Janek Gwizdala Podcast

Time is something we can't buy any more of, and the better we manage it while we're here, the more productive, fulfilling, and happy a life we can lead as musicians.

Just remember, always give the day more credit for the amount of time it offers.

If you want to be one of the first people to own the new book "The Bassist's Book of Scales and Arpeggios", get your signed pre-sale copy now:

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More soon,

Janek

I've been wanting to make this video for quite sometime, if only to satisfy my own curiosity and fill in some gaps in my memory of pedals I haven't used in a while.

Welcome to a walk down the memory lane of bass octave pedals, where I started, how I started, what I use now, and why I even had all these pedals out on the desk in the first place.

If you want to be one of the first people to own the new book "The Bassist's Book of Scales and Arpeggios", get your signed pre-sale copy now:

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Janek

I was psyched to dust off a few pedals that have been with me for many years and put them in a signal chain with a pedal that, while not new to the market, is new to me.

A friend of mine in Europe who is visiting soon ordered this to my house, so while I wait for him to pick it up I get to put the pedal through its paces and share the results with you.

From Stevie Wonder to Nine Inch Nails, the Doom 2 from 3leaf kind of has you covered for fuzz and synth bass sounds. I'm using my original 3leaf Octabvre and a vintage Pearl OC-07 for octaves, the Doom 2 in "Safety Orange", an Iron Ether Xerograph Deluxe, the Avalanche Run from Earthquaker Devices, and a pair of Teletronix TDIs to record in stereo.

If you want to be one of the first people to own the new book "The Bassist's Book of Scales and Arpeggios", get your signed pre-sale copy now:

Domestic Shipping (USA)

International Shipping (Outside of the U.S.)

More soon,

Janek

I think we all have a range of things on the emotional side of music that could benefit from a little TLC. This week's episode of the podcast takes a look at how I tackle a lack of confidence in my playing ahead of a really special gig.

Check out the episode, get some ideas for your practice routine, and if you want to be one of the first people to own the new book "The Bassist's Book of Scales and Arpeggios", get your signed pre-sale copy now:

Domestic Shipping (USA)

International Shipping (Outside of the U.S.)

More soon,

Janek

When you think about it from sound quality alone there is no question that new bass on my first album from 2004, Mystery To Me, will enhance the listening experience in a lot of ways.

The real question is: Do I have a moral obligation to leave it the way it is for the 20th anniversary re-mix/re-master edition we're putting out in a couple of months?

Get in the comments wherever you’re watching or streaming and let me know your thoughts.

And don’t forget the pre-sale for the new book, The Bassist’s Book of Scales and Arpeggios, is happening right now!

Get both a signed physical copy and a digital version in this unique pre-sale bundle through November 26th.

Click here for domestic shipping in the U.S.

Click here for Internationals shipping outside the U.S.

More soon,

Janek

P.S. I know international shipping for the signed copies of the book is sometimes more than the cost of a single book, but that’s just the reality of the USPS here in America. They absolutely hammer us on shipping costs overseas.

All books are available at Amazon.com, and the new one will be no exception when it launches.

This week was quite the whirlwind trip to Germany for the 2024 Guitar Summit in Mannheim. I met some amazing people, was treated to a fantastic audience and set of questions at my clinic, and made some awesome new friends.

Big announcement coming in a couple of days, so stay tuned for that!

More soon,

Janek

We somehow made it to 300 episodes of the podcast since 2006 or 2007. It's so long ago, I don't actually remember exactly when I hit upload on podbean for the first time.

To celebrate, I answered as many questions you all submitted as I could, and it was awesome to hear from you and a challenge to think about the answers. Here's to 300 more! 🎊

Janek

We get into the weeds on the latest pedalboard build, and talk about what a disaster these projects can start life as. I'm getting ready to go to Europe to give a clinic on pedals, so this board has a little bit more pressure on it as it'll be heavily scrutinized by the audience.

If you end up watching this on YouTube, the video cut out a few minutes in and I didn't notice until about the 10 minute mark. I shot some b-roll after the fact to go along with what I was talking about, and I do eventually notice and figure it out in time to save the episode.

More soon,

Janek

I think the short answer to the question is yes!

It's totally possible to be a recording artist, but the bigger question is how?

As my debut album Mystery To Me turns 20 this year, I have a little bit of experience in this area to share, and today we get into exactly what it means to be a recording artist in 2024 and beyond.

I’m very excited to have found the sessions from two decades ago and will be remixing, remastering, and for the first time in my career pressing vinyl for this 20th anniversary release.

There will be new artwork and packaging, as well as two bonus tracks of takes we did after the audience had left the studio. Yes, this was a live album! Live in the studio, but live none the less. A small audience assembled on November 4th 2004, and we played the album from top to bottom in one take.

Check out the episode, drop some comments on the youtube video to both give me feedback on the vinyl thing, and of course to help the algorithm.

More soon,

Janek

I thought this would be one of the easiest Epsisodes/videos to make.

Rock up to my computer, import Ian’s presets, play music, talk, done.

The reality was actually quite different. There was real pressure to “get it right” for want of a better phrase.

This was meant to be my take on the sounds, my opinion for whatever it’s worth, and just some fun seeing where the presets would take me.

But shortly after hitting the record button I started over-thinking things and realizing I was putting pressure on myself to know what each sound was made up of just by listening, and to try and do the sounds justice.

I eventually got the heart rate down a little and settled into simply enjoying the sounds and making music, and hopefully that is ultimately what comes across.

If you want to download any of the sounds you hear in the episode you get get Ian’s HERE and mine HERE.

More soon,

Janek

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It is both an amazing feeling to find something new in the learning process, and a kick in the gut when you realize you should have been doing it for 30 years already.

I recently started exploring a new approach for learning music that seems to be working better than anything I've tried in the past, allowing me to add vocabulary to my language faster than before, and most importantly embed it deep into the muscle memory and sub-conscious so I never forget it.

More soon,

Janek

Bass players of the world,

It is with great joy that I get to share my latest round of HX Stomp presets with you, and I cannot wait to hear what you do with them.

With options for everything from film score to funk, there’s a little something for every player.

The biggest challenge in putting them together was trying to take myself out of the equation and think about how people from all walks of the bass world might want to use them.

Obviously they’re all inspired by things quite personal to me, but at the same time I think they can be easily customized, and I look forward to working with people on ways to bend them into exactly what it is YOU need.

Reach out in the comments on YouTube so as many people as possible can share in the information that comes up in our conversations, and I’ll post some more sound samples and ideas with the presets soon.

Janek

P.S. If you don’t have the original Janek Gwizdala Signature Sound pack, you can get that and the new release in a single bundle and save 25%!

Just in case you thought I’d come up with some formula that allows you to spend hardly any time with your instrument and become a monster player… I didn’t.

By practicing less I mean practicing less ideas at any given time. There is still no substitute for time spent with the instrument, and as I explain what it is I’m working on in this episode, it might come as a surprise to you as to how basic some of the stuff is after all these years of work on the craft.

In other news I have to update you on the progress with bringing back the vlog, but that will have to wait until next week. This week however, we could see a live stream for the first time in months to test out a new content concept I’m working on.

Maybe tomorrow morning…? Keep your eyes peeled to your email.

More soon,

Janek

For pedal fans and signal chain nerds, mono vs stereo is going to come up once in a while and it's a tough call to make when you consider the incredible options available today to widen your sound. From reverbs and delays to all kinds of modulation and panning effects, there is an almost infinite library to draw inspiration from.

The more real-life questions for gigging musicians are:

* Do you really want to carry two sets of cabinets and two amps with you?

* Are you willing to use in-ear monitors as a lighter/more portable option?

* Maybe you've never even considered some of the benefits of running effects in stereo when you play live, so you’re asking yourself “wtf is all this about?!”

This episode of the podcast is a nerdy deep dive on a few of the things I'm looking at incorporating into a stereo rig to tour with my own band, that’s not going to weigh 800lbs or take three hours to set up every night!

We’re going to feature some sounds in the HX Stomp throughout the episode and I know I promised the new pack of presets months ago.

It is on its way! I just want it to be right before I put it out into the world. In the meantime, the Janek Gwizdala “Signature Pack” is still available, and for everyone who asks about crossover between the old and new: There will be nothing from the old pack in the new one. It will be 100% new sounds.

That’s probably why it’s taking so long.

I appreciate your patience.

More soon,

Janek

This episode of the podcast gives an in-depth look into the new mini touring bass pedalboard for my show in Morocco with the Brecker Brothers next week.

It's small but mighty, and ended up being something completely different from what I imagined it would be.

The signal chain includes the MXR Vintage Bass Octave, MXR Bass Envelope Filter, Line6 HX Stomp and MXR Bass Preamp. It’s all mounted on a small board by Mono, powered by a Cioks 4, and will travel in a Mono Tick 2.0 bag.

Enjoy!

Janek

The time has finally come to build the smallest bass pedalboard possible as I need something to stash in my checked luggage for a trip to Morocco in a couple of weeks with The Brecker Brothers Reunion Band.

