PEE-MU: Musician's Thread

[Reply #40 on:]

 I play bass, me and my friends are in a half assed 4 piece called "The Travolta Trio". We play in the style of the songs we play. I dont think bass players can be influenced?

[Reply #41 on:]

All musicians can be influenced. This is propaganda by those 'other' musicians who think playing whole notes is all bass does (and I'm not bitter at all... no, not one bit... nope...). The bass is the most important instrument in a band as it creates the feel and the structure of the song. Without it, everything else would sound crap. A bassists style can come from anything, from the type of bass he/she uses, to the sound or the notes he/she uses. Try listening closely to how different bassists play to get an idea of bass styles.

[Reply #42 on:]

The Bass is the most important instrument?  Interesting point of view.  Seems to be the drums are the fundation on which most music is based (especially but not exclusively rock and roll).

[Reply #43 on:]

to me, there is no "most important instrument". frankly, a band would sound crappy without a good drummer, without a bass or without a guitar (that is: if you wanna play rock).
you need all instruments.

[Reply #44 on:]

Then again, there are some great drum solos and guitar solos and sometimes nothing but piccollos floats my boat but hey, who gives a rabbit, eh??

BTW, Melll, is the drumming in U2's song Bad hard to play??
It's impossible to tap casually on your knee or belly or whatever you favour!

[Reply #45 on:]

 

Originally posted by ~FazeShift~:
BTW, Melll, is the drumming in U2's song Bad hard to play??
It's impossible to tap casually on your knee or belly or whatever you favour!

Mmmm, dunno, I'd need to listen to it.

:listens to it:

Nah, it's not that hard really.  Everything (like Larry Mullen does a with a lot of U2 songs) is played on the snare, with bass drum punches keeping the time.

I can play "Sunday Bloody Sunday".

[Reply #46 on:]

i write lyrics and sing. i never learned to play an instrument and i tried, but it isnt something that comes naturally to me.

[Reply #47 on:]

 

to me, there is no "most important instrument".

Hmm, I think I may have used the wrong term. What I should have said was that bass is the most important part in music, whether the bass be a guitar, tuba, bassoon, and so on. It is all a matter of point of view but the key point is that bass is the foundation that the rest of the music is built upon. The lead instruments will play the melody on top of the bass, while the drums build the rhythm around the bass (while this is less so in rock and metal, jazz and swing rely on the bass to keep time rather than the drums. And let's not forget classical...).

Of course, this is just my opinion and what I was taught as a bassist. Music isn't defined by a set of rules, but I do get ticked off when people resign the bass as 'that instrument that doesn't do a lot but every band has to have'.

[Reply #48 on:]

 

Originally posted by Melllvar:
Nah, it's not that hard really.  Everything (like Larry Mullen does a with a lot of U2 songs) is played on the snare, with bass drum punches keeping the time.
I can play "Sunday Bloody Sunday".

It just struck me as your non-usual repetitive beat thing. Cheers!

[Reply #49 on:]

 

Originally posted by ~FazeShift~:
 

Originally posted by Melllvar:
Nah, it's not that hard really.  Everything (like Larry Mullen does a with a lot of U2 songs) is played on the snare, with bass drum punches keeping the time.
I can play "Sunday Bloody Sunday".

It just struck me as your non-usual repetitive beat thing. Cheers!

It's a pretty cool song to try to paly along to.  There's enough flourishes in his beat paterns that it isn't dead easy, but like Mell says, it isn't too tough.

As for the whole bass / drums / whatever instrument you'd care to name / is most important, I really have no strong feelings.  I only sited drums as an example of an important aspect of music because they, IMHO, lay the foundation for the rest of the music. The drums set the pace and punctuate the rhythm of the tune.  Each instrument plays an important part in a song (except the accordian, those things are an abomination ;-).

[Reply #50 on:]

Drums were the 1st human music, afterall.
Birds I believe were the 1st to claim it on Earth:
Birds: "Suckers!!!"

