Vision Music

[nylenny]

Hi Mark,

Could you comment on what the goals of the first-year bass class is? What sort of material is included? Is there a sylabus? How much focus is on rhythm vis-a-vis jazz language vis-a-vis building walking lines? thanks

[corky4strings]

len did you ever start the bass lessons yet?
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corky




let your fingers do the walking i do

[nylenny]

Hi Corky, I'm starting them in January.

[corky4strings]

i re starting them as soon a disability starts sending my checks. i did the first 10-11 lessons your gonna enjoy them. mark does a great job with the lessons. enjoy
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corky




let your fingers do the walking i do

[nylenny]

I'm sure he does. I've been taking guitar lessons with Mark for five or six years. His lessons are excellent and blow away other learning products out there.

[corky4strings]

10-4 on that. have a good time walkin.
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corky




let your fingers do the walking i do

[Larry_DC]

I'm walkin' yes indeed, I'm talkin'...

I'm on my third bass lesson. Each one so far has a cool walking blues bass along with one jazz head. Also some of those familiar II-V's from the Swing Blues LBM applied to bass. It's challenging fro ma technique point of view and, more importantly, loads of fun.

[nylenny]

Larry_DC wrote:

[Mark]

[Larry_DC]

[corky4strings]

larry are you using your finger to do the walkin or a pick. just wondering sence you also play guitar . keep walkin
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corky




let your fingers do the walking i do

[Larry_DC]

Corky - I'm using the alternating index and middle finger approach. I had a long talk with Mark about proper RH technique, after which I began to practice rest strokes. For walking bass with chord punches I tend to use the thumb and two fingers. I'm having a little trouble getting that nice deep tone unless I bend my fingers a little bit and pluck with an upward motion.

[corky4strings]

if you use more of the side of your index and middle fingers like a stand up player you will get that deeper tone. then it depends on were your positioned when playing. if you pick in front of the front pick up you will get a lower tone. if you pick near the bridge you will get a more treble tone. when i play or practice i usually alway pick in front of the neck pick up. unless if there's a part in a song were i need to play near the bridge.
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corky




let your fingers do the walking i do

[nylenny]

I use a classical guitar style rest stroke, which works fine for me and gives a decent tone. I am using this technique because I play classical guitar, so there is no technique adjustment when I switch back and forth.

Because there are so many descriptions of how to play a proper guitar rest stroke, I won't belabor the issue, but here are the highlights: a) I keep the knuckles of my right hand paralell to the strings, b) the motion comes from the large knuckle joint; and c) I am a little more relaxed about alternating when playing bass (than I am on classical guitar) -- so I often will repeat a finger when changing to a lower string or striving for a consistent tone.

[Larry_DC]

Thanks guys, I'll give it a try.