I'll be using the HX Stomp as the brains of the board, but the other pedals that will accompany it are still a mystery right now. I'd love to have a DI and maybe an octave pedal, but beyond that I'm at the drawing board playing Tetris with a mini Mono board and Tick 2.0.

This latest miniature venture has me highly motivated to finish the new HX Stomp preset pack I promised a couple of months ago. I'm going to be recreating some of the classic Brecker Brothers bass sounds of Will Lee from those original records in the 70’s, and will do my best to get that Mu-Tron sound on “Sponge”, and maybe a little chorus here and there?

More than anything I need that in-your-face fatness that those records captured, so pre-amp and EQ will be a big help with that.

More soon!

Janek

P.S. Now I’m home and off the road for a couple of weeks, we have a ton of physical books in the store ready to be signed and shipped out worldwide!

It’s time for a report on the JHS Colour Box and how it held up for me on tour in Asia for the past few weeks.

It was my pick for the touring board after my recent DI shootout video, and I’m excited to share the results with you.

I also have some big news on the Teletronix TDI sale that is coming in the next few days, but before we get to that, there is a 10% discount on all signed physical copies of my books through Labor Day (Monday) at midnight.

Due to us moving house this week, and me moving into a new studio with all the instruments, pedals, cameras and books, I want to get as many of these physical books out of the house as possible before it’s time to start carrying boxes down three flights of stairs to the new place!

With almost everything in stock right now, that’s great for you, but a disaster for my lower back and legs on moving day. You don’t need a discount coupon, it will be applied automatically at checkout!

I cannot wait to move into the new space, rebuild the studio, and start working on some of the things I’m discussing in this week’s episode of the podcast, as well as bring you footage from the road, and updates on all the exciting new pedals coming into the studio.

More soon,

Janek

This is an interview from last year with the founder of Noble, Jack Roan. It went up on my separate youtube podcast channel, but that has long since been abandoned, and with the recent release of my DI shootout video, it seemed fitting to release it on the main channel so a wider audience might hear the story behind Noble.

Enjoy,

Janek

Print media is not dead! Not only isn’t it dead, it’s actually representing the bass community in very high quality format with the launch of Bass Review Magazine in the UK.

I thought the chance of being on the cover of a physical magazine had long since passed, but here we are in 2024 with it happening again.

I wish BRM great success in this endeavor, and look forward to reading about our little bass-corner of the music community for many years to come on the pages of their publication.

As I mentioned in the episode, I’m leaving on tour in two days for Asia... so if you want signed copies of the massive delivery of bass books that just arrived in my studio, get your order in as soon as you see this, and I’ll get them shipped out to you wherever you are in the world before I leave.

More soon,

Janek

Aside from posing the question of whether or not two pedals can be a "pedalboard", I get into what it takes to reboot the system ahead of a grueling international tour schedule.

I’ll be in China and Taiwan for just over two weeks playing 10 concerts with Steve Smith’s Vital information, and that is book-ended by an insane home schedule of filming, recording, and family commitments.

I talk all the time about consistency of practice and work, but no matter how I am, there is always the chance things can fall through the cracks for a few days and totally knock me off my game. This episode is all about how I remedy that get my playing back up to where I need it to be.

Physical copies of Bass Player’s Guide To Pentatonics are back in stock, and shipping worldwide. Grab a signed copy while they last!

More soon,

Janek

I always find it fascinating as to how long a pedalboard lasts. For the most part in my career, the next board is already being planned before the current one is even fully wired and operational.

Things seem to be a little different this time around though, and I’m excited to share with you what makes this one of the most musical builds I’ve ever completed.

Enjoy,

Janek

P.S. For the first time in the store I have signed physical copies of Ultimate Chop Builder available! Both Minor and Major modes versions, plus a fresh batch of Bass Player’s Guide to Pentatonics.

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After a fantastic week on the road and in the studio with Steve Smith and Vital Information, I'm back home in my studio to examine the most insane pedal delivery my collection has ever seen.

As you may have heard I'm getting ready to start shoot the biggest Bass DI/Pre Amp video of all time.

As you'll see from today's episode, that's not click bait or overselling, it's as accurate a description as I could make considering the companies I reached out to that said yes!

So far in the lineup I have Jad Freer, Jule Amps, Noble, Origin Effects, Aguilar, Ampeg, JHS, Caveman Audio, Miura, MXR, REDDI, Sushi FX, DSM & Humbolt, Radial, and there are still more to come.

If there's something you'd like to see featured in the video that you don't see on the list, drop it in the comments!

For anyone in the Denver area, I’m very excited to be heading to play at Dazzle this coming weekend, Saturday April 20th, with two of my best friends and long-time musical colleagues Gabriel Santiago and Justin Vasquez.

More soon,

Janek

It’s hard to put into words what it means to meet your heroes. To be able hit record 5 minutes later and get to share that conversation with you is one of the prouder moments of my career.

With stories about how he started out, practicing in a shed in Steve Smith’s backyard, to walking into Electric Ladyland in New York City for a record date where the horn section was Michael and Randy Brecker and Barry Rogers, we cover a lot of ground in this conversation. John Tesh, Tracy Chapman, Chick Corea, Lee Ritenour, Vince Neal, Billy Cobham, Mike Stern, Vinnie Colaiuta, Frank Gambale, about a thousand other legendary recording artists grace the pages of Tim’s career highlights.

I hope this is the first of many times I get to pick Tim’s brain and share it with you. The man is a treasure chest of knowledge and experience with some of the best music and bass related stories you could hope to hear.

Enjoy!

Janek

Today I'm shooting out my wife's first $200 bass from when she was 13 years old against my Master-Built $10,000 signature Mattisson.

It's such a fun experiment to see where the two are similar and then push the limits to where those similarities evaporate.

Get in the comments on YouTube and let me know if you have two basses on opposite ends of the cost spectrum that are closer in actual value than you might like to admit!

More Soon,

Janek

P.S. we have very limited numbers of signed copies of my books that have just come back in stock. Check them out before they’re gone!

https://janekgwizdala.com/store

Ranking the best and the worst flights cases and gig bags for basses and pedals from my entire career.

I still have at least one example of almost every single style of case I've ever used, and I have them all out of storage for this video to share my thoughts with you, and hopefully help you figure out what might work for you.

The bass I mention in the video that is for sale can be found here: https://janekgwizdala.com/store/p/fjr5v0q0momv6tg1awtui3mrjc3mtx

Enjoy,

Janek

I'm programming new sounds for my HX Stomp today, and getting into some fundamental and more importantly useful sounds for regular bass players.

As much as the YouTube algorithm might feed you some of the more flashy and soloistic moments of my career, the bigger portion of my bass playing life has been spent in the lower register of the instrument holding the band together.

With that in mind, I would like to put some more useable presets out into the world, and I just started breaking the ice in today's podcast with the HX Stomp and what might be possible.

You can get my existing HX Stomp Preset Pack HERE https://janekgwizdala.com/store/line6-presets

And fresh copies of Bass Player’s Guide to Pentatonics just arrived last night. Get a signed copy before they’re sold out again! https://janekgwizdala.com/store

More soon,

Janek

In an effort to be all about the in-person interview as much as possible on the podcast, I flew out to Minneapolis to hang with bassist, podcaster and educator Ian Martin Allison this past weekend.

We talked about the very contrasting ways in which we use the Line6 HX Stomp, touring as a sideman vs musical director, how being a parent changes everything, and what it's like to transition from freelance musician to artist.

This is my wish list for more guests in 2024:

Nathan east

Larry Klein 

Lee Sklar

Sean Hurley

Stefan Lessard 

Tim Lefebvre 

Stu Hamm 

Jimmy Earl

Jimmy Haslip 

Justin chancellor 

Who else you got?

More soon,

Janek

Does the bass world really need yet another distortion and compression pedal? There are literally 100's of each to choose from at this point, and it is no longer a surprise when a new builder pops up and announces a new one has arrived.

I have some of them, but by no means all. I've played a lot of them, but not every single one. In my humble opinion, one that isn't being paid for by anyone, these two pedals from Lusithand have rather a lot of music to offer us.

I hope you enjoy the longer podcast format for pedal stuff. Let me know in the comments if you want more of it.

Check out Lusithand Devices (not a sponsor and not an affiliate link)

Get Bass Books Here

More soon,

Janek

Get ready to level up your bass recording game! In this episode, I'm pulling back the curtain on killer home recording setups for every budget. Whether you're rocking a tight wallet or ready to splurge, I've got you covered.

We're diving deep, exploring setups from under $500 all the way to the stratosphere of luxury gear. There's something here for every bassist, whether you're just starting out or a seasoned pro.

And hey, I know I've got a ton of gear, but there's always more out there! If I missed your favorite compressor or pre-amp, drop a comment or contact the company. Who knows? Maybe we'll team up with the builder for a demo on the channel!

More soon,

Janek

P.S. Pentatonics and ii-V-I just came back in stock. Signed physical copies are shipping worldwide.

