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Technique help for While My Guitar Gently Weeps, please?

Bass Momma

Bass Momma

Dec 25, 2017
447
799
#1
(If this is the wrong forum for this question, apologies... and where should I ask this?)

I've been asked to back a lead guitarist and a singer/comp guitarist on While My Guitar Gently Weeps. They'll have a drummer... probably. I've read the discussions of how this was played on the recording, which is all well and good, but now it comes down to how I should do it. A pick, yes? Or not? I'm thinking my Fender Jazz, turned more to the bridge pick up.
How do you handle this bassline?
 
#2
There's really no point in trying to mimic the original recording, as you will have a completely different instrumentation. When I have gigs like this I ask if there's a specific version they are aiming for (The original is quite different from Prince and crew at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame show). Guitarists often pick one version of a song they like best and just assume everyone else knows their favorite cut.

Do what you do best. If you aren't a pick player then don't try it for just one song, you're more likely to sound uncomfortable by getting way outside your comfort zone. Nobody is going to expect you to sound like the record so you may as well go in with the goal of matching the vibe of the chosen version and doing whatever it is you are best at.

If they wanted someone who didn't sound like you they would have hired that guy instead.
 
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#3
Yeah, after much thumping over the past day or so, that's the conclusion I've come to. I think I can fudge the sound with flats, the bridge pickup and some attitude. The big deal is to feel relaxed to get a good result.
 
#5
Trying to mimicing a specific sound, particulary in a live situation, IMO, is a fool's mission. You can get close, but even if you get the identical bass, amp, dial in a specific recipe, the tone is still in your fingers. Acoustics will play a large part of the sound as well. You certainly are able to get close to the articulation and musicality of the original if you listen closely, but I think a close approximation is the best you can hope for. You have to use your ear to do the best you can do. And once you mix in guitar and drums there is the neuro-adapation that comes with other sounds that changes audience perception.

With recorded sound, again, you can try to mimic the articulation and style (and notes), but then the rest is up to the sound engineer.
 
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#6
McCartney's original bass part was played on a newly-acquired LH Fender Jazz bass, so your choice of a Jazz is good. It sounds to me like it's strung w/ rounds, but you can get away with flats. As for tone, start with both pickups maxed and then roll the neck pickup back by about 15-20%. You can hear the tone change as you do this. Essentially, you are introducing a bit of comb filtering to the sound (so I've been told, anyway). You want to retain a fair bit of low end while still retaining that Jazz "crunch." One of the key factors is mastering the use of a mix of walking lines and double-stops. The main verse passage on the solo section is E/A E/G D/F# C/F B/E. Play this starting at frets 12 and 14 on the D (upper note) and A (lower note) strings. I think he more or less repeats this in the out section but he adds an A an octave up on the first two chords and possibly a high F# on the third chord. Sorry, it's been a while since I've played it.
 
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#7
JonathanPDX said:
There's really no point in trying to mimic the original recording, as you will have a completely different instrumentation. When I have gigs like this I ask if there's a specific version they are aiming for (The original is quite different from Prince and crew at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame show). Guitarists often pick one version of a song they like best and just assume everyone else knows their favorite cut.

Do what you do best. If you aren't a pick player then don't try it for just one song, you're more likely to sound uncomfortable by getting way outside your comfort zone. Nobody is going to expect you to sound like the record so you may as well go in with the goal of matching the vibe of the chosen version and doing whatever it is you are best at.

If they wanted someone who didn't sound like you they would have hired that guy instead.
Click to expand...

JonathanPDX said:
There's really no point in trying to mimic the original recording, as you will have a completely different instrumentation. When I have gigs like this I ask if there's a specific version they are aiming for (The original is quite different from Prince and crew at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame show). Guitarists often pick one version of a song they like best and just assume everyone else knows their favorite cut.

Do what you do best. If you aren't a pick player then don't try it for just one song, you're more likely to sound uncomfortable by getting way outside your comfort zone. Nobody is going to expect you to sound like the record so you may as well go in with the goal of matching the vibe of the chosen version and doing whatever it is you are best at.

If they wanted someone who didn't sound like you they would have hired that guy instead.
Click to expand...


IMHO - Two other versions that are worth giving a listen to are the Concert for Bangladesh and the Concert for George renditions. Both are smokin'
 
#8
I play in a Beatles tribute band. I play a P bass with flats and foam (yawn :).

I have a Spark set to light grit if I dig in. For Gently Weeps I add a phaser to make it more psychedelic. I play a mixture of single notes and power chords throughout the verses, following the root notes. The chorus has an iconic bass line that I love so I don't change it at all.

The OD + phaser give me a thick tone that is perfect to support the band when the guitar plays solos.

The phaser is a block MXR 90 clone that I've built. It sounds meh on guitar but I found it sounds great on bass with the depth real low. Just a smidge to add movement to the notes.
I use the same effects for Walrus, which is even more psychedelic.

I play with the gear I have. Not going for the original tone.

I'll be honest: no one notices my tone and no one cares, including my band members. Pretty sad that they don't listen to me but most players I know have no concept of tone.
 

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