# The Great Ongoing Guitar Thread **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Tags:** music\ **Created:** [January 31, 2010, 11:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-great-ongoing-guitar-thread/527172 "2010-01-31T23:20:11Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 199
**Author:** ![OneCentStamp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/13edae/32.png) [@OneCentStamp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OneCentStamp)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2015, 1:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-great-ongoing-guitar-thread/527172/3964 "2015-01-16T13:25:48Z")
If I’m understanding you correctly, that sounds like a job for a five string bass, where it would be first position on the low B string. ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2015, 1:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-great-ongoing-guitar-thread/527172/3965 "2015-01-16T13:33:27Z")
So, a 5 string bass can get down into that lower octave? Sorry for my bad terminology. I know the octaves on a piano are numbered. I still have to learn how they map to a bass guitar. The chart I linked is helping a lot until I get it memorized. heres the grand staff. the C I need is the double ledger line C. a 4 string bass can only get to the E. [![](http://www.guitarsite.de/pics/clef.gif) ](http://www.guitarsite.de/pics/clef.gif) ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2015, 2:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-great-ongoing-guitar-thread/527172/3966 "2015-01-16T14:37:51Z")
Been practicing and its sounding pretty good. I’ve ran into three notes on the piano score that are too low for the bass. I’m just playing them an octave higher. Not much else I can do. I’ve already recorded two guitar tracks and my vocal for this song. Adding a bass part should fill it out. ---
**Author:** ![OneCentStamp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/13edae/32.png) [@OneCentStamp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OneCentStamp)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2015, 4:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-great-ongoing-guitar-thread/527172/3967 "2015-01-16T16:36:36Z")
Awesome! Will you share the finished product with us? ---
**Author:** ![scabpicker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/scabpicker/32/8268_2.png) [@scabpicker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scabpicker)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2015, 5:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-great-ongoing-guitar-thread/527172/3968 "2015-01-16T17:05:10Z")
> [@aceplace57](#): > > ok, I got my first bass question. I want to play a super simple country bass line from piano sheet music. the first 4 bars are four whole notes of C. Then it drops an octave to the double ledger line C (a half note) and a G half note. Next bar is two half notes of double ledger line C . very simple, but it will add a lot to fill in this recording that I’m working on. > > **but** , a guitar bass don’t go that low. LOL according to this chart I’m close with my ledger line E but no cigar… > [http://www.thomasvoigt.de/en/bsbrett\_en.gif](http://www.thomasvoigt.de/en/bsbrett_en.gif) > > So, whats the best choice? I guess I can only play the 3rd fret A string C? and ignore the octave change? Should I switch to the 8th fret C on the E string? Its the same note. > > I will be taking lessons. But this bass line is all half notes and quarter notes. Nothing hard. I should be able to play it. You could always start the bass part an octave higher, 5th fret on your G string, or invert the octave change to the higher C there, and then the G is ‘on the way back’ to the lower C. Just sitting on the same C is completely acceptable, too, especially in country music. ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2015, 5:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-great-ongoing-guitar-thread/527172/3969 "2015-01-16T17:55:57Z")
Thanks scabpicker. I’ll give that a try. This recording is just me experimenting with my zoom h4n 4 track recorder. My setup is not quite ready for prime time yet. I still need to get some better mics and other gear. For now, I’m recording my acoustic guitar and vocals with the H4N’s built-in mic. [Like this with a tripod.](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/TyB3nLm7Zo8/0.jpg)It does ok. But I need to use a decent mic for any serious recording. I’ll share something after I get some better results/ ---
