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Archive for 2012 - Page 115

Practical Theory: Improvising over a Minor Key Progression
Bass Lessons

Practical Theory: Improvising over a Minor Key Progression

In my last lesson, we covered the topic of improvising over a minor 7 chord. This time around, we’re going to focus on improvising over a minor key progression. For this lesson, we’ll use this progression: | Am7 | G7 | FMaj7 | FMaj7 Bm7b5 | For this particular progression, you can play the A minor Aeolian/A minor pentatonic scale,...

Charles Fambrough: Blues for Bu, Live
Bass Videos

Charles Fambrough: Blues for Bu, Live

A year ago Sunday, bass great Charles Fambrough passed away after a long illness. In honor of his memory, here’s a fantastic live performance of “Blues for Bu”, from Blues at Bradley’s. RIP, Mr. Fambrough.

Steve Lawson Releases New Live, Improvised Solo Bass Album
New Albums

Steve Lawson Releases New Live, Improvised Solo Bass Album

Steve Lawson has released Believe in Peace, a four song album taken from his performance at the I Ching Arts Exhibit in Minneapolis. The exhibit featured the work of Geoff Bush, which moved Lawson so much that he decided to break from his normal gig routine with his wife and play an additional improv solo set. “Intending to play a...

In Memoriam: Pete Stevens, Co-Founder of Wal Basses
In Memoriam

In Memoriam: Pete Stevens, Co-Founder of Wal Basses

Pete Stevens, co-founder of Wal Basses, has passed away at the age of 65. The announcement came from the Wal Bass website. “It is with deepest sadness that we must pass on the news that Pete ‘The Fish’ Stevens, co-founder of Wal Bass Guitars,” the company stated. “As many in the Wal family will know, Pete had suffered from chronic...

Left Hand Thumb: Position
The Lowdown with Dr. D

Left Hand Thumb: Position

For all instrumentalists, excess tension should be a source of concern. We should work to eliminate it as much as possible. For string players, and especially bassists, excess tension can not only lead to technical and musical inaccuracies, but also to physical discomfort and injury. Sometimes these injuries can be resolved or worked around, other times they cannot. When serious...

Before 2112: Make Some Noise for Rush
News

Before 2112: Make Some Noise for Rush

During our down time (is there such a thing?) during the holiday week, the No Treble crew decided to put up a petition site for Rush, calling out the epic failure on the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame’s part to keep them out. Well, they didn’t nickname me “Instigator” for nothing. Thanks to some help from our good friends...

Ed Friedland: Looping Bass Version of Steely Dan’s “Do It Again”
Bass Videos

Ed Friedland: Looping Bass Version of Steely Dan’s “Do It Again”

Here’s a cool video of Ed Friedland, aka the Bass Whisperer, building up a full on version of Steely Dan’s classic “Do It Again” during a 2010 clinic at the Bass Emporium in Austin, Texas. After “giving the drummer some,” Friedland fills out the tune’s bass line, chords and melody before ripping into a tasty solo.

Top 10: Best of 2011 Lists, The Top Bass Video of the Week Plus New Bass Gear
Weekly Top 10

Top 10: Best of 2011 Lists, The Top Bass Video of the Week Plus New Bass Gear

Our weekly top 10 list for the final week of 2011 is made up of even more top 10 lists. Our “Best of 2011” series last week was mega popular, taking the top three slots, and six of the top 10 overall. If you missed them, check them out below, or the complete “Best Of” series. Happy new year! Looking...

2011 Readers’ Favorite Bassists – #1: Victor Wooten
2011 Reader Favorites

2011 Readers’ Favorite Bassists – #1: Victor Wooten

One of the busiest bassists in the business, Victor Wooten was probably never busier than in 2011. Let’s run down the list: The bassist announced his new label, Vix Records, during the Winter NAMM show in January. That wasn’t Vic’s only announcement at NAMM. He also debuted the new Yin Yang Standard bass with Fodera, based on the company’s Victor...

2011 Readers’ Favorite Bassists – #2: Les Claypool
2011 Reader Favorites

2011 Readers’ Favorite Bassists – #2: Les Claypool

Les Claypool said that Primus went “back on the front burner” in 2011, with the reintroduction of original drummer Jay Lane and the band’s release of Green Naugahyde, the first new full-length album since 1999. News of the reunion, the new CD and touring activity pushed the bassist to the #2 slot on the reader favorites list here. We caught...

2011 Readers’ Favorite Bassists – #3: Jaco Pastorius
2011 Reader Favorites

2011 Readers’ Favorite Bassists – #3: Jaco Pastorius

Jaco Pastorius remains a force, nearly a quarter of a century after the world lost the bass legend way too soon. Jaco would have been 60 on December 1, 2011, so we honored him that day with an all-Jaco celebration, including our tribute to the one called “the world’s greatest bassist”. Thanks to the web and Youtube, previously unseen Jaco...

2011 Readers’ Favorite Bassists – #4: Esperanza Spalding
2011 Reader Favorites

2011 Readers’ Favorite Bassists – #4: Esperanza Spalding

2011 was a monster year for Esperanza Spalding. She made bassists proud (and millions of teenage girls super sad/mad) by beating out Justin Bieber for the Grammy Award for Best New Artist. Esperanza was also the first jazz artist to win the award in decades. During the Grammy Awards, Esperanza teamed up with Bobby McFerrin for a memorable duet performance....