Gamers who play musical instruments

Paleocon wrote:

Anyway, enough on the hardware. I need to concentrate on actually building the skill.

and having fun with it, maybe

Okay. After a good deal of phuqing around with my bass, I noticed that no matter what I do, I can't avoid hella rattle between E and F (lowest and second lowest notes). Is this normal? Is my technique shite? Is this to be expected? Some combination of two or more?

There's not a lot of technique in hitting an open string, and it's not unexpected for a new instrument. Usually means the bridge or the nut need to be filed a hair to bring the string closer to the fret board, or to make the grooves smoother. A shop should be able to take care of it easily.

My first guess is the neck may be too flat. It should be easily fixable with a truss rod adjustment. Before despairing I'd take it back to where you bought it and see if they can give it a bit of a setup.

A bit more relief on the neck and/or a saddle adjustment and you should be good.

And if not, they should replace it.

Mixolyde wrote:

There's not a lot of technique in hitting an open string, and it's not unexpected for a new instrument. Usually means the bridge or the nut need to be filed a hair to bring the string closer to the fret board, or to make the grooves smoother. A shop should be able to take care of it easily.

Yeah. The open E is fine, but no matter how I fret or pluck the F, I get rattle. The Guitar Center charges $70 for a set up. I might just find a bass player friend locally to help me or talk to my teacher tonight about it. He lives an hour away in Frederick and I imagine he'd probably have the tools and the talent to make adjustments if they are necessary.

Paleocon wrote:
Mixolyde wrote:

There's not a lot of technique in hitting an open string, and it's not unexpected for a new instrument. Usually means the bridge or the nut need to be filed a hair to bring the string closer to the fret board, or to make the grooves smoother. A shop should be able to take care of it easily.

Yeah. The open E is fine, but no matter how I fret or pluck the F, I get rattle. The Guitar Center charges $70 for a set up. I might just find a bass player friend locally to help me or talk to my teacher tonight about it. He lives an hour away in Frederick and I imagine he'd probably have the tools and the talent to make adjustments if they are necessary.

Fret buzz can be a couple of things. This will probably fix it:
1. The neck probably needs a tiny, tiny adjustment. At the bottom of the neck you will see a hole. Inside that hole is the truss rod. Basically this is a piece of metal that runs through the neck. By turning the little wheel that piece of metal bends the neck in tiny increments, this is called relief. My money is that a small turn of the truss rod will fix your fret buzz. Just grab something stiff (hex key usually) and give it a slight turn. Retune the bass and test again. Note: This is nothing dangerous and you should learn how to set up your bass as the wood will change with time and your bass will need setting up again and again to get it to optimal playing condition. Just be sure to turn the truss rod screw in small increments, tune up and test. Rinse and repeat until fret buzz is gone. Please note that a little force to turn it is normal. If you need to use excessive force, you have reached the limit of the truss rod.

Here's a video with detailed instructions:

2. The fret can be uneven and need of filing down. This is worst case scenario. Take the bass to a luthier if step 1 doesn't work.

3. If the frets are even and messing with the truss rod doesn't help, return the instrument. I bought a charvel once that was basically unplayable because the neck was warped beyond fixing. No amount of fret filing or truss rod adjustment could fix it.

Just had my first lesson and, first off, he confirmed that the issue was the neck and taught me how to adjust the truss rod. He recommended a quarter turn and letting it settle for an hour or so before doing any further adjusting.

Second, it turns out his mom studied violin at Peabody with my dad. Small world.

Third, he seems really excited at the prospect of teaching a true newb with a reasonably strong string music background and understanding of music theory. When he found out I could read bass clef, his face lit up.

Fourth, it looks like I have some unlearning to do. My left hand wants to do violin things which made him laugh a bit.

Wonderful! Your first step into a larger world, etc.

I am still getting a slight buzz from E to F but nowhere else. I might give it another twist on the truss bar, but am also thinking at this point of having someone look at it for a professional setup.

The Hal Leonard book reminds me of all the time I spent doing etudes for the sightreading practice when I played violin.

I am spending a lot of time working on just the GM/Gm and AM/Am scales just to get a feel for the fingerboard.

I do hope you're planning on learning some songs, not just doing exercises.

MrDeVil909 wrote:

I do hope you're planning on learning some songs, not just doing exercises.

Eventually, but for right now I think I just want to make sure I don't pick up bad habits and start off with a good foundation.

