China Grove

[Kipp Harrington]

This post is (hopefully) relative to the category. I have been trying to learn this song by ear, which, for me anyway, has proven ultra-challenging. Although I have roughly 3/4 of the song down now. Tabs are a joke for the most part, as we all know. I usually resort to YouTube and watch. I wish I could slow down the video... that would prove helpful. There are also many “YouTubers” who are not very adept at performing a song accurately, but I’m crude enough to discern the differences between people who are amatures and those who actually have got the song down. My question is, how do fellow TBers feel about “improvising” small parts of a song that you just can’t emulate (due to not being able to discern what the original artist is actually doing). I have done this on a couple of songs already. I like to stay as true to the original recording as possible, but sometimes it’s just not worth spending an hour or two on a 3 second portion of a song. Thoughts...

 

[AuBassMan]

I don't know how accurate this is or if this is the actual original studio isolated bass line...but here it is!

 

[FunkHead]

Many of the harder parts of China Grove are what makes it so great. I don't think it should be improvised. It really helps to listen to the song for the sake of enjoying it. Forget playing along for a while and just listen to it then come back to it later.

 

[FingerDub]

What 3 second part are you having that much trouble with? It's OK to not play it perfectly, and the crowd certainly won' know.

Also, you CAN slow down YouTube videos. Go to settings, then speed right under the video.

 

[Kipp Harrington]

What 3 second part are you having that much trouble with? It's OK to not play it perfectly, and the crowd certainly won' know.

Also, you CAN slow down YouTube videos. Go to settings, then speed right under the video.

Wow! Thanks for the info. I’m sure that will prove helpful!

 

[Kipp Harrington]

I don't know how accurate this is or if this is the actual original studio isolated bass line...but here it is!

Thanks. Already checked it out. Yeah, sounds a little “muddled” for an isolated studio track.

 

[pmatz2]

Try searching for bass transcriptions

The Doobie Brothers - China Grove | Bass Transcription | Tiran Porter

[This invalid link has been removed]

 

[FingerDub]

Wow! Thanks for the info. I’m sure that will prove helpful!

Also, this will repeat any section you want. It has helped me learn parts fast, instead of having to constantly take your hands off your instrument.

Link Removed

 

[JimK]

Try searching for bass transcriptions

The Doobie Brothers - China Grove | Bass Transcription | Tiran Porter

That may be the site that has a cornucopia of Doobie Brothers/Tiran Porter transcriptions.
I was just trying to read/play "8th Avenue Shuffle" & "Rio" the other day (both from Takin' It To The Streets).
Good stuff.

 

[JimK]

My question is, how do fellow TBers feel about “improvising” small parts of a song that you just can’t emulate (due to not being able to discern what the original artist is actually doing). I have done this on a couple of songs already. I like to stay as true to the original recording as possible, but sometimes it’s just not worth spending an hour or two on a 3 second portion of a song. Thoughts...

Thoughts?
In concert, did Tiran Porter play "China Grove" exactly like the recording? Or were there some variations?
How about Willie Weeks...did he play "China Grove" just like the recording?
(Rhetorical questions because I do not really recall or know).

I used to be anal about playing it 'exactly like the recording' until I heard enough live performances (including local cover bands) where they was variation/improvisation & the songs killed. Sometimes, I heard the live version first & then I was let down by the recorded version.
I think I expect some variation...let's me know that the player is thinking & is in the moment vs. auto-pilot.

YMMV.

 

[Kipp Harrington]

Also, this will repeat any section you want. It has helped me learn parts fast, instead of having to constantly take your hands off your instrument.

Link Removed

Again, thank you! This will be helpful, indeed!

 

[Kipp Harrington]

Thoughts?
In concert, did Tiran Porter play "China Grove" exactly like the recording? Or were there some variations?
How about Willie Weeks...did he play "China Grove" just like the recording?
(Rhetorical questions because I do not really recall or know).

I used to be anal about playing it 'exactly like the recording' until I heard enough live performances (including local cover bands) where they was variation/improvisation & the songs killed. Sometimes, I heard the live version first & then I was let down by the recorded version.
I think I expect some variation...let's me know that the player is thinking & is in the moment vs. auto-pilot.

YMMV.

Very good point. I agree. Not for my convenience, but hey, sometimes you just “feel” something and it fits.

 

[Kipp Harrington]

That may be the site that has a cornucopia of Doobie Brothers/Tiran Porter transcriptions.
I was just trying to read/play "8th Avenue Shuffle" & "Rio" the other day (both from Takin' It To The Streets).
Good stuff.

Sounds like a great resource. Thank you!

 

[JimK]

Here's The Doobies and other great stuff...
Transcription Archive

...hopefully, the link still works (my pad is not opening any of the transcription files).

 

[Doug Parent]

I feel fine improvising a part given the right circumstances. Often songs need to be learned for one gig only and then it's gone forever. If it's a bass line that makes the song and it's forever on the setlist then yeah, get it done right if at all possible. I try to keep in mind how much time I have on hand. Quantity vs. Quality is something each person needs to balance and evaluate for your given situation. Sometimes the feel is more important than the correct note. The groove and energy is not a corner to cut.

 

[StatesideRambler]

Adapting is good. Just do what you can and make the effort to play in the style and groove of the version you're emulating.

 

[JeezyMcNuggles]

This post is (hopefully) relative to the category. I have been trying to learn this song by ear, which, for me anyway, has proven ultra-challenging. Although I have roughly 3/4 of the song down now. Tabs are a joke for the most part, as we all know. I usually resort to YouTube and watch. I wish I could slow down the video... that would prove helpful. There are also many “YouTubers” who are not very adept at performing a song accurately, but I’m crude enough to discern the differences between people who are amatures and those who actually have got the song down. My question is, how do fellow TBers feel about “improvising” small parts of a song that you just can’t emulate (due to not being able to discern what the original artist is actually doing). I have done this on a couple of songs already. I like to stay as true to the original recording as possible, but sometimes it’s just not worth spending an hour or two on a 3 second portion of a song. Thoughts...

I don't care. I do the same thing. A lot of times, the tabs aren't accurate...whatsoever. So, I usually find something that works, and is close. Or, just re-work it altogether. If I'm learning famous songs, I'm not planning not on ever playing them publicly anyway. Or, I'm just getting an idea to stylize a piece for my bands to rework. I've never been in a cover band, so "true to the original" isn't important to me at all.

 

[Artman]

You might need to make some small alterations to the bass line if you also have to sing.

 

[Spidey2112]

I say if it stands out enough to be noticed by the masses, work as hard as you can to get it down...

... otherwise, improvise. There's usually a good reason why some parts are 'buried' under other tracks...

... after about the 50th take, you can almost hear the engineer... "That's good enough! Now let me work my magic."

 

[pigpen1]

This post is (hopefully) relative to the category. I have been trying to learn this song by ear, which, for me anyway, has proven ultra-challenging. Although I have roughly 3/4 of the song down now. Tabs are a joke for the most part, as we all know. I usually resort to YouTube and watch. I wish I could slow down the video... that would prove helpful. There are also many “YouTubers” who are not very adept at performing a song accurately, but I’m crude enough to discern the differences between people who are amatures and those who actually have got the song down. My question is, how do fellow TBers feel about “improvising” small parts of a song that you just can’t emulate (due to not being able to discern what the original artist is actually doing). I have done this on a couple of songs already. I like to stay as true to the original recording as possible, but sometimes it’s just not worth spending an hour or two on a 3 second portion of a song. Thoughts...

Just fyi, you can slow down YouTube vids.