Jim produced Legends of Ukulele, a CD compilation for Rhino Records, and has made three how-to-play DVDs for Homespun. Jim is also an active songwriter and has released a number of CDs. His 2 CD set, “Dreams I Left In Pockets,” features 33 songs…
Category: Instruments
Six Lessons for Playing Funk Bass – with Dan Hawkins
of the music. You need great timing, feel, pocket, and technique to play it well. Here are six video lessons that will get you grooving in no time….
Top Bass Guitars Loved by Rock & Roll Legends
Whether you’re a bassist yourself or just someone who loves rock & roll, you might be curious about some of the legendary basses that have shaped rock music. We’ve put together a list of some of the top bass guitars loved by rock & roll legends. Fender Jazz Bass — John Paul Jones of […]
Bass Guitar Lesson with Dan Hawkins – Using Scales To Create Killer Grooves
A question I get a lot is how to go about using the elements of music theory to create a great-sounding bass line. I usually like to emphasise the point that music theory is important for bass players but so are things like playing in time with great tone, feel, taste and flair…
Yamaha Silent Bass SLB 300 Achieves New Lows in Acoustic Bass Modelling
Studio Response Technology (SRT) now allows the new SLB300SK to model an acoustic bass played through different high-end acoustic microphones, ranging from the clear, crisp sound of a dynamic microphone, to the well-balanced rich timbre and warm low-frequency…
Victor Wooten’s Music and Nature Camps
In addition to being one of the premier bass players of his time, most widely known as a member of Béla Fleck and the Flecktones, Grammy winning bassist Victor Wooten also runs a successful music camp in Only, Tennessee. Wooten’s Center for Music and Nature at Wooten Woods Retreat originally focused on teaching music to bass players. Now in its 15th year, it has accommodated all instruments—voice, horns, keyboards, and more—for at least the last six years or so.
Slapping Your Bass with Jules Whelpton
Not only is Jules known as #thatblondebassist but she also known for being an electric violinist, playing a pink violin on stage. When not performing, she teaches at the Youth Arts Academy in Del Mar, CA and loves to…
A Life of Bass with Abe Laboriel
Abraham Laboriel Sr. is one of the most sought after bass players living, today. As a Mexican-American bassist he has played on more than 4,000 recordings and soundtracks, to date. And he’s still going…
Authentically Bass with Rob Thorsen
Professional bassist Rob Thorsen shares insight on bass while demonstrating finger techniques—in this example using an F-minor dorian scale….
How to Prepare Your Voice for a Live Performance
By Stefanie August In my numerous years of working as a nightclub and theater vocalist, I always had to keep my voice strong and focused. We singers must be able to keep from sounding winded while singing, especially if we are dancing or playing an instrument. Below are some best practices for strengthening one’s voice […]