J - Hey everybody! Welcome! I’m super excited to announce this month’s Bass Lab PLUS Legend. It is Merle Peters all the way from a very cold Canada. How you doing Merle?
M - Staying warm. Not going out too much today.
J - Fantastic! Merle you are a fantastic bass player and you’ve constantly impressed me since you’ve jointed the BLP and done so many of our challenges. I’m wondering if you could tell us where did it all start? How did you become a bass player?
M - I thought about this because I watched some of the other videos you guys did. For me it started with piano back when I was in Grade 2 school. Me and notes did not go along very well. My mom was the note player, my dad was the guy that played swing music and that kind of thing; he did all the fun stuff. When he learned, he came up during the 30s.He had a guitar chord book and a radio and a guitar. That’s how he learned. I’ve kinda gone that road.
I kinda left it because I’ve discovered sports. Music was kind of in the background. I picked it up again in high school. I had a cousin who was a really good guitar player. We talked about getting into a band. My dad had just bought a music store, so my first bass was a fretless actually. I had no idea of how good or bad I was because there was no recordings at the time. So that’s how I learned, I learned with a fretless. I did take some classical guitar ahead of that, so I had that finger style.
J - I’m curious though, what first attracted you to the bass guitar?
M - I didn’t feel my fingers were fast enough to play lead and stuff like that. I’ve always been kind of that background guy. I don’t mind being in the background holding the foundation kind of thing. I’m not a fancy player as you can tell. I’d like to keep the groove and have a few flourishes here and there. That’s kind of my jam; I enjoy that. I enjoy that. I enjoy sitting in the background. The other guys can be in the spotlight. I really don’t care. I like locking in with the drummer. There’s something about that feeling.
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J - You love that feeling of being one with the drums. You’re like me! It’s absolutely amazing!
M - I’ve often said that bass players are wannabe drummers! I would love to play drums but bass will do!
J - Excellent! So fast forward a few years. You are now a bass player. You discovered eBassGuitar. How did that happen?
M - I don’t know how did that happen. I think I saw you online somewhere. I wanted to learn more, again being an ear player, I wanted to move my bass playing along a little bit. I liked you set-up. The way you do things James is right in line for me. I don’t get overwhelmed right away. You have different levels when you do your courses, so you can do something for the beginner, for the intermediate and you can work your way up. You don’t feel stupid. I think the thing about your courses is you can take that and go play in your band with it. Whether it’s just playing roots and 5ths and that kind of thing. You can take what you learn from your courses and take it to a real world situation.
With the challenges and some of the other stuff I’ve been able to add a few things to the lines I’m used to playing. It’s slow and steady for me but that’s kind of how it goes.
J - So how do you feel eBassGuitar has added to your playing. You mentioned you’ve been very much an ear player before. What have you discovered?
M - I discovered I’m still an ear player! The challenges I’ve taken introduced me to the PDFs. I probably rely on the tab portion of your notes as opposed to notes. I’m all about shapes and patterns; that’s what I remember. I sort of discover the chords, the major and minor have different shapes. Just to recognize that has been helpful. I have even started your Ultimate Theory Course. It’s at the urging of Terry Sinclair ( Bass Lab PLUS Member ).The community part of your website has been awesome; friends all over the place. Terry and I trade ideas and talk quite a bit. Terry has really dug in to the theory and the notes. I envy that part of him; he envies the part that I can play by ear. The plan is we’re gonna have Zoom calls and he’s gonna help me with the notes part.
J - So it sounds like you’ve made friends for life via eBassGuitar.
M - Oh yes! I’ve watched one of Drazen’s ( eBassGuitar member ) videos just this morning and it was phenomenal. Really really cool. He’s grown so much and he’s such a well rounded musician. Friends all over the world, it’s really phenomenal especially during this pandemic time.
J - I’m guessing you haven’t had a gig and play with your band for the last few months.
M - We haven’t played in a gig for a long - long time. We did a gig a little while back. It was tons of fun.
J - Am I right in thinking eBassGuitar has really helped you keep motivated and keep pushing forward.
M - Yes absolutely! I need more help in the organizing myself. I have ADHD and I’m dyslexic as you are. Terry is very organized so he’s trying to help me with that part.
J - That’s fantastic! What’s next for you in your bass guitar journey?
M - I have a couple of courses that I need to finish, one of them is on notes reading in conjunction with the theory course. I have all the PDFs printed out, and I have them all side by side. It’s baby steps for me, and I’ll be honest if I get frustrated with it I’ll go back to my setlist. We have a rehearsal tonight so I have about 10 songs to get through.
J - Well Merle I really admire your diligence, how you’re pushing yourself out of your comfort zone and starting to embrace the world of theory and the wider bass concepts because I know that can be overwhelming if you’re coming from being an ear player. I think the future is incredibly bright for you when you start putting the incredible stuff you do with your incredible ear and theory. As I’ve witnessed in the past 2 years or so, I think you’re playing is going to keep rocketing. I was wondering what you are going to say to people who are thinking of joining eBassGuitar.
M - I would say take the plunge! I’ve looked at different courses and yours fit the best for someone that doesn’t want to be overwhelmed right away. Some courses out there they just in the deep end way too early for someone like myself. May I add; the coaches with eBassGuitar have been phenomenal. I’ve built relationships with them. It’s been a great experience all around. Anybody who’s on the edge thinking about it I’d say yeah go for it!
J - Thank you so much! It’s been great having insight into your history and how you’ve been using all the resources together. Congratulations to being this month’s Bass Lab PLUS Legend. It’s been very well deserved.
M - Thank you so much I appreciate it!
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