Bones, Bass, and Bending Your Ear

[escritoireazul]

I. Bones

Why do I love Bones so much? I'm not a big David B. fan (I can't even spell his last name without looking, and tonight I am too lazy to look) and I know Bones is pretty poorly written and presented most of the time, but--I love it.

And now it's up against Lost, which I also love, so I will never be able to watch it (except tonight, when Lost was a repeat of an episode I own so I didn't have to watch it [though I was tempted--I love Hurley]). What's worse is I really want to watch next week's, based on the promo, but I think Lost is new, too, and it will trump.

Times like these I wish I could either tivo it (really, this is the first time I've ever honestly wanted a tivo), or download it. I am already sure I will buy the DVD set (if they make one). I just wish I knew why I like it so much.

II. Bass

In less insane (and slightly embarrassing) love notes, tonight I learned to walk the bass. No, this is what my book calls it, and Mom and Dad both call it, so it is what I will call it, whether it's actually walking or not. I have had it less than a week and I know a bunch of rhythms and notes and can walk it a little. Woo.

Of course, I also feel like an idiot much of the time. I know some of you (at least one of you) plays the bass, yes? (data_warrior, you do, don't you?) What was it like when you started to play? How did you learn? Any suggestions or stories?

I remain in love with it. Plus I am not reading the notes and playing them. I've not talked about it here, but my whole life Dad has been trying to get me to learn to play by ear. I'm tone deaf, so this has been a futile activity, helped in no small part because everything else I play I learned to play note by note, not memorizing rhythms and patterns and fingerings. (I mean, eventually I did memorize fingerings on the piano and the clarinet, but I did that by playing off of the written music.) I am not doing that with the bass, I am learning to listen and feel (and watch, I'll admit I spend a lot of time looking at my left hand--but not all the time), and I am very, very proud of the progress I've made in this completely new style of playing and instrument.

My fingers continue to not hurt, just be numb at the tips. The first few days my left wrist hurt a lot, because it wasn't used to being held at that angle, but it's feeling a lot better now. I am having trouble playing standing up, not because I can't play standing up, but because of the way I don't trust the (gorgeous) strap, and I try to hold it up with my hands (mostly my right hand) and play at the same time, which puts a lot of pressure on my wrists. I think maybe the strap is adjusted too long for me, and I might be able to solve some of the problem by shortening it.

I'll also admit I spent a little bit of time pretending to be a rock hard bass player tonight, I was so proud of what I accomplished, but I swear there was no fake-stage performances and certainly not in front of the big picture window. *ahem*

I need a bass icon.

III. Bending-your-ear

Yeah, okay, I'm stretching with that section header.

I have two XMM stories to finish and post and then I can sign up for this year's remixredux. One just needs a final edit, and one needs to be finished tonight, edited tomorrow, and posted Friday morning. Or something like that.

Must go edit now. And then write. And then sleep. I'm so tired.

Comments

[lionessvalenti.livejournal.com]

I love Bones and Lost as well. So do my parents. We tape one while we watch the other. I've been sort of flucked on watching Veronica Mars, though, since that's also the same time, but oh well. Bones and Lost get watched with the parents.

In a few weeks, Bones will move to 8PM, though, so things will be right again in the world.

[escritoireazul.livejournal.com]

Does it? Excellent news! What's going in its slot, do you know?

I kind of wish they'd stop moving shows around right now though. Supernatural moves, too, I think (and I haven't checked yet, but I'm hoping it's not into a place where I'll have to stop watching something else to continue watching it). I already miss watching Bones and then Supernatural on Tuesdays, and with both of them gone, I'll have nothing to watch.

Actually, that's not a bad thing, I guess.

I guess technically I could go snag Lost from my oldest sister every week (Lost is the only current show we share an interest in), but our schedules cross so much it's hard to get together.

But I will be patient and when Bones moves, things will work out better.

I've never watched Veronica Mars. Everyone on my flist keeps talking about it, and I admit I'm tempted by season one at least.

[surfergirl17.livejournal.com]

I want to learn the bass in the WORST way!

[escritoireazul.livejournal.com]

I always wanted to as well, and I'm so glad to be able to do it now. It's different than everything I'm used to playing (and the fingertips going numb on my left hand makes other things more interesting--like typing, and just touching things in general). But i's incredible fun, and if you ever do have the chance, I would suggest grabbing it with both hands. It's amazing.

[karenhealey.livejournal.com]

This remixredux.

Hm.

Hmmmmm.

[escritoireazul.livejournal.com]

WOMAN! Please come play! Please! You will enjoy it, and I will actually qualify in the XMM fandom after tomorrow, so there is a slim chance we could be paired. (Though my bet is you would be put in Harry Potter, but who knows.) And no matter what, it is FUN! (Frustrating and a little frightening sometimes, but FUN!)

It is why I wrote that Lupin embracing his werewolf side story last year. Plus you get to put a fun remix title on your story. (example: sins of the flesh (the tastes like chicken remix) (http://www.buhfly.com/ofluvandblood/sinsoftheflesh.html) which is the story I just referenced.)

Oh you really should come play. Sign-ups are through Friday night, I think.

[karenhealey.livejournal.com]

WELL.

Actually, I don't think I qualify for X-men fandom, because all my published X-men stories are a) crossovers b) little bits of continuing series that have yet to continue. I think I'd likely get Harry Potter, but that's OKAY.

But, yes, I shall play.

[karenhealey.livejournal.com]

I just totally signed up RIGHT UNDER YOUR NAME.

ARGH OMG like I don't have enough commitments.

*runs away to hastily edit tag/fanfic page*

[escritoireazul.livejournal.com]

Yay! I am so glad you are going to play (in no small, selfish part because it means more fic of yours to read).

I recced your Harry Potter/X-Men stories last night to my sister, who (in an unrelated fic exchanged) has been assigned Charlie. She said she thought I loved him, and I had to inform her I only love him when you write him, so then I had to tell her all about your crossovers, and then I had to link her all the stories--but she was thrilled, so even though I felt like a stalker, all was good.

[karenhealey.livejournal.com]

Aw! I don't think I ever put that Charlie, Kitty, dragons bit on my own LJ. Do you have it on yours somewhere? I should really archive it somewhere!

I really need to write more Charlie.

Tell you what, if I write you a short Charlie piece will you consider becoming my official stalker? I can't think of anyone I'd rather have!

[escritoireazul.livejournal.com]

I am EMO LIKE BURNING right now because I cannot find the entry with your comment fic of Charlie and Kitty. HOW CAN I NOT FIND IT? I swear, it was there, and now it is not and I am very upset because, as I said, I love Charlie when you write him. Did you ever find your copies?

Also, I would love to be your official stalker! I want a t-shirt. And icons. And, um, things.

Probably right now I need sleep, because my brain is not functioning.

[data-warrior.livejournal.com]

Yeh, I do love the bass. It's not just the sound, it's the feel. You feel the tone and it resonates through you. Very sexy.

If I can give one bit of advice it's this: play standing up. If that means buying a different strap or just tightening up, do it. When you gig, when you jam, when you go into a practice booth or studio, there's no sitting. Also, it puts your wrists into a different position and you may find that advantageous and less stressful. FWIW, I sling mine fairly high (think Flea or Sting).

I know exactly what you mean about the numb fingers! It does make other aspects of life more.... interesting. It might be that you are pressing the strings too hard, tho. See if you can lighten the pressure a little without losing tone; that might ease up a little on the numbing.

What bass do you have? Any pics? Are you playing a particular genre?