In a continued effort to be as transparent as possible with my process, this episode breaks down some of the financial realities of running several small businesses as a musician.

It all started 30 years ago as being "just" a bass player, but it's come a long way and is still evolving. With business interests in online education, content creation around pedals and gear, writing books, making documentaries, producing, writing, recording, and touring as a musician, there is enough subject matter for 50 episodes.

This just scrapes the surface and gives you a brief look inside what my day to day looks like. Please jump in the comments and ask questions if there is something major that you think I missed.

More soon,

Janek

In this episode I'm sharing some thoughts on bass signal path when it comes to building pedalboards.

We look at ideas for pedals routed in series as well as the current setup I have where I'm using parallel loops. I also go over a huge list of pre amps and compressors I'm considering for my "clean" signal.

Pedals are a never ending world of experimentation for me. I don't think there's a "right" way to do any of it, and I highly recommend you start with the questions "what am I hearing?" and "how do I make that sound".

The only right way to do it is to make things sound the way you hear them.

More soon,

Janek

You can get Bass Books Here

I'm at a very fortunate point in my career where I have access to not just the most incredible instruments, but the most incredible people. While at the NAMM show convention lat month I met the folks at RKM basses and had an immediate connection with the instrument featured in this video.

Besides the incredibly kind gesture of gifting me this bass, RKM are not paying me to make this podcast or to say any of the things I have about the instrument. I just feel compelled to share the bass with you, and how I am slowly working some new tools back into my studio having sold off a lot of instruments over the past 6 months.

More soon,

Janek

P.S. As mentioned in the episode, there are a limited number of signed books back in stock. I apologize that I’m not able to keep 100’s of copies of every book in stock at all times, and that people are seeing the “sold out” sign a lot on the store. But rest assured, as soon as they sell out I do order more copies, and they are shipping worldwide. Can’t thank you enough for the support as always. 💜

Cliff Almond is one of the most underrated drummers of the past 30 years with one core element, "The Grid", that creates this effortless transition from Michel Camilo and Wayne Krantz, to arena rock tours and studio sessions.

He also happens to be the drummer in my band, the drummer on my latest album "Night Watch", and one of my great friends of almost 20 years.

He may be from a generation that came before me, but has more respect for the music, the process, and the search for what is next that most musicians I know from ANY generation.

He is a fountain of musical youth, a wealth of knowledge and experience, and is without question in my hall of fame list of drummers that I still can't believe I get to play with on a regular basis.

Enjoy,

Janek

P.S. We just had a re-stock on physical books, so signed copies are starting to ship TODAY! Get a copy before they’re all gone again.

I’ve been waiting for this bass for over 4 1/2 years. It was the bass gifted to me and Chelsea at our wedding in 2019, and holds a very special place in our hearts.

It also happens to be a world-class piece of design and craftsmanship, which takes owning and playing it to a whole other level.

All is explained in the episode.

Enjoy,

Janek

As I update you guys on the flood damage in this episode, I’m also able to show you some new pieces that just came in this week, as well as announce some new boutique stuff that’s en-route.

The damage wasn’t as crazy as I had originally feared, but it did take a week of removing the backs of pedals, slowly drying them out, and then using contact cleaner and some further patience to sit here and test them all.

Thankfully there are so many new ones coming in which will help both my moral, and the Pedal Studio series on youtube over the coming weeks.

I’m preparing for a quick trip with the family and whilst in our storage getting luggage out today I discovered a huge box of CDs that I had totally forgotten about. They are mainly copies of my 2019 album “The Union” plus a few Space In Betweens, and since I’m in shipping mode with the signed copies of the books flying out of here, I’m thinking about doing a VERY limited drop of these CDs.

Better to be out there in the world than sitting in a box somewhere. I know there are some of you that like a physical product when it comes to audio, so drop me a comment and let me know if you’d be into it.

And yes!!! I’m goin to do vinyl at some point. The biggest issue is that it’s a massive commitment for margins that are incredibly low. It’s a total passion project, it takes a lot of investment re-mastering the albums to make them sound right for vinyl, and then it takes hella work logistically speaking to get them out to you. I am going to do it, I’m goin to start small, and it will happen in 2024.

In the meantime I’ve had a random slew of enquiries about other media formats like cassette tapes. 🤷‍♀️

They are way easier to put together, and that’s something I could do in the next month or so if the interest was there. It’s also getting a little easier and more financially realistic to press CDs, so limited runs of albums could be an option.

Let me know in the poll below. It only runs for 24hrs!

More soon,

Janek

It’s been quite the weekend with the laundry room flooding and cascading down into my studio, soaking a bunch of pedals on the shelves you see in so many of my videos.

I’m a couple of days into the drying out process and am hoping most things can be recovered. But the fact that I was pouring water out of an overdrive pedal like it was a teapot, kind of hints at a few things being permanently buggered.

Positive foot forward though! I’m bringing back more regular episodes of The Pedal Studio, and need all your suggestions on what pedals you want to hear and which companies I should reach out to for gear to feature on the show.

Leave your comments below the youtube video as that really helps the algorithm, and if you’re not subscribed to the channel do that now! The bigger the channel grows, the more high-profile guests I’m able to attract for the podcast, and the more exotic pieces of gear I’m able to feature in demo videos.

In other news: A bunch of physical books that I’m shipping worldwide just sold out, but this week we re-stocked Pentatonics, All the Better Stuff/Good Stuff and ii-V-I’s, with copies of Iconic Lines expected to be back in stock later this month!

More soon,

Janek

Sneaking one last episode in for the year! My list of what won and what lost in 2023.

I’m extending the sale in the store another 24hrs as I’ve been so off the radar lately and not communicating with you all.

It all ends at midnight on new years day, and then it’s into 2024 and all the new projects.

Happy new year, and see you on the other side.

Janek.

I never say never, but most of the people I discuss in this episode are more than likely way out of reach.

The gigs are super fun to think about though, and simply working on the music of these artists is a massive part of my process and gives me endless hours of material to practice. It also fuels the “Could I Play bass With” series very nicely, so if you ever wondered what I might sound like playing with some of these musicians, be sure to check out the videos on my youtube channel.

Our end of year sale is running through midnight on new years eve. Check out discounts on books, bass courses, and HX stomp preset.

More soon,

Janek

It is definitely possible to survive and thrive in the music business/industry, no matter what your entry point and no matter when you started. I’m sort of living proof of that, and despite many ups and downs along the way, I’m happy to report that I still love doing what I do all these years later.

It’s a bummer that the movie file corrupted for anyone watching on YouTube. One of the big parts of surviving in any field I guess is maintaining your equipment, and today mine just gave out on me at a crucial moment. We’ll be back with video in the next episode though!

Before I leave and wish you happy holidays, don’t forget to check out our 2023 holiday sale happening now! 25% of all bass courses, and 30% off all digital books, book bundles and HX stomp presets! Signed books continue to ship worldwide, and I can’t wait to bring you news of new projects in the works for 2024.

Happy Holidays, and more soon!

Janek

If you watch the podcast on YouTube, let me know what you think about it being back on the main channel.

I put up a clips channel and a YouTube channel like I was some kind of YouTubing empire… in hindsight, it might be easier to stick in my little bass-niche lane and manage everything from one place.

Must remember my last name is Gwzdala and not Rogan… 🤔

Having sold out of almost every book in the store last month, there’s a new author-signed book drop today with more stock arriving all month to keep up with the demand of offering both domestic and international shipping! 🥵

Visit The Store

More soon,

Janek

I'm reacting to my playing on the first five "Could I play bass with" videos from my main channel, and discussing how I go through the process of transcribing, learning, and ultimately performing the music.

Janek.

Tour Dates

Bass Books

Bass Courses

I just took delivery of the new Caveman Audio CP-1 compressor, and make a quick announcement of it in today’s episode. I’m also going over cover songs, how I pick a setlist for a tour, and what I’m doing less than 24hrs before my flight to Europe tomorrow to be in the best condition for my short tour of the UK.

Tour Dates

November 4th - Bournemouth Masterclass 3pm | Absolute Music

November 6th - London Masterclass 2pm | Pizza Express Jazz Club Soho

November 6th - London | Pizza Express Jazz Club Soho

November 7th - London | Pizza Express Jazz Club Soho

November 8th - Nottingham Masterclass 3pm | Peggy’s Skylight

November 8th - Nottingham | Peggy’s Skylight

From the beginnings of an idea, all they way through to it potentially being on an album, there are a lot of steps in the process.

One of them is demoing. I think it’s probably way more important in the pop music world, and just vocal music in general, than for instrumental music like the majority of mine. But it has had its place for me over the years, and this episode deals with the journey of the latest single, “13 Fathoms”, from the new album.

Trace the song back to its roots and see what I added and subtracted from the initial idea in order to come up with what you hear on the new album.

