Author Topic: Wistful musings (and a Jimmy Johnson transcription) (Read 416 times)

stevie_g · « **on:** April 19, 2009, 03:53:25 PM »

Hello all,

I often wondered where all the Jimmy Johnson fans hung out on the web - now I know! Actually, I wish I'd taken the time to visit these forums a couple of months ago before splashing out on a new bass. I'd originally been hoping to get my hands on a Series II, but was somewhat daunted by the price. My wife assures me that hell will freeze over before she allows me to spend that kind of money on a piece of wood and a few wires. Ah... she just doesn't understand. :-)

However, it seems there are some good deals to be had on all kinds of Alembics here in the buying/selling forums, so time to start (secretly!) saving again I guess. ;-)

Anyway, for anyone's who's interested, I just completed a transcription of Jimmy's bass part on Allan Holdsworth's Panic Station, including that beautiful solo at the end of the track. It can be found at http://www.stevieglasgow.com/transcriptions_e/panic-station.html

Cheers,

Stevie

David Houck · « **Reply #1 on:** April 19, 2009, 04:11:38 PM »

Hi Stevie; welcome to the board!

57basstra · « **Reply #2 on:** April 19, 2009, 05:03:33 PM »

Welcome

JimmyJ · « **Reply #3 on:** April 19, 2009, 06:29:53 PM »

Hello Mr. Glasgow,

I'm not sure where to begin... I sure hope you got some kind of class credit for all that musical diagnostic / analysis / take-down work. Man! That represents a lot of hours. I'm flattered, I guess, that you dug the part enough to go through with this exercise. I am also an Anthony Jackson fan so I'm happy to be part of your rather exclusive transcription library.

I don't have the Panic Station track with me at the moment so can't watch your transcribed notes go by - but it looks pretty much like what I remember playing. I must say though, reading your text analysis of what I was doing is a very strange experience. I'm sure it's correct and properly described, but I never play anything thinking that it will be put through this kind of scrutiny. My friends - I PLAY BY EAR - and am mostly ignorant of the underlying rules and regulations which are supposed to guide my choice of notes. I took piano and clarinet lessons a million years ago but never had any formal theory, harmony or composition training. I am essentially self-taught on the bass. So when you say things like: ...it's understood that maj13 chords usually omit or raise the 11th to avoid clashing with the 3rd... my brain starts to freeze over. I hope I didn't break too many rules. Haha!!

As far as buying yourself an Alembic, yes, it's a huge investment. I currently own only 5 basses, all Alembics, which I acquired between 1980 and 1989 (not counting my first Alembic 4-string in 1975 and my first 5-string in 1976, neither of which I still own). It looks like you have 9 basses at the moment so you have also invested quite a bit to date. I also suspect the collection you have covers most of what you are looking for. But if you are still on the quest and want to check out some of these one of a kind instruments then you should get in touch with Hajime Hirose in Shibuya (http://www.sleekelite.com/). Tell him you want to see his Exact Replica Jimmy Johnson Series II 5-string. (Not sure he has taken delivery yet - don't tell him how you found out.) Oh and, don't keep secrets from your wife or she will divorce you and leave you with only two strings.

One last thing. Since you also play shamisen you might be thoroughly disgusted to learn I appeared on a couple Yoshida Brothers tracks several years ago. Haha! I know, what can I say, I'm a studio guy who hires out!

Thanks for the kind words, and, er, notes,
Jimmy J

juggernaught · « **Reply #4 on:** April 19, 2009, 07:41:25 PM »

Every Alembic I bought had me shivering at the potential wrath from my better half.

God save me if she I was even thinking about a Series II.

jacko · « **Reply #5 on:** April 20, 2009, 04:30:51 AM »

At a dinner party this saturday, we were talking about 50th bithday celebrations and I mentioned that 'we' were planning a trip to california to visit Alembic (and maybe consider a new custom build) which apparently came as a total surprise to my better half even though I've mentioned it several times a week since I bought my MK dx over a year ago proving that she really only hears what she wants. I guess women are just like men in that respect ;-)

Jimmy: it's good to hear you are largely self taught; there's hope for the rest of after all ;-) I sometimes wonder whether bass player (or Bass guitar magazine here) should publish half a magazine, without the transcriptions, as I rarely take the time to look through these. Whenever we have a new song to learn, I spend a while just listening to the track over to get a feel for the changes and the emotion then I'll try to work out the line by ear. It'll probably not be that accurate but we're a pub band so I doubt very much if anyone will notice* ;-)

