Noob question about Another One Bites the Dust

[Ptransodactyl]

I'm fairly new to playing bass, and I've been playing my acoustic on my lunch break trying to learn the song in the title of this thread. So, I'm wondering if I'm the only one baffled by the 5-3 on the E string usage (5-3-0-0-0, 0-0-0-3-0-5). They do it for the first 2 "lines" or whatever you call them for the intro, but, I can't seem to find a pattern as to when they get used after that. It feels a bit random to me. Maybe this is more of a "I'm trying to learn" rant and have nobody else to talk to who might understand lol.

 

[silky smoove]

I've always taken it as an arranging cue. The bass does more when there's less going on in the arrangement. Note that the anticipated A to G lick before landing on the E stops when Brian enters and doubles John's line on guitar. Any time they're used after that is just an embellishment to add color/flavor to the arrangement. Do it tastefully and when it feels appropriate and no one will ever notice.

 

[pingvuiini]

Those might be considered 'lead in' notes?

 

[Ptransodactyl]

I've always taken it as an arranging cue. The bass does more when there's less going on in the arrangement. Note that the anticipated A to G lick before landing on the E stops when Brian enters and doubles John's line on guitar. Any time they're used after that is just an embellishment to add color/flavor to the arrangement. Do it tastefully and when it feels appropriate and no one will ever notice.

That's what I was kind of thinking, it was just a random embellishment since it didn't seem like there was any particular rhyme or reason to it lol

 

[SteveCS]

That's what I was kind of thinking, it was just a random embellishment since it didn't seem like there was any particular rhyme or reason to it lol

Those two notes A and E occur before the first full-time bar with E on beat 1. An incomplete bar at the start of a piece is called an Anacrusis. It is a compositional device, not a random embellishment.

 

[Ptransodactyl]

Those might be considered 'lead in' notes?

They are lead in notes for the intro yeah, but, they also get used later on in random places, so it's confusing lol

 

[tonym]

Those two notes A and E occur before the first full-time bar with E on beat 1. An incomplete bar at the start of a piece is called an Anacrusis. It is a compositional device, not a random embellishment.

Yes, they're just two 16th note prior to the start of the first bar. Then it's 0-0-0-0,0-0-0-3-0-5

 

[Flamingo21]

it didn't seem like there was any particular rhyme or reason to it

Most bass lines will reveal some details that are quite random, when you really listen note-for-note. So what you noticed here, is a very common situation.

 

[Dlew919]

Generally when Freddie is singing it doesn’t happen. But I think sometimes he forgot and got carried away. So you can do the same. Just not any time. That point about the anacreusis is imoietant

 

[HueyFreeman]

They are lead in notes for the intro yeah, but, they also get used later on in random places, so it's confusing lol

There's nothing random about it. It's used when appropriate.

 

[Gurnmagic]

Definitely not random. Another a John Deacon masterpiece, and a huge hit for them.

 

[SteveCS]

That point about the anacreusis is imoietant

I hope this is a mis-type of 'important', else I need to update my copy of Chamber's .

Yes it is important, and they usually are.

@Ptransodactyl For a simple and obvious (and therefore instructive) example of the rhythmic 'utility' of anacrusis, imagine the simple tune of "Happy Birthday To You" without it. See how the anacrusis aligns the important syllables of the lyric, the 'foot' of the poetic meter and the downbeat of the music.

 

[stubborne]

Listen to a live version... if he does exactly the same random thing, then it's not random.

 

[Kevnn4]

Fun fact of the day - John played rhythm guitars on 'Another One Bites the Dust' (the ones doubling the bass and the funky double-stops). Brian played the 'dirty' guitars.

 

[FullumMusic]

If you want to know if there's a pattern to it, or if it's just random, chart out the song. You don't have to transcribe it note for note. Just block out the changes measure by measure and label the structure. (like in the pic), and then maybe write out the structure (ie: intro; vs; chrs; vs; chrs; etc) In the chart, mark down where that lead-in lands in the structure each time you hear it. The patterns will present itself to you if it's there.

 

[antfarm]

I would call them pickup notes.

Here is a video that might help:

 

[antfarm]

I would call them pickup notes.

Here is a video that might help:

I just realized he is playing the song in F, whereas the rest of the world, including Queen, play it in E. It's a lot easier to fret that way.

 

[Ptransodactyl]

I just realized he is playing the song in F, whereas the rest of the world, including Queen, play it in E. It's a lot easier to fret that way.

I came here to say the same thing. Like NOOOOO, F??? I'm glad I'm not the only one lol

 

[Ptransodactyl]

Yep, he's definitely playing on the 3rd and 5th frets for open E, not F *whew*

 

[antfarm]

Yep, he's definitely playing on the 3rd and 5th frets for open E, not F *whew*

I did a little research yesterday and it seems there is an ongoing controversy about the key of the recorded version. It is possible that the recording was sped up a little, so that the pitch of the first note ended up somewhere between E and F. In all the videos of Queen playing it live they were clearly in E, I verified this with my eyes and my ears, by playing along.