allighatt0r Posted June 17, 2008 Share Posted June 17, 2008 Just been given this song to learn... for tonight. Just listened to it the first time and the bass-line seems stupidly complex, but also important to the song... So I've gotta get my thinking cap on. I have the chords [url="http://www.ultimate-guitar.com/tabs/s/steve_harley_cockney_rebel/make_me_smile_come_up_and_see_me_crd.htm"]here[/url] and i can listen to the song [url="http://songza.com/z/ky5zmk"]here[/url] but as for learning the lines and whatever, i'm a bit stumped. Should i sit down and study rigorously and try to get it down, or just stick the chords and try to noodle my way through (i am TERRIBLE at improv.) Any help will be much appreciated. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jase Posted June 17, 2008 Share Posted June 17, 2008 Just had a listen to that...forgot how good a track it was Just go with the flow I reckon, it's got a great feel. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
artisan Posted June 17, 2008 Share Posted June 17, 2008 (edited) I never work a bassline out note for note,just play it your own way i say,chill out & go with the flow.(as stated above ) its much more enjoyable & you get to put some of youself into the song too. anyone who wants note to note perfection may as well just put the bloody C.D. on. Edited June 17, 2008 by artisan Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
allighatt0r Posted June 17, 2008 Author Share Posted June 17, 2008 I am so afraid of noodling along though because when i do more often than not what i play sounds rubbish. Ah well, i best go start practicing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
artisan Posted June 17, 2008 Share Posted June 17, 2008 [quote name='allighatt0r' post='220568' date='Jun 17 2008, 02:27 PM']I am so afraid of noodling along though because when i do more often than not what i play sounds rubbish. Ah well, i best go start practicing.[/quote] just relax & try not to be too flash. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thumperbob 2002 Posted June 17, 2008 Share Posted June 17, 2008 Learning it note for note will impress all the bass players in the audience who would just noodle along and kid themselves it sounds as good as the original- unless you are doing it on Jo Whileys show- then chnge it as much as you can!! cheers bob Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bigwan Posted June 17, 2008 Share Posted June 17, 2008 I recently had to learn this for my band. I wouldn't even attempt to learn this song note-for-note because it's ridiculously complex for a 4 chord wonder, IMHO. Simplify it. The punters won't know the difference. I personally hate the song so had no problem doing it my own way. But then I had 20 songs to learn that week and wanted to spend more time on the songs that needed more attention to sound passable with the band. I repeat the first 2 lines (of bass) of the song for the verses and stick with the basic root notes in the bridge and chorus. F/E/F/A/E/G then once round the chorus under the guitar solo. Still sounds quite busy. Just my tuppence worth. Learn it quick and move on to something you'll find more fulfilling... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JohnR Posted June 17, 2008 Share Posted June 17, 2008 I recorded a version of this years back and pretty much followed the original bass line. It is simpler than it sounds so go on and give it a go. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dave_bass5 Posted June 17, 2008 Share Posted June 17, 2008 (edited) We do this song and its quite easy to noodle through it. I tend to mainly do runs between the three main chords of the verses (F - C - G) and its quite effective. Here's an older version we did for our website a few years ago. I had only been with the band about 3 months but over the last few years its developed a bit. This was the first day i had used flats so held back a bit. [url="http://www.blowup.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/music/make%20me%20smile.mp3"]Come up and see me[/url] Edited June 17, 2008 by dave_bass5 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OldGit Posted June 17, 2008 Share Posted June 17, 2008 Whatever you do learn the [b]gaps[/b] and where they come or you'll end up doing a an unscheduled solo ... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bassninja Posted June 17, 2008 Share Posted June 17, 2008 [quote name='OldGit' post='220628' date='Jun 17 2008, 02:45 PM']Whatever you do learn the [b]gaps[/b] and where they come or you'll end up doing a an unscheduled solo ...[/quote] +1. I've had a few brown adrenaline moments there myself, OG... If you can get the bounciness of it, all should be fine. If you're intending that people should dance to it, it might pay to bear that in mind. