This interview is a little bit personal for me, and provokes memories of skipping school, downing beers and moshing to Megadeth. Ah, those were the days!

Dave is one of my influences, and one of the first bass lines I attempted to learn was from the song “peace sells”. Megadeth are still a much played band in my world, and I still throughly recommend them. Of course, Dave isn’t just about Megadeth, and is currently doing some great work in the world of the bass guitar.

Details of his band HAIL, what he is doing now, his myspace links are right here:

Daves personal site.

Also, for you guys and gals currently learning how to play bass, check out Daves Youtube channel, right here:

Youtube channel.

Right, let’s get on with it!

1. What are you up to right now, musically?

I’ve been doing the HAIL! tours in South America and Europe as of late. I’m also playing bass for my friend (and HAIL! vocalist) Tim “Ripper” Owens in Europe during the month of June as he supports his new solo album “Play My Game” on SPV Records.

2. Who are your main musical influences and why?

There are quite a few but I always go back to my roots of KISS, RUSH, IRON MAIDEN.
They are the bands that made me want to play and put together bands of my own.

3. What made you want to play bass in the first place? What did you dream?

I liked the look and sound of it on rock songs I heard as a kid. I think Bachman Turner Overdrive’s album “Not Fragile” was the one that really made the bass sound cool to me in a hard rock setting.

4. What equipment do you use? Is good equipment important to you?

I use my Peavey Zodiac DE signature bass guitars for most everything these days. For amps, I use both Peavey and Trace Elliot. Strings are D’Addario Pro Steels, Peterson Tuners and Jim Dunlop picks. The occasional effects pedal is usually from DigiTech or MXR and my cables are Planet Waves.

Good gear is always important so that you look and sound your best. BUT, tone is really in the hands and heart, not just your gear!

5. Have you exceeded what you thought you may become when you first
started to learn the bass? (this question may not be relevent to you as you were in Megadeth-i’m such a dork)

Yes, I have. There is always more to achieve in life and as some may think I lived the dream only in that band, the truth is, I’ve grown just as much with the things I’ve done since then. The sales numbers can tell a lot but often times it’s the experience itself that shapes you, not just the tangible rewards from the experiences.

6. If you have one, what is your favourite technique?

Playing bass with a pick. It’s a style I learned as a young player, mostly so I could be heard over the loud guitars. Now, I’ve really developed it into a style of my own, something I use to really bring my approach to bass to the forefront of any situation I play in.

7. Do you have any good practising tips for newer players?

Practicing comes in all different forms. As a young start-up player, we have to practice the notes and musical things to become educated. Then, you learn how to play in groups with other people, which I recommend doing as often as possible.

From there, you learn how to write, record and then learn songs for performing. These are all forms of practicing but they become a part of your everyday life when you do music as often as you can. This makes it fun and a real passion, not something to dread, which is what the word “practice” usually conjures up for most people.

8. Do you ever get stuck in a rut, or get “writers block”? Do you do anything to remedy this horrible dark place?

I can’t say I get in a horrible dark place but we all hit spots when the creativity runs dry. The thing I find that helps the creativity flow is to constantly keep moving toward new musical settings. Those new settings offer up new people to work with and people can often be the inspiration for new ideas.

9. How can you see the bass evolving?

The bass should always be a foundation instrument first and foremost. That is why it was designed. But, that doesn’t mean it always has to stay there. I think bands like MASTODON are doing a great job of putting the bass up front because he also sings. I think TOOL did a good job of bringing the bass to the forefront as a key melody and riff instrument.

I like to hear people do new things with the instrument, approach it in a new fashion and really be creative with it. That’s what I liked about my influences growing up; guys like Steve Harris, Phil Lynott, Gene Simmons and Geddy Lee. They were all doing something very innovative as bassists but also as songwriters, too. I think the more the bass is used by a songwriter (let’s not forget Paul McCartney and Sting, too!) the more it becomes a centerpiece of the music, and not just a background instrument.

10. Any parting words of wisdom?

For musicians, play as often as you can, with as many different people as you can. You’ll grow from the experiences.

Thanks for you time, Dave!

