maldy Posted April 22, 2013 Share Posted April 22, 2013 For a long time I have thought the bass line to Prince's Alphabet Street is super super funky. It sits a little quiet in the mix, but bubbles in the background beautifully. To me it sounds very unique and inventive. I've always wondered what is going on (aside from a lot of ghost notes) but for the life of me i have no idea how to work it out. I'm usually pretty good at transcribing and can persevere with some hard stuff, but this gives me total mental block. If anyone has any suggestions I would love to know (I realise this a long shot). If not I would still recommend anyone who is not a prince fan to check out a seriously good bass line. http://youtu.be/01XVlGccr-s Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JapanAxe Posted April 22, 2013 Share Posted April 22, 2013 Yep, great bass line. Never tried to play it though! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
steve-bbb Posted April 22, 2013 Share Posted April 22, 2013 try 'Lady Cab Driver' pre-dates this by several years and is equally groovy and understated Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lowender Posted April 22, 2013 Share Posted April 22, 2013 Sounds like standard pentatonic licks. Probably several licks stuck together and pro tooled. I have to say, I never got what was so great about Price. There are thousands of multi instrumentalists. He's best at guitar and it's mostly ripped off Hendrix . Don't love his songs or his singing. But he sure knows how to sell it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris2112 Posted April 22, 2013 Share Posted April 22, 2013 The soundtrack in the video no longer works! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thisnameistaken Posted April 22, 2013 Share Posted April 22, 2013 I don't like a lot of Prince's tunes, or him, but he's one of the best rock guitarists I've ever heard. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MiltyG565 Posted April 23, 2013 Share Posted April 23, 2013 Seriously disappointed at the context in which the word "slap" is used in this thread. This should go in the "Off Topic" forum where I can talk about my chronic masturbation problem. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JTUK Posted April 23, 2013 Share Posted April 23, 2013 (edited) The link doesn't work for me either soundwise.... Copyright issue...? Edited April 23, 2013 by JTUK Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
maldy Posted April 23, 2013 Author Share Posted April 23, 2013 The clip still works for me. Maybe it is because I posted a 'mobile' link. I'll try and get the full URL. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
leschirons Posted April 23, 2013 Share Posted April 23, 2013 [quote name='MiltyG565' timestamp='1366699179' post='2056006'] Seriously disappointed at the context in which the word "slap" is used in this thread. This should go in the "Off Topic" forum where I can talk about my chronic masturbation problem. [/quote] Away you go, we're all listening. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MiltyG565 Posted April 23, 2013 Share Posted April 23, 2013 [quote name='leschirons' timestamp='1366743428' post='2056776'] Away you go, we're all listening. [/quote] Nooooo.... Off Topic Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
4 Strings Posted April 23, 2013 Share Posted April 23, 2013 [quote name='MiltyG565' timestamp='1366699179' post='2056006'] Seriously disappointed at the context in which the word "slap" is used in this thread. This should go in the "Off Topic" forum where I can talk about my chronic masturbation problem. [/quote] What's chronic, the problem or your masturbation? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MiltyG565 Posted April 24, 2013 Share Posted April 24, 2013 [quote name='4 Strings' timestamp='1366755559' post='2057077'] What's chronic, the problem or your masturbation? [/quote] The problem Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BassPimp66 Posted April 24, 2013 Share Posted April 24, 2013 [quote name='MiltyG565' timestamp='1366699179' post='2056006'] Seriously disappointed at the context in which the word "slap" is used in this thread. This should go in the "Off Topic" forum where I can talk about my chronic masturbation problem. [/quote] Since when is masturbation a problem???? It's the sign of a healthy organ according to specialists... [size=4] [/size] Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MiltyG565 Posted April 24, 2013 Share Posted April 24, 2013 [quote name='BassPimp66' timestamp='1366789153' post='2057215'] Since when is masturbation a problem???? It's the sign of a healthy organ according to specialists... [/quote] Ah, good, good! I was just a bit worried because apparently 15 times a day is "too much" according to some people, but what do they know, eh? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Earbrass Posted April 24, 2013 Share Posted April 24, 2013 [quote name='Lowender' timestamp='1366662293' post='2055756'] I have to say, I never got what was so great about Prince...... ..... he sure knows how to sell it. [/quote] I think you may have answered your own question. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
