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One song...

WrapRough

WrapRough

Jan 26, 2021
760
1,239
London
#1
hey all,

What songs give the most bang for your buck in terms of learning and/or applying different techniques? ie, if you learn this song you are going to nail a lot in one go...

I know players have a style, so don't always have a huge variety of techniques in their lines, but I am wondering if there are some songs out there I can use as study pieces that are going to give me a lot for my money!

Cheers, and happy playing

Wrap
 
#3
If you want to tackle double thumb technique there isn't a better etude than Victor Wooten's Classical Thump. Pretty Little Lady (Wooten) is a much more simple and funky application of the double thumb, too.

There are some nice open hammer pluck lines in there as well, though personally I found the technique made more sense by starting with Thumb Start My Harley (Bass Extremes) and then learning at least the opening sequences for A Show of Hands (Wooten solo).
 
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#6
WrapRough said:
What songs give the most bang for your buck in terms of learning and/or applying different techniques? ie, if you learn this song you are going to nail a lot in one go...
Click to expand...

Learning one song is not going to magically nail many techniques. I agree with @Les Fret. Some techniques take a lot of time to master. I would suggest picking one technique and working on that. Do it slowly and deliberately (with no song) at first. When you think you have nailed it then record yourself playing along to your favourite song.
IMO it is better to master one technique at a time.
 
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#7
I agree learning techniques in isolation is the best way. But I love learning through songs, and I love songs that apply multiple techniques. I studied classical piano where pieces would have a huge variety of techniques in one piece, and you would learn and/or develop multiple techniques through playing a single piece. In the bass world this is far less common, IMO, so I was just looking for some cool examples of the same!

For example, in the bass world this may be a song that has fast finger style, slap, trills, fills, double stops, all in one song. YYZ, say, has fast runs, doublestops, harmonics. You get a lot of bang for your buck!
 
#8
WrapRough said:
hey all,

What songs give the most bang for your buck in terms of learning and/or applying different techniques? ie, if you learn this song you are going to nail a lot in one go...

I know players have a style, so don't always have a huge variety of techniques in their lines, but I am wondering if there are some songs out there I can use as study pieces that are going to give me a lot for my money!

Cheers, and happy playing

Wrap
Click to expand...

How about something like "Just The Two of Us"? Takes you to all registers onthe instrument in all areas of the neck, has a extensive dynamic contrast, includes fingerstyle and slap (and transition between the two), glissando, trills, staccato, legato, etc. It also has plenty of scope for improvsation of licks, runs, riffs and fills using pentatonics or a blend of modes, harmonic and melodic minor scale. The outro even offers opportunities for playing chords and even tapping, if that's your thing. Sounds like good value to me.
 
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#9
SteveCS said:
How about something like "Just The Two of Us"? Takes you to all registers onthe instrument in all areas of the neck, has a extensive dynamic contrast, includes fingerstyle and slap (and transition between the two), glissando, trills, staccato, legato, etc. It also has plenty of scope for improvsation of licks, runs, riffs and fills using pentatonics or a blend of modes, harmonic and melodic minor scale. The outro even offers opportunities for playing chords and even tapping, if that's your thing. Sounds like good value to me.
Click to expand...

Have you got a TAB for it?

Just kidding :)

Sounds like gold to me, Steve! Thank you. I have never really sat and listened and analysed the line and had no idea of the depth! A great study piece, thank you man
 
#10
WrapRough said:
Have you got a TAB for it?

Just kidding :)

Sounds like gold to me, Steve! Thank you. I have never really sat and listened and analysed the line and had no idea of the depth! A great study piece, thank you man
Click to expand...

No TAB, but I do have a Standard Notation score of my arrangement (roughly) as I play it, including a bit of added flash at the end.
 

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#11
SteveCS said:
How about something like "Just The Two of Us"? Takes you to all registers onthe instrument in all areas of the neck, has a extensive dynamic contrast, includes fingerstyle and slap (and transition between the two), glissando, trills, staccato, legato, etc. It also has plenty of scope for improvsation of licks, runs, riffs and fills using pentatonics or a blend of modes, harmonic and melodic minor scale. The outro even offers opportunities for playing chords and even tapping, if that's your thing. Sounds like good value to me.
Click to expand...
Good suggestion. I would add learning to sing the lead vocal while playing the bass line.
 
#13
WrapRough said:
Without moving my lips :)
Click to expand...
I don't do a lot of lead singing, but I always find it a useful exercise whenever I learn to sing a lead vocal over a song's bass part. It helps highlight the way in which the bass line fits with the vocal and it can be a good independence exercise. "Just The Two Of Us" isn't one of the more difficult songs to sing while playing, hence the suggestion. Give it a try, you might like it. ;)
 
#14
bass12 said:
I don't do a lot of lead singing, but I always find it a useful exercise whenever I learn to sing a lead vocal over a song's bass part. It helps highlight the way in which the bass line fits with the vocal and it can be a good independence exercise. "Just The Two Of Us" isn't one of the more difficult songs to sing while playing, hence the suggestion. Give it a try, you might like it. ;)
Click to expand...

I have always struggled with singing and playing and as I have a voice that scares small children, it's never been a pressing thing to work on! But it's a valuable skill for sure
 
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#15
Thread hijack alert! Singing while playing is a big goal for me. Still looking for that one tip that will help it become easier. I find the ‘classic’ rhythm (1/4 note, rest, 1/8, 1/8 or thereabouts) particularly vexing to sing over. Haven’t tried just the two of us- that’s a great tune.
 

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