About Jeff Schmidt

Jeff Schmidt placed 1st in the 2005 Bass Extremes International Solo Bass Competition - Judges were Victor Wooten, Steve Bailey, Will Lee, Anthony Jackson, Jonathan Herrera (Bass Player Magazine) and drummer to the stars Gregg Bissonette.

Articles About Jeff:

• Mel Bay's Bass Sessions: Extreme Solo Bassist Jeff Schmidt (December 2005)
• International Institute of Bassists: Bass Faces (October 2005)

The ULTIMATE Jeff Schmidt FAQ -

> How long have you played bass?

I started when I was 14 (1982) and played until I was about 21 (1989) then stopped to join the "real world". I bought a bass to have around the house when I was 31 (1999). I didn't get serious with it until about 3 years ago - March 2004. Since then I've been pretty dedicated.

> Do you teach?

I do master-classes and can talk extensively about the bass and playing solo. I don't have time in my schedule right now for private lessons.

> Why do you play left-handed, strung upside down?

The only bass around when I was a kid was a right handed bass. I picked it up and started playing it lefty and it felt natural. No one told me to re-string it or to play it the other way.

> Do you play professionally?

I do get paid to play - but it's not my main source of income. So I guess that makes me semi-pro. You can book me via e-mail a booking@beautiful-bass.com

> Do you also play in a band?

Not right now - but I'm looking for musician's to work with. After my solo work is recorded I want to focus on an ensemble project. But writing and performing solo will always be a part of my concept.

> Did you / Do You take lessons or study music?

When I decided to get back into music seriously in March 2004 I started by taking bass lessons in Oakland from a great bassist - Michael Wilcox. I did weekly lessons until about Dec 2004.

Since then it's been self instruction and master-classes. I've also taken a few private lessons from Michael Manring, Bahkiti Kumalo & Adam Nitti.

>Do you recommend taking lessons?

Absolutely. Not taking lessons is my biggest regret about my early musical experience.

Ignorance really isn't that cool.

> Does learning / knowing theory limit creativity?

The only limits are limits you allow. Theory can open whole new worlds for you - or shut you down in an overly complex system of rules. Lydian remains Lydian either way you choose to look at it.

> Who are your biggest influences?

The list on my myspace site is the most comprehensive. I steal little bits from lots of different artists.

> Do you endorse any gear?

I'm too cynical. Most people understand "endorsing artists" get the gear they "endorse" for free or at a substantially reduced price. In other words "I got this for free - so you should get one too - but at full price".

Personally it rings false to me as a consumer because part of the value proposition of anything includes the price you have to pay. Some gear is very good at half off - but not so great at full retail. See?

I often wonder if John "baddest bassist on the planet" Doe would really be pimping the gear if he paid full price for it.

I paid full "regular guy" price for all the gear I use. Some is worth it - some is not.

If you ask I will tell you exactly what I think of it - not repeat what the brochure says.
There's a lot of great marketing for crap gear out there.

Buyer beware.

> What was it like playing in front of Victor Wooten, Steve Bailey, Anthony Jackson, John Patitucci etc?

Exhilarating.

> Were you intimidated?

I was nervous - but its was the excited kind - not the debilitating kind.

I wasn't "intimidated" cuz I wasn't up there trying to out Double Thump Vic - or out Artificial Harmonic Steve Bailey - or out Coltrane Pattitucci.

Do your own thing - believe in your own thing. That's what playing with them taught me.

>Will you enter the contest again?

No.

Yes.

The answer depends on which day you ask me - but it's one of those.

>I wanted to enter the Bass Extremes Contest but . . . .

When I look back at the few years since I've returned to music - literally ALL the growth I've experienced came from saying YES when I felt like saying no.

> Shouldn't music come from the heart - and not be about competition?

Absolutely.

Context is important here. The contest was 1 day. Actually about 3 hours. I think it's okay for music be competitive for small periods of time.

The danger, in my view, is when you view music ONLY from a competitive view - or ONLY as a spiritual pursuit.

Being aware of what each approach has to offer is vital. Being able to use each as a means to push your expression further can be very powerful.

> Should all lefties play like you?

If you're just starting out - hold the bass both ways to discover which way feels more natural to you. That's the way you should play.

If neither way feels dramatically better than the other - learn to play right handed. Over the long haul it'll be easier to find instruments and instruction.

> Does playing upside down give you any advantages?

I'm just now starting to discover the unique opportunities playing this way presents.

> What's with the Capo?

I picked up an old steel capo at a garage sale in the late 80s and have used one on my bass since then. When I started playing solo it became a pretty essential too for me when changing the tuning. Most of the time I'm using a capo it's on one of the first 3 frets.

> Your bass sounds more trebly than most basses - why?

I use lighter guage strings so I can tune the bass up just higher than a normal bass guitar - and just beneath a regular guitar. I really like that tonal region.

> How do you tune your bass?

Almost every piece is written with a different tuning. When my solo CD comes out it will contain a complete list of all the tunings used.

> When is your solo CD coming out?

Probably early 2007. I seriously underestimated how difficult writing and recording 50 minutes of solo bass performances onto CD was going to be. The material is pretty ambitious - I really do think it'll be worth it.

> How do you figure out different tunings?

I turn the tuning keys. Not trying to be a smart ass - but that's the answer. Turn key - and listen.

> What should I practice?

Expressing yourself.

>How did you start playing solo bass?

I attended a masterclass by UK Solo Bassist Steve Lawson in Jan 2005.

Steve was very generous with his time, and ideas - he really took a lot of the mystery out of the IDEA of solo bass for me.

I had reserved the idea of solo bass for ONLY those guys like Michael Manring and Victor Wooten. But Steve made it accessable by simply playing music using the bass.

> I want to play solo bass and don't know where to start - ideas?

For me - solo bass was the answer to a problem. The problem was a deep dissatisfaction with band experiences and the role others had for the bass.

At the very least there should be something you want to say that is best expressed through playing solo. Otherwise it's kinda of a solution looking for a problem.

> Do you use a looper / backing tracks?

About 90% of my current material is 1 bass - played live.

A few of my pieces have a looped percussive track I create live from making sounds on the bass. I don't use pre-recorded loops. Not my thing.

Live looping is an area I want to delve into more. But it would be a means to broaden the sounds and kind of ideas I can play live; a flavor I add to my current solo sets rather than the main course. Make sense?

> What's up with the podcasts?

I just never developed the habit of doing it every week or month. I think I'll try again soon.

> Why 5 strings and not 4 or 6 or 11!

When I got back into playing bass in 1999 5 string basses were the "buzz" bass - so I bought one. I didn't really care for the low B so I tossed it and got a hi C. I recently bought a 6 string and am writing new material on that.

>What's your take on Extended Range Basses?

I'm highly intrigued by them. The amount of controversy they seem to create is pretty funny to me. Although I have to admit - seeing a guy lay down "Brick House" on a 12 string bass does seem pretty ridiculous.

But seriously - I'd love to spend time with a 9 or 11 string. I'd love to develop a whole new approach rather than trying to play it like a traditional bass. I think they're very well suited to be highly expressive solo instruments.

> How do I book you for a performance?

E-mail Valerie - booking@beautiful-bass.com

Got a question not answered here? Just e-mail me - beautifulbass@gmail.com

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