The International Institute of Bassists @ BASSically.net | Anything But BASSic

The International Institute of Bassists

Welcome

The IIB Monthly Newsletter - Vol. 5 No. 10



Hello and welcome to The International Institute of Bassists! BASSically.net is a free online resource which is aimed specifically toward the art of contemporary bass playing and the study of the bass tradition. BASSically.net has been designed to cater to the level of the intermediate to advanced electric and acoustic upright bassist. However, bassists of all skill levels along with other musicians can gain valuable and useful information from this web site.

The IIB ForumsToday a bassist is expected to not only be a strong groover, but also be able to step to the front of the stage and take the baddest solo too. This web site will not only focus on the bass as a traditional instrument with a supportive role, but also as a solo instrument in its own right which has a great deal to say.

This site, BASSically.net, has evolved over the last few years from an idea of mine to present bassists with something new that I couldn't find on other web sites to its current state of continued education with more detailed information and interaction from bassists around the world. While there are certainly numerous bass-related sites covering the bassics of bass playing to be found on the net, I believe there is a hole to be filled with material designed for the more advanced bassist which I hope to exhibit through this web site.

Remember that if an idea doesn't seem somewhat unusual at first, it probably has no hope. Through this site I hope to motivate bassists to try unusual and unorthodox techniques and ideas as a means to further their musical expression and advance the state of bass to higher levels of achievement. What would jazz music be like today if Charlie Parker and Dizzy Gillespie had not taken it upon themselves to look for other means of musical expression when they decided to push the envelope and became the pioneers of the more complex harmonic progressions of bebop? What would bass playing be like today without the creativeness and inventiveness of the legendary Jimmy Blanton, Ray Brown, Ron Carter, Paul Chambers, Gary Karr, Jaco Pastorius, Stanley Clarke, Michael Manring, and Victor Wooten to name but only a few? All of these above mentioned musicians pushed the boundaries of their respective instruments and gave us all goals to reach for, achieve, and surpass. All bassists should be greatly indebted to these musicians. I too hope in my own little way through this site to inspire bassists to pick up their instruments, bend, break, and shatter the rules of tradition, and set new and increasingly higher standards in the art of playing bass.

Also, BASSically.net has been designed to present young bassists with the sort of direction in the form of information, concepts, and techniques I wish I would have had available to me when I first started playing bass. Although even an inexperienced bassist can set goals to attain, the manner in which he/she goes about accomplishing those tasks can be quite confusing at times. This site will hopefully cut down your learning time and introduce to you the best methods, exercises, and techniques to use in playing bass. Through this site I eventually hope to offer bassists around the world a one-stop source for all your bass needs.

Finally, I wish to personally invite bassists from around the world to join and take part in BASSically.net. If you would like to have your voice heard in the future direction of this web site, please take a minute or two to fill out and submit the questionnaire located within the BASSically.net pages, and you will be entered in the monthly drawing for a FREE correspondence lesson. Also, take a moment to sign up for the FREE BASSically.net Monthly Newsletter by e-mail and other FREE monthly giveaways. The newsletter will be e-mailed at the beginning of each month to all the BASSically.net subscribers to notify them of information updates within the BASSically.net pages. All of the information found here on BASSically.net will be updated on a regular basis. So check back here often to get the latest and most up to date information on featured artists, news, reviews, lessons, links, and more. Remember, that BASSically.net has been created to be an interactive medium, so if you have any questions, thoughts, comments, ideas, news, reviews, links, or classified ads that you wish to submit to me to post on BASSically.net, please don't hesitate to send it over to me atinfo@bassically.net. One of my objectives with BASSically.net is to bring the community of both electric and acoustic upright bassists together with more interaction from YOU and share as much information as possible with other bassists around the world. Thanks again for the enormous and continued acceptance I have received from bassists around the world through letters and inquiries. I promise the things to come will be even better. Enjoy!

Featured Artists: The Featured Artist's Page showcases masters of the bass tradition and leading electric and acoustic upright bassists of the past, present, and future.

Artist Profiles: Go deeper inside the art of bass playing and examine numerous aspects of some of today's most critically acclaimed bass virtuosos as told by the artists themselves.

Bass Faces: Each month The International Institute of Bassists will spotlight the talents of a new "Bass Face."

Bass Abroad: On Bass Abroad The International Institute of Bassists will feature bassists located outside of North America.

Forums: The Forums are hosted by some of today's most prolific bass virtuosos including: Michael Manring, Adam Nitti, Ray Riendeau, Todd Johnson, Norm Stockton, Michael Dimin, Joseph Patrick Moore, and Anthony Vitti. Stop by and ask these pros a question.

Lessons Online: On the Online Lessons Page you will find lessons in all styles of music, for bassists at every level, covering a wide range of topics including theory, ear training, slapping, tapping, jazz improvisation, soloing, and much more.

Lessons by Correspondence: If you need assistance with your playing no matter what level you are at, liked what you saw on the Online Lessons Page, and wish to further develop those ideas on a personal basis tailored to your specific needs, then check out the Correspondence Lessons Page.

News and Reviews: Here on the News and Reviews Page you will find just that on recordings, instructional methods, new gear, master classes, clinics, camps, concerts, and other pertinent and valuable bass-related topics. If you have a significant bass-related news item, you can send it to me to be posted here.

Classified Ads: If you are searching for or wanting to sell used gear, be sure to take a look at the Classified Ads Page.

Cool Links: The Links Page is an ever expanding collection of some of the best bass and music-related web sites on the Internet.

Free Offers: By adding your e-mail to our growing database, you automatically qualify for our free monthly newsletter by e-mail, future free offers, and by filling out a short questionnaire, you are eligible for a free bass lesson by correspondence.

Guestbook: Here in my Guestbook please feel free to leave me your comments, feedback, ideas, etc. concerning The IIB.

Advertiser's Index: On the Advertiser's Index you will find a complete list of the current advertisers on The IIB web site.

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