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Bass Lines I Can't Play ...

#23
La Villa Strangiato and Roundabout screw me up. The parts are not hard to play, but the arrangement is tough as hell for me to remember on both.

Some Jaco stuff I just physically can't play as my fingers are much shorter than his were.

I want you back is actually pretty easy once you get the hang of the patterns....
 
#25
Tampabass said:
if you think those are tricky, check out Jaco's version of "Donna Lee"
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Just trying to count the beats in most parts of that is difficult for me, much less playing them.

The reasons for not being able to play something usually fall along two lines (for me, anyway): Can't hear/retain the entire melody well enough to play it back with my fingers, or lacking the technical skill to execute what's in my head. The Jamerson line for "Darling Dear" by Jackson5 is an example of the former for me, most of the Dirty Loops covers would definitely qualify as the latter.
 
#26
I'm learning I Want You Back right now actually. The bridge is pretty tough to play clean, but with slow repetitive practice I'm getting it down. I generally find I have to get something into my finger memory enough that I don't have to think about it to play it, because when I DO think about it I tend to make a mistake. Autopilot for the win. :P
 
#29
YYZ for me. I can play all of it, but not smoothly at full speed. I always have a hard time with Geddy's 16th and 32nd note triplets. His fingering is usually 1-2-2 where the 2nd finger hits the second note and then you just let that same finger slide down and hit the next string. So, efficiency of movement, but not easy to pull off.
 
#30
I can play the notes for 'I want you back', but I struggle at the native tempo; and then it changes for the little instrumental break and I lose it completely.
I can't figure out how anyone can play 'hit me with your rhythm stick', it's just so fast. The original line was played by Norman Watt- Roy, who is a bit of a legend anyway!

Is it just me or is something missing from the transcription of Sir Duke that has been linked here a couple of times? I have watched it and listened carefully, and while it is technically precise and note perfect, I just feel that it is missing the soul. It just feels rather cold and clinical to me; brilliantly played but lacking in soul and passion.
Jamerson used to say that it doesn't matter what bass you play or what strings you use, as long as you play what's in your heart and soul.
I think I know what he meant.
And for anyone who might be unsure, go listen to his playing on the Jackson 5's 'Darling Dear'; probably the only bass line that has ever bought years to my eyes, it sounds so beautiful and soulful.
 
#32
Midfour said:
I tend to write lines a can't play. Good way to grow, I guess.
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i tend to do that on guitar mainly.

I have written parts on bass i have trouble replicating always exactly but not as much as i have on guitar.

As for basslines i cant play, i don't know, probably anything by true virtuosos. Usually because they have techniques i have never developed. For one i play with a pick so i don't think i could like..try to play Victor Wooten for example you know.

I have yet to try to learn a bass part I can't play. I generally know when i hear it if i have a shot at playing it or not. If it seems like I don't, I won't try to pick it up. I guess that's not a good way to push myself but whatever (well that wasnt like that in the beginning of course otherwise id have never learned anything...). I,m well satisfied with my skills as they are since they allow me to play anything i WANT to play.
 
#35
I know I can't play very fast ( like 16th at 160bpm is just too much for me ) otherwise I never encounter a music that I like that I couldn't play after a few good practice with the sheet music.

for me it is more about committing to memory than being able to play it.

for the people who think Jaco's rendition of Donna Lee is something, check that out :

 
#36
OP- dont beat yourself up over this stuff, all good things take time. You know what they use to say about getting to carnegie hall right ? practice practice practice ! I dont know what sources your using to try and play these tunes, but I,ve found that just listening to the material without bass in hand, absorbing the vibe if you will, helps with the feel the original player is coveying. I learned sir duke when it came out as my band at the time played this and others from that great album ( I still say album, Im old) Funny though, to this day I can still rip off that passage in sir duke note perfect even after 30 some years, though I havent played the song since the late 70's. Some stuff just sticks with you I guess.
"I want you back" is a great feel tune, the break down part gave me fits till I relaxed and just listened to it a few times, once I got it in my head it fell right into place. Good luck, just stick with it and you'll be fine.
 
#38
jaxstarke said:
Here's a few videos I've done.
Click to expand...

Thanks man, that finally nailed the one bit i was loose on in the choruses to Sir Duke and I had had the key totally wrong on I Want You back, its still a weird key tho but it'll be good practice for the fingers. I'll add that to my "mountain list" practice playlist :D

I only recently nailed Master Blaster (that quick flick back to the verse is HARD), and my current mountain is Heart of the Sunrise, those arpeggios are so nutty even with a transcription.
 

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