What to play in "Eleanor Rigby?"

[fretmeister]

Eleanor Rigby has no real bass part.

What did McCartney do live? Or shall I play the cello part? Or make something up? Ebow and synth pedal?

Help!

[RhysP]

It has indeed got a real bass part, played on a real bass too, not one of those electric things.

What to do live wasn't a problem for McCartney as they'd stopped playing live by the time Revolver came out.

If you're going to try & replicate some of the string arrangement on a bass I wouldn't think an Ebow would be much use as a lot of it is quite staccato.

Edited June 8, 2013 by RhysP

[Shockwave]

Have a listen to Thrices (Brilliant) version for ideas.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AsjoSN0eSMU

[ash]

I do a version with a band that improvises around classic songs. We do a fairly funky version and I use some of the cello phrases, the descending scale sounds good if you play around with it and use the dynamics. Always goes down well and there's a lot of room to play around in.

[tonyquipment]

+1 to the thrice cover

It's nice.

[BassTractor]

You might also find some inspiration in the version by David Schommer with David Jensen.
Be aware that this version is very different, but who knows, maybe the bass still provides you with something.
Me, I think it's worth one's time even if it doesn't:

[media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-TpPCNR9CEc[/media]


Good luck with this!

best,
bert

[fretmeister]

Cool! As soon as I'm not just on an iPad I'll have a listen to them.

[tredders]

There's a great piano / bass / vocals version on Joe Jackson's Summer In The City album. Graham Maby's bass playing is really nice on it.

[mike257]

I'd forgotten all about that Thrice cover, recording sounds like a demo though, its pretty raw. They did a storming version of Helter Skelter as a b-side a few years ago, that's worth looking up on YouTube. I Want You (She's So Heavy) too, didn't know about that one until just now. Thanks for making me go looking! I love Thrice but haven't explored all the B-sides and non-album stuff thoroughly yet.

[fretmeister]

I like the Godhead version, but that won't fit with the musicians we have (violins, oboes, flutes, piano, two basses, etc)

[RAY AGAINST THE MACHINE]

Had the misfortune of seeing Jack Bruce murder this song as an encore at shepherds bush empire. He was terrible. Suppose if Schenker never pulled out of gig the pain wouldn't have been so bad.

[dudewheresmybass]

Cello?

[Lowender]

A version where most of the string parts are played on bass. Pick one. : )

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jyPUtYhMpuE

[karlfer]

A Rickenbacker

[steve-bbb]

you could go all prog with crunching R*********ers and do it like Esperanto of PFM

[fretmeister]

[quote name='dudewheresmybass' timestamp='1370740649' post='2105100']
Cello?
[/quote]

I thought it was cello, not DB!

[BigRedX]

You're going to be playing this with your band?

If that's the case what you play will depend on what the others in your band play. If it was me, I'd work out some simple lines based on the chords and then wait to hear what the rest of the band are doing.

If you are just playing along to the track for your own amusement, then anything you want that fits.

BTW I've never managed to get a Ebow to work with bass strings.

[JTUK]

Start with root, 5th octave played over quavers/8th notes.

[sticker]

[quote name='fretmeister' timestamp='1370766643' post='2105176']
I thought it was cello, not DB!
[/quote]

Yup , String quartet (Cello, Viola,2x Violin) then re-recorded for added depth but no DB part .

[lowdown]

Keep it simple

[url="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QH81RJtakRU"]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QH81RJtakRU[/url]

Garry

[Happy Jack]

That Thrices cover is one of the best interpretations of a Beatles classic that I've heard ... but they really should have axed the final 60 seconds.

[fretmeister]

I've put something together.

Some is based on the cello part, and the rest happened while I was watching 'Live after death'' on the telly.

It might be a bit 'gallopy'.....

[GuitarTart]

[quote name='BigRedX' timestamp='1370767071' post='2105181']

BTW I've never managed to get a Ebow to work with bass strings.
[/quote]

It can be done but it's going to take an up-rated field generator for the heavier strings and properly spaced guide channels to make it work as well on bass as it does on guitar. Sustained notes are ok but arpeggios are almost impossible because of the string gaps.
Maybe we should petition Ebow to make a bass version.

Myk

PS. I've even used the Ebow on my Variax bass, which doesn't have mag pups, by starting the string vibrating with my little finger behind the Ebow. Fun, but not good enough for band use.

[BigRedX]

Technically if you can get the Ebow to work on the average low E guitar string then it should also be able to drive at least the G on a bass. I've never managed to make it happen.

You could never have used that Variax technique with the original Ebow as it required the presence of a magnetic field to switch the circuit on. They only added the switch after complaints from guitarists who rapidly ran down the batteries by leaving it when not in use in the handiest place - on top of their amp!

Personally I'd prefer someone to have another go at getting the Gizmo to work as usable commercial product.

[EMG456]

[quote name='BigRedX' timestamp='1371300491' post='2112298']

Personally I'd prefer someone to have another go at getting the Gizmo to work as usable commercial product.
[/quote]

Well, I haven't heard that word for years. (at least not in terms of a mechanical actuator of guitar strings!)

The guitarist I was working with at the time had one fitted on to his Ovation Breadwinner - it was a brilliant thing.

1970s - great time to be playing music!

Cheers

Ed

Edited June 17, 2013 by EMG456