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Study Without Light by Jimi Durso
Study Without Light by Jimi Durso… Living in the northeast, I was one of the people who didn’t have electricity for a bit after hurricane Sandy. Though this was for the most part an inconvenience, there was something good that came out of it. Not being able to practice with the play-a-longs and software to which I’ve become accustomed, I had to go back to practicing with methods I used before the computer age. Here’s a great Zen-like thing you can do to improve your ear as well as your build on your own individual sound.
Sit (or stand) with your instrument, and wait until you “hear” a note. I don’t mean externally, I mean clear your mind (as best you can) and wait until you hear a pitch inside your head. If you were playing right now (and you will be) what note would you start with? When a note appears in your inner ear, find it on your bass (those of you with perfect pitch should have an easier time of that than the rest of us). When you’ve played this note, listen (inside) again for the next note. What should follow this?
Take your time with this. Don’t think these notes have to come fast (but don’t mind if they do). Let the notes appear at their own pace. Don’t try to intellectualize it and think of what note you should play, just let the sound happen.
In fact, make a point of not judging anything about this (check out the “Inner Critic” bit that I did). If it takes a while before you hear a note you want to play, don’t think of that as a negative or a positive. Just wait for the note and when you hear it, find it. If the notes make no sense to you, don’t be concerned that you’re doing it wrong (“What the hell scale is this? This isn’t in any key at all.”) Likewise, don’t be concerned if you create something simple (“This is just a major pentatonic scale. Shouldn’t my playing be hipper than that”). That’s part of the purpose of this exercise, learning to trust your inner ear, believing that what you create is perfect just as you hear it.
I find it can be helpful to think of this like Cole Porter said he used to work: writing for the trashcan. Treat this as a one time musical experience and enjoy it as such. If you come up with something that you can use (maybe in a song or as a song), that’s a bonus. If you just play this once and don’t come away with anything you can use (or that you believe you can use), enjoy the experience and let it go. If you do this exercise regularly, you should find you get quicker at finding the notes, and in playing situations there’ll be more connection between your ear, hands, and intuition, and you’ll trust your instincts more.
Twang!
www.JimiDurso.com
www.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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linktr.ee/returntodust
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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
