Something We Can All Learn From Sir Paul

[plangentmusic]

The man is a master of economy in terms of hand movement.

Listen to All My Lovin, I'm a Loser, You Won't See Me and Eight Days a Week. In each case his fretting hand hardly moves though the lines are relatively busy. (Work on it -- you'll see that it's possible to never leave first position).

It's an astonishing example of "natural" playing.

It's incredible that Mac was just a kid when he did those recordings.

[Chuck Sylvester]

Good observation. I've noticed that before about his playing. A good reminder to work on those efficient fingerings instead of jumping all over the place.

Chuck

[Philbiker]

Well, for lots of his lines it's a little easier to stay in position on a 32" scale bass than on a 34" or 35".

[john_martin_sai]

Back then, bassists like Paul played to the song,....not to the audience.

In other words, he was totally concerned with making the songs better - rather than impressing anyone with speed or acrobatics.

[Mike M.]

Originally Posted by john_martin_sai

Back then, bassists like Paul played to the song,....not to the audience.

In other words, he was totally concerned with making the songs better - rather than impressing anyone with speed or acrobatics.

Exactley. Then and now, Pauls concern has always been what is best for the song. I've said this before and I'll say it again: There have been times when working on original music when I've been stuck on a bass part and have actually thought to myself "what would McCartney do?" Now, you can bet your bottom dollar that he would come up with something better than I could but still, that thinking has gotten me thru a few things.

[JimmyM]

got news for ya...paul only stuck down there because he couldn't get his hofner to play in tune past the first 5 frets.

[Mike M.]

Originally Posted by JimmyM

got news for ya...paul only stuck down there because he couldn't get his hofner to play in tune past the first 5 frets.

There's a good lesson to be learned from this. It's like Frank Zappa said...."learn to make music with what you've got."

Doesn't matter if all you have is an acoustic guitar and a micro cassette recorder, do it!

[Ukiah Bass]

Originally Posted by JimmyM

got news for ya...paul only stuck down there because he couldn't get his hofner to play in tune past the first 5 frets.

Actually, the videos I've watched show him playing mostly in the *middle* of the neck. In The Beatles' book where all their songs are published in standard notation and tabular, the tabs for bass are usually in the middle of the neck.

[StyleOverShow]

He did manage to get off some nice lines and sing too.

Different era but noteworthy work. I personally think he is more talented personality than musician, and that my brothers and sisters in the third row is why we stare at the back of their heads.

[crow01]

singing and playing his lines is not easy at all. I tried a couple of them at a gig, that didn't go well. I practiced them, but at the gig, I ended up stop playing and just singing, with the guitar improvising the bass lines.

[Exploiter8]

Oops! I play "All My Lovin'" on the E and A!

X8

[JimmyM]

Originally Posted by Ukiah Bass

Actually, the videos I've watched show him playing mostly in the *middle* of the neck. In The Beatles' book where all their songs are published in standard notation and tabular, the tabs for bass are usually in the middle of the neck.

i just watched a few vids. it looks like in later years, he does go more to the middle of the neck, but in the beginning, he rarely goes past the first 5 frets. oh well, i'm just going by what he said.

[Noseferatu]

In my mind, Paul McCartney is the best bassist of all time for all the reasons mentioned above.

I like certain other bassists who, by today's standards are "mediocre" and "astonishingly untalented" for the xact same reasons I think Macca is the best bassist of all time.

[Barkless Dog]

Every McCartney fan should see "Love" in Vegas. The sound system is amazing. The cube / hall is built accouistically and the bass is mixed up front in the mix or at least comes out due to the accoustics. The songs featured are founded by the bass, driven by the bass, seem to be built around it. Never overpowers the songs.

The show is like having the Beatles with you, but the bass as a driving force. The show is a lesson in solid bass playing.

[Ukiah Bass]

Originally Posted by JimmyM

i just watched a few vids. it looks like in later years, he does go more to the middle of the neck, but in the beginning, he rarely goes past the first 5 frets. oh well, i'm just going by what he said.

Makes sense. I think the Hofner got a face lift / re-intonation from a luthier in NY before PM started gigging it again in the 1990s.

[GM60466]

Penny Lane starts way past the 5th fret.

[CDweller]

I think Penny Lane was done on the Ric

[mid_life_crisis]

Originally Posted by Philbiker

Well, for lots of his lines it's a little easier to stay in position on a 32" scale bass than on a 34" or 35".

I'm about as new to this as it is possible to be.
I do not understand this line.
Why would a shorter scale bass make it easier to stay in one area of the neck?

[GianGian]

Day Tripper was played starting on the 7th...I don't doubt the intonation issue, maybe he thought that it was ok to be a little off

[aikakone]

Originally Posted by mid_life_crisis

I'm about as new to this as it is possible to be.
I do not understand this line.
Why would a shorter scale bass make it easier to stay in one area of the neck?

One uses wider finger stretches in lower positions, but with a shorter scale that "wide" stretch isn't so wide after all. It's why some players prefer a short scale bass. It's simply more comfortable on the hands. Especially hands like his that played guitar for years before he took up bass for The Beatles.