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Archive for November 2011 - Page 2

Top Ten: The Hottest Bass Videos and Gear, Mod Shop, Practicing with a Looper, and Talking About the Blues Bass Scale
Weekly Top 10

Top Ten: The Hottest Bass Videos and Gear, Mod Shop, Practicing with a Looper, and Talking About the Blues Bass Scale

Gear. Videos. How-to’s. Readers can’t get enough of them (neither can we). Last week, Evan Marien’s “Soulseek” took top honors, with Viz Maurogiovanni’s solo performance of Fauré’s “Pavane, Op. 50” and the duet of Grant Stinnett and Michael Manring performing “Money Talks” making the list too. Our gear coverage ranged from old school cool to weird and wacky, plus a...

Bill Wyman Releases Rhythm Kings Collectors’ Edition Box Set
New Albums

Bill Wyman Releases Rhythm Kings Collectors’ Edition Box Set

In the early ‘90s, Bill Wyman left the rock and roll dynasty known as The Rolling Stones to form the Rhythm Kings. Today, a new box set chronicles the band’s entire recorded career. The Rhythm Kings Collectors’ Edition Box Set contains all four of their studio albums released from 1998 to 2001, including the 2-CD Double Bill. The tracks in...

Way Down: Playing Bass with Elvis, Dylan, the Doors and More – The Autobiography of Jerry Scheff
News

Way Down: Playing Bass with Elvis, Dylan, the Doors and More – The Autobiography of Jerry Scheff

Hard to believe the musical career of Jerry Scheff can fit into a 256 page autobiography, but somehow Scheff managed to do it. The pro session bassist has penned a memoir covering his 45 year career with some of the biggest names in popular music, set for release in March, 2012. In Way Down: Playing Bass with Elvis, Dylan, the...

Doug Johns: “Pocket Fulla Nasty” – Live
Bass Videos

Doug Johns: “Pocket Fulla Nasty” – Live

What the world needs is more Doug Johns videos… especially like this one. Here’s Doug with drummer Chris Ceja, performing “Pocket Fulla Nasty” live at CPE Sound in Chicago, IL. The tune can be found on the 2008 release of the same name. Be sure to check out our interview with Doug (after the video, of course).

SuperMegaUltraGroovy Updates Capo App for iOS
Apps

SuperMegaUltraGroovy Updates Capo App for iOS

SupreMegaUltraGroovy has updated their Capo app for iOS with version 1.2. Designed for learning, the music app allows for independently adjusting the speed and pitch of any song in your music library. Capo 1.2 adds several features, including mono re-mixing for isolating the left or right channels, which comes in handy for students working with play-alongs. A 10-band equalizer allows...

Hal Leonard Releases Sheet Music Direct for iPad
Apps

Hal Leonard Releases Sheet Music Direct for iPad

Hal Leonard has brought their digital sheet music store to the iPad. Sheet Music Direct for iPad is a three-in-one app, allowing access to the publisher’s more than 100,000 songs available for purchase, as well as a sheet music viewer and score library. Past Sheet Music Direct customers can access all their previous purchases through the app, and new customers...

Bass Gear Roundup: Old School Fender, Roland Field Recorder, Arium 050, New Pigtronix Pedal and The Bass of the Week
Gear Roundup

Bass Gear Roundup: Old School Fender, Roland Field Recorder, Arium 050, New Pigtronix Pedal and The Bass of the Week

The latest bass gear coverage, all in one spot. 1. Roland Introduces R-26 Field Recorder Roland has released the R-26 Portable Field Recorder featuring dual built-in stereo microphones, two XLR/TRS inputs, and an input for a stereo plug-in powered mic. The device allows for up to six channels of simultaneous recording and has Roland’s patented IARC circuitry on the inputs...

Slayer Returns to the Studio
News

Slayer Returns to the Studio

Slayer is once again working on a new album, to be the follow-up to 2009’s World Painted Blood. The news was broken by drummer Dave Lombardo via Twitter. Fronted by bassist/vocalist Tom Araya, the metal giants had begun preliminary work on a new record earlier this year when guitarist Jeff Hanneman suffered from a flesh-eating virus in his arm, reportedly...

Bass of the Week: Bas-Extravaganza Fluffy
Bass of the Week

Bass of the Week: Bas-Extravaganza Fluffy

While this bass may conjure images of ZZ Top, the idea for the Bas-Extravaganza Fluffy actually came to proprietor Bas Wittenberg on a trip through IKEA. The luthier saw a rug and immediately decided to put it to use as a “finish.” “This is a real party bass,” he writes. “Women love it, and men want to shave.” Measuring at...

Let’s Talk About the Blues Scale
Blues Bass

Let’s Talk About the Blues Scale

The Blues Scale. Why do so many players talk about this as the quintessential soloing tool? Have you ever wondered why the blues scale doesn’t always sound good while being played over a blues progression? Aren’t you looking for something more “realistic” in terms of an approach for soloing? Although this column is starting to sound like an infomercial proposing...

Li’nard, “The Best Bass Guitarist in NYC”: Live Bass Solo
Bass Videos

Li’nard, “The Best Bass Guitarist in NYC”: Live Bass Solo

When we saw the title of this video (“The Best Bass Guitarist in NYC”), we of course had to check it out. And Li’nard blew us away. The video description went on to say, “Li’nard is a New York City legend. He is recognized as a genius in the art of dynamic, live performance and as a versatile bass guitarist,...

Rush Releases “Sector” Box Sets from Mercury Records Career
New Albums

Rush Releases “Sector” Box Sets from Mercury Records Career

Rush is having one busy November. Following the release of Time Machine 2011 – Live in Cleveland, the trio of Geddy Lee, Alex Lifeson and Neil Peart are reissuing their first fifteen albums from their 14-year run with Mercury Records. Sectors is broken down into three separate six-disc box sets, each including five CDs in release order, with a bonus...