[Reply #51 on:]

 

Originally posted by ~FazeShift~:
Drums were the 1st human music, afterall.
Birds I believe were the 1st to claim it on Earth

I'm willing to bet that singing was the first human music 

[Reply #52 on:]

It's all cyclical.  Drums play with vocals, it's a truism that drummers don't know where they are in the song without the vocalist to tell them where they are.  Everything else goes to the drummer.

Listen to "Behind Blue Eyes" by The Who - the heavy section, and you see an example of a drummer (Keith Moon) who plays to the vocalist.

[Reply #53 on:]

 

Originally posted by sheep555:
 I'm willing to bet that singing was the first human music   

I WIN!! HAHAA! HA!

Why, you ask?
Because I'm not held back by such minor negligible details as the truth!! 
Drums, singin, it's all in the same boat.

[Reply #54 on:]

i play the banjo and the trumpet. as a matter of fact, i just bought a new, very expensive, banjo the other day($1100). i can also make noise that resembels music on a ukalalee.

[Reply #55 on:]

Is anyone in the UK going to Music Live 2003 at the NEC? I'll assume you all said 'never heard of it' and will proceed with an explanation.

Music Live is a musicians convention which most big names companies will attend for demos, displaying new gear or simply to attract new customers. It covers almost everybody involved in music, from guitarist and drummers to DJ's and stage crews and for the most part you are free to roam around and play as much as you want. Hell, some stands even encourage it! Of course, there's cheap kit to buy and, if not anything else, you can get great deals on consumables. There's also a stage for guest bands to play (last year was Ocean Colour Scene) and the usual 'guitarist of the year' competitions, plus lots of famous guests hanging around the stands (notably, Jim Marshall and Paul Reed Smith). AND to top it all off, there are talks on subjects such as Sound Recording and how to make it in the music business.

I don't want to sound like I'm getting paid to do this, but this really is a great day out. I've been to it every year for the past three years and always enjoyed it, and most of the time I got back the ticket price on all the freebies they hand out   . I just thought I'd spread a little happiness by mentioning it, and maybe I'll see some of you there   

EDIT- Oh, and check it out here

[Reply #56 on:]

*Bump*

Mainly because I wanted to post this pic of Red:Shift in action.  Taken by an excellent local band photographer, Lucy Whitmore.  I'm in there somewhere.



I signed my part of Red:Shift's record deal with local label Confidential Records yesterday, signed mainly to secure copyright and publishing through PRS & MCPS, so that when records get played, we get money for it.

Also, they distribute our CD worldwide from their website.  Means that we have a decent sounding demo (recorded at their studio) and can flog it anywhere in the world.

If you like that photo, by the way, Lucy's site is here.  She's cute too.

[Reply #57 on:]

Ah, another musician thread that I missed.  I play electric guitar in my band and I also sing.

[Reply #58 on:]

'Hil, do you have anything recorded, that you can post?

[Reply #59 on:]

We recorded a little, but I can't post it due to several facts:
First, I don't know much about how to do that, and don't try to explain cause my I can't do that with my computer.
Second, we suck and we don't really want to get it on the internet yet.  We'll stick to community gigs.

So, basically, sorry, but no.  Not yet at least.  But it's possible.

[Reply #60 on:]

If you have anything on CD you can sort that out.

The only other PEELers band I've heard is Lurrr's.  What a gip!

