Best Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers bassline?

[Stingray89]

I've been listening to some Tom Petty alot and there bassist has some cool melodic basslines, they've got a great rhythm section. So what do you think there best bassline is?

[ryco]

"Strangered in the Night" off their first album.

I really like the first two albums when they were still exploring, looking for their voice.

Ron Blair is one of my favorite bassists. Not flashy - stays out of the way, yet definitely has his own style.

Like the way he swoops into the higher register.

Great band!! I like Ferrone's drumming. Rock solid and smooth! But I liked Stan and thought his style fit the band better.

[iamthebassman]

The Waiting

[BillMason]

We do a few Petty songs in our band - Free Falling, Into the Great Wide Open, and Running Down a Dream.

I actually find them to be kind of boring to play! I find the changes to be very guitar-centric, with not a lot of room to make the bass parts more interesting than they already are. I don't mean more complicated, I just find there isn't much groove to them.

When our band picks songs, I find they are usually picked by the guitar players, who also do the singing. For songs that we do, I usually dump each one into one of two categories - is it the type of song that people like to sing to, or the type of song that people like to dance to? Tom Petty songs (for me anyway) almost always fall into the "singing" category, and I find stereotypical guitar players in general prefer this type of song - you know the type: the Eagles, America, Neil Young, CCR. Usually songs with 2-3 chords, easy harmonies, easy to pick up on an acoustic guitar by yourself. These are often the same guys who EQ with too much bass (again because they're accustomed to playing alone).

Now for easy to learn tunes that have a groove: John Cougar Mellencamp! Not a huge fan to listen to (however his P-bass player, whoever he was, on Cherry Bomb has awesome freaking tone if you ask me), but I enjoy playing his songs, and they audience always loves them too.

[ryco]

Change of Heart and American Girl are two more fun ones.

Mr Mason, with all due respect what is the point of your post?
Here's a guy who has been turned on by hearing a particular player and decides to share and asks others what are there fave TP bass lines.

So you post saying TP is boring and he should be listening to this guy instead. That's weird to me. That's like going into a "Rush/Geddy" thread and posting how s_____* they are when the thread is meant for fans.

On top of dissing the OP, your saying my taste is crap as well. One of the joys of art and creativity is that different things appeal to different ppl. Another joy is the ppl who are attracted to the same things enjoy sharing 'em with others. To come in and rain on the parade is unnecessary.

I also slugged it out in the T40 circuit (incl BC) for 15± years and certain songs were fun to play, and others weren't. John Cougar's "Walls" was fun - but if I ever have to play "Hurts So Good" or "Pink Houses" again I will most certainly vomit. You are payed to entertain and give the people what they want, whether or not you enjoy each individual song your band plays. I always played 'em to the very best of my ability. Who knows why ppl like certain songs to sing/dance to/listen/drink&fight to

Yes I-IV-V guitar songs can be boring. They are simple. Play to much and you ruin them - that is their nature. Ron Blair is a cat who IMO found a way to play interesting subtle lines and not spoil the style or get in anyones way. And TP&HB do most certainly lay down a fine groove!

peace


* and I would agree, BUT I wouldn't go in and post a negative comment. It's not cricket

[BillMason]

Originally Posted by ryco

Change of Heart and American Girl are two more fun ones.

Mr Mason, with all due respect what is the point of your post?
Here's a guy who has been turned on by hearing a particular player and decides to share and asks others what are there fave TP bass lines.

So you post saying TP is boring and he should be listening to this guy instead. That's weird to me. That's like going into a "Rush/Geddy" thread and posting how s_____* they are when the thread is meant for fans.

On top of dissing the OP, your saying my taste is crap as well. One of the joys of art and creativity is that different things appeal to different ppl. Another joy is the ppl who are attracted to the same things enjoy sharing 'em with others. To come in and rain on the parade is unnecessary.

I also slugged it out in the T40 circuit (incl BC) for 15± years and certain songs were fun to play, and others weren't. John Cougar's "Walls" was fun - but if I ever have to play "Hurts So Good" or "Pink Houses" again I will most certainly vomit. You are payed to entertain and give the people what they want, whether or not you enjoy each individual song your band plays. I always played 'em to the very best of my ability. Who knows why ppl like certain songs to sing/dance to/listen/drink&fight to

Yes I-IV-V guitar songs can be boring. They are simple. Play to much and you ruin them - that is their nature. Ron Blair is a cat who IMO found a way to play interesting subtle lines and not spoil the style or get in anyones way. And TP&HB do most certainly lay down a fine groove!

peace


* and I would agree, BUT I wouldn't go in and post a negative comment. It's not cricket

Peace to you too - I wasn't trying to diss anyone, sorry. Just giving my opinion on Tom Petty tunes. It's all my guitar players want to play, and I just find it uninspiring. We play a lot of root-fifth I-IV-V dotted-quarter-eighth-half note stuff too that I actually find more fun to play, as there's more room to go outside the formula, and it's easy to do so while staying locked in to the groove. I just don't find much of a groove in Tom Petty, sorry... They're fine tunes to listen to and sing along with, and I'm not saying anyone's taste is crap, so it wasn't meant as a negative comment - sorry if it came across that way. I guess I just wanted to share my opinion that there are some songs that are "singing" songs and some songs that are "dancing" songs, and I much more enjoy playing the ones that people like to dance to.