Steve Harris technique

[Greevus]

I met Billy Sheehan at a Yamaha clinic in '90 and he was a very nice and obviously amazing player. He was kinda dogging Steve Harris back then for being "inconsistent" with his right hand. I always thought that sort of staggering/bouncy finger attack was what gave Steve his STYLE. Good to hear Billy's awake now. I love Billy but Steve's songs just EAT Billy alive. Now if Steve could write another "To Tame a Land".....that would be another wet dream.

[machine gewehr]

Originally Posted by Greevus

I met Billy Sheehan at a Yamaha clinic in '90 and he was a very nice and obviously amazing player. He was kinda dogging Steve Harris back then for being "inconsistent" with his right hand. I always thought that sort of staggering/bouncy finger attack was what gave Steve his STYLE. Good to hear Billy's awake now. I love Billy but Steve's songs just EAT Billy alive. Now if Steve could write another "To Tame a Land".....that would be another wet dream.

Billy and Steve are two of my favourite musicians but one of them eating the other alive is a bit harsh don't you think?

[Greevus]

Not at all...I'll take Steve's first 4 records over anything Billy has done. Billy makes me want to solo. Steve makes me want to play, write, and perform. Those pink guitars, bandanas and Scientology kind of ruin it for me. Maiden vs Mr Big or Dave? MAIDEN!!
Billy cannot touch "KILLERS". Seriously, I love Billy's playing and showmanship though. He is a mother on his instrument for real. He gets off like no other. But Steve is my hero.

[machine gewehr]

For each his own.Steve thought me what bass is and Billy thought me what a bass is capable of.I'm still learning from both of them along with many others.

After all the years I still take long walks listening to Maiden or Billy's stuff.Just listened to Cosmic Troubadour.Tomorrow I'll go with the Maiden.Gotta load Killers to the mp3 player.

[Greevus]

I'm with ya brother, I can't hate on Billy much at all. I just went through a phase of watching him for a week on youtube. Cosmic Troubadour is very cool also. My thing with Steve was when I heard the first two LPs, I had found my calling. Edgar A Poe mixed with Shakespeare and horror with all those freaking cool bass intros and bits! As for Steve's technique, man he influenced me on so many tracks! The break in "Phantom of the Opera" is still hard to do exactly like he picks it. I use my thumb if doing it fingerstyle, but I am a pick player, which helps. "Killers" is just the bass LP for me. It taught me how to play with fingers completely. The way he "punches" the strings on "Wrathchild" and "Innocent Exile" are excellent examples of what makes him unique to me. "Ides of March" has the war riff that he uses so much, a la "Where Eagles Dare", etc. The intros to "Murders in the Rue Morgue" and "Prodigal Son" are very cool examples of little melodic lead style bits too that greatly influenced me. God I love the old Maiden!

[lronMaiden]

Here are the things I can think of that would make you sound more like Steve:

- Flats (maybe his custom rotosounds if you really want the exact same tone)
- EQ settings: much high but some low too, something like 3 low, 5 mid and 7 high. Experiment and you'll find what works for you
- Try to play with 2 fingers. It is not that important in Wasted Years, though, 'cause there aren't those "triplets" in that song.
- It's easier to get the "clanky" sound when you play close to the neck and really dig those strings, playing near the bridge dowsn't work, no matter how hard you pluck the strings...

That's about it. The best bass for this would be his signature but if you're just gonna play one or two Maiden songs with you band, paying $1500 for that bass isn't that important

More information about Steve's gear can be found at http://www.maiden666.de/uptheirons.htm in the "die band" section if somebody's interested...

[vrocko]

Originally Posted by Krt Krtt

I can do the gallop with two, but with three its slightly easier. I've read somewhere that Steve used oil on his fingers and never warms up before a show.

His fingering is index-middle-index middle-index-middle. I play it that way and its right on even with rounds if you play aggressively sounds right on. (although flats will really dial it in)

[mr.hughes]

For a Maiden Mojo boost go buy 'Flight 666'. It had a limited one night cinema release here and man, next to watching Maiden live, it's just the best thing to see a Maiden concert gig in a cinema with the volume full whack.

