Buzz
Left Hand Technique: Pivoting
Although I advocate a traditional left hand foundation (i.e. 1-2-4 fingering system), any bassist who plays long enough will come across passages that don’t lie well using this fingering system. “Pivoting” can be an attractive solution for such passages. Often, especially when playing two consecutive notes on the same string more than a step apart (for example: A-C on the...
Weather Report: Finale At Reading (1978)
Over the years, we’ve been treated to some videos of Weather Report’s 1978 performance in Reading and Washington, Pennsylvania. These videos, shared by Rick Suchow, were filmed by Dr. Fred Erskine, the father of drummer Peter Erskine. As Rick shared previously, “The sound came direct from the front-of-house mix board, engineered by Brian Risner, and my dad was using an...
Mingus Speaks: Interviews with Charles Mingus (1972-1974)
In 1972, Charles Mingus was making his return to the music scene, after a six or seven year layoff. Playboy writer John F. Goodman reviewed Mingus’ comeback concert that year, which brought the two together for various interviews between 1972 and 1974. The interviews were recorded by Goodman for a proposed memoir. Forty years later, these conversations are now collected...
Expanding Hands Music Now Offering Funk Fingers
Funk Fingers are available once again thanks to a licensing agreement between Tony Levin and Expanding Hands Music. Levin invented the Funk Fingers after mimicking his intro to Peter Gabriel’s “Big Time,” in which drummer Jerry Marotta played Levin’s bass strings with his drumsticks while the bassist fingered the notes with his left hand. Though he produced them on his...
Weekly Top Ten: The Best in Bass for the Week of May 26
I’m happy to report things are good in the land of the low end. So good, that we have to let readers decide which 10 of the stories, videos and features we shared in the week are the best. Here are the top 10 most popular stories, columns and videos for the week of May 26 – June 1, 2013....
Booker T. and the MG’s: “Time is Tight”, Live 1970
Here’s a groove that’ll make you feel good. Donald “Duck” Dunn locks in on this jam with Booker T. and the MG’s during a show at the Oakland Coliseum in Oakland, California on January 31, 1970.
Alice In Chains Releases “The Devil Put Dinosaurs Here”
Alice in Chains has released their fifth studio album, and the second since their 2005 reunion. And while The Devil Put Dinosaurs Here carries the group’s signature sludge metal sound, the band says the effort is an evolution of their sonic palette. “We made a unique record that’s completely different from anything we ever did,” guitarist Jerry Cantrell told Rolling...
Bass Gear Roundup: The Top Gear Stories in May
Here are the top ten most read, commented and shared bass gear stories on No Treble for the month of May 2013. Thanks for reading, commenting and sharing! 1. Fender Custom Shop Introduces Limited Relic 1955 Precision Bass The Fender Custom Shop has rolled out its Spring 2013 offerings, including the Limited Relic 1955 Precision Bass. Mimicking the look of...
Lesson: Offbeat Double Thumb Slap Bass
I’m working on a new concept in double thumb slap bass, which basically is an “in reverse” technique. This means the “down” thumb is on the offbeat, and the “up” thumb is on the downbeat. This creates a whole new feeling worth exploring. You can follow along with the notation (PDF) and the video below. Let me know how it...
Larry Graham: Hair
When I started to learn how to slap, “Hair” was the song that stuck with me the most. It’s so much fun to play, and it’s even more fun to watch Larry Graham go wild on it in this clip taken from Japanese television.
The Bassist’s Bible: How to Play Every Bass Style from Afro-Cuban to Zydeco
Tim Boomer’s The Bassist’s Bible, originally published in 2009, has been updated and expanded in an all-new second edition. The expansive guide offers up 25 chapters, covering more than 100 musical styles. More than 400 bass lines are presented, which can be followed on each of the two CDs which are included. In the new edition, 50 new grooves have...
Creation Audio Labs Introduces The Funkulator Bass Pedal
Creation Audio Labs has introduced the Funkulator Bass Pedal, an EQ tone shaper designed with old school funk in mind. The pedal is built for simplicity with a single EQ knob that controls a variable upper mid frequency scoop with a gentle hi and low boost. Turning the control up enhances the EQ curve, while the footswitch allows for quickly...