From CGDigital@aol.com Thu Dec 25 20:59:43 2003
Subject:Re: Bass on keys....reply to Steve Shayes

In a message dated 12/25/03 9:57:51 PM GTB Standard Time,
steve@speakeasyvintagemusic.com writes:

> The most important thing to make it right is this.
> Forget everything you know as a keyboard player. The left hand must become a
> separate person. You then pluck slide & do turn arounds like a bass player.
> You must forget playing with a flat finger style. I was taught to anchor
> with the thumb & trill with the middle finger & grab low notes with the
> pinky. This will give the effect of a bass player walking up the strings for
> the turn around at the bottom. Tell the left hand THINK Bass all the time
>
> shayes

Hi Steve,
I still remember seeing you play right in front of me and have
great respect for your playing and personality. I agree with you and have been
really concentrating on the above and just "listening" to the great bass players
lines and feeling. I just don't know what to play the lines ON. I hate
programing synths and have little luck with the velocity crossfades they concoct at
the factories. Can anyone control these slap velocity switches in a live
setting? Man, I just want a P-bass sound with some dimension to it. Funny re the
bass amp idea. I will try it. I have a bass guitar amp I could run a line into.
Of course, then we have a few other issues: The program on the synth, the
separate "out" to the bass amp, and of course fiddling with the EQ on the amp
within the venue. Sounds like a plan though. For those of you who have not yet
tried the Manzarek approach to keyboard playing, the experience in education alone
is worth it. Bass lines are the blood of modern groove oriented music. Well
worth the study.
Thanks,
Chris
PS. Just when things were getting lighter, I may need a bass amp with me?
Fate IS cruel!

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