And just for old times sake:

One of the most knowledgeable, talented, and nicest people out there on the net, Marlowe (Thomas Risell) has a wealth of experience to draw from. Like me, he teaches bass online, on youtube, and through his own personal site, which can be found here:

http://www.playbassnow.com

Thomas has a brilliant knowledge of theory that I don’t, to be frank, have…I thoroughly recommend his lessons.

Here is a vid of MarloweDK laying it down (He has so many great ones, it’s hard to choose!)

And onto the ten questions with MarlowDK. Take it away, my friend…

1. What are you up to right now, musically?

Well, not that much on the livefront right now , just finished a small tour in Denmark with Henrik Hall – a danish solo artist, and a few funk gigs with Al Campos & SoulHarmonic. But I have many plans bass teaching wise , of course maintaning my website playbassnow.com, writing a bass groove book and perhaps getting a bass lesson DVD together. I really dig teaching people what i myself would have wanted to learn when starting out

2. Who are your main musical influences and why?

I guess the usual suspects, but Larry Graham, Louis Johson, Marcus Miller and Rocco Prestia are on the top of the list
I always been into the funky stuff even though i also love hard rock 70′s style

3. What made you want to play bass in the first place? What did you dream?

Well I didnt, I wanted to play guitar (everybody wanted to play guitar, ) , but the band needed a bassplayer and someone had to do it. Sucked untill i discovered Earth Wind n Fire and realized that i didnt have to be “the guy in the back, you first notice when he stops playing” Ok, i like being that guy as well, but it was nice to stretch out funky style as well.

4. What equipment do you use? Is good equipment important to you?

Never been much of a gear freak but i just got a great new amp with cabs from a danish producer, cant say the name yet, but its very promising, and the amp can be used both for live gigs and recording into my computer. Other wise i have Ashdown and Hartke amps, Peavy 4×12, 1×15 cabs and assorted fx: Boss octaver, MXR envelope filter, Rat distortion and some other stuff

5. Have you exceeded what you thought you may become when you first started to learn the bass?

Noo, i thought i would better better by now… I guess you never stop learning.

6. If you have one, what is your favorite technique?

Right now im practicing the thumbplucking/picking technique and having a blast with that, but i also like to slap the hell out of my basses.

7. Do you have any good practicing tips for newer players?

Practice your time and feeling – if thats in place, you will work and prosper – but I know when we are young , we want to impress our immediate enviroment (read: girls), so we practice playing fast and complicated (i know i did)
Play to your favorite records and try to mimic the masters feel.

8. Do you ever get stuck in a rut, or get “writers block”? Do you do anything to remedy this horrible dark place?

All the time, but i have a lot of different basses, so a grab another one for some fresh low end inspiration

9. How can you see the bass evolving?

Im a bit oldfashioned and think many players are too focused on the solo performance thing – i mean nobody other than other bassplayers listen to that kind of thing. We still need to get the ladies’ butts moving – now thats what i would love to be part of.. ehhh… evolving

10. Any parting words of wisdom for other bass players?

“Oh my god, bassplayers do go deeper!” (heard in the room where noses gets powdered)

Great interview, thanks Thomas!

ClipBandits became instant YouTube sensations as the world’s first web band with the release of their first video, “Internet Killed the Video Star”. ClipBandits videos have been viewed 6 million times on YouTube. ClipBandits had never met each other, didn’t know each other’s names or where each other lived. They only knew one another’s YouTube user names and created their original music by syncing each other’s YouTube videos. Valerie Lee is the bass player for the band…

1. What are you up to right now, musically?

Right now I am taking a break from playing my bass. I do that from time to time. I am listening now and I sing along to the cds I listen to and also study the bass lines. Right now I am hooked on the new Alterbridge cd. I am still the bassist for the Clipbandits and we will be making a new video soon.

2. Who are your main musical influences and why?

Led Zeppelin- Rush- The Cars-STP-Eric Johnson- 3lb Universe and King’s X. All of these bands made me want to play music because I loved the way their music made me feel and I wanted to have that same effect on someone else.

