Finally! An Audition!!!

[FriscoBassAce]

After being between bands for more than 6 weeks, I've finally lined up my first audition. I've actually had a couple of other offers, but they weren't what I was interested in.

The only song that they are asking me to prepare is Sledgehammer by Peter Gabriel. Easy song. Should I try to learn a bunch of the other songs on their set lists? Or should I just play it loose and play only the ones I'm comfortable with if the audition stretches beyond the one song?

I'm just glad to have something to look forward to, even if they don't choose me (or if I don't choose them).

 

[Steve]

That tune is actually a pretty good test of how well you can lock with the kick and hold a groove. There's some real subtlety to that line. I'm not so sure I would just blow it off as a piece of cake.

You ah, DO have a 5 string, right? If not, you better lean some other songs and hope that audition goes past Sledgehammer.

Sorry to be a buzzkill.

 

[FriscoBassAce]

Yep....I can dig the subtleties of that bass line. I don't have a problem with timing....I can lock onto the beat pretty good. I do have a 5 string, so it shouldn't be a problem. I'm trying to replicate the sound of that bass and I'm getting pretty close.

Does anyone know who played the bassline on the original Sledgehammer recording? Nevermind...I just found it was Tony Levin....cool!

 

[Michael Eisenman]

When you figure out how Tony Levin gets his sound, please pass it on, if you don't mind.

I don't have a MM, but I'm curious about what else is involved in producing that sound.

Thx,
Michael

 

[FriscoBassAce]

Heh....
After doing a little more research on the bass in this song, Tony Levin was asked about the "Sledge" bass in an interview and said it "was a black Music Man Sabre bass (the only non-Stingray I've had) which I played on that track with a lot of compression, a pick, and an octaver."

So, I can just use my current four string, with a pick and an octave effect (with lots of compression). As I was listening to it, I kept thinking that it sounded like a pick and an octaver. The only difference was that the bass he used had a fretless neck. I think with enough compression, I can get a good fretless effect.

It's amazing what you can find on the internet!