Question - Hi Rudy! I'm a big fan (owned a Sarzo Peavey & have enjoyed seeing you on tour several times). My question is have you ever developed any playing-related injuries? I've been playing for 35+ years and have developed chronic tendonitis and carpal tunnel issues. I am curious if you have experienced either or know of ways bass players have dealt with playing injuries? Thanks in advance. (Scott)

Answer - Hello Scott,
Sorry to hear about your health issues.
The way that I've dealt with tendonitis is by taking Flax Seed Oil and Potassium over the counter supplements.

I learned about the benefits of potassium while I was playing with . One night we shared tendonitis related stories and he told me that he had similar problems with tendonitis and Ritchie blackmore turned him on to potassium. Though I can vouch for the benefits of these two supplements I can't guarantee their results.

Before you start taking these I advice you see a doctor just to make sure that these supplements don't have an adverse reaction to your condition.
God Bless,

Rudy Sarzo

Question - I have a 4 string bass, when I play the G string notes C-B-A are flat with no tone. Notes D-E-F are fine. I tryed a new G string no change. Can you help? Thanks

Answer - You probably need the neck adjusted or a fret job.

Rudy Sarzo

Question - I run a plugged directly into my . Would it be better to run into a good direct box such as a Radial j48 first and then go the mixing board ? Would my signal be better, it sound's good as is straight into the board but will a direct box make it even better ? Thanks Jess

Answer - If your already has a preamp then you probably don't need the direct box.

Rudy Sarzo

Question - A well-known bassist, whose old band is in the Rock Hall of Fame, used a pick for the entire concert that I went to not long ago. I am not a musician, so should the bass have stood out even more than usual, as in louder and crisper, as no difference could be heard and it was actually like there was no bass at all coming through in any of the songs? Is this unusual? Briefly, what is the difference of playing the bass with a pick as compared to by fingers? He also did a short bass solo during one the jams and the folks weren't sure whether to applaud or not - they didn't.

Answer - Well, In any live concert situation, you're pretty much at the mercy of the sound engineers. Have you ever been to a show were the PA system goes down. Well, If you have then you'll notice that suddenly the band has gone form bombastic to puny. that's because what you here in the front of the house is being piped through the PA. so it probably wasn't the bass players fault. Just an engineers who was doing a bass shallow mix. BTW: Playing with a pick or fingers is just a matter of preference. If you've ever seen Entwistle, bassist form the WHO, R.I.P. He sounded just as good with the fingers as with pick.

Rudy Sarzo

Question - I have heard from one person that playing open fret is better than playing 5th fret on string below? what is YOUR OPINION?

Answer - Well, It all depends on the notes that come before and after the A. On a stringed instrument one fo the fundamental techniques is fingering and hand postion. The A fretted on the 5th string has a punchier sound and the open A string has a bommie and open tone to it. It's jsut a matter of taste.

Rudy Sarzo

Question - Hi Rudy. I would like to know, in your opinion, when to play and not to play too many notes. I normally play freer, loose, with a slight distortion (crunch), and I fingerpick and fingerplay; but, strange as it may seem, Rudy, sometimes I get a little confused when I go to play standards (Black Sabbath's Heaven and Hell, Led Zeppelin's No Quarter and Sick Again) and suddenly start to play much aggressively, instead of just filling spaces with notes, coolly. I ask: is it just my own personality working, and then, there's nothing to do, or should I really take care and restrict my playing one time or another, depending of the "spirit" of the song? That's what I felt when listened to Jack Bruce's strangely r estricted bass fingering in The Consul At Sunset; well, it seemed strange because he is always an aggressive, explosive player (I remeber of Timeslip); in your opinion, had he played more notes and aggressively in The Consul at Sunset, could this attitude "kill" the aesthetic of the song? Did you feel that way in your own playing? And if yes, what did you do?

Answer - Being a musician is alla matter of artistic expression. I've been in bands where I was asked to play a little as possible by the record producers and then I've played with guys like Yngwie who asks you to double his guitar riffs on the bass so it all depedns on the the type of situation you're in. There's really no right or wrong, It's what sounds the best to you.

Rudy Sarzo

Question - The question I have is what does a pickup balancer actually do and how does it work?
Thanks

Answer - If you're asking about the knob on the bass that blends the neck oick up and the bridge pick up. Well, it does just that. It gives you the choice of how much the neck or bridge pick amplifies your bass.
cheers.

Rudy Sarzo

Question - Rudy, I am a guitarist and i play a friends bass once in a while. I would like to get into it more but my question is equipment. Should I go for the gusto and get a 5 string top of the line bass or should I start with something a little more average? Loved your Book!

