Entwistles's Typewriter Technique

mike_d · Post by **mike_d** » Fri Jun 25, 2004 6:20 am

Moonie was playing along with pre-recorded tapes for a number of songs during some of their live performances in the 70s. He used the headphones to play along with a click-track, sometimes duct-taped to his head to keep them in place.

green_us90 · Post by **green_us90** » Fri Jun 25, 2004 10:07 am

Yeah, Entwistle is just amazing. He has been my bass Idol for as long as I have been playing. I have tried to fuse his style with that of Jack Bruce's Jazz sensibility but usually the Ox wins out.

The typewriter technique is quite amazing and to get the notes to ring out properly you must have the action very low, as he did.

As far as the new Kids are Alright DVD, the Ox cam is nothing short of amazing. For years I have been playing "Won't Get Fooled Again" wrong and after studying that DVD I have now adjusted. One rule of Entwistle's playing I seemed to have forgotten was, "Octaves, Octaves, Octaves!!!".

Also, if you can try to get the "Hot Licks" bass instructional video with John. His blues jam halfway thru the tape with the founder of "Hot Licks" is great. He plays circles around this guy effortlessly.

Scastles · Post by **Scastles** » Fri Jun 25, 2004 12:17 pm

Just my two cents...but Moon generally always wore the headsets. I saw them three times, headphones each time, the last being during the Quadrophenia(sp)" tour, Skynyrd opened for them (their breakout year)...and for whoever that remarked about the other opening band doing "Ride Captain Ride"...it was( the likely forgetable) Blues Image.

rictified · Post by **rictified** » Fri Jun 25, 2004 6:49 pm

When I was in Lima everyone in the 70's cover band I played in thought that they were just the greatest band they had ever heard. I was amazed, I said yeah I think I remember them "Ride Captain Ride" or something like that?
Entwistle wrote "My Wife" was always one of my favorite Who tunes.

jwr2 · Post by **jwr2** » Fri Jun 25, 2004 7:26 pm

The typwriter technique has to do with the direction of the finger stroke ... in the 60's most finger and pick players used a stroke that was more parallel with the width of the body ... parallel with the pickups ... but the typwriter attack is a motion that comes stright down on the bass perpendicular to the bass body and pickups ...

Entwhistle also did some great pick work ... listen to live at leeds ...

Also Geddy has a style similar to Entwhistle watch Rush in Rio ...

jwr2 · Post by **jwr2** » Fri Jun 25, 2004 7:28 pm

the headphones were the forerunners of the now popular in ear monitors ... the in ear monitors it the way to go especially for a drummer ...

rictified · Post by **rictified** » Mon Jun 28, 2004 7:36 am

Moons earphones may also have had something to do with the fact that he was a chronic alcoholic and his timimg near the end was terrible even when he heard the click track in his headphones. Was a sad story.