Say it loud - I play bass and I'm proud pt.2

看過很多不同的人說自己喜歡Bass的理由，這裡說的不是學Bass的理由。例如，Bass是一種很新的樂器，因為它本來在樂隊內的作用是如此不精彩，在框框下如何令它變得精彩便是很有挑戰性或有趣的課題。有人說因為喜歡Funk，也因此喜歡Bass這一種樂器。當然，也有人對我說過是喜歡Bass的聲音。

我很喜歡彈Bass的觸覺。

當然，我到今天仍然學不會用pick，是有怕麻煩喇。但但右手非常快地pluck線，那一種重量感是結他沒有的。當你越用力地pluck在線上的時候，粗弦的反彈力便越大，總覺得有一種原創的快感；當你越彈越快的時候，那反彈力令你覺得你的右手就像飛了起來。



很棒的感覺。




20th Century Boy Bass Cover - The best home videos are here

很有趣，可能是因為雷鳥本身的設計關係，線與琴身的距離很大，跟雷鳥玩的時候，那種飛起來的感覺要比BB還強烈。

總之這是很棒很棒的感覺。

另外，又綜合談一談學Bass的理由，正如上一篇所講原因不外乎三個。冇乜人彈容易入Band、容易彈，然後就是因為喜歡某一個Bass手。像上一Part談到那位作者是因為Larry Graham，網上一位非常好的Bass教師Kris Rodgers(Dmanlamius)是因為Flea。(我？講過喇，John Entwistle及恩田快人)

不如這一次又看一看Flea。

談到選Bass，Flea說他現在是rock star，這支Musicman是不用錢的。奇怪嗎？你越有錢便越少錢要用。

另外，主持你認識吧？River Phoenix，已故的李華馮力士，他過身是Flea是其中一個在他身邊的人。

Do you remember rock 'n' roll radio?

Do You Remember Rock 'n' Roll Radio Bass Cover - The most amazing videos are a click away

Top 5 songs to start an ordinary day

5. In the morning by Bee Gees(1971)

有時候，聽呢一種歌，係會覺得好辛苦的。尤其當自己思緒混亂或者心情不佳，如此平靜優美以及天真邪，會覺得自己既生活實在係好鬼死痛苦。

不過，當年中學，我好鍾意朝頭早聽一聽，之後返學。唉，如此浪漫既歌係唔應該俾思想未成熟既青少年去聽的。

亦係電影《兩小無猜》既開場曲，亦係本人對倫敦既第一印象，令倫敦係我心目中永遠都有一層唔知真定假既浪漫係入面。





4. Might be stars by The Wannadies(1995)

一聽就知係本人鍾意果類啦……一劈頭第一句："We spend our money on guitars, write songs about our broken heart. We're shit city stars"，行路都行快兩步。

去到chorus，果種澎湃地提起心情。

當你果一朝有心情，"Chances are we might be star beloved forever"，真係令良好既心情變得更加激奮。





3. A life less ordinary by Ash(1997)

每次聽到呢首歌就令我入想起真實謊言入面由尖叫女皇占美李居迪斯飾演果一個真係日常生活太沉悶平凡而想追尋刺激既老婆。

其實好多人都係咁？哈哈，大家都被城巿的生活異化了。



2. There she goes again by The Velvet Underground(1967)

歌曲同呢個top 5主題可能真係離得好遠，但冇問題的，總之係一個平凡既上午，聽到呢首There she goes again，就是精神一振。





1. Everyday people by Sly & the Family Stone(1968)

尤其係當去到上環既時候，同人一齊迫完地鐵一齊係地鐵出口搶閘、搶過馬路，每朝同樣差不多既人群重重覆覆地去做同一種事，聽到呢首歌就係令到我覺得自己同其他人稍稍有一D不同……我覺自己係一套七十年代都巿劇情片既主角……哈哈哈哈。

What's your genre?

