Gottastopbuyinggear Posted December 6, 2017 Share Posted December 6, 2017 No, not a personal declaration, but the Spencer Davis Group song. Someone in my band suggested we try it - I had a quick listen and we jammed it last night, and it was one of those rare moments where it came together immediately and sounded (to me) absolutely brilliant first time. The thing is, I can't work out what the bass line actually is... I had a better listen today, and a quick look on the tab sites and YouTube where what little material I could find seems to be in agreement that the main riff is B D E (E string 7th fret, A string 5th and then 7th fret) and then to open E, but I can't reconcile that with what I'm hearing. In the intro I think I'm hearing C D open E for the first few bars at least, but when it gets going it possibly sounds more B D E. I'm not sure it really matters - I've tried playing various combinations of B D B Open E, C D E Open E, even C D B Open E and they all sound fine - but I'm interested to know what other people hear and play, and whether anyone has a more definitive answer? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
3below Posted December 6, 2017 Share Posted December 6, 2017 We play this, sometime I should listen to the original.. The B D E riff fits with what the guitar players play. and just seemed instinctive to drive the song along. Sometimes I follow the the descending chord changes, other times I keep the BDE riff going over them. An interesting error jazz variation (related to my ability with the 5 string) occurred last week. I followed the descending chords a 5th lower. Not unreasonable , guitarists did not complain. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lowdown Posted December 6, 2017 Share Posted December 6, 2017 12 minutes ago, 3below said: We play this, sometime I should listen to the original.. The B D E riff fits with what the guitar players play. and just seemed instinctive to drive the song along. Sometimes I follow the the descending chord changes, other times I keep the BDE riff going over them. An interesting error jazz variation (related to my ability with the 5 string) occurred last week. I followed the descending chords a 5th lower. Not unreasonable , guitarists did not complain. Wey hey...change your user name to 5below. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
steantval Posted December 6, 2017 Share Posted December 6, 2017 37 minutes ago, Gottastopbuyinggear said: No, not a personal declaration, but the Spencer Davis Group song. Someone in my band suggested we try it - I had a quick listen and we jammed it last night, and it was one of those rare moments where it came together immediately and sounded (to me) absolutely brilliant first time. The thing is, I can't work out what the bass line actually is... I had a better listen today, and a quick look on the tab sites and YouTube where what little material I could find seems to be in agreement that the main riff is B D E (E string 7th fret, A string 5th and then 7th fret) and then to open E, but I can't reconcile that with what I'm hearing. In the intro I think I'm hearing C D open E for the first few bars at least, but when it gets going it possibly sounds more B D E. I'm not sure it really matters - I've tried playing various combinations of B D B Open E, C D E Open E, even C D B Open E and they all sound fine - but I'm interested to know what other people hear and play, and whether anyone has a more definitive answer? Have you listened to the Chicago version, I personally think it's better. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Burns-bass Posted December 6, 2017 Share Posted December 6, 2017 Just now, steantval said: Have you listened to the Chicago version, I personally think it's better. It isn’t. The original is an absolute classic that I’ve seen fill dance floors for decades. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Grangur Posted December 6, 2017 Share Posted December 6, 2017 (edited) I also like the Chicago version Thanks for reminding us of this. Edited December 6, 2017 by Grangur 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
steantval Posted December 6, 2017 Share Posted December 6, 2017 (edited) 16 minutes ago, Burns-bass said: It isn’t. The original is an absolute classic that I’ve seen fill dance floors for decades. So does The Birdy Song ? Edited December 6, 2017 by steantval 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Grangur Posted December 6, 2017 Share Posted December 6, 2017 Just thinking, Long Train Running is very similar. Just sayin' Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Burns-bass Posted December 6, 2017 Share Posted December 6, 2017 2 minutes ago, steantval said: So does The Birdy Song - proves nothing ? I don’t go to the sort of places that play he Birdie Song. The Chicago version is an indulgent, tedious and overblown cover of an insistent and arresting mod classic. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
