Funky Dunky Posted October 15, 2016 Share Posted October 15, 2016 (edited) I'm looking to learn this Tower of Power classic, and I've had a look at it before, but found that my right hand wasn't quite up to the task of keeping the required tempo, evenly and consistently. It's got to be incredibly steady. I've found a few decent bass covers on YouTube (Leslie Johnson's is possibly better than the original!) but no breakdowns or studies with tips on right hand attack. If anyone has learned this RH tour de force, are there any tips you could impart, aside from starting out really slowly and nailing each part before moving on? There seems to be a very specific approach to keeping the staccato feel, but I haven't figured it out yet. Any help at all would go a long way. Thanks Edited October 15, 2016 by Funky Dunky Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ambient Posted October 15, 2016 Share Posted October 15, 2016 I've got a transcription. Had to play it at uni. I just found the best thing was, like you say, to start slowly and build up to speed. We had some quiet detailed notes about the preparation, I'll try and find them. I remember it being incredibly hard, made worse by the drummers and guitarists playing it too fast. The tutors examining us had to stop the performances a few times and tell them to slow down. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Funky Dunky Posted October 15, 2016 Author Share Posted October 15, 2016 (edited) That would be great if you could find the notes. I set myself the challenge of learning it by ear but I may have to admit defeat and look for tab online at some point. In the meantime, here's Leslie Johnson's absolutely smoking cover. For some reason I can no longer embed videos on BC http://www.youtube.com/shared?ci=5yC4CEof_20 Edited October 15, 2016 by Funky Dunky Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ambient Posted October 15, 2016 Share Posted October 15, 2016 Hope you can see these ok. [attachment=229994:Screen Shot 2016-10-16 at 00.37.43.png][attachment=229995:Screen Shot 2016-10-16 at 00.38.13.png][attachment=229996:Screen Shot 2016-10-16 at 00.38.31.png][attachment=229997:Screen Shot 2016-10-16 at 00.38.57.png] Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Funky Dunky Posted October 16, 2016 Author Share Posted October 16, 2016 Thanks Ambient! My ability to read the bass clef isn't fabulous but I reckon it's enough to get me through that. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ambient Posted October 17, 2016 Share Posted October 17, 2016 I've got Funkifise too if you want it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steve Woodcock Posted October 17, 2016 Share Posted October 17, 2016 [quote name='Funky Dunky' timestamp='1476551987' post='3155171'] If anyone has learned this RH tour de force, are there any tips you could impart, aside from starting out really slowly and nailing each part before moving on? There seems to be a very specific approach to keeping the staccato feel, but I haven't figured it out yet. [/quote] Tempo is only around 100bpm on this tune so it is nothing beyond your reach, the tricky part is keeping it even and really getting it in the pocket. As with everything, work on each section in isolation, start slowly and only increase the tempo when you can play it cleanly a number of times. In order to cop Rocco's staccato feel on the verse, play the E on the A string with the first finger of your left hand and gently rest the other fingers flat across the strings to mute them slightly. Rocco plays a [i]lot[/i] of his lines like this, watch him play and you'll see him moving his hand around the neck to fret with the first finger whilst muting with the others as opposed to playing 'in position'. Ambient's transcription looks like it came from here: [url="http://freebasspart.pv24.pagesperso-orange.fr/Tower_Of_Power.htm"]http://freebasspart.pv24.pagesperso-orange.fr/Tower_Of_Power.htm[/url] - plenty more ToP transcriptions there to keep you busy! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Funky Dunky Posted October 19, 2016 Author Share Posted October 19, 2016 [quote name='Stickman' timestamp='1476722090' post='3156654'] In order to cop Rocco's staccato feel on the verse, play the E on the A string with the first finger of your left hand and gently rest the other fingers flat across the strings to mute them slightly. Rocco plays a [i]lot[/i] of his lines like this, watch him play and you'll see him moving his hand around the neck to fret with the first finger whilst muting with the others as opposed to playing 'in position'. [/quote] Ah, very helpful! Thanks for this, exactly the kind of tip I'm looking for. It's particularly this that's eluded me thus far, so thank you! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steve Woodcock Posted October 19, 2016 Share Posted October 19, 2016 [quote name='Funky Dunky' timestamp='1476841841' post='3157744'] Ah, very helpful! Thanks for this, exactly the kind of tip I'm looking for. It's particularly this that's eluded me thus far, so thank you! [/quote] No problem! He explains it in the clip below, if you jump to about the 9 minute mark he demonstrates the line: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4lQ614j2keI Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Funky Dunky Posted October 19, 2016 Author Share Posted October 19, 2016 Aaargh! How did I not find this? This helps immensely! Thank you so much for sharing Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Funky Dunky Posted October 19, 2016 Author Share Posted October 19, 2016 (edited) And then there's this: [media]http://youtu.be/k0XbH_qMXso[/media] I mean......come on......that's not fair... Edited October 20, 2016 by Funky Dunky Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JTUK Posted October 25, 2016 Share Posted October 25, 2016 His Right hand is consistent, of course, his left hand pretty flat and not animated as he frets with a closed left hand a lot..hene it moving around a LOT. NO biggie..Will Lee does this to great effect I'd not suggest you ape this technique completely but switch between say, Jaco's take with left hand mute, which means he is damping with the fretting fingers. This is basically a lift off of the fret and not difficult in itself but is lends it self to a far more fluid line, whereas RP's are much more stilted IMV. Once you can get RH playing solid 16th's, that is where you start....you can then lift off the note as and when Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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