Bass line for Sloop John B (Beach Boys)

HeyMikey · #1 08-16-2009, 06:30 PM

Does anyone happen to have the bass lines for this song? I cannot find it in any music books nor on the Internet except for one site where the guy has utilized bass tabs instead of music notation. The tabs don't match what I hear when playing the recording I have of it. As best I can tell the song is played in the key of Ab. The song can readily be heard on YouTube (Sloop John B by the Beach Boys). From my research I believe Brian Wilson wrote out the line but it was recorded by Carol Kaye for the actual record.

I suffer from a very bad hearing loss and have not been able to figure out the notes just by listening to the song. However, I can read music. I would appreciate it if anyone can direct me to where I can find the actual bass line in music notation or possibly PM me with it if you have it.

Many thanks

Mike

emblymouse · #2 08-16-2009, 06:44 PM

You are correct, Carol Kaye was on that session. There is an excellent box set 'Pet Sounds Sessions' and included is the whole song sans vocals, including some false starts. Fascinating. The bass line is unusual to say the least. Without the vocal harmonies is sounds like there are few clinkers in it, but when it's all put together it works. And to think he was only about 22 when he wrote and produced it, wow.

Stumbo · #3 08-17-2009, 01:46 PM

You might want to check this out:
http://www.musicnotes.com/download/s...LU8D7&dltype=0

HeyMikey · #4 08-17-2009, 04:50 PM

I checked that site out you gave. There were about 8 or so versions of the song. Unfortunately, none of them had the actual bass line used in the production recording of the song. Thanks anyway. I may try to get the Pet Sound Sessions. That may be my best bet. Again the problem is my hearing is very bad, making it difficult to merely listen to the song and figuring out the notes being played. I would benefit best by being able to see the line in music notation which I would prefer over tab.

By the way, is there any software program that can identify the notes of a song when played. Wouldn't it be great if such a program existed. Better yet, it would be able to write out the notes in the exact time being played just as if you were looking at a music sheet. Of course, it would have to be able to identify which part of the music you wished to have such as the bass line, lead instrument, drums, etc. Maybe some day.

Thanks for the help guys.

Mike

Taylor Livingston · #5 08-17-2009, 05:10 PM

Try this program, there's a free demo available:

http://www.neuratron.com/

nixdad · #6 08-17-2009, 08:30 PM

This is a fun song to play on bass, as the bass carries the melody. Besides the Pet Sounds "studio" version, check out the live version from "The Beach Boys in Concert" from about 1972. I believe it's Ed Carter on bass.

lunarpollen · #7 08-19-2009, 12:41 AM

It is one of my favorite bass lines of all time. I haven't tried playing it in years though... I should try and re-learn it.

Jimmy Bones · #8 08-19-2009, 01:07 AM

I love that song. Favorite BB song, alongside Stay True To Your School and California Girls.

Jimmy Bones · #9 08-19-2009, 01:16 AM

Musicnotes is cool, but is there anything free on that site? That stuff's expensive.

Jimmy Bones · #10 08-19-2009, 01:40 AM

On another note, Neuratron Audio Score is garbage.

HeyMikey · #11 08-19-2009, 02:37 PM

Jimmy Bones, have you actually used Neuraton Audio Score. It is kind of expensive ($249.00) and I might want to get it if it really does a good job. Would you explain why you think it is garbage. I would hate to spend that much money on a program if it doesn't work very well. Please be specific in why you think it is a bad program so that I can make a decision as to whether I want to get it or not.

Thanks
Mike

Jimmy Bones · #12 08-19-2009, 04:09 PM

Because frankly, its music recognition software is crap. It stumbles if a score has more than maybe two instruments, and the transcription of the music (on the staff) is jumbled, unplayable, and nearly unreadable.

Playback also doesn't work right. It plays along, but doesn't produce its midi tones like it is supposed to.

And yea, it looks cool while it's functioning, but when it is doing its job converting, it'll randomly just stop 15-20 seconds into a score and won't finish.

Yea. No go is my recommendation. COULD be related to my computer being a few years old, but I doubt it.

HeyMikey · #13 08-19-2009, 09:48 PM

Thank you for that explanation. Assuming nobody disputes your finding, you have saved me from wasting my money. It's really sad to go out and buy something that doesn't work like the ads say it will.

