Archive for November 2015 - Page 4

To start things off in this new series, we’re going to be working on our left hand dexterity with the “Permutation Exercise”. Each finger is assigned a number: 1 for index 2 for middle 3 for ring and 4 for our pinky By practicing each variation or permutation of the numbers 1, 2, 3, and 4, we can build finger...

Project RnL and bassist Or Lubianiker shared this video earlier this week, and it is another solid performance by one of our favorite bands. “We’ve been working recently on an ‘electronic’ live setup, and here’s our first attempt at it,” they shared. The song is “Expiration Date,” originally written by Pomplamoose.

British heavy metal band Saxon has released its 21st studio album, Battering Ram. The record features bassist Nibbs Carter, who has been with the band since 1988. Known as one of the leading bands of the 1970’s New Wave of British Heavy Metal, Saxon evokes some of its early 80’s sound on the album. If you love classic metal, check...

Stuart Hamm is hitting the road again in support of his latest album, The Book of Lies. The winter tour will include four solo dates before bringing on the bassists’s band consisting of guitarist Alex Skolnick and drummer Joel Taylor. Hamm’s outing focuses on the West Coast and Midwest. The solo dates start November 27th in Spanish Fork, Utah and...

Q: I have a question in regards to the best way to accompany “light sounding” instruments such as a ukulele, mandolin, banjo, or even just auxiliary percussion. I find that whenever I’m playing with these types of instruments I have to limit my style to playing more open, simple lines so as to not drown out the other instrument. The...

Nathan Navarro is back with another great solo bass arrangement. This time he explores the classical world with Mozart’s “Lacrimosa”. Navarro brings lots emotion to the performance, adding drama with dynamics changes and beautiful phrasing. A digital download of the song as well as tablature and sheet music are available on his website.

The Colin Trusedell Trio, led by bassist Colin Trusedell, has released It’s All About the Hustle, Trusedell’s third album as a bandleader. The record from Trusedell – who is adjunct Professor of Bass at Colorado State University – Pueblo and the Musical Director for the United States Air Force Academy Band’s Top 40 ensemble, Blue Steel – features all-original work...

Meet Alex Browne, a bassist studying music and gigging in August, Texas – and someone who has a great “how I started” story. Alex is the No Treble reader in the spotlight for the week of November 16, 2015. Here’s his story… Bio: I stated playing the bass by accident. I asked my parents for a bass for Christmas when...

There’s not a whole lot of live footage of the late, great James Jamerson, but the bits that we have are fantastic. Here’s a clip of the master bassist laying it down for Martha Reeves on a 1974 episode of “Don Kirshner’s Rock Concert.”

Bass superstar Stanley Clarke is exploring his acoustic side on D-STRINGZ, his acoustic collaboration with violinist Jean-Luc Ponty and guitarist Biréli Lagrène. What’s notable is that all three are most well known for their work in electric jazz. The trio first played together at a 2012 Paris concert celebrating Ponty’s 50-year career. D-STRINGZ features the trio’s takes on classics like...

For many bassists, the chromatic scale is an underused resource in their practice toolkit. Properly approached, practicing chromatic scales can vastly improve our shifting, intonation and mental map of the fingerboard. Below are a few beginner exercises using the chromatic scale that I find to be useful for those just becoming more familiar with it. Single string 1 8va chromatic...

Made in the USA, the Wilkins Road Tested Roasted Cayenne WRTJ5 Bass is an instrument that the builder says will make you feel right at home. Luthier Pat Wilkins, who has been in the industry since 1976, writes that the WRTJ was developed from years of extensive research on one of the most widely used basses in the world. This...