Someone please explain all the love for Steve Harris

[Kipp Harrington]

Harris and Co helped spearhead the NWOBHM, and it was Harris at the helm for the majority of the songwriting and directing of the band. Harris' bass tone always stood out in a mix, and his lines, albeit repetitive at times, were accessible for both novice and experienced players alike.

For many bassists, Steve Harris was the guy that got them into bass playing due to everything he represented - a songwriting bassist who stood at the helm of one of the greatest hard rock and heavy metal bands of all time. You don't have to enjoy the music to understand and respect his contribution to the instrument just like others might not get Jaco or Jamerson. Harris was a pioneer for a style and a genre, and he also happens to be a genuinely nice guy as well.

For the record, he was the guy who got me into bass. I love Maiden but I also outgrew them some time ago. I personally can only listen to them in small quantities these days, but I still love and respect what they've done to a genre and what Harris has done for the instrument.

Steve Harris didn’t get me into playing the bass. I had been a guitar player for the last 32 years and recently picked up the bass. Even as a guitar player, I was always fascinated with by the bass. When I was 7 or 8 years old, when I was listening to music, I was enchanted by it. Ok, enough about my past.

I was never really an IM fan but I liked a handful of their songs. And again, when I heard the bass, I said to myself... “that guy kicks ass”! Steve Harris was great at what he did. A hammering animal on those fat strings. Yes, I’m impressed with his playing. I don’t know if I “get” SH or not, all I know is he is a badass bass player. Not a big guy either, so I’m assuming he didn’t have large hands. I have small hands and it makes it all the more impressive. Thanks for playing the bass like you mean it, Steve. HAH!!!

 

[basseux]

Pino, I don't get at all. Nothing about his playing gets me excited. Tons of folks think he's awesome though and he's very in demand by big name acts, so obviously he's great - just not for me.

Pino is very accurate.
I think that's why.

 

[basseux]

BTW I’ve already listened to the first album while studying tonight. I’d forgotten how many good tracks it has. I get what people were saying about the gallop style. He’s a bit of a beast. He must have a right forearm like a tree trunk.

He attacks lightly on heavy gauge flat strings ( 50 75 95 110), with very low action.

 

[Treebeard]

You have to look at the context. Not that many super awesome FRONTman bassists. We suffer from saturation these days. And research just how much he contributed to those songs man.

 

[non]

i was never a iron maiden fan but i did learn the trooper. that intro is nuts!
i think it was flea that said "the bass player makes the bed the rest of the band gets to sleep in" .
that is steve harris and any good bass player.

 

[Chrisk-K]

Nothing pumps me up more than watching young Steve Harris galloping away in tight stripe pants with his left leg on a stage monitor.

 

[gregbackstrom]

Let's see- he founded the band, he writes the majority of the songs and riffs for the band ON HIS BASS. He puts on an energetic show, his tone is unique, his playing style is unique (chords, gallop, three finger technique) and has been copied by every metal/hard rock bassist around, he is a very cool guy as well... Hmmm, I really wonder how he could be so popular?

I guess as a follow up we should also explore how Geddy is so popular. WHy is Metallica so popular? Why is Lars the best drummer ever?

Definitely a unique player. I think the word "popular" sums it up pretty well.

 

[BaltBass5]

Hmmm...I don’t know, innovative bassist who inspired almost every modern hard rock and metal band, amazing songwriter, and the founder of one of the most popular bands in the world....yeah I don’t get it either.

 

[gregbackstrom]

Pino is very accurate.
I think that's why.

His fretless playing with Paul Young was beautiful. He's a great player -- check out some of his solo YouTubes

 

[socialleper]

Because this:

 

[Kmonk]

I was scrolling through my Facebook feed when a “50 greatest bassists” link came up (Invalid Link Removed). Basically glorified trolling but with marketing and data mining behind it. Now I know that these things are click bait and designed to annoy you into commenting and I know I shouldn’t have clicked but I did. So can someone please explain why Steve Harris always does so well - above innovators like Jaco and Larry Graham, above Kaye and Jamerson. I’ve listened to Maiden and tried but I just don’t get all the love for him. What am I missing?

I don't get it either. He doesn't do anything special. To me, he is just an average bass player.

