Monday, December 16, 2013

BeatBuddy: Revolutionary new pedal for bassists


Hi, a new pedal is launching and I think this will help us bassists. Support the product! Check out the demo video at http://mybeatbuddy.com.











Check out the press release:

Miami Beach, FL (Dec. 16, 2013) -- It is a rare occurrence that a company releases a musical device that is truly innovative and grants musicians previously unobtainable abilities. Singular Sound announces the launch of their crowdfunding campaign to begin the production of the BeatBuddy -- the first guitar pedal drum machine.  


“Drummers are hard to come by, and drum sets are even harder to carry,” said David Packouz, Founder, “and drum machines are practically useless for jamming or live performance. The BeatBuddy is the first product to solve this fundamental problem. It's the power of a drum machine, but the simplicity of a pedal.”


Features of the BeatBuddy include:

    • Hands-free live control of the beat: Inserts fills, transitions from verse to chorus, adds accent hits (e.g. cymbal crashes or hand claps)
    • Pre-loaded with 10 drum sets and over 200 songs
    • Any custom beat or drum set can be loaded through included computer software
    • MIDI Sync: Integrates with other MIDI devices
    • Convenient small single-pedal format


    In addition, Singular Sound will host a forum in which BeatBuddy users can upload and share their custom beats and drum sets. The BeadBuddy is not just a pedal -- it’s a platform.


    The BeatBuddy will retail for $350(USD), but early birds who help fund the production through Singular Sound’s Indiegogo campaign will be able to score one for as little as $179 (USD). However, that price will only be available for the first 500 supporters.


    For further information on the BeatBuddy and to back the project today, visit: igg.me/at/BeatBuddy


    Media contact:
    David Packouz, Founder/CEO


    Thursday, December 05, 2013

    Half Step Below






    Hi,

    This is a nice exercise to practice your Arpeggio and making it sound more interesting and a little jazzy.

    Just add a note half step before your chord tone.

    The above outline a Gmaj7 chord.

    Try playing the exercise over a Gmaj7 chord and hear how it sound.

    You can also try a whole step before your chord tone.

    Have fun!

    Wednesday, November 13, 2013

    Good Tone

    Hi,

    Recently I've been thinking about achieving a nice tone in my playing. Some people said it's the player and not the gear. I personally think it's both.

    I would like to list down a few factors that may affect the tone.

    1. Player's control (fretting & plucking)
    2. Bass with good action
    3. Experiment with the knobs. Which pick ups to use, preamp and etc
    4. Pluck near neck pick up or near bridge pick up
    5. Better pick ups
    6. Good bass amp
    7. Parametric EQ (and other effects)
    8. String brand & gauge
    9. Wood (body & neck)
    10. Neck through or Bolt on

    Hope you can get the tone you want for your genre.

    Cheers

    Wednesday, October 02, 2013

    Small hands













    Hi,

    For those who are like me with small hands, this article is for you.

    Ibanez bass is famous for their slim neck and comes with good wood and electronics.

    The above is an Ibanez SR 500 with Mahogany body and Bartolini pick ups.

    Since the neck is slim, I can play faster and the bass is 24 frets, which makes it easier to play higher up the neck.

    The pricing is not high compared with basses with similar specifications.

    Do check it out in the music store near you.

    Cheers! 

    Sunday, September 08, 2013

    ii V Sub

    Hi,

    I was reading on adding substitute chords to the static V7 chords.

    Let's learn some simple Jazz together.

    Say we have a progression like this: Eb |Eb |D7 |D7 |Eb |Eb |C7 |C7 |

    We can use the ii V substitute to make it more interesting.

    It will become like this: Eb |Eb |Am7 |D7 |Eb | Eb |Gm7| C7|

    The reverse is true. So if you have a progression like Am7 D7, it can become D7 D7.

    Have fun!

    Wednesday, August 07, 2013

    Chromatic with Double Stop

    Hi,

    Just want to show a simple exercise with a combination of chromatic notes and double stop.






    Basically you can loop this exercise and add your own notes.

    The low E note with the double stop will give you a nice E chord.

    Enjoy!

    Thursday, July 04, 2013

    Slap Arpeggio - Mark King

    Hi,

    This exercise helps you to play "Lessons in love" by Level 42.

    The chords are G B7 Em C.








    The challenge is to get a consistent sound when slapping the arpeggio.

    Have fun!

    Monday, June 10, 2013

    Funk Groove - James Brown

    Hi,

    This bass exercise is inspired by the song 'Give it up or turn it loose' by James Brown.

    You may want to listen to the track and get a feel before trying the exercise.






    You can slap this exercise if you want. Important is the feel.

    Hope you like it.

    Cheers

    Monday, May 06, 2013

    Double Thumb Exercise

    Hi,

    Bass players like Larry Graham, Marcus Miller, Victor Wooten and etc often use the double thumb technique.

    This is a nice and simple exercise for you to practice the double thumb technique.

    Saw Uriah Duffy did something like this and it sounded like Jaco's lines.

    Give it a try.





    Have fun!

    Wednesday, April 03, 2013

    Diminished Arpeggio

    Hi,

    This lesson was something that I learn from watching Janek Gwizdala's video.

    It is a 2 octave diminished arpeggio. I used G diminished for the below example.






    You only need to use your index and pinky to play the exercise.

    I find it interesting and fun.

    Hope you like it.

    Friday, March 01, 2013

    Using 5th

    Hi,

    This is a lesson that I learn from watching Damian Erskine's video, but simplified.

    Starting from the G note on the 3rd fret of the E string, you play the 5th interval.






    You can use it as a quick riff when in the key of G.

    Notice that all the notes are in G major scale.

    The pattern sounds nice because you are outlining the 9th chord.

    Have fun and experiment.

    Friday, February 01, 2013

    DI Box













    DI box or Direct Input Box is frequently used to connect our bass or amp into the mixer. The box helps to balance the signal and reduce noise or distortion.

    Since I use my bass amp as my monitor, the connection will be for the bass to line in into the DI box, 

    DI box will have a link to the input of the amp. The DI box output (XLR) will go into the mixer.

    Hope this information is useful.

    Cheers

    Tuesday, January 08, 2013

    Sequencing Exercise

    Hi,

    Practicing scales can become monotonous after a while.

    Sequencing exercises help to make scales sound more musical and interesting.






    The above is a sequencing exercise for A major scale.

    You can practice ascending and descending or different numbers of sequences.

    Have fun!