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Bass Player article - November 2008: Difference between revisions

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<small>By Scott Shriner</small>
<small>By Scott Shriner</small>


I haven't perfected the technique that I want to share with you. I practice it, much like how I practice bass. My goal is not to be perfect but simply be ''aware'', and to do my best on a day-to-day basis. I believe that practicing saying "yes" got me to where I am today. The more I continue to say "yes," the more I get out of life.  
I haven't perfected the technique that I want to share with you. I practice it, much like how I practice bass. My goal is not to be perfect but simply to be ''aware'', and to do my best on a day-to-day basis. I believe that practicing saying "yes" got me to where I am today. The more I continue to say "yes," the more I get out of life.  


My whole life, I've had a natural tendency to say "no" to trying new things and taking chances. At first, I had to be muscled into saying "yes". For example, I refused to sing background vocals in my first cover band. The singer was my big cousin, and she could push me around more than most people - so when she wouldn't take no for an answer, I stepped up to the mic. I am so grateful to her for that. Singing has been a huge part of my life, and a must in Weezer. Not to mention how great it makes me feel to do it.  
My whole life, I've had a natural tendency to say "no" to trying new things and taking chances. At first, I had to be muscled into saying "yes". For example, I refused to sing background vocals in my first cover band. The singer was my big cousin, and she could push me around more than most people - so when she wouldn't take no for an answer, I stepped up to the mic. I am so grateful to her for that. Singing has been a huge part of my life, and a must in Weezer. Not to mention how great it makes me feel to do it.  
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But I said "yes" to these things that made me queasy, and all of a sudden, I was magically busy again. Original band, cover band, recording a CD, doing sessions for friends. One day I got a phone call from Rivers Cuomo, the Weezer frontman, asking me if I'd be interested in helping out the band for a bit while the bass player took care of some "things." Sounded temporary, sounded scary.  
But I said "yes" to these things that made me queasy, and all of a sudden, I was magically busy again. Original band, cover band, recording a CD, doing sessions for friends. One day I got a phone call from Rivers Cuomo, the Weezer frontman, asking me if I'd be interested in helping out the band for a bit while the bass player took care of some "things." Sounded temporary, sounded scary.  


It also sounded like a chance of a lifetime. And it was a good freaking thing I had been practicing saying "yes."  
It also sounded like the chance of a lifetime. And it was a good freaking thing I had been practicing saying "yes."  


My life has been a whirlwind of action ever since, with a few minutes of downtime to pet the dogs and kiss the wife. Weezer's ''The Red Album'' is full of examples of the end product of me saying "yes". I set goals for myself on ''The Red Album'' that I never thought I could reach: singing lead vocals, writing music, and playing synth. I achieved all this and more, and I don't intend to stop now.  
My life has been a whirlwind of action ever since, with a few minutes of downtime to pet the dogs and kiss the wife. Weezer's ''The Red Album'' is full of examples of the end product of me saying "yes". I set goals for myself on ''The Red Album'' that I never thought I could reach: singing lead vocals, writing music, and playing synth. I achieved all this and more, and I don't intend to stop now.