Hey folks, for those new to the diary, I am a middle aged musician enjoying a bit of a musical renaissance, including finally picking up the bass as a secondary instrument. I am learning *pretty* much on the fly, generally gigging either in a duo/trio, and am documenting my gigs with brief writeups. I have links to past entries (which started on Facebook) below!
I haven't been playing in a few weeks due to an annoying cold, and decided to head down to open mic last night, and brought my guitar and bass. I did a short 4-song set solo on guitar/vocals, and then the host got an impromptu band jam going, where I switched to bass and backing vocals.
Definitely not my best performance on bass (with a few silver linings, more on those in a bit).
My normal collaborator was on drums, and was on the far left of the stage, with me on far right. The two guitarists more or less faced each other, which left me kindof over in the corner, making it hard to either get the chord progression before we started, or to figure it out as we went.
I ended up playing what I knew, and laying out when I wasn't sure of the chord, filling in a bit more on backing vox in those cases.
Onto those silver linings! I am feeling more comfortable on stage with the bass day by day. It's an entirely different vibe, not feeling like you're the center of attention. I like to come in with a low or high vocal harmony and really grab the audience during the hook/chorus, but otherwise just stay out of the spotlight, holding it down, and adding a few fills as tasteful.
I found I locked in with the drummer (who was not a great drummer) well, and kept things together pretty good considering the impromptu nature of the jam, and the skill level of those involved (myself included!).
I am still chasing that "lead vocalist/bassist" dragon, I want to pick one song and work on it in secret, to bust out and surprise the guys. I am thinking either "Another Brick in the Wall Pt2" which is a favorite of mine to play, or "Message in a Bottle".
I am also feeling some *strong* GAS for a proper Jazz bass, I may be a hopeless case folks! Cya on the next one!
1st entry: Bass Players | Played my first bass gig tonight
| Facebook
2nd entry: Bass Players | First off, Merry Christmas | Facebook
3rd entry: Bass Players | Third bass gig tonight | Facebook
4th entry: Bass Players | Another gig tonight | Facebook
5th entry: Bass Players | Another entry in my running gig diary | Facebook
6th entry: https://www.talkbass.com/threads/diary-of-a-bassist-6.1645734/#post-28323213
7th entry: https://www.talkbass.com/threads/diary-of-a-bassist-7-or-along-came-a-drummer.1646312/
8th entry: https://www.talkbass.com/threads/diary-of-a-bassist-8-there-goes-the-drummer.1649424/#post-28411461
9th entry: https://www.talkbass.com/threads/diary-of-a-bassist-9-drummer-redux.1650998/
I haven't been playing in a few weeks due to an annoying cold, and decided to head down to open mic last night, and brought my guitar and bass. I did a short 4-song set solo on guitar/vocals, and then the host got an impromptu band jam going, where I switched to bass and backing vocals.
Definitely not my best performance on bass (with a few silver linings, more on those in a bit).
My normal collaborator was on drums, and was on the far left of the stage, with me on far right. The two guitarists more or less faced each other, which left me kindof over in the corner, making it hard to either get the chord progression before we started, or to figure it out as we went.
I ended up playing what I knew, and laying out when I wasn't sure of the chord, filling in a bit more on backing vox in those cases.
Onto those silver linings! I am feeling more comfortable on stage with the bass day by day. It's an entirely different vibe, not feeling like you're the center of attention. I like to come in with a low or high vocal harmony and really grab the audience during the hook/chorus, but otherwise just stay out of the spotlight, holding it down, and adding a few fills as tasteful.
I found I locked in with the drummer (who was not a great drummer) well, and kept things together pretty good considering the impromptu nature of the jam, and the skill level of those involved (myself included!).
I am still chasing that "lead vocalist/bassist" dragon, I want to pick one song and work on it in secret, to bust out and surprise the guys. I am thinking either "Another Brick in the Wall Pt2" which is a favorite of mine to play, or "Message in a Bottle".
I am also feeling some *strong* GAS for a proper Jazz bass, I may be a hopeless case folks! Cya on the next one!
1st entry: Bass Players | Played my first bass gig tonight
| Facebook2nd entry: Bass Players | First off, Merry Christmas | Facebook
3rd entry: Bass Players | Third bass gig tonight | Facebook
4th entry: Bass Players | Another gig tonight | Facebook
5th entry: Bass Players | Another entry in my running gig diary | Facebook
6th entry: https://www.talkbass.com/threads/diary-of-a-bassist-6.1645734/#post-28323213
7th entry: https://www.talkbass.com/threads/diary-of-a-bassist-7-or-along-came-a-drummer.1646312/
8th entry: https://www.talkbass.com/threads/diary-of-a-bassist-8-there-goes-the-drummer.1649424/#post-28411461
9th entry: https://www.talkbass.com/threads/diary-of-a-bassist-9-drummer-redux.1650998/