View Full Version : Piccolo bass players
Before anyone asks a piccolo bass is a normal sized bass, although sometimes with a shorter scale, and with much thinner strings. It is tuned an octave higher (the 4 string being like the bottom 4 strings of a guitar). Like conventional electrics, piccolo basses can have 5+ strings
If you're going to ask a question such as: "Why would you want a piccolo bass?" or "Are these guys just guitarist wannabes?", don't. Ok thanks
So my question is who likes to get high, and where do you get your strings? I ask because I'm thinking of doing a conversion and I've yet to find guitar strings long enough for the G and D strings. A guitar string would work for the E and possibly the A.. but I don't know
BenJammin
07-15-2007, 04:22 PM
I know D'addario makes a set piccolo strings. Or at least I think they do. It's something I'm very interested in trying, and probably will once my 4 string is all fixed up.
BenJammin
07-15-2007, 04:23 PM
Yep, they do:
http://www.bassemporium.com/images_products/exl280.gif
Akira
07-15-2007, 04:24 PM
Zon does as well.
Trevo
07-15-2007, 05:45 PM
Didn't lowsound string his piccolo.
Jaded
07-15-2007, 06:56 PM
They're not guitarist wannabees, they should just learn how to play guitar, it's not hard, and way more useful.
Won't it sounds almost like a guitar then?
Akira
07-15-2007, 07:01 PM
No. Not really. Besides, piccolo generally wouldn't be used in a bad situation.
Won't it sounds almost like a guitar then?
No, it will be in the same range but will have a different timbre
Listen to a piccolo bass and compare it to a guitar, I can suggest a few songs if you need them
They're not guitarist wannabees, they should just learn how to play guitar, it's not hard, and way more useful.
Well obviously piccolo players don't want to play guitar or else they would
It's not about trying to mimic guitar at all, it's a totally different instrument
i ahve heard some piccolo (manowar, haha) but i cant recall how it sounds.
Im gonan check youtube. What do you use it for anyway?
Akira
07-15-2007, 07:12 PM
Charlotte's Song is one of the best solo bass songs ever.
Akira
07-15-2007, 07:13 PM
i ahve heard some piccolo (manowar, haha) but i cant recall how it sounds.
Im gonan check youtube. What do you use it for anyway?
Doesn't the Manowar guy literally have a guitar with two strings ripped off?
i ahve heard some piccolo (manowar, haha) but i cant recall how it sounds.
Im gonan check youtube. What do you use it for anyway?
I only know of a few people that use it, but just for a different sound I guess. You can play much higher and get a different sound while (mostly) keeping the same physical aspect of playing bass
Doesn't the Manowar guy literally have a guitar with two strings ripped off?
I've seen him use it, I don't know if it's his main "bass" though
Charlotte's Song is one of the best solo bass songs ever.
Agreed, beautiful work on the piccolo
Akira
07-15-2007, 07:16 PM
I got and learned the powertab long before I even heard the real song. Even the powertab is beautiful, that's how good it is.
I wish the effects weren't so heavy. The wahwahwah is kind of annoying.
I got and learned the powertab long before I even heard the real song. Even the powertab is beautiful, that's how good it is.
I so badly need to correct that, I've been meaning to for such a long time
peeted
07-15-2007, 07:18 PM
I enjoy listening to piccolo bass but i dont understand why they are called basses or why they appeal especially to bassists. They play lead parts and surely would play of treble clef, id have thought they would appeal more to someone looking for an alternative to guitar rather than a different type of bass.
BenJammin
07-15-2007, 07:19 PM
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UkFEtTJoMxA
Jeff Schmidt. :thumb:
Akira
07-15-2007, 07:19 PM
Did you ever make a seven string tab for Frosty Acres?
I thought I heard you mention it a while back.
Akira
07-15-2007, 07:20 PM
I enjoy listening to piccolo bass but i dont understand why they are called basses or why they appeal especially to bassists. They play lead parts and surely would play of treble clef, id have thought they would appeal more to someone looking for an alternative to guitar rather than a different type of bass.
Well physically they are basses. You can string any bass piccolo, so you play it the same technically. Solo piccolo bass sounds a whole lot mroe like solo bass than solo guitar.
I enjoy listening to piccolo bass but i dont understand why they are called basses or why they appeal especially to bassists.
It's still the same as a bass physically, the only real difference is the string size and spacing and sometimes the scale length (but not always). Much like how a long scale baritone guitar isn't called a bass.
They surely would play of treble clef
Well a regular bass plays in bass clef but the notes are actually an octave lower than written... so if you just made a note on the page to specific it's played loco, you could use bass clef
Did you ever make a seven string tab for Frosty Acres?
I thought I heard you mention it a while back.
Yeah I did, I thought it sent it to you though.. maybe it was the 6
email?
Solo piccolo bass sounds a whole lot mroe like solo bass than solo guitar.
Basically
Akira
07-15-2007, 07:26 PM
I have your earlier six string one.
Hit me up at vgamer231@indy.rr.com
On the topic of Charlotte's song and Outbound, A Better World is seriously the grooviest song with bass on the lead ever written my anyone whose name isn't Marcus Miller.
peeted
07-15-2007, 07:27 PM
ah fair enough, makes a little bit more sense now.
