Stevie Wonder "I Wish" - GRRR!

[Corporate Boy]

Originally Posted by pedro

I don't get it why is this a problem?

E has 4 sharps, where Eb only has 3 flats. This makes it easier on non-string instruments.

I need to learn this tune. I'm revisiting my finger per fret exercises. My gut tells me that if you can get that Eb on the A string down to the F# than the rest will fall into place without detuning.

[pedro]

Originally Posted by Corporate Boy

E has 4 sharps, where Eb only has 3 flats. This makes it easier on non-string instruments.

I need to learn this tune. I'm revisiting my finger per fret exercises. My gut tells me that if you can get that Eb on the A string down to the F# than the rest will fall into place without detuning.

Its not that tough.

[jaywa]

Originally Posted by longfinger

and that will help a player to get the same phrasing and fluidity as Nate Watts had on his bass tuned Eb-Ab-Db-Gb.

This is actually where I'm struggling more than hitting the notes. The notes are right but the feel isn't (quite). I'll get there though.

[coldwater]

I found this video helpful when I was learning it.
http://youtu.be/Y0XALap3jns

[BobaFret]

I played it for years in standard tuning. Never needed the low Eb.

[hover]

Originally Posted by Holdsg

If I recall correctly, having played this in a band a bout a year ago, the song may be in Eb but the lowest you have to play is the second note of the riff, and I believe that's an F (or F#) which is 1st or (or 2nd) fret on the E string. Play the first note on the A string. I never had a problem playing this song with a 4-string bass in the key on the record. If I had my bass with me right now, I could confirm that, but I never had to detune.

This is exactly correct. Been playin it for years. No detuning, as described above. There is no Eb on the E string, the entire song.

[jaywa]

That's a great Youtube clip, thanks.

[Session1969]

Originally Posted by zfunkman

Invest in a 5 string. The only time I use my 5 is when I go below E. Other than that I use my 4.

Me too.

[bassplayerbob]

Does your band have a keyboardist? When my band plays it,(we tune standard and play in E) I use an octave pedal to mimic the lower notes and sounds pretty good.. Short live clip

[kozmikyak]

No reason one can't modify the bass line to fit within the range, or play it in an octave that fits. Or use an octave pedal to play it in the upper octave while filling out the low end.

However, every single note in the first several frets of the 4-string bass is a _bass_ note, as far as choral part-writing rules go; they can sound thick and thumpy even if they're not in the lowest octave.

I have a huge range on my E-cello, but I often use the second octave instead of the first octave of notes.

Just think of lots of James Brown funk. Studio recordings of lots of the songs are in Eb but might have had speed manipulation done to them. Lots of the live recordings of the songs are in D. And the bass lines go _up_ from the lowest Eb or D on the instrument. Nobody complains that they aren't "bass enough".

[bluesbasshound]

I used an Octaver Divider when I covered it. The effect fattens the notes up and almost serves as a synth sound. Back in the 80s I used a Boss pedal, nowadays I use the Zoom B3 multi effects pedal with more (tweakability?) plus synth flavoring. Use to play the horn parts on trumpet too! Haven't played "I Wish" in a long time. Still play "Superstition" though, and use the above mentioned effects. Love Stevie's left hand!

[Session1969]

Originally Posted by BobaFret

I played it for years in standard tuning. Never needed the low Eb.

Funny, I just thought of that too. It's what I did on alot of songs before getting a fiver. Sometimes it works, other times , not so much.

[jaywa]

Good thoughts re the octaver. I actually do have an onboard octaver in the amp I'm using tonight (Line 6 LowDown 150).

Maybe I'll dial up a little of that (not much) just to fill things out a little.

[HolmeBass]

Learning a few Stevie tunes now and the one that I insisted on transposing up to Em was Superstition. Just can't get the right sound of the low open E string (Eb on Nate's bass) playing it an octave higher, or with the octaver.

Octaver might work for "I Wish" though. Best of luck getting the feel and sound right. Been able to do "Tell Me Something Good" and "Living For The City" without transposing.

[groooooove]

get used to it

it'll be an issue with every band you ever play with. no matter what key it is, someone wont be happy.

[Turock]

I don't understand how playing it in Eb is a problem.

[Pet Sounds]

There's a video on YouTube of a guy playing this in standard tuning on a four-string, so it can be done. My band plays it in a different key, so I kind of deviate a bit from the line on the record. I think it was synth bass on the record, BTW.

[SteveC]

I played that tune for YEARS on a 4 string. It doesn't need the low Eb for that pedal all the time.

[jaywa]

Originally Posted by Turock

I don't understand how playing it in Eb is a problem.

For 4-string bassists who don't want to detune their bass 1/2 step, it takes away the open string fingering options many of us (myself included) use to "cheat" our way around the fretboard. The open strings no longer fall within the scale therefore all the notes have to be fretted.

To put it bluntly... it's harder. Not impossible, just harder.

[DWBass]

I've always played it on a 4 string. No need to hit a 'low' Eb on that tune. If you have to, just detune your E string half a step or get a 5 string. Or use an octave pedal.