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Bass intro to "You're So Vain"

#3
I did know that about Mick.

And the riff is in A, but I'm not sure what notes are being played and where - been faking it too long - want to know the 'correct' way.
Can't really tell if it's hammered octaves, or if there's a fifth in there, and where it's being played. Sound similar to the bass solo in Dream Theater's Metropolis, and that one sounded more complicated than it actually is too.

I tried searching for TAB on it, but didn't come up w/anything.
 
#4
I played that song a million years ago, and someone else taught it to me. So, I don't think I ever sat down and learned it off of the record.

That said, I think it's built around an Am chord. Goes something like:

open A to C (fifth fret, G string) A (seventh fret, D string) twice, to E (seventh fret, A string) to A (fifth fret, E string).

That is the whole riff spelled out, which is played maybe four times before the vocal comes in.
 
#5
Bob C said:
I played that song a million years ago, and someone else taught it to me. So, I don't think I ever sat down and learned it off of the record.

That said, I think it's built around an Am chord. Goes something like:

open A to C (fifth fret, G string) A (seventh fret, D string) twice, to E (seventh fret, A string) to A (fifth fret, E string).

That is the whole riff spelled out, which is played maybe four times before the vocal comes in.
Click to expand...


Very cool - thanks! That seems to make sense (I'm at work, but I'll try it when I get home). Do you think it was more hammered or raked? I imagine the 1st A would be 5th fret on the E string then, rather than open, since the whole thing happens 2x fast and ends on the same A it starts on.

Anyone happen to know who played bass on that? I always wondered.
 
#7
ric stave,

Everything I said was from memory - a long time ago! It has a "raked" feel to it, IMO. The open A is more flowing, and the A on the E string is easier to mute for the end of the phrase (possibly). But I have no idea how it is really played.

I'm pretty sure you can google a bio and discography on Klaus Voorman. i looked him up to find out who he was, after watching the "Concert For George" DVD.
 
#9
Yes that was Klaus Voorman...very underrated bassist. I love his style.

He was the same bassist on George Harrison's concert for Bangladesh.

He actually has a history as an aquaintence of the Beatles before they were famous...I guess he and the original Beatle bassist had the same girlfriend for a while.
 
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#10
Caca de Kick said:
Yes that was Klaus Voorman...very underrated bassist. I love his style.

He was the same bassist on George Harrison's concert for Bangladesh.

He actually has a history as an aquaintence of the Beatles before they were famous...I guess he and the original Beatle bassist had the same girlfriend for a while.
Click to expand...
That's correct. And by the way, he also designed the album cover of the Beatles' "Revolver":
Invalid Link Removed
 
#12
It's kind of funny to see this thread now as my band is getting ready to cover this song and we're going over it tonight for the first time. It seems at first blush, it's simply a rake...Hit the open A string, and then rake down a minor pentatonic shape, starting on the C on the G string, and raking through the A and G on the D string. It sounds pretty correct rhythmically, too. We would never have thought to cover it, but Foo Fighers did it recently on the Grammy nomination show (they sang horribly), and we thought it would be cool based on our singer's voice and piano playing.
 
#14
Sorry to resurrect an old thread but...

I recently saw this: Invalid Link Removed

And I was watching how Klaus plays this - It looks like some kind of barre chord. Does anyone know what he is playing here?

This looks close:

This is how I play it.

G------5-5------5-5
D----7----7---7----7
A--0--------0--------0
E----------------------

The
5-5
----7
riff is a triplet and the open A is on the beat.
Click to expand...

But I think it's not quite it... Looks like he is hitting the A on the low E at the 5th fret as well...
 
#17
Here you go.....barred at 5th fret and fingerpicked quickly. Klaus Voorman played on some great records.

T I M R M I T I M R M I T = Thumb, Index, Middle, Ring. Place each finger in order over the fret.
--------5--------------5--------------
-----(5)---5---------5----5-------------
--(5)--------(5)--(5)--------(5)------------
-5--------------5---------------5-------
 
#18
Captain Bob said:
Here you go.....barred at 5th fret and fingerpicked quickly. Klaus Voorman played on some great records.

T I M R M I T I M R M I T = Thumb, Index, Middle, Ring. Place each finger in order over the fret.
--------5--------------5--------------
-----(5)---5---------5----5-------------
--(5)--------(5)--(5)--------(5)------------
-5--------------5---------------5-------
Click to expand...

I am sorry to be dense, but what are the parens for? *ducks and runs* :hiding:
 
#19
Captain Bob said:
Here you go.....barred at 5th fret and fingerpicked quickly. Klaus Voorman played on some great records.

T I M R M I T I M R M I T = Thumb, Index, Middle, Ring. Place each finger in order over the fret.
--------5--------------5--------------
-----(5)---5---------5----5-------------
--(5)--------(5)--(5)--------(5)------------
-5--------------5---------------5-------
Click to expand...

So you are saying he is just playing all the strings with the 5th fret erm - Fretted? It looks like he is fretting 2 more notes around the 7th fret in the video maybe?
 

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