Bilbo

While I am in a Greenslade frame of mind, I wrote out the bass part for 'Pilgrim's Progress' from the same 1973 album, 'Bedside Manners Are Extra'. Some iteresting challenges in reading this, with three notes phrases crossing eighth note rhythms, https://bilbosbassbites.co.uk/pilgrims-progress-greenslade/

Of course, he is going to have to deal with the fact that, in 10 years time, his hands will be twice as big so everything he has learned with be in a different place. It will drive him nuts....

I spent some time with slapping and tapping as a younger player but long ago realised that I don't really like pretty much ANY of the music played using those techniques. So I stopped investing in those techniques. I listen and learn the same stuff mostly. If I don't listen to it, I tend not to try to learn it.

From the 1973 Greenslade album of the same name, this is Tony Reeve's bass part for the title tune, 'Bedside Manners Are Extra'. https://bilbosbassbites.co.uk/bedside-manners-are-extra-greenslade/

In my experience, 'learning' the frilly bits less important than nailing the core stuff.

You missed one, mate.

And here is the bass part.... Julia – Medeski, Martin and Wood (feat. John Scofield) – Bilbo's Bass Bites

From the 2006 CD 'Out Louder' by Medeski, Martin and Wood (w. John Scofield), this is the minimalistic bass part from Chris Wood on the Beatles tune, 'Julia'. If I had recorded this and never recorded anything else, I would have gone to my grave a happy man. Julia – Medeski, Martin and Wood (feat. John Scofield) – Bilbo's Bass Bites

The website just crossed the 30,000 hits mark. How exciting.

From the 2005 Dave Holland Quintet CD 'Critical Mass', this is a transcription of the bass part for the head and first (trombone) solo from the tune 'Easy Did It'. To my ears, the tune sounds like it moves between bars of 3:4 and 5:4 but, in spite of that, the tempo makes it a relatively easy read - I almost think that this would be easier to read than to play by ear, the structure is so convoluted. https://bilbosbassbites.co.uk/easy-did-it-dave-holland-quintet/

This is absolute gold dust. I hope you guys appreciate the work Neil has put into this on your behalf. 😉

You should get an award for services to music, Chris.

I love this version of 'I Am The Walrus' by Jim Carrey.

Another favourite

Listen to the phrasing on this. And the organ solo is sublime.

Not learning but transcribing 'Easy Did It' by Dave Holland.

I got one of these a year or so ago. I realised that I had not practiced through a bass amp at home for decades, usually going through the computer/headphones or a handily placed guitar amp (Roland Cube). When I got this, I couldn't believe how much better it felt to practice with the 'air' in my sound. It's a Phil Jones BG-75 DOuble 4. Retails around £375

Something unusual today. This is a transcription of the Jerry Watts bass part for the tune 'Nostalgia' from the 1983 Eddie Jobson/Zinc album, 'The Green Album'. The transcription also contains Jobson's violin melody transcribed for bass so you can try both the bass part and the melody. Both are easy to play but it shows that you don't have to be Hadrien Feraud to play achingly beautiful music. https://bilbosbassbites.co.uk/nostalgia-eddie-jobson-zinc/

Miles Davis tune, Nardis, in case anyone didn't know.

It's been over twenty years since I played a Warwick so my opinion ain't worth shinola.

I never liked the Warwicks. Wanted to but never got on with them.

From the same 1985 Dave Holland Quintet album, 'Seeds Of Time', this transcription features the bass/percussion duet 'Walk A Way'. The piece is essentially a one bar riff of rapidly executed sixteenth notes that ends with two eight notes. It is then repeated endlessly with subtle variations - impossible to read at speed but an interesting insight into what makes the composition sound the way it does! https://bilbosbassbites.co.uk/walk-a-way-dave-holland-quintet/

Rumours are circulating that Vanilla Fudge bassist Tim Bogert has died, aged 76. Anyone in a position to confirm?

From the 1985 Dave Holland Quintet album 'Seeds Of Time', this is a full bass transcription for the tune 'Perspicuity'. https://bilbosbassbites.co.uk/perspicuity-dave-holland-quintet/