Enjoy,

Janek

New Album Pre-Order

Tour Dates

November 4th - Bournemouth Masterclass 3pm | Absolute Music

November 6th - London Masterclass 2pm | Pizza Express Jazz Club Soho

November 6th - London | Pizza Express Jazz Club Soho

November 7th - London | Pizza Express Jazz Club Soho

November 8th - Nottingham Masterclass 3pm | Peggy’s Skylight

November 8th - Nottingham | Peggy’s Skylight

Bass Books

Bass Lessons

It’s kind of crazy to think that over the years I’ve now made 263 episodes of this podcast. Sadly not all of them are still available, but having just gone back through the archives to count up the episodes, it reminded me that this is the thing I’ve been doing online the longest in terms of communicating with my audience.

The original episodes, recorded with the built-in mic of an old laptop went out sometime in the fall of 2006. I was by no means first. I think podcasting started at least 2 or 3 years earlier. But I remember thinking “this could be something…”.

Well here it is, some 17 years later, still hanging in there. Obviously, had I been consistent over the years, we could have been on episode 2,630 and not 263, but I’m still very motivated to keep doing it and very much appreciate the support you all continue to give it.

All the links you need from today’s episode are below.

More soon,

Janek

New Album Pre-Order

Tour Dates

November 4th - Bournemouth Masterclass 3pm | Absolute Music

November 6th - London Masterclass 2pm | Pizza Express Jazz Club Soho

November 6th - London | Pizza Express Jazz Club Soho

November 7th - London | Pizza Express Jazz Club Soho

November 8th - Nottingham Masterclass 3pm | Peggy’s Skylight

November 8th - Nottingham | Peggy’s Skylight

Bass Books

Bass Lessons

I'm breaking down what it took to put together this love letter to my wife in the form of a cover song as an anniversary gift last week. It was one of the most challenging projects I've ever taken on, and also one of the most emotionally rewarding when I saw the outpouring of love for my wife and the willingness of everyone involved.

Check out the epic marriage proposal and the full song as I presented it to her on our anniversary…

New Album Pre-Order

Tour Dates

November 4th - Bournemouth Masterclass 3pm | Absolute Music

November 6th - London Masterclass 2pm | Pizza Express Jazz Club Soho

November 6th - London | Pizza Express Jazz Club Soho

November 7th - London | Pizza Express Jazz Club Soho

November 8th - Nottingham Masterclass 3pm | Peggy’s Skylight

November 8th - Nottingham | Peggy’s Skylight

Bass Books

Bass Lessons

With a piece of technology strapped to my wrist that’s somewhere in the region of 300 years old, I’m gently reminded on a daily basis that old things don’t have to become obsolete.

I’ve felt lately that the current state of the music business is much like the “Quartz Crisis” of the 70’s and 80’s watch industry. Wearing this centuries old analogue technology, that still functions to help me make the most out of what little time I have here on earth, has helped me keep faith in the fact that we’re not antiquated as musicians just yet.

There is hope that people will still continue to want to hear real musicians live, despite the fact they have access to the entire recorded history of our industry for free, and much like the growing appreciation for mechanical watches over the past three decades, there is hope of a resurgence in the value of both live and recorded music.

Janek.

Tour Dates

November 4th - Bournemouth Masterclass 3pm | Absolute Music

November 6th - London Masterclass 2pm | Pizza Express Jazz Club Soho

November 6th - London | Pizza Express Jazz Club Soho

November 7th - London | Pizza Express Jazz Club Soho

November 8th - Nottingham Masterclass 3pm | Peggy’s Skylight

November 8th - Nottingham | Peggy’s Skylight

Album Pre-Sale

Bass Books

Bass Lessons

The sessions in Argentina were a huge success, and I got more out of the studio days that I could have possibly imaged. Cliff and Tom gave the performance of a lifetime on this incredibly challenging music.

Juan Pablo captured it all beautifully in the control room, and flexed his Asado skills away from the studio, making this not only one of the best musical experiences in recent memory, but also one of the best food trips I've ever taken.

The next two months will be spent editing and mixing the album, as well as creating the documentary film to show you how it all came together.

The Pre-Sale is still running, so make sure you get your copy now, and gain access to features like bonus tracks that won't be released to the public, sheet music for the album, live recordings from our trip to Argentina, and a poster commemorating the making of the album.

More soon,

Janek

I just had my bass setup for what I think is the first time since it was made... Not exactly a good example as a professional I know. But what that means is, besides the fact it feels and sounds great for the new album sessions in Argentina next week, I can now share all the exact numbers with you!

I was fortunate to be introduced to a great bass tech here in Los Angeles a few days ago, Ryan Gleason, who snuck me into his busy schedule to help get the bass ready for the studio.

Check Out Ryan’s Luthier Business in Los Angeles.

Let me know in the comments if you think this setup up is on the high side, or maybe just normal for you.

Get the new album via the pre-sale!

Enjoy,

Janek

We are only 10 days away from cutting the new album in Argentina, and this episode takes a deep dive into my process for demoing songs, what I send to the other musicians, and how I prepare to record and give myself the best chance of success.

Join the journey with the making of the new album and be a part of the PRE SALE NOW!

I’ve added another bonus only available to people who are involved in the pre-sale, and that is to include the demos in the package. Listen side-by-side and see how a song changes from conception to finished product.

And if you’ve ever thought about taking a private lesson with me, the new office hours I mention in today’s episode are LINKED HERE.

Enjoy,

Janek

I hope I've had enough crappy travel experiences to be able to bring a lot of you some useful information when it comes to deciding what to take on tour in your carry-on as a musician. Whether you’re boarding a plane to Japan or taking a van ride up the M62 to Huddersfield, traveling with the least amount of stress and the most functionality is the key!

Don't forget the pre-sale for the new album is happening now, and we’re only 18 days away from heading to Argentina to put it all on the line in the studio. Your support is what makes this concept of making music for a living continue to be a viable option, and I can’t tell you how much I appreciate you all being so willing to be engaged in this journey with me.

Enjoy,

Janek

As I say goodbye to the last short-scale bass in my collection this week, I'm ponding the fact that I no longer have one, and asking myself how I would go about designing or contributing to the production of the ideal short-scale 4-string bass.

The Album Pre-Sale mentioned in the episode is here: New Album

Chime in with your thoughts on how you perceive the whole signature bass thing, and what you would consider value being added to an instrument by a musician you admire or follow.

Enjoy,

Janek

Based on the past 17 days of being on the road, we have a definite winner for what I’m going to be using as my main flight case in the foreseeable future.

I’m recapping a little of the East Coast Vital Information tour in today’s episode as well as getting to some key points about traveling with a bass in anticipation of a new video I’m working on for the main YouTube Channel.

Our 4th of July sale is happening for the rest of today (July 5), so grab your 25% discount on books, book bundles, music and Stomp presets, using the coupon code “REDWHITEANDBASS” at checkout.

Private lessons are 50% off for the sale, and there is no limit to how many you can purchase, and then spread out over time to work at your own pace. No discount code needed for the lessons!

Enjoy,

Janek

As the sessions for the new album approach I’m hearing a few things that might be really suited to a 4-string, and since all my main gear is packed for touring as I’m recording these episodes, it’s a great chance to try and figure which second instrument I might take with me to Argentina.

I think the Henrik Linder Mattisson will win out in the end. It’s one of the best neck’s I’ve ever played, and the bass isn’t even finished. Like my main instrument, it’s still just a prototype!

Enjoy,

Janek

To fend off boredom and always be inspired to sit down in the instrument to work, I’m constantly updating the content of my warm-up and my practice routine.

I’m currently out on tour with Steve Smith and don’t have my studio to shoot in. This is one of a couple of episodes I banked at home before hitting the road, in an effort to keep our weekly chat consistent!

You can find all the things I talk about in todays episode at my website if your curiosity is piqued, and you want to dig a little deeper: Janek Gwizdala Website

Enjoy,

Janek

It’s both exciting and challenging to be playing this bass again. It is, after all, still a prototype. There are all kinds of intonation issues with it, the setup is not ideal, and it could probably do with an overhaul of the electronics.

But the fundamental feedback I get from it when I play melodically, chordally, and basically just the music I’m working on for the new record, is priceless. Well worth the struggles for the payoff of range.

As a result, I’m doing a little more playing in this episode than usual, and running you through some of the ways I’m preparing to go to Argentina in a few weeks to cut the new record.

Enjoy,

Janek

The video I posted to my main channel two days ago was neither clickbait nor a joke. I really am selling almost every bass I own, and keeping just the bear minimum I require to do my job to the highest standard. I’m also going back to a main bass I feel very connected to, and that kind of unintentionally torpedos the title of my recent appearance on the SBL podcast:Why Janek REFUSES to play a signature bass (ever again).

I’m not going back to trying to make a signature instrument, or to any of the chaos that the purchase of an FBass was meant to move me away from. But I am curious as to what a finished version of my Mattisson (I still only have a prototype) would feel like.

I go into a little more detail of this move in today’s episode, and also show one of the basses that didn’t make it into the main-channel video.

There are still a few left for sale at the website: https://janekgwizdala.com/store/basses

I have a mega trip to the post office today as a lot of these sold just hours after the video going live. It’s a beautiful feeling to step into space and not into clutter in the studio, and I look forward to updating you further when the transition is complete.

