Author Archives: Dwight Mabe

About Dwight Mabe

I've playing music since the age of 5...a really, really long time. I've been teaching bass guitar and double bass for over 30 years, writing about music and bass guitar for nearly as long.

How Far Do The “Basics” Go?

Posted on June 22, 2017 by Dwight Mabe

I took a somewhat unusual path to bass. I started as a guitarist at a very early age – 51/2! I spent a few years with a cello in elementary school. In high school, the jazz band director asked me … Continue reading →

Posted in Advanced, Basics, Chords, Intermediate, Introduction, Inversions and chord tones, Music Theory, News, Scales | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Practice Tips

Posted on March 16, 2016 by Dwight Mabe

Practicing isn’t really a “whatever works for you” type of skill. It is a vital skill that we all need to use more efficiently. I’ve been revisiting the jazz standard Donna Lee (originally attributed to Charlie Parker but seems to … Continue reading →

Posted in Advanced, Basics, Chords, Intermediate, Music Theory, Practice example, Scales | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

A Test Lesson

Posted on February 17, 2016 by Dwight Mabe

I have several spots open for lessons either via Skype or in my home studio (Hickory, NC). It’s the time of the year to fill up those slots, so I’m offering some incentives to new and returning students. I’ve noticed … Continue reading →

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Slonimsky – First Look

Posted on January 10, 2016 by Dwight Mabe

I’ve been digging through the Slonimsky book for a couple of weeks now. It uses several terms that are a bit unusual, so  I recommend anyone trying it to keep a good music dictionary or music theory dictionary at hand. And before we … Continue reading →

Posted in Advanced, Intermediate, Music Theory | Tagged , , , , | 2 Comments

Diminished Scales and More: Nicolas Slonimsky

Posted on December 12, 2015 by Dwight Mabe

The diminished scale has always fascinated me. I understand the 8 notes, half-step, whole step or whole step, half step variations. Lots of musicians from many different genres have used it such as John Coltrane, Jaco Pastorius and Frank Zappa. But after seeing a post by … Continue reading →

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Transcription: A Necessary Process

Posted on November 11, 2015 by Dwight Mabe

I received a couple of questions on the sight reading post that bear some further comments. Most of them are answered by transcribing music. Transcription is an important tool for all musicians in all genres. In some genre, all that is … Continue reading →

Posted in Advanced, Basics, Chords, Intermediate, Music Theory, Scales, Tips | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

Sight Reading – Some helpful tips

Posted on September 9, 2015 by Dwight Mabe

Sight reading requires 2 major skills and few sub-points to work: You have to know the written language of music – notation, dynamics, rhythm, etc., very well to sight read effectively. 2.  You must know where every single note possible on your … Continue reading →

Posted in Advanced, Basics, Intermediate, Music Theory | Tagged , , , , , | 1 Comment

Lesson Inquiry

Posted on August 28, 2015 by Dwight Mabe

Lesson Inquiry     

Posted in Advanced, Basics, Intermediate, Introduction, News | Tagged , , , , | 1 Comment

Time To Get Started Again – Bass Lessons for Back to School!

Posted on August 3, 2015 by Dwight Mabe

It’s time to get started with bass lessons. Whether you’re returning from a summer break or just getting started, now’s the time. For in-school students, get a head start on the upcoming year with band, orchestra or jazz band. For … Continue reading →

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An Experiment – The Conclusion

Posted on June 25, 2015 by Dwight Mabe

This is my final report on the copper-infused compression gloves. First, I will continue to wear them before and after playing/practicing. Here are my conclusions: They do seem to help. I have less pain and less muscle soreness when I … Continue reading →

Posted in Ergonomics, News | Tagged , , | 2 Comments