I just ordered a metronome because my time is off and you don't know your scales if you can't play them in time. It also makes the drills a whole lot more useful when you aren't just playing by feel. Particularly for a bass player, if you can't play in time you're just making noise.

My wife bought a nice left-handed uke for herself and a cheap one for our 2nd daughter's birthday. So now everyone has at least one uke or guitar. Thinking about picking up the Hal Leonard uke method books for everyone.
Eventually we may put hangars on a basement wall for all of them.

Paleocon wrote:
MrDeVil909 wrote:

I do hope you're planning on learning some songs, not just doing exercises.

Eventually, but for right now I think I just want to make sure I don't pick up bad habits and start off with a good foundation.

I just ordered a metronome because my time is off and you don't know your scales if you can't play them in time. It also makes the drills a whole lot more useful when you aren't just playing by feel. Particularly for a bass player, if you can't play in time you're just making noise.

Cool. You have enough of a background so you know what works for you. That's very important.

I just know that I struggle with any skill or concept unless I'm tying it to a musical context. Once I get a scale down to where I can run through it smoothly I start playing it over a backing track and trying to make melodies.

I've been really struggling with triads on guitar, but I'm now starting to put them together in songs I know and finding it much easier going.

'All the triads on the top 3 strings' useless to me
'All the triads in Knocking on Heaven's Door' much more practical.

MrDeVil909 wrote:
Paleocon wrote:
MrDeVil909 wrote:

I do hope you're planning on learning some songs, not just doing exercises.

Eventually, but for right now I think I just want to make sure I don't pick up bad habits and start off with a good foundation.

I just ordered a metronome because my time is off and you don't know your scales if you can't play them in time. It also makes the drills a whole lot more useful when you aren't just playing by feel. Particularly for a bass player, if you can't play in time you're just making noise.

Cool. You have enough of a background so you know what works for you. That's very important.

I just know that I struggle with any skill or concept unless I'm tying it to a musical context. Once I get a scale down to where I can run through it smoothly I start playing it over a backing track and trying to make melodies.

I've been really struggling with triads on guitar, but I'm now starting to put them together in songs I know and finding it much easier going.

'All the triads on the top 3 strings' useless to me
'All the triads in Knocking on Heaven's Door' much more practical.

I get it. It has only been a week for me though so I am mostly just at the "what does this do" stage. And I get the frustration at how boring the Hal Leonard etudes can be. That said, there is (at least for me) something really satisfying about really honing down on technique to get a fine edge on it. I think I spent all afternoon yesterday just working on right hand technique to eliminate buzz on the E while keeping consistent with volume and rhythm.

There's always songs like "My Girl" which basically are just scales.

I saw this excellent video on regular maintenance of electric guitar / bass and thought I'd share since we discussed fret buzz earlier. Three experts talk about how to do all the little things you should know about keeping your instrument in A+ shape through out the years.

Wow are scales harder with a metronome.

Edit: Also, I need to stop watching YouTube because I am already planning out my pickup and preamp upgrades.

Edit edit: don't worry. I promised myself I would not upgrade or purchase new instruments until I can at least play half the RHCP catalog.

The only good one is Higher Ground, which I still need to learn the lead for.

Mixolyde wrote:

The only good one is Higher Ground, which I still need to learn the lead for.

LOL. That's a Stevie Wonder song. And if I am going to play a cover of it, I am taking the Marcus Miller version.

I remember loving Higher Ground by RHCP, and then I heard the original and I was like "Oh, it's basically exactly the same, RHCP did pretty much nothing to make it their own. Why bother?"

You leave Chili peppers alone! *insert crying face* Haha. Flea's a monster and a great gateway for funk.

Chill Thursday vibes; Can't believe it's been 2 years since we did this acoustic performance of Universe Bloom from Skyrunner, but I still am happy with how it turned out flaws and all. Happy to share some positivity & hope you enjoy!

I'm way over RHCP, but for a bass player the repertoire is great. Flea is a masterclass.

Oh yeah, Flea is fantastic, and gets a pass. I was an obsessive collector of RHCP stuff for a long time, and sometimes they really did hit a fantastic vibe, but I have also expanded my musical horizons since then quite a bit and I realize just how much my favorite things they do (not counting Flea's mastery which transcends their music) were pastiches or straight-up covers of other artists.

