Can anyone help with this? Getting so frustrated.

[Evil Undead]

I need to learn this song for my band, we want to play it at a gig next month, and I've tried and tried, and just can not get it. I'm frustrated almost to the point of insanity!

Can anyone tab this, or has anyone got a tab for the version this guy is playing? There's a tab on Ultimate Guitar but it doesn't make sense.

I've been trying to learn it by ear and by following this guy but it's hopeless so far.

Thanks

<iframe width="420" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/iM4qz-jeKZA" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

[RhysP]

There's no song showing up on your post.

[bassfunk]

I think it's The Monkees I'm a believer?

http://youtu.be/iM4qz-jeKZA

[Evil Undead]

[quote name='RhysP' timestamp='1347791252' post='1804916']
There's no song showing up on your post.
[/quote]

Ah balls. I got the embed code from youtube but must have screwed it up somewhere.

[quote name='bassfunk' timestamp='1347791617' post='1804919']
I think it's The Monkees I'm a believer?

[media]http://youtu.be/iM4qz-jeKZA[/media]


[/quote]

It is, thank you.

Edited September 16, 2012 by Evil Undead

[ikay]

Monkees I'm a Believer - http://www.youtube.com/embed/iM4qz-jeKZA

Nice bass line and this is a pretty good video to pick it up from.

This may also help - http://www.songsterr.com/a/wsa/monkees-i-m-a-believer-bass-tab-s23445t3

You can use the 'mixer' function to select the bass tab and mute other instruments to just hear and play along with the tab.

[paul torch]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L-FmG4JTIfk

always wanted to do cover of this version.

[JTUK]

Learn your triads and make the song move and flow... forget the specific part as it isn't a definitive bassline, IMO.
but if you need help making it work, then nick one or two lines and bu;ld on that

[Evil Undead]

[quote name='JTUK' timestamp='1347796810' post='1805023']
Learn your triads and make the song move and flow... forget the specific part as it isn't a definitive bassline, IMO.
but if you need help making it work, then nick one or two lines and bu;ld on that
[/quote]

Triads?

[pst62]

[quote name='Evil Undead' timestamp='1347798142' post='1805054']
Triads? [/quote] Evil little Chinese Gangster types

[steve-bbb]

we play this one in a function band and i cannot stand it - the monkees version bass line goes all over the place - its basically a 12 bar ish thing but just seems contrived and twisted for its own sake but the overall effect as part for the song just about somehow works without working if you catch my drift (getting my coat now) - oh and the infusion26 version can be simplified somewhat and still sound 'close' to the monkees if thats the effect you want to achieve

was it Carol Kaye on the monkees studio version?

you could always stick to the early version here which is pretty much root notes

[media]http://youtu.be/e7OHK9vvhi0[/media]

another version[url="http://youtu.be/xwUl00wOZTo"]http://youtu.be/xwUl00wOZTo[/url]


as JTUK says the bass line is pretty much open to interpretation as long as you can generate the general feel and flavour of it 99% of the punters will still be dancing around their handbags totally oblivious

Edited September 16, 2012 by steve-bbb

[flyfisher]

I have to say that I never bother too much with learning a song by the original note-for-note bass line (unless it's really basic of course).

First off, I generally practice playing just the root notes until I'm comfortable with the structure and feel of the song. With this song, for example, just playing root notes to the 'dum dum-dum, dum-dum-dum' rhythm might be a good start.

Then add in a few passing notes and that's probably all you actually need to create the feel of the song that most of the audience will recognise. As steve-bbb rightly says, that'll be enough to have the audience dancing along oblivious and is probably a better bet all round than attempting to play the original and not quite pulling it off.

I guess this sort of thing goes to the heart of the cover-vs-tribute debate.

[BarnacleBob]

[quote name='pst62' timestamp='1347798336' post='1805061']
Evil little Chinese Gangster types
[/quote]

Good mnemonic there - ECG - first inversion c triad :-)

BB

Edited September 16, 2012 by BarnacleBob

[sime17]

[quote name='flyfisher' timestamp='1347800777' post='1805108']
I have to say that I never bother too much with learning a song by the original note-for-note bass line (unless it's really basic of course).

First off, I generally practice playing just the root notes until I'm comfortable with the structure and feel of the song. With this song, for example, just playing root notes to the 'dum dum-dum, dum-dum-dum' rhythm might be a good start.

Then add in a few passing notes and that's probably all you actually need to create the feel of the song that most of the audience will recognise. As steve-bbb rightly says, that'll be enough to have the audience dancing along oblivious and is probably a better bet all round than attempting to play the original and not quite pulling it off.

I guess this sort of thing goes to the heart of the cover-vs-tribute debate.
[/quote]

This, and in fact:

'forget the specific part as it isn't a definitive bassline, IMO.'

This.

