Well, I've gotten to where I can get through Disarm by Smashing Pumpkins at a fairly decent tempo, with just a very few minor little flubs fretting chords or with pauses that are a little longer than they should be between fingering different chords. 

It was one of those songs that when I first bit it off, I didn't think I was ever going to be able to play. Remembering all the weird little parts and how they fit together seemed impossible. I still sometimes get it wrong... but I just played it the best I've ever played so far, I think. 

Every Rose Has its Thorn was one like that for me, too... and I'm still not playing it QUITE right. I need to spend some time and get the *strum knock* parts down, as they're really the part that people want from that song, and I just skip that part. 

Maggie Mae was also a huge challenge for me. 

The nice thing, as I learn these more complex songs, is that a lot of other songs, earlier songs, fall into place quicker and things that were challenging about them seem easier now. 

I need to figure out what my next step is. Start learning scales or something... 

Not sure where to go from here. 

Learn some blues scales. Best payoff where scales are concerned. Easy to improvise, works over most genres. 

I haven't done anything with scales. People keep suggesting it is what I should be looking at next. 

I bought a guitar at the family reunion auction for $20, it was decent, but I ended up giving it to my cousin Rick who needed it more than I do.  He's got some mental problems and having an instrument to focus on helps.  I'd rather have a piano, but those ain't cheap lol

I've got a piano, and nobody to play it. 
And 3 guitars - and I've been feeling guilty for not practicing. 

I keep asking - are you still in Phoenix? 

It sounds like... kinda like - fate, or God - or providence or something... 

Keeps suggesting that you should drop by. 

I know Wangiss would love it. 

Fri Jan 15 2021 18:50:24 MST from TheDave

I bought a guitar at the family reunion auction for $20, it was decent, but I ended up giving it to my cousin Rick who needed it more than I do.  He's got some mental problems and having an instrument to focus on helps.  I'd rather have a piano, but those ain't cheap lol

Fri Jan 15 2021 19:47:49 MST from ParanoidDelusions

I've got a piano, and nobody to play it. 
And 3 guitars - and I've been feeling guilty for not practicing. 

I keep asking - are you still in Phoenix? 

It sounds like... kinda like - fate, or God - or providence or something... 

Keeps suggesting that you should drop by. 

I know Wangiss would love it. 

 

Fri Jan 15 2021 18:50:24 MST from TheDave

I bought a guitar at the family reunion auction for $20, it was decent, but I ended up giving it to my cousin Rick who needed it more than I do.  He's got some mental problems and having an instrument to focus on helps.  I'd rather have a piano, but those ain't cheap lol

 

Hanging out sounds hella fun.  I keep answering, I'm in Mesa.  Happy to come over whenever.  I've got a job that barely asks me to do anything so I'm getting a salary I'm not really earning and I can take off whenever to do anything I want.

Shoot me your address and when you'd like some company and I'll head over.

It is on its way. 

I play a Godin A6 Ultra with the cognac burst finish which is just gorgeous.  I bought it at a time when I needed to play acoustic and electric during the same set.  It's a hollow body electric with piezo pickups under the saddle and a humbucker on the bridge.  With the flick of a switch and the right effects it can sound like a rich acoustic or a crunchy electric.  I like it a lot and I don't get to play much anymore  :(

My mom bought me a beautiful Taylor a couple of years ago. It's a custom piece so I can't tell what she paid, but whatever it was, it was worth it. It's the most resonant guitar I've ever played, including the too-expensive ones in the fancy instruments room at the Fifth String music store in Sacramento. It has an electric tuner built into the side wall. I'm in love with it. My wife isn't really wrong to be jealous. But only in the last few months have I been finding time to play it. Lockdown has been good for that, at least. 

I am not very talented, and at an impasse with my forward progress - and also diverted by lots of other hobbies. 

