OK I know I’ve been missing at the blog lately but I can explain really I can… No the dog didn’t eat my keyboard… The real reason for my ‘absence’ is explained in the video below.
The good news is however, that I’m back now, and the super cool crime fighting content is about to continue.
In fact as I take a break to write this post I’m in the middle of tidying up a fresh, all training guide for you that is positively gonna blow your socks off 🙂
And yes I’ll be giving it to you totally for FREE. When it’s done I’ll be posting it here to the blog so watch for that over the next week or so.
(I really want it to be perfect so I’m still pouring over it to make sure that every page is chuck full o’ darn good bass improving tips.)
I’ve even included a few sample practice routines – one ofwhich is sure to fit your schedule and I outline step by step precisely what you need to be working on daily if you want to move your playing up a notch.
Again that manual is coming soon.
But for today I just have a little behind-the-scenes-paparazzi styled video for ya. (Gosh those guys just won’t leave me alone… I can’t show my face anywhere in public without getting hounded.)
Actually me and the wife were heading out to Jackson NJ last Sunday (watch the video to see why) and I decided to grab the video camera and shoot you a quick ‘update video’ on the way 😉
There’s some cool stuff on ‘that deer vid-e-uh’ even though I don’t have any of my basses with me… I’m not saying too much but see if you can find the common thread…
Roller coaster confessions, skydiving, speeding cars and over-sized divas…
But on top of all that I need you to watch this video because in it I’ve got some important info for ya about the next set of free video bass lessons I’m getting set to do for the blog and you don’t want to be left out.
So take a moment and view away.
That’s it. I’m out for now.
Stay cool, (Oh yeah… You’re a bassist so that comes naturally 😉
– Alex
PS. Apologies before hand for the lighting in some parts of the video. It was done on the spur of the moment so I didn’t have time to outfit the car with professional videography lights.
Ciao Alex from Italy!
No matter how blog goes on as long as it goes on anyway!!!!
Actually i don’t have a direct suggestion on breakdowns but i’d love
to see some by Verdine White as to me one of best ever(especially albums
from 1970 to 1976)
Looking forward to seeing new products!!!
Rocco
I’m hangin’ on your every note. Anything from Stevie Wonder and Steely Dan. So many great tunes, so little time. Have fun but stay away from the funnel cakes. MikeyB
Hi Alex, that’s good timing as I’m a nube and got a bit stuck having done most of part one of the course. I working my way through your exercises and steps (slowly as busy). But I’m finding it hard to get a rhythm track easy enough for me to play along to and really want to make some music. So advice on building base lines, how to play along to stuff and improvise a little (finding the right chords is so hard) anything that makes me feel musical. I know most of the basics you mention as I’ve played some guitar and know a bit of theory and gear tech. I guess it’s a case of I know the components but want to put them together in musical way but can’t quite figure it out.
Any help really appreciated as I don’t know what to do right now, but don’t want to give up.
So did you do the roller coaster ride?
hi Alex
i think most of the basics are well covered in most books and almost all of us will already have a couple of books with the basics like tuning and the name of the strings.
maybe something like setting the intonation and string height may be a bigger help to most of us.
would love for you to do Jack Bruce, “theme for an imaginary western” mountain also did it and i have never found the bass tab for it anywhere.
keep you the good work you doing a great job for all us.
cheers
bill
Hi Alex,
Glad you can take a little time for you & your wife.
Set up & intonation would be something I’d like to know more about.
I took my 6 string to a music store and had them do a quick set up… got my ax back with a broken G string. Hmmmm…. Could’ve saved myself the time and expense if I’d known how to do it myself.
I also took your advice from book one on having a teacher watch / review what I’ve been learning… wish I’d have done that sooner. I developed a terrible habit of placing my thumb on the B & E strings to keep them quiet while playing licks on the higher strings. Now I have to “unlearn” a bad habit and relearn proper right hand techniques even though I consider myself an intermediate player.
Perhaps a video on something as simple as that would have helped me and made my experience better.
Still… nothing out there compares to your style and comprehensive detail.
Couldn’t have done it without you.
Looking forward to what you’re bringing to the forefront next.
Rick
hi Alex,
I would love to see a breakdown of In Time, by Sly and the Family stone. I think its on Fresh.
I’v got my head around most basic tecnique but i would like to see some videos on identifying root 5th e.c.t. by ear, setup and getting the right tone.
thanx
arthur
Ciao Alex again
Just f’got to ask you exactly when r u planning to issue new dvd
Rocco (Italy)
Hi Alex,
I’m a big fan of you and the work you make in this blog, i’m thinking very seriously in buy your books, it will be great if you can do a breakdown with this song:
song: En el planeta aceituna
Group: o’funkillo
Album: En el planeta aceituna
I’m sure that you don’t know them, they are a spanish group not very famous you may have problems finding the song, I know that the song it’s very advanced. If you can’t find the song, there is a youtube link:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OjXiy6DqLvI
Thank you for everything and sorry for my english is very bad.