It's one of those things that relies on energy more than anything, and the Monkees version gets it through loadsa passing notes but IIRC thy're all pretty obvious root-3-4 or 5th that you can throw in as you see fit. 'Groove it' first and the detail will come organically I'd say

[Big_Stu]

Far more fun...........
[media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MY9hvn42WqU[/media]

[steve-bbb]

[font=courier new,courier,monospace][font=arial,helvetica,sans-serif]try this [/font][/font][font=courier new,courier,monospace][font=arial,helvetica,sans-serif] [/font][/font]


[font=courier new,courier,monospace]VERSE
G-----------------------------------------
D-------------------345-5--5-2------------
A--------235-5-5--5------------5-2--------
E---3-3-----------------------------3-3---[/font]


[font=courier new,courier,monospace]G---------------------------------------
D----------55--5---7875-----------------
A--3---5-7---7---------7---3------------
E---------------------------------------


CHORUS x4
G-------------0-------------------------
D-----------2--2-0------0---------------
A------23-3--------3-23-----------------
E--3-3----------------------------------


G---------------------------------------
D-----------------------3---------------
A---------3---------------------5-------
E--3-------------3-----------------------[/font]



[font=courier new,courier,monospace]BREAK
G---------------------------------------
D-------------------345-5--5-2----------
A--------235-5-5--5------------5-2------
E---3-3-----------------------------3-3-


G---------------------------------------
D----------55--5---7875-----------------
A--3---5-7---7---------7----------------
E---------------------------------------[/font]




[font=courier new,courier,monospace]FINAL CHORUS
G-------2-3-2-0-----0-------------------
D----------------2----2--0--------0-----
A---------------------------3--2-3------
E--3-3----------------------------------[/font]

[sime17]

HOUSE!

[Evil Undead]

[quote name='steve-bbb' timestamp='1347806359' post='1805208']
[font=courier new,courier,monospace][font=arial,helvetica,sans-serif]try this [/font][/font][font=courier new,courier,monospace][font=arial,helvetica,sans-serif] [/font][/font]


[font=courier new,courier,monospace]VERSE
G-----------------------------------------
D-------------------345-5--5-2------------
A--------235-5-5--5------------5-2--------
E---3-3-----------------------------3-3---[/font]


[font=courier new,courier,monospace]G---------------------------------------
D----------55--5---7875-----------------
A--3---5-7---7---------7---3------------
E---------------------------------------


CHORUS x4
G-------------0-------------------------
D-----------2--2-0------0---------------
A------23-3--------3-23-----------------
E--3-3----------------------------------


G---------------------------------------
D-----------------------3---------------
A---------3---------------------5-------
E--3-------------3-----------------------[/font]



[font=courier new,courier,monospace]BREAK
G---------------------------------------
D-------------------345-5--5-2----------
A--------235-5-5--5------------5-2------
E---3-3-----------------------------3-3-


G---------------------------------------
D----------55--5---7875-----------------
A--3---5-7---7---------7----------------
E---------------------------------------[/font]




[font=courier new,courier,monospace]FINAL CHORUS
G-------2-3-2-0-----0-------------------
D----------------2----2--0--------0-----
A---------------------------3--2-3------
E--3-3----------------------------------[/font]
[/quote]

Thank you is this the original bass line or an adaptation?

I've had a brief look at it and it's still not making much sense, but I really need to sit down with it for a couple of hours.

This song is supposed to be easy haha! Maybe I'm just a goon

[Evil Undead]

steve-bbb,

a massive part of the song just dropped into place thanks to your tab

You're a legend, cheers

[steve-bbb]

[quote name='Evil Undead' timestamp='1347814646' post='1805368']
steve-bbb,

a massive part of the song just dropped into place thanks to your tab

You're a legend, cheers
[/quote]

No probs I just wrote it out it's my interpretation how my ears hear it and fits with the song and is what I play

You can figure out positions and fingerings to suit your own playing comfort :-)

[Evil Undead]

I think I can't be much of a bass player if I have this much trouble figuring out fairly simple songs.

But never mind, with the assistance of YouTube, Ultimate Guitar and helpful Basschatters, I keep muddling through

[steve-bbb]

[quote name='Evil Undead' timestamp='1347817027' post='1805398']
I think I can't be much of a bass player if I have this much trouble figuring out fairly simple songs.

But never mind, with the assistance of YouTube, Ultimate Guitar and helpful Basschatters, I keep muddling through
[/quote]

its not an easy one to figure out to be honest but its one of those ones where once you get a hint it falls into place fairly easily - and it doesnt help when you first listen to it that it seems to bounce around all over the place where it shouldnt ought to be going

[JTUK]

[quote name='Evil Undead' timestamp='1347798142' post='1805054']
Triads?
[/quote]
Ignore the video cover posted in the first instance ....please.

You can walk through the verse, but you really need to pick up the chorus...
so play major triads over the two chords of the chorus G/C... and if you lock in, then that will give the chorus the boot it needs.

[skej21]

[quote name='BarnacleBob' timestamp='1347801308' post='1805119']


Good mnemonic there - ECG - first inversion c triad :-)

BB
[/quote]

Not quite. First inversion of C major triad is EGC. Nice sentiment though!

[Doddy]

[quote name='Evil Undead' timestamp='1347790523' post='1804903']
There's a tab on Ultimate Guitar but it doesn't make sense.
[/quote]

That's what I think too.(in general)

[dave_bass5]

Good thread.
This is the one song (well, main one) that I've never been able to nail properly. We've been playing it for years and it sounds fine, but it's always bugged me that I can't sit down and work the notes out. It's not that I wouldn't be able to, it's more that i just can't seem to find a reason other than wanting to without a need to.

Good luck with it.