Basslines you struggled to learn then...BOOM!

[Stub Mandrel]

Papa Was a Rolling Stone - I can still only play it by counting and concentrating very hard 😞

[Dan Dare]

5 hours ago, chris_b said:

I find if I listen to any song a few times without playing it, I can get the structure in my head and have an idea of the patterns before I start to pick out the notes. If you already know the geography of a song the notes will come with less effort, even on the more difficult bass lines.

Same here. I listen to things that are tricky that I need to learn whilst doing chores, driving, etc and before I attempt to play them. They seem to worm their way into my mind and, by the time I come to actually attempt them, I have a good idea of where things are going. Then all (all...) I have to do is work out where to put my fingers and when.

Edited September 9, 2020 by Dan Dare

[Reggaebass]

A Bassline I struggled with for a long time is this, it’s not technically hard but I couldn’t get the timing changes, I broke it down into sections and note by note each day, but still made mistakes, then I left it a few weeks and came back to it and played it spot on. Having a break works well for me. I also find listening to the song while I’m driving helps to memorise the bass.

 

[dmccombe7]

6 hours ago, chris_b said:

I find if I listen to any song a few times without playing it, I can get the structure in my head and have an idea of the patterns before I start to pick out the notes. If you already know the geography of a song the notes will come with less effort, even on the more difficult bass lines.

Me too. Once listened to several times i'll start playing along with it to get a feel for the song then i'll write it all out starting with root notes and then filling in the gaps as i go.

Dave

[dmccombe7]

30 minutes ago, Reggaebass said:

A Bassline I struggled with for a long time is this, it’s not technically hard but I couldn’t get the timing changes, I broke it down into sections and note by note each day, but still made mistakes, then I left it a few weeks and came back to it and played it spot on. Having a break works well for me. I also find listening to the song while I’m driving helps to memorise the bass.

 

Not usually a big fan of Reggae but some songs just jump out at me and this one does.

See what you mean about bass timing. 

Think this is why i struggle to play Reggae. Its all about feel.

I'd have to listen to a lot more Reggae to get a better feel for the style.

Have to say you've posted quite a few songs i've liked and enjoyed @Reggaebass

Its great for relaxing and background music. It kinda just flows.

 Dave

[BillyBass]

6 hours ago, Stub Mandrel said:

It's well proven that repeating mistakes is bad, always take a break if this happens.

Changing something about how you are playing helps too, so try the rhythm on a different melody, speed up or down, play the melody to a different rhythm or play in a different position. These halpcement the bits that stay the same.

Also, sleeping on it is good, you may well come back and  find it easier because the practice has had a chance to 'fix' in your longer term memory.

What I meant was that I do better by taking breaks and going back to a song rather than sitting down for 2 hours or more trying to learn a song.  If I am struggling with a particular aspect of a song, e.g. 24 Hours by Joy Division is not a difficult song but I struggled with the timing in the bits where there is quaver length open D just before the start of the next bar.  I had a cup of tea, looked at a bit of bass porn on the internet and went back to the song and got it.  For me, practising for too long in a session leaves me tired and less able to perform well, and I often realise this only after taking a break.

[molecule]

The bass line I am most proud of learning is "Hey Bulldog" by the Beatles.  I prefer learning from chord charts rather than tabs, but I found a tab for McCartney's bass line and I persevered with it trying it out a couple of times each time I did some practice. Eventually it stuck.  I still don't know the chord sequence for the song, I just play the bass tune.

[MattW]

I has this recently with Pull me Under by Dream Theater.  Mainly the fast section a 3 mins in.  Took a break from it for a month, can back to it and nailed it pretty much first time.   Sometimes it just takes the brain a while to process it all I think before it will flow.  Also helps that I really worked on my RH technique in that time I think!!

Edited September 10, 2020 by MattW

[Pow_22]

During lockdown I developed a fascination with the playing and tone of both Nigel Harrison and then latterly Leigh Foxx of Blondie.  I worked through Atomic and Dreaming - both relatively simple lines but Atomic has some strange variations of the same line and that mini run Harrison does during the verse/chorus is surprisingly tricky.

[hiram.k.hackenbacker]

By way of a get out clause, I am a 99% fingerstyle player. I didn’t start out that way some four decades ago, but playing with a pick didn’t last long for me at all. I digress.

I’ve never been asked to play Two Tribes before now, so have never really committed to listening to the bass on the recorded version. I’ve tinkered around with it before, but never gave any thought to how I would approach it if I had to play it as the first song at a theatre gig. We usually ease ourselves in with the ultra dull (bass wise anyway) ‘Relax’. The 80’s band I’m in has green lit a whole raft of new songs during lockdown for next years shows, including Two Tribes. Whether we’ll get to play them is a different thread 😂.

