thebrig Posted December 3, 2010 Share Posted December 3, 2010 Does anyone know where I can get the tabs/transcription/video tutorial for the bass on 'Sweet Home Alabama'? Every tab I look at is just A string 55, 33 & E string 33. There is a lot more to it than that, I've worked out a few of the trickier bits, but would like to play them all. Any help would be much appreciated. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
arthurhenry Posted December 3, 2010 Share Posted December 3, 2010 Most bands treat it as a simple 3 chord song, but it's actually very difficult to get the feel right if you weren't brought up in the deep south. Work on the feel and try hard to get it right and you'll play it better than many other bands. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
warwickhunt Posted December 3, 2010 Share Posted December 3, 2010 We do it and the timing of those critical DCG notes does make the song. IMHO the fills and extra bits (as with all songs again IMHO) should be down to you and the band... you might have guessed that I hate bands that don't put any of themselves into a song! Coincidentally the accents/pushes in a couple of parts in the song actually sound good if the bass plays F E rather than F C Oh and don't forget the little push on the first and every other line of the chorus where you play the passing note C on the way back to start the next line on D. Sorry I don't TAB and this may not make much sense to you. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FlatEric Posted December 3, 2010 Share Posted December 3, 2010 [quote name='thebrig' post='1046714' date='Dec 3 2010, 07:19 PM']Does anyone know where I can get the tabs/transcription/video tutorial for the bass on 'Sweet Home Alabama'? Every tab I look at is just A string 55, 33 & E string 33. There is a lot more to it than that, I've worked out a few of the trickier bits, but would like to play them all. Any help would be much appreciated.[/quote] Can't help you but I can confirm there is a lot more to it than that. We've gigged it for almost 4 years and it always goes down well. I can read tab but not at playing speed - I learn by listening. One of the best bits of kit I ever bought was a Tascam Guitar Trainer, when it first came out. I then bought the Bass version and haven't looked back since then. Listen to the song over and over and over again and you will pick up all the subtle moves. Good luck. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
karlfer Posted December 3, 2010 Share Posted December 3, 2010 I used to do it and worked around this as the basis; DD (Octave)D A CC (Octave)C G GG (Octave)G D CDFGFDC repeat backed it off for the quieter bits. Good luck with your interpretation, Karl. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
paul h Posted December 3, 2010 Share Posted December 3, 2010 I play all sorts of stuff during it. [i]Mainly to numb the total horror of having to play a song with zero relevance to me personally or to my taste in music that is played by every single rock covers band on the planet as if the last thirty odd years have never happened or if they have happened that nobody has written a better song since which is quite frankly ridiculous because there must be a gazillion songs to choose from that would go down equally well some of which may have at least been written in this century.[/i] And breathe. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JTUK Posted December 3, 2010 Share Posted December 3, 2010 Wouldn't bother with listening to it, personally..it is a 3 chord groove which you should really..as a band..be able to make it worth listening to. If you can't do this...the band should give up. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thebrig Posted December 3, 2010 Author Share Posted December 3, 2010 [quote name='JTUK' post='1046870' date='Dec 3 2010, 09:53 PM']Wouldn't bother with listening to it, personally..it is a 3 chord groove which you should really..as a band..be able to make it worth listening to. If you can't do this...the band should give up.[/quote] Some bands have been playing for years, some are just starting up, are you suggesting that we pack up as a band, just because I want to learn a bass line properley? I was hoping for some constructive advice from this forum! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JTUK Posted December 3, 2010 Share Posted December 3, 2010 Not sure if you are a new band or not... but the idea is to make a song work with what you have. You may find on certain songs the drum part is very difficult .. (for example ) which many semi pro drummers have not a hope in hell of getting to grips with in terms of feel etc etc .. You then have to work as a unit/band to get the parts of the song you want to get across...in this case you have 3 chords or bass notess which should only really follow the accents of the gtr chords which is mirrored by the bass drum. The only place you want a frill is the second half of bar 2..but should not clash with the gtr. If in doubt, leave it out..less is more, and just accent the chords, as many bands will over play a simple progression. Less means it has a chance to breathe and not clash. But yes..if you can't make this work as a unit...you may as well give up... to put it bluntly, as it is all in the ears of the whole band and this is not an advanced song to try and get to grips with. For sure....many bands butcher it and make it a over played din. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