3. What made you want to play bass in the first place? What did you dream?

GEDDY LEE! I saw Rush when I was in high school and it was that night that I said to myself that I wanted to play bass. I have always dreamed of being in a great rock band…singing and playing bass.

4. What equipment do you use? Is good equipment important to you?

Equipment is important. AS a beginner I started off with great instruments…a PRS 5 string with a low B through a GK 400 rb amp and a GK cabinet. Even though I wasn’t very good…the bass sounded so good that it made me want to practice just so I could hear the sound of it.

5. Have you exceeded what you thought you may become when you first started to learn the bass?

Big time. Even though I dreamed of being in a great rock band I knew the chances were slim I would ever really achieve that dream. After I turned forty I joked to my add that I don’t have anything to lose- now I can go out and be a rock star. That same year I recorded in Nashville, was in a Hollywood band rubbing elbows with some serious studio musicians, and then achieved web celeb status on the internet in The Clipbandits- the world’s first web band. Who would imagine an old mommy like me could do that?

6. If you have one, what is your favorite technique? No favorites, although I would love to play slap bass better.

7. Do you have any good practicing tips for newer players?

My only tip is to play something over and over till you know it by heart…then you will play it automatically without even having to think about it.

8. Do you ever get stuck in a rut, or get “writers block”? Do you do anything to remedy this horrible dark place?

ALWAYS. I get distracted from playing bass alot! That is why I am not a better bassist. I could have been so much better had I practiced daily!!!

9. How can you see the bass evolving?

Hopefully it will not evolve…I always tell people to stick with 5 strings or less…Tired of all those extra strings. I do like the idea of a band with 3 bassists- drummer- and keyboardist. That would be awesome.

10. Any parting words of wisdom for other bass players? And especially female bass players?

Yes- don’t be like me- PRACTICE OFTEN! Do not let the people making negative comments get you down!

Thanks Valerie, Clipbandits bassist

And a vid:

As one of the earliest pioneers of the 9-string bass, Nuclear Rabbit’s Jean Baudin has been taking the instrument to an entirely new level since 1999.

Jean is known throughout the world for his work with Nuclear Rabbit and Element of Surprise. Jean’s style mixes intense tapping, slapping and fingerstyle. Primarily self-taught, Jean has studied privately with guitarists Marty Friedman and Jason Becker as well as bassist Wally Voss. Over the years, Jean’s bands have shared the stage with groups such as: System of a Down, Papa Roach, Alien Ant Farm, Deftones, P.O.D., Linkin Park, A.F.I., Green Day, Mindless Self Indulgence and Bad Brains.

Jean is currently working on a Solo CD that will feature solo pieces on 9, 11 and 12-string basses. He also has an instructional book/dvd in the works for tapping on 5-string (and above) basses.

Jeans Site: www.JeanBaudin.com

Here is a vid of Jean working his magic:

And here is my interview with the man:

1. What are you up to right now, musically?

My main focus is getting my solo CD finished right now.

2. Who are your main musical influences and why?

I’ve been listening to a lot of solo musicians lately… stuff like Glenn Gould, Joe Pass, Keith Jarrett, & Philip Glass.

3. What made you want to play bass in the first place? What did you dream?

Bass was the easiest to play and from the music I listened at the time (metal) it seemed like it was something that I could put a mark on.

4. What equipment do you use? Is good equipment important to you?

Accugroove Speakers, Phil Jones Speakers, Conklin and Ken Lawrence basses. When you have excellent equipment the only limitation is yourself.

5. Have you exceeded what you thought you may become when you first started to learn the bass?

In some ways yes, in some ways no. I never thought that I would be playing solo music by myself. However, I know I still have a long way to go.

6. If you have one, what is your favourite technique?

Tapping… there is just so much you can do with it.

7. Do you have any good practising tips for newer players?

Have a goal or something to work on when practicing instead of mindlessly running through scales and exercises.

8. Do you ever get stuck in a rut, or get “writers block”? Do you do anything to remedy this horrible dark place?

Whenever I do, I find that I’m playing too much and not listening enough. So, I spend a couple of days off the instrument, listen to music or just go do something out of the house.

