skidder652003 Posted March 16, 2012 Share Posted March 16, 2012 Is it me or is this a really tricky little bass line? Big heads and egotists out tyhe back door please! Im finding the timing a whole new learning curve from the plodding bass lines i usually bang out. Great line to learn mind! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Doddy Posted March 17, 2012 Share Posted March 17, 2012 If it helps,the first part of the line in a simple E Dorian scale. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
skidder652003 Posted March 17, 2012 Author Share Posted March 17, 2012 its the timing i find a little tricky, those little mutes, damn, he's good! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LukeFRC Posted March 17, 2012 Share Posted March 17, 2012 it's only now I realise where the rappers delight baseline came from! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
leftyhook Posted March 17, 2012 Share Posted March 17, 2012 He is good, undoubtedly, but it is HIS style. He invented the lines and it isn't straight ahead stuff. I am sure he would struggle to play a couple of my bass songs in a hurry. Ghost notes and a few other little tricks thrown in.Of course he could crack it, but it's the timing of such things.Also, he wouldn't want to because he has his own approach to bass. I remember learning Pump it Up. What a great bass line by Bruce Thomas. The chorus run wasn't what my sub-conscious told me it was so I had to wrestle to get it. It just wasn't what I would have played, note for note if I was given a loose idea to work on at the writing stage. I am sure there are many bassists on this forum whose lines I would struggle to grasp. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hobbayne Posted March 17, 2012 Share Posted March 17, 2012 Its those little hammer - ons that catch me out! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
daz Posted March 17, 2012 Share Posted March 17, 2012 (edited) It took me a long time to get that riff down. Its best to try it for small time periods but regularly or you will drive yourself and everyone around you mad, playing that same riff over and over. Especially at first, when you cant quite get it. [quote name='Doddy' timestamp='1331943680' post='1581409'] If it helps,the first part of the line in a simple E Dorian scale. [/quote] Can't believe I never noticed that before? Edited March 17, 2012 by daz Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
crez5150 Posted March 17, 2012 Share Posted March 17, 2012 It's a relatively simple line but...... it's all about the feel. We play a few Chic numbers in the band and they are all the same (with exception of 'Everybody Dance' which is an absolute killer) fairly easy tunes on the face of it but Bernie's feel and laid back timing is fantastic. Sure to throw any player out on first learnings Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
paul_5 Posted March 17, 2012 Share Posted March 17, 2012 Yeah, in the mix they sound like simple lines, but it's only when you start to really analyse what Bernie did that you realise just how good a player he was. Those lines are easy to play, but tricky to play WELL. stick with it though - dead notes are really useful in all sorts of places, so it's a technique that's worth persevering with. Best of British to you, sir. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
clarkpegasus4001 Posted March 17, 2012 Share Posted March 17, 2012 [quote name='skidder652003' timestamp='1331941558' post='1581390'] Is it me or is this a really tricky little bass line? Big heads and egotists out tyhe back door please! Im finding the timing a whole new learning curve from the plodding bass lines i usually bang out. Great line to learn mind! [/quote] I just found this, I hope this helps? it's a bass line I want to learn as well. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NqyA_uwdsJU Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PURPOLARIS Posted March 17, 2012 Share Posted March 17, 2012 Saw an Austrian/German (not sure) band play this in Solden when I was skiing a few weeks ago, they did a great job with it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pete.young Posted March 17, 2012 Share Posted March 17, 2012 [quote name='crez5150' timestamp='1331976301' post='1581553'] It's a relatively simple line but...... it's all about the feel. We play a few Chic numbers in the band and they are all the same (with exception of 'Everybody Dance' which is an absolute killer) fairly easy tunes on the face of it but Bernie's feel and laid back timing is fantastic. Sure to throw any player out on first learnings [/quote] Definite +1 to this. I didn't realise just how good he was until weI started playing 'Le Freak'. My Forbidden Lover is another great piece of playing. I find Stu's book very helpful. Any tips on Everybody Dance? I find it really difficult to get that little chromatic run down in 16th notes clean, which should be the easy bit. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rickylee Posted March 17, 2012 Share Posted March 17, 2012 This is THE bassline that spawned so many others......as said previously, it's all in the feel. The muting and spacing you leave between the notes is what helps make it. Just keep playing along with the tune with headphones on. When you think you have it, record yourself or use a loop pedal to check.You are looking for your interpretation of it, so, no need to get to hung up on it being absolutely perfect, but, this line is the driving force of the whole toon. Needs the FUNK Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
daz Posted March 17, 2012 Share Posted March 17, 2012 Been playing that dam riff all day now. Even in the back garden Better learn the rest of the song now I suppose? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
51m0n Posted March 19, 2012 Share Posted March 19, 2012 Love Bernard, totally killer basslines. Stu's book is excellent, as much for the history lesson as the detail on the tracks themselves, highly recommended! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chris_b Posted March 19, 2012 Share Posted March 19, 2012 Don't get psyched out by BE's bass lines. His playing style is unique and his lines sound complicated when you can’t play them but stick with it and you’ll find that his lines are all built around pretty simple ideas. That's what makes them so effective. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
skidder652003 Posted March 19, 2012 Author Share Posted March 19, 2012 yeah, slowly getting the hand of it, its the second part with the change in timing with the open A and D and the hamer on/offs without the open A ringing on thats causing me a headache! Love it though, driving the wife and kids nuts... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
daz Posted March 19, 2012 Share Posted March 19, 2012 (edited) [quote name='chris_b' timestamp='1332154749' post='1583893'] Don't get psyched out by BE's bass lines. His playing style is unique and his lines sound complicated when you can’t play them but stick with it and you’ll find that his lines are all built around pretty simple ideas. That's what makes them so effective. [/quote] Indeed that's true. I simply cant do them the way he did them. I cant do hammer ons like he did, I have to go my own way. Still sounds pretty good to my ears. You can kill yourself trying to get it spot on, or you can play It as well as you can, in your own way, to your own ability, [i]and [/i]still be satisfied [i]and[/i] enjoy it at the same time. Edited March 19, 2012 by daz Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
louisthebass Posted March 19, 2012 Share Posted March 19, 2012 [quote name='daz' timestamp='1332190917' post='1584665'] Indeed that's true. I simply cant do them the way he did them. I cant do hammer ons like he did, I have to go my own way. Still sounds pretty good to my ears. You can kill yourself trying to get it spot on, or you can play It as well as you can, in your own way, to your own ability, [i]and [/i]still be satisfied [i]and[/i] enjoy it at the same time. [/quote] +1 to this - has taken me years to learn this classic bass part. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
skidder652003 Posted March 21, 2012 Author Share Posted March 21, 2012 ok think i have the hang of it now... it (to me) is all in the realisation of a little time change in the 2nd part of the lick, excuse my ignorance, but does it move up a notch to 16ths or something with the open A and D, hammer ons bit before the "descent " from open A to the beginning again? Sorry, thats not musically precise im sure, but the best i can articulate it! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thumperbob 2002 Posted March 22, 2012 Share Posted March 22, 2012 (edited) The best advice I can give is for the second part of the line-( with the open A ) use your thumb to play the A whilst your other fingers play the F# and G notes- easier to mute this way. I too have played this line since the record came out and still dont sound like BE. Edited March 22, 2012 by thumperbob 2002 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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