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Discussion Archives - Page 4

Singing While Playing? A Discussion for Bass Players
Ask Damian Erskine

Singing While Playing? A Discussion for Bass Players

Q: I’ve been reading your columns with great interest for the last year or so, but here’s a question I haven’t seen addressed yet: How do different bass players approach the problem of playing and singing at the same time? I’ve been playing for going on forty years now – both professionally and as a weekend warrior – and this...

Dealing with Dead Spots on the Fretboard
Ask Damian Erskine

Dealing with Dead Spots on the Fretboard

Q: I’ve played a Fender ’61 Anniversary Precision the last year or so. It sounds great and is very comfortable to play, but I have drama with the G note on the E string being noticeably “plonky” sounding. A slight truss rod adjustment clockwise moves this down a semi tone. I’m fearing a dead spot… I’ve had a few guys...

Talent vs. Hard Work
Ask Damian Erskine

Talent vs. Hard Work

Q: I have a question on talent. Here is some background first: three years ago, I took up learning electric guitar (aged 45) without any prior learning of music, instruments, etc. – truly from scratch. I took classes in a music school and practiced daily a half and hour to 2 hours every day. I did as much in the...

Bass in Death Metal?
Ask Damian Erskine

Bass in Death Metal?

Q: What is your opinion of the role of bass in both Death Metal and Black Metal? I’m a big fan of both styles and have tried to work out by ear, exactly what the bass is doing, but within these styles, the bass is very seldom heard. In a situation like this, what’s the best way of playing along...

Multiple Basses or Just One? A Discussion for Working Bass Players
Ask Damian Erskine

Multiple Basses or Just One? A Discussion for Working Bass Players

Q: I’m a fairly busy bass player working with five or six different bands ranging from funk to soul to hip-hop/neo-soul to jazz to disco to metal and a few function bands which encompass just about everything else! For the last four years, I’ve mainly used one sound (neck pickup, flatwound strings) on one bass for everything. But I recently...

Playing without a Chordal Instrument
Ask Damian Erskine

Playing without a Chordal Instrument

Q: I was curious about your approach to playing jazz without a piano player or guitarist. I lead a secret, soon to be a quintet because our piano player is moving away. I respect the kind of stuff presented by Charlie Haden in his work with Ornette Coleman, but aside from the free really “out there” jazz, I’m at a...

Creating Tasteful Bass Lines
Ask Damian Erskine

Creating Tasteful Bass Lines

Q: I’d like to know what your thoughts are on the subtle art of variation within bass lines; the where’s and whys, and indeed, the where nots and the why nots. I believe that this kind of understanding is one of the key factors separating good bass players from great ones. I know for myself, I seem to have two...

Dealing with Different Environments and Bass Tone
Ask Damian Erskine

Dealing with Different Environments and Bass Tone

Q: In 25+ years playing, one problem has plagued and perplexed me the entire time… from one band practice to the next I swear the tone of my bass changes. One day my bass tone sounds like it’s dialed in right where it needs to be the next my strings sound dull or my amp tone isn’t punching they way...

The Lightbulb Moment: Time For A Change (of Strings)
The Lightbulb Moment

The Lightbulb Moment: Time For A Change (of Strings)

A letter, documenting the moment when you realize that things aren’t what they used to be but that you have the power to amend the situation. This particular moment, and the frequency with which it occurs, is different for everyone. That said, this letter highlights a few subtle signs to help you determine when it’s time to make some modifications....

Best Strings for Two-Handed Tapping?
Ask Damian Erskine

Best Strings for Two-Handed Tapping?

Q: I’m looking for the brightest sounding flatwound strings I can find. I play a highly modded ’66 Jazz 5-string with Barto pickups and have used round wound strings consistently since 1972… yes, that long. The sizes I always use are 45 65 85 105, and 125. I want to experiment with the two-handed chordal technique used by Roscoe Beck...

Learning Music: To Pursue a College Degree (Or Not)
Ask Damian Erskine

Learning Music: To Pursue a College Degree (Or Not)

Q: What I want to know is this: by not pursuing a higher education in music (music college), what am I missing out on and what is most important to take away from that experience? A: Professionally speaking, a degree in music won’t do anything for you unless you are are shooting for a career in education. If education is...

Reader Question Roundup: Legato Playing, Short Practice Schedules and Playing Complex Music
Ask Damian Erskine

Reader Question Roundup: Legato Playing, Short Practice Schedules and Playing Complex Music

I’m sitting in my hotel room in Lincoln, Nebraska and sifting through my file with all the questions submitted by readers I have yet to answer. Three of them were short enough to put together a “reader question roundup”. I thought this would be a nice change of pace – and one that would allow me to answer important questions...