The SBL Podcast

Having stage fright doesn’t mean you’re not meant to perform or that you’re not good at what you do, but you should know how to tackle it so that if it ever strikes, you’ll be ready! In today’s episode Scott and Ian discuss how to face your fears and achieve your goals.

In today’s episode Ian answers your questions about his favourite Jazz Bass, his first-call stompboxes and how his bass playing career all started on the basketball court in 7th Grade. Find out all of that and more in this episode!

Thinking about starting a new online business? Now is the perfect time to make it happen. And if you’re reading this, it’s likely that you’ve already come up with a few ideas. In today’s episode Scott talks you through his own blueprint for making money online.

Having worked with an array of jazz greats while still a teenager in his hometown of San Francisco, Larry Grenadier rose to prominence in New York during the 1990s, performing alongside Joe Henderson, Charles Lloyd, Pat Metheny and Paul Motian. Whether you know him best for his enduring partnership with the Brad Mehldau trio, or as part of the group Fly with Mark Turner and Jeff Ballard, Larry has...

So how do you choose the best social media platform? It’s impossible to be active on every social media outlet out there. In today’s episode, Scott and Ian are hoping to get rid of some of that pressure you're feeling and simplify the process of creating your own content.

The content you post on social media has the power to turn your followers into fans, but how do you compete with a never-ending flow of viral videos? Elevating your production value is one way to increase your chances of finding an audience among the noise. With that in mind, let’s take a look at some of the gear that Ian and Scott recommend for today’s content creators.

Congratulations! You nailed the audition and you got the gig. Now the real work starts! Although there’s no substitute for mastering the set list, being part of a successful band requires more than hitting the right notes. Just like you did your homework before the audition, there are some concrete steps you can take to make sure you stick around for the long haul.

For any aspiring bass player, playing live is one of the best ways to really level up. But isn't getting a gig really hard? Getting your first gig needn't be difficult if you follow the ten commandments laid out in this episode. With these ten tips you’ll have the knowledge and resources to take the stage in no time!

Ever heard of the gig triangle? The idea is to use three characteristics (good pay, great songs and the hang!) to help figure out what works and what doesn't work for any particular gig. So, how balanced is your gig triangle? Are you hitting 3 out of 3?  In this episode Ian and Scott explore what might be holding you back.

The search for the perfect bass sound has taken bass-kind from the swamps of analog fuzz to today’s age of digital ‘perfection’. In today’s episode Scott and Ian examine the main types of multi-fx and chart the unstoppable rise of the stomp box. Enjoy the episode!

How many times have you wished there were more hours in the day? Demanding gigs, impossible workloads, 24/7 email and social media – no wonder so many musicians struggle to make the shift back to family time. In this episode Scott and Ian offer up their advice for striking a balance between your day-to-day life and your life as a musician.

In this episode Ian and Scott address the age old question. Groove or Chops? If you’re in team groove then you’ll swear by keeping things simple. But let’s not kid ourselves, players with awesome chops are what got us into bass playing in the first place! Let’s dive into both sides of the argument.

A Grammy-winning vocalist and multi-instrumentalist, Jacob Collier became an internet sensation in the early 2010s with his split-screen cover version of Stevie Wonder’s Isn’t She Lovely, in which multiple Colliers appear in intricate a cappella harmonies. Since then, Jacob has signed with Quincy Jones’ Management Company, given TED Talks and appeared in NPR’s Tiny Desk concert series, played with...

Have you ever felt motivated to do something, but then you never actually did it? The truth is, everyone goes through periods where they have no motivation to do anything, but getting yourself out of your rut doesn’t have to be a huge project. In this episode, Ian and Scott talk about motivation. What it is and how it can supercharge your bass playing.

So you’ve been busy practicing. You’ve got a few songs under your belt that don’t suck, and now you’re ready to show the world what you've got. But whether you’re a novice or a seasoned pro, we all experience that little voice in our heads that says we are going to fail miserably. So, what can you do?

Wouldn’t it be nice if you could allocate your practice time without feeling overwhelmed by technical exercises that bore you to death and make you dread touching the bass. In this episode Ian and Scott share their top tips for making the most out of your routine.

When it comes to discussing the history of the bass guitar, nearly all of our bass heroes sounded unique. So how do you tap into your own inner voice? Today’s episode begins with Ian’s love of Star Wars and ends with Scott offering up his advice to help you on your own path toward developing your sound.

How often do you set goals for yourself? Maybe you want to learn a new song in time for band practice this week. Or you want to self-fund your debut album and go on tour. It’s part of the mindset that makes you a musician. So what do you want to achieve in the next 12 months? Here’s what you need to know.

So you’ve spent days walking around your favorite guitar shop and picking up standard issue basses hanging on the wall, but sometimes it’s simply not worth waiting for ‘the one’ to appear by chance. In this episode Ian and Scott explore the idea of getting a custom made instrument. What would you go for if money were no object?

You’ve seen the bass you want, and only this bass can bring true happiness. But seriously… The chances are you’re suffering from Gear Acquisition Syndrome, a condition commonly referred to as G.A.S. A quick look at the tabs on your browser, or dip into your search history – Sweetwater, Reverb.com, eBay, Craigslist etc. – will present all the signs. In this episode Ian and Scott explain what it is,...

Robert ‘Bubby’ Lewis is a creative force on the electric bass. His sheer speed, fluidity and conviction is awesome, but he can also groove, with uncanny endurance on ridiculously uptempo tunes. Bubby started out playing in his father’s church at age 14, and soon made a name for himself around his hometown of Flint, Michigan. Bubby was later hired by Snoop Dog (on the recommendation of Andrew Gouch...

What would you do if a major guitar company offered you an endorsement deal? Many people would jump at the chance, thinking it’s their ticket to becoming a proper bass guitar icon. But if you don’t know what you’re getting into, an artist endorsement might not feel like a win for all involved. Speaking of which…

In this episode of the podcast, Scott and Ian talk about hate and criticism on the internet. Why do people vent such toxic opinions online? And how do you react when people leave angry comments on YouTube, or tweet negative things about you? In this episode we find out who these anonymous ‘internet warriors’ are, and how to put your haters to good use.

​After some amazing feedback, we were finally motivated to take the plunge and start a podcast! And if you have been keeping up with SBL over on YouTube or Instagram lately, you will already know that I have been absolutely obsessing over the bass exploits of Ian Allison. So, I thought I'd better get him on the podcast too!    For our first solo episode, we are going to be speaking about one...

After more than 50 years together, the Rolling Stones remain one of the biggest live acts in the world. And for bassist Darryl Jones, his audition in 1993 led to a steady gig, touring and playing on just about everything they have recorded since. Jones, who spent most of the ’80s as the go-to bassist for the likes of Sting and Madonna, started his career on the South Side of Chicago and actually c...