covers bands, untouchable basslines

[lojo]

For those that play covers, are there any classic songs which have basslines you'd love to play but would decline for fear of not doing a good enough job

For example, id love to play "hit me with your rhythm stick" and "forget me knots"

In the past i've agreed to play lines that I thought might be beyond me, but with practice i've pulled them off to everyones satisfaction, but the issue is still there


Anyone else have this ?

Edited August 11, 2011 by lojo

[Dubs]

I relish those songs - always suggesting new songs with great bass lines. I rarely get them but "My Generation" is a regular 1st encore that always goes down well

[clarkpegasus4001]

I used to enjoy playing Handy by Wishbone Ash when I was doing a Wishbone Ash tribute band 3 or 4 years ago.
By the way I love Forget Me Knots bass line!

[Guest bassman7755]

[quote name='lojo' post='1336542' date='Aug 11 2011, 03:35 PM']For those that play covers, are there any classic songs which have basslines you'd love to play but would decline for fear of not doing a good enough job[/quote]

Aeroplane, chilli peppers.

I get annoyed when I see players in cover band murdering good songs, not because they cant play well enough but because they obviously havnt bothered to actually sit down and listen properly to the song and just jamming somthing out memory of hearing the song on TV or something. All right now is a classic example - I've yet to see anyone play the bassline properly especially the outro bits.

Edited August 11, 2011 by bassman7755

[mcnach]

[quote name='bassman7755' post='1336743' date='Aug 11 2011, 05:21 PM']Aeroplane, chilli peppers.

I get annoyed when I see players in cover band murdering good songs, not because they cant play well enough but because they obviously havnt bothered to actually sit down and listen properly to the song and just jamming somthing out memory of hearing the song on TV or something. All right now is a classic example - I've yet to see anyone play the bassline properly especially the outro bits.[/quote]


whops...

I hope you're not near Galashiels tomorrow night, where the Richt Hoat Chillis will be playing

(we do make more of an effort than just playing from memory, 'though )

[xgsjx]

You mean you have chord charts & lyrics?

[mcnach]

[quote name='xgsjx' post='1336910' date='Aug 11 2011, 07:47 PM']You mean you have chord charts & lyrics? [/quote]


yeah, and we play RHCP songs sitting in a chair wearing a tuxedo

[Hobbayne]

Possibly 'Something' by The Beatles - not because its hard to play, buts because its hard to sing and play that bassline!

[dudewheresmybass]

the real me by the who / wasp

[bobbytodd]

+1 for the real me i love that bassline.also paul simons you can call me al

[Lozz196]

[quote name='dudewheresmybass' post='1337192' date='Aug 12 2011, 01:13 AM']the real me by the who / wasp[/quote]
Fantastic song - both versions.

[dave_bass5]

I cant slap properly so any of those type of bass lines ill avoid.

My main problem with leaning bass lines is actually hearing them. In a big complicated mix i sometime shave trouble picking out the bass line, let alone learning it

We hardly ever learn new songs though, shame as i need a challenge.

Edited August 12, 2011 by dave_bass5

[andydye]

we play all right now and i spent ages listening again and again to the outro bit...

when the band suggested 'club tropicana' by wham I nearly called a cab but when I listened to it, the bassline is v v cool and took some time to work out and then sound slick, I love playing it now.

'my generation' has been mentioned and so has 'you can call me al'...am always up for a challenge!

I'm still looking for a dream theater song we can use as the first in the second set to get people's attention back...

[RAY AGAINST THE MACHINE]

Since you been gone, hotel California by the way. Off the top of my head.

What annoys me about certain band members: they suggest songs they like .
They get impatient when you haven't mastered. the whole song .

They don't realise how some songs on bass are more than. Root notes.
Then the singer or guitarist Bodge it live , then expect me to tune down...

Just remembered sweet child of mine, and any foo fighters

Edited August 12, 2011 by RAY AGAINST THE MACHINE

[Delberthot]

[quote name='mcnach' post='1336916' date='Aug 11 2011, 07:54 PM'] yeah, and we play RHCP songs sitting in a chair wearing a tuxedo [/quote]


Why would a chair wear a tuxedo?


And that must be quite a big chair

[dudewheresmybass]

[quote name='Delberthot' post='1337564' date='Aug 12 2011, 01:02 PM']Why would a chair wear a tuxedo?


And that must be quite a big chair[/quote]

I thought "songs from the big chair" was tears for fears

[Ross]

Pretty much anything slap, I can usually pull the lines off but I really just don't like slapping, too much thinking involved.

[Gust0o]

Do you have to play the cover note for note?

[charic]

[quote name='andydye' post='1337337' date='Aug 12 2011, 10:31 AM']we play all right now and i spent ages listening again and again to the outro bit...

when the band suggested 'club tropicana' by wham I nearly called a cab but when I listened to it, the bassline is v v cool and took some time to work out and then sound slick, I love playing it now.

'my generation' has been mentioned and so has 'you can call me al'...am always up for a challenge!

I'm still looking for a dream theater song we can use as the first in the second set to get people's attention back...[/quote]

Withers not too tough (on bass)

[Marvin]

[quote name='dave_bass5' post='1337330' date='Aug 12 2011, 10:27 AM']I cant slap properly so any of those type of bass lines ill avoid.

My main problem with leaning bass lines is actually hearing them. In a big complicated mix i sometime shave trouble picking out the bass line, let alone learning it[/quote]

Absolutely agree with you.

Really gets my goat when other band members say something like "well, it's not that difficult it's just the bass line". Being able to hear for a start would help.

And I don't slap either.

[charic]

I'm not sure I'd fancy trying to nail much aerosmith. Always struggled with that band, is it hand or do I just have a mental block going on?

[dave_bass5]

[quote name='Marvin' post='1337793' date='Aug 12 2011, 03:43 PM']Absolutely agree with you.

Really gets my goat when other band members say something like "well, it's not that difficult it's just the bass line". Being able to hear for a start would help.

And I don't slap either.[/quote]

To be honest im the only one in my band that even gets close to playing a song as it should be, and its me that pushes for new songs so im in a different postilion to most of us. Its normally me that says "why not play it like the record" etc.

You should hear some of the crap my guitarist comes out with when we first try a new song

[BigRedX]

For my current covers band we stick pretty close to the original versions. However I used to be in a band that did mostly original material with a handful of covers thrown in. Since they would tend to decide in the middle of a rehearsal immediately before a gig that a particular song would be a good one to cover and half the time I'd never even heard of the song the the other half I'd have a passing familiarity with the basic tune but that would be it. Therefore I tended to view these covers as if they were original songs that the rest of the band had written and just play something that I thought fitted. It gave some interesting results and occasionally I was in for a shock when I finally got to hear the original either how close my made up bassline was or how it had almost nothing in common with what the original bassist had played.

[andydye]

[quote name='charic' post='1337706' date='Aug 12 2011, 02:45 PM']Withers not too tough (on bass)[/quote]

I don't mind it being tricky, I love wither, it would help if it kinda fit with wedding evening do's though...(should've mentioned that before )

[GT40Graham]

Where possible, I like to stick as closely to the recorded version as I can. Having said that, the band that I'm currently in play some songs differently for many reasons i.e. poor memory, the drummer can't do this etc. When people have been playing a song for many years, no matter how incorrectly, it's almost impossible to get them to change, old dogs and new tricks, you know the thing.