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Archive for September 2011 - Page 10

Peavey Releases Updated TNT 115 and TKO 115 Bass Combos
Bass Gear

Peavey Releases Updated TNT 115 and TKO 115 Bass Combos

Peavey has released updated versions of their TKO and TNT 115 bass combos. Rated at 400 watts and 600 watts respectively, the amps are fresher takes on the models which debuted over 30 years ago. There are several factors the TKO and TNT share – a 15″ loudspeaker, a tilt-back design, a seven-band graphic EQ with high and low shelving...

Understanding Blues Forms and Common Substitutions
Blues Bass

Understanding Blues Forms and Common Substitutions

In this lesson, we’re going to examine a couple of different blues forms, specifically the 12 bar, 8 bar, and 16 bar blues. Additionally, we’ll go over a few different approaches to playing through the form and knowing when it would be appropriate to substitute chords or when to adhere to the traditional changes. Here is a diagram outlining the...

Fitz and The Tantrums: Don’t Gotta Work It Out
Bass Videos

Fitz and The Tantrums: Don’t Gotta Work It Out

The love for the low end runs deep in my family. My brother Josh, a bass trombonist sent me this video, highlighting both the bass and the honkin’ good bari sax. This is Fitz and The Tantrums, a band from L.A. with bassist Joseph Karnes and sax man James King. The tune, “Don’t Gotta Work It Out”, is from their...

Jazz Bass Improvisation
Sheet Music & Instruction

Jazz Bass Improvisation

Musicians Institute has released Jazz Bass Improvisation, written by jazz bassist Putter Smith. The book offers approaches to chords, scales, arpeggios through detailed practice routines and techniques to help advance practical techniques, improvisation concepts, jazz theory, chord studies and scale patterns. The method is suitable for both electric and upright players. The book ships with a companion CD, featuring 34...

Bass of the Week: Rickenbacker Limited Edition Lemmy Kilmister Signature 4004LK
Bass of the Week

Bass of the Week: Rickenbacker Limited Edition Lemmy Kilmister Signature 4004LK

Rickenbacker paid tribute to metal icon and Motorhead frontman Lemmy Kilmister with the introduction of the 4004LK, a signature bass limited to 60 pieces that was first spotted in 1995, though production started around 2000. The bass is half instrument, half art, as each piece’s walnut body features a hand-carved relief of oak leaves and white checked binding. Since they...

Still Fishin’: An Exclusive Interview with Les Claypool
Interviews

Still Fishin’: An Exclusive Interview with Les Claypool

Les Claypool is a man that defies genres and labels. Since picking up bass at an early age, his influences of funk, prog rock and everything in between have melded to create his unique sound, which the bassist admits even he has trouble labeling. Of course, his creativity doesn’t stop at bass playing – Claypool is also an accomplished producer,...

Chickenfoot: Big Foot Music Video
Bass Videos

Chickenfoot: Big Foot Music Video

Chickenfoot has released a music video for “Bigfoot,” the first single from their upcoming album III, due out September 27th. The group includes Joe Satriani, Sammy Hagar, Kenny Arnoff, and ex-Van Halen bassist Michael Anthony, who supplies his rock solid playing and signature falsetto background vocals to the tune. Besides featuring the new song, the video also answers the age...

Tommy Stinson Releases One Man Mutiny
New Albums

Tommy Stinson Releases One Man Mutiny

Ex-Replacements and current Guns N’ Roses bassist Tommy Stinson has released his second solo album, entitled One Man Mutiny. With hints of influence from Bob Dylan and the Rolling Stones, the ten-track record proves Stinson’s songwriting is just as solid as his playing. The album is aptly named, as Stinson created his own Done to Death Music label to promote...