Bilbo Posted June 28, 2012 Share Posted June 28, 2012 I have been listening to my ipod on shuffle lately and am amazed at how many players I recognise in an instant; not because I know the tracks but because I know their sound. Sometimes I can figure out a whole band simply on their individual tone, ideas, soloing etc. Sonny Rollins, Joe Lovano, Dave Holland, Ron Carter, Herbie Hancock, Mike Stern, Richard Bona, Ornette Coleman, Don Cherry, Coltrane, Miles, W & B Marsalis, Mrc Johnson, Eddie Gomez, Chick Corea, Bill Evans, Paul Chambers, Curtis Fuller, Bob Brookmeyer, Charlie Haden...the list goes on and on and on. All by osmosis. What is also interesting is that this is easy when there is a singer involved but less so when it is an instrumentalist. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
51m0n Posted June 28, 2012 Share Posted June 28, 2012 Les Claypool is instantly recognisable... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Truckstop Posted June 28, 2012 Share Posted June 28, 2012 Impressive! The only musicians I can think of that I'd be able to recognise would be Mark Knopfler (who couldn't recognise his style?!) and Ryan Martinie (Mudvayne bassist who has a very distinctive sound and playing style). The problem with recognising musicians is that over the course of a few albums, the whole bands style and sound changes which makes it a bit harder! I could maybe recognise a couple more guitarists from the solo style; Mikael Akerfeldt springs to mind. Truckstop Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lozz196 Posted June 28, 2012 Share Posted June 28, 2012 From lead playing, I think I`d spot Slash pretty quickly by his tone. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wally8 Posted June 28, 2012 Share Posted June 28, 2012 I could tell Opeth's PRS sound a million miles off. Geezer butlers bass in the early sabbath years, Timmy C, Flea's early funk stuff before the radio friendly dross. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
surfinbernard Posted June 28, 2012 Share Posted June 28, 2012 Yeah some players are instantly recognisable- Wilko Johnson of Dr Feelgood, Hendrix obviously, Jack White, Les Claypool, older things like Mississippi John Hurt I also recognise straight away, lots in fact but not everyone. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SteveK Posted June 28, 2012 Share Posted June 28, 2012 Most of the [i]truly[/i] great players are instantly recognisable. FWIW I've always been of the opinion that if you have a unique sound/style then you're half way there. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
steve-bbb Posted June 28, 2012 Share Posted June 28, 2012 terry bozzio's hi-hat bill brufords snare not the biggest fan of slapping but marcus millers slap has a distinctive ring to it seems to be independent of technical skill too id say - david bowies sax tone is always instantly recognisable Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lowdown Posted June 28, 2012 Share Posted June 28, 2012 Apart from the many Bass players, David Sanborn and Dave Grusin for me, George Benson as well. Grusin for his notes and style, and Sanborn for his sound and old school R&B licks. Garry Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cameronj279 Posted June 29, 2012 Share Posted June 29, 2012 Mike Portnoys drum sound comes to mind along with Ryan Martinie (Truckstop bet me to it), Fieldy from Korn, Les Claypool, Tosin Abasi (Animals as Leaders), Protest the Hero, Tool. There's so many bands comes to think of it! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lojo Posted June 29, 2012 Share Posted June 29, 2012 Is your general knowledge good ? If so go on mastermind with this as your subject Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pnefc42 Posted June 29, 2012 Share Posted June 29, 2012 Brian May's tone and melodic style stick out like the proverbial sore thumb Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Panamonte Posted June 29, 2012 Share Posted June 29, 2012 Stevie Wonder on harmonica - instantly recognisable. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lowdown Posted June 29, 2012 Share Posted June 29, 2012 (edited) [quote name='Panamonte' timestamp='1340954484' post='1711858'] Stevie Wonder on harmonica - instantly recognisable. [/quote] Yes of course - also on many films from the 60/70/80's Toots Thielemans is always lurking On some Music cue. Garry Edited June 29, 2012 by lowdown Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
christhammer666 Posted June 29, 2012 Share Posted June 29, 2012 guitar-yngwie malmsteen bass -steve harris Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Norris Posted June 29, 2012 Share Posted June 29, 2012 Richie Blackmore and his much-used augmented second Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WalMan Posted June 29, 2012 Share Posted June 29, 2012 Billy Sheehan - the pinch harmonic. Was listening to a Mr Big d/l in the car from a memory stick that does not show track details ( damn you Audi!) and did not recognise the track/band (there are hundreds of tracks & all the car shows it "Track [i]nn[/i]") but the second he hit the pinch harmonic I knew who it was Steve Morse - has a very distinctive lead guitar style due to picking every note. Eric Johnson - has a pretty recognisable tone too Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dmccombe7 Posted June 29, 2012 Share Posted June 29, 2012 Don't think i could nowadays as so many great bassists on the go. Maybe Chris Squire but usually because i know the songs rather than the sound. I used to be able to tell what bass was being used ie Rik, jazz, precision, ibanez, WAL, Shergold, Kramer, EB3 but again too many nowadays i don't think its possible added to the fact digital samplig makes it easier to sound like something else. Dave Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bilbo Posted June 29, 2012 Author Share Posted June 29, 2012 John McLaughlin, Pat Metheny, Larry Carlton, Eric Dolphy, Duke Ellington's piano and his Orchestra, Joe Zawinul, Jaco (of course), Stanley Clarke, Miguel Zenon, Paul Motian, Bill Frissel, Bob Mintzer's arrangements, Rush, Steve Howe, Allan Holdsworth, Jimmy Johnson, Pete Erskine, Roy Haynes, Philly Joe Jones, Eberhard Weber, Iron Maiden, Steve Lacy, Bill Stewart, Lee Konitz, Carla Bley arrangements, the Birth of the Cool band, Kenny Wheeler, Steve Coleman, Jeff 'Tain' Watts....... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bassace Posted June 29, 2012 Share Posted June 29, 2012 Lists, Bilbo, lists. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bilbo Posted June 29, 2012 Author Share Posted June 29, 2012 Lists is me all over, mate. I have lists all over the place. Latent autism. Seriously, though, they are all players I can recognise from about 2 or 3 seconds of playing. Still can't tell a Precison from a Jazz, though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KevB Posted June 29, 2012 Share Posted June 29, 2012 From the disproportionate number of fluffs, chokes and duffers I reckon a lot of people walking in the Dog&Duck would immediately think 'Hello, has Kev joined another band?' within a few notes...am I famous yet then? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
51m0n Posted June 29, 2012 Share Posted June 29, 2012 [quote name='Bilbo' timestamp='1340979795' post='1712387'] Lists is me all over, mate. I have lists all over the place. Latent autism. Seriously, though, they are all players I can recognise from about 2 or 3 seconds of playing. [b]Still can't tell a Precison from a Jazz, thoug[/b]h. [/quote] Note choice, phrasing, timekeeping, swing vs timbre, attack, sustain etc etc Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
4 Strings Posted June 29, 2012 Share Posted June 29, 2012 [quote name='Lozz196' timestamp='1340896641' post='1711221'] From lead playing, I think I`d spot Slash pretty quickly by his tone. [/quote] Really? Sounds like all the others to me Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
norvegicusbass Posted June 29, 2012 Share Posted June 29, 2012 Susan Boyle Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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