Another look at Yes's Roundabout

Chewbubba · #1 07-17-2011, 01:06 PM

Yes - Roundabout

Hi folks, I have a question that I'm hoping some of you can shed some light on. Around 3:25 starts the familiar triplet section with both the guitar and bass playing the same part. And this goes on until about 4:37. The guitar sounds like it continues the pattern, but Squire sounds like he's going off in a different direction - but I can't tell what he's doing. Can any of you?

The reason I ask is that a couple weeks ago I wanted to transcribe the song, and this part is hanging me up.

Any takers?

wordsmith4u · #2 07-19-2011, 02:15 PM

I've got the PDF for Roundabout (tabs and sheet music). Give me your email address and I'll email it to you.

Chewbubba · #3 07-19-2011, 03:31 PM

Sent! And thanks!

I'm curious to see if it has any differences marked there.

Chewbubba · #4 07-19-2011, 06:52 PM

*sigh*

Nope, no change on that chart either. Thanks, though.

I think I'm getting close though. I'll post it if I figure something out and let you guys decide.

wordsmith4u · #5 07-19-2011, 07:21 PM

Bass Player magazine, November 2007 issue. Right there on Page 72, in Brian Fox's Woodshed column, is a cool note-for-note transcription of Chris Squire's "Roundabout" bass lines. IT even admits that after CHris tracked it with his 1965 RM1999 in the studio, he then overdubbed the bass line with one of Steve Howe's old Gobson hollow-body guitars, miked acoustically, and the recording engineer Eddie Offord mixed it in with the regular track. Chris later gave an interview and said that this was what gave it such a bright sound.

Best thing is, you don't have to buy the magazine to see it done, live. You will be able to click on Bass Videos featuring Premiere Video Content from the Bass Community - BassPlayer.com to see Roundabout played, both in slow motion and at full throttle.

Chewbubba · #6 07-27-2011, 08:44 PM

For what it's worth, I'm done.

Used MuseScore instead of Finale Notepad this time, so that let me use muted notes and I could create any time signature I could think of.

The pdf is attached.

The section I had a question about in the OP is at measure 92. The bottom end is a mess, so I just picked something that seemed one of many things I can hear at that point.

The other part I wondered about was at 162 and 163. Not only does it sound like he messes up a bit (after nearly 8:00, I can't blame him), it sounds like he goes below the low E. I'm pretty sure he didn't detune on this song.

Anyhoo, comment, opinions, and changes are welcome!

Jools4001 · #7 07-28-2011, 04:07 AM

Nice. I used to sight read classical piano music when I was about 12 but it's a skill I never translated when I took up bass - and 40 odd years have slipped by since then.

One of the things that I'm finding immensely helpful in my very belated attempts to polish up my forgotten reading skills is doing things in reverse i.e. finding the sheet music to pieces that I've already learned pretty well by ear and then playing along while following the sheet music...after a whille you begin to make the connection between what's written and what you're playing.

GtenderG · #8 08-07-2011, 12:07 PM

This fellow Chris Squire fan does a great cover.
‪YES - Roundabout [bassline / bass cover]‬&rlm; - YouTube

Check out his YT channel and see all YES/Squire stuff he has...

Awesome player!

Febs · #9 08-07-2011, 12:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chewbubba

Anyhoo, comment, opinions, and changes are welcome!

Very nice! I haven't had a chance to sit down and play through it yet, but just reading the through the transcription, it looks very well done.

In measures 126 and 127, and other measures like them, you don't need the accidental on every Bb -- just the first one.

Michael4bass · #10 08-20-2011, 09:19 PM

What Squire did was to overdub a line taken from Wakeman's keyboard part.

Bassically, Michael