Buzz
The Purpose of Practice
Q: Hi Damian, a few weeks back I started doubting the “purpose” of practice, due to the fact that if you practice a specific tune, or any give exercise, its only for a short period of time (couple of months or so) and then it goes to the back of your head. How can I make my practice more “permanent”...
The Rockin’ Chair Bass
Last week we featured a video about a bass being built into a snowboard. This time, it’s a little different. According to the guys who made this, “the Rockin Chair was invented on a coffee break at a newspaper in Värmland, Sweden, back in 1984 by the journalist Kjell Palmers and noted by his college Stefan Markebo. Many years later...
Christian McBride Big Band Releases “The Good Feeling”
Jazz bassist Christian McBride has hit another milestone in his career with the release of The Good Feeling, his first full big band recording as a leader. The 11-track album features large ensemble arrangements of his own songs as well as jazz standards like “Broadway,” “The More I See You” and “A Taste of Honey.” McBride first got a taste...
Reader Spotlight: Blackie Dawson
Meet Blackie Dawson, a 18-year veteran of the low end, and our bassist in the spotlight for September 27, 2011. Bio: I have been playing bass since I was 19 years old. I spent many years just playing along to Iron Maiden, early Metallica, Black Sabbath and Dead Kennedys tapes and CDs. In 2007, I started playing bass in my...
M Basses Introduce Elite Series Basses
M Basses has announced the Elite line of basses, stepping up from their Mj designs with more options while retaining the classic style. Available with Alder, Ash, or Mahogany bodies topped with your choice of figured wood. The maple necks feature Indian rosewood or maple fingerboards. The basses are passive and come standard with Nordstrand NJ4 single coil J-style pickups...
Question of the Week: Electric, upright or both?
Do you play electric, upright or both? Tell us about it in the comments, or on our Facebook page.
Jaco Pastorius & Weather Report: Birdland Live (1978)
More previously unreleased Jaco Pastorius gold: a live performance of “Birdland”, performed by Weather Report in Pennsylvania in 1978. Drummer Peter Erskine’s father Dr. Fred Erskine filmed the concerts in both Reading and Washington, Pennsylvania. Peter shared with Rick Suchow, “The sound came direct from the front-of-house mix board, engineered by Brian Risner, and my dad was using an old...
Chickenfoot Releases III, Announces Tour Dates
Chickenfoot has released their second album, ironically entitled III. The group consists of bassist Michael Anthony, singer Sammy Hagar, guitarist Joe Satriani and drummer Kenny Aronoff, who replaces Chad Smith of the Red Hot Chili Peppers while they go on tour. Anthony, who is a former member of Van Halen, says the new album has a lot more meat. “It’s...
Planet Waves Introduces NS Mini-Headstock Tuner
Planet Waves has released the NS Mini-Headstock Tuner, designed in cooperation with Ned Steinberger. The discrete tuner has a ratcheting clip to fit to your headstock and a 360 degree swivel for easy adjustments. Instead of a microphone or cables, the NS Mini Tuner utilizes a piezo transducer to detect pitch and displays the reading on a multi-color display. Red...
Zander Zon: Sonorous Bass Transcriptions
To our regular readers, the name Zander Zon is a familiar one. The unique bassist has had many of his piccolo bass and altered tuning performances featured here, as well as his album, Sonorous. Bassline Publishing has just released a transcription book featuring tunes from Zander’s album, Zander Zon – Sonorous Bass Transcriptions. The book contains full transcriptions for every...
Ariane Cap: Bach Improvisation and Badinerie
Bassist Ariane Cap plays a duet (with herself) dubbed “Bach Me Up”. Ariane performs this on her 6 string Marleaux Consat.
Top 10: Bass of the Week, Blast Cult Rises, Mod Shop, Snowboard Bass, Plus the Top Bass Gear and Videos
Bass, bass and more bass! Last week, we saw it all in the world of gear from the crazy snowboard bass to Blast Cult’s new line of basses – including one unique Miles Mosley model, complete with chalkboard paint. Plus, our bass of the week, the stunning Xylem 5-String Black Limba. No Treble readers enjoyed some of our favorite videos...