9. How can you see the bass evolving?

Well, for me, my basses have been evolving because every few years I’m adding strings (as technology makes it possible) but that’s a big can of worms, because many people argue that my instruments aren’t basses anymore. However, in a general sense, I don’t follow the current trends in basses/bassists because I’m kind of on my own little path.

10. Any parting words of wisdom?

Eat your vegetables.

Thanks, Jean!

I wanted to get someone that was local to me for this interview. For some reason, the area that I live in breeds some really good musicians. It recently struck me how many great bass players we also have in this area, and Trev Lynes from the band “Kingskin” is certainly one of them. Kingskin are one of the most hard working bands I know, and they are accumulating some brilliant musical press.

The band’s website is here:

www.Kingskin.com

And their myspace is here:

My space

If you like the Funk rock sound. then these guys are definatly worth a look!

Ok, onto the Interview with Trev:

1. What are you up to right now, musically?

I’m playing bass with Kingskin, building up for our new CD out in July. Mostly trying to get the best gigs we can, the best being the good crowds! I’m also playing trumpet in Battleska… I recently got myself a trombone so I’m going to practice up on that. I started out at school playing trumpet, I’ve been playing way longer than I have bass. Its given me a good knowledge of theory and reading music.

2. Who are your main musical influences and why?

This is a tough one because there have been many influences over many years! Going way back to the start when I was playing in jazz bands at school, then Glen Miller. That was really my introduction to playing in bands and performing. His pieces were always loads of fun to play, which without a doubt made me realise I wanted music and playing to be a big part of my life.

Skip forward a few years to when I was starting out on bass, Mike Dirnt from Green Day. The bass lines on Dookie are fantastic, they’re not too hard but so well written they’re instantly memorable. Then you’ve got Nirvana as a whole, I could go on about each of them but for me it really comes down to the passion and energy and excitement I get when I listen to them.

Next up is Flea: he makes it look so easy! Hes definitely my main influence. To jump around and bash the hell out of your bass while playing at 100mph and still managing to get every note right? I wanna play like that guy!

3. What made you want to play bass in the first place? What did you dream?

I started bass at a time when I’d just finished school and had a lot of free time. I wanted to get into a new instrument, but wasn’t sure what one. I happened to be thinking about it one day, then I bumped into someone who happened to be selling a bass! I didn’t know anything about it to start withso I just used what I knew of scales and notes and translated that onto the strings.

I’ve always wanted to make a career out of playing music, and although I’ve been playing trumpet longer I couldn’t see myself going down that road. Playing bass has given me the means to do it, but I’ve still got some way to go yet.

4. What equipment do you use? Is good equipment important to you?

I use peavey amps and speakers, I think that a good understanding of how your gear works is more important that having the most loud expensive gear. If you know how it works you’ll know what will suit your needs best, which in turn will help you get ‘your’ sound.

I’ve spend literally years figuring out what gear I want. The end result is a bi-amped clean/dirty set up, with crossover on the clean line and compression on both. With something like 7-8 effects pedals. Ive settled on 10” speakers for the high and an 18” for the sub. Its definitely overkill for most gigs but in my opinion I didn’t get it so I can say ‘Ive got the loudest amp’, its about bass, not volume. I don’t have to sacrifice low end for a pretty effect now. In the end its all about low end!

5. Have you exceeded what you thought you may become when you first started to learn the bass?

When I started, I practiced and practiced the intro to Around The World by the Chili Peppers. I just could not get it right. So my goal was to one day be able to play it! For years I couldn’t get it right, then one day I suddenly got it. I never knew about rock bands and gear and gigs and vans and the record industry back then… so yes I’ve done more than I thought I would. I’m sure I’ll be able to say the same in 5 years time!

6. If you have one, what is your favourite technique?

I don’t have a favourite… I’m trying to get them all up to the same level. My fingering is better than my slap, so I work harder on practicing that. I don’t do tapping: I play in a band with 2 guitarists so it’d just be lost underneath the noise! But its something I’m going to work on in the future. In fact I do have a favourite: the stomp on the overdrive technique

7. Do you have any good practising tips for newer players?

Unfortunately yes- scales! They are boring. But if you learn any instrument in the world, they’ll say the same thing: scales, long notes, again and again and again, up and down the neck till your fingers get sore. But it helps strengthen and stretch the fingers.

