A very stupid question.

firstbassman · Post by **firstbassman** » Tue Feb 20, 2007 5:09 am

Agreed, All My Loving is the exception. Nice walking line.
Love Me Do - root/5th.
Please Please Me - root, root, root
Can't Buy Me Love - root/5th
Ticket to Ride - Stays on the root the entire verse (And granted, my band does this song and I don't know what to do with it either except stay on the root for the entire verse. Actually I play root and octave.)

And, true, Paul did have to sing at the same time, which does make it harder. (Jack never had to sing.)

tennis_nick · Post by **tennis_nick** » Tue Feb 20, 2007 5:15 am

I know it happens alot to hear root root root root or root fifth root fifth, but for the most part, if it fits the song, I wouldn't want to hear anything else... The worse thing a bass player can do is grasp the spotlight, because then you have your Victor Wootens, and guys like that. I may be biased, but I like the bass to be in the pocket and groove than be in the spotlight and rely on everyone else to keep it going. Not saying the bass can'T you know... move, just as long as the groove is still intact!

sloop_john_b · Post by **sloop_john_b** » Tue Feb 20, 2007 5:29 am

Early on, I think Paul knew he was going to have to sing and play his bass lines live, and kept it simple at least for that reason.

Also, even if he DID want to make more complex lines, he simply didn't have the freedom to stay in the studio after-hours, night after night, which is what he did on Sgt. Pepper's. Remember, these early LP's and singles were often recorded hurriedly and rushed out ASAP.

firstbassman · Post by **firstbassman** » Tue Feb 20, 2007 5:46 am

Nick, John, for what it's worth, I agree 100%.

I'm able to re-post so quickly because I am not at work today. Just so U.S. taxpayers don't think that they're not getting their money's worth out of me.

lyle_from_minneapolis · Tue Feb 20, 2007 4:55 pm

Did Paul play bass on "Ticket to Ride"?

brammy · Post by **brammy** » Tue Feb 20, 2007 5:12 pm

According to "Beatlesongs" (Dowlding), Paul played bass and also lead guitar with his Epiphone Casino. (it says that Goerge also played lead guitar)

revolver323 · Post by **revolver323** » Tue Feb 20, 2007 5:25 pm

Take a listen to "You Can't Do That." And "Long Tall Sally." Good bass.

lyle_from_minneapolis · Tue Feb 20, 2007 5:28 pm

Check out Paul's bass on "Hey Bulldog" and try it out. Then say, yeah right! He constantly changes up his approach, and though it sounds pretty well improvised, that suckah be deep in the pocket.

sloop_john_b · Post by **sloop_john_b** » Tue Feb 20, 2007 6:34 pm

I've always had trouble getting "Hey Bulldog" exact, and i've decided that it just isn't worth it to try and nail it 100%, because Paul was most definitley ad-libbing the verses.

lyle_from_minneapolis · Tue Feb 20, 2007 6:44 pm

I could never memorize that many variations on a thumping theme. I absolutely adore that song and the maddening way they whipped it out in no time at all.

firstbassman · Post by **firstbassman** » Wed Feb 21, 2007 4:04 am

Take a listen to "You Can't Do That." And "Long Tall Sally." Good bass.

YCDT is actually the only Beatle song my band covers that I enjoy playing. It's the only one with something for me to do.

[Day Tripper does too somewhat but I screw up that riff too many times.]

brammy · Post by **brammy** » Wed Feb 21, 2007 10:43 am

This Hey Bulldog clip is one of the best films of the Beatles. I agree... It's one of those songs where the vocals probably never came out exactly the same twice. Hey Jude is another one like that.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hGrEZH7j1bQ

By the way... the day after Hey Bulldog was recorded, the Fabs left for India.

congerz83 · Post by **congerz83** » Thu Feb 22, 2007 12:17 pm

Tennis Nick, Great point. Wooten is very talented but he makes mr crazy with his over-play.

simer4001 · Post by **simer4001** » Thu Feb 22, 2007 3:22 pm

I really like Victor Wooten. Sure he's over the top a bit but I like watching him perform. Hos whole band plays that way. I think each of them did a bass solo IIRC.

congerz83 · Post by **congerz83** » Fri Feb 23, 2007 1:29 am

Welcome Back, Bri!