Let It Be cover without bass?

[John Deacon]

Can it be done?

I have started playing a bit of piano, and I think my cover band could do a great job on this. The problem of course is that I am the bassist. Can it be done with just piano, vocals, guitar, and drums? I guess we could do it acoustic right?

[Matt Till]

Yeah... why not? The bass isn't the key component to that song, it adds to the song, but I don't think the song would fall apart without it.

Most people won't notice.

[Bard2dbone]

Originally Posted by Matt Till

Yeah... why not? The bass isn't the key component to that song, it adds to the song, but I don't think the song would fall apart without it.

Most people won't notice.

I really hate that this is true. Most people don't notice what we're doing. Most people aren't even aware of the bass until you drop out and they suddenly can't dance and don't know why.

But...yeah. The focus in that song is the piano.

[Deacon_Blues]

Originally Posted by Bard2dbone

I really hate that this is true. Most people don't notice what we're doing. Most people aren't even aware of the bass until you drop out and they suddenly can't dance and don't know why.

But...yeah. The focus in that song is the piano.

A sad +1 from me as well.

I would suggest though that you use your left hand on the far left end of the keyboard to compensate the lack of a real bass. Or maybe your guitarist can pick up your bass for this song and play some half and quarter notes?

[John Deacon]

I do add some lower notes to make it sound fuller. I guess maybe like, an acoustic version? Just have less guitar or something?

[SMASH]

You can cover *any* song without bass. You can imply the basslines, particularly if the lines are famous, or heck you can even do it a-capella. Maybe get the crowd involved to sing/clap a rhythm or bass part.

It might take some re-arranging or more creative chording/phrasing than the original, but honestly if a decent guitarist and singer can't do killer versions of even very bass-centric tunes like "Another One Bites The Dust" then they're kinda hacks, eh?

That's especially true if a piano is involved (note the many keys to your left) or an acoustic guitar (the low-end resonance can fill in the bass even if there's no actual 'line').

And that's no slag on bass, it's just the way it is in music and that's the way the human mind works. I see it as a great thing, not a sad thing at all.