Okay, I’m a bassist so I’m biased as can be, but I am going to make a bold statement anyway: the bass is the most universally important instrument. From old-school jazz bands, to rock, funk and disco. From pop to hip hop to punk. Across all these genres, you may or may not have singers, …
How to Make Electric Bass Sound Like an Upright Bass Read More »
If you didn’t sleep through the 00s, you can probably sing the riff to Seven Nation Army from memory. And with good reason. This song’s impact speaks for itself. I actually think it’s the greatest rock and roll riff anyone has written since the 80s, and nothing has bested it since. In a time of …
Welcome to the 21st century. A phone that’s smaller than a bar of soap is a more powerful computer than we relied on to get to the moon. A magnetically-levitated train in China whisks travelers away at speeds north of 250 mph. Electric cars drive themselves. Decent battery-powered and portable bass amps exist. This last …
5 Best Lightweight, Battery-Powered Portable Bass Amps Read More »
Metal is a genre of delightfully confusing self-contradictions. How can such aggressive and abrasive music simultaneously feature some of the most delicate and virtuoso musicianship? How can someone who goes by Corpsegrinder act so lovably domestic while shopping at Target? My theory is that metal musicians and fans alike, are proud of the fact that …
The envelope filter is one of my most recent and exciting musical discoveries. I’m a multi-instrumental producer, and every day I layer guitars, bass, keyboards, drums, percussion, and vocals while working on song arrangements. Gradually, my sonic palette started to feel stale, limited, and a little bland. Meanwhile, I had always been aware of the …
Bassists have thick skins. We have to. We know we are the most overlooked member of a typical band. Yet if the bass is removed, bands just sound- incomplete. Like the heart and body are missing. We bassists slave away in relative obscurity to serve the music. What’s more, the bass tone is just as …
How to Mic a Bass Guitar Amp for Live and Recording Read More »
That’s right- we are officially at the point in history where “How to Record Bass Guitar on a Phone” is a coherent question. Yeah, it’s something most of us take for granted but you wouldn’t have to go very far back in time for this question to sound completely insane. This is a testament to …