I’d say to anyone who’s starting out rather than trying to be the fastest or the flashiest, think about how solid your playing is. Whats the point in being able to show off to your friends if youre speeding up and slowing down all over the place? Build up a solid foundation of the basics and you’ll be a much better player.
But to be fair showing off is awesome, just don’t do it in public till you’ve got something to show off about!

8. Do you ever get stuck in a rut, or get “writers block”? Do you do anything to remedy this horrible dark place?

Yes I do, in fact I just got out of one. Time is the great healer. Its frustrating if you really try to get out of it and you can’t. I find it easier to turn my attention to something else, like going back to the basics or something like that. After a while you find you’re back on top of your game.

9. How can you see the bass evolving?

I’m sure someone is going to find a new fancy way to play it. The gear will get louder & more expensive. They’ll stick more strings on it and someone will play the mario theme on that one too. I think more people are replacing the bass with a synth player… mostly in electro music but I’ve seen it happen more often recently. Maybe theyre will be more of a bass/synth crossover?

10. Any parting words of wisdom?

Bass gear is heavy: get someone else to carry it

I was lucky enough to get “Ten questions with Jeff”. Jeff is a player that I certainly admire. Well, before we start, check out this video and see for yourselves as to why…

Ok…Here we go!

1. What are you up to right now, musically?

I just finished my solo bass CD “Outre”

Right now I’m working on material that I’ll put out under my alter ego “Ruiner Severhead”. It’s darker. More offensive. More distortion. More mayhem. It’s a concept album about the rise of Christian Fascism. I’m planning a Christmas Day 2007 release.

2. Who are your main musical influences and why?

Depends on my mood. Right now it’s dark, heavy & scary musics – but leading up to the recording of Outre is was instrumental piano, guitar, cello etc… jazz, classical and new age.

Music is like food. There’s the stuff you like and you eat that regularly. But it’s important to mix it up. Try something you don’t think you’ll like. I’ve always liked dark and heavy music – but got away from it for many many years.

3. What made you want to play bass in the first place? What did you dream?

My best friend and I both first picked up the guitar at 13. But he was better at it than me so in order for me to join the band I had to play bass. I dreamed of being the best bass player ever. Whatever that meant.

4. What equipment do you use? Is good equipment important to you?

For solo it’s an MTD 535, and Pedulla PentaBuzz fretless. A Boss GT-6b processor. That’s it. For the Ruiner Severhead stuff I use all kinds of weird noise making pedals and software plugins.

Good equipment is very important to me. Once you play really nice stuff for a while – it’s really difficult to tolerate less than great gear. Great gear can be very inspiring.

5. Have you exceeded what you thought you may become when you first started to learn the bass?

No . . I have not exceeded the ideas I had when I first started.

But I’ve adjusted my expectations and now I’m happy that anyone even cares about what I do.

6. If you have one, what is your favourite technique?

Listening.

7. Do you have any good practising tips for newer players?

For beginners – focus on getting a handle on basic technique and theory. Even while doing that – start making your own music.

8. Do you ever get stuck in a rut, or get “writers block”? Do you do anything to remedy this horrible dark place?

I don’t think it’s a horrible dark place. What makes it horrible and dark is thinking you need to say something – but having nothing to say.

It’s a place every creative person will enter time and time again. It’s part of the cycle of creation.

Periods of creation are followed by periods of silence. These silent times are the time to find new inspirations and motivations. Only if we expect to be constantly creative do we view these silent periods as horrible.

After finishing “Outre” I thought I would/could bang out another solo bass CD pretty quickly. But I felt empty at the thought of it and all my solo bass ideas sounded exactly like what I just recorded. I needed to do something else.

So “Ruiner Severhead” was born and I found great inspiration in that. But even that has a limit. So I’m going to finish material that and then wait for the next bout of inspiration to tell me what’s next.

9. How can you see the bass evolving?

It seems more and more players are interested in doing more than fulfill the traditional role of the instrument.

