There's a couple of bars in the bass line that are 2/4 time. One band member:I've been playing this song for 30 years and we always ignored that. Throws off the band. Another band member: So have I and I've always played it. If it was good enough for Lennon and McCartney, etc. For those with experience playing this song live, what have you done?
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When playing’Revolution’ by The Beatles
- Thread starter DCGuy
- Start date
I think if I am not mistaken, John Lennon actually played that track with a Fender Bass VI. I never played the song myself so I can't help but if Lennon played bass on it then that explains why it is slightly unconventional 
I can not imagine how in the world anyone could possibly play that song and drop those extra two beats.
I bet they have -correctly- a hundred times sung the hook "You say you want a revo-lu-tion we-ell you know" without any concern that there was an extra bar with two beats in there.
If they can play and sing it right, don't hassle them about whether they can actually count it while playing. After 30 years of playing by "feel" they won't likely now learn how to count. And they will just get mad at you for asking them to be disciplined. And they will resent you for being able to count while you play. You might be right, but sometimes it is best to just be quiet. (I have learned this the hard way)
I bet they have -correctly- a hundred times sung the hook "You say you want a revo-lu-tion we-ell you know" without any concern that there was an extra bar with two beats in there.
If they can play and sing it right, don't hassle them about whether they can actually count it while playing. After 30 years of playing by "feel" they won't likely now learn how to count. And they will just get mad at you for asking them to be disciplined. And they will resent you for being able to count while you play. You might be right, but sometimes it is best to just be quiet. (I have learned this the hard way)
Yes I appreciate that. As the bass player I've taken no position on this dispute in the band. I play it and adapt to what the rest of the band is doing, for any song. I'm a team player and find it much less stressful to be so. 
buldog5151bass
Kibble, milkbones, and P Basses. And redheads.
Out of ANY band, if you play a Beatles song, you play/sing it accurately. Odds are a lot of people listening will know the arrangement as well or better than you.
I'd just go with what the rest of the band wants, happy in my own head with the knowledge that I know I'm right.
I've played that both note-perfect (with a Beatles fanatic band leader) and as an extremely loose cover.
Both ways went down great.
I've played that both note-perfect (with a Beatles fanatic band leader) and as an extremely loose cover.
Both ways went down great.
I'm 99% sure that this song was played with a capo on fret 2, or tuned up with vari-speed, which is always worth considering with the Beatles...
I received the same advice and I know you're right but for my part, I just can't stand knowing it's wrong and doing it nonetheless!
It's beyond of my control, I just can't let it go!
I had this problem in "I love rock'n'roll", Joan Jett cover. Our singer made a G in the chorus on the word juke of jukebox. Instead of a G#. Turning the hook in Gminor!
I told her that it was wrong and this major chord made all the difference in the song.
All the band turned against me! Making jokes that I was hearing voices, that they always did it this way and nobody never noticed anything and that it was not important...
I went mad! Could have killed them all!
Of course I didn't.
I let the things calm down agreed to do it like they said, but explained it again to her while alone. I have good hope she'll soon correct it...
