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Finding Your Own Voice: Range by Jimi Durso
Finding Your Own Voice: Range by Jimi Durso… I read an interview with Paul McCartney where he was asked why he played the bass line to Day Tripper in the same octave as the guitar, instead of an octave lower. He said that AM radio had terrible bass response, and he knew if he played it that low the bass line would be lost to most listeners.
What range you play in can be a very important aspect of how you approach the instrument. Most of us are playing the bass line as far down as we can and leaving the upper range for melody, chords, solos, basically for everyone else in the band. But it doesn’t have to be that way. Here are two things you can do to open your mind and fingers up to the full range of your instrument.
First is to simply observe how some other players have used range creatively. A great example is Flea’s line on “Give It Away”. The main line is only four notes, but it covers almost an octave, from the low A to the octave G. Or John Paul Jones on “Ramble On”, Where the verses are in the upper range (and he plays what could best be called a counter-melody to the voice), but for the choruses he drops into the lower register (now playing much more supportive lines, and making the sound much heavier).
When you’ve observed some of these ideas, the next step is to try them out yourself. Try playing the verses in one area and the choruses in another. I played a gig on my six string where for one song I stayed in the conventional bass range until the very last chorus, where I dropped down onto the low B string to give a sense of finality to the song. Or, as a fun experiment, write a line (either to someone else’s song or as a potential song of your own) and see if you can use the entire range of your bass. Or when soloing, solo where you normally don’t (like in the low positions rather than jumping up high for your solo spot). Or see if you can answer yourself, playing a phrase in one area and then the next phrase in another. At this point, you might be thinking of other things you can explore that I haven’t mentioned yet. Great! Try those things out first.
Try creating a bass line that spans more than an octave. Then try making one up that spans at least two. Think of all the ways you can do this, pulling off from high notes to open strings, tapping high pitches with your right hand, using harmonics, especially those under the 5th fret, or just conventionally playing across the range of the instrument.
To get more familiar with the entire range of your instrument (whether it be acoustic, electric, 4, 5, or 6 string), here’s a great exercise I got from Marc Johnson (with some variations I created): solo on a 12-bar-blues starting with the lowest note you can play in that key and ending (at the end of the 12th measure) on the highest. Also, do the opposite: start on the highest note you can play in that key and work your way down over the course of 12 measures to the lowest. Then, try starting at the lowest, playing up to the highest and back down before the 12 bars are up. Reverse this and start at the top and play to the bottom and back in 12 bars (you could do this over a form other than a blues, if you like). This is a great exercise as it not only gets you thoroughly familiar with the full range of your instrument but improves your phrasing as well.
Twang!
Also, my rock & roll duo is working on putting out our first CD. Find out more at: CoincidenceMachine.net
Gear News
New Gear: Alberto Rigoni Signature Bass, the VPR5 by Gaetano Costanzo!
Alberto Rigoni Signature Bass, the VPR5 by Gaetano Costanzo!
Internationally renowned bassist ALBERTO RIGONI (soloist, BAD AS, Vivaldi Metal Project, TwinSpirits, etc.) is proud to announce the release of his signature bass VPR5 made by renowned Italian luthier Gaetano Costanzo!
The bass is entirely handmade in Italy, without the use of CNC or other machinery, and has rather special features. The VPR is a 5-string bass (but also available as a 4-string) with 30 frets, Seymour Duncan pickups, Music Man Alnico style, passive electronics (volume, tone and a switch to select series/parallel/single-coil mode), alder body, and American maple neck and fingerboard. Gotoh tuners that ensure perfect intonation. The bass is totally painted white (nitro finish) but other colors can be requested. The VPR has a weight of about 2.9 kg and suitable for any genre.
For more information contact Gaetanobass77@gmail.com or visit online at www.instagram.com/gaetanocostanzoluthier or www.facebook.com/GaetanoCostanzoLuthier
Bass Videos
Interview With Bassist Graham Stanush
Bassist Graham Stanush…
Return to Dust is keeping Grunge alive and well! They have a new self-titled album that went out on May 3rd, 2024 and will be super busy promoting this project in the near future.
Graham Stanush is the bass powerhouse driving their sound and adding vocals to the mix. Join me as we hear all about Graham’s musical journey, details about the new album, how he gets his sound and their plans for the future.
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Bass Videos
Review: CrystalBright Rombo Picks
CrystalBright Rombo Picks
PR SamplePlaying bass with a pick is still a touchy subject in our community. I believe you should be able to use whatever you need to get your sound. Even though I mostly play with my fingers, I like to check out innovative new picks that might have something new to offer, sonically speaking.
Judith and Carlos from Rombo recently contacted me about a new material called CrystalBright that they have been researching for the last 12 months and offered to send some prototype picks. After trying them out, I put together this video with my findings.
For more info check out @rombopicks
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This Week’s Top 10 Basses on Instagram
Check out our top 10 favorite basses on Instagram this week…
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Gear
New Joe Dart Bass From Sterling By Music Man
Sterling by Music Man introduces the Joe Dart Artist Series Bass (“Joe Dart”), named after and designed in collaboration with the celebrated Vulfpeck bassist.
Above photo credit: JORDAN THIBEAUX
This highly-anticipated model marks the debut of the Dart bass in the Sterling by Music Man lineup, paying homage to the Ernie Ball Music Man original that all funk players know and love. The bass embodies many of the original model’s distinctive features, from its iconic minimalist design to the passive electronics.
The design process prioritized reliability, playability, and accessibility at the forefront. Constructed from the timeless Sterling body, the Dart features a slightly smaller neck profile, offering a clean tone within a comfortable package. The body is crafted from soft maple wood for clarity and warmth while the natural finish emphasizes the simple yet unique look.
Engineered for straightforward performance, this passive bass features a ceramic humbucking bridge pickup and a single ‘toaster’ knob for volume control. Reliable with a classic tone, it’s perfect for playing in the pocket. The Dart is strung with the all-new Ernie Ball Stainless Steel Flatwound Electric Bass Strings for the smoothest feel and a mellow sound.
The Sterling by Music Man Joe Dart Bass is a special “Timed Edition” release, exclusively available for order on the Sterling by Music Man website for just one month. Each bass is made to order, with the window closing on May 31st and shipping starting in November. A dedicated countdown timer will indicate the remaining time for purchase on the product page. Additionally, the back of the headstock will be marked with a “2024 Crop” stamp to commemorate the harvest year for this special, one-of-a-kind release.
The Joe Dart Bass is priced at $399.99 (MAP) and can be ordered globally at https://sterlingbymusicman.com/products/joe-dart.
To learn more about Joe Dart, visit the official Vulfpeck artist site here https://www.vulfpeck.com/.
Interview With Bassist Graham Stanush
Review: CrystalBright Rombo Picks
Preparing for Performance with Dr. Randy Kertz
Interview With Bassist Erick “Jesus” Coomes
