Terrorstorm said:
I'd hardly call Mayhem the highest levels of technical metal. Listen to some Cynic, Death, Krisiun, Suffocation, or even Dissection. Blows away anything Mayhem ever did.
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When is steve harris showing his "incredible" speed?
- Thread starter Suckbird
- Start date
I'd hardly call Mayhem the highest levels of technical metal. Listen to some Cynic, Death, Krisiun, Suffocation, or even Dissection. Blows away anything Mayhem ever did.
Rock In Rio's Ghost Of The Navigator
Blood On The World's Hands- on acoustic
Ghengis Khan
Run To The Hills Interlude- easy, but still fast
And with two fingers, all over the place.
Blood On The World's Hands- on acoustic
Ghengis Khan
Run To The Hills Interlude- easy, but still fast
And with two fingers, all over the place.
Well, i still dont consider anything i've heard of steve harris anything special speed-wise, listen to Alex webster or billy sheehan for some serious fast bass playing... and now somebody might say "yeah but they play with 3fingers, cheating!" but it doesn't matter does it? if someone comes and plays 16th notes at 150bpm with one finger i still wouldn't call that amazing speed...
The whole speed thing is stupid... the faster a metal bassist is, the more respect he gets. He sounds good! Damn good! What you need to do when you're ripping out 1/32 notes at 150 BPM, is close your eyes and ask yourself "does this sound good?"
Odds are the answer is no. I think that's the problem with most metal bands I hear compare to old ones, the bassists are playing ultra fast all the time matching the guitars instead of making a strong consistant melody. It become a mix of mud and crap. Muap if you will.
What I love about Steve Harris (I'm working some of this into my playing now that I'm in a metal band) is when he was playing a fast riff, he played rhythmically diverse. He'd put odd little breaks into what would normally be a straight sixteenth snore fest. And he played ultra melodic leads making sweet harmony riffs with the guitars (example, Number of the Beast intro). I don't care if he plays with 2 fingers, 3 fingers, I don't care if he played with a pick. It's not cheating if it sounds good.
Since metal bass playing is often following the guitar, metal bassists seem to compete. Who can play with the most fingers and play the fastest.
Odds are the answer is no. I think that's the problem with most metal bands I hear compare to old ones, the bassists are playing ultra fast all the time matching the guitars instead of making a strong consistant melody. It become a mix of mud and crap. Muap if you will.
What I love about Steve Harris (I'm working some of this into my playing now that I'm in a metal band) is when he was playing a fast riff, he played rhythmically diverse. He'd put odd little breaks into what would normally be a straight sixteenth snore fest. And he played ultra melodic leads making sweet harmony riffs with the guitars (example, Number of the Beast intro). I don't care if he plays with 2 fingers, 3 fingers, I don't care if he played with a pick. It's not cheating if it sounds good.
Since metal bass playing is often following the guitar, metal bassists seem to compete. Who can play with the most fingers and play the fastest.
I saw Maiden live several times, and Harris was always dead-on accurate, playing with incredible tone, and didn't stand around with his eyes locked onto his fretboard. In my eyes, the only metal bass player who is also an incredible showman. And to write the melodies and lyrics to all of those great songs? Harris is a phenomenal musician.
I'd think it impossible at ANY speed to do his famous "gallop" triplets with a consistent, solid attack like he does, WITHOUT using three fingers. Just me.
If Steve Harris is really playing everything with only two fingers(and this seems to be the case), then he's damn fast by any standard. And here's another thing that needs to be brought up: a lot of people can play faster than Steve, this may be true. But I don't know any that play as hard as he does at that speed with two fingers. Most of the really fast fusion bass players don't dig in at all, and in fact encourage light playing for speed. This is great, but I think that Steve's ultra hard attack is an example of a perfect metal bass sound, and many faster players simply could not do his parts properly. They couldn't match his attack.
and to add credit where I believe it's due... fast, with 2 fingers, while digging in, while putting on a good show, while sounding good.... for a reeeeaaaalllly long set!
I've read an interview with Harris, where he definitely states:
1.) using only 2 fingers all the time
2.) using very light touch
On the topic of speed, back before high school (like late 80's) I used to be amazed by the "speed" and more often then not turned off by later seeing the band in question live. I've seen maiden three times live so far, imho they kick ass. They are not going for "ticks per minute" but have great and consistend sound, and superb showmanship.
I mean how often did you not see a band where drummer was loosing beat, bass player sounded like mud, guitar solos were "simplified" and singers couldn't sing at all? But they sure as hell did sound good in studio, eh?
To me, live performance is a true measure of a great band.
Iron Maiden is amazing band, by all standards.
1.) using only 2 fingers all the time
2.) using very light touch
On the topic of speed, back before high school (like late 80's) I used to be amazed by the "speed" and more often then not turned off by later seeing the band in question live. I've seen maiden three times live so far, imho they kick ass. They are not going for "ticks per minute" but have great and consistend sound, and superb showmanship.
I mean how often did you not see a band where drummer was loosing beat, bass player sounded like mud, guitar solos were "simplified" and singers couldn't sing at all? But they sure as hell did sound good in studio, eh?
To me, live performance is a true measure of a great band.
Iron Maiden is amazing band, by all standards.
You want a fast bass player? GO LISTEN TO JOEY DEMAIO OF MAN-O-WAR! He can play faster than Harris with almost as much sound quality. Take a listen to "Sting of the Bumblebee" or "The William Tell Overture". These are the ultimate bass solos in quality speed!
Im a big Steve Harris fan, hes my favorite, and definitely one of the fastest. Actually let me clarify that, one of the fastest that can still sound exceptional at great speeds. Yeah Ive heard plenty of deathmetal and alot of the newer crap metal on headbangers ball, they play fast, but doesnt sound smooth like Harris or DeMaio.
Im a big Steve Harris fan, hes my favorite, and definitely one of the fastest. Actually let me clarify that, one of the fastest that can still sound exceptional at great speeds. Yeah Ive heard plenty of deathmetal and alot of the newer crap metal on headbangers ball, they play fast, but doesnt sound smooth like Harris or DeMaio.
I can play a lot of Maiden stuff. The bridge going into the heavy part of "Hallowed Be Thy Name" still gives me fits.
Also the break in "To Tame a Land" is tough.
Playing triplets on one string is easier for me than flying across 2 or more strings.
Also the break in "To Tame a Land" is tough.
Playing triplets on one string is easier for me than flying across 2 or more strings.
scourge said:
I'm actually the other way. I cannot pound out root notes really fast, but I can move across the fretboard pretty good. With my fingers at least.
Steve Harris...does it matter how fast he is? He's one of the best and most tasteful metal bassists ever. Bottom line. He's SOLID, which is better then bursts of ridiculous speed. Come on guys, he's liek the core of one of the greatest bands ever.
