The 15 Most Incorrectly Covered Basslines

[plangentmusic]

For anybody in a working band, there are songs you've played a million times with various bands. But it's an interesting phenomenon. There are certain tunes that everyone seems to get wrong.

One example, Johnny B Goode . Simplest song in the word, right? Yet how often have you played a V IV turnaround? (It doesn't exist. It's just V).

Or Louie, Louie -- dumbest garage band song of all time. WHo realized the V chod is minor?

And then there's Pipeline -- the first riff a lot of peple learn to play. But it starts on the V, whereas most people play it in root position.

Okay, here's my Top 10 common "Bar band" basslines that everyone plays -- usually WRONG.


We Are Family: That octave jump is a bitch.

And Your Bird Can Sing: This 1:50 masterpiece has a bass part that's far more complex than people realize.

Thank You Falrlettinmebemiceelf again. The classic maiden voyage of slap, which has been imitated ad nauseum, is usually misquoted.

Under The Boardwalk: The accent makes it.

YMCA. Played with the thumb on the A and and 16th accents with the first 2 fingers an octave above. Pretty cool actually.

My Girl ( So Subtle that even when carefully listening to it, people miss things).

Lucille (Check that lick on the 6 and 7. )

Jailhouse Rock (It ain't a shuffle. It's a loose 8th note feel with a 2 beat walking bass).

Alright Now (Besides the bass being tacit in the verse, the middle riff is 3 octaves apart whereas most people play it in the middle position).

Soul Man. I've never played in a band that did that modulation correctly.

Dance To The Music: Whatever you do, please don't SLAP!

Living on a Prayer. The consummate party sound with a great bass arrangement. So why do so few people learn it?

Dancing Queen. Sure it's sachharin. But the bass hits a groove rarely emulated.

Papa's Got a Brand New Bag: I've never heard anyone cop the feel of the original studio recoding.

Roundabout. Who hasn't picked up Rick, whipped out a pick, and played the first few bars of this classic? Chances are, you did it wrong though.

I'm all for "bringing something to the table." But very often a song works because of the parts. Changing one, doesn't help. These songs are hits for a reason.

It's just one of those things we all do when skimming over stuff that we assume is "simple." There's no such thing as simple music. If it's good, it deserves respect.


Any others you can think of?

[Zooberwerx]

Mea culpa....and I'll worry about it when the original artist(s) shows up at the Moose Lodge and asks to sit in. I wouldn't mind the chunky blonde from ABBA but Chuck Berry...no way!

Riis

[JimK]

...yeah, I hear you. Then again-
We have had some excellent bassists in bar/cover bands around here...3-4 of them are routinely discussed here & at other bass-related sites/magazines...sometimes, I would hear their version of a Pop tune prior to hearing the original artists. So, come Monday, I run out & buy the album & I'm disappointed.

IIRC, Mike Mills (REM) once said by tour's end, he was playing the better/different bass parts than what was recorded a year or so earlier. In fact, he said it was backwards...the tour should come first, then the album.

[JimK]

Originally Posted by plangentmusic

And then there's Pipeline -- the first riff a lot of peple learn to play. But it starts on the V, whereas most people play it in root position.

Wow...I was familar with everything else you mentioned...but I hadda look this one up!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j09C8clJaXo

Wow. IIRC, I was more of a "Walk Don't Run" guy vs. "Pipeline".
Nice P-bass, though...looks exactly like my '64.

[scotch]

My favorite is when the bassist entirely ignores the bass line in 'Superstition' & plays the keyboard part.

[OmnitzGarima]

Originally Posted by JimK

IIRC, Mike Mills (REM) once said by tour's end, he was playing the better/different bass parts than what was recorded a year or so earlier.

I agree with this. Who says that the "originally recorded" bass line (or any part of the song, for that matter) is carved in stone? I think we need some flexibility.

[DWBass]

While quite a few of 'those' tunes are off my radar, some of the above tunes I do play note for note and others, I do my own twist to things but never enough for the song to sound any (or much) different. Everyone has a different way of playing and a different interpretation of how they hear things. Hell, Jamerson played with one finger! Should we play with one finger in an effort to emulate his basslines? Nope! Not me.

A good tune that has a bassline that almost everyone plays backwards is 'Ain't No Stoppin' Us Now'(R&B tune). I have not heard ANYONE cop that note for note. I don't even try. My way suffices! Or try 'Bad Luck' (R&B tune)! Have never heard anyone play that note for note.

[JimK]

Originally Posted by scotch

My favorite is when the bassist entirely ignores the bass line in 'Superstition' & plays the keyboard part.

...somebody has to do it when you don't have a clav/keyboard, right?

[scotch]

Originally Posted by JimK

...somebody has to do it when you don't have a clav/keyboard, right?

I suppose so! :-)

At the same time, I have no problem at all when things aren't note-for-note. As long as the song is recognizable & grooves, its all good!