Antonio
Hi Alex,
Love this course and what you are doing,
could you please tell me how I work out walking bass patterns, and is there a formula to do so?.
thanks Gerry Bailey.
i just found this blog the other day and listened to the whole Take 5 breakdown today. It’s great! i’ve been looking for someone who is doing this and now i’ve got it. I’m fairly new to the bass(i’ve been playing long enough to pick up some bad habits) and i’m probably going to order your product. My question is: if I order what is available now, is the new instruction going to be available to me? Would it benefit me all to wait and see if you will combine them? You’re a great teacher and I can’t wait to get into it!
Hi Alex,
I am a noob to bass and to your course and I need everything I can get, setting up the bass would be very helpful, also the right hand tec for both left and right hands and fingers. Gear tips is a must as you can easily get ripped off these days by some people in the industry wanting to make a quick buck..
So I think what you have already said in the vid would be perfect for all concerned not just noobs, as I believe we should know everything we can about the instruments we play and love.
And I would like to Thank you Alex for your course, and your Blog and your way of thinking about the Bass and also for thinking about the people who play bass as well.
Eugene.
Hi Alex
As above I am a beginner
So left, right hand techniques,
suggestions to getting them to work together in sync would be great
Here’s a suggestion for a song to break down
I really like the bass line which I find very powerful & drives this song
Artist : Al Green
Song : Georgia Boy
Album : Belle
It would be awesome if you could explore the bass line of Battlestar Scralatchtica from the Incubus album entitled Make Yourself. Dirk Lance gets a gritty sound and has a very interesting approach to note choice. Lotsa finger funk!
Thanks Alex for the help you are offering, I am sixty-years old and I have been trying to learn the bass for about twenty-five years I have about 75-100 books but no teacher where I live the close teacher is 40 miles away and its breakdown in 15 or 30 minutes session and they were offer in the afternoon and quess what? That was the shift I had to work. So what I am saying is I am really a beginner and need to Know the basics and need to know about working with the drummer and choosing which chord to play. So if you decide to make a beginners series please add the how to detect the different kinds of drums and can any of your high tech buddys come up with a way to mute everything else. Like I said the simple and the basic you can make it the better, or just play the kick drum only, the snare only etc. and mix it up later. I have always love a funky bass player but have never been able to understand how the bass player came up with his lines. Thank for reading I know you are very busy. You seem to be a nice young man and very smart.
Yes to both questions … We all can pick up something! I need to pick up an more Fills and some kool octive turn arounds …. tom
Great video Alex, I really appreciated!!!!!
I would like you to go deep into Harmony, chord subtitutions etc.
For all about the song to breakdown, please you choose…
Many thanks and as always greetings from Spaghetti land.
Marco
What’s Up Guys,
Alex??? LOL what’s up with the roller coaster thingy? 10-12k feet outta an airplane but no coasters…. hehehe. That’s a good one!
-Keep The Fire Lit!-
God Bless 😉
All I can say is when you teach, I understand! Too many teachers…like you mentioned in your last ebook or video I believe…move too fast, show once and move on. I am a certified K-6 teacher and it is true that different people learn different ways. Some by visual, some audio, some by hands on….etc. When I teach, I try to get the point across from different angles, like I see you doing. Great job.
I can relate to Rick’s comment about using the thumb too much. I also picked up the bad habit and don’t know how to break it…what the proper technique is. Until I learn it….I’m toasted as far as speed goes.
***I may be wrong but I think this is an issue for a lot of guys***
One video teacher I saw once used a split screen to zoom in on the picking hand and on the fretboard at the same time (basically cutting out the majority of the high-end of the fretboard when not being used in the lesson. Real close up of the fretboad!!
Keep up the good work and much THANKS!
Richard
Yes, do the basic finger placements and basic chords for the beginners. I’m also having problems playing with all fingers, I can only play with the first finger.
well…i don’t know a thing about playing the bass! i’ve just ordered the program, but have not received it yet. i have a four string acoustic bass, which i thought would be a good starter bass. i have the money to buy a good bass, but don’t know what to get. i am determined to play fluently, so any help with purchasing one would be appreciated. thanks
Hey Alex; Scooga here. Listen i have a song you would like for to break down for us bass players. It was lead down by one the bass players from motown’s funk brothers. His is/was bob babbitt. The name of the song is “Scorpio” by Dennis Coffey & the Detroit Guitar Band. I can’t quite nail the infamus solo. They say your not a bass player if you can’t play Babbitt’s “Scorpio”. When you find time check it out. If the people heard you on that one they well go crazy over you. Plus I would like a break down of it if you have the time. PEEEEACE!!!
It’s been a while since you posted this request on your blog, but here are my comments anyway. Right now I’m not sure what direction your blog is heading, since I just started reading it. You seem to offer something for everyone and I think that’s great. Your break down vids are very elaborate so all I can say on that is keep up the good job!
I’m a basic player but I have a drumming background (I actually still play drums) still most songs I play in our lil band is mostly based on playing the root notes of the chord. What easy tools are there for me to spice up those beginner’s baselines? Also, when do you decide to play a high or low E on say Emaj or Eminor chord?
For a song request: Anything from Michael Jackson, though Billy Jean from his History album holds the most memories for me.
Best wishes for 2010!