Something mixed the rock and blues which also add a layer of funk on top of a acid-free-jazz with pop sense after a classical tradition as lazy as shoegaze but also some grunge bits. Incorporated the euro dance beat deviated from house and power chord strumming as raw as proto-punk and as sexy as the rockabilly. a little groovy, a little melancholic. contrarily, with also adding loads of punk's anger so that it will transform everything into the energy of neo-thrash hardcore metal with a hip hop attitude and new romantic aura out of the impressionism, however.

And I'm serious! LOL

Take up the bass when...

1.When you found yourself alone in the dark...

Take up the bass!

2. When you realized you have nothing else to do...

Take up the bass!

3. When you reckon there won't be any exciting live feeds pop up in facebook and no one even care to send you a message in msn...

Take up the bass!

4. When you are just sitting in front of the computer for nothing...

Take up the bass!

5. When you see there's no one holding your bass...

Take up the bass!

6. When there are 1000 reasons you shouldn't take up the bass...

Take up the bass!

7. When the kingdom come...

Take up the bass!

8. When both of your hand are holding ice-cream...

Take up the bass!

9. When there are forty five cops in front of you...

Take up the bass!

10. When the devil who bought the soul of Robert Johnson gets into you...

Take up the bass!

11. When the nightmare comes...

Take up the bass!

12. When baby you are gonna leave me....

Take up the bass!

13. When my mum hits my dad in head...

Take up the bass!

14. When someone play My Generation around...

Take up the bass!

15. When she comes back to you finally...

Take up the bass!

16. When the ghost of Jim Morrison shows up against your wall...

Take up the bass!

17. When Michael Jackson's dead has been confirmed as a hoax...

Take up the bass!

18. When Mr. Bowtie finally listens to the people instead of the North...

Take up the bass!

19. When your heart is still beating...

Take up the bass!

20. When the time is 3:12am(the time i have got to this pt) and you really should have been sleeping...

Take up the bass!

Just stop bullshit and go take up the fucking bass...

Okay.

Top 5 songs I know I'll love it when I first heard and was still listening to the intro and it turns out to be true

純粹個人口味，不妨自己整個List去回應下本人。比較要講既係，其實呢d歌都係本人吸收能力比較高既時候先第一次聽既歌。

有時候如果你睇戲，例如Juno，點解d人聽左首歌有一陣已經大讚得讚？其實係可以的。有時候首歌既Intro已經有左整首歌既基調係入面，之後既野其實只係呢個基礎既擴大或者發展(當然，都有可能個Intro係首歌既撮要)。

有時，可能有更簡單既理由……一聽就知呢首歌以別不同，一響個Intro即刻分辨到係邊一首歌。



20th century boy by T-Rex

可能係世界上最好既結他riff……呢一首歌其實本人認識左都唔係好耐，(不過總先過二十世紀少年電影版)

聽左個riff一次，你已經好自然會同首歌groove埋一齊。



4. Light my fire by The Doors

Keyboard個節奏，幹，太強大了。當然，The Doors冇Bass手既時間，負責Bass Part既就係Keyboard手Ray Manzarek(係Jazz入面鋼琴亦經常係節奏部樂器黎)。



3. London calling - The Clash

個結他riff係好簡單，但一下一下鞭入你個腦入面，之後踢起埋個Bass，直到而家你提起The Clash，我個腦都會即刻想起呢一個Intro。



2. Stairway To heaven by Led Zeppelin

唔講，自己聽。



1. Like a rolling stone by Bob Dylan

Bruce Sprintsteen係1988年，Bob Dylan入選搖滾樂名人堂時介紹Bob Dylan，"The first time I heard Bob Dylan, I was in the car with my mother listening to WMCA, and on came that snare shot that sounded like somebody'd kicked open the door to your mind ... The way that Elvis freed your body, Dylan freed your mind, and showed us that because the music was physical did not mean it was anti-intellect. He had the vision and talent to make a pop song so that it contained the whole world. He invented a new way a pop singer could sound, broke through the limitations of what a recording could achieve, and he changed the face of rock'n'roll for ever and ever."

