What is your black belt song?

robbie1973 · #1 09-09-2009, 01:53 PM

I have my song "Xanadu" but Rush. I refer to it as my black belt song as I am training to get it down and it's not easy for me at all. I figure when I get to that point it's my first degree black belt in Bass!

What is or was your black belt song that will show you that you officially are a good bass player.

CBgaragebassist · #2 09-09-2009, 03:22 PM

7 nation army

but seriously, maybe some Zepellin stuff or Something For Nothing by Rush.

Zombbg4 · #3 09-09-2009, 03:29 PM

I've been working on Donna Lee for quite a while now. I can fumble through it, but it still kicks my ***. I guess that would be my "Black Belt" song. For improvising, it would be the obstical course Giant Steps, if I could get the changes down I'd be pretty happy.

derJackal · #4 09-09-2009, 03:33 PM

Home on the Strange by Geddy Lee.

His "new" finger pick playing style is driving me nuts with that one.

Nashrakh · #5 09-09-2009, 03:36 PM

Semi-Fiction by The Fall of Troy, maybe... was kinda happy when I learned that one, that gave me some confidence in my playing I guess. No fancy slap stuff, but laying the groove down (especially in the first part) ain't that easy. Plus, the song has a weird ending, mixing sextuplets and septuplets (sp?)...

Greyvagabond · #6 09-09-2009, 03:40 PM

Anything by Pete Wentz.

irishpride28 · #7 09-09-2009, 03:44 PM

mine was first black dog, then livin lovin maid (that was my ear training song)
Now its Mr Pink by Level 42, and "43" by Level 42
it changes a couple times a month!

XXL · #8 09-09-2009, 03:50 PM

Lemon Song is my grail, I just need to find a drummer that feels the same. I was very happy when I learned Josie, such a great song to play live.

Hamrhed · #9 09-09-2009, 04:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by robbie1973

I have my song "Xanadu" but Rush.

Thats a good choice- I can play some of that but it certainly is one of my favorite Rush tunes

The only three Ive ever learned note for note is Bastille day, Think Im going bald, and Lakeside Park. As you can tell- although I am a fan of all of their (Rush) stuff- Caress of steel is one of my faves

manutabora · #10 09-09-2009, 04:25 PM

Anything with rhythm changes...
Actually, sometimes even a blues will kick my butt

saxmachine777 · #11 09-09-2009, 04:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Zombbg4

I've been working on Donna Lee for quite a while now. I can fumble through it, but it still kicks my ***. I guess that would be my "Black Belt" song. For improvising, it would be the obstical course Giant Steps, if I could get the changes down I'd be pretty happy.

You're obviously playing the wrong instrument. Get yourself a horn

Mirror Messiah · #12 09-10-2009, 06:56 AM

'supa scoopa and the mighty scoop' by kyuss. great, great bassline, awesome solo, wayyy harder than i expected :P

FromBeyond · #13 09-10-2009, 07:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mirror Messiah

'supa scoopa and the mighty scoop' by kyuss. great, great bassline, awesome solo, wayyy harder than i expected :P

Haha, word. i'm trying to crack that song as well, Scott Reeder is a maniac :b

Din Of Win · #14 09-10-2009, 09:46 AM

I recently began to tackle the Sabbath's N.I.B. solo. Doing pretty well so far

EDIT: after attaining 3 1st degree black belts in 3 martial art styles (and multiple degrees thereafter), just getting that black belt is only the begining...

RAM · #15 09-10-2009, 11:29 AM

I don't have a single song, but rather several. If I'm trying to impress others, it depends on what they're looking for.

When I was 14 I was in a band, having played bass for a grand total of 3 months. They told me if I couldn't play both Roundabout and Long Distance Runaround by Yes, I couldn't stay in the band. Of course, I got fired. (Think I care???)

I'm now 40 and those same guitarists who asked me to play those songs have since heard me and complimented me on how good I am. 26 years of wood shedding the bass can do that for you. I've become a student of Geddy Lee and John Entwistle for those reasons, and now can emulate either's style on command. Few, if any, have said anything short of, "Wow!"

