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The most off key playing you ever heard?

#41
ryco said:
"Pegleg" album - Ron Carter.
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Seems like there was a time back in the 1970's when a lot of bass players forgot how to play in tune. Ron (one of my all time favorite players) had his moments. I've heard Carter's intonation problems blamed on the transition from gut to steel strings. I prefer to blame everthing about the 70's, including the decline of the U.S. automobile industry, on disco.

The most out-of-tune bass recording I've ever heard was a Muddy Waters live recording. Louis Meyers played electric bass on it. He consistently plays about a half-step flat. I had to give the CD away. Louis Meyers was normally a guitarist. His brother, Dave Meyers, was a fine bass player.
 
#46
Failing better or worse is sort of subjective. The OTHER Final Countdown is simply very sad; there is A WHOLE BAND committed to playing this song even though they are not playing in time with each other and there singer is horribly off key.

I think that the novelty of a guy playing a ukulele with a kazoo attached to the headstock made from a toy piano makes up (a little) for the fact that this guy is really off key. Don’t get me wrong, this guy is really off key and it is sad in its own rite, but I think you are correct; this guy has no delusions, and that makes this version of Final Countdown less of an “ironic” failure than the OTHER version.
 
#49
Blazer said:

The Red Hot Chili Peppers - "Jungle man" live in 1985 during their first European tour supporting George Clinton. I guess the sound says enough here...
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They tuned the bass slightly flat and the guitar slightly sharp, to mask Keidis' tone deaf grunting.

That Van Halen clip is just plain amazing. Eddie couldn't hear his guitar??? It sounded like he was playing a full step dropped (or...).
 
#54
RHFusillo said:
Seems like there was a time back in the 1970's when a lot of bass players forgot how to play in tune. Ron (one of my all time favorite players) had his moments. I've heard Carter's intonation problems blamed on the transition from gut to steel strings. I prefer to blame everthing about the 70's, including the decline of the U.S. automobile industry, on disco.
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I think we can go back earlier. One of many, many examples... Paul Chambers's 'Bass on Top.' Jazz arco -- absolutely perfect in the right hands at the right moment -- can also be very painful (sadly, even Ray Brown can make us wince). As for Ron Carter: it's not just his intonation, but, man, is he ever annoying on 'Herbie Hancock Trio!.
 
#58
Craig_S said:
That Van Halen clip is just plain amazing. Eddie couldn't hear his guitar??? It sounded like he was playing a full step dropped (or...).
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No, the synth part played back at the wrong frequency, higher than it should have. However, it didn't play back at a frequency which could be matched by transposing the part on the guitar and bass so Eddie is just stuck. It's a trainwreck, but not their fault.

But man, that Demon Hunter band was awful. And the lyrics were awful! Total agenda based God Rock of the worst kind!
 

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