Honorable Mention:
Jungleland by Bruce Springsteen
Dreams by The Cranberries
Smoke on the water by Deep Purple
Purple Haze by Jimi Hendrix
Voodoo child(slight return) by Jimi Hendrix
Immigrant song by Led Zeppelin
Champagne Supernova by Oasis
Innuendo by Queen
Baba O'Riley by The Who
Who are you by The Who
Won't get fooled again by The Who

Say it loud - I play bass and I'm proud pt.1

早兩晚有人問我，為什麼選Bass。

已經自學了兩年十個月，倒已經忘記了當初的想法。



昨天，回程在火車上，看著那本在大阪三木樂器買回來的「Bass變強的100個貼士」。當中作者談起，他在學的時候，有一次聽到Sly & the Family Stone的歌，覺得喜歡便買了一張他們的唱片。之後聽到了"I wanna get you higher"及"Thank you"，聽到完全不同bass彈奏方式，於是對Bass提起了興趣，而後來亦知道了那名Bass手叫Larry Graham，被公認為第一個使用Slapping同poping技術的Bass手。(這本書當然是日本文。內文除了兩首歌名，全都是日文。很明顯本人不懂看日文喇。那麼怎麼看得明？你唔好理)

今天，法國佬發了Joe Satriani的Youtube片給我，提起了當中的Bass跟結他一樣搶耳。他說，有人跟他說要學Bass，但連Bass跟結他有甚麼分別都不知道。又，他又認識Bass比結他容易，所以選Bass云云，法國佬便跟我談起Bass比較困難還是結他……

為甚麼我會選Bass呢？

事實，當初也存在一種貪容易的心理。

另一方面，當然也因為本人兩大喜歡的樂隊，Bass手都有著非一般Bass手的作用。



(摘自The Who Documentary "Amazing Journey: The Story of The Who"，其中分開介紹四人的環節，當中John Entwistle及Keith Moon兩個環節是必看的，看完以後你應該會更懂得去欣賞音樂)

(另一個是恩田快人)

要說彈Bass難或容易，其實首先要知道Bass在樂隊或一首音樂之中的角色。低音部提供的，其實有兩個層面。和弦與節奏的支持。

音樂三大元素，旋律、和弦與節奏。當中旋律是建基於和弦與節奏之上，最耀眼的一個元素，但卻是完全建基於和弦及節奏之上，沒有和弦及節奏，旋律是難以合符大部份人的美學觀的。

低音結他易彈嗎？可能是。相比起結他一開始便要學習按各式各樣的chord，bass對初學者左手的要求相對地低(右手的人)，要靠記憶的部份亦相對對低。而且你要的話，其實你只要反複按節奏及和弦彈根音便可，即是一首只有四個和弦的歌你可以全曲不停只彈四粒音便可。

只要稍稍磨練一下節奏感及手指捉拍子技巧，沒兩下你已經可以上台演出了，這是真的，而同時期跟你開始學樂器而選了結他的朋友，可能連G chord也仍未按得緊。(也提一提，Bass的flets相對地闊，弦亦比較粗容易滑手，這也可能是它比結他要難的地方，但另一方面，bass大部份時候連雙音也不用彈，每次只用按一粒音，所以卻又有空間偷時間跳flet，比起結他同時按多弦，又不見得對左手手指的伸展有比較大的要求)

如果你要求的就是這樣，Bass是簡單的，簡單得可以，而且這個簡單是很有作用的，按節奏不停彈根音，其實已經非常能夠做到和弦及節奏的支持。如果你甘於這個水平，其實兩個月的反複練習，你便已經立即可以達成目標，到頂了，再沒有需要學的東西。

但你要再進一步，Bass比起結他要難很多。

歌唱，耳朵，音樂夢

看亞洲星光大道2，我發現有一個情況是，大家普遍認為2集首兩集的水平比1平均要好一點，然而我看著看著，卻又發現我的不滿情緒比起1的時候要高。

我向來對歌手的技巧要求不高，這是我一直很強調的事。而事實，我對那些緊張、失準、發台瘟以至技不如人的參賽者一直都比較寬容，在電視機前不會太過毒舌。

但對於那些技巧掌握得較好，失誤相對地少卻又唱得不怎麼樣的那一群感到很不滿。而我認為這樣的參賽者在2裡比1多。

不用指名道姓，但就舉那位首兩集唱愛是懷疑的來說。

說實在的，選歌之前，參賽者一定有唱過這一首歌，亦一定會覺得這首歌自己唱得很不錯(或很好，或值搏)，才用來參賽吧？除了開首走板不算(我不就說了嗎？我對技術失誤很寬容)，問心一句，你真的覺得自己唱得很不錯嗎？整首歌聽起來有氣無力，聲線完全激發不出熱情，你怎麼認為你這一首愛是懷疑是應該用來參賽的？

