What song are you learning?

[Woodinblack]

Spooky - we did Born to be wild and I saw her standing there for an event just before christmas.

[Piers_Williamson]

1 hour ago, stewblack said:

A few to learn this week...

 

1. I want it that way - Back Street Boys

2. Born to be Wild - Steppenwolf

3. I saw her standing there - The Beatles 

4. You're the one that I want - Grease

5. Since you've been gone - Kelly Clarkson

6. New York, New York - Frank Sinatra

7. Lose Control - Teddy Swims

8. Master Blaster - Stevie Wonder 

Good luck with the second run up/run down on Master Blaster!

[stewblack]

10 hours ago, Piers_Williamson said:

Good luck with the second run up/run down on Master Blaster!

Yeah that's going to be fun, I have to stumble through that tonight. The rest are for Thursday but are going on a Bandeoke list so may not get played 🤞

[Stub Mandrel]

13 hours ago, stewblack said:

A few to learn this week...

 

1. I want it that way - Back Street Boys

2. Born to be Wild - Steppenwolf

3. I saw her standing there - The Beatles 

4. You're the one that I want - Grease

5. Since you've been gone - Kelly Clarkson

6. New York, New York - Frank Sinatra

7. Lose Control - Teddy Swims

8. Master Blaster - Stevie Wonder 

 

Busy hour ahead

[stewblack]

3 hours ago, Stub Mandrel said:

 

Busy hour ahead

Uh huh ...

[ProjeKtWEREWOLF]

Toto 'Hold the Line'....

 

I know, I know but it's well out of my doom metal wheelhouse. It's a cracking song. 

[FretsOnFire]

Murder on the dance floor - Sophie Ellis Bextor

 

Lil bit sloppy but it somewhat resembles what's heard on the record now

[AMV001]

'Your Pretty Face Is Going To Hell' by Iggy & The Stooges. Not a difficult part but after being a pick player for decades, learning with the fingers is proving to be the tricky bit.

Edited January 30 by AMV001

[Stub Mandrel]

I've foolishly accepted the challenge of Muse's Hysteria.

 

The difficulty of the various parts is exaggerated, the tricky bit is remembering when to switch between them and doing so smoothly...

[Bilbothebassplayer]

8 minutes ago, Stub Mandrel said:

I've foolishly accepted the challenge of Muse's Hysteria.

 

The difficulty of the various parts is exaggerated, the tricky bit is remembering when to switch between them and doing so smoothly...

 

When I was at college my bass teacher Steve Lawson set the class the challenge of learning a song all the way through, instead of just the good bits. I picked this tune to learn and you are totally right, the main riff gets praised for being a tongue twister but the real challenge is the transitions and form. 

[SumOne]

Here's a challenge:

 

 

[Minininjarob]

On 07/01/2025 at 21:16, stewblack said:

A few to learn this week...

 

1. I want it that way - Back Street Boys

2. Born to be Wild - Steppenwolf

3. I saw her standing there - The Beatles 

4. You're the one that I want - Grease

5. Since you've been gone - Kelly Clarkson

6. New York, New York - Frank Sinatra

7. Lose Control - Teddy Swims

8. Master Blaster - Stevie Wonder 

I learnt since you been gone - it’s not hard but I tried to play it a bit differently in our band. I played with a chorus right up the fretboard  for the verses to try and get a shimmer going then went back down clean for the chorus. 
I can’t help thinking the chorus while easy to play in just not getting the vibe right though. The original track has so many multi tracks on it it’s crazy!

At least I don’t have to sing it. 😂

[Japhet]

I'm learning this. The rest of the band aren't. They'd rather learn the same stuff every other band plays at every gig, but I'm enjoying myself anyway.

 

 

[rwillett]

Black Velvet - Alannah Myles

Turn the Page - Bob Segar

Hollywood Nights - Bob Segar - Bass and rhythm guitar. The rhythm looks dead simple and (to me) is really subtle and complex. Spend a few hours and still can't get it right.

[nilorius]

RHCP - Californication (not learning).