allighatt0r Posted December 3, 2010 Share Posted December 3, 2010 (edited) There's a couple of different bits that give the line a bit of an edge. e.g. at [url="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r8rnFKo4PAE#t=0m45s"]0:45 on this video there[/url] is my favourite riff in the song: [font="Courier New"] G ||----------------5-5----------------------------| D ||--------------5-----5------5--------5----------| A ||-5-5---0h2--3-----------------5----------------| E ||------------------------3-3-----3-3----3-------|[/font] and there's that quick bit at the end of one or two of the verses that goes: [font="Courier New"] G ||-----------------------------------------------| D ||-----2-5-2-------------------------------------| A ||-2-5-------5-2-3-------------------------------| E ||-----------------------------------------------|[/font] and the C on the way back up during the chorus is very important. It's the difference between sounding tight and sounding sloppy. Follow the drummer's cymbal at the last minute the first and third tie round, and on the 2nd and 4th, you need play the C on the last two offbeats (hard to explain because I'm not a rhythmical terminology buff! Sure someone can correct me. As for constructive advise. Disregard TABs, they are useful for getting things across quickly as i have tried to do above, but you will get MUCH better results with a pair of headphones on and the song on repeat while you play along. Headphones are the best method i have found to hear a bassline clearly! Hope this helps. Edited December 3, 2010 by allighatt0r Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tonyf Posted December 3, 2010 Share Posted December 3, 2010 [quote name='paul h' post='1046848' date='Dec 3 2010, 09:32 PM']I play all sorts of stuff during it. [i]Mainly to numb the total horror of having to play a song with zero relevance to me personally or to my taste in music that is played by every single rock covers band on the planet as if the last thirty odd years have never happened or if they have happened that nobody has written a better song since which is quite frankly ridiculous because there must be a gazillion songs to choose from that would go down equally well some of which may have at least been written in this century.[/i] And breathe.[/quote] +1 The most manic response of any song in the set, I just can't understand why. Fckn hate playing it, but it makes people dance and sing. So I enjoy playing it because of this! Me? I get my own back during the BV's and sing "Sweet Home Wolverhampton"...... T Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dave_bass5 Posted December 3, 2010 Share Posted December 3, 2010 I loved playing this with my other band but hate it with my main band. its like we are all playing a different rhythm. Still, it always goes down well so who am i to complain. 4mins out of my life i can handle. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JPJ Posted December 3, 2010 Share Posted December 3, 2010 Like it or loathe it, punters love it. I play in a southern rock tribute band and if we didn't include this in the set, then i think there'd be a good ol' fashioned lynching Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cat Burrito Posted December 4, 2010 Share Posted December 4, 2010 Pretty much as a basis you are right and just feel it around your band from there Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AntLockyer Posted December 4, 2010 Share Posted December 4, 2010 [quote name='allighatt0r' post='1046911' date='Dec 3 2010, 10:42 PM']Hope this helps.[/quote] As there is no 'like' button on a post I thought I would just say how nice it was for you to go to the trouble of helping the OP like that. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alanbass1 Posted December 4, 2010 Share Posted December 4, 2010 [quote name='paul h' post='1046848' date='Dec 3 2010, 09:32 PM']I play all sorts of stuff during it. [i]Mainly to numb the total horror of having to play a song with zero relevance to me personally or to my taste in music that is played by every single rock covers band on the planet as if the last thirty odd years have never happened or if they have happened that nobody has written a better song since which is quite frankly ridiculous because there must be a gazillion songs to choose from that would go down equally well some of which may have at least been written in this century.[/i] And breathe.[/quote] ...and therefore feeding the ongoing homage to said song Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wateroftyne Posted December 4, 2010 Share Posted December 4, 2010 It's popular with pub bands because most of the pub-gig going public like it - for a good reason, too. IMO, it's a great song. It's an easy song to play, but a hard song to play well - not just the bass, but the whole band too. Whenever I've seen a pub band do it, 95% of the time they murder it. It's too fast, too straight, no dynamics... I'm sure JPJ's band do it spot on, though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
