Buzz

This week, I am going to answer some recent questions I received via Facebook and email. Can you give advice about learning the fretless bass or upright bass while you can only play a fretted one, as there’s a load of challenging intonation problems in the absence of frets? Speaking strictly about the upright bass, I believe your question arises...

Tony Levin: Live Jam

At the 2009 Bass Player Live, Tony Levin performed at the Ernie Ball Music Man booth, with the help of two drummers. Tony is using his famous “Funk Fingers” during the performance. He really gets going in part 2, with some Liquid Tension Experiment. Part 1: Part 2:

Here are the most read, most popular stories and features on No Treble for the week of August 29 – September 4, 2010. Player Spotlight: Ryan Madora Gear Watch: Music Man Roasted Maple Necks Video: Stu Hamm Live Bass Solo: Love Thing/Moonlight Sonata/Country Music Lesson: Slap Bass 101 – Part 5: Funk/Rock Scale Basics Bottoms Up: Another Look at Paul...

Billy Sheehan to Sit In as Honorary Ramone for Benefit Concert

Shred master Billy Sheehan will be an honorary Ramone when he joins Marky Ramone for a special fundraising concert. The 31 full-length, “all Ramones” song set will take place October 8 at the Musicians Institute in Hollywood California, and money raised will go to Marky Ramone’s new drum scholarship at MI. Joining Sheehan and Ramone will be the Misfits’ Michael...

Will Lee & Steve Gadd Jam Session

This video proves it: good bass and good drums is all you need. Bassist Will Lee and drummer Steve Gadd do a nice little jam, with some commentary by Gadd on the drum/bass relationship.

Squarepusher: seb-1.06

Last year, Squarepusher released a solo bass album, aptly named Solo Electric Bass 1. Here he shows off the track “seb-1.06”, which has a Latin-influenced, classical guitar approach to the instrument.

Eddie Gomez and Cesarius Alvim Team Up for “Forever”

Bassist Eddie Gomez and pianist Cesarius Alvim are celebrating the 20th anniversary of their first recording together with a new album, Forever. The duo takes on a wide range of tunes on the release, from standards such as “Spring is Here” and “Invitation,” original compositions from both Gomez and Alvim, and Brazilian pianist Luiz Eça’s piece “The Dolphin.” Alvim met...

Bootsy Collins Releases Single To Benefit Musician’s Fund

Bootsy Collins has released a new single to benefit his late brother’s memorial fund, the Catfish Nation Musicians Fund. The track, appropriately titled The Catfish Nation, features Bootsy, his son Ouiwey, and Catfish Collins himself. The Catfish Nation Musician’s Fund was set up not only to help with Catfish’s expenses, but to “provide for musicians that fall on hard times...

Mick Karn Teams Up With Peter Murphy for Dalis Car Reunion

Former Japan bassist Mick Karn is reuniting with Bauhaus frontman Peter Murphy to revisit their band, Dalis Car. The duo formed the group in 1984 and subsequently parted after only putting out a single album, Waking Hour. Karn’s distinct and innovative fretless bass lines brought life to the album, and after Murphy finishes his solo tour, the two will write...

Cobham/Duke Band: Stratus

Here’s a great live performance of Billy Cobham’s tune “Stratus”, by the Billy Cobham-George Duke Band. The performance took place at the Montreux Jazz Festival in 1998. Stefan Rademacher is on bass, with Cobham on drums, Duke on keys and Carl Orr on guitar. The tune was originally recorded on Cobham’s debut solo effort, Spectrum, in 1973, featuring Lee Sklar...

Gear Watch: Guardian Vintage Hardshell Case

Guardian has introduced their new Vintage Hardshell line, available for basses as well as guitars. The case is made with a 7-ply, cross-grained wood construction, covered with black tolex with a leather handle for comfort. The interior features emerald crushed velvet interior with multiple thicknesses of padding for safety and fit. The Guardian Vintage Hardshell Case is available now for...

Slap Bass 101 – Part 5: Funk/Rock Scale Basics

Today, we continue the Slap Bass 101 series, adding the basic “funk/rock scale” – the minor pentatonic, with trills, to what we’ve learned so far. Check out the entire Slap Bass 101 series: Part 1: Slap Bass Introduction Part 2 – Building on the Basics Part 3 – Left Hand Slap & Hammer-Ons Part 4 – Right Hand Pluck/Pop