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Interaction by Jimi Durso
One great way to help find your own voice is to develop it through the people around you. If you’re in a band, sitting in at jams, or just playing along w/ jam tracks, how you interact with these can be a great source of discovering your individuality. And it’s pretty easy, since no one else will react exactly like you to begin with. But let’s look at some ways you can get more out of these dialogues.
First, whether you’re leading or following is really more of a continuum (or should be). Think of not just following the other musicians, but also nudging them a bit (if it’s live musician’s you’re playing with. It’s much more difficult w/ recordings). Can you change the energy in some way and get the other folk to follow you? Can you take what the others are doing and use it to forge a direction that you can then bring the rest of the ensemble along on? Or take how someone else responds to your moves and incorporate that into your next decision.
Next, you have to determine how the energy is changing (whether it’s your move or someone else’s) and what you’re specifically going to do about it. For instance: maybe the drummer has brought the energy level up by playing busier. You could play busier as well, but are there other ways to follow his or her energy? What about dropping down an octave (or up an octave) to compliment their change? Or playing closer to the bridge to get a nastier tone? Or just digging in and playing louder? Or turning on your octave divider (you did remember to bring an octave divider)? Or making your rhythm more syncopated (or less syncopated)? I could continue, but start imagining what you could do. You may find that in the situation, if you keep your mind open, you’ll know what you want to do. But I’d suggest keeping a playful attitude. Try things, see what you come up with.
Also, do the same from the perspective of leading: how can you make the rest of the group bring the energy down (or up, or laterally)? What if you switch to just octaves and fifths (if you hadn’t been doing that already)? Maybe playing more legato or staccato? What about some sustained double stops? Listen to how the other members of the ensemble react to your choices.
You could also think of yourself as a bridge. What if the piano player has moved in a different direction, perhaps creating tension by playing more chromatically, or with more alterations in the chords. How can you communicate this to the drummer (assuming your drummer’s a bit tone deaf, or just doesn’t pay attention to the piano)? Maybe by playing some polyrhythms? Or dropping the downbeat? Think of how many ways you could communicate harmonic information rhythmically (then do the same to get the drummer’s thing across to the pianist).
This kind of thinking doesn’t only apply to improvised music. If you’re in a group doing original material, use the same approach when writing your parts. When the guitarist switches on the distortion for the chorus, how is your bass line going to react? Will you play driving eighth notes? Or just slam an octave on the 2 and 4? Or (hopefully) something I wouldn’t even thin of. Brainstorm all the things YOU might do in this situation. And have fun with it.
Twang!
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
