: I am interested in finding out how to get into teaching. For example: What do you recommend about knowledge of theory, scales, modes, etc.? A: This is kind of an interesting one… Of course, the more you know the better (as a player or teacher), but many do fall into a bit of a... »
The Treatment: Gaining Familiarity With a New Tune (Part 2 of 2)
My jazz students and I often work through a process we call “The Treatment.” It’s a tune-based approach and I view it as a preparation for high-level study of improvisation. Once you can navigate a tune using the Treatment, you can more easily work on musical and artistic elements of improvisation. I adjust the Treatment... »
Ask Damian Erskine: My Sense of Groove
I get a lot of emails asking about how to play certain grooves from some of my tunes. I have a new book coming out that deals with many of my techniques, and I explain them in the same way drummers explain drum rudiments. The book will include an mp3 CD with over 100 tracks... »
Custom Shop: The Making of Orchid (Part 1)
A few months ago, a dear friend gave me an incredible gift. He hired Rick Toone, a luthier, to build a custom bass for me. Since the age of 15, I’ve been a Fender guy. I have a couple of 70′s Precisions, a more recent Jazz, and even a low-cost Fender acoustic bass guitar. So... »
Playing Metronomically vs. Musically
Q: I have a hard time not sounding stiff when focusing on my time. Any suggestions? A: I’ve been noticing this phenomenon lately, especially with students who are working on various cello suites. There’s a tendency to try and play the piece metronomically as opposed to musically. Remember that, while we are expected to have... »
Bass Pickups: A Guide to Formulating Your Sound
There are a number of variables to consider in the search for your ideal tone. To date, we have discussed options relative to amplification. Key among the variables that impact bass tone is pickups thus this column concentrates on pickups. While there are many things that contribute to the timbre and tone of your bass... »
The Treatment: Gaining Familiarity With a New Tune (Part 1 of 2)
When improvising, we are freest when we have deeply internalized a song on multiple levels. Before we can improvise the “solo to end all solos,” however, we must have fully assimilated the tune. The fewer rudimentary thoughts we must hold in our mind (such as: what scale goes with this chord?, what fingering can I... »
Beyond the Weekend Warrior
Q: I wanted to know if you have any advice for players like me who still work a full time 9-5 but want to eventually move to playing professionally. My goal is to session/sideman and teach, but opportunities are harder to come by and I’m having trouble getting my foot in the door. A: Man,... »
Common Upright Bass Tunings (Part 2 of 2)
This is part 2 of the Common Upright Bass Tunings series. This time, we’ll cover 5 String Tunings, C extensions and some practice suggestions. Check out Part 1. Five String Tunings As long as there have been basses, there have been basses with 5 strings. Traditionally, the extra string has been used to extend the... »
Ask Damian Erskine: Working with Tricky Drummers
Q: I was wondering how you play with jazz drummers who seem intent on messing everyone up with syncopation. I’ve seen and played with drummers who will start a polyrhythm and repeat it for two measures to set up a downbeat, and they expect me to come in on time? I want to be able... »
The Bass Solo: A Guide to Soloing More Freely 
Fabienne Gilbert: Come On Come Over 
Eric Avery Quits Nine Inch Nails 
Funk Bros: Love Is Like An Itching In My Heart 
Nikki Sixx Selling Stage-Played Basses from Motley Crue Concerts 
Capturing Your Ideas: Transform Your Musical Inspiration into Reality 
Andrea Lombardini: By This River 
NHØP: Autumn Leaves 
Performing Live: Memorization vs. Reading vs. Improvisation 