My recordings (from every band I've been in):

Artichoke Attack - "The Legend Of Rhey EP"
My first recording, and only production credit, done in an afternoon using my Fostex four-trak.  Tracks:
Recreation
Recovery
Poppy Fields
Long Way Home (Live)

Red:Shift - "Myillnessmademelickcars EP"
First proper studio recording, done on 40-hours of non-sleep (in between two nightshifts).  Disappeared into mixing-hell for six-months and rescued by our sound engineer, Jimmy. Tracks:
Kinedin's Dream/Sketchy Epic
Paul
Sixteen
Spirit Level (Live)

EarthnoiZe - "Live At Fibbers: Jan 2002"
The gig where we almost killed frontman Bob, and my first one with EarthnoiZe.  Was an utter blast, we should bring back this band.  Tracks:
I Am Mutant
Global Rage
Two-Foot Slipper
Cup Of Tea
Take
Desire To Pryor
EarthnoiZe

Red:Shift - "Violent Cop EP"
Recorded, mixed and out on sale within a week.  We'd arrnaged a CD Launch gig, and didn't have a CD.  Four of the punkiest R:S songs on this one.  Tracks:
Anti-Everything
Better Place
Careless
Paranoia

Red:Shift - "Earthstationalpha"
A mixing desk live recording of Red:Shift's biggest gig so far, in front of a few hundred punters at the Waspaid Benefit at York's biggest venue, The Barbican Centre. Tracks:
Destinations
Anti-Everything
Thousand Suns
Servant

Ryan Shirlow & The Bloody Marys - "White Label"
Recorded (over a longer period of time) in the same method as "Violent Cop", is still great to listen to.  Ryan sells these for 2 quid at gigs.  Tracks:
4-Sarah
Shit Father
So Cold
D-Flowered
Sympathy
Shit Father (Reprise)

Nerve Harvest - "Initial Replication"
Live EP from Industrial Metal band - with customary attractive chick-bassist, heavy.  Tracks:
Dictator
Firesoilslave
Gutfucker
Dead Priest Day

Red:Shift - "Black Ops EP"
We took time over this one, and Ryan worked hard to get the sounds better than "Violent Cop". We toured off this one. Sounded good too.  Tracks:
MFTNY
Servant
Thousand Suns
Captain Black

Red:Shift - "The Big Nowhere"
Just finished.  Recorded at a proper studio with a proper producer, also got us a proper publishing deal.  Currently preparing to promote this into the ground.  Sounds the best we've ever sounded on record.  Fact.  Tracks:
Stenton
Like Fools
Destinations

Nerve Harvest - "The Device"
As part of NH's record deal (yes, they have one too), we're recording a proper EP at a proper studio - same place as "The Big Nowhere" - we start recording next week.  Tracks:
Firesoilslave
Gutfucker
Winter
Dead Priest Day

[Reply #61 on:]

Wow, we're not that big.  Besides being really young, we only play at like community parties or festivals if we're lucky.  Your band sounds awesome.  We only have a few CDs with recorded stuff to just keep records of our position.  We just make up songs, record em, and if we like em enough, play em live when we get a chance.  We don't go anywhere cause we're just plain too young and not good enough, but we're getting there.  Our first CD:

Simply X-Tra (That's our band name which is most likely going to change)
Dreams
If They Lived
Two Roads
Fooled
Why It happens
Lessons

Yeah, each song is about 3 minutes, 3 random instrument banging minutes.  Yeah, we make fun of ourselves hell of a lot.  Good luck to your band's future! 

[Reply #62 on:]

I like to play guitar and I usually play alternative rock.
Or proggresive metal.

[Reply #63 on:]

 

Originally posted by Futurama_Hil:
Yeah, each song is about 3 minutes, 3 random instrument banging minutes.  Yeah, we make fun of ourselves hell of a lot.  Good luck to your band's future! 

Thanks.  If you wanna hear some of the earlier recordings, here are our MP3.com pages:

(now with Parental advisory removed)

EarthnoiZe (Speli's favourite)

Red:Shift

Ryan Shirlow & The Bloody Marys

Nerve Harvest

[Reply #64 on:]

 

The only other PEELers band I've heard is Lurrr's. What a gip!

What's a gip? Should I be insulted? 

We've had a big change in our sound since our drummer left. Since our keyboardist has moved onto drums we've had to change the songs to fill out the sound more. He's also got some drum pads for even more wildness. Somehow we've ended up sounding weirder then we did to begin with.

