Smooth_bass88
vaxx!
- Oct 31, 2006
- 12,122
- 16,796
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- have been on nationally released albums, charting on the Billboard 200
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Dave Hungate - no website? but got a personal response, great guy!
- Thread starter SamJ
- Start date
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this guy seems to do justice to his bass line that I was looking to learn, but I can't seem to get my tone to match during the "you better shape up' part when I play at that high up the neck, seems to work better when I play at the A string "C" root..
The vid is close, but he's missing a lot of the slides into notes (a Hungate trademark) and the note values are sometimes a little too long, which cuts into space the snare drum is in. When I played "Grease" a million years ago, I tried to copy Hungate's stuff as close as I could because it's all iconic. I played the pre chorus section you mention starting on the C on the A string and stayed in that section of the neck, since it's clearer and closer to the recording's tone than playing it stating on the E string.
Of course, a pick is required, and string action that's higher than most players are comfortable with is the other point that gets you closer to that sound. That's a quick fix to get a thicker tone out of the higher notes on the D and G strings.
I played a "Grease" production with a Sadowsky and nobody complained, but I get the point! The pick thing is a must though.
Gotta say, if there ever has been any Toto hate going on, I never heard it. If the diss against Toto is that they were too formulaic or two-dimensional, there are any number of bands that have been far more so - while being far less listenable in the process.
Toto had fine songwriting, fine musicianship, and excellent production values. Whatever one might think about what they represent, they sounded damn good doing it. At the end of the day, there's still a lot to be said for top-flight craftsmanship, and the production of some very pretty sounds. That formula has worked out just fine for Paul McCartney.
MM
Toto had fine songwriting, fine musicianship, and excellent production values. Whatever one might think about what they represent, they sounded damn good doing it. At the end of the day, there's still a lot to be said for top-flight craftsmanship, and the production of some very pretty sounds. That formula has worked out just fine for Paul McCartney.
MM
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Let's just say that the music press in Toto's heyday wasn't kind to them, and Rolling Stone Magazine led the charge. I guess it was a hater-based thing toward the band because those guys had Toto, played on a lot of hits by other artists, and served largely as the backing group for "Thriller". Plus, they sounded nothing like R.E.M. or Big Star or whoever else was the darlings of the critics back then.
If you ever get to meet Lukather, he'll still tell you all about in detail like it all happened yesterday.
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Let's just say that the music press in Toto's heyday wasn't kind to them, and Rolling Stone Magazine led the charge. I guess it was a hater-based thing toward the band because those guys had Toto, played on a lot of hits by other artists, and served largely as the backing group for "Thriller". Plus, they sounded nothing like R.E.M. or Big Star or whoever else was the darlings of the critics back then.
If you ever get to meet Lukather, he'll still tell you all about in detail like it all happened yesterday.
Unfortunately they got lumped in with bands of the late 70's early 80's like Journey, Boston, Styx, Foreigner etc. as the epitome of soul-less "corporate" rock. Them basically sweeping the Grammy's with Toto 4 didn't help with the critics either. (well deserved though.)
I make no bones about it that they're my favorite band and I've literally had people wince when I tell them. Some of the greatest players and writers of our generation and it's a shame they get ignored and looked down upon like they do. And yes Luke is a little bitter but can you blame him?
Unfortunately they got lumped in with bands of the late 70's early 80's like Journey, Boston, Styx, Foreigner etc. as the epitome of soul-less "corporate" rock. Them basically sweeping the Grammy's with Toto 4 didn't help with the critics either. (well deserved though.)
I make no bones about it that they're my favorite band and I've literally had people wince when I tell them. Some of the greatest players and writers of our generation and it's a shame they get ignored and looked down upon like they do. And yes Luke is a little bitter but can you blame him?
Fame is fickle. And so is Rolling Stone magazine. RS consisted/consists of some of the same kind of snooty, elitist snobs with whom I went to high school. I was an enthusiastic subscriber during the early/mid 70s. But as soon as Jann Wenner took the corporate candy, I was gone. As was Rolling Stone's soul.
While I could dig Boston and Journey for what they were without taking them too seriously, and Styx was at least tolerable, Foreigner was where I drew the line. For me, listening to them was like getting a chicken bone stuck in my throat.
MM
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You are a fabulous teacher! Your definition and demonstration of the pocket is absolutely perfect!
Thanks, Doc!You are a fabulous teacher! Your definition and demonstration of the pocket is absolutely perfect!
