Practical Bass

The end of Season 2 is a great time to look back and see what resonated the most. What? Can it be the end of the season already? Yes, low end brothers and sisters, another six months has come and gone, and after another twenty-some episodes it’s time for us …

Part 2 of our interview with NOLA/Bay Area bassist Ted Gould III aka Blyss — Guru level dos and don’ts to get and keep the gig! Ted’s an educator, a vlogger, an Instagram lesson machine, a sideman extraordinaire. You’ve seen him in ads for Aguilar and MONO, among others. He’s …

Part 1 of our interview with NOLA/Bay Area bassist Ted Gould III — Half origin story, half real talk about getting and keeping the gig. Ted’s an educator, a vlogger, an Instagram lesson machine, a sideman extraordinaire. You’ve seen him in ads for Aguilar and MONO, among others. He’s produced …

Check out our profile of the incredible Geddy Lee from Rush, and his influence on generations of rock bassists. So in season 1 we picked a player who had influenced many, and dove into what we think makes them great. This request about Geddy Lee came via viewer mail — …

Practice is essential to developing as a bassist. Here are some tips on how to use your time wisely to improve faster. In the spirit of being honest with how I manage time, I quickly came to these questions: How often do I actually practice daily/weekly? What is practicing to …

Everyone knows a compressor’s your friend. But how about hearing one in action? (IMPORTANT: Listen with quality headphones or speakers!) Show notes You may have already heard our previous episode from Season 1 on getting to know your compressor. In that episode we talked about the various uses for all …

A digital audio interface is practically a necessity. How do you choose the right one? Show notes What kind do you have? Dave: Tascam US-1800 Paul: First was an Echo Layla24… now a Focusrite Scarlett 18i8, and a PreSonus Studio 192 + DP88 Oh, and don’t forget that Line6 POD Studio …

How do you put your finger on what groove is? Many try to explain it. Here’s our chance to make it clear. Show notes Dave: I recently had a conversation with a musician about his frustration with playing with bassists that have all the theory training but lack feel/groove. Specifically, …

How to choose the right cables for your rig, and take care of them so they live longer. Do you have a preferred brand of cable for different uses? Dave: Mogami — especially like the entry that usually has the gold tips, not sure of the exact type Probably Silver? …

A good practice space isn’t just equipped well — here’s how to cheaply make it sound better too. Show notes What does sounding good mean? (And have you checked out the first episode on this topic?) Sometimes you can describe things by what they’re not Lots of echoes — try …

Learn more about how a preamp and power amplifier boost your sound in different ways. Show notes Have you ever used separates for preamp and power amplifier? If so, what was the setup? Dave No Paul Yes, episode is over

Music is emotional and so is straight talk with your band. Learn how to have those discussions the right way! Show notes Thanks to our listener Adam Wright for this excellent topic suggestion! LISTENER MAIL! “I think I would enjoy an episode on emotions and etiquette while playing in a …

Here’s how to get fancy recording demos — and also tips for good sound regardless of your approach. Show notes Multitrack This is the big time… the only that separates you from the experts is how expensive your gear is and how much experience you have doing good recordings Typical …

There are many ways to record demos for your band. These tips get you started at the simple and cheap end of the spectrum. This is a topic that can grow with you… Three scenarios: Single mic in the room (one and done) Several mics through a PA/mixer into computer …

Got a long list of things to do? Try knocking goals out by blocking time and sprinting ahead. Show notes What’s the purpose of blocking time? Focus You have a specific goal you need to get to Songs you need to learn for a gig Writing exercises Managing your business/admin …

Which approach is better, a multi-effects unit or separate pedals? Turns out, it depends mostly on you. Show notes Which are you using? Dave In an effects pedal state of mind Name some of the items on your board… Aguilar compressor – and don’t forget about our previous episode about compression! …

What does it take to go from beater to boutique? Here are some questions to ask and costs to count. Show notes Dave, tell us about your new project! What set you off on GAS Why this model What did you want to fix Things to look at How’s the …

In Part 2 of our interview, master bassist Igor Saavedra talks about the importance of hard work and gratitude. Check out Igor’s official website, and share some of Igor’s amazing videos here: Live in Buenos Aires with the “Super Trio” “Funkenato” from the album Organic Bass 1 Demonstration of Phil …

The show welcomes world-renowned bass artist Igor Saavedra to talk about his start as a musician. Check out Igor’s official website, and share some of Igor’s amazing videos here: Live in Buenos Aires with the “Super Trio” “Funkenato” from the album Organic Bass 1 Demonstration of Phil Jones Double Four amp …

A good practice space helps you have focus and inspiration. Here are some tips for setting yours up. Show notes How to make your practice space effective Comfortable place to sit for a couple hours A good drum throne works great (Roc N Soc) Or an appropriately padded musician stool …