Anatomy of the Bass Guitar

Hey Gang,

Here's a diagram of the basic modern electric bass guitar. This is not for the advanced players of course, but more for the bass curious and for beginners. Any questions can always

be sent to me directly at: larrykimpel@me.com

What do you know about your industry?

Hello everyone,

In my continuing efforts to bring you valuable, worthwhile content I'd like to offer you this educational test about the business of money and music. Some of the answers will surprise you, but I promise that all of them will educate you and education is what will place you way ahead of the pack every time... 

Blessings and Light, LK 

http://www.futureofmusic.org/music-and-money-quizzes

The Thing that scares you scars you!

Invite the Light of Higher Self-Knowledge to Shrink Your Fears

by Guy Finley

Key Lesson: The smaller the world you live in, the bigger appear your fears.

Take the Stuffing Out of What Scares You

There was once a family living on a large farm, growing corn crops. As the children grew up and the older ones would leave home, the younger ones would get to take better rooms in the house. One boy lived on the east side of the house until one of his brothers left and he was old enough to get his own room on the west side that looked out onto the corn field.

The first night in the new room went by, and the next morning the father was looking around the table at the children, not asking, but waiting inwardly to know how his children were. He could see something was wrong with the boy who had just moved into his new room. So he asked, "How did you sleep last night, son?" The son said, "Oh... pretty good..." but the father knew that he hadn't slept very well. Each subsequent morning it was the same story until the fourth day, it was better.

Thirty days go by, and it starts happening again. The father notices this pattern over a few months, so he decides to sleep in the boy's room himself to see what is bothering his son.

That night, the father is laying in the bunk bed next to his son, and as he looks around to try to figure out what's going on, he sees an ominous looking shape outside the window, literally growing in size and moving its arms... and he almost gets scared himself. Then he realized what it was. He remembered that in the west field they had put up a large scarecrow. When the full moon would come up -- on that thirtieth day and then for several days afterwards -- it would pick up the image of the scarecrow and cast it across the field. He realized then what was scaring his son.

The next morning the father said, "Come here boy, I want to show you something." So they went out to the field and the father said, "See this scarecrow? Watch this." He reached inside and took out some of the straw. The boy didn't understand. The father said, "You know that scary thing that's about fifteen feet tall and has arms that wave around that you see out the window once a month? This is it! When the moon comes up, it casts a long shadow, and the wind is moving the scarecrow arms."

The father reached in and took some more straw out of the arm, threw it in the wind, and said, "Here... you do that, too." The boy did likewise and his father said, "See? There's nothing to it!"

---

What are your scarecrows? What you haven't been able to do in your life... what you think you won't be able to do... the fact that you're going to die one day? Fearful thoughts like these become obstacles, and if you run into a blockage, it seems to get bigger and bigger. It gets bigger only because you fuel it; you make it bigger. Why would you want to make it bigger? Because it makes you bigger. It makes you more important. "Look at what I have to deal with -- it's huge!"

When you feel blocked, when something scares you, understand that what you see is nothing more than a form that has been congealed by a process inside of you that occurs whenever you think inside of yourself about yourself. Stop resisting and let go. Let the light pass through you. How? Risk it. Go out into the field at night, and whatever it is that scares you, walk up to it, and pull the stuffing out of it. Take the stuffing out of the scarecrow and take the stuffing out of what scares you! That frightening thought has no scary life apart from the fear you inject into it in order to be the person frightened.

This article is adapted from a classroom talk.

Available

Larry Kimpel: 

Vocals, Bass Guitar, Upright Bass

(Credits include: Anita Baker, George Duke, Larry Carlton, The Crusaders, Maze, Oleta Adams, Mavis Staples, Steve Perry... And many others.)

