By SamR
One of the things about a church plant is that you simply have to step up and do things that need doing. During our time at Annandale, there were a stack of guys who were willing and able to serve on the music team, and so I rarely helped with music at all apart from a handful of times where I sung.
At South West CCC, there’s a need for muso’s. I’ve been playing a fair bit of guitar – awesome fun, and singing with Soph at the same time.
But as we’ve thought about the musicians God has provided for us, we’ve realised that there are no bass players. And there’s only so far that you can take your music without a bass. So, this week I’m picking up a bass from a friend and getting started – and in the next few weeks I think I’ll be getting a few tips/lessons from a mate who’s a legend bass player.
I’m looking forward to the challenge, and learning a new skill.
Have you ever learnt to do something so that you can serve in church?
Woo!
Another one joins the club.
So… are you a low-slinger, or an on-the-belly player?
Well I’m not sure yet! Haven’t even got the bass yet – I like the look of a low slinger – so I might shoot for that. You?
I’m looking forward to hearing you play too!
For me, it was drums. I picked it up just after I left school because the service I went to didn’t have a drummer.
Technically there’s lots of faults with the way I play (I just don’t have time or a kit to practice enough) and I only ever offer to play when there’s absolutely no one else who can.
But God has poured His grace on me. When I decided to play for church, He gave me a natural sense of rhythm that I didn’t ordinarily have. You could argue that I just developed it by learning how to play. I like to think the Holy Spirit was at work:) Regardless, he definitely gives good gifts to His church!
I play up high – the guy who taught me the basics used to play on his gut (which was large at the time, not so much now), and so it’s just how I learnt to play. I think it’s a jazz thing.
Bass is awesome, if you get it going right, you get to drive the whole song.
One of the guys I used to with at church told me about when he played the bass once (he plays guitar), and he said something that stuck with me ever since: when you play a different note to everyone else, you are undeniably right.
Unfortunately, that means you can have several other people who are quite obviously wrong. And that doesn’t sound too good…
Use your bass powers for good, Sam!
what do you mean rodeo? Re the third paragraph…
i’ve done the same thing…learned classical guitar in primary school and so knew my way around the fretboard but church this year needed a bassist so i picked it up and have been having a great time!
@onlinesoph: The bass is loud and overpowers other instruments. When there is a clash between two instruments, it wins. Whoever wins is right
This is a generalisation of course, but it is something to keep in mind – you wield a lot of power with that instrument – bass sounds register through the whole body and the listeners will know something is wrong even if they can’t put their finger on what it is.
That being said, it’s easy to make it sound good, only worrying about one note at a time rocks!
Soph – Philip Percival commented to me how good you were on drums. So be encouraged
Hey Sam, are you gonna learn from E-Tizzle himself i.e. Elliot?? He’s a pretty legendary bass player. Not sure if you guys are in the same year at College.
Hey Elsie, I didn’t know Elliot was a bass player. A friend who I work with has offered me a few after work lessons.
yeah i agree with dominic- i always really liked your drumming style, soph. all the best bassing it up, sam