Geezer Butler

nattiep · Post by **nattiep** » Tue May 24, 2005 2:30 pm

Ok, time to defend myself. *Picks up a garbage can lid to use as a shield*

The only reason I mentioned Geddy was because I said I can do the Maiden triplets with one finger, but it sounds like Geddy's buzz sound from his jazz. Peter then said Geddy can play. I agree with that. I think Ged is a better player than Geezer or Steve (he's one of Steve's influences). Geezer and Steve are stuck with the same fills and licks. Geddy, on the other hand (there are different fingers... hehe) has been different with just about every song, not counting recently. (He used a fill from "One Little Victory" and put it in "For What It's Worth"...). Steve uses the same chord changes alot and just about every Maiden song ends with the same bass fill thingy. Steve is amazing though. "The Phantom of the Opera", "The Rime of the Ancient Mariner", and "Hallowed Be Thy Name" are all workouts.

I'm am not used to Geezer's style, so I find it harder to do. With some Rush stuff that I don't know, I bluff it, and it turns out alright. With Sabbath I'm all wrong. Best to sit there for an hour and a half to learn something like I did with "Hemispheres".

I would just learn some Who songs but as with Geezer I'm not used to Entwistle's style. I find it crooked.

I guess I am "small minded" then.

jnbass · Post by **jnbass** » Tue May 24, 2005 4:04 pm

just "Paranoid"

rictified · Post by **rictified** » Tue May 24, 2005 4:07 pm

Entwistle had a very "free" style, those guys played whatever came into their heads. They were always jamming, changing their songs etc. live. For most of these guys you're best off to really listen to their stuff and soak up the style before you attempt to learn it, it's easy once you get their feel, listen to the whole band, get right into the feeling. Blues based bands are very different from bands like Rush, they have simpler chord progressions usually and change the arrangements around a lot. I would bet that Entwistle never played the same song the same way twice. I always found their stuff easy, I would have a harder time learning Rush because I find it boring to learn bass parts exactly as they are played.
Actually Rush has been playing some old rock n roll tunes lately, they're actually starting to rock.

nattiep · Post by **nattiep** » Tue May 24, 2005 4:19 pm

I try to be free while playing Rush. When it gets to an improv point I rock out. I never play it the same way twice. Nice that way. I try to stay with the players style though. When I rock out to Pink Floyd I try not to put a Geddy move in there and just stick with what Waters' or Guy Pratt's style is. I would do that with Sabbath but I'd like to get it right aleast some of the time.

rictified · Post by **rictified** » Tue May 24, 2005 4:24 pm

haha! all you have to do is go: boom boom boom.

incubus2432 · Post by **incubus2432** » Tue May 24, 2005 5:30 pm

......nothing directed at you Nate. It was the other post that got my panties in a bunch. I'm relaxed now.....

nattiep · Post by **nattiep** » Tue May 24, 2005 6:26 pm

Funny, Bob.

What one Brian? The "Lee can play" one?

My dad was in a Sabbath tribute band. The bass player had a 5er so he could make up for the alt tunings. He made up most of the stuff too. Guess it's not a bad thing.

phlemmy · Post by **phlemmy** » Wed May 25, 2005 1:52 am

Nate, my good man, I would love to see/hear the one-finger triplet! Not saying you can't do it, but you must have an amazing finger. By the way, Steve is usually using all 4 fingers when he's in full attack mode.

rictified · Post by **rictified** » Wed May 25, 2005 3:40 am

He plucks with all 4 fingers?

squirebass · Post by **squirebass** » Wed May 25, 2005 5:58 am

There's a picture of Geezer playing a Dan Armstrong(those clear, plexiglass basses) inside the cover of Black Sabbath Vol 4.

phlemmy · Post by **phlemmy** » Wed May 25, 2005 6:28 am

bob, much of the time, yes. if you watch closely, his pinky and ring finger are striking together. the man is a monster.

marty · Post by **marty** » Wed May 25, 2005 8:16 am

James Jamerson was amazing using just his index finger to play those great Motown basslines, quite often using 16th notes.

He referred to his bass playing finger as 'The Hook'.

Does anyone know if there is any footage in existence of James Jamerson playing?
I've seen a very small snippet on The Standing in the shadows of Motown DVD,but I would love to see more.

beatlefan · Post by **beatlefan** » Wed May 25, 2005 8:20 am

I would too , Marty....he was just awesome!

rictified · Post by **rictified** » Wed May 25, 2005 10:32 am

For me he was one of the top two or three electric bassist's ever. Anyone here ever hear of NHOP? Danish upright player who just died? He could out-Jaco Jaco on an upright and was before him.

nattiep · Post by **nattiep** » Wed May 25, 2005 11:56 am

I didn't know Steve used all four... huh. The only footage of me playing is from last Halloween and we did "Run To The Hills" and "YYZ". I used three fingers for the triplets on "hills"; it was before my index moved as fast as it does now.

If I find a way to record (Mp3 or video) I'll be sure to do the one finger triplet and send you a copy, Sean.

I don't know if it would count though.... I hit the first note with the tip of my finger, the second with the back of my finger (fingernail), and third note with the tip again. The technique works very well with those long one note endings, you know, where the guitar players strum one chord as fast as they can, drumers go crazy and bassists are left in the dust unless they have a pick. Great with bass chords too.

Out-Jaco Jaco? No way!