I've played classical piano for years, but I'm just starting out with jazz and blues. A friends is learning bass guitar from scratch. Can anyone recommend some easy riffs or chord progressions we could play together?
posted by morninj
on Feb 5, 2013 -
6 answers
What are some suggestions for a nice acoustic bass guitar (not a stand-up bass fiddle; not an acoustic-electric) that I can purchase for my son at a VERY reasonable price?
[more inside]
posted by DMelanogaster
on Oct 16, 2012 -
12 answers
I am a classically trained bassist that wants to learn jazz and get over my fear of improvisation. How can I practice in my spare time to further this goal?
[more inside]
posted by masters2010
on Jan 20, 2012 -
5 answers
Help me find a quality drum and bass/jungle festival to attend in the next 12-24 months (or a fun city to visit with weeklies/clubs/options for hearing a variety of heavy, bass-driven music... but not so much dubstep). Preferably somewhere in Canada or the U.S.; other ideas welcome, as long as they're worthwhile and not scary-expensive.
[more inside]
posted by Unicorn on the cob
on Dec 4, 2011 -
8 answers
Is there a darker side to bass guitar solos and if so, which bands/artists utilize it? Darker bands/songs with prominent bass also work.
[more inside]
posted by biochemist
on Nov 23, 2011 -
20 answers
I've been playing electric bass guitar in bands continuously for about 25 years or so. The last 20 years I've been using a pick exclusively, and for most of that time, while playing, I've suffered bad pain in my picking hand - specifically around the base of my thumb and in between the thumb and index finger. It's kind of like a cramp that comes on about 5 minutes after I start playing, and can in extreme isntances result in me not being able to hold onto the pick. The pain subsides after I stop playing, but it's a serious hinderance to playing well! I'm in a punk band, so lots of speed picking. I've tried hand and arm exercises, stretching, upping my potassium intake (bananas and coconut water), repositioning the bass, and taking Ibuprofin before playing and none of it seems to work reliably. Is this something I am just have to live with?
posted by slackdog
on Oct 21, 2011 -
15 answers
I'm in need of heavy, new music. I know that sounds general, but if I give a couple of examples, could you recommend similar tracks or albums? OK: The
Zed's Dead remix of Massive Attack's "Paradise Circus." The entire
Araabmuzik album. Also, the Weeknd's
first EP.
[more inside]
posted by flod
on Sep 20, 2011 -
11 answers
What is the origin of the "Give it to them" sample that was ubiquitous in early 90s techno?
[more inside]
posted by yesno
on Aug 14, 2011 -
7 answers
Can you recommend a bass amp to get for use in a small apartment?
I'm getting back into playing an electric bass (Fender Jazz Bass) soon and am going to be in the market for a small practice amp. Can you recommend a good quality amp to get that won't drive my neighbors crazy?
posted by GS1977
on Jun 14, 2011 -
16 answers
The bass player in my band has
this combo amp. It has 2 internal speakers, and an external speaker jack rated for a minimum impedance of 4 ohms. If he wants to hook up an additional cabinet, what does the impedance of the extra cab need to be?
[more inside]
posted by anazgnos
on Mar 13, 2011 -
2 answers
When playing the bass for bluegrass and old-time waltzes, what do you do on the off-beats (the 2 and the 3)?
[more inside]
posted by pipti
on Dec 9, 2010 -
7 answers
What is
this theme that's stuck in my head? I haven't found it on musipedia, shazam and google. Part of me wants to say Wagner, but what piece?
posted by stereo
on Dec 1, 2010 -
6 answers
Looking to buy high quality headphones as a gift, but am no audiophile, so a lot of the jargon and specs mean nothing to me. Looking for recommendations based on certain parameters.
[more inside]
posted by HonoriaGlossop
on Nov 6, 2010 -
12 answers
I moved in above a bar. The soundproofing is great, except for the vibrations from the lower bass frequencies. They're using wall-mounted speakers placed pretty close to the ceiling. Is it possible to soundproof against those? And what are some of the things the bar could do to help me?
[more inside]
posted by maxreax
on Oct 29, 2010 -
18 answers
Who are your favourite pop/rock/whatever singers with deep voices? I'm talking Stephin Merritt deep, I'm talking Calvin Johnson deep, I'm talking... deep voices.
posted by Ted Maul
on Oct 26, 2010 -
62 answers
What's the bass & drum style of Flight of the Conchords
Sugalumps, particularly 9th through 15th second of the video, called?