Answer - Hello Michael,
Nowadays you don't have to spend a lot of money to get a real good bass. You can get a Fender import today for less than you had to pay 30 years ago. The question of going with a 5 vs. a 4 string is entirely up to you.
Cheers,
Rudy

"PS, Thanks for reading Off the Rails and allowing me to share my memories of Randy with you."

Rudy Sarzo

Question - Hello
Here is my question, do i need to start playing guitar before starting the bass and how long does it usually take to become a good enough bass player to play in a band? thanks alot

Answer - You don't necessarily need to play guitar before switching over to bass. You'll know you're ready when people want to play with you. I suggest that you start to play with people of your same level so you can all grow together. Best of luck and see you on MTV.


Rudy Sarzo

Question - What bass guitar strings are better for finger style soloing (like jaco) I have a 6 string Roscoe SKB 3006 Bassguitar. Thanks

Answer - If you want to go for the Jaco sound, he used strings. I think still make his signature gauge.

Rudy Sarzo

Question - As a musician playing sax, harmonica, and some guitar, where might I turn to learn the basic fundementals of playing bass? Thanks!

Answer - Everyone learns differently. Some prefer lessons, others can learn from books and lately many say that DVD's are a great way to get started. It's up to you. What's important is to find a way that works for you. Here's some links that may help:

Bass Sheet Music / Tablature & Instruction Beginner
Bass Software & CD Packages
Music Instruction Interactive DVD's Bass Guitar

Rudy Sarzo

Question - How do I tune a 5 string bass with a low B string? Having trouble finding the right way to tune my new guitar ?

Answer - Hello Larry, Well, the B string should normally be tuned to a "B" long as you are tuning to A440, meaning that the other strings are tuned EADG. You may want to experiment with different 5 string set with different gauges. I recommend that you visit the Dean Markely website and check out the assortment of 5 string gauges that they offer. Cheers!

Rudy Sarzo

Question - Hey Mr.Sarzo, how big of a diffence is their playing with fingers vs. pick? Long time fan. I have met you twice.

Answer - Hello Pat,
Nice to hear form you. Well, when it comes to playing with a pick or fingers I think it's matter of personal choice. Though I've never used a pick on stage or the studio, I regret not having the same level of technique with a pick as I do with my fingers. It would defenitely open up my sonic palatte. I would advice to all bass player to be proficient with both a pick and fingers.
Thanks.

Rudy Sarzo

Question - What is/was your opinion of fellow bass players such as Gene Simmons, Geddy Lee and Cliff Burton? Were they influential to your playing at all?

Answer - Though I have the deepest respect for all the bassists mentioned above, I can't say I was influenced by their playing. But since my influences came from mid sixties bassists such as Jack Bruce, Paul McCartney, James Jameson, Tim Bogart, John Enstwistle and 70's bassists such as John Paul Jones, Chris Squire, jaco, Stanley Clarke just to name a few I'm pretty sure that we were all listening to the same cats at the same time.

Rudy Sarzo

Question - I plan on buying a 5 string bass soon. Is the neck width on a 5 string wider than a 4 string or about the same. Also, which brands have slimmer necks? Thanks,
Still a fan at 37!

Answer - Hello George, The 5 string necks are slightly wider in order to accomodate the B String. I would highly recommned the Peavey Cirrus 5 string. I play one myself. Thanks for your question.

Rudy Sarzo

Question - Mr. Sarzo, I have been a fan of yours since your days with Ozzy. I have a degree in music and I teach private guitar and bass lessons. I have alot of young people that want me to teach them "metal" guitar and bass, but don't seem very interested in learning how to read music. 1) Have you ever really "needed" to read music as the bassist for the bands you have played with? and 2) Do you think young people should learn how to read music when they start out, or learn how to read music later when they really "want" to?

Answer - My advice is to bargain with them in this manner. What ever piece of music they want to learn form their favorite band, teach them the theory that's behind the recorded bass part. For example, If they want to learn a Metallica bass line show them the bass line and also teach as to why the bass line was constructed that way, such as how it relates to the rhythm section and to the melody. I learned sight-reading in school but I've never had to apply it in the real world.'It just comes in real handy when I pick up sheet music and learn some Jaco riffs for my own amusement. Cheers,

Rudy Sarzo

Question - I'm in the early stages of a Randy Rhoads Tribute project and I'd like to emulate yours and Bob Daisley's tone as close as possible, I'm using a GK 2001RB 410RBH 115RBH, any inside tips?

Answer - Hello Dean, As you probably already know, Bob Daisley and Lee Skerslake recorded both Blizzard and Diary before Tommy and I joined the band. So if you want to emulate the sound that's on the records my advice is to use a bass. I'm not sure what amplifier bob used in the studio. My guess is that he was recorded directly into the board so the amp's not that much of an issue in capturing the essence of the original sound.