[JimK]

Originally Posted by DWBass

A good tune that has a bassline that almost everyone plays backwards is 'Ain't No Stoppin' Us Now'(R&B tune). I have not heard ANYONE cop that note for note. I don't even try. My way suffices! Or try 'Bad Luck' (R&B tune)! Have never heard anyone play that note for note.

Back in the '70s...I tried!
IIRC, I was not that bad on the McFadden & Whitehead tune...I ended up playing the "Bad Luck" riff on 1-string (the D-string)...which is "wrong" (played across the G-D-A strings).
IMO, "Bad Luck" is more difficult than "Ain't No Stoppin' Us Now". Nevermind that both tunes will challenge your stamina...the verses in "Bad Luck" have a trickier rhythm, IMO.

[plangentmusic]

Originally Posted by OmnitzGarima

I agree with this. Who says that the "originally recorded" bass line (or any part of the song, for that matter) is carved in stone? I think we need some flexibility.

I agree. But some things simply work better than some improvised part. And a lot of guys don't bother to learn it -- which is why cover versions so often don't quite make it. (And I agree -- even when the band that recorded it changes a song too much , it can lose something.

I usually work out what's on the record, keep what works, and go off in areas where I feel it's appropriate -- as long as it's in the same vein. Hey, I think there are some parts I vastly improved !

But Jamerson -- that's sacred.

[DWBass]

Originally Posted by JimK

...somebody has to do it when you don't have a clav/keyboard, right?

I've heard so many bass players do that? I wonder why?

[DWBass]

Originally Posted by plangentmusic

I agree. But some things simply work better than some improvised part. And a lot of guys don't bother to learn it -- which is why cover versions so often don't quite make it.

I agree with this. I know a local guy who can't play 'You Can Call Me Al' to save his life and I really don't think he tried to learn it correctly. It sounds horrible but the band he's in seems to still get gigs.

Some songs have to have some semblance of the original bassline. Most of those Toto hits? Gotta be spot on or damn close! Good Times? Gotta be spot on! There are plenty others.

I'll share my playing with y'all. http://www.tindeck.com/listen/pizj

I think I'm pretty close to the original basslines in this medley.

[Richland123]

Originally Posted by JimK

...somebody has to do it when you don't have a clav/keyboard, right?

A lot of bands that don't have keyboards use the Beck, Bogart, & Appice power trio version of Superstition.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L41vh23HzS0

Stevie Wonder offered it to Jeff Beck to record, but at the insistence of his own manager Wonder himself recorded it first in 1972. Jeff Beck recorded his own version of "Superstition" a few months later as a part of Beck, Bogert & Appice for their 1973 album.

[DWBass]

Originally Posted by Richland123

A lot of bands that don't have keyboards use the Beck, Bogart, & Appice power trio version of Superstition.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L41vh23HzS0

Stevie Wonder offered it to Jeff Beck to record, but at the insistence of his own manager Wonder himself recorded it first in 1972. Jeff Beck recorded his own version of "Superstition" a few months later as a part of Beck, Bogert & Appice for their 1973 album.

Yuck! I'll stick to Stevie's version! LOL!

[Ric5]

One example, Johnny B Goode . Simplest song in the word, right? Yet how often have you played a V IV turnaround? (It doesn't exist. It's just V).

That song is sooo bad that ANY departure has to be an improvement

Or Louie, Louie -- dumbest garage band song of all time. WHo realized the V chod is minor?

does anybody still play this? I hope not!

And then there's Pipeline -- the first riff a lot of peple learn to play. But it starts on the V, whereas most people play it in root position.

If you play this anywhere but an old people's home they will think it is an original because they will be too young to recognize it.

Okay, here's my Top 10 common "Bar band" basslines that everyone plays -- usually WRONG.


We Are Family: That octave jump is a bitch.

That is a song?

And Your Bird Can Sing: This 1:50 masterpiece has a bass part that's far more complex than people realize.

Huh? don't all birds sing? but they don't play bass. again who knows this song?

Thank You Falrlettinmebemiceelf again. The classic maiden voyage of slap, which has been imitated ad nauseum, is usually misquoted.

Never heard of it? I mean really ... are you making up words here?

Under The Boardwalk: The accent makes it.

Ah yes monopoly ... is there a bass line here somewhere?

YMCA. Played with the thumb on the A and and 16th accents with the first 2 fingers an octave above. Pretty cool actually.

I heard they use this song to torture the bad guys at Gitmo.

My Girl ( So Subtle that even when carefully listening to it, people miss things).

Again ... music for the over 80 crowd.

Lucille (Check that lick on the 6 and 7. )

Is that a song or is it BB King's guitar?

Jailhouse Rock (It ain't a shuffle. It's a loose 8th note feel with a 2 beat walking bass).

Elvis is dead and so is that song ... it doesn't matter how you play it.

Alright Now (Besides the bass being tacit in the verse, the middle riff is 3 octaves apart whereas most people play it in the middle position).

