Donald Duck Dunn's Bass Lines

[rumblethump]

What Duck Done tabbed?? Not to my knowledge. Get it anyway, a great way to start learning music notation. It's not really that tough. Time is tight/I can't turn you loose will start you out on the C scale. I've been a stax junkie since the mid sixties.

 

[Philonius]

I'd also recommend checking out this video:

Amazon.com: Stax/Volt Revue Live In Norway 1967: Various Artists: Movies & TV

Duck, Steve Cropper, Booker T, and Al Jackson backing a great line-up of vocalists. Good footage of Duck in action, really classic stuff.

 

[timonvh]

Funny, isn't it?
This thread was started nearly 11 (eleven) years ago.
Proves that some music is indeed timeless.
Timon

 

[miltslackford]

WOW

 

[precijazz]

Ouch.

 

[N. Kentucky Bass]

The book, "What Duck's Dunn" is great (I own it). It has lots of good stories about Duck, and has a section on "Duckisms" or his signature licks.

However, it's all in standard notation so if you are looking for tabs, it won't help. (Good excuse to learn to read!)

 

[Pilgrim]

For those who are re-discovering this old thread...

Time is Tight is actually the theme song that the band plays in Blues Brothers when Jake and Elwood come out for the first time in the Palace Hotel Ballroom, just slowed down a bit and without the horn.

Sorry, but although it sounds similar, that's not correct. The number is "I Can't Turn You Loose". Here's the Otis Redding version: Can't Turn You Loose - Otis Redding - YouTube

There is a ton of Duck Dunn and Booker T material on YouTube - just search by their names and you'll find plenty of stuff to listen to.

 

[thunderstation]

Duck Dunn - Harvey Brooks - Carol Kaye & naturally Jamerson Those were the "go-to" guys (sorry Carol) for studio work in the 60's- they came up with the goods time and time again- inspired so many of us -(even though we didn't know their names). and you're right, "Timonvh" good music is timeless - probably why so many young players find 60's & 70's music so good - But man, isn't it a gift to be able to play Bass and get in the groove with other musicians- my band calls it "Therapy". half joking/half trying to explain how we feel.

 

[the rocket]

the most recent edition of What Duck Done does indeed feature TAB. i believe it's out of print, but i'm sure you can find a used copy online.

 

[ODDBALL]

This sucks!! It is out of print, I will check around.

http://www.amazon.com/What-Duck-Done-Tim-Tindall/dp/0970138903

Shaun

 

[Kevan Campbell]

I'd definitely agree with the recommendations to learn Duck's lines by ear. Donald "Duck" Dunn and Jason Newsted were the two bassists that made me choose bass over guitar when I started years ago. I still remember how proud I was when I figured out the bass line from "Shake A Tail Feather"!

 

[JimmyThunder]

Duck Dunn's gift:
Doing the most with the least.

 

[Bassin94]

Anything by the blues brothers is golden for bass, the entire mix across the soundboard is great on those albums. Unfortunately even though Green Onions is an amazing groove, Duck is not the one being heard playing bass on the original album version. Duck Dunn is one of the reasons i play bass as well as i do today, truly an innovator

 

[hublocker]

I'm glad people are discovering Duck Dunn.

It's funny though, if you've got ears you've probably been listening to him all your life on stuff by Otis Redding, Eddie Floyd, Wilson Pickett, Sam and Dave, Issac Hayes, Albert King, just to name a few.

I'm glad the Blues Bros. brought him to more peoples' attention, but he was around a long time before that movie.

Listen to this:

Sam & Dave - Hold On I'm Comin' (best quality + lyrics) - YouTube

 

[PolkaHero]

Here's a page of Booker T & The MG's transcriptions:

Booker T & The MG's

There's also links to other artists and bass transcriptions that Duck Dunn played!

 

[Slaphound]

Good link PolkaHero. I'm making use of it now.

 

[phangtonpower]

I was just about to do a search on what strings he used when I found this thread! One of my influences when I first started to play. I think his stuff is pretty simple and good ear training.

 

[JB36]

This sucks!! It is out of print, I will check around.

Amazon.com: What Duck Done (9780970138903): Tim Tindall: Books

Shaun

I'd like a copy if any one knows where it can be bought or has one to sell.

 

[lowendfriend]

Albert King's "Born Under A Bad Sign".

I'm still new to bass and found all his lines easy to figure out by ear, yet not simple (as in "boring"). True, essential blues bass. I play along to this record every other day and learn a lot, every time.

I love that song most by Albert King! A fun and thumpalicious bassline.

Second by Hendrix and Third by Cream.

 

[lowendfriend]

Here is a great one to start with for learning music notation because the song structure is pretty straightforward....and because it's a Blues Brothers classic