I think we’ll see a lot of players trying different things. We’ll probably see more players modify the bass instrument itself – which is what I do with piccolo strings and alternate tunings.

Extended Range basses will come of age and there will start to be some really interesting music being made with them.

As far as trends that I think are a dead end – the whole be-bop melody on bass thing seems to be reaching a tipping point.

It’s been 30 years since Jaco covered Donna Lee and now there’s crowds of people who think doing Parker licks on bass is hip. But maybe that’s just me. I tire quickly. ,-)

10. Any parting words of wisdom?

Don’t try to stand out from the crowd. Avoid crowds entirely.

http://www.beautiful-bass.com/

Thanks, Jeff!

“Ten questions” with Jayme Lewis. I constructed these questions to be interesting for other bass players to answer, but to also be instructive, informative and inspirational for other bass players. Jayme is a great bass player, and his website (which is well worth a check) is here:

http://www.jaymelewis.com/

Ok, onto the interview!

1. What are you up to right now, musically?

I’m currently finishing up a Bachelor’s Degree in Music from California State University of Northridge. Beyond that I spend the majority of my time teaching music at my private studio, producing bands out of my recording studio, and I just released a solo album from my record label back in September of 2007. Beyond that I play gigs as often as I can with as many artists as I can and I do whatever session recording gigs come my way because I love being in the studio.

2. Who are your main musical influences and why?

Geez. Tough question, but to name a few I would start with non-bass players. J. S. Bach, Mozart, Beethoven, and Brahms are my main inspirations for composition because they were geniuses in their time (and in ours as well, which is a difficult standard to continue). I’m heavily inspired by Victor Wooten, Steve Bailey, Anthony Wellington, Edgar Meyer, Jaco, and Stanley Clarke. Having attended Vic’s Bass/Nature Camp I’ve had the opportunity to hang with all of these guys (except Jaco) and I could spend hours explaining what a difference they’ve made in my life. But I’d say as far as musical INFLUENCE goes I’d have to say that my family is my influence. I come from a family of musicians and have raised in the field of music for my whole life. I owe all of my talents to them.

3. What made you want to play bass in the first place? What did you dream?

My dad was a bass player, so that was where it started. Then he played me Stanley’s SCHOOL DAYS record and I fell in love. My goal was to be able to play that song one day.

4. What equipment do you use? Is good equipment important to you?

I use way too many instruments than what are good for me. My main axes are a Fodera Monarch Deluxe 4, an M Bass MEJ 5, a few Fender Basses, and about 8 Carvin Basses (4-6). I currently endorse Carvin Basses, Amps, and Strings. For amplification I use a Carvin BRX 212 and an Ampeg SVT4-Pro through BXT 410 and 115 Cabinets. Gear is very important to me because it allows me to forget about how it should sound and feel and lets me focus on the music with no limitations.

5. Have you exceeded what you thought you may become when you first
started to learn the bass?

Absolutely. I never thought I’d make living with music. I never wanted to, actually, because I feared that it would never pay enough or there would be too much competition. I can’t say that I’ve proven myself wrong yet, but I enjoy my life very much so I can’t complain.

6. If you have one, what is your favourite technique?

Thumb technique is my favorite. Double thumpin’ is the baddest thing you can do to get someone up on their feet.

7. Do you have any good practising tips for newer players?

Establish a set routine, like a workout schedule. If you wanna bulk up and lose weight in the gym, you need a plan. And then stick to it. The same is in music; set some goals, construct the stretches, exercises, drills, and repetitions you’ll need on a DAILY basis, and then work them. Stick with it and you’ll see results.

8. Do you ever get stuck in a rut, or get “writers block”? Do you do anything to remedy this horrible dark place?

Yes, too often I’m afraid. When that happens I stop writing. You can’t for inspiration, so when it’s there I try to pay attention.

9. How can you see the bass evolving?

Go check out some of these guys on MySpace or You Tub doing some ridiculous stuff and you’ll get an idea of how rapidly bass is evolving.

10. Any parting words of wisdom?

Follow your heart and don’t give up.