In the previous (first) installment of this article, I mentioned how I had new strings on my bass, that I had to get a “studio setup” for my bass, and that I would tell you how we ended up getting a much better sound out of my Music Man Classic Stingray bass … and a great sound out of my fretless bass. But before that I also wanted to tell you how I prepared for this particular recording session.
So here we go!
In my experience of well over 120 recording sessions (probably many more) each session is different. This one was no different … in that it was different 
I was (and still am) very fortunate to work with an exceptionally talented AND organized musician/singer/songwriter. His name is Chris Fisher. Before the sessions Chris recorded top-quality demos of all the songs. The demos were in the correct tempo, were the final arrangements, in the right key, and even had great bass lines on them. Those bass lines were a blend of Chris’s own ideas and lines I had played at rehearsals and on live gigs.
So, as you can see, I had a lot to go on. This was not one of “those” recording sessions where you just rock up and play – which can be good, too. Instead, I had time to prepare.
The song demos were recorded on ProTools and were emailed to the session musicians. Besides learning the core bass parts off the recordings, I also charted the songs. Not only did I chart the arrangements and chords (i.e. made chord charts) I even transcribed the bass lines. “Why?” you may ask. Simple: I wanted to learn the songs with a variety of learning techniques and skills. These included “by ear” and “by note”. For me, the more “learning angles” I use, the better I learn and memorize.
So that was my preparation. As they say “It takes what it takes.”
—– Interruption of this article with some Breaking News —–
I mentioned in “Breaking news” at the end of my last article, that the upcoming single from this recording session is mixed and ready for mastering and release on iTunes soon, that I would keep you updated on the progress, and that a video to support the single was in the pipeline, too. Well, that has all happened.
The single “Change is Good” is due for immanent release (it will probably be out by the time you read this) and we have recorded a video to support the song. The video is being compiled right now.
“Change is Good” is an upbeat folk rock/pop song that celebrates the growing people’s movement calling for change to sustainable and clean energy sources. Songwriter Chris Fisher describes this tune as “a positive affirmation countering the negative, incorrect and self-serving rhetoric of fossil-fuel companies and their political puppets”.
One of the great things about recording software and the internet is that we can collaborate almost anywhere in the world. That is definitely the case for Change is Good. The mix for the single was done in Bangkok by an expat Aussie who Chris has worked with for many years. In fact, the night before the video was recorded, the mix went to Bangkok and back to Australia twice in one night.
So the following day we spent most of our time in front of a green screen miming to the song. The video recording, although somewhat exciting, was also somewhat boring. Just miming … not actually playing.
Anyway, I have digressed from the main article … and you have probably read enough for now … so I will continue later on with a further installment.
Until then, as usual I hope you have gained from my experiences.
Bass Player and Music Educator, George Urbaszek
