Floyd Posted October 4, 2012 Share Posted October 4, 2012 Those playing in covers bands, how many peeps try to nail the authentic bass lines for every number? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chris_b Posted October 4, 2012 Share Posted October 4, 2012 Never. That level of authenticity is for tribute bands not cover bands. You'll never sound like the original so just sound like you. My brain isn't big enough to remember all the notes in the right places so the band gets my take on the number. Sometimes its close other times it's not. It doesn't matter because we've all got a spark of originality and are just a bunch of guys playing a number, in our own way. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Happy Jack Posted October 4, 2012 Share Posted October 4, 2012 [quote name='chris_b' timestamp='1349341492' post='1824837'] Never. That level of authenticity is for tribute bands not cover bands. [/quote] Ahem ... with certain exceptions. There are some basslines that you mess with at your peril. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JapanAxe Posted October 4, 2012 Share Posted October 4, 2012 I always start by transcribing the original part as closely as I can, then trying to learn it. Once out gigging, notes get forgotten and corners cut, but what I'm playing is still close to the recorded version. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JapanAxe Posted October 4, 2012 Share Posted October 4, 2012 [quote name='Happy Jack' timestamp='1349341690' post='1824842'] Ahem ... with certain exceptions. There are some basslines that you mess with at your peril. [/quote] And what he said ^^^ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DogHammer Posted October 4, 2012 Share Posted October 4, 2012 I learn the exact bassline, note for note, all the mutes, solos the lot. Then improve it or change it based on what the rest of the band are doing. For instance you may want to rock up a few numbers.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chris_b Posted October 4, 2012 Share Posted October 4, 2012 [quote name='Happy Jack' timestamp='1349341690' post='1824842'] ....There are some basslines that you mess with at your peril.... [/quote] Yep. They come under the "sometimes it's close" heading. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
andydye Posted October 4, 2012 Share Posted October 4, 2012 (edited) I learn any critical bits note for note and any other bits are a bonus if I get them note for note too, as long as it swings like the original and any memorable bits are right I don't worry too much, over time I develop 'my way' of playing the song which generally still involves any 'don't mess with it' bits an the rest may be tweaked to suit the way we play it... Edited October 4, 2012 by andydye Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ben604 Posted October 4, 2012 Share Posted October 4, 2012 I get the main parts exact, especially signature lines, but otherwise, they're slightly tailored to our style. I try to force the guitarist to play the solos to the note, mainly because we play songs I LOVE (mostly), so I like to hear them like the record! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Roland Rock Posted October 4, 2012 Share Posted October 4, 2012 I used to try to get as close to the studio version as possible, but then as I listened to more live albums featuring the same player, the more the bassline varied. My conclusion? much like the others above, get the general gist/feel, then play around a bit till it suits your band/mood/the moment. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
swanbrook Posted October 4, 2012 Share Posted October 4, 2012 Yes nail it every time, on songs that the bass line is the hook or is very distinctive it is a must. Especially if its something like call me al or town call malice. ( the first that came to mind) Same goes for every instrument I hate to see a band play a classic song where everybody can nearly sing the solo note for note but the guitar player couldn't be bothered to learn it. It's not original it's lazy. If you want to be original then write your own songs. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thumperbob 2002 Posted October 4, 2012 Share Posted October 4, 2012 I learn them note for note, sometimes embellished a little ( or showing off ) - Brick House for example is slapped. Learning Cover songs properly sorts out the wheat from the chaff. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jezzaboy Posted October 4, 2012 Share Posted October 4, 2012 I learn it like the record until I run out of talent. Which can be pretty quick! Near enough is good enough for me. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hobbayne Posted October 4, 2012 Share Posted October 4, 2012 I try to get it as close as I can, but I dont bother with note for note copy as this depends on the drummer playing exactly the same part too. This can result in some nasty clashes Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Muzz Posted October 4, 2012 Share Posted October 4, 2012 Yep, I learn them fully, but then I'll make the line suit the band and how we play the song if it's different to the original. Couple of cases in point for the function band: just done This Charming Man note for note, but I play Sweet Child o Mine (apart from the iconic first lines) to fit the vibe/groove on the day. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shizznit Posted October 4, 2012 Share Posted October 4, 2012 Sometimes yes...sometimes no. Quite often we will work on another arrangement if the song drags on or change the key of the song to suit the singer. But, the guys give me quite a bit of freedom to add my own flavour to a cover. I'll decide if the song needs to be played in the pocket or could be spiced up a bit. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lowhand_mike Posted October 4, 2012 Share Posted October 4, 2012 agree with the drummer comment Hobbayne, i generally learn note for note then adjust to suit if something changes elsewhere. Apart from the singer i seem to be the only one to properly learn the song. Some song we might funk it up or rock it up a bit but there are ones that you just don't/can't change. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Norris Posted October 4, 2012 Share Posted October 4, 2012 As close as I can to the original, but then adapted slightly to fill out our guitar-bass-drums trio & usually rocked up a little. However after a few months of playing a song it has usually taken on a life of it's own, with various accents, stops, etc. that have evolved between us. Listening to the original after a few months is always fun, as usually that 'kicking' rock track we all learnt now sounds weak & feeble We don't try to slavishly copy the original - which is difficult to do in a trio anyway, and concentrate more on a good rock sound and having fun. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chrismuzz Posted October 4, 2012 Share Posted October 4, 2012 With the majority of the songs I play very close to the original, especially the Cliff Burton basslines! I usually improvise a tiny bit on mellow sections like the interlude in Master Of Puppets though with a bit of a chorus effect (nothing distasteful though!) Some tracks I feel the bass could offer a little more in locking the drums as guitar together, and grooving, rather than just playing root notes on the 1st and 2nd beats... So I do alter them a bit. Partly to improve the overall sound and feel, partly so that I don't get bored (and that I don't look rubbish/lazy ) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bigjas Posted October 4, 2012 Share Posted October 4, 2012 I like to try and copy the original as close as my talent will allow. On some songs this is easy, on others I can't match the talent of the original player, so I will get as close as I can. When watching/listening to other cover bands, I like to hear it as I remember it from the original. Jas Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
steve-bbb Posted October 4, 2012 Share Posted October 4, 2012 [quote name='Floyd' timestamp='1349340991' post='1824827'] Those playing in covers bands, how many peeps try to nail the authentic bass lines for every number? [/quote] pretty much go for 95% plus unless of course its a crap bass line then i improve it btw am i the only person who thinks rihanna tunes just dont work ?? especially the bass lines >>>>> 1:55 [url="http://youtu.be/-ciFTP_KRy4"]http://youtu.be/-ciFTP_KRy4[/url] Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JTUK Posted October 4, 2012 Share Posted October 4, 2012 Not interested in learning the vast majority... so I'll go with what the drummer gets and between us we make it feel good and working..then the rest pile in on top and they may pay close homage to a key part or not. As long as the track works and you can hear the way we have put our sound onto it, then that does us. This way..we have our own set of gears to go through rather than ripping this and that and hitting a brick wall..which is what so many bands round here do. It is so easy to FAIL that way, IMO Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fumps Posted October 4, 2012 Share Posted October 4, 2012 sorry to go off topic But i was taught Theory (Badly ) by the guy who did all the harpsichord for that film. lovely guy but too advanced to teach beginners Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Silvia Bluejay Posted October 4, 2012 Share Posted October 4, 2012 (edited) [quote name='chrismuzz' timestamp='1349350913' post='1825062'] With the majority of the songs I play very close to the original, especially the Cliff Burton basslines! I usually improvise a tiny bit on mellow sections like the interlude in Master Of Puppets though with a bit of a chorus effect (nothing distasteful though!) Some tracks I feel the bass could offer a little more in locking the drums as guitar together, and grooving, rather than just playing root notes on the 1st and 2nd beats... So I do alter them a bit. Partly to improve the overall sound and feel, partly so that I don't get bored (and that I don't look rubbish/lazy ) [/quote] And if you cover anything off AJFA you have total freedom to create your own basslines, as nobody knows what the original ones sounded like Edited October 4, 2012 by bluejay Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JTUK Posted October 4, 2012 Share Posted October 4, 2012 Just thinking... how many people rip the lines pretty close in a 3 piece band because they want to sound like the record...??? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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