Circuit Breaker Instrument Cable

The circuit breaker instrument cable by Planet Waves is very useful. Before using this cable, whenever I need to plug out to check my tuning (not using clip on), I need to turn off the volume and on it again when ready. With the circuit breaker, just press the button and it will cut the signal.

Also "Planet Waves Cables utilize the latest technologies to ensure low capacitance and impenetrable shielding. Lower cable capacitance allows your instrument's brilliance, presence and character to be transmitted to the amp ensuring that the signal going into the cable comes out of the cable with the utmost transparency."

Forgetting the technical terms, this cable helps to give a good tone.
If you are looking for new cables, why not give this a try. You may like it.

Diatonic Chords Walk Down

Hi,

An exercise to help practice our Arpeggio but in a more interesting way.

We will walk down the diatonic chords in a C major scale in the 5713 pattern.

I resolved back to the C note when we reached the first few frets.

You can practice walking up and changing the pattern as well.

This is a good way to expand our solo capabilities too.

Have fun!

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

david@mybeatbuddy.com

305-793-3413

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!

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

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! 

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!

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!

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!

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

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!

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.

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.

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

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!

Altered Major Chord

Hi,

A common alteration on the major chord is to add a #11.

The formula of a Cmaj7#11 is 1 3 5 7 #11

#11 is to raise the 4th degree by half step.

4th in C is a F. Raise half a step is F#.

So the chord tone in a Cmaj7#11 is C E G B F#.

You can easily improvise over the Cmaj7#11 with the C major Pentatonic or Lydian scale.

Have Fun!

Simple Chord Tone Solo

Hi,

Ever thought of starting a song with some simple solo bass lines?

The easiest way is to play chord tone (1 3 5 7) at a higher register.

Playing the guide tone (3rd, 7th) is a good way to solo.

You can practice soloing over a ii V I progression.

If we are in the key of D, you will have Em7 A7 Dmaj7.

Find the chord tones around the 12th fret or higher and experiment.

Most people will tell you to avoid playing the root note when you solo.

So find the 3rd and 7th note of each chord.

Em7 - G D
A7 - C# G
Dmaj7 - F# C#

When you are comfortable, slowly add other notes in the D major scale as your passing notes.

Have fun trying.

Simple Bossa Nova

Hi,

We are going to try playing Bossa Nova on the bass.

You can also try a simple progression like Gmaj7 Cmaj7 Gmaj7 Am7 D7 Gmaj7.

There are more complicated Bossa Nova progression that you can discover on the web.

Enjoy and have fun.

Rhythm Slap

Hi,

This rhythmic exercise can give our slapping a drumming feel.

 




The pattern is TPTT | slTPT

Just try it slow and repeat the pattern.

T is thumb (slap)
P is Pluck (pop)
sl is to slap the fretboard using your fretting hand

If you are having difficulties with the above pattern, my suggestion is to try one pattern first.

E.g. TPTT | TPTT - repeat or slTPT | slTPT - repeat

Some Bass Players to listen to for such slapping are:

1. Mark King
2. Anthony Wellington
3. Alexis Sklarevski
4. Yoshihiro Naruse (Casiopea)

Have fun.

First Inversion

Hi,

We will be playing the first inversion for a ii V I progression in C.

The tabs are below and very easy to follow.

You can use that as a simple walking bass line.








The concept is simple but the music is great.

Have fun.