ff1d1l
pfm Member
I like the elixir bass strings too....just looked at the Thomastiks you linked to...bass strings at cello string prices!
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Guitar talk: acoustic, bass, classical, twelve string? You name it!
- Thread starter windhoek
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I like the elixir bass strings too....just looked at the Thomastiks you linked to...bass strings at cello string prices!
Tony L
Administrator
They are expensive, but they have a reputation for lasting pretty much forever. I guess different rules apply to flats as you aren't chasing the bright zingy sound of new round-wounds at all, so as long as the tension doesn't go up too much (which it doesn't seem to) then they should be good for many, many years. The set on my fretless have been on for a few years now with no issues, though I don't play it much as I'm still pretty crap (I'd probably be better with a lined fretless to be honest, mine just has dots on the binding, which clearly isn't enough!).
John Barry
pfm Member
This is my 6 string acoustic, an Avian Songbird which I'm really pleased with
windhoek
The Phoolosopher
I've been watching some of scottsbasslessons videos on Youtube link recently and have been learning some good stuff - especially how fingering for scales and arpeggios simply repeat themselves.
In a recent video, Scott spoke about starting scales with the 1st, 2nd and 4th fingers as doing so leads to different fretboard positions (and therefore, different tones and opportunities etc), but still within the scale of course. He also said that upon reaching an octave up, the scale continues using a pattern borrowed from another fingering. The upshot of which is it's possible to know how to play all scales for infinity by memorising the patterns that begin with the 1st, 2nd and 4th fingers - just three patterns!
For example, starting the C major scale with the 1st finger finishes on the next C up with the 2nd finger, which itself finishes with the 4th finger, which itself finishes with the 2nd finger. If you had a 20 string guitar, you could play from the lowest to the highest note in a given scale simply by repeating the appropriate pattern depending on which finger starts and ends an octave - obviously moving up a fret at every B string.
Fwiw, the fingering for the major scale is:
1,2,4
1,2,4
1,2
2,4,
1,2,4,
1,3,4
4
1,2,4,
1,3
1,2... and so on
The fingering for the (natural) minor scale is:
1,3,4
1,3,4
3,4
4
1,2,4
1,2,4,
1... and so on (no 2nd or 3rd finger positions)
I wish I'd known this years ago lol
In a recent video, Scott spoke about starting scales with the 1st, 2nd and 4th fingers as doing so leads to different fretboard positions (and therefore, different tones and opportunities etc), but still within the scale of course. He also said that upon reaching an octave up, the scale continues using a pattern borrowed from another fingering. The upshot of which is it's possible to know how to play all scales for infinity by memorising the patterns that begin with the 1st, 2nd and 4th fingers - just three patterns!
For example, starting the C major scale with the 1st finger finishes on the next C up with the 2nd finger, which itself finishes with the 4th finger, which itself finishes with the 2nd finger. If you had a 20 string guitar, you could play from the lowest to the highest note in a given scale simply by repeating the appropriate pattern depending on which finger starts and ends an octave - obviously moving up a fret at every B string.
Fwiw, the fingering for the major scale is:
1,2,4
1,2,4
1,2
2,4,
1,2,4,
1,3,4
4
1,2,4,
1,3
1,2... and so on
The fingering for the (natural) minor scale is:
1,3,4
1,3,4
3,4
4
1,2,4
1,2,4,
1... and so on (no 2nd or 3rd finger positions)
I wish I'd known this years ago lol
andrewhockley
pfm Member
Given that reducing what you need to learn gives you more time to develop as a player, why don't more guitarists tune in 4ths? I don't play guitar, but if I started I'd be tempted to try this.
Cheese
Bitter lover
The tatty look of the white one makes me want to remove its sixth string
Tony L
Administrator
Cool, is the Jazzmaster an original? I really like Jazzmasters.
PS Ongoing Brexit£ offloading continues by another £1k.... I've just bought what looks to be a very tidy 2005 Fender American Vintage Reissue 75 Jazz Bass in natural with rosewood fingerboard, pearl slab inlays, ashtrays etc. Should land on Thurs!
PS Ongoing Brexit£ offloading continues by another £1k.... I've just bought what looks to be a very tidy 2005 Fender American Vintage Reissue 75 Jazz Bass in natural with rosewood fingerboard, pearl slab inlays, ashtrays etc. Should land on Thurs!
Yank
Bulbous Also Tapered
Tatty? I think of it more as comfortable.
No, the Jazzmaster is a Mexican-made "Road Worn" model made last year. The Esquire is a Mexican-made Classic 50s model from about 2006, the Telecaster is from 1966 (neck stamp 3 FEB 66 B), I've had it for more than half my life.
Yank
Bulbous Also Tapered
Cool, new toys are fun.
Michael J
pfm Member
andrewhockley
pfm Member
I'm slowly plowing through rockschool bass grades, and I see chords on the horizon - so are chords really much harder in fourths?Because chords.
formbypc
pfm Member
How does tuning in 4ths 'reduce what you need to learn' ?
And what would you tune each string to? E at the low end, E at the top end, or something else?
andrewhockley
pfm Member
E-A-D-G-C-F
As in the earlier post on the bass fingerings, it reduces the number of patterns you need to learn, as intervals between strings are regular. Stanley Jordan uses it among others.
windhoek
The Phoolosopher
I just put some Elixir Phosphor Polywebs on my Baby Taylor and she's sounding great - she should as she's had the same strings on since January! I've not tried phosphor polywebs before, so it'll interesting to hear how they sound once they've settled in for the long haul.
Anyway, I'm sure I'm not the only one whose fingers and ears deserve a treat, so what are you waiting on? Treat Yo Self
Anyway, I'm sure I'm not the only one whose fingers and ears deserve a treat, so what are you waiting on? Treat Yo Self
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formbypc
pfm Member
Some would suggest that the patterns shouldn't be the focus, but the notes should. Barney Kessel, amongst others.
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