Outstanding John Taylor (Duran Duran) Bass Tutorials

[the federalist]

I stumbled upon these terrific John Taylor bass tutorials this evening. He discusses and demonstrates the evolution of five well-known Duran Duran songs and one Power Station song.

His presentation is both informative and charming. He clearly enjoys sharing the material. Also obvious for those who don't already know: he's a first rate bass player. In the Girls On Film video he says when the song was recorded he was in his early 20's and had been playing bass only for weeks/months. That's incredible as it's a wonderful and memorable bass line.

My admiration for Duran Duran has grown through the years (although I've always liked and appreciated their music.) They wrote their own material, played their instruments (well), performed live. They pioneered music videos and looked fantastic as a band. They're still performing and are one of the few bands from the 80's I can still watch now and not get depressed due to them not being fat/bald/old looking (like me).

Strongly recommend checking them all out!

 

[Doctor Morbius]

Thanks for posting. I always thought John had some of the best basslines of many of the pop songs during the '80s.

 

[Lagado]

His presentation is both informative and charming. He clearly enjoys sharing the material. Also obvious for those who don't already know: he's a first rate bass player. In the Girls On Film video he says when the song was recorded he was in his early 20's and had been playing bass only for weeks/months. That's incredible as it's a wonderful and memorable bass line.

Bernard Edwards more than probably played that track. That bassline after weeks/months playing? I don't think so. Not at all. That's the music business for you.

 

[the federalist]

Bernard Edwards more than probably played that track.

Perhaps. While we all suffer from faulty memory of events from decades in the past, it's not clear what his motivation would be to willfully 'misremember.' His status as a great in popular music is secure and he doesn't appear to be a braggart in the videos. We can't, however, rule out that Carol Kaye played that track.

 

[Polk Salad]

I love what John Taylor played on Girls on Film.

Why do people feel the need to take a thread dump when they don't like something or someone? TB has fallen so far from what it used to be, a reflection of the world we live in these days I suppose.

If someone thinks John Taylor is a liar, take it to another thread, get it out of this one.

I think all of these videos were great and whereas I want to debate the Bernard Edwards reference, it's obvious John was/is a talented guy and he explains how the bass line developed in the song.

I appreciate you posting these!

 

[WillyW]

He has these tutorials posted to Facebook.

one of the few people/groups I follow. (I also follow Carol Kaye)

 

[Lagado]

I love what John Taylor played on Girls on Film.

Why do people feel the need to take a thread dump when they don't like something or someone? TB has fallen so far from what it used to be, a reflection of the world we live in these days I suppose.

If someone thinks John Taylor is a liar, take it to another thread, get it out of this one.

I think all of these videos were great and whereas I want to debate the Bernard Edwards reference, it's obvious John was/is a talented guy and he explains how the bass line developed in the song.

I appreciate you posting these!

The fan boys cannot bear to entertain the truth. Diddums...

"John Taylor compared himself to the musicians around him, and found himself wanting. Embarrassed by his lack of proficiency, at least relative to that of his own producer, Taylor asked Bernard Edwards to play the basslines on the album himself, but Edwards insisted he should play on."

That had been going on for quite some time before Power Station.

The Quietus | Features | Anniversary | Coke & Wet: The Power Station Versus Arcadia By Simon Price

 

[the federalist]

That had been going on for quite some time before Power Station.

How fortunate we are to have a Duran Duran expert historian in our midst.

 

[kevindahl]

That was a cool breakdown of the process. Thanks for sharing.

 

[RyanOh]

John Taylor played guitar before taking up bass. I don't think he met Bernard Edwards until a few years later.

 

[Lagado]

How fortunate we are to have a Duran Duran expert historian in our midst.

And you are one? What have you got then?

 

[the federalist]

What have you got then?

1. I'm pretty sure I know all the words to the national anthem.
2. I once had a parrot that seemed to like me.
3. In a past life I was Marie Antoinette's favorite comb.
4. My farts don't stink.

 

[Spectrum]

Perhaps. While we all suffer from faulty memory of events from decades in the past, it's not clear what his motivation would be to willfully 'misremember.' His status as a great in popular music is secure and he doesn't appear to be a braggart in the videos. We can't, however, rule out that Carol Kaye played that track.

I heard it was David Gilmour!

 

[Bonafide]

Bernard Edwards more than probably played that track. That bassline after weeks/months playing? I don't think so. Not at all. That's the music business for you.

?? He didn't say that. I think the timeline summary was missed in this video.

The keyboard chorus hook was written by Nick when the band was forming in 77'-78, John shows his 'beginner' simple bass line ideas inspired by the current Disco music he loved (bass octaves) that he originally created as the song was birthed. He mentions/summarizes how the bassline developed over time with the addition of Roger and Simons input to the music, tempo changes etc. Those early Duran Duran basslines can be played (particularly if they were self written) after 2 years of playing bass. Besides, any live performance from Duran Duran in 1980-1981 shows John Taylor easily playing his own bass lines. I am not a fanboi in the least, but the fact he could play is self evident. I dug his style then and still do. I know how well I could play after my first 2 years. I was a gigging musician. And here on the forum, we see the progress of younger players with remarkable skill after 2 years. Speaking for myself, its neither a stretch or a mystery to me.

 

[MonetBass]

He also played guitar and piano prior to switching to bass for Duran Duran, so he already had instrument and theory chops.

I've watched some of the videos before and I agree: good stuff.

 

[the federalist]

?? He didn't say that. I think the timeline summary was missed in this video.

That's what I thought as well. Also, I was struggling to understand why Bernard Edwards, with Chic at the height of it's fame, would have any interest in a then unknown Duran Duran.

 

[Bonafide]

That's what I thought as well. Also, I was struggling to understand why Bernard Edwards, with Chic at the height of it's fame, would have any interest in a then unknown Duran Duran.

That comment about Bernard playing the bass lines on the 1981 debut Duran Duran album wasn't worth a response. DD recorded that first album in London with Colin Thurston as producer. Chic released Stage Fright in 1981 and in 1980 when the DD album was being recorded Bernard was producing (and playing bass for) Diana Ross on her record for Motown records in Los Angeles. When John was laying down girls on film... Bernard was doing this: