Buzz

You can have the best bass out there and an awesome amp, but a poor cable connecting the two will still affect your tone. To help get the best sound possible, Lava Cables is releasing a new version of their popular Retro Coil cable. One major change in the new Retro Coil is the cable length. Coiled cables use a...

We’ve talked in previous columns about anchors and pivots occurring primarily on roots and fifths. What do we use for pivots in the case of chord inversions? We often see these inversions and other sorts of alternate bass notes in the form of compound chord symbols: C/Bb Bb/A Db/F Ebmin/Gb Go/C etc In these chords, there is a triad over...

Russ Sargeant: Beauty

Our Twitter friend Russ Sargeant had a busy weekend, recording two live performances on Ustream, and showcasing his looping skills. “Beauty” was a favorite. The song, written for Russ’s wife, is performed on a 4 string fretted bass with looping. Well done, Russ.

In case you missed them, here are the top features from the week of October 4th, 2009. Jon Burr offers some sound advice in his latest lesson, To click or not to click? Or, what’s in a metronome?. Damian Erskine answers a reader’s question on playing with and around the beat Evan Kepner‘s latest lesson covers Melodic 2-5-1 Mutation Ray...

Fender has brought out a blast from the past with a new spin in the Bassman TV series of combo amps and cabinets. The design is reminiscent of the original 1950’s style Bassman amplifiers but with new technology to help you create the best tone. The Bassman TV has a tube preamp and as well as two instrument inputs providing...

Metropole Orchestra with Victor Bailey & Peter Erskine: Nubian Sundance

Here’s the Metropole Orchestra performing “Nubian Sundance” in a tribute concert to Joe Zawinul. Joining the orchestra is former Weather Report members Victor Bailey on bass, Peter Erskine on drums, and Alex Acuna on percussion. The camera doesn’t focus on Vic much, but I couldn’t pass it up. He does play some pretty sweet stuff during the performance, and Erskine...

This year, there will be the ultimate battle-of-the-bands: School Jam USA 2009. School Jam USA is sponsored by NAMM, the not-for-profit association of the international music products industry, and its promotional partners MENC: the National Association for Music Education, Music For All, the John Lennon Educational Tour Bus and InTune Monthly magazine. Anyone with a band ages 13-18 can enter....

Scottish band Biffy Clyro is coming out with a new LP, Only Revolutions to be released in November of this year. The band has teamed up with Fender to release the James Johnston Jazz Bass, a bass built with the personal touch of the Biffy Clyro bassist James Johnston. The Johnston Jazz Bass is based on Johnston’s Fender USA jazz...

There’s been a lot of buzz lately about solo bassist Steve Lawson playing a gig with bassist Michael Manring. For those of you who did not get the chance to see it, Lawson has uploaded multiple videos of the October 6th gig at the Round Midnight Jazz & Blues Bar. We’re featuring one of those videos, a beautiful, improvised duet....

Rotosound will be offering free strings at the Mansons Guitar Show, where they are exhibiting. The strings will be awarded the first 20 bass players (and first 60 guitarists) who present a special show voucher (PDF), found on Rotosound’s web site. There will also be special deals on accessories, cables, and straps at their booth. Mansons Guitar Show is being...

After a time of uncertainty, Wal Basses is back in action, keeping their tried and true detail oriented approach to bass building and great tone. The company is once again accepting orders. Luthier Paul Herman, from Electric Wood, is now on board and is creating the instruments. Wal Basses and Electric Wood both began in England and were founded by...

Konnakol is the comprehensive language of rhythm which allows the composition, performance or communication of rhythms in any style. Konnakol uses syllables that are aimed at optimizing vocal performance and allow you to create seemingly endless amounts rhythms. Konnakol is something I’ve studied for many years now. Whereas Western music puts more emphasis on harmony, Eastern musicians start with rhythm...