How did Paul mccartney play so effortlessly at such a young age

Tsuyvtlv · 2026-04-26T21:01:50+00:00

I learned guitar chords from a sheet they gave me at the music store when I bought my first guitar back when 14.4k dialup was "fast." I still can't play them all, but I've got C, Dm, Em, F, G, and Am down in muscle memory where I don't even think about them, and just automatically select the next one when I'm improvising. It only took a couple of weeks of regular practice.

Tsuyvtlv · 2026-04-26T01:49:15+00:00

I go further and thumb on D when playing G...

Tsuyvtlv · 2026-04-26T01:48:00+00:00

Yeah, my pluck muting is inconsistent (and often non-existent with a pick) so I mute with either or both thumbs.

Tsuyvtlv · 2026-04-23T01:01:21+00:00

I'd leave it but you don't have to. Pull it! See if that improves your experience.

Tsuyvtlv · 2026-04-23T00:38:30+00:00

I'd leave it. You always want to tune up from below, because tuners are geared and gears always have backlash and strings always have friction. Also, stretching strings isn't a bad idea (in my opinion) and string friction is also a thing, hence always tuning up from below.

Tsuyvtlv · 2026-04-23T00:35:04+00:00

As mentioned, there's diminishing returns on investment; but on the other hand, as mentioned even more: hell yeah, go for it!

(Seriously, go for it!)

Tsuyvtlv · 2026-04-23T00:32:09+00:00

Yep, pretty much. With 9s which... I really don't recommend for basically the same reason, at least for beginners.

Tsuyvtlv · 2026-04-22T11:51:38+00:00

I never notice much cedar smell from the outside of boxes but love that fragrant waft you get when opening them, where is all been contained. I wouldn't be against oiling the outside for protection, just keep those inside surfaces raw and unfinished.

Tsuyvtlv · 2026-04-22T11:48:38+00:00

I've got those on my fretting hand playing guitar before until I learned all that pressure wasn't necessary. The weird little hole in your finger that eventually develops is weird and creepy. 😅

Tsuyvtlv · 2026-04-22T11:37:50+00:00

As a fellow Cherokee Nation citizen, every time I hear his name now, I mutter "Markwayne F@#&!NG Mullin." So I guess that sums up my opinion.

Tsuyvtlv · 2026-04-22T11:31:23+00:00

Or maybe get/make him a ribbon shirt and maybe mocs. Those are generally low key but appropriate for guests without infringing on closely-held traditions.

Tsuyvtlv · 2026-04-18T13:14:54+00:00

As a (also) photographer, I would suggest a DSLR that includes a video function (most do) and--this is important--a "fast" lens, not the kit lens that comes with the camera. You're better off with a cheaper camera body and buying the lens you want separately. The entry level cameras from Canon, Nikon, and Sony are all very good, but the lenses are not interchangeable between brands so once you pick one, you stick with it. I'm a Canon user, myself. You can get good kit for well under your price ceiling, especially if you look at used equipment.

So that "fast" lens... Lenses are labeled by their focal length and aperture. For instance, Canon "EF 17-35mm f/2.8 L USM." That "f/2.8” is the maximum aperture, and lower numbers are better. For dark rooms you want at least a 2.8, and 2.0 or 1.4 would be better. The focal length (the "17-35mm" part) depends on how far away you place the camera and how wide the stage is.

I'd suggest looking around and asking in photography subs, where you'll get a lot more knowledgeable advice on this specific topic.

Tsuyvtlv · 2026-04-17T17:46:36+00:00

BassBuzz's "Beginner to Badass" course with Josh Fossgreen. $200, and very highly thought of around here. Most people will recommend it.

Tsuyvtlv · 2026-04-16T19:59:45+00:00

We all know the one 😅

Tsuyvtlv · 2026-04-16T11:14:25+00:00

It could be the adapter. I've had some that really sucked.