[Reply #65 on:]

Insulted?  No, no, not at all.  There are a few PEELers in bands, and the only recorded stuff posted is mine (and your CD, which I have) - I'd like to hear more.

[Reply #66 on:]

I started at about the age of 5 playing piano and continued learning and studying the instrument for about 10 years. I got up to about 8th Grade, and also completed 5th grade Theory and Musicianship.
I then picked up the the Clarinet for a year, but transitioned to the alto Sax... and played for about over 8 years (and about 5 years with Soprano Sax). Through highschool I was in an awesome Big Band (we actually did gigs!), as well as a Concert Band (who often won interschool eisteddfods). It led me to audition for a new Marching Band that was being assembled for the Sydney 2000 Olympics. It would become the largest Marching Band in the world during the Opening Ceremony with 2000 members in it (Can you imagine tuning up to 100 Sousaphones alone? Holy crap it was awesome).
I haven't played properly for about 2.. maybe 3 years now. Unfortunately after highschool, and soon after the Olympics I couldn't find a band to my standard and it left me out of practice and I eventually strayed from performing. I still love the idea of huge bands. The bigger, the better I say! (as long as they're tight).
So now I"m on the other side. I finished a course in Sound Production/Audio Engineering and plan to keep that up and work with musicians for a long time. I've recorded my boyfriend's band (rock and roll baby!) a couple times as well as many other unknown artists, as well as a few live gigs. All good fun, as long as I can be around awesome musicians it makes me happy nowadays. 

[Reply #67 on:]

And Ninaka did that bootleg-remixy thing, which she kindly sent me, that was cool.  I still have it.

[Reply #68 on:]

Wow, that big band thingy sounds, uh, big!

[Reply #69 on:]

I play guitar but I'm not in a band because I've got no friends.

[Reply #70 on:]

Aww, that sucks.  I guess we could always use an extra guitarist...

[Reply #71 on:]

I need a drummer.  I got a pretty good band otherwise.  I'm trying to convince all my friends to take up the drums.  But I need a good drummer.  With his/her own damn drums.

[Reply #72 on:]

I took up the guitar at 21 - straight down the music shop with my first ever wages.  Nowadays I have 3 guitars, a bass and Peavey amp.  And since I play mostly 60s music, I've got a Boss TR7 tremelo pedal too (listen to those notes wobble!)

I do a good version of 'House Of The Rising Sun' if nothing else   

[Reply #73 on:]

I am a classically trained string bassist.  Right now I am working towards my performance degree at my university's school of music.  And for extra money, I do jazz gigs. 
I also play electric bass, but not nearly as much as I play string bass.  I use electric mainly for funk jams.

[Reply #74 on:]

I need a drummer and a bassist. I can sorta play guitar and my sister also plays, so I could use her if I was desperate.

[Reply #75 on:]

Whoever needs a drummer, where are you from?  I think Archie's going spare.

In other news, Red:Shift's new EP is released.  Woo!

[Reply #76 on:]

I can play the guitar like a mother fucking riot

[Reply #77 on:]

I know how to play the drums but I really suck.  Our drummer is fairly good, at least for our age. 

[Reply #78 on:]

I'm in Australia... dammit.

Can anyone play the Brighton Rock Solo on guitar? If they can... they are cool.

[Reply #79 on:]

I've been learning to play bass since February last year, still learning and I've just got into a band a couple months ago  We do cover songs, mainly rock stuff u can dance 2....As u probbaly already don't know I'm a metalhead but I enjoy playing anything,  music is my life so bring it on 

I love bass and yeah I also don't like ppl who think bass is just background noise....in a way it is and I have 2 admit I haven't really heard a song without it (unless it was piano or sumthing obvious) so I dunno what difference it makes....a lot I guess lol

Anyway ROCK ON everyone....

And I haven't really been influenced by anyone in particular, I like 2 think everyone has their own style....