Stevie Wonder "I Wish" - GRRR! - Page 3

jaywa · #41 02-08-2013, 01:26 PM

I'll just learn it the way that guy on the YouTube clip did it. He seems to have it down pretty well. And maybe throw a little octaver on it.

stiles72 · #42 02-08-2013, 01:30 PM

Quote:

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.

+1

hover · #43 02-08-2013, 01:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jaywa

I'll just learn it the way that guy on the YouTube clip did it. He seems to have it down pretty well. And maybe throw a little octaver on it.

Where does it call for an octaver? Unless it's to add your own flavor, of course.

jaywa · #44 02-08-2013, 01:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hover

Where does it call for an octaver? Unless it's to add your own flavor, of course.

I've used the Octaver on my amp before... does a nice job giving a "synth bass" sound (or bass doubled with synth) which to my ears is what's going on in the original recording.

The guys in my band are pretty laid-back but they also know what they want (and don't want) to hear... so if the octave effect is too much I'm sure I'll find out soon enough.

Turock · #45 02-08-2013, 02:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jaywa

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.

Even if you do find it harder, it's really not that hard. In fact, I think it makes the chorus easier.

cica · #46 02-08-2013, 02:36 PM

Check out this youtube video. He teaches how to play it in Eb using standard tuning.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B4bUx_s72uo

cjp3044 · #47 02-08-2013, 02:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by aproud1

Real easy on a 5 string....

+1
This is the song that made me switch to 5 string as my primary instrument in the variety band I play with.

RDUB · #48 02-08-2013, 03:34 PM

I've always played it in Eb, without open strings. Eb is a great horn key... although the horns on the original are all synth...

jaywa · #49 02-08-2013, 03:42 PM

Yeah... we're doing it as quartet... synth player but no horns.

I hope the keyboardist has been 'shedding on those horn vamps as hard as I've been working on the bass part.

prd004 · #50 02-08-2013, 03:49 PM

http://youtu.be/yn2s5_vq60U

It's not that hard, work on it. 4 string, standard tuning is no real problem. Seeking the easy way will not make you a better bassist

ksandvik · #51 02-08-2013, 03:56 PM

I've played this in Eb on 4-string bass guitars. Just use the upper part of the fretboard so the higher notes are more full.

deependmusicllc · #52 02-10-2013, 04:07 PM

I both sing and play bass on I Wish and Superstition with my band. From the singing side of it, we do Superstition in E, but I have to drop I Wish to C to be comfortable singing it. It sounds great in that key. Singing I Wish in E would be tough to do. Like stated earlier, there are no low Eb's(C's in my case) in I Wish. So the key change won't alter my pattern on bass.

Smallmouth_Bass · #53 02-10-2013, 04:11 PM

You don't need a low Eb to play this song.

**Jeremy Allen** · #54 02-10-2013, 04:18 PM

In case the message has not been received--
the tune is in Eb;
the original recording was done on a 4-string bass in standard tuning;
the bass line does not call for a note not available on a 4-string bass in standard tuning;
therefore, go forth and rock!

(and I say this as someone who played the tune for years with a singer who liked to do it in E, giving me the option of having a low tonic available; but I still played the line as it was done on the record, just up a half step)

bassplayerbob · #55 02-10-2013, 07:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jeremy Allen

In case the message has not been received--
the tune is in Eb;
the original recording was done on a 4-string bass in standard tuning;
the bass line does not call for a note not available on a 4-string bass in standard tuning;
therefore, go forth and rock!

(and I say this as someone who played the tune for years with a singer who liked to do it in E, giving me the option of having a low tonic available; but I still played the line as it was done on the record, just up a half step)

Actually there is an interview with Nate Watts in a bassplayer magazine where he says that they would tune down a half step because Stevie wrote a lot in flat keys.

qervo · #56 02-10-2013, 07:20 PM

Does anyone know how Nate Watts gets his sound on I wish? To me it sounds like its almost a synth. Is he using an effect pedal? If so what.

Smallmouth_Bass · #57 02-10-2013, 07:27 PM

I think it's fretless.

bassplayerbob · #58 02-10-2013, 07:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by qervo

Does anyone know how Nate Watts gets his sound on I wish? To me it sounds like its almost a synth. Is he using an effect pedal? If so what.

Same article, he is doubling Stevie's left hand on the intro. He also says Stevie called him in the middle of the night to cut a track he was working on. Nate was so mad that what you hear is him grinding deep on the bass, especially in those slide! Great story too!

qervo · #59 02-10-2013, 07:46 PM

Yeah I can tell that the bass is doubling Stevie's keys, but something sounds "electronic" about those slides. Or I guess it could be him just digging in and pushing the amp. I always try to get that sound when I play it but all I've got is an overdrive pedal.

bucephylus · #60 02-10-2013, 07:46 PM

First, this tune as recorded plays just fine in standard tuning on the 4. Not sure what the issue is.

However, I personally like to do a little more with it, especially in solos; so, yup, now you are looking at the key of Eb.

Oh, BTW, there are a whole pile of tunes that a cover bassist will need to cover in Eb. Its a great and popular key for the horns.

So, my strategy on a 4 is to use a Hipshot set to Eb. For the few Drop D tunes I do, I just manually detune. With the Hipshot, the 4 is mostly just as useful as the 5. It takes a little adjusting to the tunings, but you get there pretty quickly.

Try it, you'll like it.

BTW, the 5 works as well. Of course. But, in fact, I actually prefer an open Eb to the stopped Eb. As always, YMMV.