Sensible Bass Parts

[bovinehost]

I know "what's the hardest bass line" is a happy subject with you youngsters, and I try my best to make fun of you with answers like "Smoke on the Water".

But I had to play "Blue" (Patsy Cline, I think) the other night, and the bass part just walks from here to there in such a wonderful way....I was blown away with its COMMON SENSE.

Has anyone ever played this tune?

Do you have any other examples of bass parts that just CLICK with you?

 

[Aussie Mark]

"Stray Cat Strut" is like that for me. Heck, there's even a bass solo in it!

 

[dlloyd]

I know "what's the hardest bass line" is a happy subject with you youngsters, and I try my best to make fun of you with answers like "Smoke on the Water".

But I had to play "Blue" (Patsy Cline, I think) the other night, and the bass part just walks from here to there in such a wonderful way....I was blown away with its COMMON SENSE.

Has anyone ever played this tune?

Do you have any other examples of bass parts that just CLICK with you?

The basslines that blow me away most of all are those that I've heard hundreds of times but never noticed... because they fit so well.

Planet Telex by Radiohead is the most recent example.

 

[LeftyLB]

When I was a kid, there was a song I used to love by Ian Dury and the Blockheads called "Hit me with your rythmn stick".

I then didn't hear the song for years until one evening I was driving down to my mates house and it came on the radio. The bass line just blew me away. Nothing too difficult as such, but the grove of the line carrying the verses along.

I must have locked into the bass line as a kid and not realised that the bass was calling out to me at a young age. Had I known way back then, I would not have then waited until my 18th birthday to realise my "calling" to the deep end.

Liam
New GK Amp and QPR promoted to DIV 1 = Much Happiness!

 

[LeftyLB]

"but the grove of the line carrying the verses along."

"the grove" is nearly the same as "the groove", but just a little more laid back with a little less "o" in it - or perhaps I just made a spelling error!

 

[dlloyd]

When I was a kid, there was a song I used to love by Ian Dury and the Blockheads called "Hit me with your rythmn stick".

Yep, seconded.

I'll bite on the technically challenging pieces beginners should aspire to...

Jaco Pastorius: Come On Come Over
Jaco Pastorius: Donna Lee
Jaco Pastorius: Portrait of Tracy
Jaco Pastorius: Teen Town

I'll explain.

A few years back, I got into Jaco's music in a fairly big way. Pretty much all through the "wow-factor"... I didn't believe it was possible to play like that. I spent a long time trying to play these pieces and finally got them down to some extent.

Nowadays, I don't really enjoy Jaco's music. Never listen to it. But learning these four pieces made my playing ability shoot through the roof compared to where it was.

 

[LeftyLB]

Yep, seconded.

I'll bite on the technically challenging pieces beginners should aspire to...

Jaco Pastorius: Come On Come Over
Jaco Pastorius: Donna Lee
Jaco Pastorius: Portrait of Tracy
Jaco Pastorius: Teen Town

I listened to "Heavy Weather" by Weather Report a couple of weeks back, just to remind myself of what all the fuss was about with Jaco. There is no doubting his genius.

I feel I discovered him too late, by that I mean, to the extent that I do not have enough free time in my life now that I am a family man, to spend the hours needed to be able to learn to play with his fluidity. I used to have that time in my late teens, now I am lucky to get one song a week done for the band homework.

Maybe I will have the time again in my 60's to spend my days playing bass all day long.

I am now looking forward to retirement

Shame it is not for another 25 years!

 

[basspastor]

I listened to "Heavy Weather" by Weather Report a couple of weeks back, just to remind myself of what all the fuss was about with Jaco. There is no doubting his genius.

I feel I discovered him too late, by that I mean, to the extent that I do not have enough free time in my life now that I am a family man, to spend the hours needed to be able to learn to play with his fluidity. I used to have that time in my late teens, now I am lucky to get one song a week done for the band homework.

Maybe I will have the time again in my 60's to spend my days playing bass all day long.

I am now looking forward to retirement

Shame it is not for another 25 years!

Good luck at having more time when you turn 60. I seem to find more to do to keep me busy.
Elvis Presley / I Had It My Way; not much bass but real easy to play along with.
blessing
gh

 

[EB_SFN]

Love Drama Majors...

The Cure's song Love Cats, has a very "walking" bassline if you have ever heard it I'm sure you can agree that bassline on an Upright bass is nice...it flows sooo well....Maybe just me but cure lines rule

 

[LeftyLB]

Re: Love Drama Majors...

The Cure's song Love Cats, has a very "walking" bassline if you have ever heard it I'm sure you can agree that bassline on an Upright bass is nice...it flows sooo well....Maybe just me but cure lines rule

Apparently there is a new Cure Album due out any time.

LB

 

[spectorbassguy]

One song I always go back to when I'm trying out equipment is the opening line on "Heaven On Their Minds" for Jesus Christ Superstar. Lots of great bass playing on that album.