Janek

It never gets old interviewing your heroes. The bigger they are, the kinder and more focused on what’s important they seem to have been.

Steve all of that and more, and is one of the 9 people that inspired me to move to the US over 25 years ago. Between the two bands of the Brecker Brothers in 1992 and Steps Ahead back in 1986, there were nine musicians that changed my life forever and sent me on the mission I continue to be on today.

I'm lucky enough to have now played with (except the bass players of course) all of those cats, and find myself in Steve's band Vital Information as it celebrates 40 years of existence. Here are our upcoming tour dates https://janekgwizdala.com/tour and I hope to get to meet some of you out on the road.

Enjoy,

Janek

We all suffer setbacks in our music, and I just encountered a big one having written an album’s worth of music for one drummer only to find out he can’t make the sessions, and I have to start again from scratch.

This is my process for getting through something like this, and how I don’t let myself get too stressed as it works itself out.

Janek.

It’s a good feeling to be making progress with music again. Just to be able to sit and play a major scale without coughing up both my lungs is a huge step forward, and as you’ll hear in today’s episode, there’s a heck of a lot more than just major scales happening right now.

Here’s hoping I can get back to full fitness in the gym, and execute all the ideas my brain has been working overtime to produce.

Janek

Thanks to an incredibly generous gift from a subscriber here on substack, I once again have a working minidisc player and with it, access to bootlegs and sessions I haven’t heard in over 20 years.

One of my all-time favorites was a show I went to only weeks after moving to the US that featured John Scofield, Will Boulware, Marlon Browden and Matt Garrison.

I share some of that bootleg in today’s episode, and talk about the importance of not forgetting your process from early periods of your development as a musician.

Don’t forget the new Giant Steps book is out and the Pre-Sale for the new album is happening right now!

Janek

As August and the sessions for the new album in Argentina are rapidly approaching, the pressure to get some notes on the page is mounting. In today’s episode I’m working on a new idea and go over how I think about orchestrating a composition, and where some of the idea might possibly end up on the album.

I also came up with a new bonus for everyone involved in the pre-sale for the new album which I’m really excited about!

The bronchitis is still bugging me, but it’s heading in the right direction. I hope I can both be on time with next week’s episode, and have gotten rid of this hacking cough.

Janek

I should have been taping this week's episode of the podcast on Sunday morning, but instead I was making my first visit to Urgent care in 25 years of living in the US. That, and much more in this episode, including the launch of the brand new Giant Steps book!

The technical limitations of playing an instrument that isn’t your first aren’t the only benefit to a more honest writing process, but they definitely help.

Over time my piano chops have become fairly robust, but they are nowhere near my bass playing, and as a result I’m able to sit at the piano and play things that aren’t super technical and baked into my playing. It forces me to simplify my approach to the composition process, and I find many happy accidental changes of direction due to my fumbling of a melody or a chord.

I come across far more things this way than I would at the bass, and today’s episode takes a look at my writing process as I get to grips with composing for a large scale choir ahead of the sessions for my new album in Argentina in a few months.

Be a part of the project by participating in the pre-sale here.

Cheers,

Janek

We’re talking about everything from String Tension to touring pedalboards in today’s episode. A new board build will be coming up in a couple of months to try and prepare for summer touring in the US, and recording the new album in Argentina.

Other things mentioned in the podcast include:

Today's Sponsor: https://www.steigerdynamics.com/

Rick Margitza "Hope":

Bass Books: https://janekgwizdala.com/store

Janek's Bass Studio: https://www.janeksbassstudio.com/

I was so psyched to be back in Santa Cruz on tour again after so many years, and am really glad it worked out to have Jack come by my hotel and tape this interview for you all.

I’ve been a massive fan of the Noble since Jack handed me serial #9 (an unintended prototype) in Santa Cruz when I was on tour with David Ryan Harris in 2014. I’ve used it almost non-stop ever since, have always been curious about the back story to the company, and the ideas that eventually became what we all know and love today as the Noble Preamp DI.

Jack or Noble are in no way sponsoring this podcast. I recommend the unit during the interview out of a genuine love for what it’s meant to me over the years, and this interview came about because of my curiosity in terms of the story of Noble.

Enjoy, Janek

Greetings from the Vital Information 40th Anniversary tour. We’re out on the west coast of the US, and having a blast. Donny McCaslin stopped by our show in Santa Cruz last night and melted a few faces, and we’re now up in Oregon enjoying our first day off, and preparing for the last four shows of this leg of the tour.

I’m psyched to be able to carry a touring podcast setup and still be able to bring you this every week. I know it’s a day late, but travel, combined with an incredibly slow laptop that is allergic to video and audio editing, got the better of me with the workload.

I’m looking forward to being back in my studio and being able to share some video and audio from the shows, but until then, enjoy the episode and don’t forget the pre-sale for the new album is up and running! Get your copy now and follow the journey to Argentina as the project unfolds and takes shape.

From who Peter considers to be his favorite drummer in Weather Report, to how we can all improve our experience as musicians from the simplest adjustments of intent, Peter goes deep into some of the most important stops along the way of his decades-long musical journey.

Steps Ahead, Weather Report, Stan Kenton, and Steely Dan all come up in our conversation as well as details on the importance of his relationship with bassist Marc Johnson and how he reveres studio legends like Jeff Porcaro and Jim Keltner.

We also close the interview with a fantastic Will Lee story that showcases Pete’s humility and sense of humor.

I’m proud to call Peter a friend, honored to have called him a colleague and collaborator for many years, and I’m excited to be able to share this Sunday morning chat with you.

Janek.

Whether as a bass player, keyboard player, guitarist or producer, my time in the studio making records during my career has been some of the most fun I’ve had with music.

Despite the absolute craziness of home-life right now, and the deadlines rapidly approaching on the new book and Steve Smith’s Vital Information tour about to start, I managed to get this episode done late last night, and I hope you dig the trip down memory lane looking at a few of the records I’ve played on.

A good chunk of the songs and albums can be found in this playlist on spotify. I’ll keep adding to the list as I find more.

Cheers,

Janek

This is something I’m very grateful to my early mentors in music for stressing the importance of to me. My biggest early bass influences Laurence Cottle, Phil Mulford and Geoff Gascoyne all had this skill together in a multitude of styles, and that rubbed off on me from day one.

This episode takes a look at using the cycle of fourths, the circle of fifths, half steps, whole steps, and even Giant Steps to cover the full range of your instrument and build confidence in any key, anywhere on the neck.

Don’t forget that the pre-sale for my new album, and possibly one of the most ambitious recording projects I’ve ever embarked on, is now live at my website.

Thank you in advance for all your support, and I can’t wait to bring you more frequent updates on the progress of the project as the recording dates in Argentina approach this August.

It is impossible to cover what makes Markus who he is in a few short sentences. I’ll let you check out his Wikipedia page for the interesting read that is his life story.

This interview could have easily gone three more hours, and I’m glad to have made what I think will be the first installment of many chats on the couch with this incredibly interesting, educated, and thoughtful musician.

As always there is a video version of the interview on YouTube, and if you dare to enter the rabbit hole that is Markus’ discography, make sure you have some serious time to set aside. It is vast, thought provoking, emotional, and innovative, and it really doesn’t matter what you start.

Cheers,

Janek

Thank you for all the feedback on YouTube, and most importantly for all your questions. They vary from the always-asked, to the never-even-thought-about-that, and they all get me thinking!

From three finger technique on your picking hand, to the dos and don’ts of transcription and learning musical vocabulary of any style, your questions are much appreciated and fun to answer, so please keep them coming in the YouTube comments below each episode’s video version.

And don’t forget, I’m really putting my foot to the floor on this mission to get to 100k subscribers on my main YouTube channel by the end of February, so if you have a second to SUBSCRIBE, it’s free and would be much appreciated.

The wheels are turning behind the scenes here with concerts planned all over the world, and I can’t wait to present new projects to you in person.

Cheers,

Janek

Taking Giant Steps as an exercise and stripping away the stigma and general pissing contest that comes with playing it, can really help turn it into one of the most useful vocabulary-expanders no matter what level of musician you are.

It has ii-V-I’s, key centers based off an augmented triad, and a whole lot more when you take a deeper look into it. As I put the finishing touches on a new book base around these chord changes, I get into how I use it as a practice tool in this episode.

The Henrik Linder 4-string Mattisson is one of the gems of my collection, and something I’m playing more and more these days when I need some discipline in the fundamentals for my practice routine.

This episode includes a little playing with Henrik’s spectacular prototype studio bass, a look at the ins and outs of making money in the music business, and how we shouldn’t been ashamed of success.

Hey cats, I'm psyched to bring you my latest podcast episode. Now, I know what you're thinking, 'Janek, are you finally crowd funding the purchase of that Wal Bass you've been drooling over?' and let me tell you, simply put, no. But, I do have a goal that I'm working towards, and that's hitting one million subscribers on YouTube. Why, you ask? So I can bring my music to all corners of the world, that's why. But enough about my dreams and goals, let's get down to business. This episode has some fender P bass, an in-depth breakdown of how the signature instrument business works, and a LOT of reactions to comments from the latest video I posted on my main channel. ⬇️

Check out this podcast episode on the new Janek Gwizdala Podcast YouTube channel:

If you dig what you’re hearing and seeing, be sure to subscribe to the channel.