warwickhunt Posted December 4, 2010 Share Posted December 4, 2010 [quote name='wateroftyne' post='1047137' date='Dec 4 2010, 10:11 AM']It's popular with pub bands because most of the pub-gig going public like it - for a good reason, too. IMO, it's a great song. It's an easy song to play, but a hard song to play well - not just the bass, but the whole band too. Whenever I've seen a pub band do it, 95% of the time they murder it. It's too fast, too straight, no dynamics... I'm sure JPJ's band do it spot on, though. [/quote] Come and adjudge how we do it at The Fat Ox on the 17th... can't resist shameless plugs! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
allighatt0r Posted December 4, 2010 Share Posted December 4, 2010 One part I didn't think of yesterday, is the solo bass riff that [url="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r8rnFKo4PAE#t=2m22s"]starts at 2:25[/url] and repeats during the outro: [font="Courier New"] G ||-------------------------------------------| D ||------------------------2-2--3-3--2--------| A ||-5-5-0h2--3-3-----------------------5------| E ||--------------0h2--3-3---------------------|[/font] Regardless of whether we personally like the song, I think the most important and fulfilling aspect of playing in a band in front of an audience is seeing them enjoy themselves. I still wouldn't play 500 miles again though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
arthurhenry Posted December 4, 2010 Share Posted December 4, 2010 [quote name='wateroftyne' post='1047137' date='Dec 4 2010, 10:11 AM']It's popular with pub bands because most of the pub-gig going public like it - for a good reason, too. IMO, it's a great song. It's an easy song to play, but a hard song to play well - not just the bass, but the whole band too. Whenever I've seen a pub band do it, 95% of the time they murder it. It's too fast, too straight, no dynamics... I'm sure JPJ's band do it spot on, though. [/quote] Very true, easy to understand musically, but nailing the feel is not easy in this one. Have played it with many excellent pro musicians and rarely have we managed to recreate the groove of the original. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JPJ Posted December 4, 2010 Share Posted December 4, 2010 [quote name='wateroftyne' post='1047137' date='Dec 4 2010, 10:11 AM']I'm sure JPJ's band do it spot on, though. [/quote] Haha but sadly no! We do our own version, completely unrehearsed because the two guitarists hate the song with a vengeance. Normally by the time we play it (first encore) nobody in the room is too bothered as the alcohol is taking it's full effect so no complaints so far BTW try playing it at a bike rally, we did SHA straight after the Sons of Anarchy theme and the True Blood theme, I thought the tent was going to implode with the amount of pissed up bikers dancing and singing along Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
warwickhunt Posted December 4, 2010 Share Posted December 4, 2010 [quote name='JPJ' post='1047183' date='Dec 4 2010, 11:02 AM']Haha but sadly no! We do our own version, completely unrehearsed because the two guitarists hate the song with a vengeance. Normally by the time we play it (first encore) nobody in the room is too bothered as the alcohol is taking it's full effect so no complaints so far [/quote] I've heard JPJ's band do this song and they do a fine rendition other than far too slow... oh and too quiet! I am of course leaving myself 'wide-open' for when he get to come and see my band do a similar set to his. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JPJ Posted December 4, 2010 Share Posted December 4, 2010 [quote name='warwickhunt' post='1047186' date='Dec 4 2010, 11:05 AM']I've heard JPJ's band do this song and they do a fine rendition other than far too slow... oh and too quiet! I am of course leaving myself 'wide-open' for when he get to come and see my band do a similar set to his. [/quote] Now your just being kind! The words "slow" and "quiet" are not normally associated with the Dirty South Might have to have a trip down to the 'Ox to check you boys out Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wateroftyne Posted December 4, 2010 Share Posted December 4, 2010 I must check you chaps' bands out at some point soon... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
warwickhunt Posted December 4, 2010 Share Posted December 4, 2010 (edited) [quote name='JPJ' post='1047194' date='Dec 4 2010, 11:11 AM']Might have to have a trip down to the 'Ox to check you boys out[/quote] [quote name='wateroftyne' post='1047201' date='Dec 4 2010, 11:19 AM']I must check you chaps' bands out at some point soon...[/quote] The pair of you should try and get down to the gig on the 17th, it'll be a laugh. What was this thread about again... Edited December 4, 2010 by warwickhunt Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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