"Here Comes The Sun" (Harrison) bass demonstration

So Low Bass · #1 03-05-2010, 11:15 AM

It’s a beautiful, sunny March afternoon here in Buffalo so I thought this is a good time to post this tune. It shows the genius of Abbey Road in that this sunniest-of-tunes followed the darkest tune on the album. The effect is even more striking now that we don’t have to flip the record over between tunes!

http://www.youtube.com/user/solowbass

Use headphones to get the best sound.

Jerry Ziarko · #2 03-07-2010, 09:50 AM

Nice job, I really enjoyed that!

Exploiter8 · #3 03-07-2010, 09:56 AM

Your vids are always enjoyable!

X8

KingCrimson · #4 03-07-2010, 10:01 AM

I enjoy your playing, it has feel, feel that i still have yet to get. As well your technique is great and doesn't reek of some of the old fart players on tb who have nicer gear then everybody but don't have the playing to back it up. I love that P bass sound! Keeping it simple, great playing!

BluesWalker · #5 03-07-2010, 10:06 AM

Very nice. Do you transcribe the tunes yourself or do you use the Beatles Complete Scores as a guide?

So Low Bass · #6 03-07-2010, 11:50 AM

Thank you all for the support.

BluesWalker,

I've, we've been listening to these gems for decades. I can hear the basslines in my sleep but don't, as the rule, try to copy them. Sir Paul and company have left something in me that I add my own style to. I've seen the scores but as a classically trained musician, it seems strange that they treat, say "Here Comes the Sun", like a Mozart Symphony. The Beatles probably played that tune 100 times before making the ONE recording we know.

Bootzilla · #7 03-07-2010, 03:24 PM

I liked it a lot! You mentioned you use an ampeg one fifteen combo, which one do you mean? That tone is to die for imo.

Also did you put in a "mudbucker" from a telebass or some other pickup and do you like it?

So Low Bass · #8 03-07-2010, 04:17 PM

Hi Boots-

Thanks! I use only the P pup, up full with the tone about ¼ open. The strings are new DR High Beam medium flats. Notice where I pluck, and that a lot of my playing is in upper positions. I used the house amp where I recorded. Sorry, all I know is that it’s old (70’s?), blueface little bugger with a nice ampeg sound…tubes.

I heard Papillardi with Mountain in 1971 and wanted that EBO buzz. I ordered the humbucker from Gibson and routed it in. I never use it today, never got that buzz. I was too young then to know that the EBO’s shorter string length/lower tension, plus Felix’s pick, contributed a great deal to that sound.

bassalo · #9 03-13-2010, 03:46 PM

Good stuff, thanks for posting that. I'm learning that song this weekend - it looks fun.

So Low Bass · #10 03-14-2010, 09:00 AM

It IS fun... a perfect spring tune. It's the tune that best represents everything about George in my mind.

Watch my slides... Sir Paul was the master at that, and very little is ever written about them.

corinpills · #11 03-14-2010, 05:18 PM

Nice job, as always. I'm a bit of a purist and somewhat of the opinion that Beatle bass lines are best played with a pick (and on a Hofner or Rick, preferably), but you have such a nice tone and feel that I have been forced to change my opinion. You do a really nice job with these.

PaulNYC · #12 03-14-2010, 05:41 PM

Your videos make me want to hit the shed for a while

Thanks for sharing.

So Low Bass · #13 03-14-2010, 06:55 PM

Thank you all. The internet is truly an amazing tool. I can wake up at 3:00am, especially tonight with the time change, and listen to hundreds of bass players playing this one tune. The exchange of ideas are endless. I don't want to sound like an old man, but an entire avenue of bass playing peaked in the late 60s. From there, a different road started, the likes of which Wooten and Miller travel.

Can you imagine living in 17th century europe where ideas could only travel 30 miles on a good day?

(PaulNYC... I'll be in the city Easter weekend visiting my son. Where can I go to sit in?)