Buzz
From the Shed to the Stage: Translating Practice to Performance
Q: I’m having a difficult applying what I’ve learned into playing. When I play, my fingers can’t seem to do what they did when I practiced. Is there any suggestion to making things stick? A: The first word that pops into my head is repetition. Lines, licks and harmonic devices – such as arpeggios, scales and so on – need...
Talking Heads: Heaven, Live
I’m going to warn you… if you grew up in the 80’s, this story will probably make you feel old. This year marks the 30th anniversary of the Talking Heads’ Stop Making Sense. Shot over the course of three nights at Hollywood’s Pantages Theater in December, 1983, the footage captures the band during their tour in support of Speaking in...
George Mraz Featured on “A Touch of Radiance”
Double bassist George Mraz, known for his work with a slew of jazz greats (Oscar Peterson, Charles Mingus, Lionel Hampton, Woody Herman, Dizzy Gillespie, Chet Baker, and Carmen McRae, just to name a few) has lent his talents to pianist Yelena Eckemoff’s latest, . The album, which is attributed to the Yelena Eckemoff Quartet, is the first to feature Eckemoff...
Reader Spotlight: Jason Rungapadiachy
Meet Jason Rungapadiachy, musician who has been playing bass for more than two decades, starting with one of the best “why I started” stories we’ve heard. As you read Jason’s story, you’ll see he’s an accomplished player with a great attitude. And I bet you’ll laugh pretty hard too. He’s a pretty hilarious guy. Jason is No Treble’s reader in...
Bass of the Week: Whitt Guitars 5-String Fretless Archtop Acoustic Bass
My friend Gil sent me a heads up for this week’s featured bass, and I’m glad he did. This intriguing instrument is a one-of-a-kind acoustic fretless 5-string bass built by Daniel Whitt of Whitt Guitars. “At Whitt guitars, I build guitars that inspire creativity, capture the imagination and throw everything for a loop,” the bass builder writes. “I don’t build...
Common Thread with Alissia Benveniste: For the One Time
Regular No Treble readers will probably recognize Alissia Benveniste from the killer videos we’ve shared in the past of her band. Here’s Alissia performing with Common Thread – a band she cofounded, described as “a collective of like-minded musicians from all over the globe, brought together by a passion for good vibes, music that makes you move, and a purpose...
MonoNeon Envisions John Cage on Soul Train
Ever thought about what it would have been like if avant-garde composer John Cage had performed on the funkiest show on TV back in the 1970s? Well bassist/experimental composer Dywane “MonoNeon” Thomas Jr. has. And he, with the help of microtonal guitarist and composer, Michael Vick, has created a 5-track EP called, appropriately enough, John Cage on Soul Train. MonoNeon,...
Xotic Launches Line of Bass Strings
Xotic Guitars has launched their own brand of bass strings including sets for 4-, 5-, and 6-string basses. Available in nickel or stainless steel, the string feature round wound construction and can be ordered for 34″ or 33″ scale basses. The 4-string gauges run .045 to .105 while the 5-string set adds a .125 B-string and the 6-string adds a...
Top 10: The Most Watched Bass Videos (July 2014)
We smashed all previous records of visits to No Treble in the month of July, thanks in large part to the #1 most watched video of the month. You probably saw it already, and if you’re like us, you’ll love watching it again. There were nine other videos that got a ton of attention in July as well. Add them...
Michelle Kuban: Over You
Camarel bassist/vocalist Michelle Kuban took to the studio to record a scaled-back version of the band’s song “Over You.” Using overdubs, Kuban lays down the bass line and chords as well as the lead and backup vocals.
D&A Announces Starfish and Starfish+ Instrument Stands
D&A Guitar Gear has introduced the Starfish, a new floorstand that sets itself apart with five legs that the company says doubles its stability. The added legs allow for the stand to stand tall even at 30 degrees of tilt. The stand comes in two variations: the Starfish and the Starfish+. Both versions feature a quick folding design with the...
Weekly Top 10: Marcus Miller Transcription, Aaron Gibson’s “Fly By Night”, Les Claypool’s Bass Auction, and More of the Best in Bass
What a week! There was just something magical about the bass videos this week – four of this week’s top 10 are ones we featured in the last 7 days. But it wasn’t just videos that got No Treble readers excited this week. There was also the news of Les Claypool’s bass auction – for a great cause – that...