John Paul Jones!

Thunderthief · #1 07-20-2006, 10:54 PM

He is my idol!

i havent heard alot/anything about on TB in the 2 or so months i have been on it. so what do you guys think?

i love him because he can groove like machine that was made for grooving. and yet he plays bass, guitar, slide guitar, flute, piano, recorder

Hes also an amazing songwriter, dont let people fool you he wrote many songs that were credited to Page most notibally Black Dog.

so what do you like/dislike about him, and if have an tips on copying his tone, please tell

nick g. · #2 07-21-2006, 12:33 AM

He's one of the best, that's for sure. He can groove like no other, and write really beatiful songs. His works on keys was really sweet as well... see Trampled Underfoot and No Quarter.

Elemetal · #3 07-21-2006, 12:39 AM

He was one of the first bassists I ever knew and got me started on the bass.

SamJ · #4 07-21-2006, 12:44 AM

He and James Jamerson (his influence) are among my top influences, and both a reason I play the bass, and not guitar as a primary instrument... Jimmy Page not withstanding.

Funky Doctor · #5 07-21-2006, 12:46 AM

You know him!?!?!?!?!

Well, he was the first bass player I ever noticed as being awesome when I was 12 years old. He made me want to play like him after I heard the Lemon Song. Too bad I didn't pickup the bass untill 6 years later.

thebassclef · #6 07-21-2006, 12:49 AM

Funny thing, I Am Listening to Lemon Song RIGHT NOW. One of my all time favorite Bass Lines and one of my TOP influences.

SamJ · #7 07-21-2006, 12:53 AM

One thing about JPJ is that while he was usually in the shadow of Jimmy Page with his extravagant style and tremendous skills in his own right, the musically trained people that I knew always realized that he was truly the back bone of most LZ songs..

morf · #8 07-21-2006, 07:15 AM

The Lemon Song is a big influence to us all I think

JPJ is one of the most amazing musicians I've heard. the stuff he can fit in the pocket is just amazing. It's really hard to play at his level or timing/rhythm, even more having it sound good.

The Lurker · #9 07-21-2006, 07:50 AM

He is a consummate badass on anything he plays, and bass in particular.

JimK · #10 07-21-2006, 08:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SamJ

One thing about JPJ is that while he was usually in the shadow of Jimmy Page with his extravagant style and tremendous skills in his own right, the musically trained people that I knew always realized that he was truly the back bone of most LZ songs..

JPJ was in the shadows of all 3 members of LZ.
I recall reading an issue of Circus (early '70s) where Page called Jones "the true musical genius of LZ".
Tha made me go "Hmmmmm...a bass player"?

Anyway, he was a major influence on me back in my early daze. I worked my way through the Led Zeppelin Complete Songbook for about a year...since the basslines in that book were not the most accurate, it was an effort & I guess it helped develope some listening skills.

I also remember thinking "If only I could play 'The Lemon Song'...I could die happy".

morf · #11 07-21-2006, 08:30 AM

Thats exactly what I'm thinking right now

cowsgomoo · #12 07-21-2006, 08:34 AM

to get the tone, you'll get close if you try this: Jazz bass, both pickups on full, flatwound strings, play with your fingers...

rolling some tone off or sticking a bit of foam under your strings near the bridge will help you with that plummy Lemon Song tone

the Lemon Song is a fantastic slice of bass playing... even though the note choice is the first thing that strikes you, more amazing to me is JPJ's sense of timing on that noodly middle section... it's slightly swung 16th's and it's flawless all the way through

(oh, and check out my transcription of it if you're interested)

JPJ · #13 07-21-2006, 08:35 AM

...and he's also a really nice guy.

origami · #14 07-21-2006, 08:38 AM

amazing.. what else can you say.

his lines are always inventive and what is NEEDED for the song. his use of the right time and place for unison lines, chords, melodic passages, groove and blues. It is truely understated what he did for bass by bringing Jamerson style elements into rock.

EX:

chords: heartbreaker, etc...
the riff: dazed and confused, black dog, etc.
speedy scales: immigrant song
pedal tones: kajmir
groove: the crunge
blues: lemon song
melody: ramble on
8 string: achilles' last stand
all over: song remains the same

when i think of old school tone, it's him, he is laid back and just fat in the mix while the guitar dances around. it's really jimmy page's tone and style that lets JPJ's bass shine through. because the limits of # of tracks, some albums really had a cool place for bass because there couldn't be 10,000 overdubs. it proves, despite technology, a good, bass, in goods hands sounds great.

+1 jazz bass with flats, both pick-ups, or jazz with nickles, neck only.

mm

morf · #15 07-21-2006, 08:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cowsgomoo

to get the tone, you'll get close if you try this: Jazz bass, both pickups on full, flatwound strings, play with your fingers...

rolling some tone off or sticking a bit of foam under your strings near the bridge will help you with that plummy Lemon Song tone

the Lemon Song is a fantastic slice of bass playing... even though the note choice is the first thing that strikes you, more amazing to me is JPJ's sense of timing on that noodly middle section... it's slightly swung 16th's and it's flawless all the way through

(oh, and check out my transcription of it if you're interested)

Thanks!

Alan Vorse · #16 07-21-2006, 08:50 AM

As a rock dude turned jazzer, I loved the interview from a few years ago where he said his favorite stuff was Miles, Trane, Mingus, Sonny Rollins, Ornette Coleman. The interviewer said "Most hard rock and metal players don't listen to that kind of stuff" and he replied "their loss"

Delberthot · #17 07-21-2006, 09:01 AM

I also like his post Zep stuff like "Tidal" where he plays 12 string bass which is strung like a 6 string with one octave string beside each.

Zep had 4 fantastic musicians and I am so glad that they stopped when they did and not do the Queen, Who thing of keeping the band alive after half of their members died/left.

Blunt · #18 07-21-2006, 09:01 AM

JPJ is onne of the most brilliant dudes to pluck this humble 4 stringed instrument. Well The Lemon Song, Ramble On, Caraouselambra, The Rover, etc.
Amazing feel and melodic sentiment. One of the true greats of the bass guitar.
He made it sound solo with out ever quite taking one.

infect · #19 07-21-2006, 09:05 AM

I love his solo work. His distorted tones are wonderful

Blunt · #20 07-21-2006, 09:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by origami

amazing.. what else can you say.

his lines are always inventive and what is NEEDED for the song. his use of the right time and place for unison lines, chords, melodic passages, groove and blues. It is truely understated what he did for bass by bringing Jamerson style elements into rock.

EX:

chords: heartbreaker, etc...
the riff: dazed and confused, black dog, etc.
speedy scales: immigrant song
pedal tones: kajmir
groove: the crunge
blues: lemon song
melody: ramble on
8 string: achilles' last stand
all over: song remains the same

when i think of old school tone, it's him, he is laid back and just fat in the mix while the guitar dances around. it's really jimmy page's tone and style that lets JPJ's bass shine through. because the limits of # of tracks, some albums really had a cool place for bass because there couldn't be 10,000 overdubs. it proves, despite technology, a good, bass, in goods hands sounds great.

+1 jazz bass with flats, both pick-ups, or jazz with nickles, neck only.

mm

Great post. It is very R & B and Jamerson. So funky in a rock setting. With Bonham they made such a monumental section.
Much is made of Page and Plant but without that quite unique mix...
Well bass players are always overlooked........