Current Projects

[HaVIC5]

We haven't had one of these threads for a while. ITT tell us what you've been working on in particular, and what your current short-term goals are.

After hearing all of the praises of Matt Garrison 4-finger technique, I've decided to give another stab at it. It's been going very painstakingly slowly, but I'm gradually getting some speed and control. It's definitely a more economical way to pluck, and I can't wait until I get it under my belt. I've also been reworking my rendition of the Maple Leaf Rag so that instead of just a solo melody line it includes all the diads and octaves and chords in the melody line. It's a lot harder to play, but it sounds decidedly more full and authentic.

Anyway, what's your project du jour?

[Soulfly666]

I've been immersing myself in a lot of Jazz. Since I'm joining Jazz band this fall, I want to have a good grasp and be on top of things when it comes to sight reading notation and charts. I've also been dipping into some Jaco. Right now I'm half way into Ex. 8 from his DVD booklet, but unfortunately, I started working, so the process is a lot slower than I want it to be. :(

[Mr. Pickle]

basically, my goals right now is to get my rack and/or pedal board finished before school starts, but i don't see that happening.

[burtonbassist_101]

well songwise, right now i'm learning stu hamm's bass solo from san francisco.

otherwise, i'm basically working on raising my left hand dexterity and basic songwriting (the latter of which isn't coming along very well :().

[neatobassman]

band wise-find a singer, write more songs, get more shows.

That's about all for my goals as of late.

[madthumbs]

After my thrash metal band kind of fell a part, I have been pretty bummed out. Still writing songs with that type of music with the guitarist and working with a new drummer, but as of yet, we havn't really gotten anywhere.

Over the past month I've also been writing some songs with this fantastic singer and the drummer from my old band. I can kind of compare the songs to something of a coldplay style. And that project is coming along very very nicely, we have written and recorded over 7 songs in the last two weeks so I am looking forward to seeing how that will pan out.

And specific to the bass, I am really honing in on my theory, knowing the bass as well as possible, getting better at sight reading and chord construction. And a lot of blues, walking bass lines, also trying to get into a bit more jazz, or more specifically, trying to understand what the hell is going on from a theory perspective.

[Naveed Afzal]

Class Starts in a week.. so that means Piano IV, and Applied IV im just playing alot of piano, running thru all 2octave scales. Chord shapes on my bass...

ive realized, ive been focusing more on my bands music, then the actual advancement of my musical education.

i feel like a REALLY skinny girl who thinks shes fat.....

[pitchfork]

I'm digging a vegetable patch and sorting out my garden, today i'm painting the wall at the end of the garden and ripping the old rotten shed down and breaking up the foudation and taking it down the tip.
Then just gotta lay the patio, returf the lawn and put a new shed up after today.
Getting about £60 in labour charges for doing it and i have been working a fair few weeks on it now.

I have left my pedal board on hold now til I can borrow a drill off someone, mines crapped out.

Bass related, business as usual, nothing special. Stopped lessons now cause my teacher has left.
Focusing on drumming, i want to get that up to spec.

[Polyamarous]

To stop being a pussy and get my job back so I can buy the damn Ashdown.

[Napes]

Bass related I don't have any specific goals right now, I just keep practicing whatever gets thrown my way though it seems alot of that has to do with slapping lately.

Musically just workin on some more songs for the band and hopefully record something professional by the end of the year with full band, our singer just signed on!

[sheephead]

Well, I have a project thing goin on with a good friend of mine who plays guitar/sings. We seem to click really well as musicians and make really laid back music which is what I'm diggin alot at the minute.

Bass wise, my technique advancement ended a while ago. My Dting and general slap/tap/fingerstyle hasn't got any better for like a year. However my implementation of the technique has become much better. My timing issues are slowly being sorted out thanks to monsiuer metronome. Haven't learned a cover for a while, maybe I'll look into Norwegian Wood again. I got about half way into it and gave up...

[museic]

my main project and passion at the moment is writing music with my band.. i have been focusing more on writing what i like rather than trying to progress in technical ability although if i am writing something that requires me to me more agile at fingerstyle then i will work on that..

most or my current projects involve meeting up with my band and trying to write the best (not most technical) basslines i can

[hellonearth07]

right now i HAVE to get my wah pedal done, which is coming about nicely. Its my senior project for highschool

more on the topic of bass, double thumbing and theory. I've been letting theory go and its really been hurting me. i needa get some more understanding of the bass down instead of stick to something i know will sound good. That gets somewhat monotonous after a while

[ebe9]

Basically just trying to get something down for the Slap Comp.

Otherwise just trying to build up my composition skills.

[Octavius]

At the moment i'm really concentrating on my songwriting and guitar playing. I've been trying to write songs with more of a definate melody latley, and its bloody hard! And with guitar i only know the basic major and minor chords so im tryin to expand on them.

[Son of Magni]

I've been studying/refreshing my knowlege of the Indian system of music. Tals, thekas, bols, etc. Fun stuff.

[Akira]

I have been trying to learn to incorporate chords into solo songs. I am learning Love Thing, and it has really got me thinking about how to use chords more melodically.