I AM AVAILABLE NOW FOR:

Touring/Recording Work

Musical Direction

Master Classes/Clinics

Production Consultation

Private Instruction/Mentoring

Song Collaboration

Voice Over

U.S. or International Travel OK

Contact me @ 951-218-3727

Or Email: larrykimpel@me.com

Rhonda Smith, Jeff Beck Bassist

Had a ball hanging with Rhonda at her LAMA Clinic last Wednesday night! She knows her musical history... The past, present and where she wants to go from here. Much love and respect to her!!! Drum Master Joey Heredia was also in attendance (to the right of Rhonda)

Absolute Certainty... We are nothing without it.

I Pray that this prayer will reach those who are searching for the answer to the question... Who am I? God Bless, LK

BLESSED HEAVENLY FATHER. CREATOR. THE ONE... I THANK YOU FOR THIS DAY AND FOR ALLOWING ME THE OPPORTUNITY TO CHOOSE FOR MYSELF EXACTLY HOW I DESIRE MY LIFE AND LEGACY TO PLAY OUT BEFORE MY VERY EYES. I AM A CREATOR BECAUSE YOU HAVE MADE ME IN YOUR IMAGE AND LIKENESS. AND I ALONE DESIGN AND BUILD MY CIRCUMSTANCES. THIS DAY I CHOOSE TO MANIFEST... BLESSINGS, DIVINE IDEAS, MONEY, ABUNDANT LIFE, LOVE, PEACE, JOY, LAUGHTER, PERFECT HEALTH, TRUE FULFILLMENT, ENRICHING RELATIONSHIPS AND WISDOM TO NAVIGATE THROUGH THE 1% REALM (PHYSICAL) INTO THE 99% REALM (METAPHYSICAL) WHERE ALL OF YOUR BLESSEDNESS DWELLS. I THANK YOU

FOR CHOICE AND FOR FREE WILL. I THANK YOU THAT I NOW USE THEM BOTH WISELY FOR MY BENEFIT AND FOR THE GREATER BENEFIT OF THOSE AROUND ME AS I CREATE MY PERFECTED PLANETARY EXISTENCE.

IN THE NAME AND THROUGH THE POWER THAT IS IN THE NAME OF YESHUA SON OF MARY... AMEN.

"No words..."

Boston: 4/15/13
There are no words...

Plot Your Course for Success

Plot Your Course for Success

Imagine that you’re standing at the wheel of your beautiful sailboat. You untie the lines, back out of the slip, motor up the channel and head out to sea. What direction do you head?

Plotting a course for your music career requires having a destination in mind, and then you have to steer for that heading. Without plotting your course, the forces of the current will carry you where it will and chances are that won’t get to where you want to go.

Preparation is key. Ask yourself these questions before leaving the dock on your quest for music success...

Do I have the skills necessary?

Do I know who is going to do what tasks and do I have the right equipment?

What obstacles am I likely to encounter along the way and am I prepared to deal with them?

Do I have an alternate plan in case of hazards along the way?

Am I equipped with the tenacity and patience, to persevere for longer than expected?

And lastly, am I focused on the destination so that no matter what happens, I will achieve the goal?

It might take hundreds of contacts before finding even one prospect that needs your services, and then it could be months before you even get a gig. Consider it a passage across an ocean and persevere.

When crossing a 3,000-mile ocean, just one degree off course can make you miss your landfall by hundreds of miles. Before you set sail on your musical journey, be sure to prepare so you'll be able to navigate toward your ultimate success!

Source: Larry Jacobson is a speaker, executive coach and author of the award-winning best seller, "The Boy Behind the Gate". (Adapted by Larry Kimpel)

Everything is important...

Hello my friends,

I hope you all are well and getting your grooves on wherever you are in the world tonight. I wanted to touch upon a subject that often gets pushed under the rug so I thought that I'd mention it here and now.

I'm often asked the question... "Which is the most important to having a successful music career... Reading music, or playing by ear?"

I can tell you from having done it both ways that it is definitely best to learn to do both if you're just starting out. It's also very important to begin learning to read music and studying theory if you've just been winging it by ear all these years.