Now this is a cool song ...I love playing it and I always play it different during the lead and the chorus. I prefer my way of playing it. To the people in the audience 90% will think I nailed it note for note.

Soul Man. I've never played in a band that did that modulation correctly.

cool song ... You could play it wrong and nobody will notice.

Dance To The Music: Whatever you do, please don't SLAP!

yawn

Living on a Prayer. The consummate party sound with a great bass arrangement. So why do so few people learn it?

I would never notice if the bass line was wrong.

Dancing Queen. Sure it's sachharin. But the bass hits a groove rarely emulated.

hmmm .. another Gitmo song.

Papa's Got a Brand New Bag: I've never heard anyone cop the feel of the original studio recoding.

You are making it up again right?

Roundabout. Who hasn't picked up Rick, whipped out a pick, and played the first few bars of this classic? Chances are, you did it wrong though.

If you play Yes or Rush you have to nail it note for note. Those who want to hear this stuff want to hear it note for note. Most other bands you cover people don't care.

[steelhead2]

nope in that context=43 drunks on new years eve @ about 11:30PM=you're hero

thanks for something new to practice butchering

[plangentmusic]

Originally Posted by Ric5

One example, Johnny B Goode . Simplest song in the word, right? Yet how often have you played a V IV turnaround? (It doesn't exist. It's just V).

That song is sooo bad that ANY departure has to be an improvement

Or Louie, Louie -- dumbest garage band song of all time. WHo realized the V chod is minor?

does anybody still play this? I hope not!

And then there's Pipeline -- the first riff a lot of peple learn to play. But it starts on the V, whereas most people play it in root position.

If you play this anywhere but an old people's home they will think it is an original because they will be too young to recognize it.

Okay, here's my Top 10 common "Bar band" basslines that everyone plays -- usually WRONG.


We Are Family: That octave jump is a bitch.

That is a song?

And Your Bird Can Sing: This 1:50 masterpiece has a bass part that's far more complex than people realize.

Huh? don't all birds sing? but they don't play bass. again who knows this song?

Thank You Falrlettinmebemiceelf again. The classic maiden voyage of slap, which has been imitated ad nauseum, is usually misquoted.

Never heard of it? I mean really ... are you making up words here?

Under The Boardwalk: The accent makes it.

Ah yes monopoly ... is there a bass line here somewhere?

YMCA. Played with the thumb on the A and and 16th accents with the first 2 fingers an octave above. Pretty cool actually.

I heard they use this song to torture the bad guys at Gitmo.

My Girl ( So Subtle that even when carefully listening to it, people miss things).

Again ... music for the over 80 crowd.

Lucille (Check that lick on the 6 and 7. )

Is that a song or is it BB King's guitar?

Jailhouse Rock (It ain't a shuffle. It's a loose 8th note feel with a 2 beat walking bass).

Elvis is dead and so is that song ... it doesn't matter how you play it.

Alright Now (Besides the bass being tacit in the verse, the middle riff is 3 octaves apart whereas most people play it in the middle position).

Now this is a cool song ...I love playing it and I always play it different during the lead and the chorus. I prefer my way of playing it. To the people in the audience 90% will think I nailed it note for note.

Soul Man. I've never played in a band that did that modulation correctly.

cool song ... You could play it wrong and nobody will notice.

Dance To The Music: Whatever you do, please don't SLAP!

yawn

Living on a Prayer. The consummate party sound with a great bass arrangement. So why do so few people learn it?

I would never notice if the bass line was wrong.

Dancing Queen. Sure it's sachharin. But the bass hits a groove rarely emulated.

hmmm .. another Gitmo song.

Papa's Got a Brand New Bag: I've never heard anyone cop the feel of the original studio recoding.

You are making it up again right?

Roundabout. Who hasn't picked up Rick, whipped out a pick, and played the first few bars of this classic? Chances are, you did it wrong though.

If you play Yes or Rush you have to nail it note for note. Those who want to hear this stuff want to hear it note for note. Most other bands you cover people don't care.

Wrong answers bro. I assume you don't gig much.

[plangentmusic]

Originally Posted by DWBass

I agree with this. I know a local guy who can't play 'You Can Call Me Al' to save his life and I really don't think he tried to learn it correctly. It sounds horrible but the band he's in seems to still get gigs.

Some songs have to have some semblance of the original bassline. Most of those Toto hits? Gotta be spot on or damn close! Good Times? Gotta be spot on! There are plenty others.

I'll share my playing with y'all. http://www.tindeck.com/listen/pizj

I think I'm pretty close to the original basslines in this medley.

Nice, but one correction, if I may... The chorus of Love Train is 8th's, not quarters. It drives harder that way. Check it out.

[the yeti]

Originally Posted by scotch

My favorite is when the bassist entirely ignores the bass line in 'Superstition' & plays the keyboard part.

that seems like a good choice if you don't have keys in the band.