Learn a Song that used to Stump You?

Dr. Cheese · #1 07-10-2006, 11:41 AM

Recently somebody posted a clip of Larry Graham and Grand Central Station playing POW! I was 18 when that song came out and I had just learned to slap. The tempo on it was way to fast for me and I coouldn't get it. I forgot about it and then I no longer had a turntable, so I could no longer play the lp (a record for those under 35). last week I found the CD at Tower Music (My Radio Sure Sounds Good to Me) and I got the riff instantly. It is mainly slapping on the D and E of the A string and then the open E. It also has finger plucks an octave up, super basic with lots of muting and a very fast tempo (about 160 bpm). If I were more technical, I would write it out. I'm just struck how something that seemed so formidable nows seems so simple.

mjolnir · #2 07-10-2006, 12:32 PM

Yeah, I was like that with The Awakening covered by Les Claypool, and a few guitar songs like nothing else matters by Metallica, etc. etc.

BassGod · #3 07-10-2006, 05:06 PM

About three weeks ago I learned YYZ by Rush, which I had tried to learn about a year earlier, and couldn't.

It's a great feeling... it's prove of personal improvement, which is always satisfying.

Graeme

Spencer! · #4 07-10-2006, 05:21 PM

I always used to have trouble with the fast fingerstyle part of "Stomping Grounds" by The Flecktones, but tried it a few weeks ago for the first time in over a year, and I played it fine.

Proof that I'm getting better!

gkbass13 · #5 07-10-2006, 06:25 PM

i used to have problems with come on come over and portrait of tracy. now they are two of my regulars when trying basses at music stores.

markjazzbassist · #6 07-10-2006, 07:08 PM

nailing a lot of jamiroquai (read stu zender) tunes used to be pretty tough for me since he improvises a lot. it was always so tough to pick out his licks and then nail them, but i have been doing it lately. i have been practicing like a madman, so i better be nailing that stuff!

nothing really beats that feeling though when you do nail a song that you never could in the past. its like you just climbed mount everest or something.

2 Fingers McGee · #7 07-10-2006, 07:39 PM

Although I'm not a huge Flea fan, I was when I started and when I'd try to play the chorus to "Right on Time" I thought I'd have to learn the four-finger technique just to keep up! But a couple of months ago I decided to try it again just for kicks and giggles and there it was! Mostly a matter of relaxing my right hand more.

Delberthot · #8 07-11-2006, 05:27 PM

I have learned everything Flea has done (except the new stuff) I love "Right on time". I have been raised as it were by Roger Waters, Bernard Edwards and Nathan East so octave are in my blood. I love doing that one on my fretless.

My difficult one was sussudio by Phil Collins - I tried to get it when i was 14 and i didn't attempt it again until I was 19, but by then it was easy peasy and done live by Mr East. Superb.