**Author:** ![scabpicker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/scabpicker/32/8268_2.png) [@scabpicker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scabpicker)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2015, 7:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-great-ongoing-guitar-thread/527172/3970 "2015-01-17T19:38:41Z")
Ok, I’ve had the pedal steel for most of a week, and have had a volume pedal and a real bar for a day. When I got it, it took 20 minutes to assemble and 45 minutes to tune. 10 strings, and tuning each pedal/lever position takes a long time if the strings were made slack for transport. After about 8 hours of practice, I can just about play the thing, even though I need to work heavily on blocking and hitting the right strings consistently. I haven’t worked out anything besides a rough version of “When the Levee Breaks” (I’m faking the turnaround), but I can do a I-IV change with just the pedals, and a major scale with them. I’ve learned the pedal positions to get minor chords, but am still working into my brain which position is what chord and making it second nature. The knee lever is good for some bluesy fills, so far. So, I don’t think it lives up to its reputation as “the hardest instrument to learn”. After a week, I’m already better at it than I am at the drums, and I’ve owned the drums for years. However, it’s damn hard. I’m certainly not fast, and how to play a 7th or a diminished chord on the thing is still a mystery to me. ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2015, 10:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-great-ongoing-guitar-thread/527172/3971 "2015-01-17T22:16:41Z")
Barbara Mandrell learned steel guitar when she was 8 or 9. Anything a little kid can do… We adults can do better. Right? LOL Course she ended up in the Steel Guitar Hall of Fame. I always found it fascinating she played at least six instruments and was very very good on many of them. [http://www.barbara-mandrell.com/press.html](http://www.barbara-mandrell.com/press.html) I miss steel guitars in country music. Maybe someday they’ll get popular again. I love their sound. Hang in there scabpicker. We need more steel guitar players. ---
**Author:** ![BigShooter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/f07891/32.png) [@BigShooter](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigShooter)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2015, 1:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-great-ongoing-guitar-thread/527172/3972 "2015-01-18T13:11:51Z")
Where I live here in Phoenix, there’s a large old fashioned country scene brewing with a lot of steel guitar playing. One guy in particular, John Rickard, has been playing on a ton of local records and is a bit of a local legend. There’s a monthly event called Valley Fever at a place called the Yucca Tap Room that is basically all Americana/old school country music and John pretty much sits in with everybody. Here’s a link to their website. Googling any of the bands listed will probably get you John Rickard’s playing. [http://www.valleyfeveraz.com/](http://www.valleyfeveraz.com/) And he also played on a CD I did with an artist name Hunter Johnson. Tracks #2 and 5 and 10 are him. He really is great… [http://iamhunterjohnson.bandcamp.com/](http://iamhunterjohnson.bandcamp.com/) ---
**Author:** ![CookingWithGas](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cookingwithgas/32/485_2.png) [@CookingWithGas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CookingWithGas)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2015, 3:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-great-ongoing-guitar-thread/527172/3973 "2015-01-18T15:10:34Z")
> [@aceplace57](#): > > **but** , a guitar bass don’t go that low. LOL according to this chart I’m close with my ledger line E but no cigar… > [http://www.thomasvoigt.de/en/bsbrett\_en.gif](http://www.thomasvoigt.de/en/bsbrett_en.gif) > > So, whats the best choice? You could transpose the entire piece up a third, but that might screw up everything else you’re trying to do. ---
**Author:** ![OneCentStamp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/13edae/32.png) [@OneCentStamp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OneCentStamp)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2015, 2:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-great-ongoing-guitar-thread/527172/3974 "2015-01-19T02:42:55Z")
> [@CookingWithGas](#): > > You could transpose the entire piece up a third, but that might screw up everything else you’re trying to do. That, or string your whole bass like the bottom four strings of a five-string bass: BEAD. I’ve known quite a few guys/gals who do that, since they don’t use the top string in traditional tuning anyway, but it generally works best on a standard scale. In a shorter scale like **aceplace** ’s, it might be floppy or otherwise inconvenient/unplayable. ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2015, 3:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-great-ongoing-guitar-thread/527172/3975 "2015-01-19T03:25:31Z")