The biggest advice I can offer, if you're going to have a "black belt song" is to make sure you master not only the notes themselves, but understand the phraseology and dynamics of each song you're trying to master. Learning the notes is big, of course, but there's an underlying style that's important to understand, as well. As such, I find even after spending hundreds or thousands of hours listening to and learning a given song, I still pick up something new. Sometimes it comes from listening to a different song by the same artist and understanding what their style is. When going back to the original song, you might have a different perspective that lends itself nicely to mastering it.

For example, listen to how an artist interacts with the drums. Picking John Entwistle is a good example, because he's played with Keith Moon, Simon Philips, and Zak Starkey on numerous Who tunes (not to mention others) and had to play certain songs differently because of how each drummer approaches a song. Or, with Geddy Lee, his style has obviously morphed over the years, into his "flamenco" technique. If you listen to how YYZ was played on Moving Pictures as opposed to how it was played on the Snakes and Arrows tour (and subsequent DVD) you'll notice the middle-8 was changed to incorporate his new style. He holds the same basic feel, but the notes are entirely different. By listening to the more recent version of this song you'll notice new things in how he approaches the song that might give you insight into how he approaches the song.

To me, becoming a black belt in a certain song takes this diligence beyond learning the notes. Understand the approach behind the notes and you'll take your mastery to an exciting new level!

ghiadub · #16 09-10-2009, 11:51 AM

"Need Your Love So Bad" by Little Willie John

it is just a walking bassline but the feel is sooooo hard to get. I am not there yet.

Lichtaffen · #17 09-10-2009, 12:26 PM

When I learned "Ain't No Mountain High Enough" I almost burst out. It took me about a month. The whole Standing In The Shadows of Motown book is a huge lesson in and of itself for me. I'm finally "gettin' it", but it's only the tip of the funky iceberg.

PBass101 · #18 09-10-2009, 11:37 PM

+10 for Entwistle's parts. For me the hard ones are any of Entwistle's later live bass parts - the 5:15 solos, Won't Get Fooled Again, etc. I can cop them pretty well now, but that relied mostly on getting my bass setup with super-low action for all the open-string tapping and hammer-ons and typewriter stuff. Having a bass with a nut that was slotted way too high for years killed me. Setup is everything to me. And playing with a really light touch and low strings is great for me because I'm kind of a lilly when it comes to getting hand cramps.

I try to cop Entwistle's style in my band, but with a guitard that leaves no room for "busy" basslines and a drummer who plays everything like it's a jazz song - even Entwistle's Heaven and Hell, it's hard. It's Hard. Get it?

I'm such a fanboy.

My other "black belt" moment is probably Spirit of the Radio or the jam part of Tom Sawyer, but I can play them both now. I'm not really that interested in Rush basslines other than the popular ones. My right hand cramps up really bad too when I try to play like Geddy, so I can only do it for about five minutes before I want to put my bass down - and where's the fun in that?

klyph · #19 09-11-2009, 01:37 AM

"Need Your Love So Bad" by Little Willie John

Wow. Somebody in Talkbass referring to one of my favorite singers! You sir, just made my week. Good luck with the feel- they just don't make rhythm sections like that anymore! Even if you learn it, where are you gonna find the drummer to play it with? I can think of some other songs similar in this regard, the first one that comes to mind is "Think" by James Brown (JB was heavily influenced by LWJ, by the way). That song is so perfectly in between a "swing" feel and a straight feel it's ridiculous! (and all the more swingin'). Another great track like that is "Don't Cry no More" by Bobby "Blue" Bland. I played that for my drummer (who is actually a good, soulful, solid player) and he flat out begged off of playing that feel! (I forgave him, reluctantly)

Okay, you can go back to the discussion about trebly 32nd notes now!

Kuark · #20 09-11-2009, 01:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lichtaffen

When I learned "Ain't No Mountain High Enough" I almost burst out. It took me about a month. The whole Standing In The Shadows of Motown book is a huge lesson in and of itself for me. I'm finally "gettin' it", but it's only the tip of the funky iceberg.

After about 8 months of jamming around on the bass and never really learning any songs this is the first song I am attempting to learn all the way through. Its a very interesting experience and really makes me rethink the kind of bassist and styles I want to actually start studying.