Rhapsody's genres has something called Electro-Funk which includes artists like the Bass Mekanik that include test tones on some albums and Bass Transmission. I'm particularly interested in the sustained low low bass "notes," particularly when combined with higher percussion (snare) in a really danceable, but somewhat slow tempo.
posted by morganw
on Oct 13, 2010 -
10 answers
Help me make my electric guitar sound electronic. (Please dissect these Daft Punk and Justice songs with me.)
[more inside]
posted by jalexc
on May 3, 2010 -
10 answers
Beginner bass player looking for musicians to aspire to and music to be inspired by. Name me your favorite songs with a wicked bass solo, and bands driven by a heavy melodic bass line. I'm especially interested to hear about female singers accompanied by only her bass as well. Thank you!
posted by angermanagement
on Feb 22, 2010 -
74 answers
MusicianFilter: I accidentally broke the headstock off my neighbors Vacarro 5 string bass (Don't ask...lets just say it was a late night session). I’m looking to replace the neck, but cannot find anyone who can get a 5 string Vacarro neck. Anyone have any suggestions? I’m in the NY metro area.
posted by hbon23
on Jan 14, 2010 -
2 answers
My husband mixes dance music using Fruity Loops. I want to get him some CDs for Christmas for samples -- particularly stuff that sounds like Fatboy Slim. Help?
[more inside]
posted by heatherfl
on Dec 7, 2009 -
16 answers
A little while back I heard a bass guitar player with some kind of amazing live looping set-up - what on earth was it? I keep wondering what he was doing. All I could see was that he was grabbing (sampling) things he was playing, as he was playing them (ie while he was continuing to play), using foot pedals of some sort, and then incorporating those loops into the rest of the track. Amazing. But how?
posted by monster max
on Oct 18, 2009 -
20 answers
What is the signature sound of Grado headphones? Are they ok for listening on an iPod, specifically for electric bass (not rap music).
[more inside]
posted by kenliu
on Sep 1, 2009 -
19 answers
What is that groovy bass line on those Cablevision commercials?
There are a series of recent Cablevision commercials with a dark haired dude talking in front of a white background - these all end with a really groovy bass line. Is that from a real song, or is it just something they just recorded for the commercial?
posted by kenliu
on Aug 6, 2009 -
6 answers
What exactly is the difference between a guitar and bass amp? If I were to get the latter, could I plug in the former instrument and still get similar bitchin' sounds out of my rig?
[more inside]
posted by shoebox
on Jun 29, 2009 -
15 answers
I've never played any instruments in my life and at the age of 29 I'm interested in learning the electric bass guitar.
Will I be able to do this? Or do you have to have been playing an instrument since you were a child? Erm, that's it.
Oh, any similar experiences or useful resources would be good to hear about. Ta.
posted by mooreeasyvibe
on Apr 4, 2009 -
32 answers
Can anyone offer some good advice on how to sing while playing bass or drums? I play bass, but it seems like advice from drummers would be in tune with what I'm trying to do.
[more inside]
posted by freshwater_pr0n
on Sep 7, 2008 -
11 answers
Bass player. Long time pizzicato, first time arco. What do I need to know about my bow, specifically regarding rosin?
[more inside]
posted by gnutron
on Mar 17, 2008 -
14 answers
Know any good songs arranged for double bass and female voice? Regina Spektor's
Rejazz is wooonderful, but I'm looking for more "jazz standards"-y type songs.
[more inside]
posted by Plug Dub In
on Feb 7, 2008 -
13 answers
MidlifeCrisisFilter: my old itch to play the electric bass has resurfaced. Please help this middle-aged lady make a fool of herself.
[more inside]
posted by Quietgal
on Jan 30, 2008 -
21 answers
New home sound system, and now I've got more bass than I know what to do with! Help me take advantage of this with music recommendations that will make my house shudder and boom as I harness the power-- THE POWER.
[more inside]
posted by hermitosis
on Dec 20, 2007 -
28 answers
Any recommendations for a computer program that will make learning and/or transcribing complex basslines easier? I would like to find a simple way to slow down an audio track and isolate the bass guitar sound.
[more inside]
posted by freshwater_pr0n
on Aug 12, 2007 -
6 answers
What's it called when a bass guitarist goes all the way up, then down, then up the fret on one string?
[more inside]
posted by ostranenie
on May 16, 2007 -
14 answers
What's a good, versatile and powerful electric bass rig to buy in the $750-1,500 range?
[more inside]
posted by psmealey
on Mar 23, 2007 -
7 answers
I'm looking for urban cuts that sound like Mia's "Ten Dollar". Bass-heavy, utterly debaucherous, with a style that isn't necessarily "American" sounding. Are there any afficionados out there can help me with this search?
posted by phaedon
on Feb 15, 2007 -
17 answers