Trying to play the bass clef from a piano score probably isn’t ideal. I’ll eventually develop my own walking bass lines. I’ve seen lessons on youtube specifically for country. 1-5-1 ie root fifth Thats really what I need right now to fill in my recordings. Jamplay has a full section of bass lessons with several teachers. I’ll get a subscription there to study and hopefully get beyond the most simple stuff. ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2015, 3:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-great-ongoing-guitar-thread/527172/3976 "2015-01-19T03:51:48Z")
Getting a bass guitar means I need a bass amp now. 😉 I picked a good time. Fender recently released a line of their Rumble amps. The Rumble 100 has a 12 inch bass speaker, 100Watts with 4 band EQ. XLR out. Fairly lightweight too at 22 lbs. Rumble 200 is the same except it has a 15 inch bass speaker 200 Watts. [NAMM 2014 video](https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=hWNPUdJlaQY) Another option I’m considering are the Carvin micro basses This guy reviewed his [MB10](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UW7LrWCgBFQ)Its 100 Watts with a 10 inch bass speakers. 24 lbs. All those switches are a bit intimidating. But he explains them in his review. The Carvin has a tweeter horn. An improvement over the Fender. Theres no rush. I’m just looking at gear and weighing my options right now. ---
**Author:** ![Enter\_the\_Flagon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/b9bd4f/32.png) [@Enter\_the\_Flagon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Enter_the_Flagon)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2015, 6:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-great-ongoing-guitar-thread/527172/3977 "2015-01-19T06:06:05Z")
> [@aceplace57](#): > > Another option I’m considering are the Carvin micro basses This guy reviewed his [MB10](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UW7LrWCgBFQ)Its 100 Watts with a 10 inch bass speakers. 24 lbs. All those switches are a bit intimidating. But he explains them in his review. The Carvin has a tweeter horn. An improvement over the Fender. Just be aware, **aceplace** , that the guy who posted that review on the Carvin apparently ended up dissatisfied with the amp. In the comments below the video, he says: > [@](#): > > Unfortunately, I would not recommend this amp to anybody. It has blown up on me twice since I made this video, which is a total of 4 times since I bought it 3 years ago. I replaced it with a TC Electronic BH250, and I couldn’t be happier. If you really want a combo, the BH 250 comes in various combo configurations (sold as the BG250). Its a great amp in the same price bracket. > [@](#): > > I’m glad yours has served you so well man. I can’t say the same about mine. I used to run this with an external cab and get pretty decent results. But this thing did nothing but start folding on me after the first year of use. And that was before I needed it every day. I’ve had to retire it, and I haven’t even mustered up the effort to get it fixed one more time so I could at least use it at home. Bummer. ---
**Author:** ![Ranger\_Jeff](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ranger_jeff/32/2065_2.png) [@Ranger\_Jeff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ranger_Jeff)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2015, 6:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-great-ongoing-guitar-thread/527172/3978 "2015-01-19T06:06:13Z")
> [@aceplace57](#): > > So, a 5 string bass can get down into that lower octave? Sorry for my bad terminology. I know the octaves on a piano are numbered. I still have to learn how they map to a bass guitar. The chart I linked is helping a lot until I get it memorized. > > heres the grand staff. the C I need is the double ledger line C. a 4 string bass can only get to the E. > [http://www.guitarsite.de/pics/clef.gif](http://www.guitarsite.de/pics/clef.gif) Since guitars are transposed instruments, I’m guessing bass guitars are also. And maybe the sheet music you’re trying to learn isn’t transposed for a guitar/bass guitar? Music for a guitar/bass is written an octave higher than it really sounds. The bottom note on a standard tuned guitar is E, written just below the 3nd ledger line below the treble staff (or in the space below the 2nd from the top line of the bass staff, if you want to go that way), but it SOUNDS an octave lower, which would be on the 1st ledger line below the bass staff. So, the bass E on a bass (in standard EADG tuning) would be written as the 1st ledger line below the bass staff, but would \*\*sound \*\*the space between the 4th and 5th ledger lines below the bass staff. Sheet music for a piano generally isn’t transposed. So, if an E is written on a piano sheet as one ledger line below the bass staff, the note they want on a bass guitar is 12-0-0-0, 0-7-0-0, or 0-0-2-0. So, the double ledger line below the bass staff C (on a piano chart) that you want would be 8-0-0-0 and/or 0-3-0-0 on a 4 string, standard tuned bass guitar. ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2015, 6:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-great-ongoing-guitar-thread/527172/3979 "2015-01-19T06:49:00Z")
