Buzz
Articulations and Expression: A Bass Video Lesson
Q: I’m at a point where I’m trying to finally get into soloing, and playing bass as a vocal, expressive instrument. But I’m running into a wall. Any chance you’d be down to do a quick video on articulations? As in, the slick slides you use, the fantastic trills, expressions and so on. And blue notes! (I think they’re blue...
Adam Prado: Bass Improv Session
Adam Prado sent this video with us, which sounds like it almost didn’t happen. “I was just messing around with my new TC Electronics Ditto Looper and the camera just started to roll,” he shared. This is just plain funky, especially at the 50 second mark.
Corrosion of Conformity Releases Ninth Studio Album
Sludge metal outfit Corrosion of Conformity has released , their second album since their 2010 reunion of the band’s original 1982 lineup. The trio, which consists of guitarist Woody Weatherman, drummer Reed Mullin and bassist Mike Dean wanted to follow up 2012’s self-titled album sooner, but Dean says being forced to wait added to the album’s potential. “The making of...
Reader Spotlight: Merl Middletown
Meet Merl Middletown, a bassist whose motto is “from pocket to rocket.” Merl can be found rocking the bass in Florida and elsewhere, clearly loves the music, and doesn’t care about the crazy gear list either (and we mean that in a good way). Merl is No Treble’s reader in the spotlight for the week of June 30, 2014. Bio:...
Bass Lick Series: Getting Funky with an Envelope Filter
Using an envelope filter effect can make a funky bass line sound even funkier. This lick is in Em with a fill based on an Em pentatonic scale motif. It uses pretty much only the top two strings on the bass. Follow along with the video and this transcription. For the gear heads, I’m playing my Sandberg California MarloweDK Signature...
Shahab Tolouie and Jan Urbanec: EthnoBulerias
The last time we shared a video by guitarist Shahab Tolouie and bassist Jan Urbanec, it was a major hit. Jan has just shared a new one with us. The duo is really creating some unique music, which Jan describes as “flamenco fusion.” That’s as fitting a description as any for this performance of one of Shahab’s compositions, “EthnoBulerias.” Jan...
Crazy Horse Bassist Billy Talbot Suffers Stroke
Crazy Horse bassist and longtime Neil Young collaborator Billy Talbot has suffered a mild stroke, the band released in a statement. Thankfully, doctors say Talbot is expected to make a full recovery, but they also say he must take time off from the band’s upcoming summer tour. Rick Rosas, who played on many of Young’s albums as well as toured...
Bass Gear Roundup: The Top Gear Stories in June 2014
If you don’t like how fast the 2014 calendar is flying by, maybe this will help: the top 10 most popular bass gear stories on No Treble for the month of June. As always, it comes with a warning: may cause G.A.S. Your mileage may vary. Use only as directed. 1. Fender American Standard Jaguar Bass Fender is adding a...
Things to Know About the Bridge on Your Upright Bass
Having a properly set up bridge on your upright is an important factor in the playability, sound and the long-term health of your instrument. Here are some things every upright player should know: The internal, not external, notches you see on the F-holes determine the proper distance of the bridge from the fingerboard. They should correspond, more or less, to...
Stanley Clarke: “Lopsy Lu” (1976 Downbeat Awards Performance)
We’re celebrating the birthday of one of the long-time greats in music and bass history, the one and only Stanley Clarke. Here he is performing “Lopsy Lu” at the 1976 Downbeat Poll Winner Awards show, along with Jean-Luc Ponty on violin, Chick Corea on piano and Billy Cobham on drums. Wow. Just wow.
Peter Gabriel Releases “Back to Front” Concert DVD
Peter Gabriel’s “Back to Front” tour performance in October 2013 at London’s O2 Arena has been captured as an ultra-high-definition film, which was not only released in theaters, but is now available on DVD. The tour celebrated the 25th anniversary of Gabriel’s classic So album and featured him playing the entire album and more with his touring band from that...
Weekly Top 10: TSA vs. Bassists, Aston Barrett, James Jamerson and More of the Best in Bass
For this week’s top 10 list, 90% of it is the sort of terrific stuff we love covering in the world of bass. Unforunately, we have to start things off with the most read and most shared story of the week: the TSA not being so nice to some notable bassists. Things get better from there… we promise (need proof?...