Submission Moondance

[LeeNunn]

I know most TBers are sick of this song, but it's a staple of many cover bands. Also, it's an easy entry into a "jazz" walking bass line. There are several ideas that are worth mimicking even for the loosest interpretations. Measure 70 at the beginning of the piano solo for example. There are also some interesting quarter note triplets. Most bass players just know these by ear since the song is so overplayed. Notice that there's an extra measure in the D part (3rd verse). I doubt many cover bands do that. View the touching thread below on the bassist, John Klingberg.


John Klingberg

 

[oldrocker]

... Notice that there's an extra measure in the D part (3rd verse). I doubt many cover bands do that.

Some do, some don't. It's always exciting playing this for the 1st time with a new band to see if they add the extra measure.

 

[LeeNunn]

I was never really happy with way I notated the rhythm on the chorus of this tune. Here's a new version, along with an audio output of measures 25 through 35. Sorry about the piano sound. Just imagine a bass playing it. Do you think this notation of the rhythm captures it? If not, can you point me to notation that does capture it?

 

[TKenrick]

I've always heard the bassline as anticipating the chord changes, landing on the 'and' of every beat, this would make the rhythm of the chorus a lot easier to read! (thinking about 16th note rests inside a quarter note triplet made me sweat an uncomfortable amount...)

 

[LeeNunn]

Thanks. That makes much more sense. Just for kicks, I included the audio output for your suggested (and infinitely more practical) notation.

 

[LeeNunn]

I'm not sure why the chorus of this song gives me so much trouble to notate. I feel that I play it well enough (maybe the whole band plays it incorrectly). I kept thinking those root notes were on the strong beats. After being strongly outvoted, I went back and pinpointed the beginning and end of the 8 bar chorus, and used Transcribe!'s automatic subdivision feature to divide the chorus into eight measures. I'm now firmly agree that those root notes anticipate the chord change by half a beat. I should have known not to disagree with TKenrick, who was supported by WUTP, ChisDev, and others. Notating rhythm and identifying chords continue to be the most challenging parts of transcribing for me. An edited version is below.

 

[Whousedtoplay]

I now think that those root notes in the chorus are on the strong beats (1 & 3).

I prefer your previous - 2018 - choice.

 

[TKenrick]

Notating rhythm and identifying chords continue to be the most challenging parts of transcribing for me.

Me too!