4 Strings Posted April 24, 2013 Share Posted April 24, 2013 [quote name='Lowender' timestamp='1366662293' post='2055756'] Sounds like standard pentatonic licks. Probably several licks stuck together and pro tooled. I have to say, I never got what was so great about Price. There are thousands of multi instrumentalists. He's best at guitar and it's mostly ripped off Hendrix . Don't love his songs or his singing. But he sure knows how to sell it. [/quote] Me neither. Can only think of one song, 1999, never hear others being played. (I thought you said, 'sure knows how to spell it'!) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chaypup Posted April 24, 2013 Share Posted April 24, 2013 [quote name='Lowender' timestamp='1366662293' post='2055756'] Sounds like standard pentatonic licks. Probably several licks stuck together and pro tooled. I have to say, I never got what was so great about [b]Price[/b]. There are thousands of multi instrumentalists. He's best at guitar and it's mostly ripped off Hendrix . Don't love his songs or his singing. But he sure knows how to sell it. [/quote] Well, what was so good about Price was his amazing dancing bear! [url="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2CnCUXUWZWs"]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2CnCUXUWZWs[/url] Alphabet Street is quite unlikely to be 'Pro tooled' as it was released 3 years previous to the first version of Pro Tools. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JellyKnees Posted April 24, 2013 Share Posted April 24, 2013 [quote name='Lowender' timestamp='1366662293' post='2055756'] Sounds like standard pentatonic licks. Probably several licks stuck together and pro tooled. [/quote] Pro Tools? In 1988? I don't think so... Prince is a very talented guy IMHO. I'm sure he played the bassline without too much studio trickery...it's great groove. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
maldy Posted April 24, 2013 Author Share Posted April 24, 2013 I can totally understand why many people would not like prince musically, his image and his attitude. Despite being a fan, I can see the other side. I don't think he helps himself sometimes, but I try to look past that. I've seen him live a few time and have always been blown away by how tight his band are (although I was not fond of the O2 shows). I think he is a phenomenal guitarist and definitely has a style unique to him. Like most musicians he has probably borrowed and been influenced by others. Nothing wrong with that. I think there is Hendrix there, but that is definitely not all he is. His funk guitar playing is totally non Hendrix. I love the 'chicken grease'! I've also seen him play some mean bass. I've always respected him because most of his albums have intersting bass parts. I like somebody who goes beyond root notes (although there is a time and a place). Just nice that someone recognises the bass as a versatile instrument and is willing to showcase it occasionally. Like others have said, I suspect that the bass line was not pro tooled. I think it is great, a little behind the mix, not to appear as bass masturbation ;-) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
discreet Posted April 24, 2013 Share Posted April 24, 2013 Can everyone stop w***ing and tell me why I can't turn up the YouTube volume slider? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
maldy Posted April 24, 2013 Author Share Posted April 24, 2013 Here's the full link for anyone interested, or not chronically doing something else!! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=01XVlGccr-s&sns=em Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chaypup Posted April 24, 2013 Share Posted April 24, 2013 Pretty all Prince songs will get blocked on Youtube. You have to be a bit sneaky to find one. [url="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1Bizi3Vj3HQ"]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1Bizi3Vj3HQ[/url] Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pete Academy Posted April 24, 2013 Share Posted April 24, 2013 I once saw a programme where Prince was slapping. He is a massive fan of Larry Graham. And like most of the earlier American players, uses a thumb-heavy style rather than the percussive Mark King style. Alphabet Street is mainly thumbed. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
iconic Posted April 24, 2013 Share Posted April 24, 2013 looks like he is playing chords on his A2....a major unless I'm mistaken...which no doubt I am Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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