Rick Danko

[bassist15]

Ive started listening to The BAnd here in the past few weeks. I bought their self-titled and Rock of Ages (their live album). I really love Danko's playing . He may not be as fast or technically advanced as alot of players but he plays parts the better the songs. I love the sound of his Fender on The Band album and he plays his fretless Ampeg AUB-1 on Rock of Ages. One thing I wanted to know was , does Danko play wwith a pick or fingers. Ive seen pics that look like he's playing with pic and some that makes it look like he plays with fingers.

[JimmyM]

He might have occasionally used fingers, but the bulk of his stuff was done with a pick.

[7flat5]

Great player. He also played a fretless Gibson Ripper a lot.

[Mojo-Man]

Both fingers and pick.
I always dug his fretless work.

[cabcreaser]

it's great to see Rick Danko brought up in this forum, one of the truly great rock bass players.

From what I have heard, most of his fretless playing was done with a pick, but it sounds like he did use his fingers some as well.

I have really been digging his work on the Northern Lights - Southern Cross record. Great tone and feel.

[markjazzbassist]

i dig the band and rick's playing. he does well on the fretless.

[funkalicious101]

hmm, i never knew he played fretless.

he sure has enough character for ten men though.

[The Craw]

I agree with JimmyM. Almost all his work was done with a pick. He did a Homespun video to show his pick techniques.

[bassist15]

I just read on interview of the band's site and it kind of cleared things up. Danko said that in studio he used fingers but live he used mostly a pick because he thought it cut through better. His tone is so great you cant even tell he's using a pick.

[superbassman2000]

Rick Danko is one of my top bassists! not only a great bass player, but could sing just as well too!

[Quinn]

Yep, he was a giant. Great singer and songwriter, too.

Rock of Ages is one of my favorite live albums. You'll definitely want to check out the Last Waltz DVD, too as it's a classic and Danko gets a lot of screen time (but, alas, not nearly as much as Robertson.)

[The Craw]

Originally Posted by bassist15

I just read on interview of the band's site and it kind of cleared things up. Danko said that in studio he used fingers but live he used mostly a pick because he thought it cut through better. His tone is so great you cant even tell he's using a pick.

I think you may be misinterpreting what he said. He wasn't trying to say he didn't use a pick in the studio, he meant whatever fingerstyle he did was pretty much limited to studio work, not live. It's pretty clear in the context of everything he said in the interview.

It's clear to me he's using a pick on most of the studio cuts. You don't have to hear a click to be able to tell, just an ear for certain kinds of moves.

[jerry]

I'm pretty sure he used a pick in the studio most of the time. I was always a big Danko/Band fan. Danko, Freebo and Paul Butterfield bassist Rod Hicks were guys I saw play fretless years before I saw Alphonso Johnson and Jaco. Rick Danko's vocals on 'It Makes No Difference' get me still 35 years down the line, such a soulful talent!

[iamthebassman]

Originally Posted by funkalicious101

hmm, i never knew he played fretless.

he sure has enough character for ten men though.

Wow, in any decent overview of fretless bass in rock Danko is always mentioned.

He was one of the guys who inspired me to take up bass. I was thinking about it when The Last Waltz came out(1977 I think), I saw it at the theater and I was convinced!
I always like his playing on the song King Harvest.

Ronn

[KPJ]

If you ever get the chance to see the movie "Festival Express", check it out. It's a documentary of a train tour across Canada in July of 1970 that featured The Band, Janis Joplin, The Grateful Dead, Flying Burrito Brothers and some others. There is some good live footage of the bands and a hilarious impromtu duet with an obviously drunk/stoned Rick Danko and Janis, with Bob Weir and Jerry Garcia playing guitar.

[PaulMacCnj]

Rick is great. Yes, the man has passed on, but his music lives on. I saw The Band" on the 1985 reunion tour minus Robbie Robertson. Rick did most of the vocals and it was just great. As for his bass playing, yes, he's one of the reason's why I love the electric bass so much.

Paul Mac

[DocBop]

Originally Posted by bassist15

Ive started listening to The BAnd here in the past few weeks. I bought their self-titled and Rock of Ages (their live album). I really love Danko's playing . He may not be as fast or technically advanced as alot of players but he plays parts the better the songs. I love the sound of his Fender on The Band album and he plays his fretless Ampeg AUB-1 on Rock of Ages. One thing I wanted to know was , does Danko play wwith a pick or fingers. Ive seen pics that look like he's playing with pic and some that makes it look like he plays with fingers.

Also point out that the Rock of Ages is a real live album. Most "Live" albums there have a lot of overdubs fixing things. I know one live album where the drums and audience are only things left of the live show. Rick and the Band on Rock of Ages were what you hear. I found out on that recording on two clarinet notes were fixed (no ProTools in those days). That is quite acomplishment in itself.

I knew the engineer from the first Band album. Think about all the ProTools and gear used these days. That album was recorded with an old radio station mixing console. In other words no EQ just volume pots all the tone came from the instruments and mic placement.

[manatwo]

Searched this one up because Danko truly taught me to love the bass. I'm really looking to find his tone but I just can't seem to get all the way there - specifically the way he sounded on The Last Waltz with that real clear punchy "Wah" upper register and warm bottom. I've played with my Ampeg rig and P-J bass to my wits and, and was wondering if anybody had some EQ/Pickup suggestions. Thanks in advance.

[jerry]

Originally Posted by manatwo

Searched this one up because Danko truly taught me to love the bass. I'm really looking to find his tone but I just can't seem to get all the way there - specifically the way he sounded on The Last Waltz with that real clear punchy "Wah" upper register and warm bottom. I've played with my Ampeg rig and P-J bass to my wits and, and was wondering if anybody had some EQ/Pickup suggestions. Thanks in advance.

Rick overdubbed most of the stuff on The Last Waltz, so that exact tone might be elusive to find for live sound.

[eb76]

The Band is truly one of the most under-rated bands of all time. Every single member was an excellent player, and they had an amazing chemistry.