評判經常說揀錯歌，但說來說去大家仍然是不停揀錯歌。為甚麼？

因為我們都不用耳朵。

唱得到跟唱得好本來是兩件事。唱歌本來就是很直接的一種表達方式，學者至今仍在研究到底人類行為中是先有說話還是先有歌唱。歌唱跟說話的分別，就是在於歌唱的音調比較廣，以及用複式呼叫而使發聲比較洪亮及傳得遠。唱，本來最重要的，就是表達。

很多參賽者(我不是針對愛是懷疑，只是用他作例子)，他們彷彿沒有聽過自己唱歌一般，他們也沒有賞試用耳朵去發掘自己到底在歌唱中表達了甚麼樣的情感，只是一些基本要做得到的東西做得不錯便會覺得自己唱得好，值得驕傲地昂首出賽。但他們跟本不知自己唱得有夠差，也不懂去聽著音樂來唱。別人聽得是很辛苦很想轉台的，這裡不是卡拉OK，旁人沒有在喝酒玩大話骰，大家都有在聽的。

我敢保證很多拿50至51分的人，也以為自己要比被淘汰了的來得優勝一點。其實，很多都只不過是海軍鬥水兵而已。說實在，如果可以殺無赦，不用理會節目進度，跟本一大票的都可以打包回家。(我覺得比較可惜的是唱Frank Sinatra的那一位，能力上他比很多人都好，事實上效果亦要比很多不用耳朵的稍稍要好，但始終仍是被開刀了，其實一看外型，再看一看唱盧廣仲的那一位，評判考量在那裡大家都心照。不是誰比較好看，而是誰一看就知道沒有觀眾緣)

引申而來的，就是每一位都說「我愛音樂」「希望以音樂作為事業」「達成音樂夢」。但到底大家付出了多少？我當然不全部認識他們……事實是一個都不認識……說這些話很容易，但大家附出了多少呢？(再進一步，如果參賽的某些人士……這裡指的有很多名……真的已經很努力付出，把60%非睡眠時間投入音樂，那麼也只能說一句「遺憾，閣下在這一方面是零天份」)先不說作為事業或作為夢想，也不說為何每個人愛音樂都似乎只懂唱卡啦OK，但如果一個人比較認真的對待音樂，撇開樂理，他們一定會好好思考一下音樂到底是甚麼一回事。任憑你侃侃而談風花雪月舉一反三不知所云，如何心領神會神遊太虛，就算你標童上身聽音樂，就算你淚腺發達人家一開口就籍著歌聲說感動……

音樂就是聲音，聽音樂首先就要用耳朵。

耳朵那一關過不了，任憑你在音樂中掘出了一個廣義相對論來、又或是從中參透了永劫回歸，全部都只是渾話。我跟你講，隨便你出題，甚麼歌我也可以寫一篇似模似樣的review，也可以把一片粗製濫造的混脹唱片說成比Revolver更經典的鬼斧神工，因為靠吹的話你怎麼說都可以。音樂，建基的始終是「聽」，這是絕對的客觀標準。你要找到一段音樂在不同的人的共同感覺，只能從「聽」到的東西出發。(例如你認為Twins的女校男生很感動，當中的原因跟聽到的無關，純粹是因為你喜歡吃鮑魚……而事實沒有甚麼人喜歡吃鮑魚，所以其實沒甚麼人跟你有相同的感動。也就是，這種鮑魚聯想的感動其實是很個人很主觀的，而非客觀的標準)