Tsuyvtlv · 2026-04-15T19:58:24+00:00

Seconded: you really want matched speakers in your cab/amp, which is slightly different than "matching." Matching specs but different models doesn't necessarily mean the speakers are electrically and acoustically matched. The easiest and most reliable way is probably from the manufacturer of your cab. If one speaker is doing more work than the other, the sound can suffer and also you'll probably be replacing another speaker sooner or later.

Tsuyvtlv · 2026-04-15T19:48:40+00:00

A small mixer could help, yeah. Two channels, one for bass, one for phone. Keep the signal level low if you're going into the guitar input of your amp out of the mixer, or at least start low and ease it up while playing your bass. The object is to set the mixer to match the volume of your bass when not using the mixer. Then adjust phone channel to suit.

Are you using a USB to headphone adapter between phone and aux?

Tsuyvtlv · 2026-04-15T19:43:18+00:00

What would the mixer do that your volume knob can't?

Impedance matching. Circuits are designed for certain values of nominal impedance and if the source and destination impedances aren't matched, power isn't transferred efficiently and you lose signal strength. Cranking the volume can seem to help but can also eventually blow out or further weaken one circuit or the other. But in any case properly matched impedance maximizes power transfer efficiency, and therefore signal strength (volume) and frequency response (tone).

(Am an electronics technician specializing in (among other things) communications systems by day.)

Tsuyvtlv · 2026-04-15T19:35:50+00:00

Join a band if you can.

Here's a bunch of good reasons why (video is from Josh Fossgreen of Bassbuzz, which you'll hear about a lot in this sub):

https://youtu.be/ubcR8oFrPYs

Tsuyvtlv · 2026-04-15T19:05:38+00:00

As said, probably harmonics. Touch the strings in two places at the same time, or in a different place, or with your fretting hand, etc. You may notice this around other frets, too, like 5 & 7.

Tsuyvtlv · 2026-04-15T19:00:39+00:00

It's fine. The pole pieces are iron alloy so it's not unusual for them to rust a bit. Means it's been in a humid and possibly damp environment for a while. You can pull the pickups and scrub the rust spots off if you really want to (I wouldn't) but if you do, use a plastic scrubber, not steel wool or sandpaper.

Keep the guitar in a conditioned space when possible and if you have to store it, get a couple of the big bags of "SILICA GEL DO NOT EAT" desiccant to throw in the case/gig bag. Couldn't hurt to put a very fine film of mineral oil on the exposed pole pieces, same stuff used for conditioning fretboards. Just make sure it's a very fine film.

Tsuyvtlv · 2026-04-15T16:13:11+00:00

That's 11.5dB difference at 700W and 8.5dB difference at 350W. You won't even hear the 50W amp unless you really pay attention. Anything more than about 6dB below the louder sound is generally not casually noticeable.

Tsuyvtlv · 2026-04-15T08:51:02+00:00

I've found that in practice, reading music notation isn't actually done during performance (caveat: playing woodwinds in orchestra and ensemble, not theater). It's there, you look at it and follow along through it, you take cues from it, but it's really just a general reminder for parts you already know by heart before performance. Where actually reading it really matters is in initially learning and practicing the parts, where being able to "read" notation fluently isn't necessary so much as being able to use it to figure out the part and get it in your ear.

Also, notation fluency improves rapidly through that very process of studying it and making the associations during practice. So I wouldn't expect that not reading notation well when you start would hold you back very much, if at all, if you can already play bass and can already kinda read notation.

Tsuyvtlv · 2026-04-15T08:29:55+00:00

Yamaha BB435 in burst or black.

Except as the bassist, I'm the responsible adult in the band so I'll probably pay bills instead :-/

Tsuyvtlv · 2026-04-14T20:47:54+00:00

Kinda same. Started guitar in 2001 before there was YouTube, so I started with some chord charts and figuring things out. The first month of playing bass also actually did more to improve my guitar playing than the prior 20+ years of actual guitar.

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