What's my reason for saying that? It's because having both sets of skills makes you much more of a bankable commodity in the industry. It makes you a better player and more self-confident. And it allows you the luxury of being able to handle any music, anytime, anywhere. Now how free does that make you feel!!? Reading music is basically memorization anyway. Get yourself a set of note flash cards, a metronome, and a note chart for your particular instrument and begin to work with them a little bit everyday.

After a while, you'll begin to pickup on the patterns of written notation and then you'll start translating them to your instrument.
Remember, one or the other is great, but having both skills (reading and playing by ear) in your back pocket will make you more money and it will be very satisfying to you in the long run!

Drop me a line if you have further comments or questions right here on the blog.

Peace and Light,

LK

Phil Jones Bass Endorsement

I'm super proud to be involved with Phil Jones Bass as my exclusive provider of bass amplification gear. Phil is a great man of creativity and an innovator. And his staff is absolutely top notch. I look forward to many years of killer bass performances thanks to PJB. Check them out at: www.philjonespuresound.com

"Goal Setting"

One of the central keys to any successful undertaking, including becoming an accomplished 

professional bassist is goal setting. I discuss this in detail in this video.  

Enjoy and be inspired! LK

Bass Lessons

Private Lessons with Larry Kimpel

The rate for private lessons is $75 per hour (USD)

Tech Details:

First, you'll need the following: 
1.A good Broadband Internet Connection
2.An internal or external computer mic  
3.Download and install the free "Skype" software 
if you don't already use it at www.skype.com

Payment Details:
Lesson Fee of $75 per hour (USD) must be paid in full at least 24 hours 
prior to lesson via western union money transfer. 

To Book your online lesson, please email me directly at: larrykimpel@me.com to receive the western union money control number (MTC) necessary for your payment deposit. You will be contacted within 24 hours to schedule a convenient date and time.

Lesson duration: 1 Hour (There is NO CHARGE for down time due to tech 
issues with Skype.)

*Cancellation Policy (Students must cancel lessons at least 24 hours in 
advance in order to receive a full refund.)

"I'll help you to become the best musician possible... I can't wait to get started!"

Playing with "Good Time"

Hey Gang, here's a real world example of playing "Good Time". 

Its a short video of a bass solo I took live onstage with George Duke a while back. 

Check out my note placement versus where the drums and the rest of the 

band are playing. You'll hear me "ghost" some passages as well as play 

"straight time" with the funk lines I create. Try this type of soloing 

technique the next chance you get and you'll see first-hand what I mean. Enjoy! LK
*Note: This is a re-post of a video from a previous Internet Blog.

Click the link below to view the YouTube video... 

5 String Bass Concepts

Hello everyone! Enjoy this video on 5 String Bass Concepts!
*Note: This is a re-post of a video from a previous Internet Blog.
Peace and Blessings, LK
You may comment here, or email me @ larrykimpel@me.com

F Major Scale

Here's a little talk on the importance of a basic knowledge of the scales. 

I also give an example of how the F Major Scale is constructed and played. 

 Enjoy! LK
*Note: This is a re-post of a video from a previous Internet Blog.

History of The Electric Bass

Hey Gang, Larry Kimpel here... Welcome to my new blog!

I'm going to be posting many items here that will more in line with the
beginning to intermediate bass player. However, advanced players are more
than welcome to also chime into the conversation and comment or ask me
questions here. I'll be more than happy to address your concerns too and
will also posting things here for you as well. It's going to be a potpourri of stuff
that has helped me to advance in my career and now I get the awesome opportunity
to pass it along to you my fans and the bass curious. With all that in mind... Let's get started!

In order to know where we're going, we've got to know where we've been...
And with that in mind, I offer you this brief history of our instrument...

I hope it informs and enlightens you! Peace and Light, LK

*Note: This is a re-post of an article from a previous Internet Blog.
Most of us have been told through the years, that the legend Leo Fender
(1909-1991) single-handedly created the modern electric bass guitar.
However, I have found out that there were at least five other prototypes
resembling the now well-known design of the modern bass, each created well
before Fender introduced the world to the Precision Bass in 1951.The
modern bass is a kissin' cousin of the upright acoustic bass, which dates
way back to the 17th century. Not until the early twentieth century though
did that the design evolve to become more practical and of course,
portable... Thank God!!!

