h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Punk can be an aquired taste-I think. It has a handy side-effect of annoying one's parents and making them clear out of the room. Nice.

I've been learning to play Sunshine Of Your Love by Cream. But so far I've only been able to play the first riff because (a) I've havn't had the tabs on me for that long and (b) my school's bass has been minus a string for nearly a month. My last lesson was half spent up reparing the accursed thing. But I've played it enough. Comes out a bit funny though. I think it's in the way I hold the fingerboard. Working on that.

I've also got loads of U2 tabs. Too many in fact.

I shall act upon your advice as soon as the opportunity arises. Which should be soon.

PS Cream stuff is great for playing along with because most of the songs have very pronounced bass. Listen to some and I'm sure you'll agree.
Arn't these new smilies nice?

Well, one more thought to throw into the mix...if you're into punk, check out some Firehose, Mike Watt's post-Minutemen band (maybe the Ragin' Full On album). Some very kick-ass bass work going on there

By the way, which Huntington would this be? And how would I drop you a line. I can understand you wanting privacy and all that over h2g2, so how would I be able to get you?

Mike A.

This would be Huntingdon near Cambridge and Peterborough, where the A14 meets the A1. Short of giving you an O.S. grid reference I think you should be able to find it. As for sending an e-mail I'll have to ask EndEr how he put a link on his home page. That said I don't think he replied to the one I sent him, so I must assume that it didn't reach him. I'll get back to you on that one. Have you tried Bassist magazine?

Well, my link was added through plain ol' HTML with a mailto tag. Didn't mean to mislead you...I didn't reply to your e-mail 'cause I just responded here on the forum.

****

No I have not I'm afriad!

I should be going into Plymouth city centre soon so I should able to get a copy from somewhere.

Mike A.

Hope you have success finding a copy - it hasn't got that great a circulation, but if you can't find one, I'm sure you'll be able to put one on order.

I will try to set up a link to my e-mail, but I'll post it in another message so as not to screw this one up if it doesn't go right!

Mike A.

If you click on "Bassman" on this posting it will take you to my site, where I have just included a "Mail Bassman" link. I have already tried it out and it works (Hoora!) so I will look forward to chatting to you at some length if that is your wish.

Cheers matey!

Talk to ya soon!

I was thinking about Mr Nathan East. He played bass with Eric Clapton and Phil Collins. And I was lying in bed thinking about him. I thought, he can play bass so damn good, he is brilliant. In the Philharmonic Concert (Clapton's), he gave White Room so much more atmosphere and soul, he doubles up as a brilliant backing vocalist. He is ace...

Then I stopped. Hang on, I thought, is it just me, or do I class anybody who plays bass better than me as a god? I thought:
There is a fine line between a good bass player and a great bass player. I need to start learning that difference proper.

Mike A.

Look forward to your e-mail soon. I'll tell you about getting a custom made bass, and humility.

It's true Nathan East IS a great player, but don't be lead by other peoples opinions, only guided. I'm sure you've got the maturity to make up your own mind.

Most of the people around me don't even know who Nathan East is. Cretins.

Mike A.

Such is their loss.

Mike A.

Such is their loss.

I was on the Future Love Paradise web site a few weeks ago (that's Seal's site) and I ended up at Tony Levin's site. He was doing a picture diary or the US tour, which was quite interesting and amusing. Check it out if you find the time.

One thing that is important for Bass players in particular, is what you don't play! I've read lots of articles emphasizing the spaces in the music as well as the notes. Sounds odd but you can't blister your way through every song doing sixteenths - it just don't work! I think that's why I enjoy Seal's albums, the bass is so groove oriented and not too busy. Killer - what a great groove track. I used to play that in a Rock band, and it always went down a storm.

Kool!

I've been told about those unwanted notes you get when you pluck and it humms for a bit. I'm practising sorting out that. Pluck, then release pressure on the fingerboard. Yeh! If you take your finger straight away then you get a really cool, but unwanted, load 'bwaang'!

By the way, I should be emailing u as soon as I've got my own address. Which should be soon.

Jonathan Brisby.

If you think you've got a problem with technique I would love to help as far as my abilaties go, however you'll have to explain a little more in depth as to the symptoms that you are experiencing. I will assume that you are playing a fretted Bass with a plectrum. It sounds as if you're not fingering close enough to the frets. Your finger should hold the string down just behind the fret but not so any of your finger is over the fret. (This is a lot easier explained with a pic)! Also you can use the palm of your plucking hand to damp the strings at the bridge. If you're only a beginner maybe a teach yourself book would be a good Christmas present - assuming that you celebrate Christmas - or a lesson or two to head you in the right direction. Good Luck. If you click on my name you can e-mail me from my home page.

Jonathan Brisby / Mike A.

Sorry chap, didn't realise you are the one and the same person. I Only noticed when I started looking back through this discussion and noted that all the Mike A's had changed. Thx for the e-mail t'other day, drop me a line whenever you want.

Hee hee hee!

The Jonathan Brisby/Mike A thing was just to provoke a reaction and cause some confusion. Not that I'd recommend it to anyone else. Names on h2g2 are like individual trademarks. If somebody starts changing their name every 2 weeks then the magic is lost. I promise to change my name back to Mike A soon. You might be interested to read my entry on Jonathan Brisby.

Concerning your notes on technique. The finger o the plectrum thing is what I've been told about by my teacher. I suppose I need to bear it in mind more often.
On dampening the sound, I think I need to prctise more on that. All your advice will be remembered.
If I decide to continue playing bass after Xmas then a good 'teaching bass thingy' book is what I've been recommended by my teechur. He showed me a v v good 1 which will be mine if I decide to carry on playing.

By the way, I've linked you up on my homepage.

Mike A.

Thx 4 linking me 2 yr home page. I will continue to call you Mike A coz I can remember that one and as you said you do intend to change back.

Did you get the e-mail I sent regarding the custom Bass?

I got that email sure enough. It frightened me. That's why I didn't reply. I wouldn't have had much to say:Thanx for the email. It frightened me.

If there's anyone else reading this, I'd like to tell them that me and Bassman are enjoying a pleaserable exchange at the moment.