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ianrunci Posted June 18, 2008 Share Posted June 18, 2008 Its a fairly simple line to play really once you try it as its just repeated throughout the song. However I think its so melodic that it actually becomes part of the melody and the song sounds wrong without it. There are a few numbers where the bass line is an intregal part of the song and I think this is one of them Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ou7shined Posted June 18, 2008 Share Posted June 18, 2008 It sound tricky to start with but if you break it down all you got to do is learn > the intro run > 3 riffs > the middle 8 (which is a caker). The 3 riffs are the verse, the join bit and the chorus. I'm not a mode master but they all sound like they'd be pentatonic /blues fills. There are variations but nobody will know if you learn one way per section and just repeat these exactly every time. The worst bit is getting the stop/starts nailed. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bass_ferret Posted June 18, 2008 Share Posted June 18, 2008 yes the stops are the worst bit - not my favourite song I have to say. It sounds like the same pattern is used randomly as a fill and to go between chords so its knowing when to play it and when not to play it. I would be inclined to wing it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OldGit Posted June 18, 2008 Share Posted June 18, 2008 Oh and I never play the intro. The guitarist always has that down anyway. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alien Posted June 19, 2008 Share Posted June 19, 2008 [quote name='OldGit' post='220628' date='Jun 17 2008, 02:45 PM']Whatever you do learn the [b]gaps[/b] and where they come or you'll end up doing a an unscheduled solo ...[/quote] There's a version out there somewhere with accordion solos in those gaps - the lengths of the gaps makes more sense with the accordion in. Andy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GreeneKing Posted November 26, 2011 Share Posted November 26, 2011 [quote name='OldGit' timestamp='1213809209' post='221596'] Oh and I never play the intro. The guitarist always has that down anyway. [/quote] Me too Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chrismuzz Posted November 26, 2011 Share Posted November 26, 2011 [quote name='artisan' timestamp='1213705327' post='220562'] I never work a bassline out note for note,just play it your own way i say,chill out & go with the flow. [/quote] Phew! I'm glad I'm not the only one to do this from time to time Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Monckyman Posted November 26, 2011 Share Posted November 26, 2011 It`s definitely easier than it sounds. Just hit the roots of the chords and the transitional notes between them are obvious and logical. In the version I`m doing I play the intro alone, because the guitarist won`t! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bassmachine2112 Posted November 26, 2011 Share Posted November 26, 2011 It is straight forward and what was said -the bounce is the thing,groovy bounce. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dave_bass5 Posted November 26, 2011 Share Posted November 26, 2011 Me and my guitarist play the intro, it sounds better with both us playing it and its a chance to see who mucks it up. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
leschirons Posted November 27, 2011 Share Posted November 27, 2011 [quote name='dave_bass5' timestamp='1322329151' post='1449529'] Me and my guitarist play the intro, it sounds better with both us playing it and its a chance to see who mucks it up. [/quote] We do it together too, sounds better like that. Re the gaps (I assume we're talking about the start of the verses and when the solo starts) We take the lead from whoever's singing (or playing the solo)as you only need to come in on a certain word or the fourth note of the solo. Hate the song but really gets a few on the dancefloor and singing along. (it's really called "Make me smile" (Come up and see me) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
waynepunkdude Posted November 27, 2011 Share Posted November 27, 2011 It's a great track, gonna have a go at it myself tomorrow. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thebrig Posted November 28, 2011 Share Posted November 28, 2011 I'm not the greatest bassist around, and when this was suggested by my band, I thought I am going to really struggle with it. But surprisingly, it was really quite straight forward, and I actually learnt it almost note for note. I know with some songs you can get away with winging it, or doing your own version, but with this song I think the bass line is so important to it, that it is best to try to get as close to it as you can. Mind you, I don't really like playing the song live, as I think it falls in the category of 'Mustang Sally', 'Johnny B Goode' etc, that has been done to death IMO. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dave_bass5 Posted November 28, 2011 Share Posted November 28, 2011 [quote name='thebrig' timestamp='1322478792' post='1451171'] Mind you, I don't really like playing the song live, as I think it falls in the category of 'Mustang Sally', 'Johnny B Goode' etc, that has been done to death IMO. [/quote] You mean the crowd pleaser's Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
.gif.9ad672bb8b84505709f76b39c8c256ec.gif)
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.