Thanks,

Janek

It’s cosy on the couch with a bass for this episode as I continue to transform the studio and make different sets for each outlet of the substack and youtube channel that gets published every week.

A quick health progress report for anyone following along with the year’s mission of looking forward 30-40 years that I started 2023 with, and I answer some questions that have arisen as a result of this new push to grow the main YouTube channel to help facilitate more touring and recording as an artist.

As part of that video re-boot, I’ve actually launched two additional channels to help keep each part of my artistic output focused.

There’s the Podcast Channel where you can see the video version of this podcast:

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCFMyKm2jBCZ0bZUyIvv8dKA

There is also a new “Clips” channel for highlights, and slightly shorter-form videos that don’t make sense to be on the main channel:

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCvoj9YUz4XB_2Dxqu2nzU9g

Thank you all for supporting the podcast, the substack, and the new surge to bigger things with YouTube, touring, recording and beyond.

I’m super proud of the work Chelsea has been doing since May of last year in her new dream job in music.

We take a look at a line of work you might not have considered in the music business, and reveal what a literal life-long journey this has been in the making.

I’m also really excited to be uploading this as the first video made specifically for my new YouTube podcast channel. In the interests of hitting my goal of 100,000 subscribers on the main channel by April, and onwards to a million, I’m opening dedicated channels for different areas of my creative output to better serve the specific audiences for each of them, and work the YouTube machine to my advantage for a change.

For all you podcast fans, the podcast channel is where long-form content like this is going to live.

Like Comment and Subscribe on the new podcast channel and help us grow this one and expand our shows. We’re bringing back seasons of Two Bass Hit, Interviews, The Practice Room, and of course continuing to make regular episodes of The Janek Gwizdala Podcast.

Having started out 2023 with a new health, fitness, nutrition, and work routine, I’m able to report in on what that first week of change looks like, and what managing my time as both a parent and a musician looks like.

Also in this episode are some insights into what 2023 is going to look like for me, with the beginning stages of a major project in the works for the summer.

If you have a few seconds, please head over to the YouTube channel to subscribe. A big part of how successful this year’s touring is with my trio, will depend on actively growing the audience and the community of fans around the world with the help of YouTube. It’s free, and if you really hate what I post there, it’s quite easy to unsubscribe.

Thank you as always for all your support,

Janek

If you haven’t read yesterday’s post yet, I recommend checking it out to give today’s podcast some context.

I was really happy to get to speak to my friend and nutrition expert Jeff Rosthchild in this episode. He messaged me about yesterday’s post so I asked him last-minute if he had a little time to be a guest on the podcast, and weigh-in on some details about my change of protocols as I think about later life and old age, as well as give advice for musicians in general no matter what your goals might be.

Jeff has helped me not only with nutrition and data related to my health and fitness levels, but also with mitigating the effects of jet lag when touring. I can now basically be rid of any jet lag within a day of arriving somewhere thanks to these basic principles.

The long and the short of it, for me at least, has been to create good habits and educate myself about what is right for my body, my lifestyle, and my long-term goals. I hope that sharing some of the things I’m adapting in my life right now as regards to health and fitness can help some of you out with your journey.

The Practice Room is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.

Today was a great day in that I got to spend three separate periods of time with my instrument. This is all good news in my quest for more consistency in my routine as I prepare to be back onstage again after the holidays.

With just the idea of playing Pat Metheny’s “Soul Cowboy” blues head and seeing where it takes me, I manage to get almost an hour of solid practice in, and take breaks periodically to discuss what I’m thinking, and how I might adjust my approach in realtime to get more out of the session.

The Practice Room is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.

Having been off the radar for a few days first with a finger injury where I cut myself with a razor, and then with a bout of food poisoning, I’m happy to be back with the bass and back making the podcast.

This holiday edition takes a look at how I come back from unexpected setbacks like this, and manage to keep working on my playing through the holidays in order to be ready for gigs early in the new year.

I’m also happy to announce that we have gift cards at the store for the first time ever! If you’re looking for that last minute bass-related gift, these make the perfect present for a low-end fan. You can also get 22% off everything in the store this holiday season when you use the code ENDOF22 at checkout.

Happy holidays, enjoy the episode, and I’ll be back with more fun stuff next week!

Janek

The Practice Room is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.

My practice time is an always-elastic period of time during the day that I’m constantly trying to improve the productivity of. Everyone’s goals for the time we spend with our instruments are going to be different, but there are some common threads, no matter what your goals, that I think are important to understand and build upon when it comes to your learning process.

Make sure you check out the sheet music and tab at the bottom of this post of the exercises I highlighted in today’s routine.

This episode looks at:

* How to work around real life and be consistent in your practice

* How to practice anytime without your instrument

* When you should commit to the art no matter what vs when to have a day job

* The insane amount of “extra” time I now have after eradicating social media

* What just 20 minutes a day can do for you if you do it every day

* That it’s okay if you find you’re not as committed to the process as you thought you were

* You can’t just skate by with fake-guru/mindset-only frameworks. At some point, you simply have to commit to the work

Janek.

The Practice Room is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.

It’s incredibly interesting to look at how our heroes plotted their careers and their lives out. As I get into middle-age, I think more and more about what is to come in the next 20-30 years, and what I can do to better prepare myself for a healthy and productive old-age.

Meeting Mike Mainieri this week while recording on Steve Smith’s new album really got me motivated to never stop pursuing what I love about music, and I touch on elements of that in this episode.

I also announce our book giveaway winner: John W! If you’re reading or listening John, please drop us a line at www.janekgwizdala.com with the subject “giveaway winner” and we’ll get your books off to you right away!

I would also love everyone’s feedback on something I mentioned in the podcast today: Doing an episode on musicians and their health. I’ve been working hard on that myself, and if people want to hear about it, I’m more than happy to share. If you have specific question, leave them below, and I’ll do my best to include answers in the episode.

Janek

The Practice Room is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.

As an important and challenging record date in New York approaches, I’m sharing my process of learning difficult material under less than optimal conditions. Gone are the days of limitless amounts of time to luxuriate in, and I’ve been working on adapting to this new life as a dad, a husband, a small business owner, and bass player all rolled into the same 24 hours a day when I used to have with only one of these titles.

I’ll share progress from the studio with you this week, and let you know what my studio setup ends up being in terms of the signal chain, and how the session develop of this rare opportunity to spend 5 whole days cutting an instrumental album.

For anyone in NYC, I’ll be at the Bitter End with a trio featuring Cliff Almond and Nir Felder on November 30th at 9:30pm. You can get tickets HERE!

To close out our mega Black Friday Sale weekend, there are just a few hours of Cyber Monday left to take advantage of massive discounts at our store, and at the Bass Studio. Use promo code LIFETIME350 to get $350 off lifetime Bass Studio Memberships.

Like I said in the podcast, I’m doing a giveaway of three physical books for Cyber Monday. Bass Player’s guide to Pentatonics, Altered, and Site Reading. All three, for free, and I’ll ship them anywhere in the world. All you have to do is comment below with your favorite bass player and song, and you’re automatically entered to win.

I know this week has been super heavy on email traffic from me as I not only launch this new blogging and podcast venture on substack, but also let you guys know about our huge Black Friday sale going on right now.

It’s going to quieten down and be better and more consistently paced, just as soon as I figure out what that pace is.

It would really help me if you leave feedback in the comments below on substack, and I hope you enjoy this episode.

Tickets for the upcoming NYC trio show on November 30th are HERE

Our huge Black Friday Sale is HERE

Money is always a hard topic to talk about when it comes to making a request for a fee as a band leader. But so many things go into informing that request that are rarely talked about. This episode deals with the long list of items I recently discussed with my new agent as we plan touring for my trio in 2023.

Watch the new documentary "One Way Out"

Tickets for my upcoming show in NYC with Nir Felder and Cliff Almond on November 30th 2022 ARE HERE

Having put out a new album this year that was exclusively available through my website until now, I'm considering what my timeline for releasing the music and the documentary film to the general public might now look like.

Join the conversation in the comments of the YouTube video I posted along with this episode.  

The gap between what you feel you're doing and what you're really doing when you practice or play live can be huge. Find out where you are on that scale using some of the same techniques and methods I do to help my awareness and learning process.

This episode features content you can find in the LIVE ARCHIVE at Janek's Bass Studio.

For all other books, music, and learning material please visit our BOOKSTORE. 

We're starting out on a trial basis, and have a few realistic short-term goals to increase the visibility of the new trio, my music as an artist, and the amount of touring I'm able to do with the trio as a band leader.

Please get involved in the conversation on my Telegram channel and give us as many country, city, venue, and festival suggestions as you possibly can. I know I've asked for that in the past, but this time we might actually be able to capitalize on some momentum I have right now plus the hands on deck that are able to facilitate offers and reaching out to venues for booking.