steantval Posted December 6, 2017 Share Posted December 6, 2017 3 minutes ago, Burns-bass said: I don’t go to the sort of places that play he Birdie Song. The Chicago version is an indulgent, tedious and overblown cover of an insistent and arresting mod classic. Never been to a Wedding or your Aunties 50th Wedding Anniversary ? ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Burns-bass Posted December 6, 2017 Share Posted December 6, 2017 4 minutes ago, steantval said: Never been to a Wedding or your Aunties 50th Wedding Anniversary ? ? I’ve been to a huge amount of weddings in the last few years but I’ve not heard the birdie song. As a child of the 80s I can only lament the sad loss of the Birdie Song. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chris_b Posted December 6, 2017 Share Posted December 6, 2017 You can hear the bass line in the first 4 bars of the SDG version. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Coilte Posted December 6, 2017 Share Posted December 6, 2017 Love the "CHICAGO" version. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MartinB Posted December 6, 2017 Share Posted December 6, 2017 I do: G --------- D ---0----- A -2------- E -----0-0- And then I also like to add in an extra E an octave up (D string, 2nd fret) to match the guitar stab. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MoonBassAlpha Posted December 6, 2017 Share Posted December 6, 2017 Another +1 for the Chicago version. The single version packs a lot into a short space. The guitar tone is really mean too, I love it! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Count Bassy Posted December 7, 2017 Share Posted December 7, 2017 1 hour ago, Burns-bass said: The Chicago version is an indulgent, tedious and overblown cover of an insistent and arresting mod classic. For the live chicago version posted I tend to agree with you, but I thought the studio version released as a single was great ( I actually bought it at the time). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Grangur Posted December 7, 2017 Share Posted December 7, 2017 6 hours ago, Count Bassy said: For the live chicago version posted I tend to agree with you, but I thought the studio version released as a single was great ( I actually bought it at the time). I know I posted the live version, as it's what I found, but I too prefer the version on their album. Aren't most live versions of anything by anybody, largely overblown and often self indulgent? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FinnDave Posted December 7, 2017 Share Posted December 7, 2017 57 minutes ago, Grangur said: I know I posted the live version, as it's what I found, but I too prefer the version on their album. Aren't most live versions of anything by anybody, largely overblown and often self indulgent? I'll take a live version of anything over a studio recording every time. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dlloyd Posted December 7, 2017 Share Posted December 7, 2017 The bassline is fairly clear here: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mykesbass Posted December 7, 2017 Share Posted December 7, 2017 At the risk of being controversial, you say your first run through sounded brilliant, so why would you want to change it to make a more slavishly accurate copy? Part of what may have made it sound so great was you as a band feeling it and enjoying it. I'd stick with your own take on it. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul S Posted December 7, 2017 Share Posted December 7, 2017 I like this version - the way it builds at the start with Mr Etcetera kind of changing the bass line around. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
phil.c60 Posted December 7, 2017 Share Posted December 7, 2017 1 hour ago, Grangur said: I know I posted the live version, as it's what I found, but I too prefer the version on their album. Aren't most live versions of anything by anybody, largely overblown and often self indulgent? I didn't see you in the audience at our last gig...... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Burns-bass Posted December 7, 2017 Share Posted December 7, 2017 8 hours ago, Count Bassy said: For the live chicago version posted I tend to agree with you, but I thought the studio version released as a single was great ( I actually bought it at the time). Good point. I’ve just listened to that version and it’s really good. So I stand corrected. I still think the original is better, but it is a very good cover. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
steantval Posted December 7, 2017 Share Posted December 7, 2017 10 hours ago, Burns-bass said: I don’t go to the sort of places that play he Birdie Song. The Chicago version is an indulgent, tedious and overblown cover of an insistent and arresting mod classic. I was one of those Mods. Lambretta TV200, Parka, Ben Sherman, Desert Boots. First full time job £9 a week, living at home , into Hendrix, Fleetwood Mac, Chicken Shack, Cream etc? Happy days and not a care in the world. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chris_b Posted December 7, 2017 Share Posted December 7, 2017 56 minutes ago, Mykesbass said: . . . you say your first run through sounded brilliant, so why would you want to change it to make a more slavishly accurate copy? Part of what may have made it sound so great was you as a band feeling it and enjoying it. I'd stick with your own take on it. +1 Muff Windwood had one of the worst bass sounds of all time and he wasn't half the bass player many are here. Make this line your own. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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