The great Michelangelo once said “I am still learning.” Without context this may seem like just another inspirational quote, but the fact that he said this at 87 years old gives me goosebumps! It’s been a while since I’ve posted a fresh piece of content on the blog because, honestly, I’ve been practicing a lot …
“Sight reading.” Those two words have given me anxiety more times than I can count. It’s times like these when I have to decide if I’m going to sight read a piece of sheet music like a boss or curl up under my music stand in the fetal position. Whether you’re a session bass guitar …
From the psalms of David to Gregorian chant. From the religious musical compositions of Bach to Elevation Worship. Praise & worship music has evolved tremendously over the years, and so has the role of the bass. Think about it… the technology we use, the style of music we perform, even the instruments we play in …
Ever get the pre-show jitters? Sweaty palms, endless thoughts of worst-case scenarios. Yeah… fun times, right? Last weekend I had my first performance with my band Blither. Being the first rock show I’d played in a long time, I was nervous, excited, and everything in between. In the end it was a really solid show! …
If you’re a beginner bass guitar player, the concept of chords may be the last thing on your mind. “That’s just something guitarists and keyboardists deal with. What does that have to do with me? Don’t bassists just have to play one note at a time?” Typically, yes – but playing chords and double stops …
Lydian. Phrygian. Mixolydian. It just sounds confusing, right? These words used to intimidate the heck out of me, and this is honestly why I didn’t learn about modes for a long time. Well I’m here to tell you that MODES AREN’T THAT SCARY. You don’t need to transcend time and space or have a PhD …
I’m going to bet that many bass players (or anyone, really) reading this post took piano lessons as a kid, and whether your parents knew it or not it’s a great instrument for introducing children to music. Even if your days as an adolescent are long gone, it’s not too late to learn some basic …
The electric bass guitar has come a long way. It’s an instrument that has evolved physically, technically, and sonically over the past 60+ years, and bassists all over the world continue to push its limits. Once used only as a foundational instrument, the bass guitar has gradually found its way to the spotlight. Bass players …
“I’m sorry, but you’ve thrown off the Emperor’s groove.” Such a quoted scene from a classic Disney movie. Kuzco’s routine is suddenly interrupted by an innocent old man who is then cast from the tower. Years later, I recalled this scene again after I started playing bass and understanding the instrument’s role in a musical …
Let’s face it: it doesn’t matter if you’ve been playing bass guitar for two years or twenty, auditions can be scary… and worship band auditions are no exception. You start overthinking your bass lines as you get the nervous sweats… then your fretting hand starts cramping and you realize you’ve been holding your breath for …
