Remus Aussen from the Netherlands
Interview 25 Januari 2005
1.Which Stick do you play ?
Rosewood, 10 strings
2.What tuning do you use?
Standard tuning for now (but thinking about baritone)
3.Which gauge strings?
Also standard
4.How long do you play Stick?
I have one for about 3 years, but I must admit I don't practice a lot... so
maybe I should say I 've been a Stick player for 60 hours now...
5.Which other instruments do you play and how long?
I've been playing bass guitar for 30 years (4, 6-strings, fretless), Double
Bss and (sometimes) Guitarron in a lot of bands, performing about 60 times a
year.
6.If you would have to choose to 4 levels of playing in which 1=absolute
beginner 2=beginner but knows some music theory,play a simple song
3=intermediate 4=advanced , which number would you give yourself?
Well, on bass... but as a Stickist, I'm stuck between 1 and 2. Still
discovering the board, and able to do some rhythm patterns.
7.Please give me also a number(1,2,3 or 4) of the level of knowledge/skill
of
the next subject:
-Reading Staff Notation
No! (I know how to read, but I hardly ever use it even for bass. So I'm a
lousy sight reader, and, while I'm still searching the notes on Stick, it
would be a complete waste of time).
-Reading Tablature
No!
-Can you play major/minor chords? In open and close harmony?
I can play 'm on a piano, I can 'find' them on a Stick.
-Do you know all 7 modes/scales/chords ?
I'm a self-taught bass player... so I know the progressions, and I know how
to 'fit in'.
-Can you play chordprogressions?
Not yet. Working in it.
-Can you play a song:
No, but I'll study something.
8.Do you play in a band or solo?
I intend to use the Stick in a band, as an 'extra' instrument (especially in
the bass register, with some simple harmony progressions).
9.Which specific subjects would you like the teachers to concentrate on?
I'll be watching a lot. Hoping to get some advice on technique & 'achieving
tone', on how to 'think and translate' on to the board. After the 10th of
april, I hope to 'think Stick' a little better, and I hope to have some
exercises I can work on at home, helping me to 'fit in' with the Stick while
playing I a band. And I'm very interested in how other starting Stickists
like me cope with their Sticky demons...;>
10.On Saturdaynight you can also play a few songs at the pubconcerts, would
you like to play a few songs as well?
I'll be there on Sunday only...
11..Which kind of music do you like?
I like jazz, fusion, funk, flamenco, son, fado, gypsy music, ...
12.How did you discover the Stick?
I first saw Emmett Chapman play one on TV in the 70's, I think. And in the
80's and 90's, Tony Levin with Peter Gabriel & King Crimson((His playing
style & the way he uses Stick function is what I'd liked to achieve - I'm a
realist. I don't think I'll ever try to be a soloist on Stick, playing
melody on the treble side. I'll be a rhythm player.)
13.What is your goal in music ?
As a bass player, I'm a supporting musician, adding to the collective
sounding great - no matter if it's a gypsy orchestra, a Fado group, a funk
band, a fusion collective, an allround-cover band or a jazz combo. There's
always the quest for 'tone', and, during a recording session or a show, I'm
especially enjoying those moments of magic when I'm able to 'put it all
together', preferring those little moments of the one perfect note over a
cheering crowd after a show-off solo (but I may be a bloody liar too...).
I've reached my goal in music: playing with great musicians, doing great
shows, great recordings, only to discover that there's no limit to what's
still out there to discover, even in musical styles I thought I knew
inside-out.
15.Do you eat meat/fish or are you vegetarian ?
(We?ve got to know this for our communal dinner)
Meat's OK.
Bio & photo's
Homepage
Remus Aussen on gitaarnet.nl
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