Detroit Rock City will be my undoing.

[Sarah5string]

We're covering this in our band and it's that one song that I can never get right. No matter how many times I practice, I can't do the little flair/fill in the verse consistently and because it's such a bassline heavy song it's really obvious when it's not right.

We've got a gig a week on Saturday and it includes Detroit Rock City.

AAAAAAAAAARGH

[Dad3353]

Play it at half speed. Repeat until it's perfect. Then increase a little, rinse and repeat. Soon you'll be playing it at slightly faster than the original; you can then play it perfectly at the normal speed. It can't fail. 

[cetera]

Great fun bassline.

Here's a quick youtube vid I uploaded a while back, may help? 

 

 

As with anything it's about playing it over and over again and building up speed. Good luck!

[Sarah5string]

Just now, cetera said:

Great fun bassline.

Here's a quick youtube vid I uploaded a while back, may help? 

 

 

As with anything it's about playing it over and over again and building up speed. Good luck!

OMG that bass is amazing

[ambient]

I’ve never heard of it. Are you maybe overthinking it? Unless you’re in a tribute band will anyone really know that you haven’t got it 100% right?

[Doctor J]

If you're gonna do it, do it right!

 

[nilebodgers]

LOL - I remember not being able to play that fast little verse run reliably when I was in my first band....errrr, 42 years ago. That makes me feel very old 😕

[Sarah5string]

22 minutes ago, ambient said:

I’ve never heard of it. Are you maybe overthinking it? Unless you’re in a tribute band will anyone really know that you haven’t got it 100% right?

I'll know... that's enough 🤣

[Sarah5string]

6 minutes ago, nilebodgers said:

LOL - I remember not being able to play that fast little verse run reliably when I was in my first band....errrr, 42 years ago. That makes me feel very old 😕

I'm sorry.... haha!

[James Nada]

More evidence that Gene Simmons is an underrated bassist.  

[nilebodgers]

6 minutes ago, Sarah5string said:

I'll know... that's enough 🤣

It's kind of a signature part isn't it, everything else backs off and you hear the bass come through with the verse lick.

[Sarah5string]

2 minutes ago, nilebodgers said:

It's kind of a signature part isn't it, everything else backs off and you hear the bass come through with the verse lick.

Yea, plus in our covers band there's only one guitar, so if I fluff it up it sounds reaaaally obvious

[PatrickJ]

47 minutes ago, Sarah5string said:

OMG that bass is amazing

I feel like it should have a maple neck and fingerboard ...

[Cat Burrito]

A lot of those 70s Kiss basslines are really good. I know it's Paul Stanley / Ace Frehley on a couple but Gene generally was really on it back when he was still interested.

[cetera]

7 minutes ago, Cat Burrito said:

A lot of those 70s Kiss basslines are really good. I know it's Paul Stanley / Ace Frehley on a couple but Gene generally was really on it back when he was still interested.

 

Yep, he was very tasteful. I'm a big fan (as if you didn't know  ). Here are a few of my faves from the 70's:

 

 

 

[Crawford13]

1 hour ago, cetera said:

Great fun bassline.

Here's a quick youtube vid I uploaded a while back, may help? 

 

 

As with anything it's about playing it over and over again and building up speed. Good luck!

I take it you have your bass tuned down a half step? 

[cetera]

6 minutes ago, Crawford13 said:

I take it you have your bass tuned down a half step? 

Yup

[Sarah5string]

7 minutes ago, cetera said:

Yup

 

14 minutes ago, Crawford13 said:

I take it you have your bass tuned down a half step? 

I play it on my 5 string which I keep 1/2 a step down as well

[Crawford13]

I made this video for you before I knew you were a 1/2 down, but the same finger will apply a fret up.

 

I thought I should put it as an unlisted video on YouTube, so that no one thinks I am sending dodgy videos.

Edited June 22, 2021 by Crawford13

[ubit]

Download "The Amazing Slowdowner" software. Its fantastic for slowing down pieces of music whilst staying in the same pitch. Really handy for working stuff out.

[Sarah5string]

3 minutes ago, ubit said:

Download "The Amazing Slowdowner" software. Its fantastic for slowing down pieces of music whilst staying in the same pitch. Really handy for working stuff out.

I've transcribe which is pretty decent as well

[Guest]

What happens if you tell your fingers it isn't fast? Do they fall for the lies?

[Lozz196]

1 hour ago, James Nada said:

More evidence that Gene Simmons is an underrated bassist.  

Definitely, we do I Was Made for Lovin You and there’s a lot of fills/runs in there that might not be expected.

[cetera]

9 minutes ago, Lozz196 said:

Definitely, we do I Was Made for Lovin You and there’s a lot of fills/runs in there that might not be expected.

 

Paul Stanley actually played bass on that on the studio recording, though Gene obviously plays it live....

[peteb]

1 hour ago, James Nada said:

More evidence that Gene Simmons is an underrated bassist.  

 

1 hour ago, Cat Burrito said:

A lot of those 70s Kiss basslines are really good. I know it's Paul Stanley / Ace Frehley on a couple but Gene generally was really on it back when he was still interested.

I think that it's quite cute that people think that he actually played on the original records!