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Articles by Ryan Madora - Page 21


When The Gig Gets Canceled…
I Wish I Knew That

When The Gig Gets Canceled…

Let’s face it, we usually don’t enjoy picking up the phone and finding out that our gig is canceled. Hearing the news via email or text doesn’t make it any better, especially if it’s short notice. On one hand, the middle-schooler in us delights in the fact that we can stay home in our PJ’s, watch movies and maybe even...

Listening Back: Get a New Perspective on Your Playing
I Wish I Knew That

Listening Back: Get a New Perspective on Your Playing

A few days ago, I happened to be “shuffling” through my music library and stumbled upon a long-forgotten EP that I played on in high school, just a few years into picking up the bass. I took a short break from my day and decided to listen with a hint of skepticism, a dash of personal critique, and a boatload...

Play Other Instruments! Such as… Any and All of Them
I Wish I Knew That

Play Other Instruments! Such as… Any and All of Them

Welcome to the final part of the “Play Other Instruments” series. In the last few columns, we took a look at playing piano, guitar, and drums, and I got to describe some of the benefits of noodling around on each of those. Then, I took a step back and decided it was a bit unfair to only address the instruments...

Play Other Instruments! Such as… Drums
I Wish I Knew That

Play Other Instruments! Such as… Drums

This installment of “other instruments” takes a look at playing the drums. Yes, they are fun. Yes, you can play loud and beat on things with sticks. No, you won’t have to fall victim to the jokes. On a more serious note, the attention paid to rhythm and feel is one and the same while playing bass. Plus, within an...

Play Other Instruments! Such as… Guitar
I Wish I Knew That

Play Other Instruments! Such as… Guitar

In the previous column, we introduced an exciting concept: the importance of learning your way around on a few other instruments. Aside from being able to sit down at a piano or pick up an acoustic guitar, a bit of musical variety can influence your approach to the bass. Having some basic knowledge of piano can be a huge advantage,...

Play Other Instruments! Such as… Piano
I Wish I Knew That

Play Other Instruments! Such as… Piano

Like many other bass players, I’ve traveled a long and winding road before discovering my passion for the instrument. A few years of piano lessons, three months of playing the flute, and a handful of years in the school band’s percussion section were just a few of my “trial and error” experiences before making the right connection with the bass....

Going Unnoticed: Our Role as Bassists (Or: The Not-So-Obvious Compliment)
I Wish I Knew That

Going Unnoticed: Our Role as Bassists (Or: The Not-So-Obvious Compliment)

There’s an old saying in the musical world that goes a little like this: “I didn’t even notice the bass until it wasn’t there!” While this may seem a bit unfair – as if all of the other instruments receive the listening attention they deserve while we stand in the back – it happens to be a great compliment. Of...

Finding the Musical Treasures in Your Own Backyard
I Wish I Knew That

Finding the Musical Treasures in Your Own Backyard

A few weeks ago, I was lucky enough to check out the Summer NAMM show in Nashville. Although it was great to walk around the showroom floor, check out all of the new gear, and run into some friends, the most exciting part of the show was the congregation of truly fantastic players. The NAMM show (or any music industry-related...

I Wish I Knew That: Making The Music Better
I Wish I Knew That

I Wish I Knew That: Making The Music Better

Let’s face it, sometimes we find ourselves in not-so-ideal playing situations. In a perfect world, we would always have our favorite drummer on the gig and could lock in and groove all night long. We would never have to compete with the busy left hand of a keyboard player, stay alert during the 15-minute guitar solo, or back up a...

Getting to Know Your Bass: How Many Strings Does It Take to Screw In A Lightbulb?
Getting to Know Your Bass

Getting to Know Your Bass: How Many Strings Does It Take to Screw In A Lightbulb?

Ok, this column’s title is a bad joke (feel free to come up with you own punch line). In the past few columns of this “Getting To Know” series, we’ve examined a number of topics that relate to what your instrument can do, why you prefer it, and how that impacts your playing ability on the instrument. After discussing tone...

Getting to Know Your Bass: How Your Bass’s Action Influences What You Can Do
Getting to Know Your Bass

Getting to Know Your Bass: How Your Bass’s Action Influences What You Can Do

Keeping up with Getting to Know Your Bass series, today we’ll take a look at the action of your bass and how that influences what you can play. While your action doesn’t necessarily impact your note choice, it certainly factors into the amount of force necessary to play the instrument and the techniques that you use while playing. Ultimately, you...

Getting to Know Your Bass: All About the Neck
Getting to Know Your Bass

Getting to Know Your Bass: All About the Neck

In part one of Getting to Know Your Bass, we discussed the importance of knowing what the tone knobs do on your instrument. Now, we’ll continue our discussion by learning about how your instrument’s neck influences where, what and how you play. We’ll begin with scale length and how it may impact your tone or musical choices. Then, we’ll get...