大家下一次聽音樂，說感動、說有Feel、說正之前，敢先問自己，你的耳朵聽到的有甚麼？

如果連這一個問題都答不了，那麼你真的在聽你在聽的東西嗎？如果連聽都不去聽，談甚麼音樂是夢想？就更不用付出百二分努力去改善自己的歌聲及表達能力了。

樂迷，猶大，卜戴倫

據說，Bob Dylan將會於４月來港舉行濱唱會，這對本人來說實在是不能錯過。

要談Dylan的瑒場演出，當然要一提他在1965年的新港音樂節被台下樂迷柴台，以及在66年manchester free trade hall中受到樂迷高呼「猶大」對待。



在Dylan開始充滿迷幻味道的Like a rolling stone之前，有樂迷高呼"Judas!"(呢個樂迷既身份有點神秘，有兩個人被認為(自認)係呢個猶大呼叫者，分別叫John Cordwell同Keith Butler)，當時係台上既Dylan一臉不肖(食左藥咁款)，回應"I don't believe you...You're a liar"，之後轉身對樂隊說"Play it fucking loud"，之後在彈結他中途更舉手作出一個看起來像「There you go」的示意。



新港事件在I'm not there內亦有一個非常形象化的描述。

這兩件事件，觀眾有這個反應的起因都有不同的說法，但普遍都認為跟"Dylan went electric"有關。"Dylan went electric"，今時今日看起來，不是一個民謠樂手的音樂取向轉變，而是一個流行音樂改朝換代的標誌性事件。

到底"Dylan went electric"是否一種背叛，事實都不太重要。但這個事件之中看到，樂迷原來也會有自己的想法，當樂手做出了他認為不對的事，他們不會盲目追從。他們是有思想，有判斷能力。

而樂手也會追從自己的想法，義無反顧地去按自己的想法去做他們要做的音樂，去對反對者作出反擊。

六十年代的搖滾樂是美好的。未必因為那些音樂在音樂上更好，但樂手的精神，以至樂迷的精神，仍然是純淨的搖滾。

京阪冬之旅 四： 石橋樂器梅田店 (Tears In Heaven)

此行的第一重點。

YAMAHA BB2004WH(WH for White)。

話說本人一直有在通利獵艷的習慣，即使未有想過要買，都會拎人地d野黎玩下。這枝BB2004本人一直都很喜歡，是我在通利玩得最多的一枝。不幸地，到本人想買的時候，就只剩下Display(或一直都只剩下Display)，而Display那一枝卻有一粒扭有接觸問題的。

不過，本人在快下定決心買新Bass之前，經常不停上網search有關BB2004的資料，或search圖發給別人看(不要問我為何要這樣做)，當時曾經留意到有一個日本網站有一枝二手的BB2004WH出售……

石橋樂器梅田店！

在網上先跟網上銷售部打探了一下BB的狀況，對方承諾在11月12日開始替本人保留著BB。本人到了酒店以後，跟替本人check in的那位很會傻笑的女服務員調侃了一下，便問她怎樣可以走到茶屋町，她說非常近，指了正確路線給本人，啊！真近……

幹，茶屋町很大，最重要是本人沒有記下石橋樂器梅田店的準確地址！我以為是很細小的商場來的嘛……誰知是一個挺大的商店區，中型的商場不少……

總之，我上網找回石橋樂器的正確地址，再亂走一輪，便成功到達了傳說中的石橋樂器梅田店。



不及之後到心齋橋三木樂器那麼富麗堂皇，但貨品仍可說得上是琳瑯滿目，由不同等級的樂器到不同的Parts或配件都有大量選擇。



店外的電影海報，有關擁有龐克教母之稱的Patti Smith。


用英語跟一位很有趣的店員哥哥說，我在網上聯絡了他們，預留了一支Yamaha的Bass，重複數遍再簡化用語，本人深信他成功理解了三個字"Internet"、"Bass"以及"Yamaha"，便一臉恍然大悟(他可能有兼職舞台劇演員)，帶本人去試Bass。

