McCartneys Bass Technique?

shamustwin · Post by **shamustwin** » Wed Apr 28, 2004 4:13 am

If he's like me (and I'm sure he is of course) holding the pick in such a manner allows one to bend the pick a little, assuming it's not a heavy. Bending it affects the attack and will make a medium play like a heavy, when needed.

rictified · Post by **rictified** » Wed Apr 28, 2004 9:07 am

I had a big long post which no one wuld have read anyway but luckily for you that internet café went down and I couldn't post it, drat!!, haha!
So All I will say is that obviously you must all be right, but just two things (well maybe more), I still think that he played with his fingers more than people here will allow, and it is very easy I think for someone to think he played mainly with his fingers, Hofner basses (no offense) are not known for their clarity (understatement) (maybe he used a pick on them so people could hear him more clearly, especially with the lousy bass amps of that time).
BTW I know just about every Beatle song there is if not note for note at least good enough so that you would have to be a bass playing Beatle fanatic to know the difference and I could easily step up to a beatle band and play all night and most people would think I was a regular member, I'm not saying this to brag just to let you know that I know the stuff inside and out and I thought a lot of the stuff was fingers.
When I play Beatle songs people are surprised when I tell them I've never been a member of a Beatle band. I've played songs before for the first time perfectly, including the harmonys. So don't be shocked anyone, none of us are perfect.
I've never studied them or their playing, just picked it up by listening, I usually know all the chords also and sometimes have to correct guitar players who are playing incorrect chords.
I think when you are 11 or 12 and play albums that you love over and over again and that's all you hear on the radio, it seeps into your subconcious.
I have every rarely sat down and played along with a Beatle album. The're to good to do that, I just listen.

admin · Post by **admin** » Wed Apr 28, 2004 9:44 am

Bob: I appreciate your thoughtful and classy response, and all the way from Peru too. I learn from this forum everyday.

As a follow-up to our discussion of McCartney's bass technique, on how many Beatles songs does Paul use bass chords.

shamustwin · Post by **shamustwin** » Wed Apr 28, 2004 10:10 am

Sorry Peter, just one more,
Bob I have that knack also, having like you subconsiously (where's the spell check?) absorbed the notes, chords and structures. And a pick is nearly a neccessity on a Hofner, as you've stated.
Something to bolster the pick side: He was playing guitar in the band prior to bass, and continued to do so on recordings. But I feel in the begining of his Ric years, he got more inventive and thoughtful of what and how he played on the bass.
Did the use of the Ric coincide with their introduction to pot?
He used chords quite a lot. The first I can name is And I Love Her. But I heard a song from their later years the other day (don't remember which) that surprised me because he was still using chords.

jwr2 · Post by **jwr2** » Wed Apr 28, 2004 10:19 am

on the Beatle song "Taxman" ... I believe that is George on the bass ...

admin · Post by **admin** » Wed Apr 28, 2004 10:20 am

I'll add one more Jerry, it's "All I've Gotta Do."

admin · Post by **admin** » Wed Apr 28, 2004 10:22 am

Jwr2: McCartney plays the lead solo on "Taxman."

beatlefan · Post by **beatlefan** » Wed Apr 28, 2004 10:41 am

I know it was outside, and I know that it was in a video, I know they weren't plugged in, but in the Magical Mystery Tour movie, it appears that Macca plays with his fingers in the 'WALRUS' shot......

I have been practicing dilligently with a pick using Macca's technique and I must say that it really has been brought my playing up a notch....

leroy_la_qua · Post by **leroy_la_qua** » Wed Apr 28, 2004 11:02 am

Does Macca use downpicking or alternate picking when playing the bass?

shamustwin · Post by **shamustwin** » Wed Apr 28, 2004 11:23 am

Is he doing chords on "Walrus", along with the strings at "...sitting in an English garden..."

leftybass · Post by **leftybass** » Wed Apr 28, 2004 12:07 pm

Chords on the bass?? Hmmm....

"All I Gotta Do", "IWTHYH", "And I Love Her" and a little bit in "Got To Get You Into My Life"...

What else..?

apollo11 · Post by **apollo11** » Wed Apr 28, 2004 1:28 pm

Strawberry Fields Forever, I'm Only Sleeping ??

admin · Post by **admin** » Wed Apr 28, 2004 4:18 pm

These songs may require some discussion, however, there appears to be bass chording, in each of them. It is certainly limited in a number of them. But McCartney seems to have used chording to a greater extent than I first thought.

If I Needed Someone
I Want You
Tomorrow Never Knows
Things We Said Today
We Can Work It Out
Oh Darling
Yes It Is
While My Guitar Gently Weeps
You Like Me Too Much
The NIght Before
Help

rictified · Post by **rictified** » Thu Apr 29, 2004 8:04 am

The last chord in "All My Lovin'" is just bass.
2nd octave E and B. Whenever I play that song no one believes me (want to steal my little solo!), so I have to play it for them on a CD.
"Don't bother Me" is another one.
Great topic Peter and a classy way to change the subject, haha!.
I wish my Beatle albums weren't at home (in the states), you know I'd be going through them right now, haha!
Actually I think he played a lot of 2 note chords, (technically you need three notes to make a chord, called a triad I think)

admin · Post by **admin** » Thu Apr 29, 2004 8:13 am

Yes Bob, you are right I neglected to add "Don't Bother Me", the song I mean. There are a few of others that include just two note chords and I believe these to be "Any Time At All", "Devil In Her Heart" and "Act Naturally."