Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

Great site Pete .. we share a similar history on how we got started with Rics ..

I saw Yes in 69, and got my first Fireglo 4001 via McCormack's Music in Glasgow in early 73 for my 18th birthday !!

Wes, I can play some Rush and Yes tunes...and we're talking geologic time scales before my band would even consider playing one...well, not exactly true. We thought about "Spirit of Radio" but the singer could not hack it...

But there is a large body of work from both bands that I just don't have the chops for. And I've been called (and consider myself) a good bass player. So don't feel bad if you can't figure out that crazy measure in Villa. Few do!

Wes, start with an easy Yes tune - Long Distance Runaround.

http://www.tabheaven.com/go.php?sid=44065

Funny you mention that tune, John...one guitarist in my band and I used to hack that tune years ago in another band!

Hey, if I can play it, anyone can!

And interestingly, I have the most trouble with the standard major run before going into the next verse. My ring finger just sometimes has a mind of it's own.

Once youve mastered the riffs try singing falsetto backing vox AND playing it!
Warn the neighbours they might think someone is being murdered.
The trick with YES music is to take your time moving in and out of pieces.
On Long Distance the drummer drags back the tempo after the run to go back into the next verse.Its more noticeable on the live versions.Have a listen to Wembley 78 bootleg.

I've also noticed the recent Yes live I've heard is not as "quick" as it used to be! They're slowing with age. Which works for me!

Chris played and sang "Hold Out Your Hand", a very intricate bass part song at the HOB 75th. He hadn't played it live in 31 years, but he nailed it. Has my respect!!

"The trick with YES music is to take your time moving in and out of pieces."

I noticed this myself, that even though there may be a lot going on, especially perepherially, if you stick with the flow and meter, it works out a whole lot better. The music and parts are all very well thought out.

Ed, don't feel bad about playing (or not playing) Rush tunes, etc.
Geddy has a particular style & attack that is awkward to a lot of players.
I had no problem with La Villa (bought the Exit Stage Left tab book), but YYZ is still hit & miss. It seems to depend on how loose my hands are feeling at the time: loose = easy. Certain times of day (or night) are better.

I'm just saying that each player's natural style is different & some things are more suited to each individual than others.

My band does Vital Signs by Rush. Once the bass pattern is learned, I find that forgetting what my fingers are doing is the key. That way I can concentrate on the vocal line. Took me 2 years to learn to sing and play. Now it's easy...

"I'm just saying that each player's natural style is different & some things are more suited to each individual than others."

There's a whole lot of truth to that... There are songs I just love but trying the bass parts just doesn't make sense to me... I just can't "feel" it - and I have really good timing.

The more you do it, the easier it gets. The brain learns to combine two distinct & often very different activities.
{edit} Singing & playing, that is.

There's a lot of funk & Motown stuff I just can't get the "swing" of.

Hollywood Swingers...

My wife has a Sting video (yeah, I know) and on it he is trying to tell the guy who will play the bass for this concert in Italy how the part/song goes and starts to sing it but flubs it. He said, "I can't sing it without my bass!" That really drove home the point that it is one event in the mind, not playing AND singing.