McCartney on Sgt Pepper

[bassist15]

Just heard another song off of Sgt Pepper and was so impressed by how clear Macca's sound is and how well he cuts through. I havent really sat down and tried to play along . I do remember trying to sit down and play With a Little help from My friends and realizing it wasnt as easy as I thought. What would be the key to playing some of these lines if any of you haev conquered them .

[afinalfantasy]

I'd say turn up the treble a bit and have sort of a laid back and aggressive feel to it

That's how I play the songs on that album

[JimmyM]

You have to have a good sense of time because McCartney's lines are all in the timing.

[hbarcat]

The Sgt Peppers album has a vintage bass sound provided by flatwound strings, less aggressive pickups, more of a lower midrange sounding amp and cabinet that's less "scooped" than a modern bass sound and, most importantly, was recorded through the best microphones and preamps that money could buy directly onto 2" reel to reel tape.

If you want to get as close as you can to that sound playing live, then do any or all of the following: switch to flats, use vintage style or actual vintage pickups, get an all tube amp, cut the lows and highs (below 60 hz and above 4000 hz) and boost the low mids (around 120 hz and also around 800-1100 hz).

[kevin_lindsay]

Macca used a Rickenbacker and Fender Jazz on that album - both with flatwounds.

[MysticMichael]

Originally Posted by bassist15

Just heard another song off of Sgt Pepper and was so impressed by how clear Macca's sound is and how well he cuts through.

You have George Martin to thank, at least partially. Though McCartney's round, dubby tone is in his fingers, his gear, his settings and his marvelous sense of musicianship, his recorded sound - and in particular the excellent way his tone just penetrates on record - is largely due to George Martin's mastery in the studio.

Originally Posted by bassist15

I havent really sat down and tried to play along . I do remember trying to sit down and play With a Little help from My friends and realizing it wasnt as easy as I thought. What would be the key to playing some of these lines if any of you haev conquered them .

That would be a hard question to boil down to a simple answer. To me, McCartney's lines are very much free of any of the standard bassline cliches. Since he plays several instruments, and as a songwriter must necessarily think holistically about the music, his bass playing is often informed primarily by the melody - in a way that most bass playing is not. His playing with The Beatles was very creative, and very out-of-the-box...but in a way that totally worked as a bassline. It's just that nobody else had ever composed and played in quite that style before.

So maybe the answer would be, "Play creatively, melodically, and way out of the box...but in a way that still totally serves all the core functions of the bass..."

MM

[JimmyM]

Originally Posted by hbarcat

The Sgt Peppers album has a vintage bass sound provided by flatwound strings, less aggressive pickups, more of a lower midrange sounding amp and cabinet that's less "scooped" than a modern bass sound and, most importantly, was recorded through the best microphones and preamps that money could buy directly onto 2" reel to reel tape.

If you want to get as close as you can to that sound playing live, then do any or all of the following: switch to flats, use vintage style or actual vintage pickups, get an all tube amp, cut the lows and highs (below 60 hz and above 4000 hz) and boost the low mids (around 120 hz and also around 800-1100 hz).

If you're looking to duplicate McCartney's tone exactly, I would say this is a reasonable way to get close. But I was under the impression that the OP wanted tips on how to play the song, for which it's more of a technique/timing issue, or so I thought.

[J.T. Chester]

I'm presently reading Geoff Emerick's book, "Here, There & Everywhere", where he describes most of the procedures & techniques he pioneered with the Beatles in the studio. It's a great insight into the Beatles recordings, especially from "Revolver" 'til the end.

EVERY Beatles fan & engineer wannabe should read it. It's a fun & easy read. (also read "All You Need Is Ears", by George Martin)

Examples:

• McCartney played most of his bass parts, for 'Pepper' AFTER everything else was finished, alone in the studio, layered on top.
• The mics were standard issue EMI, but used in a variety of odd ways.
• Many of them were recorded using a 15" speaker, wired in reverse, as a mic & slammed right up against his bass cab!

[McHaven]

Originally Posted by kevin_lindsay

Macca used a Rickenbacker and Fender Jazz on that album - both with flatwounds.

Actually, Sgt Pepper was pretty much all Rickenbacker. The Jazz was used mainly on the White Album and Abbey Road
http://www.thecanteen.com/mccartney7.html

[Freaky Fender]

I thought I remember reading in a bass player that Paul went straight into the board for Sgt. Peppers...

[J.T. Chester]

Originally Posted by Freaky Fender

I thought I remember reading in a bass player that Paul went straight into the board for Sgt. Peppers...

Not according to Geoff Emerick, their engineer. That was later.

[Philbiker]

Originally Posted by MysticMichael

You have George Martin to thank, at least partially. Though McCartney's round, dubby tone is in his fingers, his gear, his settings and his marvelous sense of musicianship, his recorded sound - and in particular the excellent way his tone just penetrates on record - is largely due to George Martin's mastery in the studio.

I'd say that Geoff Emmerick has at least as much to do with McCa's better tones as Martin does. Martin produced a lot of Beatles record before Emmerick joined the team (around the time of "Rubber Soul" or maybe a little earlier I believe), and the difference in recording quality pre-Emmerick and post-Emmerick is notable.

Credit where credit is due....

[MysticMichael]

Originally Posted by Philbiker

Credit where credit is due....

Duly noted...

MM

[Larry99]

Originally Posted by bassist15

What would be the key to playing some of these lines if any of you haev conquered them .

practice, practice, practice. Take note of the 'space' in the basslines rather than the notes themselves.

...man Sgt Peppers is such great stuff. The bass is nothing fancy or elaborate, just perfect note choices and timing/feel, not to mention the wonderful old school mix. I've always thought Paul invented rock n' roll bass. IMO, you're listening to history as far as the electric bass in popular music is concerned. Easily right up there with Jamerson, Joe Osborne, Carol Kaye, etc...

[ryco]

His playing style and bass lines remind me of the way tuba players used to play in marching bands and dixieland. Almost a cabaret style. Very staccato. Root-fifth and arpeggios with short melodic fills thrown in.

Also a very melodic ear and a keen interest to learn!

[kevin_lindsay]

McHaven - you are a star!!! I remembered seeing pics of Paul with his Jazz - but mistakenly thought it was around teh "Pepper" time.

[bassist15]

Thanks to everyone for the awesome response Ive gotten.

[Bassin']

The thing I would keep in mind when learning McCartney bass lines, and Sgt. Pepper's especially exemplifies this, is that his bass lines usually evolve throughout each song. He rarely plays a verse or chorus the same way. At times he'll incorporate subtle rhythmic shifts and other times he'll do something completely different. Familiarizing yourself with how he develops a bass line within the context of the song would be invaluable.

[bassist15]

I love Macca's lines and I agree how it was said earlier that he goes up there with Jamerson , Kaye , Osborn.......I dont want to take away from Macca but I think someone else who kind of floats around the song and makes it sound easy(but in all reality isnt) is Family Man Barrett from Bob marley...Ive been trying to tackle both Macca's and Family Man's basslines lately....some tough stuff.

[markdavid]

Part of what makes maccas sound as he does is the combination of flatwound strings and his rickenbacker. Flatwound strings are quite dark soundign whilst rickenbackers are very bright