• 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.

Thunderbird Club

#332,027
Thumper said:
Likely true, but I play in a Classic Rock/Hard Rock Band. When I tried to play a few songs with a pick (which were played by the original bassist with a pick,) my guitarist looked at me and said "Don't Do That!" When I asked him what, he said "Don't play with a pick." He said it didn't sound like me. I guess after playing fingerstyle for 57 years, the calluses suffice for a semi pick sound.
Click to expand...
Nylon tape wounds on the new-to-me Sterling 34ca can be a nice blend of thump and tac/pick-like sound. I'm liking those strings, but it's def a flavor. There's a smack in them that can have a nice effect.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Miles_ONeal, Gaolee, GonePlaid and 6 others
#332,028
Count Bassie said:
LA Woman needs different attacks, is a different figure- but I'd do the same approach... Find a strong note in the figure, maybe an anticipation, and let it sustain into the next note... Make a kind of loop that just pushes itself along. It's simpler but feels like it's got a lot of torque when you nail it.
I probably sound crazy, lol! But the point is that you're playing fewer notes, but still getting a feel similar to playing straight 16th, 8ths, what have you.
Click to expand...
well explained! Not crazy at all....the total trickery that makes up playing bass.....you'd think Williams is playing 8ths during the verse where he's not.....
 
  • Like
Reactions: Miles_ONeal, GonePlaid, MCF and 6 others
#332,029
dagrev said:
You are way up on the cool list if y'all play Train Train by Blackfoot. Never heard anyone do a Blackfoot song that I recall. They were one of the best high energy bands I ever saw. They would start hard and fast and never let up.
Click to expand...
do you recall if Walker played that tune with fingers or pick?...
 
  • Like
Reactions: Miles_ONeal, GonePlaid, GBassNorth and 1 other person
#332,032
On this pick vs finger-style topic... an electric bass is a bass guitar. (not a double bass) Most guitarists play with a pick (yah, I know.., other than Jeff Beck, some Mississippi Delta blues players etc...) and so an electric bass being a guitar - I've never accepted the "bass player shouldn't use a pick" BS. (usually leveled from guitarists???) Luckily no-one has ever laid that at my feet as a bass-player. :D It's simply another discipline for bringing more to the table. Any studio musician would acknowledge that.

And you know, the world is big enough for everyone, so If one can pull that range off exclusively using one or the other - go for it. At the end of the day it's all in the fingers whether they are holding a pick or free to roam. :bassist:
 
  • Like
Reactions: PhR75, GonePlaid, MCF and 8 others
#332,033
Stealth57 said:
Would prefer dragon Wednesday particularly in volume 5 form. :p
Click to expand...
Here you go

IMG_8474.jpeg
 
  • Like
Reactions: Miles_ONeal, Gaolee, GonePlaid and 6 others
#332,036
dagrev said:
You are way up on the cool list if y'all play Train Train by Blackfoot. Never heard anyone do a Blackfoot song that I recall. They were one of the best high energy bands I ever saw. They would start hard and fast and never let up.
Click to expand...
Hah! Never heard of this band, not that that means anything. Fingers-style for sure. Fun song to rock. It brings to mind one of my favorite bands from Tempe Arizona - The Meat Puppets with Chis Kirkwood on bass. They started off in the early '80s on SST as thrash-punk, turned the corner to melodic Indi-rock ala Grateful Dead and the whole time referenced bands like Blue Oyster Cult and never left their inherantly southern rock roots.




I love this song - killer bass-line also ... Chris Kirkwood is an awesome, underrated bass player.
 
Last edited:
  • Like
Reactions: Miles_ONeal, GonePlaid, MCF and 3 others
#332,038
Thumper said:
@JIO, if you don't know Blackfoot, I can't wait to hear your thoughts on Highway Star. A great song, very challenging to play for all concerned. We're trying to pull it off as a 3 piece band. It features dueling guitars and a killer bass line. Heck, it was a challenge when we were a 4 piece band.
Click to expand...
I will give it a listen - my ears are open!

- just listened (while playing along!) and other than that era's tendency to "go on" too long in the guitar solo(s) dept (ala The Allman Brothers and most bands then.. I dig them, but another solo, really?) - this one from 4:23 - to the end at 7:01!

...other than that, I dug it - what I like about it and songs from that era is that it is musical. It sings. Great vocals - I would have loved to hear your three-piece attempting it. You must all have harmonized really well together.

Here's a big fave of mine from 1970 -a little known Canadian band "Brahman" from their only LP - this song and one other on that LP melts me - the bass is absolutely crushing!


at 16:04 - the other song I love... listen to that crunchy bass! - had to be a Ric ala Chris Squire!
 
Last edited:
  • Like
Reactions: Miles_ONeal, GonePlaid, MCF and 2 others

Latest posts

Top Bottom
Back