服務真的很好，還會替客人調好音的。

就是這個了！白色結他的最大問題就是日子久了會變黃，BB比圖片上要黃一點，Jack位有一點鬆，其他卻都沒有問題。

我喜愛的就是BB。只要有心，你喜歡的都會留在你身邊的！(追女有咁簡單就好)

P.S. 點解係Tears In Heaven呢你問，其實呢支BB2004係Nathan East Signature Model果一條Line的，而Clapton大部份時間既Bass手都係Nathan East，包括係下面Clapton經典既MTV Unplugged Tears In Heaven演出，係Clapton左手面彈Acoustic Bass果個黑人就係Nathan East。睇唔到樣？係呀，所有學手都有過Close Up，係得佢冇，雖然Tears In Heaven有Bass Solo，鏡頭一樣迴避Bass手。

所以話，好出風頭既你，記住唔好學Bass。我聽過好多女仔話「男仔識小提琴加分」「男仔識彈琴加分」「好鍾意睇人打鼓」。

「Bass？咩叫做Bass？下？黃家強果支結他黎架？……」



錄影音質好有問題，懷疑因為支BB係Active，大力得濟，我下次研究下真正原因。

Top 5 things I miss about her

First, her laughters. She laughs like a witch but that's what I love to hear. It doesn't matter what's the sound. I can sense that when she is laughing, she is really laughing. She doesn't laugh for any social causes or nothing-is-more-appropriate-to-give-a-laugh-on-the-overwhelming-moment. She laughs because she wants to and that's the killing edge.

Second, she doesn't pretend she is good. I met a lot of girls who think they are good at anything but they really don't. Like, they would think they are pretty, but they are not. They think they are smart, wrong. They think putting out words that sounds technical means they are knowledgeable, very very wrong. and if you try to be honest and go to the fact, they get mad and being unreasonable. And I think it's pathetic. Some of them think they have arts sense, or they have taste on anything, and that's what make they more like self-overrated morons. She doesn't. She doesn't rate herself and she won't disagree what you rate on her. On that point, no one i have ever meet in my life could match her.

Third, she thinks. She always response with delay which you know she is working out on what you have just told her, even it's the most pointless or dirtiest joke you could ever talk to her. She is really listening to you. Yes, she is not that smart and doesn't think fast. But it's all about attitude. Having a person you like that she is so happy to think about what you say makes you feel so great. She makes you feel great!

And she has the sense of humor. When I say "the" sense of humor I mean the sense of humor which i really think it's the sense of humor. She doesn't make smart jokes, indeed, she is very good at stupid jokes. But she makes really lovely jokes, and I'm good at response to her jokes which is unexpected to her and makes her laugh. She really gets your jokes. Even it's not a very good one she can help you build it up and it turns out both of you laughing. Come on, I met so many girls think they are funny, pretends they have sense of humor and they know how to make fun of it. But they are not funny people at all. Their jokes are really something you would pay money so you don't have to listen to, because it's from a over-serious person who repeats a joke which is really cold as hell. really really terrible jokes.

Finally, she is so natural. On her looking, on her speaking, on her voice, on her dressing. She tries to look better and wear pretty outfit, she tries to add emotion on her speaking and voice. But those all suit her, and nothing over-dramatic, nothing really makes herself anxiety(but pretend cool and nothing special on her although you can see their real feeling from their face! god damn it pretentious girls!)

enough enough enough.

Yet another new year

So this is a new year. from 2009 to 2010. "Happy new year". It's more like a wish which never fucking comes true to someone has been getting fucked for years. But from deep down of our hearts, we all know it's a wish would never come true. It just like, yesterday was 2009, today is 2010. What's all the shit gonna be changed from one day to another? if it's gonna change, why it's not from the second last day of 2009 to the very last day of 2009? If a day is too short, the same could apply to year indeed. Why not 2008 to 2009? Face it. When you have been getting fucked for years, it's very unlikely something is gonna change in 2010. And whatever will happen in 2012 doesn't bother you much. It's not about fate, it's about you. You are who you are and you are still the one you was.

"Do people get sad on holiday sometimes? I can imagine they do, having all that time to think." "A Long Way Down" by Nick Hornby.

You really got me.