Buzz

This series has been dedicated to learning the fretboard, the previous lesson covered the major scale. In this lesson we will cover an applying the major scale to a basic chord progression, the II-V-I. There are a multitude of ways to think about music. For this exercise we will focus on thinking laterally and vertically. When we think laterally we...

Ray Brown, one of the legendary jazz bassists of our time, has a personal remembrance piece from NPR Jazz. From his work with Ella Fitzgerald, Oscar Peterson and many other jazz greats, Brown has always stood out from the crowd with his melodic style and walking bass lines. As the article author remembers Brown’s performance: “For a 75-year-old veteran, let’s...

If there was ever the perfect name for a song, this is it. What an intro! Check out Adam Nitti playing his composition, Skitzo, from the Balance CD.

Today’s video features bassist Michael Manring nailing John Coltrane’s “Giant Steps”, with the help of Jamie Findlay on guitar, Barry Gurley on piano and David Tull on drums. Enjoy!

Former Led Zeppelin bassist John Paul Jones has started a new rock project with Josh Homme (Queens of the Stone Age) and Dave Grohl (Foo Fighters). They are currently in the recording phase of a much anticipated album. In April, Jones had said the following: “I’m working on some other music, which is more rock based, with a couple of...

Ask Damian Erskine: Auditioning

Q: I have an audition coming up and I really want to make an impression! Any advice? A: Definitely! Here are a few things to keep in mind. You will be taking time out of your day to prepare and audition, these guys are taking time out of their days to listen and play with a bunch of dudes all...

Panic at the Disco has announced they will be splitting in half. The primary song writer Ryan Ross and bassist Jon Walker will be creating their own project to continue “on a new musical excursion.” Panic at the Disco will continue though, frontman Brandon Urie along with drummer Spencer Smith plan to find replacement members and continue to play their...

Czech bassist Miroslav Vitous, an original member of Weather Report, has released his latest album Remembering Weather Report. The album is acoustic and features Vitous’s original compositions with Franco Ambrosetti (trumpet), Gary Campbell (tenor saxophone), Miroslav (double-bass), Gerald Cleaver (drums) and Michel Portal (bass clarinet). Remembering Weather Report manages to keep with the original, free-flowing spirit of Weather Report’s “we...

Fender has announced the release of a new product: the Kingman Bass SCE. The Kingman is a new spin on the acoustic bass guitar, featuring a Fender Jazz Bass neck and headstock (slimmer by design to facilitate faster playing). The Kingman also includes: a single cutaway that allows easy access to the upper frets special “X” bracing, solid spruce top...

Mr. Big: Raw Like Sushi 1 and 2 re-released Mr. Big, featuring bassist Billy Sheehan, have re-released four albums on 2 CD sets, on the Wounded Bird label. Raw Like Sushi: Live/Take Cover includes hte 1994 release Raw Like Sushi-Live and the EP, Take Cover. Raw Like Sushi-Live!/Take Cover track list: Blame It on My Youth (Live) How Can You...

Marcus Miller takes a solo break during a recent SMV concert at The Olympia in Paris, France (the show was on July 3, 2009). During the solo, Marcus quotes Michael Jackson’s “Human Nature” and the Jackson 5’s “Shake Your Body (Down to the Ground)”, and even grabs the bass clarinet for part of the performance. By the way, we wish...

The Mars Volta have released their new album Octahedron, the fifth studio album by the band and first with Warner Bros. The Mars Volta features bassist Juan Alderete del la Pena, who compliments the band with a dynamic playing style as they explore new artistic aural spaces. There is a 2500 copy limited edition available of the CD with a...