I think he's great. Just wondered what everyone else thought. Thanks!
Enjoy the benefits of a premium membership!
Upgrade Account
-
TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
Join free Log in
Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.
Paul McCartney: How does he rank as a Bass Player?
- Thread starter 51PRI
- Start date
Macca is a singing bass player. As such, not flashy, not very technical, but playing exactly, PRECISELY, for the song.
Other members of the same club: Sting, Phil Lynott, Lemmy, Greg Lake, Ben Orr, Suzi Quatro, Peter Cetera. I can definitely hear *some* similarities.
Freaks, NOT members of the same singing bass player club, because of exceptional technique: Jack Bruce, Tim Bogert, Geddy, Mark King, Les Claypool, Esperanza Spalding, dUg Pinnick.
Of course, IMHO.
Diego
Other members of the same club: Sting, Phil Lynott, Lemmy, Greg Lake, Ben Orr, Suzi Quatro, Peter Cetera. I can definitely hear *some* similarities.
Freaks, NOT members of the same singing bass player club, because of exceptional technique: Jack Bruce, Tim Bogert, Geddy, Mark King, Les Claypool, Esperanza Spalding, dUg Pinnick.
Of course, IMHO.
Diego
A thread on a great bass player without a picture of them playing a p-bass? Is this allowed? Now I am so confused....
All snark aside, he is a great bass player that showed the beauty of a well written bass line.
All snark aside, he is a great bass player that showed the beauty of a well written bass line.
Last edited:
He's one of those so close to the top of the top that putting this layer of the very best into any sort of "order" becomes completely subjective.
Last edited:
Early on I used to play the bassline to Silly Love Songs by myself as an exercise. Paul does have some pretty original lines.
The Walrus was Paul.
Since I've played RPGs since the 80s, I'd rank his bass playing this way, on a scale of 1-10
Creativity: 10
Technique: 6 (totally solid, but very little development over time, no proficiency in advanced techniques)
Sight-Reading: 2 (I believe he learned some music-reading in his classical period?)
Work Ethic: 10 he was the engine that kept on running when the others faltered. The Beatles would have lapsed far sooner IMO, and the guy is still going at it - touring and recording. He's an ox.
Overall Rating: 7
The reading ability really holds him back, as it does many of us. We'll never hear Paul play a cello concerto on his Hofner, but his creativity is so strong, cello players will play his melodies and basslines for hundreds of years to come.
Since I've played RPGs since the 80s, I'd rank his bass playing this way, on a scale of 1-10
Creativity: 10
Technique: 6 (totally solid, but very little development over time, no proficiency in advanced techniques)
Sight-Reading: 2 (I believe he learned some music-reading in his classical period?)
Work Ethic: 10 he was the engine that kept on running when the others faltered. The Beatles would have lapsed far sooner IMO, and the guy is still going at it - touring and recording. He's an ox.
Overall Rating: 7
The reading ability really holds him back, as it does many of us. We'll never hear Paul play a cello concerto on his Hofner, but his creativity is so strong, cello players will play his melodies and basslines for hundreds of years to come.
Years ago, I occasionally did tracks for a studio that put out karaoke cds.
Best session ever? 2-3 dozen Beatle
sound-alikes.
Prior to transcribing those basslines, I thought I knew the Beatles well; after all, I'd been wearing out the grooves of their records since the 60s.
After transcribing?
I can only surmise that, if Paul hadn't moved over to bass, they might not have become as successful as they were, so vital was his low-end contribution to the arrangements.
Best session ever? 2-3 dozen Beatle
sound-alikes.
Prior to transcribing those basslines, I thought I knew the Beatles well; after all, I'd been wearing out the grooves of their records since the 60s.
After transcribing?
I can only surmise that, if Paul hadn't moved over to bass, they might not have become as successful as they were, so vital was his low-end contribution to the arrangements.
Years ago, I occasionally did tracks for a studio that put out karaoke cds.
Best session ever? 2-3 dozen Beatle
sound-alikes.
Prior to transcribing those basslines, I thought I knew the Beatles well; after all, I'd been wearing out the grooves of their records since the 60s.
After transcribing?
I can only surmise that, if Paul hadn't moved over to bass, they might not have become as successful as they were, so vital was his low-end contribution to the arrangements.
Best session ever? 2-3 dozen Beatle
sound-alikes.
Prior to transcribing those basslines, I thought I knew the Beatles well; after all, I'd been wearing out the grooves of their records since the 60s.
After transcribing?
I can only surmise that, if Paul hadn't moved over to bass, they might not have become as successful as they were, so vital was his low-end contribution to the arrangements.
Grew up hearing this on AM radio hundreds of times during summer family vacations.
Brilliant bass part. The tune may not be to one's taste but the song is, almost objectively, very well crafted.
I will unashamedly continue to exult that bass line as one of the coolest in pop.
...Sir Paul never learned to read music notation... his own words were "I don't think of music that way."
I respect him more "today" than I did 45 years ago. More for his writing ability than for his chops.
Beats me???????????
Everybody has opinions.
Here is a cool article: They have him at #2
Best Bassists Of All Time: 50 Legendary Bass Players You Need To Know
Everybody has opinions.
Here is a cool article: They have him at #2
Best Bassists Of All Time: 50 Legendary Bass Players You Need To Know
What a subjective question! Does the style of the music influence your opinion? Can you compare the ability of a Jaco to a Paul McCartney, to a Jack Cassady to a Geddey Lee or Flea? They are all great but pretty different from each other.