Cheers
Mike

Depth_Charge · #14 08-20-2009, 09:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jimmy Bones

Because frankly, its music recognition software is crap. It stumbles if a score has more than maybe two instruments, and the transcription of the music (on the staff) is jumbled, unplayable, and nearly unreadable.

Playback also doesn't work right. It plays along, but doesn't produce its midi tones like it is supposed to.

And yea, it looks cool while it's functioning, but when it is doing its job converting, it'll randomly just stop 15-20 seconds into a score and won't finish.

Yea. No go is my recommendation. COULD be related to my computer being a few years old, but I doubt it.

Ya think?

Stumbo · #15 08-21-2009, 12:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jimmy Bones

COULD be related to my computer being a few years old, but I doubt it.

Unless you've test the software with a current high-end system, you really have no facts to back up your conclusion. IMO/IME, unless you have a couple of gig of ram, a superfast processor and hard drive with zero latency, you're asking for problems from a lot of music, video and recording software regardless of the minimum system requirements that the manufacturer states.

HeyMikey · #16 08-21-2009, 01:33 AM

Okay, I did a Google search to see if there were any in depth reviews of AudioScore. I didn't find anything useful other than Neuratron' own advertisement of the product. So I am still unsure of the product. Maybe JB's computer doesn't have the optimum requirements to run the program well. I think I need more information from people who have AudioScore as to their impressions before I spend $250.00 on it. If it does well what they say it will do I would be inclined to spend the money.

Mike

Combat Chuck · #17 08-21-2009, 04:56 AM

This is all I had the chance to write up so far - I think it's accurate enough, from what my $10 earbuds would let me hear.

Life will be hectic for a little bit, but I can probably get the rest given a week or two.

Jimmy Bones · #18 08-21-2009, 06:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Stumbo

Unless you've test the software with a current high-end system, you really have no facts to back up your conclusion. IMO/IME, unless you have a couple of gig of ram, a superfast processor and hard drive with zero latency, you're asking for problems from a lot of music, video and recording software regardless of the minimum system requirements that the manufacturer states.

I absolutely have facts to back it up.

The fact is, I don't like it, it did not work for me. My computer has above the minimum system requirements, and runs many other higher end programs well. While the questioner may have a better system than me with more optimal conditions, chances are he doesn't have a super duper nice megajigawattwhoziwhatsit computer.

Not everybody goes and buys a new machine every couple months when the last set of systems becomes 'obsolete.' I also have been unable to find any reviews of it other than my own. As I have used it, and found fault in it, I cannot recommend it, despite dearly wanting it to work.

HeyMikey · #19 08-21-2009, 02:18 PM

Combat Chuck

You are the exact answer I was hoping for

. Because of my hearing disability I'm unable to listen to a piece of music and accurately determine the notes being played. However, being able to read music allows me to play the instrument reasonably well. Many many thanks for your post. If time allows, I would love to see the rest of it. However, if it is pretty much a repeat of what you have already shown me, then I'm happy to have what you've provided.

By the way, I'm also a P & W player. Our music director provides either a lead sheet or chord chart for the songs we are going to play (CCLI is the source) and I can then lay down a bass line appropriate for the song. As long as I know each chord change, I can get by even though I don't hear very well. I guess taking piano lessons as a kid (many years ago) has paid off in my old age.

It just happens that Sloop John B is a favorite BB song and I've always wanted to know exactly how the bass line was played. I don't often try to play a bass line exactly as it is done on a song but that song was an exception. Now that I think about it, Sloop John B was the song that made the bass guitar become very noticeable to me.

Thanks again Chuck for taking the time to help me out.

Mike

Combat Chuck · #20 08-21-2009, 05:25 PM

Oh, CCLI, how you are a mixed blessing, haha. It sounds like your music director does what most of mine in the past have done, which has worked fairly well. I don't doubt that the piano experience has helped, as that's the instrument that I started on years ago as well and it definitely treated me right.

Anyway, you were correct; most of the song was repeating, so it was a lot easier than I'd thought to get it written out. Here's the other pieces of the song to the best of my ability - I feel they're quite accurate.

I didn't write out any of the pauses, since I think they're pretty obvious in the music, and writing out rests is just boring. The a capella part and the part with "This is the worst trip I've ever been on" are both done without instruments.

The part below is the verse about the cook, as well as the outro. It was different enough that I felt it deserved tabbing.

All in all, I've apparently underestimated myself and the beauties of Powertab, so this thread now contains all the pieces of Sloop John B. Hope this helps!