Members Bluesman0511 Posted December 4, 2005 Members Posted December 4, 2005 I am seriously thinking of trading one or more of my long scale basses and acquiring a short scale. Don't know anything about 'em except what I can get off of the internet. Any suggestions? I was fat, dumb and happy with a 34" scale and a 35" scale, but I was mainly playing only blues. I am very comfortable spanning 4 frets so the blues scale is my favorite thing. But I've been playing with some guys lately that want to do a lot of 60's rock songs (we're all old guys so its cool) and I am struggling with the major chords. I can't hack a major third interval without shifting my fretting hand a lot. Its very frustrating.
Members seraphim7s Posted December 4, 2005 Members Posted December 4, 2005 I'm not sure I understand - I always play a major third with my index finger, the middle finger is on the root.
Members sunburstbasser Posted December 4, 2005 Members Posted December 4, 2005 So, your trying to go like this: ------5----9---------- To do a Major 3rd? Try: -------------4----------5------- A lot of 60s and 70s rock bassists tended to go across the fingerboard, rather than up and down a single string. Most of the actual licks and technique are, otherwise, the same as your blues-based playing already.
Members seraphim7s Posted December 4, 2005 Members Posted December 4, 2005 Yeh, that's what I meant. I mean, if you're a big bloozer, then the Mixolydian is your biggest friend! With the left hand in 4th position (A Mixolydian) ----------------------------------4-5-7------4-5-7---------5-7----------------- That should be it - I don't use tab very often. You can hear this scale on Zep's You Shook Me and I Can't Quit You Baby.
Members Darkstorm Posted December 4, 2005 Members Posted December 4, 2005 Overall I think its better to modify chording rather then trying to do em a way thats overhard for peeps reach etc. Main problem with less then 34 scale is sloppy sound. Bass notes on bass guitar just sound better when the sound source has that little bit extra length to it. Parly due to tension. Partly due to better relationship between string length to fret and wavelength it wants to make for that note. Imo Same thing for why 35 scale is overall better length for the low b string on fivers. Imo.
Members Bluesman0511 Posted December 4, 2005 Author Members Posted December 4, 2005 Originally posted by Darkstorm Overall I think its better to modify chording rather then trying to do em a way thats overhard for peeps reach etc. Main problem with less then 34 scale is sloppy sound. Bass notes on bass guitar just sound better when the sound source has that little bit extra length to it. Parly due to tension. Partly due to better relationship between string length to fret and wavelength it wants to make for that note. ImoSame thing for why 35 scale is overall better length for the low b string on fivers. Imo. That was a big question in my mind, what the short scale did to the sound quality.
Members Bluesman0511 Posted December 4, 2005 Author Members Posted December 4, 2005 Originally posted by sunburstbasser So, your trying to go like this:------5----9----------To do a Major 3rd?Try:-------------4----------5-------A lot of 60s and 70s rock bassists tended to go across the fingerboard, rather than up and down a single string. Most of the actual licks and technique are, otherwise, the same as your blues-based playing already. Yeah, that's the way I have taught myself to play major scales. I am aware there are other patterns, but that is the one that I fixed on. I am completely self taught and I guess it shows. I am a sax player (40 odd years) and there is no such thing as alternate fingerings on a sax (barring certain exceptions). I have been playing bass 5 years, but in limited situations, mostly blues.
Members HelterSkelter Posted December 4, 2005 Members Posted December 4, 2005 I got a short scale 71 Gibson EBO and it has a fat powerful sound. It dosnt have much dynamics to it but it's perfect for blues. Short scale work fine, they add a whole new style to your setup.
Members FreestyleIntruder Posted December 4, 2005 Members Posted December 4, 2005 They're not JUST for women, they're also for really really really girly men
Members 82Daion Posted December 4, 2005 Members Posted December 4, 2005 All of Stanley Clarke's Alembics are short-scale.
Members bholder Posted December 4, 2005 Members Posted December 4, 2005 Originally posted by 82Daion All of Stanley Clarke's Alembics are short-scale. Which is kind of nuts, considering that Stanley has fingers about as long as my forearms! He can play like that on a full upright, too, so he's not "cheating" using the short scales.
Members gbassman100 Posted December 4, 2005 Members Posted December 4, 2005 I'm 6'4" tall, big hands, I reeeealy like the '81 USA Fender Bullet 30" scale bass I just bought. It's so easy to play, and light weight. It's sound is as big as any full scale bass I own, bigger than some. The tone knob can take it from bright and clanky clear down to warm and fuzzy, and all points in between. You'll get opinions all over the place, try out some short scalers. They may not work for everybody, but I like the ease of play and weight. There are many short scales that don't suffer in the tone department though some may.
Members 82Daion Posted December 4, 2005 Members Posted December 4, 2005 Originally posted by bholder Which is kind of nuts, considering that Stanley has fingers about as long as my forearms! He can play like that on a full upright, too, so he's not "cheating" using the short scales. I think it has to do with the fact that he was playing a Gibson EB-2 before he switched to Alembics.
Members bassman1956 Posted December 4, 2005 Members Posted December 4, 2005 Short scale basses - not just for women??? Ah, no sheet!!!
Members Tag Posted December 4, 2005 Members Posted December 4, 2005 Take a look at this thread:http://acapella.harmony-central.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=1099064 Short scale basses rock.
Members King Kashue Posted December 4, 2005 Members Posted December 4, 2005 Originally posted by HelterSkelter I got a short scale 71 Gibson EBO and it has a fat powerful sound. It dosnt have much dynamics to it but it's perfect for blues. Short scale work fine, they add a whole new style to your setup. Someone have Lug's quote handy?
Members the_big_geez Posted December 4, 2005 Members Posted December 4, 2005 Originally posted by Bluesman0511 I am seriously thinking of trading one or more of my long scale basses and acquiring a short scale. Don't know anything about 'em except what I can get off of the internet. Any suggestions?I was fat, dumb and happy with a 34" scale and a 35" scale, but I was mainly playing only blues. I am very comfortable spanning 4 frets so the blues scale is my favorite thing. But I've been playing with some guys lately that want to do a lot of 60's rock songs (we're all old guys so its cool) and I am struggling with the major chords. I can't hack a major third interval without shifting my fretting hand a lot. Its very frustrating. I'm a 'little guy'. (5'10" and 145# wet) I've played everything except a Knuckle. (http://www.knuckleguitarworks.com/) I find that there are things I can do on a shortie that I can't do otherwise. There's no shame in having/playing one. I have a 32 that's almost my favorite now: (1 pc ebony neck, mahogany body, EMG P p/u + piezo bridge)
Members Bluesman0511 Posted December 5, 2005 Author Members Posted December 5, 2005 http://www.birdsongguitars.com/corto.htm Anybody have any experience with these basses???
Members M-1 Fan Posted December 5, 2005 Members Posted December 5, 2005 I absolutely love my Hofners, but I'm more of a medium scale type of guy. Medium scales are more like 32". The attached guitar is a medium scale.
Members johnny6644 Posted December 5, 2005 Members Posted December 5, 2005 If you're real nervous about the short scale and have $100 to burn... think about getting an SX short scale... The one I have sounds pretty good and would at least let you see how the fingerboard will feel.
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