 

[Andy Wilkinson]

I was scrolling through my Facebook feed when a “50 greatest bassists” link came up (Invalid Link Removed). Basically glorified trolling but with marketing and data mining behind it. Now I know that these things are click bait and designed to annoy you into commenting and I know I shouldn’t have clicked but I did. So can someone please explain why Steve Harris always does so well - above innovators like Jaco and Larry Graham, above Kaye and Jamerson. I’ve listened to Maiden and tried but I just don’t get all the love for him. What am I missing?

I not a big Maiden fan but listen to the triplets in the bass line to "Run To The Hills"...."his galloping fleet-fingered bass lines have turbocharged metal" not my words ...but he is admired world wide...and worthy of Fenders tribute with the
STEVE HARRIS PRECISION BASS®.....and those lists suck anyway......I saw a 50 greatest guitarists once and they put Jack White over Jerry Garcia...BLASPHEMOUS !

 

[clickclack]

He attacks lightly on heavy gauge flat strings ( 50 75 95 110), with very low action.

Yes, it's a challenge to not dig in in action which leads to fatigue in 3-4 songs one after another. Heavy compression helps a lot, which he has. I've read Steve says if anyone else would play his rig(without the light touch technique) they'd probably blow some speakers.

 

[socialleper]

I don't get it either. He doesn't do anything special. To me, he is just an average bass player.

The thing is, I could say that about many of the bass players people wet their shorts over around here.
Different things for different people.

 

[socialleper]

Yes, it's a challenge to not dig in in action which leads to fatigue in 3-4 songs one after another. Heavy compression helps a lot, which he has. I've read Steve says if anyone else would play his rig(without the light touch technique) they'd probably blow some speakers.

There is a game called Rocksmith I was using to learn guitar. It has bass tracks as well (even though you don't earn "points" for playing the bass tracks. BOO!) and there are a few Iron Maiden song. The digital plug ins they use totally nail his tone. You don't realize how important the Trace Elliot overdrive is to his tone until you hear it isolated.

 

[Andy Wilkinson]

I not a big Maiden fan but listen to the triplets in the bass line to "Run To The Hills"...."his galloping fleet-fingered bass lines have turbocharged metal" not my words ...but he is admired world wide...and worthy of Fenders tribute with the
STEVE HARRIS PRECISION BASS®.....and those lists suck anyway......I saw a 50 greatest guitarists once and they put Jack White over Jerry Garcia...BLASPHEMOUS !

They nailed it with The Ox, though

 

[gregbackstrom]

In the late 70s, there was no band less cool than Styx.

????? I can think of LOTS of bands that were less cool than Styx! Try "Afternoon Delight" by the Starland Vocal Band.

 

[clickclack]

There is a game called Rocksmith I was using to learn guitar. It has bass tracks as well (even though you don't earn "points" for playing the bass tracks. BOO!) and there are a few Iron Maiden song. The digital plug ins they use totally nail his tone. You don't realize how important the Trace Elliot overdrive is to his tone until you hear it isolated.

There's a cool guy at youtube who is somehow able to find bass backing tracks. Most I found doesn't sound like processed if that's how he does it, must be a sound genius. I'm using those.
Best-way-to-practice-ever! not to sound like a teen but it is. hehe After playing something everyday, even something like Run to the hills, when in the mood and you feel good, you get to play at +20% and some others at +40% speed even. It really is about taming it and not dig it. Just the tip as they say.

Buut, I have to resort to 3 fingers at those times and also when I feel like I'd unnecessarily tire myself when I can be doing 3 fingers and sound the same in appropriate parts. If that's cheating for some, I do.

 

[Jon_Cocktoastel]

Because when I was 15 , it was a fast cool way I got my head around the instrument, there was no one who could help me , I didn't know how to tune it but I had played violin for some years, then I heard Cliff Williams and Steve Harris, and the light bulb went off in my head anyway , and I was able to build from there.

 

[4stringsjack]

Add me to the list of people who started playing bass because of Steve Harris.

Iron Maiden was one of the first bands I ever saw live, back in 1981. Harris made quite an impression with his tone and his technique. I think I should bust out my P bass now...