I've got an Epiphone acoustic for camping - and I actually love its sound. It is twangy, resonate, easy to play, not a lot of fretbuzz. This brand gets derided constantly - but it has great volume and body. 

I've also got a Curt acoustic electric. Same deal, I can switch between electric and acoustic and it does both well. It is a 3/4 depth and doesn't have as much body as the Epi. 


Then I've got a BC Rich electric. I don't play it much because I simply don't know where to start with learning electric. I'm still figuring out basic strumming chords. But, I like BC Rich. 

My son absolutely flipped his wig today when his new electric bass arrived. He plugged it into my awesome Excelsior amp and basked in the deep vibrations.

Sweet. What brand did you get him? 

Fri Apr 02 2021 20:51:34 MST from "Wangiss" <wangiss@wallofhate.com>

My son absolutely flipped his wig today when his new electric bass arrived. He plugged it into my awesome Excelsior amp and basked in the deep vibrations.

Some no-name. Lemme check...

Oh

Oh, my.

It literally doesn't have a name on it. The only insignia to speak of is the obligatory import sticker: MADE IN CHINA

That's as no-name as it gets!

But I'm happy with it. I was worried, naturally, that a $109 bass might suck. But it's working out fine.

You mentioned a Cort acoustic-electric. I have a Cort electric; it was my first. Seems to behave like a typical student model. No complaints. And I've played some fine Epiphones. The better I get, the more quality becomes a bonus rather than a crutch. Didn't see that coming. 

You know, for me personally - I'm not talented enough to really tell much of a difference between a no name, a student model and a super expensive rare Gibson or Fender. They all play as crappy as I do! :D 

It is the trick of music - the higher quality YOU get, the more you can tell what a higher quality instrument brings to the table. :) 

My Epiphone stays in tune. I bang it around, I leave it for weeks - I come back to it - it is maybe a little flat - but - uniformly flat - so worst case, it detunes itself a half step. 

Sun Apr 04 2021 00:53:45 MST from "Wangiss" <wangiss@wallofhate.com>

Some no-name. Lemme check...

Oh

Oh, my.

It literally doesn't have a name on it. The only insignia to speak of is the obligatory import sticker: MADE IN CHINA

That's as no-name as it gets!

But I'm happy with it. I was worried, naturally, that a $109 bass might suck. But it's working out fine.

You mentioned a Cort acoustic-electric. I have a Cort electric; it was my first. Seems to behave like a typical student model. No complaints. And I've played some fine Epiphones. The better I get, the more quality becomes a bonus rather than a crutch. Didn't see that coming. 

Huge win! My son's bass progress is screaming forward. He can already play basic versions of Love Me Do, A Hard Day's Night, and If I Run by Semisonic. I accompany him on rhythm guitar. He's almost full speed with about 90% accuracy.

Easter was great. My wife's aunt just got remarried and her new husband is a total stud. He built the ex's car shop into a man cave with decent band setup. So my daughter can bang the drums and my son can plug into Uncle John's amp while I jam on mine. They've said we can come over any time. We'll call first, of course, since we haven't really developed that level of trust yet from my perspective. But anyway, we can go overseas there for a legit jam session soon and if I can scare up a decent synth we're a while band already.

Meanwhile for myself I've been enjoying a couple of pieces. I really love Beethoven's 7th symphony, 2nd movement (Allegretto). I did a little arrangement for myself. It's in A, which is handy for guitar.

I also have been trying to re-learn a piece from the anime called Record of Lodoss War. I bet someone more skilful has transcribed it by now. Last time I learned it was 20ish years ago and the internet wasn't quite as saturated with the efforts of weebs. 

That is pretty awesome. Having a studio to play in is a bonus. 