Shifting up an octave makes sense. I’ve heard of guys breaking strings tuning with a piano. They didn’t know middle C on a piano is actually an octave lower on a guitar. If you’re reading sheet music, middle C is A string 3rd fret . But the guitar is transposed down an octave. To match a piano’s middle C (pitch) you’d have to play the B string first fret. > [@Enter\_the\_Flagon](#): > > Just be aware, **aceplace** , that the guy who posted that review on the Carvin apparently ended up dissatisfied with the amp. In the comments below the video, he says: Thank you for the heads up. I didn’t even look at the comments. That’s too bad. The Carvin looked like a nicely designed amp. The Fender Rumble 100 looks really good. Brand new line and Fender has a solid reputation. I need to save up some cash first. ---
**Author:** ![WordMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e8c25b/32.png) [@WordMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WordMan)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2015, 12:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-great-ongoing-guitar-thread/527172/3980 "2015-01-19T12:03:58Z")
I just got a Rumble 100 for my daughter, who is singing and playing bass now in a band with my son-the-guitarist/pianist-and-songwriter. Good amp - loud, light, clear. They played a talent show a couple of weekends ago and it became the House Amp for 3-4 bands\* because they didn’t want to lug their heavy amps and crowd the stage. Worked well. \*Out of the 6 bands, 4 had girl bassists. Interesting. ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2015, 1:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-great-ongoing-guitar-thread/527172/3981 "2015-01-19T13:59:17Z")
Let’s get ready to rumble. 😃 Its good to hear first hand reports that its a good bass amp. My only criticism is the knobs. Fender has such iconic chicken head knobs. [I’d get a set and use them on the amp. (if they’ll fit)](http://www.angela.com/images/products/detail/FenderWhiteChickenHeadKnob.jpg) It’s not just for looks. Checken heads can be adjusted with the push of a finger. I guess the younger players don’t really care. A knob is a knob. ---
**Author:** ![Shakester](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/shakester/32/437_2.png) [@Shakester](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shakester)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2015, 8:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-great-ongoing-guitar-thread/527172/3982 "2015-01-20T08:00:50Z")
> [@WordMan](#): > > Out of the 6 bands, 4 had girl bassists. Interesting. Unfortunately that may be sexism in action, as bass is considered an unimportant and low-status instrument (1). I play bass in one band (2), because I love playing bass. I had a weird conversation once with someone who asked about lead guitar solos on a recording we did, and I said (truthfully) that I played them. The guy couldn’t comprehend that someone who is perfectly capable of playing lead guitar would _choose_ to play _bass_ in band. Complete cognitive dissonance. Still, the upside of that is that if you _do_ like playing bass, you can always find a gig. ETA notes: 1 - In rock music. In other forms of music it’s taken much more seriously. 2 - I _do_ play guitar in the band I write music for. ---
**Author:** ![WordMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e8c25b/32.png) [@WordMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WordMan)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2015, 11:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-great-ongoing-guitar-thread/527172/3983 "2015-01-20T11:02:32Z")
I hear you **Shakester**. In the case of my son and daughter, my son _burns_ to play music and is always playing guitar, piano or songwriting. My daughter loves to sing and loves to be in plays, and really, really likes the thought of being in a band with my son - but doesn’t put in the hours that my son does. Within the context of basic, rock pop songs, however, she can play bass and enjoys doing so - provided her older brother cajoles her into learning her parts and organizes the practices. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-great-ongoing-guitar-thread/527172.md?page=198) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-great-ongoing-guitar-thread/527172.md?page=200)