Make your suggestions HERE!

It's a working episode today with a look inside my process for working on music I need to know for touring that starts next week. I go over several of the pieces of music I'll need to have 100% dialed in just 5 days from now, and show you where I'm at in the process, and how I go about making sure I'm as prepared as possible. 

The internet has changed the way we make, listen to, and store music as both fans and professional musicians. Today I talk about my latest solution in the plex server, with my windows machine storing my vast music collection on SSD's at home in the studio. We also get into the issue of artists taking some of our favorite music off of the major streaming platforms, and how we might buy that music, own the files, and self-custody them in 2022.

This is the company that built the machine I'm running my music library on: Steiger Dynamics

Do you have a question? Drop it in my Telegram channel

It's great to be home after a very successful tour with the new trio. This episode is a quick recap of the week's events, and looks forward to what lays ahead for the band in 2023. 

I'm really happy to be able go get everything I need for this tour on a smaller pedalboard, and for it to all fit in a Pelican 1510 carryon. This wasn't always the plan, and in this episode I'll break down what led me to this specific set of pedals, as well as what I'm looking for in the future for my touring setup.

New Pedalboard Build Video

Tour Dates and tickets for the summer European tour:

August 22nd - London: Pizza Express Jazz Club
August 23rd - Manchester: Stoller Hall
August 24th - Monaco: La Note Bleue
August 25th - Helsinki: Metropolia AMK Klubi
August 26th - Viljandi: Rhythm Festival

Telegram Channel 

From underwear to flight cases, there are a multitude of things to remember when it comes time to leave on your. With my trio tour fast approaching in just a few days, this process is very much at the forefront of my mind. I'm sharing all my experience of how I used to do, how I do it now, and exactly what gear I take on tour.

August 22nd - London: Pizza Express Jazz Club
August 23rd - Manchester: Stoller Hall
August 24th - Monaco: La Note Bleue
August 25th - Helsinki: Metropolia AMK Klubi
August 26th - Viljandi: Rhythm Festival

Telegram Channel

Things They Don't Tell You About Touring | The Road's Dirty Little Secrets

Let's bring some things into your musical orbit that you perhaps thought weren't on the menu quite yet, by making some minor adjustments to things you already know.

A tiny change (literally one note in a scale) can open up a whole new world of sounds, and I want to use this simple concept to highlight the fact that jazz is not elitist. It's a language.

Tour Dates and tickets for the summer European tour:

August 22nd - London: Pizza Express Jazz Club
August 23rd - Manchester: Stoller Hall
August 24th - Monaco: La Note Bleue
August 25th - Helsinki: Metropolia AMK Klubi
August 26th - Viljandi: Rhythm Festival

Telegram Channel 

Thanks for all the great feedback on the last episode. I get to some of your questions and comments in this follow-up, and tell a few stories from the road as both a band leader and freelance musician.

Tour Dates and tickets for the summer European tour:

August 22nd - London: Pizza Express Jazz Club
August 23rd - Manchester: Stoller Hall
August 24th - Monaco: La Note Bleue
August 25th - Helsinki: Metropolia AMK Klubi
August 26th - Viljandi: Rhythm Festival

Telegram Channel 

Traveling as a musician can be one of the most stressful elements of our job. There are so many moving parts and things to consider, and quite often a lot of them are out of our control. This episode takes a look at how you can take maximum control over how you travel, and bring down the anxiety often associated with heading to the airport with a bunch of expensive gear, and not knowing when you're going to see it again.

Casey Neistat video referenced in today's episode

Tour Dates and tickets for the summer European tour:

August 22nd - London: Pizza Express Jazz Club
August 23rd - Manchester: Stoller Hall
August 24th - Monaco: La Note Bleue
August 25th - Helsinki: Metropolia AMK Klubi
August 26th - Viljandi: Rhythm Festival

Telegram Channel 

Over the past few days I spoke at length to over a dozen friends who are way high up in the world of gear and endorsements both as players and company employees. I heard some great stories, some eye-opening numbers, and some solid advice that I get to share with you in this episode.

Don't forget tickets are now available for the first leg of my One Way Out world tour!

August 22nd - London: Pizza Express Jazz Club
August 23rd - Manchester: Stoller Hall
August 24th - Monaco: La Note Bleue
August 25th - Helsinki: Metropolia AMK Klubi
August 26th - Viljandi: Rhythm Festival

I'm almost certain 98% of people listening to this episode will have been walking the wrong way down a one-way street on this one for a while. Hopefully I can dispel some myths, give you good information, and help you understand how the world of gear and "endorsements" work, and how to make it work best for you. 

Kenny Werner, master pianist and author of Effortless Mastery, has a fantastic concept that I've been using for years to create chord sequences. The hipness is only as successful as your ability to voice lead though, so it's a great way to improve a bunch of skills with just one simple concept. Root motion, chord quality, chord voicings and voice leading. 

There is often an element of risk involved for the independent artist when it comes to touring. How much of a balance can you strike between door splits and guarantees? Do you have any well paid festivals to build your tour around? And what are you willing to personally risk to make it happen?

It sounds more daunting than it needs to be, and in today's episode we take a look at a ton of things that you can take into consideration when assessing what your risk tolerance is, and also how badly you want to make it happen. 

There are hundreds of things that go into the touring process. From the booking of shows to the performances themselves, there is a chain of events that needs to happen to give you any chance of success. That check list can be super daunting, and in this episode I chip away at a few of the big keys needed to make your tour happen. 

Being in Spain with my music and video crew was an absolute blast. I have a few rough bounce snippets to share with you in this episode, along with a bunch of stories from the sessions that are still super fresh in my mind. 

The pre-order is still in full-swing at https://janekgwizdala.com/ and at the end of this episode I talk about some new bonuses we've added to some of the packages. 

The stereo setup makes its first appearance on the podcast today. Albeit very low-key and definitely not dialed in. I thought it would be good to give you a look through the window of what is happening in the week leading up to the recording of the new album, what I'm working on every day, how the setup sounds, and what needs more work before I get on the plane. There are lots of emotions in play right now, and over the past couple of weeks I have journeyed through fear, joy, loathing, and ultimately overwhelming motivation to do the best I can do. It's always a journey, and sometimes you're lucky enough to have amazing fans along for the ride who remind you why you do what you do. Luckily the fear is in the rear-view mirror, and I'm deep in the creative and highly-motivated portion of the process which is the most exciting part. 

The light at the end of the tunnel is getting brighter for sustainability as an artist, and in just the past four days of the pre-sale for my new album, my motivation has risen to levels I haven't had in over a decade. You, the fans, are to thank for that, and it has turned this project into the most exciting I've ever embarked on. 

With streaming music services destroying what little chance of continuing to create art musicians like myself have, I'm saying goodbye to convention, and taking a different path. 

I hope you're curious enough to join me on the journey. Whether you're a musician yourself, or a fan interested in more than just the music, this is going to be some kind of ride and I have no idea where it might end up. 

We're taking a look at 4 of my favorite solo breaks of all time featuring Michael Brecker, Lee Morgan, Pat Metheny, and Nat Adderley. It's incredible how much these sounds and phrases have stuck with me throughout my career and informed what I do today, even if I don't write, play, or record in the style of any of these artists. It's all about time and sound informing nuance. 

I also give an update on the pre-production progress for the new album, and report on yesterday's pedal test session at the rehearsal studio in Los Angeles. 

Marketing guru Seth Godin gets us started with a quote from the "Behind the Brand" YouTube channel, and sends me down a path of working on the mental preparation needed to position yourself for success when you pursue something in music. 

We talk documentary film, recording, dad life, touring, music school, and a ton more in today's slightly longer than normal episode. 

It has been 18 years since Mystery to Me, my debut album, came out. Today I take a quick look back at the complete discography, tell stories about the sessions, and start to plot a course for what is to come in the future.

As mentioned in the show, you can join my new Telegram Channel to be a part of the conversation algorithm-free: https://t.me/janekgwizdala

The podcast is back after a one year hiatus, and it's all thanks to my recent uncoupling from social media. I've quieted the noise, brought my focus to where it needs to spend more time, and as a result have more time to be creative and produce these episodes for you. Aside from explaining a bit of my social media journey, I get into some new music, new pedals, and stereo imaging with my bass rig as I prepare to go to the studio in Spain next month and record my new trio.

As mentioned in the show, you can join my new Telegram Channel to be a part of the conversation algorithm-free: https://t.me/janekgwizdala

I'm working on ways to stay sharp at home while we don't have the option to be out playing gigs. Stamina will be a key element to the success of gigs once they return, and I have a couple of ideas towards the end of this episode that might help you. 

Getting stage-ready for gigs again is going to take some time. But it's something I think we should be thinking about now, even though gigs might be 6-9 months away at least. I'm working with a drum loop and trying to dial in my time, and also working on articulation of solo pieces and making a melody sing. 

