Bilbo

Mike Rutherford's bass part for the tune 'Alone Tonight' from the 1980 Genesis album, 'Duke'. https://bilbosbassbites.co.uk/alone-tonight-genesis/

I have been using these charts for my own reading practice and, whilst I keep finding errors and kicking myself, they really are the resource that I wish I had had access to when I was learning to play 40 years ago. A bloody goldmine even though I say so myself. Along with Chris Dev and Tom Read's sites.

Another request from the website, this is Dave LaRue's bass part from the tune 'Pompous Circumstance' from the 1994 Dixie Dregs album, 'Full Circle'. https://bilbosbassbites.co.uk/pompous-circumstances-the-dixie-dregs/

I often get comments about the 'eclectic' nature of the catalogue of transcriptions on Bilbo's Bass Bites. All I can say is that it is a reflection of my chaotic mind. I transcribe what I want to transcribe, not what I speculate what people might want me to transcribe. Some of the tunes are things I have been listening to for decades and have just thought, 'that'll be a good one'. Some are requests etc. None of them are there because they are popular (most of them are really obscure). Plenty of other people have transcribed 'the hits'. I thought there was a lot of stuff missing so I thought I would try plugging the gaps. Anyway, this is the complete Tony Reeves bass part for the tune 'Gettysburg' from the 1976 Dave Greenslade solo album, 'Cactus Choir'. https://bilbosbassbites.co.uk/gettysburg-dave-greenslade/

A special request from someone on Talkbass, this is a complete transcription of Tom Hill's bass part for the tune 'Going Down' from the 1974 Geordie album, 'Don't Let The Name Fool You'. https://bilbosbassbites.co.uk/going-down-geordie/

The Andy Gonzalez written bass part to the tune 'Butcher's Death' from the 1988/89/91 (depending on which website you believe) Astor Piazzolla recording 'The Rough Dance and the Cyclical Night'. A simple part the repeats a lot of sections so the whole chart is only about half a page! https://bilbosbassbites.co.uk/butchers-death-astor-piazolla/

Me too 🤣 I find a great way to use the charts is to put the tune into Transcribe or some similar 'slower downer' software and then try playing the charts. If I struggle, I slow it down to 70%, then 50% or 35% and so on. It's then a great way of practising the concentration skills necessary to stay focussed on a chart (the hardest thing to do in the practice room on 'paper only' exercises). You can then get a sense of your progressing. My ambition would be to get one a day in for a year - 365. Some of them are too 'kin hard, though, like the complete Anthony Jackson parts, the Jeff Berlin things etc. Sometimes, you can knock one out in an hour, others take days 🤪 Another Prog 'classic' today, this is the complete Dik Cadbury bass part for the tune 'Everyday' from the 1979 Steve Hackett album, 'Spectral Mornings'. A bit more realistic that the Jeff Berlin stuff!! https://bilbosbassbites.co.uk/everyday-steve-hackett/

My transcription website just passed the 100000 hit mark. Interestingly, there are only 30000 distinct visitors so that's an average of 3.3 hits per person. There are nearly 360 transcriptions on there so the average visitor is looking at less than 1% of the content. 😀

Something else today, a complete transcription of the bass part to the tune 'Doctor Wu' from the 1975 Steely Dan album, 'Katy Lied'. I have credited it to Chuck Rainey as that appears to be the consensus but the credits are not specific and it may have been Wilton Felder or Walter Becker. If you know better, do let me know. Not too tough a read, it's fun (especially if you focus on the backing vocals on the fade). https://bilbosbassbites.co.uk/doctor-wu-steely-dan/

Another Jon Poole part, this one a full transcription of the tune 'Carousel' from the Lifesigns CD/DVD 'Live In London - Under The Bridge'. https://bilbosbassbites.co.uk/carousel-lifesigns/

One from the Lifesigns Live DVD 'Under The Bridge', the tune is called 'Kings'. https://bilbosbassbites.co.uk/kings-lifesigns/

Last one from the Lifesigns album, 'Altitude', this is the tune 'Last One Home'. Get that guitar solo!! https://bilbosbassbites.co.uk/last-one-home-lifesigns/

'Fortitude' from the same Lifesigns album. https://bilbosbassbites.co.uk/fortitude-lifesigns/

'Shoreline' from the same album. https://bilbosbassbites.co.uk/shoreline-lifesigns/

'Ivory Tower' from the 2021 Lifesigns album, 'Altitude'. https://bilbosbassbites.co.uk/ivory-tower-lifesigns/

The next few transcriptions are all from the Lifesigns album, 'Altitude'. This is the tune 'Gregarious'. https://bilbosbassbites.co.uk/gregarious-lifesigns/

Another 'full album' collection, this is Jon Poole's bass parts for the whole Lifesigns album, 'Altitude'. Some really challenging sections but some less so. A great album that has one several Prog related awards over recent weeks. Individual tracks will be posted separately but I thought I would do the 'full album' first this time around https://bilbosbassbites.co.uk/altitude-full-album-lifesigns/

Not read the whole thread but what I 'like' about these 'wunderkinds' is that they give me permission NOT try keep trying to be a virtuoso. It's not about chops, it's about Music. Transcriptions I have done reveal that you can make about 90% of Music without these levels of technique. Someone once said they had never met a player without more chops than they could use.

Don't worry. I have done 5 more this last week or so, just haven't got to posting them. All Jon Poole parts.

I have noticed a couple of errors in this transcription but most of it is there. I will upload an updated version when I get to it. https://bilbosbassbites.co.uk/not-yet-michel-camilo/

Jon Poole's complete bass part for the tune 'Altitude' from the Lifesigns album of the same name. Some great parts in here and some very challenging reading. https://bilbosbassbites.co.uk/altitude-lifesigns/

I went left field in the end.... This was drawn to my attention and BINGO!!

Just bought a Marleuax Consat Straight 5 string from John. Great comms, great deal, as described. John was also helpful in negotiating a courier and packed the bass beautifully. What more can I say? A man of integrity who I would willingly do business with any time.

Bass delivered today by Parcel Force through Overland Express - 20 hours from Northumbria to Suffolk. Cost about £40 with insurance. I think that's pretty good.

They really are. I have been looking at a few AJ transcriptions and there are so many bear traps. He is a genius. A true innovator and barely ever a solo.