• TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
    Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
    Join free Log in
    Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.

Mccartney's best bass work

#21
Subscribed.

I have no vote on "greatest," but man... after a church/worship gig this past Sunday, the choral pianist and lead keyboardist (synthesizer) locked in on me something FIERCE, just kept talking to me and talking and talking and talking.....

and just kept rambling and rambling about how much he loved the bassline for "Saw Her Standing There,"... and man, he went for like 45 minutes, cumulatively.....

So I guess I gotta *really* learn that one. Seriously....
 
#23
A vote for With A Little Help From My Friends.

It's a masterful demonstration of how to blend supportive fundamentals with brilliant little melodies -- and never quite the same in each successive verse.

Gives me shivers, it's so perfect.
 
#24
Too many to pick a favorite, although the bass lines in "Mr. Kite" still give me chills. The feel, the tone.....oh, to be that good!

But just last week I was reminded of just how good Macca was very early on when I heard the recording of "My Bonnie." His walking lines in that song are flat out fabulous! Had a strong grasp of how bass lines should move....and at that point he really hadn't been playing bass for all that long. Even back then he knew just what to play and what not to play.
 
#35
This is a dicey topic, as there is some evidence to suiggest, for example, that George played bass on Old Brown Shoe. The source escapes me now, but I did give it some credibility when I saw it.

I've researched the topic of "who played bass on Beatle tracks" for about two years (not every day of course), and there is a remarkable degree of disagreement among the sources. But I can answer the OP's question:

1. I Want You (She's So Heavy);
2. Something;
3. Rain;
4. Baby You're a Rich Man; and
5. With a Little Help From My Friends
 
#36
The older I get the more I appreciate what originally seemed like minor throwaway tunes like Savoy Truffle. Listening to them now and dissecting the work by the musicians (McCartney often stands out) and production and engineering is like wow, this is genius and they did it with none of today's fancy digital tools. And thank god they didn't.
 
#37
LarryR said:
I'm pretty sure Old Brown Shoe was played by Harrison. TUFF line to play clean even with compression. I think he played a 6 string Fender or Dan Electro??
Click to expand...

I believe so...

In a two part CREEM interview (published December 1987 and January 1988) George Harrison said that he played bass for the piece. Extract from the interview:[3]

* Creem: You also told me you played bass on "Old Brown Shoe."
* George: It’s like a lunatic playing.
* Creem: It sounds like McCartney was going nuts again.
* George: That was me going nuts. I’m doing exactly what I do on the guitar.

Although Lennon did play guitar on the track, his instrumentation was removed and replaced by the organ sound.

Paul is most likely playing the piano.
 
#38
LarryR said:
I'm pretty sure Old Brown Shoe was played by Harrison. TUFF line to play clean even with compression. I think he played a 6 string Fender or Dan Electro??
Click to expand...

Starting when I borrowed the BLs Hofner short scale, I noticed how easy it was to handle and licks were faster, due to a couple of things, your hand is closer to your body (like a guitar) and the frets are closer together.

Look through photos and videos of the Beatles playing.... George and John occasionally playing a 6 string Danelectro or Fender Jag baratone/bass VI while Paul playing keys or guitar on a few. When I first saw it, I thought it was guitar, but there was no part recorded.

Some others have mentioned the Rick era. Saw some photos with Paul playing a Rick WITH A CAPO, effectively creating the short scale bass again.

I'll credit his shear talent and musical ear with the licks, but the short scale basses assisted.

Short scale GAS.

Reminds me I was browsing some Stanley Clarke basses tonight.... short scale, small neck.
 
#39
I always thought about the short scale thing, but I think it helps only a little with the technique. Paul played the guitar for years before picking up the bass, so I guess he felt more comfortable with a short scale...

His bass lines are bass melodies that supports the whole song and the lead vocal as well. That's some bad@#* musicianship!
 

Latest posts

Top Bottom
Back