In the 1920’s, Lloyd Loar, (1886-1943) while working for the Gibson instrument company, designed the first 'electric double bass’. The bass used an electro-static pickup, but amplification of bass

frequencies was as yet undeveloped, so there was no practical way of hearing the instrument. In the early 1930’s, Paul Tutmarc (1896 - 1972) became the first known individual to refine the double bass to a more practical size. The first prototype was about the size of a cello, and featured a rudimentary 

pickup, but this was found to be too heavy, and the design was refined to be more like a guitar. This new bass was 42 inches long, solid body, made of black walnut and piano strings and, like the previous, featuring a
pickup.In the mid ’30s, several established musical instrument firms - Lyon & Healy, Gibson and Rickenbacker to name a few - began marketing experimental electric basses that were, like Tutmarc’s prototype bass, much less bulky than a standard double bass. However, these were all still tall, unfretted, upright instruments held in the standard vertical position.

Around 1940, Paul Tutmarc Jr. began manufacturing guitars and basses, including the Serenader bass. This was distributed by L.D. Heater Music Co., in Portland, Oregon, and was the first time a large distributor
handled the electric bass. The genius was that this new instrument was a
bass Guitar - a compact, fretted instrument that could be held and played horizontally. The main features of the design were:
# The pickup - designed because the double bass was often drowned out by he brass sections of jazz bands. # The size - the double bass player had to travel alone because of the instrument’s size, and often got lost on road trips to shows, due to being separated from the rest of the band. The new compact design meant that the bass player could travel with the rest of the group.

There was very little progression until Leo Fender famously created the
Precision bass in 1951. This was named the Precision bass as the frets on
the instrument allowed the notes to be played with precision. This was, to
many people, the first real electric bass, as it was the most mass-
produced and recognizable bass guitar at that time, and still is. Its
design is the most copied in bass guitar history. In 1957, the pickup was
changed to be a split pickup, and the pickguard and headstock were
redesigned.

In 1960, Fender designed and created the Jazz bass, with two separate
pickups rather than a split pickup like that of the Precision. The
popularity of the Fender basses meant that later followed bass guitars
from Gibson, Rickenbacker, and Hofner. This led to a surge of popularity
in the modern bass guitar, and led to it being known as it is today - an
important part of rock, blues, jazz, funk, reggae and countless other
genres of popular music.

In 1959 Danelectro created the first 6 string bass, tunes E A D G B E, and
Gibson and Fender used this idea to make the Gibson EB-6 in 1960, and the
Fender VI in 1962. Fender created the first 5 string in 1964, with the Fender V.

In 1965 came the first fretless Bass Aubi from Ampeg and in 1968, there
appeared an 8 string bass from Hagstrom. The first fretless 6 string bass,
(later owned by Bassist Les Claypool) was built by Carl Thompson in 1978.

Special Thanks to "Bass_Maiden" for the research that went into this article!!!

About Me

   Larry Kimpel... "Speaking Of Bass"

Larry Martin Kimpel has carved out a highly successful niche for himself in the music world with class and graciousness. The native of Chicago, Illinois has played on over 300 CD's and toured around the world with artists such as The Staple Singers, Alanis Morisette, George Duke, Larry Carlton, Oleta Adams, Tom Scott, Branford Marsalis & Buckshot LeFonque, Bobby Womack, Patti LaBelle, Maze featuring Frankie Beverly, and many other well-known icons of the music industry. Larry's focus these days is on mentoring and developing young musicians to realize their true potential through sound fundamentals and goal setting coupled with positive action. His music seminar series, "Larry Kimpel's Soul School Live" is coming to a venue near you soon. Get your tickets early for this rare opportunity to learn from one of music's masterful sidemen.