norvegicusbass

[quote name='silddx' timestamp='1327778829' post='1516735'] I wonder if it will go down faster than a lead walrus, like the last one. [/quote] Lead walrus? Wow that has given me a great idea for a bands name, maybe change the lead to Led and....

Another great one is perhaps the simplest of all Everyday People by Sly And The Family Stone. Larry Graham playing the same note at the same tempo throughout the song yet played with such a groove it becomes the main feature of the song ( biased? ). Incidentally Larry Graham is perhaps the only slap player I can get away with if only because he never seems to mistake his bass for another instrument and it always sounds bassy and not like a drum solo on some empty tin cans.

[quote name='bubinga5' timestamp='1327775714' post='1516660'] took me a while to really relax my playing.. i too fell into the trap of playing too many fills when i was younger.. i think with experience and confidence, playing a groove with a fill here and there becomes a more fullfilling experience, as you can take your time.... its all about controlling your expression [/quote] Agree 100%

[quote name='TheGreek' timestamp='1327775932' post='1516665'] Still one of my favourite riffs after all these years - simplicity itself... [media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gxkx-D4veNk[/media] [/quote] Yeah this is just the thing I was talking about kind of more emphasis on the groove.

[quote name='Paul S' timestamp='1327775394' post='1516656'] Pick up The Pieces, Average White Band, springs to mind. [/quote] Yeah thats a great one

After a brief spell of being a greedy songbird and playing too many notes I am beginning to settle down and find the beauty in simplicity and especially the riff. To me bass playing has two distinct methodologies, supporting the song in a roundabout way with clever little passages and lots of variation ( think JJ ) and the good old riff. I fell into the trap when I first picked up a bass of thinking that playing fast and furious with loads of notes showed I was a good player. I can put this sentiment down to my young age but when I rediscovered an interest in playing after a generation long hiatus I curiously still had this idea that fast furious many noted playing demonstrated a greater ability than just being a team player and playing to suit the song. However listening to a few tunes on good old Youtube has disavowed me of this notion and I am beginning to fall in love with the riff. The riff in Move On Up by Curtis Mayfield is my current fave and it is played without much variation all through the song. Does anyone know of anymore funky style riffs that are pretty much played throughout the whole song?

[quote name='discreet' timestamp='1327603719' post='1514165'] Well I haven't Googled it - but no, I'm sorry to say that Terry Peas and Hot Buttered Kebab are entirely fictional. Though knowing my luck I'll probably get a communication from Terry's lawyer in the morning. [/quote] LOL well if I may can I nick the name when I form a pub band?

[quote name='discreet' timestamp='1327603624' post='1514163'] I would say the original recorded version, too. Or failing that, the best-known version, which is not necessarily the same thing. And JPJ is quite right about tabs and scores, which is why I don't use 'em. [/quote]So you just learn by ear? I always thought this the best way to learn and as a young un could do it a lot easier than an old un with twenty years of factory and construction noise buggering up my hearing.

[quote name='discreet' timestamp='1327603192' post='1514155'] No, I'm not Terry bloody Peas from Croydon, I'm Mark bloody Smith from Sydenham. But you get the gist. Actually it might be better to be Terry Peas from Croydon for tax purposes... I'll look into it. [/quote] LOL I hope there is a Terry Peas from Croydon he sounds a great bassist to me. Please tell me though that Hot Buttered Kebab are real

Even when the interpretation of a song has to be spot on like for example in a tribute band on what particular version has it to be based? I would guess the original recorded version right? A quick read of the comments following bass players playing covers on You tube shows that there is always disagreement anyway on how the part is played. I once saw a clip of JPJ saying that the various tabs and even scores of his parts were invariably wrong.

[quote name='discreet' timestamp='1327601111' post='1514094'] Established well-known bands can do what they like - they have an audience and a fan base, and would not be expected to cover another established well-known band's songs as per the original recordings. Their fans go to see them because of who they are. But if you're Terry Peas from Croydon playing bass in 'Hot Buttered Kebab' (a weekend function band) whose members are all in IT during the week, then your audience are going to be slightly more indifferent to say the least. They haven't come to see you - they're expecting to hear their favourite songs, so you had better come up with the goods! [/quote] Is there a Terry Peas btw? Is it you?

I think though that when an established well known band plays a cover version of another bands song they often embellish basslines and stuff. I personally would hate to go see any band and have them play the song exactly like the record even if it was well within their capability to do so. I tend to favour live versions of songs anyway and I disagree with an earlier post that suggests there isn't much variety between performances a quick look on Youtube will show you many groups perform songs differently. I am still hoping a live version of REM's Country Feedback that was once on Youtube gets re posted as all the other ones I have seen weren't as good and were very different.

[quote name='icastle' timestamp='1327509355' post='1512604'] Kinda depends on what the song is. Some tunes have distinctive bass parts (someone was laughing at themselves after mucking up 'Alright Now' on here recently) and sound odd if not played as per the original. Other tunes will stand a little artistic licence. If you're playing in a covers band then I guess the secret is just deciding on a sympathetic balance between 'original' and 'improvised'. If you're playing in a tribute band however, then it needs to be an exact copy of the original or else you'll get stalked. [/quote] Most of the basslines I love are rock hard for me to play I am currently learning Celebration Day by LZ and cant imagine not being stalked if I ever took my version onto a stage . Have you ever noticed though that the "iconic" basslines tend to be easy to play? I am thinking of basslines that I heard while I was a young un like Public Image, Transmission and The Chain.