Graeme

* except I've had to get Hysteria (muse) note perfect as there's always a 'muso' in the audience that'll critique this song to the 'nth degree!!!

terryc · « **Reply #6 on:** April 20, 2009, 07:49:09 AM »

Thank god for MIDI files(most which are free), majority are poor quality but you can get the notes of the bass line to a pretty fair accuracy without having to wear your CD player out.
I find it difficult to learn by ear as I have always read the dots.
Mind you there are loads of accurate transcriptions out on the net now so our lives are made even easier

terryc · « **Reply #7 on:** April 20, 2009, 07:52:31 AM »

Think I will have a go at playing that, looks a nice piece to play..I guess it should be since JimmyJ is playing it!
Many thanks Stevie G

jacko · « **Reply #8 on:** April 20, 2009, 07:53:13 AM »

Just remember how hard it was before the internet and CDs. I have loads of LPs that are scratched to hell from lifting the needle. Getting my first cassette deck was a godsend ;-)

Graeme

olieoliver · « **Reply #9 on:** April 20, 2009, 07:59:00 AM »

Welcome Stevie, great web site you have.

OO

lbpesq · « **Reply #10 on:** April 20, 2009, 08:32:09 AM »

Gaeme:

I've got a couple of years on you. I remember doing it with my little reel-to-reel, just like on the opening to Mission Impossible, except my didn't release smoke at the end of the tape! lol

Bill, tgo

olieoliver · « **Reply #11 on:** April 20, 2009, 08:45:43 AM »

Agreed Graeme, cassettes were a Godsend.
I remember trying to learn a song via 8-track tape, no rewind and lousy quality.

OO

stevie_g · « **Reply #12 on:** April 20, 2009, 11:14:40 PM »

Hello again all, and thanks for the warm welcome!

To Jimmy,

Thanks very much for the kind words and taking the time to respond regarding my transcription. If truth be told, I'm feeling pretty sheepish knowing you've looked at my comments and dots...

Actually, I never for one moment believed you were thinking about any of that dry technical harmony stuff when you were playing. Rather, looking at Panic Station through an analytical lens was just a way for me (and hopefully others) to get a handle on what's actually going on musically. I know transcription isn't everyone's cup of tea, with some feeling it detracts from the emotion/meaning of the music. However, having been through the whole music school thing, I now find it very difficult NOT to analyze something as soon as I hear it.

This, of course, is a VERY bad thing! ;-)

I guess I'm like that geeky kid at the front of the science class who actually (and inexplicably!) really digs the subject; I just love pulling musical things apart to find out how they work. I realize this can reduce things to a lifeless set of formulae, but personally, I get a real kick out of trying to understand why some things (such as Panic Station) sound so damn good compared to all the mediocrity out there.

Sadly, however, analysis does not give any insight into the creative process itself - would that it did! I guess that's what keeps us all practicing and trying to improve...

Thanks also for the Alembic advice, I might just contact that guy in Shibuya about his replica Jimmy Johnson bass. However, I fear the temptation to run off with it might result in my next post being made from a Japanese prison cell! As for playing with the Yoshida Brothers - nice one! Those guys are way cool. I'll certainly keep an ear out for the shamisen/Alembic combination.

Cheers,

Stevie

p.s. Thanks also for the marital advice... I told my wife you'd put a post up in response to mine (she's a big James Taylor fan) and I do believe she might have softened (ever so slightly) on the Series II issue. However, I think it probably best if I bide my time before mentioning it again - maybe about 25 years or so. ;-)

jacko · « **Reply #13 on:** April 21, 2009, 01:57:46 AM »

Forgot to say wlecome to the club from edinburgh Stevie. Bet you wish you hadn't left ;-)
By the way, I like the look of your Moon basses. Mike Pisanek (who sometimes posts here) had his spoiler refinished by Jimmy and he made a superb job so I'm considering having my epic stripped and refinished as it's showing it's age. May just leave it in it's battle-scarred state though. If it was a f****r it would be worth thousands ;-)

Graeme

2400wattman · « **Reply #14 on:** April 21, 2009, 05:47:19 AM »

Hey Graeme, is there supposed to be an ucke in between the f and the r? If so, I'd like to know more about that brand of bass. ;-)