northstreet Posted October 14, 2010 Share Posted October 14, 2010 My covers band wants to do Superstition (aiming for something close to the Stevie Wonder version) but we're struggling with the main riff - we just can't get that sound. Any ideas on how I could get close on my bass? It's a Geddy Lee Jazz with roundwounds going through a Hartke LH500 and a pair of 15" cabs. I guess I'm going to need an effects box of some description, but I'm not sure where to start. Any (relevant) suggestions would be appreciated. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OliverBlackman Posted October 14, 2010 Share Posted October 14, 2010 nate watts plays it synth live, so maybe a moog pedal? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr. Foxen Posted October 14, 2010 Share Posted October 14, 2010 Stevie's left hand is pretty tough to emulate. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Delberthot Posted October 14, 2010 Share Posted October 14, 2010 [quote name='northstreet' post='988404' date='Oct 14 2010, 08:36 PM']My covers band wants to do Superstition (aiming for something close to the Stevie Wonder version) but we're struggling with the main riff - we just can't get that sound. Any ideas on how I could get close on my bass? It's a Geddy Lee Jazz with roundwounds going through a Hartke LH500 and a pair of 15" cabs. I guess I'm going to need an effects box of some description, but I'm not sure where to start. Any (relevant) suggestions would be appreciated.[/quote] I see you're getting in early with your Christmas avatar I didn't realise that there was any kind of Synthy sound on there - take it you mean so you can play the funky keyboard bit? It is a very difficult song to get the feeling right, especially since it is quite a simple song Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mxm Posted October 14, 2010 Share Posted October 14, 2010 My reference for this song is the Rainbow (BBC ?) live one from '74... [url="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bim9e5ZBI7A"]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bim9e5ZBI7A[/url] Reggie McBride (?) just 'phat' P Bass tone 'chugging' along ! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
munkonthehill Posted October 14, 2010 Share Posted October 14, 2010 we went ahead and played the beck,bogert and appice version. It suited our style more, plus it was the best and simplest song in our setlist. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bubinga5 Posted October 14, 2010 Share Posted October 14, 2010 (edited) IMO this is the best vid for Superstition...good old Pbass...simple groove... the only bit of riff is small... the main riff has nothing to do with the bass.. [url="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wDZFf0pm0SE"]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wDZFf0pm0SE[/url] Edited October 15, 2010 by bubinga5 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
northstreet Posted October 14, 2010 Author Share Posted October 14, 2010 It's that keyboard riff we're trying to get. I think the original recording uses a Hohner Clavinet - I know I won't get that sound exactly but is there any effect that will get close? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Delberthot Posted October 14, 2010 Share Posted October 14, 2010 (edited) [quote name='munkonthehill' post='988428' date='Oct 14 2010, 09:05 PM']we went ahead and played the beck,bogert and appice version. It suited our style more, plus it was the best and simplest song in our setlist.[/quote] now this I must listen to. I love Vanilla Fudge's version of You Keep Me Hanging On I'm off to have a listen noW Interesting factoid - I sent a message to the VF website to find out if they were planning on adding any UK dates at the time and Tim Bogert himself replied to me Edited October 15, 2010 by Delberthot Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Happy Jack Posted October 14, 2010 Share Posted October 14, 2010 [quote name='northstreet' post='988575' date='Oct 14 2010, 10:51 PM']It's that keyboard riff we're trying to get. I think the original recording uses a Hohner Clavinet - I know I won't get that sound exactly but is there any effect that will get close?[/quote] A few years ago, someone here posted a link to a sound analysis of Superstition - the riff turned out to be layer upon layer [i][b]upon layer [/b][/i]of clavinet, all played by Stevie. You'll never match that sound, but you don't need to. As soon as you start playing the riff, the audience will hear in their own heads the very sound you're trying to re-create. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Happy Jack Posted October 14, 2010 Share Posted October 14, 2010 [quote name='Delberthot' post='988611' date='Oct 14 2010, 11:20 PM']I love Vanilla Fudge's version of You Keep Me Hanging On[/quote] That's been at the core of our set list from the start - check out our recording on MySpace. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Delberthot Posted October 14, 2010 Share Posted October 14, 2010 Me Likee [url="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6fGQhZikqyA"]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6fGQhZikqyA[/url] and its not drummer at the wrong gig Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chris_b Posted October 14, 2010 Share Posted October 14, 2010 This is a great number but most people don't get it right at all. I know a lot of bass players do, but the bass shouldn't play the riff. You'll need the drummer to play the exact hi-hat pattern that's on the record and you just hit 4 in the bar. If you can make that groove then you can add the "13 month old babies"' bit. I bet no one in your band is playing 7 clavinet parts so a regular bass sound will work just fine. If you play it right you won't need any effects. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
