Author Topic: Suddenly I'm good? (Read 936 times)

mario_farufyno · « **on:** December 05, 2008, 01:50:45 PM »

Some time ago I joined my current Band. We plaied in night clubs and I started to use my - then - recent acquired 6 string Washburn Bass. I never considered using my precious Alembic as it was a tiny Gig (and I really wanted to get used to the 6 string bass possibilities).

It quickly grew and we started to play more nights, opening to major acts and recording a couple of CDs, but I was unhappy with this Gig. My fellow band mates always complained on everything I did. They seemed to dislike any line I tried, nothing was enough groovy or punchy.

I thought it was because they hate the idea of a 6 string bass (one time the percussionist said if I wanted to do Chords I should play Guitar!). So I simplified all my lines and stopped the chord work I was trying, but they kept complaining...

One week I had to leave my Washburn at the repair shop and took the Rogue to the Gigs and - guess what?

They all got crazy saying how I was really great that night. Suddenly I was THE Cat. They asked me why I didn't tried these inventive groovy Lines before and I just could say that I was doing these same lines for months. They simply were complaining without even having listened me good!

The fact is (despite their narrow mind and rudeness) that using my Alembic enabled me to get heard. Alembic's open and clear tone helped me to be finally understood (and be fairlly appreciated).

Thanks Alembic!

I knew my value, but you helped me to show it to them too. Can you believe it?

mario_farufyno · « **Reply #1 on:** December 05, 2008, 02:01:21 PM »

Incredible is that I'm doing all the stuffs they always complained about (including all the Chords and Double Stops) and they're loving it. Holly Jackson!

If I knew that 2 strings more could twist perceptions like this, I would never think about using 6 of them. Next time I'll try to use a 2 string bass...

*[joking]

jacko · « **Reply #2 on:** December 06, 2008, 04:21:11 PM »

Mario. I love the tunes on your website. Were they recorded with the rogue? I'm also impressed with the way you have a movie of the band as the website 'wallpaper'. I'll have to have words with the Big Tuna web master and try to get that look on ours.

graeme.
p.s. Thanks for your comments on my rogue thread in the showcase. When will we see photos of yours?

georgie_boy · « **Reply #3 on:** December 09, 2008, 05:50:49 AM »

Graeme
Your Rogue is just amazing!!
Can't wait to get my hands on her again!!

G

mario_farufyno · « **Reply #4 on:** December 09, 2008, 11:37:51 AM »

Thanks Jacko, I'll ask our web master how he did it. I'll also send some photos to the Showcase...

Ops, you can see mine Rogue on the History Request. Its serial number (and thread name) is Rogue 97Q10502 USA.

terryc · « **Reply #5 on:** December 10, 2008, 05:49:21 AM »

Well I may get a few enemies here but I have never seen the need for multi string basses, Messrs Wooton, Miller, Clarke, Pastorius, King and many others have got away quite well with four strings and played chords, double stops etc.
Sometimes less is more...

jacko · « **Reply #6 on:** December 10, 2008, 06:22:06 AM »

Each to their own Terry. I love my 5 strings and will probably never go back to a 4. There are plenty 'famous' players using 5's and 6's too and for the most part all the bass players I've seen interviews with (carol kaye excepted) are happy to live and let live. It all boils down to personal preference. However, you've mentioned Victor above. When he needs to, he uses a joe compito 5 string fretless and on the Master of all trades DVD (as well as the jazz legends live in montreux dvd), Marcus plays a very tasteful looking 5 string fretless.

Graeme

jacko · « **Reply #7 on:** December 10, 2008, 06:29:26 AM »

took a while navigating Marcus' website but here's a nice pic of his fretless...

Graeme

(Message edited by jacko on December 10, 2008)

jbybj · « **Reply #8 on:** December 11, 2008, 12:54:32 PM »

Well I may get a few enemies here but I have never seen the need for multi string basses

I have always felt my one string bass was just too limited for my expansive musical expression, I need at least two, strings that is.......

