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Life As Bassist Archives - Page 2

Sitting In: Just Say Yes
I Wish I Knew That

Sitting In: Just Say Yes

There are certain things in life that require a great deal of courage… bungee jumping off a bridge, rafting through class five white water, snowboarding down a double black diamond mountain side, etc. Even the daredevil in me doesn’t have the guts to try those things. These are pretty extreme cases of having to muster up courage and it’s pretty...

Playing Music with an Open Mind
I Wish I Knew That

Playing Music with an Open Mind

Playing music is a curious thing. We excite at the opportunity to play with and for other people. We look forward to it, prepare for it, take pleasure in it, and enjoy the feeling of making music together. Sounds perfect, right? Well, the funny thing is that the more you play in a “formal” scenario (such as a gig or...

Life as a Working Bassist: Where Does the Money Come From?
Ask Damian Erskine

Life as a Working Bassist: Where Does the Money Come From?

Q: What is the reality of how guys like you earn a living? I don’t mean to imply that you are “rolling in it,” but how do bassists who focus on freelance work actually make ends meet? A: Great question! Although I’ve talked about the various ways to make things happen in a career or in a scene, I don’t...

Organizational Skills for Bassists: A Checklist for Getting There
I Wish I Knew That

Organizational Skills for Bassists: A Checklist for Getting There

I’ve just spent the past hour tearing apart my room, searching through notebooks and drawers, on top of shelves and beneath the bed, and I still can’t find what I’m looking for. Frantically, I called a friend to create a distraction (secretly hoping that what I’m looking for will magically appear right in front of me), and his response was,...

I Ain’t Superstitious: Personal Quirks and Why They Work
I Wish I Knew That

I Ain’t Superstitious: Personal Quirks and Why They Work

It’s 6pm… time to get the gear in the car, enter the club’s address into the GPS, and get on the road. It takes exactly five minutes and three trips to pack: one trip for each cabinet (the two fit side by side in the trunk), and one trip for the amp head, bag o’ stuff, and bass (all of...

Do I Really Need to Go To Music School?
Ask Damian Erskine

Do I Really Need to Go To Music School?

Q:I’m a bass player from Mexico and I am currently studying in Paris and looking for some gigs. I am a little overwhelmed right now by school, which is a jazz-oriented school. I like jazz, but I feel a little forced to learn licks and that stuff. I’m not saying I’m the greatest bass player or anything, but I don’t...

Flu Season Fumbles and Avoiding Lost Gigs
I Wish I Knew That

Flu Season Fumbles and Avoiding Lost Gigs

As we get over the start of a new year and the holidays seem like a distant memory, we enter a new season with the worst surprise of them all… the flu. With the weather, the “warriors” who insist on coming into the office, travel, and the nights off to hang out with friends at the bar, we’re unusually exposed...

On Performing: Somebody, Somewhere, Is Going To Notice
I Wish I Knew That

On Performing: Somebody, Somewhere, Is Going To Notice

Just when you think no one is watching… someone comes along and compliments you on your technique. Technique? Really? Of all things… This past weekend, I played a rock ’n roll gig at a smoke-filled, small-town bar with Coors and Miller lights ablaze. A few older gentlemen approached me during a break and asked: “what did you play before bass?”...

What Makes A Great Bassist? Part 3: Defining Groove
What Makes a Great Bassist?

What Makes A Great Bassist? Part 3: Defining Groove

Photo Credit: Mika Hiironniemi As bassists, one of our main goals is to make the band groove. The only problem is that the term can be vague. Many young players that begin their quest for the elusive groove are met with descriptions like, “If you have to ask, you’ll never know.” In an effort to share ideas and bring us...

Staying Fit During the Holiday Season
I Wish I Knew That

Staying Fit During the Holiday Season

Although the title may suggest it, this is not a gym advertisement, nor a plan for a special low-fat diet. And, while we consider our vacation time as a way to take off from work for a few days, hang with our friends and family, and eat lots of goodies, our practice schedule usually falls victim to this time of...

When The Gig Gets Canceled…
I Wish I Knew That

When The Gig Gets Canceled…

Let’s face it, we usually don’t enjoy picking up the phone and finding out that our gig is canceled. Hearing the news via email or text doesn’t make it any better, especially if it’s short notice. On one hand, the middle-schooler in us delights in the fact that we can stay home in our PJ’s, watch movies and maybe even...

Listening Back: Get a New Perspective on Your Playing
I Wish I Knew That

Listening Back: Get a New Perspective on Your Playing

A few days ago, I happened to be “shuffling” through my music library and stumbled upon a long-forgotten EP that I played on in high school, just a few years into picking up the bass. I took a short break from my day and decided to listen with a hint of skepticism, a dash of personal critique, and a boatload...