Search Results for: ask damian

Q: how do you decide when to use your three-finger plucking technique or only play with two fingers (old school style. huh?). I mean, do you usually use three finger’s style for basic riffs and play solos with two (addin’ thumb only for triplets, for example)? I’m trying to learn that your technique now, so I’m curious if I’m right...

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...

Q: Do you have any tools that you use specifically for practicing? A: The most useful tool I have at my home studio (for practicing and writing) is my Looper! I use the Boss RC-20 Loopstation (but may have to upgrade this year… it’s seen some abuse and is starting to die.. which has made me hyper-aware of how useful...

Q: What would be a good way to start practicing soloing over changes? A: I’ll tell you what I worked on the most with the soloing thing. Take a jazz standard (so there’s a lot of chord changes) and practice arpeggiating the chords through the tune. First, like a walking bass line (quarter notes…1, 3, 5, 7 of each chord)...

Bassist, educator, and longtime No Treble columnist Damian Erskine has just released a new album called “In This Moment”. The gorgeous eleven-song collection is described as a departure from his previous albums and features a trio setting.

For ten years, Damian Erskine shared his deep knowledge of all things bass and music in his “Ask Damian” column on No Treble. Now he’s launched a website called BassEducation.com that lets you go even deeper with his teachings and music.

A fellow No Treble contributor! We’re super excited to bring you this conversation with our own Damian Erskine. He’s not just a regular contributor to No Treble, but he’s been here the longest. Longevity is a theme for this monster of a player. Damian is known for his ability to fit into any musical situation, extraordinary reading and improvising skills...

There comes a time for every bassist where they feel they’re in a rut or have hit a plateau in their playing and creativity. It happens to the best of us. Bassist and No Treble contributor Damian Erskine’s new book The Improvisor’s Path is a surefire way to get yourself back into high gear. While Erskine’s first instructional book, Right...

Q: You answer a lot of questions to help bassists out. But I’d like to know, what are you personally working on to improve your playing? A: I am in a constant state of flux with my practice habits. Different things bug me about my playing depending on the gigs I have one week versus the next. Lately, it has...

Damian Erskine has released Live at Portland State University, a new album featuring a performance of his band, The Damian Erskine Project. The quartet, made up of Erskine on bass, Reinhardt Melz on drums, Ben Darwish on piano and John Nastos on tenor sax, performed the set for students of the university, in what they classify as “Weird Jazz”. “This...

Check out this live performance of Damian Erskine and his band performing one of Damian’s tunes, “Fif”. The performance took place in Portland, at the Mission Theatre. Awesome tune. Maybe someone can Ask Damian Erskine what the time signature is!

Evan Kepner takes us through his first in a 2-parter lesson, Thinking in Minor. Don’t miss Jon Burr’s incredibly popular lesson on Learning Tunes Quickly. Ray Riendeau is raving about… NPR. Our Player in the Spotlight is Steve Uccello. Damian Erskine covers Target Notes in his latest installment of Ask Damian Erskine. Videos Linley Marthe: Solo at New Morning Marco...