New Respect for Chris Squire of Yes - Playing Roundabout!

[Baird6869]

I have been a competent bass player and a huge Yes fan for 25 years and have always considered Chris as one of my biggest influences.

I have always screwed around with Roundabout and the main parts of the song are fairly straightforward and easliy played but never actually gigged it.

Anyways, I tried playing this with my band tonight and it is one of the hardest tunes I have ever tried to play really get tight!

My guitard is amazing, but the subtile changes in the arrangement on bass is really tough for me. AND we are a 3 piece.

Anyone else find Squier's (or Yes') more complicated stuff to be a pain to play? IThis song is driving me nuts!

[Buster Brown]

CS has always been a favorite of mine (shoot, I play Rics pretty much because of him) and I have long admired his "style".

Unfortunately (and I MAY be reading this all wrong), but Chris has often been "snubbed" to a certain extent by the bass community because he uses a pick, but I couldn't imagine "Roundabout" without that clanky pick-induced sound...

Roundabout is/was one of my favorite bass lines to play, but it does take a little getting used to. Play it a few times and it will become second nature (at least that's what I keep telling myself)

[Philbiker]

You guys should play "Tempus Fugit". What a blast!

[Thunderthumbs73]

Originally Posted by Baird6869

I have been a competent bass player and a huge Yes fan for 25 years and have always considered Chris as one of my biggest influences.

I have always screwed around with Roundabout and the main parts of the song are fairly straightforward and easliy played but never actually gigged it.

Anyways, I tried playing this with my band tonight and it is one of the hardest tunes I have ever tried to play really get tight!

My guitard is amazing, but the subtile changes in the arrangement on bass is really tough for me. AND we are a 3 piece.

Anyone else find Squier's (or Yes') more complicated stuff to be a pain to play? IThis song is driving me nuts!

Congrats! Welcome to the Club!

While I love people who focus on the BASS in BASS Guitar, I also enjoy how CS focuses on the GUITAR in Bass GUITAR. Neither one is "wrong!" Me, I am a masochist: I play the CS part and sing the JA vocal part at the same time. No, I don't want a cookie. Ha! It's just good practice and musical arse-whuppin!

[jgroh]

Do you usually use your fingers and are switching to a pick for this song?

[Ric5]

Originally Posted by Buster Brown

CS has always been a favorite of mine (shoot, I play Rics pretty much because of him) and I have long admired his "style".

Unfortunately (and I MAY be reading this all wrong), but Chris has often been "snubbed" to a certain extent by the bass community because he uses a pick, but I couldn't imagine "Roundabout" without that clanky pick-induced sound...

Roundabout is/was one of my favorite bass lines to play, but it does take a little getting used to. Play it a few times and it will become second nature (at least that's what I keep telling myself)

I like to play Squire bass lines Entwistle or Geddy style ... and I like to play Geddy's bass lines with a pick ...

[john turner]

Originally Posted by Philbiker

You guys should play "Tempus Fugit". What a blast!

yeah, we used to play that at the end of a gig, right after versatile residue. good way to top off the evening for me .

[buzzbass]

I never tried, I know better. His speed is beyond me.

[Baird6869]

Stingray with Bass at about 7, mids cut a bit and treble up almost full..... Very close to a Squire RIC sound IMO with a pick and playing most of the song near the bridge.

I could gig this song now.

P.S. AT LEAST 5 hours of practice to get it tight but I am good to gig this tune.

The CCBAGF#E riff that appears from time to time can be a pain.

[Captain_Arrrg]

Originally Posted by Philbiker

You guys should play "Tempus Fugit". What a blast!

One of the songs I play when checking out a bass.

[Bob the bassist]

Originally Posted by Buster Brown

...I couldn't imagine "Roundabout" without that clanky pick-induced sound...

I finger it. . . and it clanks just fine

[jschwalls]

Yeah, Chris is amazing... His lines are very melodic and his choice of notes are brilliant. Heart Of The Sunrise, is still one of my all time favorites.

Long Distance Runaround was a challenge to play at first, learning to NOT listen to the drums was difficult, lol.

Beaver Felton got me hooked on YES back in '91-'92 when I was taking lessons from him. He basically told me to go buy FRAGILE, which I did right after that lesson, and I've been hooked ever since.

[Buster Brown]

Originally Posted by Ric5

I like to play Squire bass lines Entwistle or Geddy style ... and I like to play Geddy's bass lines with a pick ...

I hear you!! Well, I ALWAYS use a pick with my Ric and finger my Fenders (sounds sort of kinky....) but that's what works for me.....and, in the end...that's who I have to satisfy...

Granted, I'll never be one of those "high heralded" bass players (you know the names) but oh well.....I feel so ashamed......

I have been in love with Squire's "style" since the first time I heard "Yes" way back in...what was it now....1971-2 ????

[fourstringdrums]

Originally Posted by Bob the bassist

I finger it. . . and it clanks just fine

+1 I can't play it all that well yet but on my Precision with FLATS no less, I like opening up the tone and plucking closer to the bridge. It gives me a very acceptable tone for that song.

[Buster Brown]

Originally Posted by Thunderthumbs73

Congrats! Welcome to the Club!

While I love people who focus on the BASS in BASS Guitar, I also enjoy how CS focuses on the GUITAR in Bass GUITAR. Neither one is "wrong"!!

My God!!! I have been playing Bass since 1969 and that is probably the best explanation that I have EVER read!! My compliments, Sir!!

I have had this discussion (literally) hundreds of times with fellow musicians over the years (pick vs fingers - fretted vs fretless) and I truly love your analogy!!

Dang! Too bad I didn't think about this in 1972 when I floored that guitar player Oh well.....he was a pussy anyway

[Sneckumhaw]

Originally Posted by Buster Brown

Unfortunately (and I MAY be reading this all wrong), but Chris has often been "snubbed" to a certain extent by the bass community because he uses a pick

Really? Wow, ignorance really knows no bounds if that's the case!

[Buster Brown]

Originally Posted by Sneckumhaw

Really? Wow, ignorance really knows no bounds if that's the case!

Brother, welcome to the wonderful world of "bass"..........I say that "tongue-in-cheek" but unfortunately, it bears a great deal of truth....

[GtenderG]

I started playing bass because of Chris Squire. Am currently working on 'The Fish'. My goal is to do a trimmed down version of 'WHite Fish' which incorporates 'Tempus Fugit' and 'On the Silent Wings of Freedom' and keep it under 5 minutes. I've never been a pick guy but there in lies the challenge!

I'm also working on Parallels - check out this Brazilian guys Yes/Bass vids on youtube.... He's very good.

http://youtube.com/watch?v=SVefESFtd3g

[pbass2]

Originally Posted by Buster Brown

Brother, welcome to the wonderful world of "bass"..........I say that "tongue-in-cheek" but unfortunately, it bears a great deal of truth....

Funny thing is, when I was a lad I used to devour my older brother's Guitar Player magazines BEFORE there even was a Bass Player mag, and Squire was voted top bassist many times over in Guitar Player, and that was a loooong time ago. Seems they didn't care if he used a pick or not

[CamiloDíaz]

Chris Squier is a true master. Period.