Happy New Year! We're kicking off 2021 with some positive takes on the learning process, and what I think are the two most important things in my daily routine. I'm also giving you guys a quick listen to the new sounds of the current pedalboard setup which includes a new pedal this week: The Hungry Robot Moby Dick V2. 

I don't normally take more than a day off at a time, but with the holiday season in full flow here, it ended up being 4 whole days this year!

I finally find a route back into working on music in this episode, and end up creating some really fun frameworks for practicing chords and melody reharmonizations.

I was trying to figure out what to play in today's episode, when I realized pressing record and documenting the process of where to start would be far more valuable than a preconceived idea. 

It's so important not to let the nuance in your phrasing, your time, your sound, and your note choice get lost with technique. Technique typically overshadows subtlety, and we have to police ourselves on that as we develop our learning process. 

There's no substitute for limiting your technical ability when it comes to composition. Being a a very average piano player, I can't get lost in licks and technical ability when it comes to writing, and am really forced to stay within the melody, the harmony, and the form of a song. 

I'm getting into Bach's Violin Sonata No. 3 for my sight reading practice today, as well as taking some oboe technique phrases from Georges Gillet. 

Sunday mid afternoon practice session, the new live album from 2011, and some thoughts about being a band leader, and what might be next. 

Chelsea stops by the studio to say hi, I get into some new stuff with the latest addition to my pedalboard, the Mattoverse swell delay, and close out the episode with a little french gypsy jazz vocabulary. 

I talk about a bunch of different stuff. But make sure you follow Roni Kaspi who is fast becoming my new favorite drummer. I jammed along to some of her playing on instagram in the episosde, so the least I can do is link you to her here: https://www.instagram.com/roniponi100/ One of the best young voices in music I've heard in over a decade. 

From Mahler to Sting, I'm taking a look at some of my favorite chord progressions and transcribing them to play on bass. 

We're gearing up for the NAMM show here in Southern California, and answering your social media for musicians related questions!

Chelsea is back, and 2019 is in full effect. We're answering your questions, getting ready for the new year, and planning my next world tour starting late 2019. 

Coffee drinkers, thanks for coming through big time on instagram today with a huge amount of questions. We to everything from Chris Thile to Tine Thing Helseth, Classical music, what a cover actually is, and a whole lot more. Thanks for being here in 2018, see you all in the new year!

With both me and Chelsea about to embark on a bunch of touring in 2019, we take a look at what it takes to stay motivated to practice, maintain a schedule off the road, and make sure we're happy doing what we do. 

Chris is a legend, he's one of the nicest guys you could hope to meet, is a huge influence on me and my playing, and I'm proud to call him my friend. I stopped by Chris' place in Santa Monica and we got into everything from Bill Burr and Phil Rudd, to Alanis Morissette and the Foo Fighters.

So much going on in today's episode. Long one. Audiences, Artists, YouTube, and how it all works. Or doesn't...

The new book is out, and we break down the contents section by section, and give recommendations for learning jazz vocabulary. Plus, we get stuck into the latest questions from coffee drinkers all around the world. 

Thank for your amazing questions from the last episode. We talk about our favorite and life-changing artists, transcription, the Vatican, the NAMM show, and what goes into deciding whether to release and album or not. 

Questions started rolling in today during the taping of the episode, and we answered them as well as talking about ii-V-I's, depression, how to have a healthy life as a musician, and much more. 

Chelsea is back from tour and we discuss Steve Jordan and Pino Palladino, Photoshop, Hype-Men, and a whole lot more...

The first notes of the day kick off today's episode so my warm-up routine goes under the microscope. Plus, towards the middle of the episode I discuss what was really on my mind in Episode 16's rant, and get into the realities of gear endorsements and the business side of the music industry. 

What's wrong with the music business? Easy question, complex answer. But there is also a ring modulator pedal and a new chord voicing in this episode to take the edge off a little...

I threw on a bootleg of Kenny Garrett with Pat Metheny today to see if there was something that caught my ear to transcribe. It only took about 8 seconds before a great line came up, and that's how today's episode opens...

We get to a bunch of different things in today's episode. From playing in 9/8, to transcribing hi-hat parts, it will all improve your playing and your process. 

So much fun to sit down and chat with my good friend Adam Dorn. He gives his unique perspective on bass, learning, sports, music, and a whole lot more. 

Wasn't planning on uploading an episode this weekend, but the question of practice vs performance came up in my routine this morning. So I hit record and here it is!

Thanks for all the great questions via instagram today. This is a long one, and I tried to get to as many of them as I could. Also featured is a little Michael Brecker bootleg, and some playing on the new 4-String. 

Inspired by the incredible Bobby Vega, (and his video on Bass The World's YouTube page playing with a pick) today's podcast takes a look not only at my new signature 4-string prototype from Mattisson Basses, but how to play that bass with a pick. 

Chelsea makes her first appearance on the podcast both playing, and behind the mic. I'm in Denmark to catch one of her shows with Morgan James and Doug Wamble, and Doug makes a guest appearance to open today's show where we discuss everything from terrible pop lyrics to cajon's as furniture. 

Live from the Mattisson Bass workshop in Kumla Sweden, I get to play the new signature 4-String bass for the first time, talk pedals with Morton Ehlers from Bass Buddha, and work on refining my line with Mattisson as we get ready to launch at Winter NAMM 2019. 

Hello from Stockholm, Sweden! Nice dinner hang with Swedish bass master Henrik Linder tonight, and some live Q&A talking about everything from recording session rates to 5-string basses. 

Live from London, England today. I stopped by my Buddy Jojo Mayer's show in Hoxton, hung with the cats, met some coffee drinkers and got some great audio from the show. 

How I prep for the road, traveling with my bass, how I deal with tour logistics, Jet Lag, and how I travel in Business class year-round.

A new composition comes to life in real time, and I dig into some tracks that changed my life as a bass player. 

Soaking up and transcribing some music from Jaco Pastorius, Brian Blade, Pat Metheny, Michael Brecker, Tigran Hamasyan, Terence Blanchard, Weather Report and Woody Shaw. Going deep inside the listening, learning, and developing process. 

Playing outside the harmony, creating new practice techniques, and a few rants on touring as a band leader. 

Good morning Coffee Drinkers! How about some audio for those sessions on the treadmill, long flights, or subway ride to work...? Chelsea is on tour, I'm working on melodic minor shapes, analysis of a Ruslan Sirota solo from a Bob Reynolds show at the spud, rants about Spotify, and a whole lot more...

Today's guest is my great friend and world class drummer and mix engineer Celso Alberti. We've been working together since the late 90's and I learnt so much from him early on in my career that I am forever grateful for. He has some amazing stories and knowledge to impart in this interview. Enjoy!

Not only is John a long time friend of mine but he's one of my favorite bass players in the world. He's also recorded, mixed and mastered several of my solo albums and is a long time collaborator with Jojo Mayer in the band Nerve. From his days as front of house engineer with John Patitucci to owning the Bunker Studios in Brooklyn, this interview is packed full of great insight and information for musicians of all walks of life. 

I sat down with my good friend and mainstay of the NYC studio drumming culture Steve Wolf for an extended and very informative interview. 

Rob Bailey is one of my musical heroes and someone I'm proud to call not just a friend but also a mentor through my early years living in New York City and finding my way as a musician. He not only introduced me to Zeppelin (way late in my life!) but taught me what it was to be a professional musician. From ad Jingles to Aerosmith, he's literally done it all. Have a listen to what goes into a successful life long career as a guitar player, singer, composer and musician. 

I sit down in NYC with my long time friend, bandmate and fellow magic enthusiast (I learned everything I know from him!) Jojo Mayer. He was fresh off the road from a tour of the UK with his band NERVE and had a lot of great insight to give when it came to our discussion about the music business, drums, the internet and host of other things. 

It's not often that I get to meet any heroes of mine, let alone sit down with them in New York City for a one on one interview. This is the most action packed 35mins of my podcasting history to date and I hope you enjoy "that time I met Seth Godin for the first time..."

I sit down with Animals As Leaders guitarist Tosin Abasi for an in-depth interview and jam session. We talk about everything from touring to fitness, gear to composition and just about everything in between. As well as playing a little together and trading musical ideas. 

A unique story of someone at the height of their career in the music business working as a drummer, recording engineer and mixing engineer with the likes of Sting, Sheryl Crow, Bon Jovi, Rod Stewart, Santana, Kelly Clarkson and the list goes on... who starts over from scratch in a completely new field, becoming just as much a guru of this new found love for health, nutrition, hydration and well being. The information in this podcast could change your life as a musician. It has done for me and allows me to operate at a much higher level whether it's performing live, recording in the studio or composing original music for my own albums. 

I got to sit down and chat with one of my best friends and long time musical companions Bob Reynolds today. We talk about everything from working for RedBull to touring with John Mayer and playing wedding gigs in NYC to recording live with Snarky Puppy. The pressures of playing on live TV, how to be best prepared for any kind of performance and what its been like transitioning from East to West coasts. Check Bob out and follow him at bobreynoldsmusic.com.