Steve Harris and Flats

[mward69]

OK, I have been reading tons of stuff {becomming addicted}
I've played for yrs so I'm not green. Let me get this straight, Steve Harris of Maiden {who was the biggest influence on my playing} using FLATS???? I have been fight with myself to get a set on my Marcus 4 string....hmmmm I think I'm sold, just popped my E on a fairly new set of DR hi-beams.

[Thunder Pulse]

If you've been playing for years and are heavily influenced by Steve then I don't know how you couldn't know that he uses flats.

[JimmyM]

Don't think of Steve as a traditional flats user. He changes them frequently so he could get a roundwound sound out of them. Most flats players leave them on for a long time. Using flats won't get you his sound unless you change them after every couple gigs.

[Would'e?]

I love Harris. He's one of my biggest influences. But he sure does make life hard on himself to get his sound: Using flats, lots of volume and a very light picking attack with his fingertips and nails. Most of us would have an easier time (well, I do anyway) getting Harris-type sounds with steel roundwounds and a pick.

Harry's sound has evolved over time though. In the old days it was more middy and less clanky. There is a steady progression towards piano tones over the first six or seven Maiden albums until he got to where he pretty much settled into the sound we hear today.

For me, the ultimate example of Harris tone is the main bass riff from "The Seas of Madness." Thundering!

[mward69]

I love the "clackedy clack" sound when he does the triplet runs.
I could't bring myself to buying flats today, got FATBEAMS.
I think I'll try groundwound 1st and go from there......$32 bucks at GC.....wait.....the DRs were $29 plus tax.......DOH!!

[Infern0]

Yeah, not a huge fan of the strings. I have them right now. THey are getting better, just not suited to me.

[Poop-Loops]

Originally Posted by Would'e?

I love Harris. He's one of my biggest influences. But he sure does make life hard on himself to get his sound: Using flats, lots of volume and a very light picking attack with his fingertips and nails. Most of us would have an easier time (well, I do anyway) getting Harris-type sounds with steel roundwounds and a pick.

Harry's sound has evolved over time though. In the old days it was more middy and less clanky. There is a steady progression towards piano tones over the first six or seven Maiden albums until he got to where he pretty much settled into the sound we hear today.

For me, the ultimate example of Harris tone is the main bass riff from "The Seas of Madness." Thundering!

I thought it was because he digged into the string and it clanged against the frets, almost like slapping? I've seen him play pretty hard in Youtube videos...

[Would'e?]

Originally Posted by Poop-Loops

I thought it was because he digged into the string and it clanged against the frets, almost like slapping? I've seen him play pretty hard in Youtube videos...

I think that is the popular belief based on his sound, but IIRC other TBers here have cited interviews where Harris refutes that belief and talks about how he plays rather lightly and near the bridge. The sound of the the strings hitting the frets is pronounced because of low action and LOTS of volume.

Watching close-ups of his hands of while he performs seems to support this. His fingers almost flutter over the strings. I don't think he digs in at all. At practice volumes I find in nigh on impossible to duplicate the sound of his attack with my fingers, so even though Harry is a primary influence you'll find me using a pick 80% of the time. (That and the fact that Tool's bassists have recorded the greatest tones in history IMHO.)