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Joe Hubbard Authors Book on Functional Harmony
Top bassist and bass teacher Joe Hubbard (also a No Treble contributor) has released the book, Functional Harmonic Concepts. Hubbard is known for his recording work with artists such as Mose Allison, George Benson and Dave Garabaldi and his instruction (The Who’s current bassist, the prolific Pino Palladino, was one of his students). According to Hubbard, the 120-page book will...
Bass of the Week: Alembic Series II “Leap of Faith”
Alembic’s basses have been a big influence on custom builders, and it’s easy to see why. They started in 1969 as a live sound consulting operation. Founders Ron and Susan Wickersham then moved into instrument electronics, creating low impedance pickups and what would become first set of active electronics for a guitar. Their first bass was built in 1972 for...
Introduction to “Shell Voicings” on Bass
Playing chords on the upright doesn’t only add to our tonal palette, it also strengthens our knowledge of a tune and our instrument. Some voicings, however, are more pleasant than others. Three and four note chords can easily become “muddy” and unclear, especially in the mid to lower register. As a result, many bass players choose to play Shell Voicings,...
Playing For Change: Higher Ground
This video has been making the rounds recently on Facebook, and I was mesmerized by it. I was surprised to learn it actually came out in 2011. Organized by Playing For Change, this performance of Stevie Wonder’s “Higher Ground” features musicians from nine locations around the world in one of the most interesting collaborations I think I’ve ever seen. Reggie...
Classic Santana Lineup Regroups for “Santana IV”
The majority of the classic Santana III lineup of guitarist Carlos Santana’s eponymous band, Santana, has reunited to record together for the first time in 45 years on Santana IV. Sadly, the new record could not include Santana III bassist David Brown, who died in 2000. Instead, current Santana bassist Benny Rietveld (Sheila E., Miles Davis) holds down the low...
Weekly Top 10: Talking Technique, Better Intonation on Fretless, New Transcription, Top Bass Videos, New Gear and More
Happy Sunday. We have a great top 10 list for you this week, built by readers. Here are the top 10 stories, how-to’s, videos, and more for the week of April 9-15, 2016. Thanks for reading, watching, commenting and sharing. 1. Jeff Healey with Marcus Miller: See The Light Ian Pettersson has sent us a handful of great videos, and...
Sire Guitars Launches Marcus Miller M7 Series
Sire Guitars has teamed up with Marcus Miller once again to introduce the Sire Marcus Miller M7 Series. The dual humbucker design, which has been in the works for some time, is now open for pre-order and will be shipping on April 30th. Available in four and five-string versions, the M7 has a modern body shape made of either alder...
Svadah: Rainy Day Bass Groove
Norwegian bassist Svadah sent me this “Rainy Day Bass Groove” on what happened to be a perfectly rainy day. “Took my bass out in to film a bass groove I made a little while ago on a typical rainy day in Bergen,” he wrote on Facebook. “Really loving the result, check it out! Key of Cm.” It’s good for any...
Bassists Galore Featured on Alberto Rigoni’s Latest
Alberto Rigoni’s new album, which mixes funky, electro, ambient, rock, pop and experimental vibes, is all about the bass – it’s even called Bassorama. Italian bassist Rigoni (TwinSpirits, Kim Bingham, The Italians, and his own solo work) pulled together an extraordinary assortment of bassists for the album, including Doug Wimbish of Living Colour, Divinity Roxx, Stuart Hamm, Steve Lawson, Nik...
Jackson CBXNT IV and V Concert Basses Now Available
Jackson Guitars is now shipping the CBXNT IV Concert and CBXNT V Concert basses. Four and five-string models, respectively, the company describes the basses as perfect for metal or other styles that demand low, punchy bass. Jackson says the heart of the bass is in their electronics. “The heart of this beast is a pair of Jackson High Output Humbucking...
Simon Fitzpatrick: The Planets Suite – III. Mercury, the Winged Messenger (All Bass Arrangement)
Simon Fitzpatrick has taken the third suite of Gustav Holst’s “The Planets Suite” and turned it into an all bass arrangement, using his Sei Bass Flamboyant 6 bass. Mind blown!
Aidan Hampson Transcribes Blur, Green Day, The Killers and The Stone Roses
Transcriptionist Aidan Hampson has released bass transcriptions of Green Day’s Dookie and The Stone Roses’ self-titled debut album, as well as best-of compilations for The Killers and Blur. All the transcriptions are PDF downloads, easily purchased with a click, for less than $8. Check out the songs covered in each book: Blur (Best Of) Song List: There’s No Other Way...