Flip, Flop, Fly - Sounds Easy, It’s NOT

[bucephylus]

Duck Dunn was a Master.

I suppose I could (perhaps should) just leave the post there.

But, one indication of “Mastery” is the execution of something that sounds simple, but is quite the opposite. To me, this line is one great example.

One of my gigs is a Blues Brothers Tribute act. This tune is on the playlist. It doesn’t sound like anything much more than a somewhat spirited 12 bar. Until you start trying to cop that dotted 1/8th rhythm with the right hand at the tempo.

The Duck executes it with fuel in the tank and, of course, 200 proof groove.

If there is a technique “trick” to it, I haven’t found it. Back to the shed on this one for me.

 

[hrodbert696]

LOL I also have a BB tribute band, and we do this tune. It's a lot of fun. I don't think I pull off Duck's tricks with it note-for-note, though. But it's always a big hit regardless.

 

[Bob_Ross]

trying to cop that dotted 1/8th rhythm with the right hand at the tempo...[snip]...If there is a technique “trick” to it, I haven’t found it.

Listening to that track now, the thing that to my ear conspicuously sets Duck's bass line apart is the note lengths...he's very tightly controlling durations and releases, making them shorter/quicker (respectively) than a more typical 12-bar swing/shuffle/boogie/whatever you want to call it bassline.
He's also playing it very straight. Not perfectly straight, but much closer to the straight than the swing end of the spectrum.

 

[chris_b]

It's a straight shuffle, and @Bob_Ross is right about the sharp n punchy note lengths.

 

[bobyoung53]

Listening to that track now, the thing that to my ear conspicuously sets Duck's bass line apart is the note lengths...he's very tightly controlling durations and releases, making them shorter/quicker (respectively) than a more typical 12-bar swing/shuffle/boogie/whatever you want to call it bassline.
He's also playing it very straight. Not perfectly straight, but much closer to the straight than the swing end of the spectrum.

Yes, the short notes push the song along, most of it is pretty simple, more rock than swing, he does some nice walking during the sax solo. Duck was a great player.