The answer is “yes”. At least it was yes for me.
I have been playing guitar for 2-3 hours a day and felt the urge to beat a beginner used bass. So then of course I started learning how to play a big of electric bass. And then, I started simple jamming to blues and soul in my basement studio.
Simple Ingredients for Jamming on Bass Guitar to the Blues and Soul
Here’s a simple checklist:
- Bass guitar
- Bass guitar amp
- Headset for your amp
- Android or iPhone
- Earphones for your Phone
- Essential: WXRT Blues and Soul on Audacy
- “Alexa, play WXRT Blues and Soul Channel”. Done.
Electric Bass Guitar
It doesn’t have to be fancy. Just needs to be in tune and preferably setup properly.
Today I am using my “California” Bass guitar made by Eleca in China around 2008. It’s not great, but it’s good enough. Notice that the print is a little “off” and really says Califorria. But it plays well enough despite the spelling mistake.
Amp: Using a Peavy Vypyr VIP-1
This was the 2nd or 3rd amp I purchased early on during my first 10 months of playing electric guitar, acoustic, and now bass guitar. I purchased it because it can amp all 3 instruments. It does a pretty good job for me.
Purchased it on OfferUp for $40 bucks, untested, at a Wendy’s near Midway Airport in Chicago. I got it home and found it had a wad of gum on its bottom as big as a dollar bill. Removed gum, cleaned it up, plugged it in. Worked fine.
The Peavy Vyypr VIP-1 has electric Bass modeling so you’re good to go with this amp. You could play it out loud but I’m jamming late at night with headphones.
Headset: Mine is $25
Just plug your headset into your amp.
Mobile Phone: Android or iPhone
You need your mobile phone so you can access WXRT Blues and Soul Channel on Alexa or Audacy. This is for playing silently at night while others sleep.
Essential: Tune in “WXRT Blues and Soul” Channel via Alexa
Here’s a few details on accessing “WXRT Blues and Soul” channel.
A Visit to JT’s Sandwich Shop in Chicago, IL USA
It’s so great studying music at any time of your life. For me, it’s at age 73.
After an e-bike ride in a Chicago forest (yes, we have lots of them), my wife and I decided to get a great pork tenderloin sandwich at JT’s Sandwich Shop at 3970 N. Elston, Chicago, IL (USA).
Sitting in the restaurant for a great sandwich and fries, I sipped my Filbert’s Orange Cream Soda (Filbert’s is a Chicago company, awesome). The music was awesome played on the speakers: blues and soul.
So I asked the owner, what’s the radio station (I’m old fashioned).
It’s WXRT’s second channel. Can’t get it on the radio. But I can get it on Audacy. It’s WXRT Blues and Soul. I play it all day long.
I’m a Chicagoan so I tried accessing the channel on my Android through Audacy when I got home.
Android, Using Audacy to Launch WXRT Blues and Soul channel.
First, access Audacy on your mobile phone.
Second, do a search for “WXRT Blues and Soul”.
Third, play it.
Fourth, plug your mobile phone earphones into one ear.
Who Curated the WXRT Blues and Soul Channel?
John Farneda, Music Director at WXRT, authored this lovely station. He passed away but his legacy of good music lives onward.
John Farneda, thank you.
You may find another Blues and Soul station from around the world. But WXRT Blues and Soul channel was curated by a 30 year expert on blues and soul from a town of blues and soul: Chicago, IL USA.
(You can use any station you want. I often use the Radio Garden app on my Android to access blues and soul (or anything) from around the world — for free. It’s great also.)
You are Ready to Jam with WXRT’s Blues and Soul Channel Silently at Night
Electric bass connected to the amp. Headphone connected to amp on head for one ear only. Android or iPhone up and running with Audacy and WXRT Blues and Soul.
Just play a song, and jam quietly with your electric bass. Don’t do it for hours and hours. After all, you need to do some real bass or guitar practice 🙂
Short Version: Jam with WXRT Blues and Soul via Alexa out Loud
Use this command shown below.
Alexa, play WXRT Blues and Soul Channel.
Just turn on WXRT blues and Soul via Alexa, grab your electric bass, and jam in the background with your bass amp.
Somewhere, a Teenager is Laughing at this Blog Post
Yes I’m 73, learning a dash of bass guitar, and I just started.
Somewhere, a teenager reading this blog is laughing his or her head off.
“Hey man, you never thought of doing this before?”
Well, at least I learned it 🙂
Thanks for Visiting Shoshin Guitarist Today
Yes, Shoshin means beginner’s mind in Japanese. So I’m learning electric guitar and electric bass with a beginner’s mind.
If you’re in Chicago, grab a pork loin sandwich at JT’s Sandwich Shop and tell them the Shoshin Guitarist sent you 🙂 Get a Filbert’s Orange Crush Soda and listen to WXRT Blues and Soul while you eat.
Life is good; keep on playing.
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