JBY

cozmik_cowboy · « **Reply #9 on:** December 11, 2008, 02:26:24 PM »

I have always felt my one string bass was just too limited for my expansive musical expression

You just need to pull the broomstick harder against the washtub, James.

Peter

mario_farufyno · « **Reply #10 on:** December 12, 2008, 11:46:14 AM »

First of all, not even the string bass started with 4 strings. They just got frequently made with 4 (AND 5) strings after XIXth century. So, this is simply a matter of technological achievement summed up to some musician's desire to expand his voice range.

If you listen to lower pitchs in your head you shouldn't be limited to the low E, just this. Altough, despite my claims to fellow band mates that 6 strings are simply a broader bass, I have to addmit the Instrument has some unique features.

Seems that the 6 string is somehow more related to Acoustic Guitar. It's not just the extended range, the Instrument takes you to a more vertical way of thinking with all those strings. The 6 strings begs you to approachs it with an eye on the Bass, shure, but the other on the classical guitar.

I know this is just a single way to view it (not original and not for everyone's taste), but I really want to explore it this way. (As a brazilian) I started to study Villa-Lobos classical guitar stuff and I'm trying to apply it to the Bass.

I believe you can think about it as an entirely new Instrument, made to express other needs. It just has to create its own space, inviting musicians to explore its singularities and justify its use, as happen to the Eletric when it was born. Back then, people complained about it saying the Instrument was more of a Guitar. Yeah, may be... But what is the problem? Why an new Instrument should be taken as a threat?

I always tought the Bass as a function in Music. Althought it will affect your phrasing, it really doesn't matter if is a Tuba or an Organ's Pedal (or a Bass) you'll use to embelish the lower portion of a Chord. Witch one you'll pick is a matter of affection.

I also like more the 4 string, but I don't think it really makes all things the 6 does. If the Eletric deserves a space by its own, I don't know how accepting the 6 should be a problem.

(Message edited by Mario Farufyno on December 12, 2008)

pocket8 · « **Reply #11 on:** December 12, 2008, 02:51:46 PM »

I agree with Mario:

From Jamerson to Jauqo III-X, from old hands to neophytes, there is something that compelled many of us not to solely rely upon and at times to completely avoid the higher registers to play music, instead using something that is not pure melody, pure harmony, or pure percussion, but is universally appealing and intuitive. In my opinion that is the groove and the pocket, where our contribution can be represented by the F-clef. How far above and below you go low D is personal taste, but I think in the low end of the sound spectrum, we are equally capable of taking the spotlight or blending into the backline, but with our other half of the rhythm section, we are always center-stage in the aural center of the audience's subconscious whether they (or their collective frontal lobe) realize it or not. Or so I think!

terryc · « **Reply #12 on:** December 16, 2008, 07:51:17 AM »

Okay, multi strings do have a role in our craft but and this is a big but..those famous bass players use them because they CAN because we like to see them play fantastic phrases, licks and grooves.
For the majority of us in bands that play covers to entertain the general public..soloing off 'Donna Lee' at 280bpm in the middle of some pop song is going to get some strange looks from the band and maybe 'don't turn up at the next gig thank you'
So maybe it is 'horses for courses', I know someone who plays his fender p bass in a motown band and a rock band but plays his Yamaha TRB 6 in his jazz unit.

benson_murrensun · « **Reply #13 on:** December 16, 2008, 11:36:57 AM »

I usually use a four-string, but I got into using a fiver when I play with my piano-playing buddy with the over-active left hand, so I can get above or below what he is doing on bass. Sometimes I use the fiver when I play Dead covers and need the bomb. Other times, I stick to the four. Horses for courses, indeed.

jazzyvee · « **Reply #14 on:** December 16, 2008, 12:58:43 PM »

My personal preference is the 4 string bass, however most gigs I get to do on bass session gigs require a low b-string so when those gigs come up I have to grab the 5 stringer. But when I do gigs where I choose the set, I tend to go with tracks where I can play my 4 stringer exclusively.