[peteb]

10 minutes ago, rwillett said:

Black Velvet - Alannah Myles

Turn the Page - Bob Segar

Hollywood Nights - Bob Segar - Bass and rhythm guitar. The rhythm looks dead simple and (to me) is really subtle and complex. Spend a few hours and still can't get it right.

 

I used to play Turn The Page several years ago, in a three piece band with a completely different arrangement . Great song. 

 

Are you sure that you're not overthinking Hollywood Nights? I've just had a listen and it is pretty much just a chug in E, playing octaves and straight 8s! You just have to be aware of your damping. It doesn't have a chord change until it gets to the bridge (one bar of D and one bar of A, before it goes back to E). It's a good song, but surprisingly simple! 

 

[FretsOnFire]

Bobby Caldwell - What you won't do for love 

[rwillett]

4 minutes ago, peteb said:

Are you sure that you're not overthinking Hollywood Nights? I've just had a listen and it is pretty much just a chug in E, playing octaves and straight 8s! You just have to be aware of your damping. It doesn't have a chord change until it gets to the bridge (one bar of D and one bar of A, before it goes back to E). It's a good song, but surprisingly simple! 

 

The chords are dead simple and its entirely possible I am overthinking it. Its 'just' E, A and D. The damping is pretty key to it but I'm just struggling to get it right.

 

To me it's about less rather than more, but it doesn't sound right yet. I'll probably get it and I'll go "Ah!" thats what I'm doing wrong.

 

Got 45 mins on a massive Teams call with 400+ people so might just practise quietly in the background (Mic is off).

 

Thanks

Rob

 

Rob

[Si600]

Princess of the Streets -  Stranglers.  It's not terribly complicated and the little runs in it are fun, but it's such a bass driven song there's nowhere to hide if when you fluff it.

Edited Wednesday at 12:38 by Si600

[Jackroadkill]

Waiting Room, by Fugazi.  Not particularly complicated in terms of notes, but a stuttering rhythm that is keeping my on my toes.  Bloody love playing it though.  Next stop is Jaya The Cat's El Camino.

[Bassybert]

2 minutes ago, Jackroadkill said:

Waiting Room, by Fugazi.  Not particularly complicated in terms of notes, but a stuttering rhythm that is keeping my on my toes.  Bloody love playing it though.  Next stop is Jaya The Cat's El Camino.

I absolutely love playing Waiting Room. I found it tricky to pickup at first timing wise but once you crack it, it’s such a great groove. 

[Jackroadkill]

Just now, Bassybert said:

I absolutely love playing Waiting Room. I found it tricky to pickup at first timing wise but once you crack it, it’s such a great groove. 

 

How do you find it goes down with an audience?  We had a row about playing it in my last band - I reckoned it was infectious and would go down well even with people who didn't know it at first, and the singer reckoned that nobody would know it so it was pointless to play the song.  We didn't play it, but I'm fully intending to inflict it on an audience at some point!

[MrDinsdale]

I'm working through some Less Than Jake songs, Roger is a monster bass player. 

[Bassybert]

9 hours ago, Jackroadkill said:

 

How do you find it goes down with an audience?  We had a row about playing it in my last band - I reckoned it was infectious and would go down well even with people who didn't know it at first, and the singer reckoned that nobody would know it so it was pointless to play the song.  We didn't play it, but I'm fully intending to inflict it on an audience at some point!

I play in an originals band so it’s not something we play live, but it’s a song I’ve played at home practicing a fair bit. 
 

I don’t think it matters if no one’s heard of it, it’s one of those tracks that just hits you and stays with you I think. Like you say it’s an infectious song, and if you nail it, one that people will probably search for when they get home. 

Edited 7 hours ago by Bassybert

[Minininjarob]

8 hours ago, MrDinsdale said:

I'm working through some Less Than Jake songs, Roger is a monster bass player. 

My favourite bassist, and when I started playing a couple of years ago I had to learn Look What Happended but as a beginner it seemed completely impossible. I can now play it pretty well, but it’s taken me 18 months to learn it. 
Rest of his stuff, well, I may just have to watch instead!!

(I am so much of a fan I bought an EB MM Sterling just like his) 

Edited 7 hours ago by Minininjarob