Well, of course, nowadays they're not even that. Instead, modern RHCP is a pastiche of "Blood Sugar Sex Magik" over and over again. Listen, yes, it was an amazing album. It is still my favorite RHCP album! But stop chasing that exact sound, and do something interesting.

Or don't. I mean, I'm not your dad, do whatever you want. I'm just saying.

Ranger Rick wrote:

...Well, of course, nowadays they're not even that. Instead, modern RHCP is a pastiche of "Blood Sugar Sex Magik" over and over again. Listen, yes, it was an amazing album. It is still my favorite RHCP album! But stop chasing that exact sound, and do something interesting.

Or don't. I mean, I'm not your dad, do whatever you want. I'm just saying.

I'm with you. It is very same-y as they've settled into their sound. All I can think of is this gem: "Did you know we're from CALI-FORN-YA!?"

Ranger Rick wrote:

I remember loving Higher Ground by RHCP, and then I heard the original and I was like "Oh, it's basically exactly the same, RHCP did pretty much nothing to make it their own. Why bother?"

Try to tell me this version isn't the best you have ever heard.

I'm wandering off the current topic here, but I do have to say I loves me some Stevie Wonder. Superstition might be my favorite song ever.

I've been playing edrums for about 2 years, on first a cheap then high-end Alesis kit, having never laid stick to an acoustic kit. I chose the ekit to learn and have fun on for both noise reasons and so I could use the midi output to play along on Clone Hero. This week I got a pair of actual* metal hi hat cymbals to experience a non-simulated sound. That asterisk is because I got 'low volume' cymbals to try and continue not to bother the rest of the house.

Holy crap are they loud. I play in a home office without much in the way of sound control, so in a way, of course they're loud!. I just didn't expect that. I see quotes online like "I play all day without the wife complaining lol" and now I feel like that guy owes me $160

That's all, just wanted to moan about it.

polypusher wrote:

I'm wandering off the current topic here, but I do have to say I loves me some Stevie Wonder. Superstition might be my favorite song ever.

I've been playing edrums for about 2 years, on first a cheap then high-end Alesis kit, having never laid stick to an acoustic kit. I chose the ekit to learn and have fun on for both noise reasons and so I could use the midi output to play along on Clone Hero. This week I got a pair of actual* metal hi hat cymbals to experience a non-simulated sound. That asterisk is because I got 'low volume' cymbals to try and continue not to bother the rest of the house.

Holy crap are they loud. I play in a home office without much in the way of sound control, so in a way, of course they're loud!. I just didn't expect that. I see quotes online like "I play all day without the wife complaining lol" and now I feel like that guy owes me $160

That's all, just wanted to moan about it.

You can get high hat mutes.

Paleocon wrote:
Ranger Rick wrote:

I remember loving Higher Ground by RHCP, and then I heard the original and I was like "Oh, it's basically exactly the same, RHCP did pretty much nothing to make it their own. Why bother?"

Try to tell me this version isn't the best you have ever heard.

... video above ...

That is not th...

Of all versions I've heard, it...

Dammit. You got me.

-BEP

Paleocon wrote:
polypusher wrote:

I'm wandering off the current topic here, but I do have to say I loves me some Stevie Wonder. Superstition might be my favorite song ever.

I've been playing edrums for about 2 years, on first a cheap then high-end Alesis kit, having never laid stick to an acoustic kit. I chose the ekit to learn and have fun on for both noise reasons and so I could use the midi output to play along on Clone Hero. This week I got a pair of actual* metal hi hat cymbals to experience a non-simulated sound. That asterisk is because I got 'low volume' cymbals to try and continue not to bother the rest of the house.

Holy crap are they loud. I play in a home office without much in the way of sound control, so in a way, of course they're loud!. I just didn't expect that. I see quotes online like "I play all day without the wife complaining lol" and now I feel like that guy owes me $160

That's all, just wanted to moan about it.

You can get high hat mutes.

I don't think I'll product my way out of this one. Going from dull rubber to thin holey metal to thin rubber on the loud tinny metal... I'll just live with my mistake.

Had my second bass lesson yesterday and despite my teacher being very supportive and praising me on how quickly I picked stuff up, I felt disappointed and unprepared. It reminded me of how I used to feel back when I was playing violin.

I think I might need to talk with my therapist about getting over unresolved crap. In the meantime, I have stuff to practice.