[HaVIC5]

I've been studying/refreshing my knowlege of the Indian system of music. Tals, thekas, bols, etc. Fun stuff.
Yeah, definitely. Indian classical music is some crazy stuff.

[The JoZ]

Unfortunately, I don't seem to have alot of time for any real projects.

Working 8-10 hours a day, doing HVAC work, really takes a lot out of you. So when I get home, I feel like doing nothing but sitting around and Internetting or maybe playing some video games. Sure, I guess I could try and find time on the weekends, but I've used my time to hang out with friends and play shows with the band.

And of course, the band is something that takes away from personal time. Not that I mind it, granted, it's an awesome band, but band practice doesn't give me time for personal practice.

And next week, I start back at school...which means 3 days of classes, 2 days of work, and the weekend to do homework. What fun.

I suppose if I got really motivated, I'd find more time to do it...I dunno.

That being said, with the little time I've had lately, I've been back at working on The Glass Prison. I will find a way to play that song, somehow. *shakes fist*

[Rasta Rocker]

Right now my goals are to save up for a new bass and stretch my song writing styles. The band that I'm in right now likes to play a wide *** range of genres, and I love it. It really forces me to be versatile and I get to have a lead role because it's drums, guitar, mandolin, and me.

[Zetora]

Mainly preoccupied with preparing for uni the past week and preparing for my driving test.

Bass wises I haven't done anything I would usually, I've been trying to develop my melody and groove, which isn't too bad.

I would be working on my tapping but my wrists are playing up. The aches and pains are intense but their there so I've cut down on bass a lot and only play about 20min every few days.

On the other hand I have been trying to learn how to play sax and clarinet, both going pretty well really. I think its going to help me on my theory immensly, as its already making me look at it in different ways to on bass, you have to think about notes and what they are relative to the "root" and such like.

Its also helped me look at how I'm playing my tunes, you can't just carry on playing either constant without a small pause for a breath, this made me start thinking about what I'm doing on bass, why play all the way through this, it made me realise those point which I thought there could be a pause.

Basically, bummed out that I can't work on my bassing because of my wrists but I'm learning Sax and Clarinet which is developing my bass skills in a different manner.

Zet.

[tenorbass]

Electric- Speed, Reading, Intonation(fretless)
String Bass- Reading, Bowing, Mozart

[thelowsoundofbass]

I have been working on both tapping and slapping, I have both down good now so they sound good and consistent (including DTing). Now I am learning how to apply them better into the music that I write and play.

As for band wise I am in a worship band that does about 3-5 show or "services" a week, that is keeping me quite busy. Very interesting because when I joined the old bass player moved to electric guitar and the old electric guitar player moved to acustic guitar, so there are three members learning their spot right now. Not to mention that on any given day we will have one of three drummers playing. Keeps me on top of things.

Life wise, I am getting ready to move away for school (same town that the band is in). Living with one of my best friends (also acustic player in the band), and adjusting to city life after living in a small town my whole life.

lowsound

[FunkMetalBass]

Right now, I'm doing a lot of PR work for the band, prepping for shows, coming up with ideas, practicing, etc. My main goals right now are just to put on effing sweet shows and have fun doing it.

[WhoDidTheElf]

Marcus Miller cover of "Frankenstien".

The songs got that groove that you just can't deny.

[Misanthropic]

I've arranged Bach's 'Cello Suite 1' for 4-string bass and now I'm working on being able to play it as well.

It's mostly two-handed tapping which I'm not too good at, but I guess it's more fun to learn when you actually play something.

What compressor/sustainers do you guys use? I feel I need to buy one soon.

[Left Shoe]

learn all of me and my bass guitar to a point where i could paly it for an audition in the fall (berklee scholarship audition).

[Aerodyne]

well songwise, right now i'm learning stu hamm's bass solo from san francisco.

Same here. I'm focusing on country music at the moment, though. In life, I'm adjusting to college life, I start class tomorrow and I've been on campus for a week now. It's very different from the close family life I'm used too, but it's not too bad. I sure hope the classes are good, I really want to learn stuff that makes you want to learn more, so I'm trying to get in to all the honors, philosophy, and generally advanced stuff. That's not going too well. Every section of biology lab is closed, and I'm a biology major. :(

[iamreprogramed]

bass: i started messing around with harmonics just the other night. in the past, the only thing i had used them for were to tune; but i've been working them into songs lately. perhaps next i will further my research of theory, and pick up a book or two.

life: i've been working a load, and saving as much money as possible. classes start back up again in the morning, so i've been getting ready for that all week as well. the closer classes come to starting, the more friends that move away.. bummer. overall i've found life suprisingly pleasant lately, though. i don't think i'd have it any other way right now.

i'm extremely anxious, and just as optomistic, to see what the future brings..:thumb:

[Left Shoe]

learn all of me and my bass guitar to a point where i could paly it for an audition in the fall (berklee scholarship audition).
correction, not being able to find my actual copy of MAMBG that i was originally learning off of, im now learning you cant hold no groove