A few more:

• The Theme from "Night Court"

• "Money" by Pink Floyd

• "Lonely Street" by Kansas

• "The Ocean" by Led Zeppelin
(I kind of like the odd-timed stuff when I can figure it out)

• "Roundabout" by Yes

• Ever notice how on Elvis' "Jailhouse Rock" the Vocal, Bass and Drums are playing a swing feel while the guitar is playing a straight eighth note pattern with no swing? That contrast has always intrigued me.

• "I'm Just a Singer in a Rock 'n' Roll Band" by Moody Blues

• "Big Time" by Peter Gabriel

• "Slow Ride" by Foghat

• "Peg" and "Josie" by Steely Dan (Most Steely Dan stuff in fact)

.....I could go on and on but I better get some work done.....maybe add some later.....

 

[LeftyLB]

Big Time by PG! Tony Levin and the drummer both playing the bass at the same time! The birth of the Funk Fingers.

On the same album, you have Don't Give Up and my all time PG/TL track, Sledgehammer, now that is one song I have spent years trying to replicate the line, more so the sound as opposed to the notes.


Steely Dan had a track called "Deacon Blues", which became the name of a Scottish Band in the 1980s/90s and their bass player Ewan Vernal wrote some beautiful bass lines. My favourite is a track called "I will see you tomorrow", a good finger stretcher with a nice low C# in the chorus.

Oh I am just getting started.

LB

 

[midopa]

I really liked the bassline for Rapper's Delight by Sugar Hill. However, I believe that stole that line from someone else. Hehheh

 

[Disquieter]

most have probably never heard it, but I like the bass line from Meg Ryan by the band Self, it's simple but quite effective and driving.

thanks
joel D.

 

[spectorbassguy]

Big Time by PG! Tony Levin and the drummer both playing the bass at the same time! The birth of the Funk Fingers.

On the same album, you have Don't Give Up and my all time PG/TL track, Sledgehammer, now that is one song I have spent years trying to replicate the line, more so the sound as opposed to the notes.


Steely Dan had a track called "Deacon Blues", which became the name of a Scottish Band in the 1980s/90s and their bass player Ewan Vernal wrote some beautiful bass lines. My favourite is a track called "I will see you tomorrow", a good finger stretcher with a nice low C# in the chorus.

Oh I am just getting started.

LB

Lefty have you seen Peter Gabriel's DVD's "Secret World Live" and "Growing Up Live"? Def worth checking out. I just wish he would release these on CD 'cause I think the performances are much better live. They sure get some amazing sounds!

Another Steely Dan song that's fun to play is "My Old School".

Here's one for you Lefty. Listen to Walter Becker's bass playing on Steely Dan's newest CD "Everything Must Go" and compare it to the tracks that he played bass on for the "Two Against Nature" CD. Almost sounds like two different players he has improved so much - I think hanging out with Tom Barney is finally paying off for his personal playing style. Either that or the liner notes are wrong

 

[LeftyLB]

I have certainly got both those DVD's and have had an initial run through of them at low volumes. I am awaiting for a Saturday afternoon when Mrs Lefty and the 3 little Lefty's go off shopping for a couple of hours, so I can be left at home in peace with my DVD's and my 300WATTS of Sony Surrond Sound POWER!!!

Oh it's going to get loud!!!

I must steal some more Dan stuff from my younger brother as he is a BIG BIG Dan Man, especially the video documentary about the recording of Aja.

So much music, so little time.

 

[pack-rat]

When I was a kid, there was a song I used to love by Ian Dury and the Blockheads called "Hit me with your rythmn stick".

I then didn't hear the song for years until one evening I was driving down to my mates house and it came on the radio. The bass line just blew me away. Nothing too difficult as such, but the grove of the line carrying the verses along.

I must have locked into the bass line as a kid and not realised that the bass was calling out to me at a young age. Had I known way back then, I would not have then waited until my 18th birthday to realise my "calling" to the deep end.

Never heard until now and I grew up listening to alot of styles.
I am sure I would have if I grew up in U.K.

What a funky song. I laughed big time at the lyrics :

Das ist gut! C'est fantastique!
Hit me! hit me! hit me!
Hit me with your rhythm stick.
It's nice to be a lunatic.
Hit me! Hit me! Hit me!
Hit me with your rhythm stick.
Hit me! Hit me!

C'est si bon, mm? Ist es nicht?
Hit me! hit me! hit me!
Hit me with your rhythm stick.
Two fat persons, click, click, click.
Hit me! Hit me! Hit me!



Reminds me alot of Iggy Pop.

 

[Psychicpet]

Any line from John Hyatt's "Bring the Family" album. I forget the name of the exact track right now(first track side 2 I think) but the line is just killer! I think it might be called Alone in the Dark or something. Anywho, great palying that just flows in and out of itself and feels great under the fingers.

 

[jongitarz]

Ian Dury was great..If you can find the song "Sex and drugs and rockand roll" download it..same album as" hit me"

 

[kenito]

Ian Dury......

The first single I bought was Ian Dury's "What a waste". Great bassline by Norman Watt-Roy and also a superb middle 8