[CamiloDíaz]

No one has addressed the action/relief of neck issue. Steve Harris plays a really low, almost zero relief neck. He digs pretty hard, but never try to dig a fast Maiden song on a bass set too high... it'll kill ya. And those rhythm old masters (Nicko and Steve) are amazing: Steve plays the galloping with two fingers, and Nicko with just one pedal, not double-pedal or anything like that. And still they're all into the songs, not showing off sheer speed for the sake of it.

[machine gewehr]

Nicko doesn't use a twin?

[lronMaiden]

Originally Posted by machine gewehr

Nicko doesn't use a twin?

No, he doesn't. Check this: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZOBLk6VHgJc

[spideyjg]

Originally Posted by lronMaiden

The best way to sound like Steve is to buy his signature but if you're just gonna play one or two Maiden songs with you band, paying $1500 for that bass isn't that important

You can pick up his bass and play his rig but if you don't attack the strings right it isn't gonna happen.

Bright flats and the right attack get you mostly there.
Wanda of The Iron Maidens gave me a set of the Steve Harris flats and that was for me the final piece.

I think in her role getting it right is important.

See the signature if you don't believe me.

Jim

[lronMaiden]

Originally Posted by spideyjg

You can pick up his bass and play his rig but if you don't attack the strings right it isn't gonna happen.

Bright flats and the right attack get you mostly there.
Wanda of The Iron Maidens gave me a set of the Steve Harris flats and that was for me the final piece.

I think in her role getting it right is important.

See the signature if you don't believe me.

Jim

Yeah, of course you have to play with the right technique too (tried the bass a few days ago) but the signature is the closest replica of his bass available.

If you play with the excact same techinque as Harris does but use a fretless Warwick or something like that, you won't get the same sound, even with the signature flats, that was my point. But they sure help a lot.

[Greevus]

Harris doesn't pluck close to the neck, more like over the pickup or just behind. Now Geezer Butler plays ON the neck and gets that warbly sound. Steve's 'picking' is very economical and concise with that low action. If you pick too hard it won't work. That is the Harris technique to me in a nutshell.

[Greevus]

SAGE wisdom: It's in the HANDS of the player. If any of us played his bass/rig it would probably sound horrible. I remember Ted Nugent complaining about how much Eddie Van Halen's rig "sucked" when they toured together. Listen to Eddie play acoustically on "Spanish Fly" versus "Eruption" and it's a good example. It's very hard to replicate what another player does. Mimicing is the best you can really do. That's what makes it great.
Now put on "Rime of the Ancient Mariner" and UP THE IRONS!

[TheVoiceless]

Originally Posted by KuMBye YamALaWd

According to Bass Player interviews I've read, Steve Harris uses only 2 fingers (index & middle)
... though the only way I can get that "galloping" thing going on is by using 3 fingers! Sounds like 3, he claims it's 2


.

I have a similar style. I can do triplets with 2 fingers so I can believe that. I used to use 3 but 2 you have more control.

YES you need to play hard and aggressive. I'm sure flat wounds are a factor also. I love me some Steve Harris

[lronMaiden]

Originally Posted by Greevus

Harris doesn't pluck close to the neck, more like over the pickup or just behind. Now Geezer Butler plays ON the neck and gets that warbly sound. Steve's 'picking' is very economical and concise with that low action. If you pick too hard it won't work. That is the Harris technique to me in a nutshell.

I know, what I meant was that if you play very close to the bridge, it's almost impossible to get the strings hit the frets to get the "clanky" sound... At least I can't do it

[Basshammer]

What sort of technique do you think he's using during the build up part of "Run To The Hills" (2:33-2:55)? That song is around 180 bpm and it seems like he's doing 16ths there. Pretty darn fast for two finger technique. I wonder if he uses one of his fingers like a pick for that part....it doesn't sound exactly like traditional finger-style there.

[lronMaiden]

Originally Posted by Basshammer

What sort of technique do you think he's using during the build up part of "Run To The Hills" (2:33-2:55)? That song is around 180 bpm and it seems like he's doing 16ths there. Pretty darn fast for two finger technique. I wonder if he uses one of his fingers like a pick for that part....it doesn't sound exactly like traditional finger-style there.

I don't what Steve does but I play it with two fingers... It's pretty hard but still possible.

And seems like Steve does too, at least in this vid: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j9OAfOwTZaU

[Toronto Bassist]

Speaking of early Maiden, the runs he does in 'Sanctuary' is pretty scary.