For whom the Bell Tolls by Mtallica

Lowner · #1 03-12-2006, 10:56 AM

In the intro of the song..is it the bass that plays it or a guitar? I was jamming last night with a guitar player and he started to play the intro. I said it was the bass playing and he said it cant be because its too high for the bass. now we are in dispute. I say its bass and so does a Metallica tab book I have. But he says the tab book is wrong.

crazybassplyr · #2 03-12-2006, 11:00 AM

I dont know if it was originally recorded on guitar or bass, but if you watch the Cliff 'Em All vid, its played by the late great Cliff.

WalterBush · #3 03-12-2006, 11:02 AM

It was recorded by Cliff, an Aria bass through a Crybaby Fuzz Wah. Don't let any guitar player tell you different.

deddeh · #4 03-12-2006, 11:05 AM

Live clip of Cliff Burton and Metallica playing For Whom The Bell Tolls

Oh it's bass allright

Cliff Burton uses a distortion pedal and a wahpedal to get that sound, just listen to Pulling Teeth, which is a bass solo where he uses alot of distortion and wah.

It's kinda his signature sound.

MikeyFingers · #5 03-12-2006, 01:54 PM

It was Cliff!! Everyone should know that!

0/0.0\0 · #6 03-12-2006, 02:56 PM

so does rob do it now or do james/kirk?

MikeyFingers · #7 03-12-2006, 03:09 PM

I would hope Rob does it, but I'm really not sure. I haven't seen/listened to any newer Metallica.

Kronos · #8 03-12-2006, 03:44 PM

On the actual recording, it's both Cliff's bass track and a very low volume guitar track behind it.

Rocknrolljunkie · #9 03-12-2006, 10:10 PM

rob does it.

havik180 · #10 03-15-2006, 06:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rocknrolljunkie

rob does it.

what he said , I think theres actually a link to a vid of Rob playing on here too !

**MAJOR METAL** · #11 03-15-2006, 06:44 PM

Bass all the way !

AshenBassist · #12 03-15-2006, 08:34 PM

i play it with my band, but my guitar player refuses to let me be the only one.

i don't have a distortion or wah, so it doesn't sound as good as cliff. but i think it sounds awesome clean.

on a side note, i haven't ever played this song without both lead and bass doing the intro, anything else would probably sound empty to me. whatever.

you should let your band decide which sounds best, you alone, guitar alone, and then both together. unless your band hates you.

good luck!

Tostenbass · #13 03-16-2006, 08:59 AM

The fact that there is a 2nd bass track on the intro, following the guitar/drums, may cause some of this confusion.....(especially with non-bassplayers

)

bobdob20 · #14 03-16-2006, 03:07 PM

I play it on the bass in my band. I find its best miss out the low beats, and just show off with the high bass line, because you've got both the guitars and the drums filling in that bit.

prince666 · #15 03-18-2006, 03:26 PM

definately should be played by bass only! this is one of those points in a covergig where you can really stand out, so do it and dont let any crap ass guitarist tell you otherwise

and yes, cliff, rob and jason are all playing it...i doubt if kirk could even play such a difficult lick :P

steve

Willem · #16 03-18-2006, 04:39 PM

and Jason did it before him
it's bass no question