Cake - Short Skirt, Long Jacket: Synth?

agreatheight · #1 01-25-2011, 07:27 AM

Simple question: does anyone know if Cake's "Short Skirt, Long Jacket" is bass or a synth part? There is a repeating low d in the song that makes me think it might be keys, as well as some parts sounding very clean.

Thoughts?

agreatheight · #2 01-26-2011, 08:45 AM

Bump up - anyone?

phillipkregg · #3 01-26-2011, 08:50 AM

It's Gabe Nelson playing his precision. Just sounds like good bass playing to me.

kmqu601 · #4 01-26-2011, 08:54 AM

I've seen them live and it's been a bass part for those performances at least.

My band does a cover of it and we don't use synths at all, sounds fine. The key is the signature vibraslap!

**ShoeManiac** · #5 01-26-2011, 10:17 AM

I know the part, and it's actually pretty easy to play on bass. It never struck me as a part that would be better played on a synth.

agreatheight · #6 01-26-2011, 11:41 AM

So, do you all think it's drop D tuning, or full step down whole bass? Dropped D makes for some odd stretches, imo, and I am just not sure it's whole bass retuned.

dug dog · #7 01-26-2011, 01:17 PM

I can't say for sure what he's doing but, to me, that's much easier to play in Drop D than on a 5er in standard. Where are the odd stretches in 0 3 5?

tZer · #8 01-26-2011, 01:23 PM

That is a GROOOOOOVY bass line. I understand why the OP asked about it being a synth - although just because there's a low D doesn't mean it's a synth (obviously). But I get why... It sounds VERY key-synthy and I thought it might be a synth too on the recording and I am still not sure one way or the other.

I do know the part and play it on a 5'er with no difficulties. The original part is very tight - very quick - very punchy and grooves like nobodies business - and does have a 'synthy' quality.

agreatheight · #9 01-28-2011, 02:45 PM

Sorry for letting this drop, I got crazy busy with work.

One of the odd stretches (listening at work) are in the chromatic part at the end of the verses leading into the chorus. It's at :50 in this clip http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X5KmB8Laemg

On a standard tuned bass its:
E 5 5 3 5 3 0 3 4 5

On Drop D it's:
D 7 7 5 7 5 2 5 6 7

(from memory)

It's a quick part and I don't see how it's played cleanly on a dropped D.

In the clips that I could find of cake doing it live, they play it standard. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cBYEVnQkMU8. And most internet players do it standard and play the D 5th fret on the A string, but the first note in the main phrase on the recording is definitely a dropped D.

The more I listen to it, the more I am convinced of either a) shenanigans or b) masterful playing. Right now, I am leaning toward shenanigans. SHENANIGANS!

agreatheight · #10 01-31-2011, 02:51 PM

A bump to see if anyone agrees.

electracoyote · #11 01-31-2011, 02:56 PM

We do this song in my variety band. I play a 5 string, it's a piece of Cake (pun intended) to grab that low D. It is also coupled with a guitar playing unison (one octave up). Not the most demanding bass line I've ever played, but typically clever for that band.

agreatheight · #12 01-31-2011, 02:57 PM

Do you think it was recorded with a 5'er? For whatever reason I can't picture that, lol. Cake seems like a 4 banger project (but I know that people play other stuff in the studio).

electracoyote · #13 01-31-2011, 02:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by agreatheight

Do you think it was recorded with a 5'er? For whatever reason I can't picture that, lol. Cake seems like a 4 banger project (but I know that people play other stuff in the studio).

It's a low D, whether its a fiver or four string, I can't say without researching. But you're hearing a low D (plus guitar), not a synth.

mattyiop · #14 01-31-2011, 03:02 PM

4 string P bass all the way. IIRC they have had a few different players on their albums, but all them seem to have real good pocket presence/time

I play it in standard tuning & its not too difficult

agreatheight · #15 01-31-2011, 03:06 PM

OK, so now I am obsessing. The more I listen to it, the more I think it's a synth.

Plus, the only bassist listed on the recording is the singer / guitarist / song writer John McCrea. I am not saying he couldn't have played it, but that makes it a little more suspect, imo.

From Wikipedia:
Personnel
* John McCrea - Guitar (Acoustic), Bass, Percussion, Guitar (Electric), Keyboards, Vocals (lead)
* Vince DiFiore - Trumpet, Keyboards, Vocals (background)
* Xan McCurdy - Percussion, Guitar (Electric), Vocals (background), Drum Programming, Design, Mixing
* Todd Roper - Percussion, drums, Vocals (background), Moog Synthesizer
* Kirt Shearer - Mixing
* David Cole - Mixing
* Craig Long - Mixing
* Gabriel Shepard - Mixing
* Don C. Taylor - Mastering

electracoyote · #16 01-31-2011, 08:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mattyiop

I play it in standard tuning & its not too difficult

In standard tuning (EADG) it would be not only difficult, but impossible to reach the low D.

You need either DADG tuning or a five string to play this song like the original recording.

It can be played in standard tuning, but you must sacrifice the low D.

mattyiop · #17 02-01-2011, 10:00 AM

For sure I leave out the Low D unless I bring my fiver

nofrets5 · #18 02-01-2011, 09:17 PM

"I" think there are some synth shenanigans on it myself; the bass tone sounds very "Moog-ey" to me.

agreatheight · #19 02-02-2011, 07:58 AM

@nofrets5

Finally! Someone on my side, lol. It sounds that way to me, too. I wish i could call those guys up and ask!

atoner · #20 06-15-2011, 07:14 PM

First off, the question and commentary here got me to register for the forum. So here I am. Thanks.

The D in question is definitely low. I'm annoyed by the quick bass tabs online that don't show this or at least mention they've been modified for ease of play with standard 4-string tuning. Sloppy. I'm by no means an expert but noticed the D.

I also agree that the "D 7 7 5 7 5 2 5 6 7" passage would be difficult and that Cake seems like more of a 4-string band.

Regarding the possibility of it being a synth, I'm not sure but the cleanliness and style of the bass line is reflected in other Cake songs.