[quote name='mikeh' timestamp='1327509313' post='1512602'] I always play something close to the original, but I do like to ad my own thing in there aswell. How close to the original depends on the song, as there are some songs that really do sound the best when played with the original bass line. [/quote] I think the iconic basslines in songs are most likely to be adhered to as the audience would be familiar with those anyway

[quote name='Lozz196' timestamp='1327509080' post='1512596'] I only do it if I really can`t hear the original bassline, otherwise I try to stick as near to the original as possible. In most cases, even if I can`t hear the exact bassline, I`m probably 90% to the original anyway. [/quote] Yeah I figured that most players would do something like this. I reckon that most of the original bands dont even play the same thing when they gig each night

Lots of players do scales to add amongst other things dexterity to their fingers but what other little things do you do everyday to improve your playing? As for myself I always practice quick octave jumps as they feature quite a lot in bass parts. I first did this when trying to nail Last Train To London by ELO and every time I pick up the bass I hammer out that part. I also play the synth bass part to Donna Summers I Feel Love Just to get used to quick string hops. Anything else I can do to increase dexterity?

How many of you gigging bassists dispense entirely with learning the given bassline of a song make up their own basslines for cover versions? I dont gig myself as I am just kind of relearning how to play after years of not playing at all but if I did gig I think I would like to add my own little bit or just make bits up when the original was beyond my abilities.

[quote name='BigAlonBass' timestamp='1327354000' post='1509954'] I wasn't taking the ...... I've watched a few live videos in my time (Yes-Videos. I'm that old) and he played it the same way a few times. Nip over to youtube and check a few out, if you don't believe iz, me old mucker. [/quote] Cushty I'll do that. I always asumed he played this with a pick but then Geordies cant tell a lie so I believe you And I am old enough to have watched videos as well.

[quote name='SteveO' timestamp='1327346083' post='1509738'] I usually play the line leading with middle finger on right hand. Firstly because the first note is a leading note so the beat then falls on the index finger, and secondly because you can do a 21 21[u]2[/u]1 | 21 21[u]2[/u]1 | 21 21[u]2[/u]1 pattern, with the [u]2[/u] being the octave F#. this leaves loads of space around the notes making it easy to keep the groove super tight with the drums. Saying that, do whatever seems comfortable to you, and if its good enough for JPJ then who am I to argue [/quote] Cheers for your answer. Yeah your'e way seems to be the way I would do it if I wrote it down or had it my head before my fingers take over but soon as they do it seems to feel natural to play it my way ( maybe I am freaky ). I am sure the other poster was just joshing when he said JPJ plays it that way if he was serious then I am well chuffed

[quote name='BigAlonBass' timestamp='1327342943' post='1509664'] John Paul Jones. (Live) [/quote]Nooo! Your'e just saying this to make me feel good. Plus you are a Geordie just like me

Am I playing Immigrant Song wrong? After the beginning where it begins the main heavy riff I play E F# F# F# ( octave F# ) F# then repeat. It sounds close enough to the original song but my main concern has to do with my right hand. I use two fingers my middle and index but I am sure I am not playing it very economically ( although it feels comfortable enough ). I sort of play the open E ( index ) F# ( middle ) F# (index) F# (middle ) then I pluck the octave F# on the D string with my index and the next F# on the E string also with my index and back to the open E with my index as well. Three index fingering in a row! Doubt this breaks any laws but I am sure its not the way it should be played just dont quite know how I fell into it. I sort of strafe from the D string back to the E and avoiding the A string. Anyone else play it this way?

[quote name='Wally' timestamp='1326632918' post='1499693'] I never found a tab for long train running that was any good. I learnt from here: [media]http://youtu.be/pjB_knpDah8[/media] [/quote] This bloke is great he has loads of videos on his channel and really talks through it

When playing roots, fifths and octaves I sort of use my middle finger of my fretting hand to play the root then I bar the next two strings with my little finger to play the fifth and octave. It sometimes results in a not too clean sound so is it better to actually move my little finger from one string to the other so the pad of the little finger rests on each string individually? It seems harder to play it like this when I play fast but sounds cleaner when playing slow. What do you do?

Right scratch part of the above post because with the use of my sons keen eyes to read the small writing beside the light I have managed to ascertain that the red light comes on only when the battery is low. But why cant I get the sound to come out of the PC speakers? I have asked my son but he is only seven and he said he doesn't know

I have a cheap Lindo semi accoustic bass and for the first time want to hear it amplified albeit through my PC. I have just bought a USB guitar Iink and connected it to the pc and my bass but nothing came out of the pc speakers. I have put in a fresh battery to operate the active pick-ups on my bass and a red light briefly flashed but then went out. I would have thought the red light would be on all the time the guitar was switched on but its not showing at all. Any ideas?