Rudy Sarzo

Question - Rudy, I am a drummer, but have always wanted to learn and play the bass guitar, how hard will it be, and do you have any suggestion on which bass to by...i've always liked the bass, i do not have large hands, any ideas?

Answer - Jaco Pastoriuous, in my opinion the greatest bassist ever, started out as a drummer. While in the hospital recuperating from a sports related injury he picked up a bass guitar and the rest is history.

By the way, Jaco's instrument of choice is the .

Rudy Sarzo

Question - When playing the bass guitar to my knowledge, you can only strum a string at a time. How would you play a certain note for instance, holding the E,A, and D strings; which string would you strum first. I am a beginner bassist so i dont know much. Any information helps.

Answer - You can actually strum or pluck as many srtrings on the bass as you want. Of course, the tone you get will dtermine the clarity of the chord you're playing and as with a guitar, you can strum with up and down strokes.

Rudy Sarzo

Question - What brand and type of bass pickups would you reccommend for old black sabbath sound? Also the sound on the first couple of ozzy records?

Answer - For the classic Sabbath or first Ozzy records bass sound I recommend a with a rosewood neck and a tube SVT amp with 8 10" cabs.

Rudy Sarzo

Question - I am a beginner at playing the bass guitar and I am left handed. I am not really sure where my fingers should be on the frets and neck. Neither am I sure how to stop the vibration of the strings once it had been thumped.

Answer - What you're going through is very natural for any beginner. Believe me, I went through the same phase. But one advantage that a beginner like yourself has today is the abundance of instructional videos. I strongly advice that you either take private lessons to learn the fundamentals such as muting, to keep the strings from vibrating and proper left and right hand and fingering positions or buy one of the many available instructional bass videos.

Rudy Sarzo

Question - well i'm a bass player who started to play guitar 2 years ago in mozambique.i have been listening to bass players who use to play with slaps, then i started to love slaps, and started to try playing with slaps, but i can't make those kind of funky slaps, i use to get confused playing with slaps ... is there any kind on technique that you have that you can teach me? i would be very grateful i you could help me out

Answer - My advice is to get a video by a slap master such as Bill "Buddha" Dickens or Louis Johnson. Also, some of the greatest bass players, such as Jaco, are not slappers. This might be by choice or the fact that slapping doesn't feel natural to everyone.

Rudy Sarzo

Question - I've played bass for 5 years ani im about to buy a 5 string but instead can i buy strings for a 5 string bass and put it on a 4 string so for example the tuning would be B E A D instaead of E A D G?

Answer - Yes, You can put a B E A D on a 4 string bass, Just make sure that the B string fits in the nut spot where the E string goes. If it doesn't sit correctly it will slip off the nut and may cause damage to the neck and least go out of tune. Another option you have is to replace the E tuning peg with a Hip shot extender D-tuner. This will allow you to change the tuning of your E string at the push of a lever down to a D or even a C

Rudy Sarzo

Question - Hey Rudy, I have a quick question. I've seen plenty of whammy rods on electric guitars... is it possible to put one on my bass? Thanks.

Answer - Hello,
back in the 80s I had a Kahler whammy on one of my bases. Though I love the idea, it was very hard to keep in tune. I guess that if you find a company that makes the unit along with a locking system that might be a solution to keep the strings from slipping at the turners. Have considered playing a fretless. In my Ozzy days I enjoyed playing live a during Over the Mountain, Believer and Flying High again.

Rudy Sarzo

Question - Dear Rudy, I am a bass player, living in Holland. I have been playing bass for over 15 years. My favourite players are Billy Sheehan and Steve Harris. The main problem that I have is the limit of the speed with the right hand. I tried all possible ways - three fingers "tarantula" technique, two fingers technque - still, when it comes to 4/4 (standart rhytmical pattern) I can not go over a certain limit of speed (at that triplets, galloping style and similair patterns is no problem). My question is - is there any school that can give you a graphic explanation of how to break it open (say, to achieve the speed of early Metallica with Clive Burton, songs like Whiplash,Metal Militia or Damage Inc.) Do you see what I mean? What advice you can give on that? I would greatly appreciate any answer from your part. Thanks and regards.

Answer - There's a technique that I often use when keeping up with 16th notes over 130 bpm. It's a one finger up and down stroke similar to that of the classical and flamenco guitarists. Imagine if you will using the index finger as a pick(plectrum) with the up and down strokes. I recently toured with and found this technique to be the perfect solution for keeping up with the Maestro.

Rudy Sarzo