This song really does require it to be played with a pick. It’s a strong attacking bass line which needs that pick sound. That was the first stumbling block, for me anyway. Having sat down and given it some attention over the course of a few nights, I really couldn’t see a way of developing my speed to the required BPM. Then two days ago, it was just there. I think the issue was which stroke to start each phrase on. There’s also a couple of ghost notes in there which are noticeable when absent and that makes a big difference. I can now do it at the correct BPM without thinking about it, which is definitely what it needs for a first song at a theatre.

That’s probably bored the pants off most of you, but I thought I would share anyway.

[Stub Mandrel]

12 hours ago, hiram.k.hackenbacker said:

By way of a get out clause, I am a 99% fingerstyle player. I didn’t start out that way some four decades ago, but playing with a pick didn’t last long for me at all. I digress.

I’ve never been asked to play Two Tribes before now, so have never really committed to listening to the bass on the recorded version. I’ve tinkered around with it before, but never gave any thought to how I would approach it if I had to play it as the first song at a theatre gig. We usually ease ourselves in with the ultra dull (bass wise anyway) ‘Relax’. The 80’s band I’m in has green lit a whole raft of new songs during lockdown for next years shows, including Two Tribes. Whether we’ll get to play them is a different thread 😂.

This song really does require it to be played with a pick. It’s a strong attacking bass line which needs that pick sound. That was the first stumbling block, for me anyway. Having sat down and given it some attention over the course of a few nights, I really couldn’t see a way of developing my speed to the required BPM. Then two days ago, it was just there. I think the issue was which stroke to start each phrase on. There’s also a couple of ghost notes in there which are noticeable when absent and that makes a big difference. I can now do it at the correct BPM without thinking about it, which is definitely what it needs for a first song at a theatre.

That’s probably bored the pants off most of you, but I thought I would share anyway.

Led me down a rabbit hole.

This pre-Trevor Horn version is surely slapped at some parts...

 

[hiram.k.hackenbacker]

58 minutes ago, Stub Mandrel said:

Led me down a rabbit hole.

This pre-Trevor Horn version is surely slapped at some parts...

Can't hear it myself, but it's very messy. The BPM is also significantly up on this version.

[Stub Mandrel]

4 hours ago, hiram.k.hackenbacker said:

Can't hear it myself,

At about 1:00? other bits less sure. Most of it definitely picked.

I suspect some of the single is synth bass, it's too 'clean'.

[musicbassman]

Well, here's Trevor with a pick and some famous mates discussing whether Mark O'Toole ever actually played the line as it was finally arranged on the record. And then he plays it.

 

[ahpook]

23 minutes ago, Stub Mandrel said:

At about 1:00? other bits less sure. Most of it definitely picked.

I'd say it's all played with a plectrum, just with some string clank.

Edited September 13, 2020 by ahpook

[Mudpup]

On 09/09/2020 at 12:45, dmccombe7 said:

HMWYRS i just started slow with the music sheet / tab and worked up to correct speed. There was a little bit in the verse where his timing is off beat that kept catching me out but i kept at it and i can do it but not good enough to play in a band but it was just for my own satisfaction really. I keep working at it tho. Every now and again i have a wee go at it.

Had a lot over the years where little bits of a song evaded me and then all of a sudden it just worked and i got it.

This one i just struggled with the rhythmic feel of the bass line. Its not a technically difficult bass line and its not overly fast. I just had a mental block with it. I don't use a pick but that's never stopped me with any other songs but at a rehearsal one day it just clicked and ever since it just comes naturally.

The band was 2012 so was a while back but its always stuck in my mind.

LIAR by Glenn Hughes.

 

Glenn Hughes basslines are usually fun to try - particularly the later solo funky stuff. Not always technically difficult but getting the sublime feel he has is the hard bit. They always sound like one take recordings to me and played from the heart.

[Mudpup]

2 hours ago, musicbassman said:

Well, here's Trevor with a pick and some famous mates discussing whether Mark O'Toole ever actually played the line as it was finally arranged on the record. And then he plays it.

 

I've just started having a go at this one - we're cobbling a mash up together along with Calling all the Heroes by It Bites. Notewise it's not an issue but the stamina required for the rhythm is killing me after months of playing downtime.

[Mudpup]

And whilst i'm having a posting frenzy i'm rather proud to announce that i've finally cracked Get The Funk Out by Extreme this afternoon. I suddenly nailed a key bit i had been stuck on after pottering about with it for a few months and everything just fell into place. 

 

[Useless amateur]

On 08/09/2020 at 16:33, Woodinblack said:

Hit me with your rythmn stick. For years it was just way too fast, then one day, it wasn't. Litterally one day, I couldn't play it the previous day, my hand worked it out while I was sleeping.

Still can't play it well, but not really the point!

Norman Watt Roy is a talented guy to be fair

 

Jon