I'm currently working in a new band and Van Morrison's "Moondance" is a song that we cover. The bass line is very busy and I'm struggling to uncover it note for note. Has anyone here unlocked this mystery? Any tips?
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Moondance bass line
- Thread starter Slaphound
- Start date
all i know is that one time I played an open mic with a band, and the solo guy after us asked me to "sit in" with him.. i reluctantly agree, and then he looks back at me and goes "Ok.. Moondance on three.... 1.. 2... ".
Most embarassing public experience EVER... well.. except for that wardrobe malfunction at yoga class.. but thats a whole different story!.
Most embarassing public experience EVER... well.. except for that wardrobe malfunction at yoga class.. but thats a whole different story!.
Excellent source! I haven't had to play this song in years, but I've always loved it.
That's an arrangement for a jazz ensemble, not a transcription of the original bass line and not in the same key.
I've played 10+ shows with Van Morrison's daughter. Moondance came up often in writeup promo for shows in the papers. It was only until the last show that I finally gave in, I'm not a fan of the song, hahaha.
And it's because of that bassline. No disrespect, classic song, but dang.
Crazy Love, Wild Night, Brown Eyed Girl.... Tupelo Honey? Fantastic.
And it's because of that bassline. No disrespect, classic song, but dang.
Crazy Love, Wild Night, Brown Eyed Girl.... Tupelo Honey? Fantastic.
I played the song 35 years ago. It didn't seem particularly difficult - just a walking part and some kicks.
Have you tried an .mp3/.wav file with a slow downer program like the free Best Practice?
Best Practice has sliding bass/treble hi/low pass eq filters/controls that allow the user to isolate specific frequencies.
If you slow the tune down 50% and raise the pitch an octave, sometimes the bass is easier to hear.
BP also does loops and backing tracks(karaoke) style playbacks.
Best Practice has sliding bass/treble hi/low pass eq filters/controls that allow the user to isolate specific frequencies.
If you slow the tune down 50% and raise the pitch an octave, sometimes the bass is easier to hear.
BP also does loops and backing tracks(karaoke) style playbacks.
Same here. It's a song I figured I'd have to learn one day and it's been done so many times so it hasn't been in my bands' setlists, but I just picked up a sub gig and there it is.
While I could notate the whole bassline, I am more inclined to just walk my own. The question is: rather than trying to land the chords all the time (Am7 Bm7), can you just walk over Am7 and does it work? I'm trying it out and it seems to be okay.
While I could notate the whole bassline, I am more inclined to just walk my own. The question is: rather than trying to land the chords all the time (Am7 Bm7), can you just walk over Am7 and does it work? I'm trying it out and it seems to be okay.
I played it in a band in '78-'79, and I agree with your assessment regarding the difficulty of the bass line.
I've played 10+ shows with Van Morrison's daughter. Moondance came up often in writeup promo for shows in the papers. It was only until the last show that I finally gave in, I'm not a fan of the song, hahaha.
And it's because of that bassline. No disrespect, classic song, but dang.
Crazy Love, Wild Night, Brown Eyed Girl.... Tupelo Honey? Fantastic.
I'm currently listening to that track.
The bass line is clearly heard, but...
(It's only my opinion.)
I'm not a big fan of that bass-line.
Too many "chromatic notes" for a Pop song (not for my taste) that remove that Melodious attractiveness of Walking Bass, plus, the bass player is noticeably "rushing(not good)."
We have played it often in the past. Why do it note for note? My suggestion is to
1) Learn the chord progression.
2) Walk in the style of the song, not note for note.
3) Play the noticeable syncopations near the end of the form.
It’s not a hard song.
Since this zombie thread has been resurrected, I will post a link to another zombie thread that I hope is not too far off topic.
John Klingberg. the bassist who played on the original recording of Moondance:
John Klingberg
John Klingberg. the bassist who played on the original recording of Moondance:
John Klingberg
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It sounds like a walking progression but it really is not (IMHO a walking progression goes from chord to chord, Moondance doesn't really go anywhere). It is busy but not bad after you figure it out.
