I'm assuming you and a bunch of others here play. I'd be curious as to who influenced you guys and why. My influences a wide reaching from Charlie Christian, to Merle Travis, to Mississippi John Hurt, to Grady Martin, Jerry Byrd, John Fahey, all the guys we've been talking about, any black finger that ever streched an 'A' string. There are tons of them.
errasa wrote:
I just noticed this post...sorry...I'll bite.
What got me into playing was a little riff at the end of a song. It always bugged me that the producer decided to fade it out the way he did. I'd always run over to the receiver and jack the volume to hear it...
From 2:49 till the end of the song. I'd tape the record and listen to each part. Trying to play along with each riff. At 3:57 till the end of the song...YEAH!!!!
Then I started really listening to the leads that Ace Frehley and his use of bending the strings. He'd venture out from the Pentatonic and when he would...wow!
He was pigeonholed and creatively stifled with KISS. It was and is Gene and Paul's band. Everyone else is a bit player.
Then I heard this when it came out...
The lead and rhythm guitar in unison. It made for a confusing learn. I started playing the baseline. Then I was playing the rhythm. Until it gets to the blistering solo. THAT'S Ace! Non-stop flurry of fret burning and string bending then he fades back into the background.
That lead me in to
And once again...I was playing the baseline first...the dual guitars...I was hooked at how Judas Priest would have them doing this "dance" where each one capable guitarist would step forward and fade back. I heard the same riff that were slowed down by 38 Special. That got me thinking about playing songs and that timing could alter EVERTHING. Then a friend left his bass equipment at my house for like a month. I went back to some of the songs that I knew and liked. Picking up the bass with a basic set of guitar skills was a very easy transformation fo me. I knew within a week that I wouldn't be playing 6 strings ever again. I developed an attitude that if I can't play it with 4 strings that I'm going to leave it to someone that is MUCH better than me. I concentrated on timing instead. I remained the anchor for the beat. That's one thing that people have said about me and my playing...unless I'm goofing off...that I reign in the drums and give a guitar the groove to lay on top of. I took my bass inspirations from the great bass Gods.
Geezer Butler..The Godfather of metal
Paul McCartney...yeah...his fretwork and timing as well as his tunings.
Playing the bass...with the change ups...singing...I tip my hat to him! He makes a very busy baseline seem pedestrian!
Gene Simmons...VERY overlooked.
Jack Bruce...Go back and listen to who's following WHO!
John Entwhistle for the riff at 2:47...http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7xZOrWK6d4g
Chris Squire...I bow to this guy and what he's done!
Cliff Burton...I'm STILL learning some of his work and "Orion" remains as a great to me on bass.
John Paul Jones...just wow...when you listen to Led Zeppelin with headphones THEN you really hear the foundation that he's giving up for John and Jimmy. Add Keyboards and mandolin to the mix? Yeah...there's a reason why Led Zeppelin was that damn great!
With all of those greats it was Graham Maby that I drew the most to though. I was accused of ripping his work off for songs we'd write...before I ever heard him play. Once I did I understood why people said what they did.
All the way from keeping the time to the background vocals...
Driving hard...put away wet! 1:55 till 2:30..c'mon...tell me that isn't a hook!!!
You have to remember that my dad already threw his influences into me....Frank Zappa and the Mothers...Them...Love...The Troggs...Canned Heat...Hot Tuna...The Faces as well as all the other "famous" bands...but New Wave/Punk defined the bass for my ear.
Playing this version live...
STILL a fave of mine! As well as My Sharona...Pump It Up and Uncontrollable Urge all bass driven songs. Yeah...not Great songs per se, but play them live and watch people move. Staying in "the pocket" is awesome and "knowing your role"...not venturing out is what bass is all about and I'd be remiss if I didn't add another guy that I admire...
Listen at what he's giving Stevie!
And that brings me to these guys....
A sonic defibulator that kicks you in the chest!
A plodding Led Zep stolen riff updated that just keeps on giving. :26...moving to the 1st...yeah!
When does this song get grooving? Yeah...
then there's underneath the jingle jangle and dogs barking...
Yeah...I'm a product of the 80's and early 90s! LOL!!!!
There's STILL good music out there to listen to...it's just harder to find and makes you appreciate the older better talent out there. That's where I'm at...always got my ear to the ground...wishing that when I did have my shot that I would've been more keen and awake to the business side. I wish the 40 year old version of me could get with the late 20 year old version back in the day and shake that guy.
Anyway...that was probably more info than you wanted. Probably more music you wished you hadn't heard too.
Edited by user
Friday, August 26, 2011 8:20:23 AM |
Reason: Not specified
