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Asking For (and Getting) Feedback
Q: As bass players, we often find ourselves in situations where we do a job for others, be it taking the bass chair in a singer’s project, subbing in a band, teaching, giving workshops, etc. I often find it difficult to get appropriate feedback for my job. I like it when people are happy with my work, and I also...
Six String Fretless: Beyond Creation’s “Omnipresent Perception”
You don’t hear a lot of fretless in death metal (save for Steve DiGiorgio and Jeroen Paul Thesseling). So it’s cool to hear the instrument add a new element to a genre. A good example is the band Beyond Creation, featuring bassist Dominic “Forest” Lapointe on six-string fretless. Check out this music video for the song “Omnipresent Perception”, in which...
Led Zeppelin Releases “Celebration Day”
On December 10, 2007, the surviving members of Led Zeppelin reunited for the first time since in 27 years. The concert, which served as a memoriam to friend and Atlantic Records founder Ahmet Ertegun, is now available as a DVD/CD set called Celebration Day. The band’s lineup features its surviving members – singer Robert Plant, guitarist Jimmy Page, and bassist...
Reader Spotlight: Kody Audette
Meet Kody Audette, a bass player from Albuquerque, NM who loves the bass as much as we do, and is as diverse a bassist as they come. He has a pretty impressive sounding day gig too. Kody is our player in the spotlight for the week of November 20, 2012. Bio: I play everything from classical music to blues to...
Electro-Harmonix Announces Deluxe Bass Big Muff Pi
Electro-Harmonix has unveiled their latest bass specific pedal with the Deluxe Bass Big Muff Pi. Building on its predecessor, the Deluxe has the same Volume, Tone, and Sustain controls, but adds a -10dB input pad, a Blend knob and a noise gate. Another new feature is a foot-switchable crossover section that’s split into two parts: a low pass filter on...
Stefan Hergenröder & Claus Hessler: Löewenzahn
If you’re searching for a little inspiration for your delay pedal, look no further. This video of bassist Stefan Hergenröder and drummer Claus Hessler has got you covered. The footage here is taken from the recording of the track “Löewenzahn” from Hergenröder’s upcoming album, and yes, that’s how he plays it live. The bassist uses a single delay to create...
Jason Newsted Launches New Online Presence to Connect with Fans
Jason Newsted is ready to reconnect with his fans, as evidenced by a new official web presence, including his own website and social media outlets. The former Metallica bassist announced the news with a YouTube video. After leaving Metallica in 2001, Newsted worked on albums with Voivod, Papa Wheelie, and Rock Star Supernova, though news of his work became more...
Eric Clapton Announces 2013 Tour Featuring Willie Weeks
Eric Clapton will be hitting the road in 2013 for a U.S. tour, set to kick off March 14th at in Phoenix, Arizona and culminating in the 2013 Crossroads Guitar Festival at New York City’s Madison Square Garden. The guitar legend has once again enlisted bassist Willie Weeks to lay down the groove for his band. Weeks, who has worked...
Forked Fingering: A Guide to Comfortable Double Stops for Bassists
Playing fourths across strings on the upright bass can be fraught with problems, especially when we are playing double stops. Sometimes it is appropriate to “bar” the notes using the same finger like this: However, this can create a clamping of the hand and needless tension, which in turn limits our facility and ability to adjust quickly. Intonation can also...
Jeff Bradetich: Bach Cello Suite No. 1, I. Prelude
The Bach Cello Suite is one of the most beautiful pieces ever written, and thankfully it translates pretty well to bass. Here’s the first movement of the first suite performed by master bassist Jeff Bradetich. The clip is taken from his DVD of the entire first suite.
Doug Johns Releases “Blomp!”
Described as the “in-your-face bassist”, Doug Johns lives up to the name with his energetic and super funky approach to bass. Johns has just released his newest solo effort, Blomp!, complete with ten “greasy” tracks and Johns’ brand of funky music. Blomp! is his fourth solo effort and the follow up to the 2010 release, Stank. Johns reunited with Kenny...
Weekly Top Ten: The Best in Bass for the Week of November 11-17
The latest and greatest roundup of the latest and greatest bass stories, lessons, videos and more, for the week of November 11-17, 2012. Thanks for reading, commenting and sharing! 1. Periphery: “Make Total Destroy” Bass Cam Video As our Facebook friend Skip Taylor noted, it’s been a while since we’ve posted a metal video. Get ready for a little mayhem....