Calling All Slap Experts!

[maldy]

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

[JapanAxe]

Yep, great bass line. Never tried to play it though!

[steve-bbb]

try 'Lady Cab Driver'

pre-dates this by several years and is equally groovy and understated

[Lowender]

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.

[Chris2112]

The soundtrack in the video no longer works!

[thisnameistaken]

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.

[MiltyG565]

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.

[JTUK]

The link doesn't work for me either soundwise....
Copyright issue...?

Edited April 23, 2013 by JTUK

[maldy]

The clip still works for me. Maybe it is because I posted a 'mobile' link. I'll try and get the full URL.

[leschirons]

[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.

[MiltyG565]

[quote name='leschirons' timestamp='1366743428' post='2056776']
Away you go, we're all listening.
[/quote]

Nooooo.... Off Topic

[4 Strings]

[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?

[MiltyG565]

[quote name='4 Strings' timestamp='1366755559' post='2057077']
What's chronic, the problem or your masturbation?
[/quote]

The problem

[BassPimp66]

[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]

[MiltyG565]

[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?

[Earbrass]

[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.

[4 Strings]

[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'!)

[chaypup]

[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.

[JellyKnees]

[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.

[maldy]

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 ;-)

[discreet]

Can everyone stop w***ing and tell me why I can't turn up the YouTube volume slider?

[maldy]

Here's the full link for anyone interested, or not chronically doing something else!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=01XVlGccr-s&sns=em

[chaypup]

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]

[Pete Academy]

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.

[iconic]

looks like he is playing chords on his A2....a major unless I'm mistaken...which no doubt I am