I have no idea of music theory. Vaguest of concepts, is we're being generous. I understand you can play songs in different chords - and it changes the feeling of the song. Happy, moody, foreboding. Beyond that... nada. :) 

Yes, on the last one - everything is on the Internet somewhere, if you look hard and long enough. :) 

Tue Apr 06 2021 00:21:11 MST from "Wangiss" <wangiss@wallofhate.com>

Huge win! My son's bass progress is screaming forward. He can already play basic versions of Love Me Do, A Hard Day's Night, and If I Run by Semisonic. I accompany him on rhythm guitar. He's almost full speed with about 90% accuracy.

Easter was great. My wife's aunt just got remarried and her new husband is a total stud. He built the ex's car shop into a man cave with decent band setup. So my daughter can bang the drums and my son can plug into Uncle John's amp while I jam on mine. They've said we can come over any time. We'll call first, of course, since we haven't really developed that level of trust yet from my perspective. But anyway, we can go overseas there for a legit jam session soon and if I can scare up a decent synth we're a while band already.

Meanwhile for myself I've been enjoying a couple of pieces. I really love Beethoven's 7th symphony, 2nd movement (Allegretto). I did a little arrangement for myself. It's in A, which is handy for guitar.

I also have been trying to re-learn a piece from the anime called Record of Lodoss War. I bet someone more skilful has transcribed it by now. Last time I learned it was 20ish years ago and the internet wasn't quite as saturated with the efforts of weebs. 

I'm jealous.  My electric bass is acting weird, but I might be able to fix it by replacing a 9-volt battery in it.  I showed it to Donovan when he was here and that's probably the problem, otherwise I'm gonna have to have a repair guy look at the pickups.  The amp is okay but I was running a bass test with it plugged into the computer and I think that I may have overextended its capacity at high volume.

I hope the battery fix gets you square. 

Sat Apr 24 2021 05:55:44 MST from TheDave

I'm jealous.  My electric bass is acting weird, but I might be able to fix it by replacing a 9-volt battery in it.  I showed it to Donovan when he was here and that's probably the problem, otherwise I'm gonna have to have a repair guy look at the pickups.  The amp is okay but I was running a bass test with it plugged into the computer and I think that I may have overextended its capacity at high volume.

Sun Apr 25 2021 18:52:49 MST from ParanoidDelusions <paranoiddelusions@wallofhate.com>

I hope the battery fix gets you square. 

 

Sat Apr 24 2021 05:55:44 MST from TheDave

I'm jealous.  My electric bass is acting weird, but I might be able to fix it by replacing a 9-volt battery in it.  I showed it to Donovan when he was here and that's probably the problem, otherwise I'm gonna have to have a repair guy look at the pickups.  The amp is okay but I was running a bass test with it plugged into the computer and I think that I may have overextended its capacity at high volume.

 

It had completely slipped my mind until I read this again, so I just ordered some 9v batteries that should be here tomorrow.  I'd love to have my bass working again so I can get decent and maybe jam.  Thanks for the reminder.

So, generally a 9v is for a built in electric tuner - but I didn't see one on your bass. It would be weird to have an electric guitar that needed batteries for the pickups or any of the other electronics in it - but... as yours is a kind of strange brand Chinesium bass, I think - it is possible they did something weird with it - maybe it has an effects pre-amp or something. 

Sun May 09 2021 16:24:09 MST from TheDave

 

Sun Apr 25 2021 18:52:49 MST from ParanoidDelusions <paranoiddelusions@wallofhate.com>

I hope the battery fix gets you square. 

 

Sat Apr 24 2021 05:55:44 MST from TheDave

I'm jealous.  My electric bass is acting weird, but I might be able to fix it by replacing a 9-volt battery in it.  I showed it to Donovan when he was here and that's probably the problem, otherwise I'm gonna have to have a repair guy look at the pickups.  The amp is okay but I was running a bass test with it plugged into the computer and I think that I may have overextended its capacity at high volume.

 

It had completely slipped my mind until I read this again, so I just ordered some 9v batteries that should be here tomorrow.  I'd love to have my bass working again so I can get decent and maybe jam.  Thanks for the reminder.