Akira
07-15-2007, 07:28 PM
It's all good. It's not for everyone, that is for sure.
I have your earlier six string one.
Hit me up at vgamer231@indy.rr.com
On the topic of Charlotte's song and Outbound, A Better World is seriously the grooviest song with bass on the lead ever written my anyone whose name isn't Marcus Miller.
Sent
I like that song, it's a little too repetitive but the melody is good
Hard to believe that's an acoustic bass
Jaded
07-15-2007, 07:31 PM
I enjoy listening to piccolo bass but i dont understand why they are called basses or why they appeal especially to bassists.
Because they are bass guitars with higher strings?
Akira
07-15-2007, 07:32 PM
Got the tab. Thanks, looks good. My tapping has gone to hell, but I might give it a shot.
It's not as hard as it looks
Akira
07-15-2007, 07:36 PM
I played it a lot a while back, but I have really not been tapping so I need to work strength back into my right hand.
Do you listen to Brendan Wires? He does amazing tapping.
i've posted this Schmidt video before...but i will again.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TF4sJHBIYEo
personally i think it's one of the best, if not THE best solo tune i've ever heard. that part at 2:35 is sick.
I played it a lot a while back, but I have really not been tapping so I need to work strength back into my right hand.
Do you listen to Brendan Wires? He does amazing tapping.
FA is not that hard on the right hand, it's mostly left for most of the song
I have, his music is alright but his tone ruins it for me
i've posted this Schmidt video before...but i will again.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TF4sJHBIYEo
personally i think it's one of the best, if not THE best solo tune i've ever heard. that part at 2:35 is sick.
That was great, the harmonic sweeps are so clean. Amazing stuff
Akira
07-15-2007, 07:41 PM
i've posted this Schmidt video before...but i will again.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TF4sJHBIYEo
personally i think it's one of the best, if not THE best solo tune i've ever heard. that part at 2:35 is sick.
Not my favorite of his songs.
I still can't believe he came here and I couldn't go.
Matt, I don't think his tone is bad on the album I have.
Matt, I don't think his tone is bad on the album I have.
Upload a few songs or give me a link to them and I'll check it out
I've only heard a few of his songs
Akira
07-15-2007, 07:49 PM
Here is Root Beer Float off of the album Little Girl Smile.
http://download.yousendit.com/4E399553082D3324
I guess the tone isn't exactly great, but I don't really mind it.
It wont play do you have it in mp3?
Akira
07-15-2007, 07:52 PM
****ing iTunes.
No. So much for that.
I just love the fact that he can make such good music with single track solo bass.
Omega Red
07-15-2007, 07:53 PM
Before anyone asks a piccolo bass is a normal sized bass with the same scale length and all, just with much thinner strings. It is tuned an octave higher (like the bottom 4 strings of a guitar)wrong
piccolo bass is a shorter scale normaly somewhere arround 30 or less. and can have as many strings as you want on it. not just 4.
****ing iTunes.
No. So much for that.
you can convert it to .mp3 or .wav in iTunes.
Akira
07-15-2007, 07:57 PM
you can convert it to .mp3 or .wav in iTunes.
I am way too lazy.
wrong
piccolo bass is a shorter scale normaly somewhere arround 30 or less. and can have as many strings as you want on it. not just 4.
I know that, but a 4 string is like the bottom 4 strings of a guitar. I never said it couldn't have more strings, that's just typically how many a bass has
And it doesn't have to be shorter scale
"To allow such an uptuning, the strings can be thinner, or the length of the neck (the scale) can be shorter. The first option is the most common, and several companies manufacture piccolo sets that can be put on any regular bass, thereby converting any bass into a piccolo bass."
"Some people prefer a slightly shorter scale, such as 30" or 28"."
- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Piccolo_bass
Jaded
07-15-2007, 08:03 PM
i've posted this Schmidt video before...but i will again.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TF4sJHBIYEo
personally i think it's one of the best, if not THE best solo tune i've ever heard. that part at 2:35 is sick.
That was unlistenable, especially that sh*t at the beginning.
That was unlistenable, especially that sh*t at the beginning.
Why, I thought it sounded great
yeah i don't like the tapping bit at the beginning, but everything afterwards is awesome.
Akira
07-15-2007, 08:07 PM
http://youtube.com/watch?v=BWqae9kUD_M
Way better.
that one's alright, although he's in dire need of a straw hat, bottle of XXX, and a couple opossums.
seriously though, 2:35 was where it's at (again wtf).
HaVIC5
07-15-2007, 08:46 PM
Stanley's piccolo bass (the first one) was the shorter scale. People have adapted regular basses to the tuning since then.
thelowsoundofbass
07-15-2007, 09:43 PM
I have my musician set up piccolo right now to try and find a use for a second four string. I kind of like it, but I don't have that much use for it, but once I get my all tube guitar amp and some effects I might try out some stuff with it. Also, it take quite a bit to get a nice set up on a piccolo bass. One thing that I am considering doing is joining my friends band and adding the weird factor to the band with the piccolo bass (I have been asked to come and jam with them). I'll see what happens with it, but it really does add new dimensions to your playing.
To answer your question about strings, I went to juststrings.com and bought the cheapest set that I found, which is that set of DA strings.
lowsound
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