risingson Posted October 15, 2010 Share Posted October 15, 2010 Don't play the verse riff, leave it to the clav part if you've got a keys player, it sounds daft on bass. Just put that Eb flat on every beat (don't play it in E... every cover band on earth does that. Followed by crowbarring in Wild Cherry 'Play That Funky Music'). I like to use an octaver on this particular tune when we play live. Stevie Wonder's left hand is still up there with my favourite bassists. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
toneknob Posted October 15, 2010 Share Posted October 15, 2010 [quote name='Happy Jack' post='988624' date='Oct 14 2010, 11:29 PM']A few years ago, someone here posted a link to a sound analysis of Superstition - the riff turned out to be layer upon layer [i][b]upon layer [/b][/i]of clavinet, all played by Stevie.[/quote] Good luck reproducing this lot! [url="http://homerecording.about.com/od/mixingyourmusic/a/mixing_superstition.htm"]http://homerecording.about.com/od/mixingyo...uperstition.htm[/url] 16 tracks in all, 8 of which are clav. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
toneknob Posted October 15, 2010 Share Posted October 15, 2010 Incidentally, one of my bands is currently working on a cover that's somewhere between the original, the BBA version and Stevie Ray Vaughan's live version. In the SRV version, Tommy Shannon does a great job of picking out the right bits of the arrangement for the bassline. See if you can track down a copy. (Of course it's in Eb rather than E though) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
toneknob Posted October 15, 2010 Share Posted October 15, 2010 Something you don't hear on Stevie's version: listen to the "horns only" track on the above link, 0m28s in. Bless you! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chris_b Posted October 15, 2010 Share Posted October 15, 2010 (edited) [quote name='chris_b' post='988644' date='Oct 14 2010, 11:41 PM']....If you play it right you won't need any effects....[/quote] And no amount of effects will make it sound right if you're not playing it right! Edited October 15, 2010 by chris_b Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JTUK Posted October 15, 2010 Share Posted October 15, 2010 you'll need keys and pretty decent player for that riff. Gtrs and bass don't do at all as they are supposed to be playing different parts. If you haven't got keys you can't do that version. The bass is a stomping 4, for the most part..and maybe they hook up to do something on the horn lines ..we do that if that part is weak and the keys has his hands full with the Clav riff.....but basically you are trying to cover a full SW band with gtr and bass and it will not work in a million. Even though SW has a full band, it is still less is more and pretty simple..but you need the instruments. You need keys, gtr bass etc ..minimum. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lowdown Posted October 15, 2010 Share Posted October 15, 2010 [quote name='bubinga5' post='988429' date='Oct 14 2010, 09:06 PM']IMO this is the best vid for Superstition...good old Pbass...simple groove... the only bit of riff is small... the main riff has nothing to do with the bass.. [url="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wDZFf0pm0SE"]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wDZFf0pm0SE[/url][/quote] Yer i like that version..... I also like one of the quotes on the page...... [i][b]"they should take out the dislike button for all Stevie Wonder songs"[/b][/i] Priceless. Garry Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
toneknob Posted October 15, 2010 Share Posted October 15, 2010 [quote name='lowdown' post='989035' date='Oct 15 2010, 11:20 AM'][i][b]"they should take out the dislike button for all Stevie Wonder songs"[/b][/i] Priceless. [/quote] Right on. FWIW I like the Sesame Street version: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
artisan Posted October 15, 2010 Share Posted October 15, 2010 my blues band has been playing this song for years with lead guitar playing the main riff,a touch of rythm guitar,drums & me trying to stay awake playing a very dull bass line,which grooves along quite nicely btw. + there's nowt wrong with playing it it E either as i'll be damned if i'm going to down tune my bass for anyone or even use one of them modern multi string fangled things either Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Doddy Posted October 15, 2010 Share Posted October 15, 2010 To me,it just feels wrong in E. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JTUK Posted October 15, 2010 Share Posted October 15, 2010 [quote name='Doddy' post='989119' date='Oct 15 2010, 12:43 PM']To me,it just feels wrong in E.[/quote] It will do to Keybs as well Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chris_b Posted October 15, 2010 Share Posted October 15, 2010 [quote name='bubinga5' post='988429' date='Oct 14 2010, 09:06 PM']....IMO this is the best vid for Superstition...good old Pbass...simple groove... the only bit of riff is small... the main riff has nothing to do with the bass.. [url="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wDZFf0pm0SE"]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wDZFf0pm0SE[/url][/quote] Great clip. If I play Superstition I use this bass line as the intro. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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