Author Topic: Roundabout (Read 851 times)

ajdover · « **Reply #15 on:** June 08, 2008, 05:35:59 PM »

Jared,

I don't know if I can add much more than Dave's (as usual) eloquent post has. I'll try, though ...

I've been playing for 31 years and counting. Started when I was 15. I grew up playing Yes, Rush, Genesis, Frank Zappa, etc. In those days I was pretty much a by-ear guy. We didn't have CD players, so basically I'd sit in the basement and replay things on a record player at 33 1/3 RPM. I tended to do this until I could play things note for note. Today, my fellow musicians tend to be surprised when I can pick tunes up very quickly. I attribute it to this training regimen.

As for Roundabout, I used the same technique, and can play it pretty much note for note. You might want to give it a shot in addition to the other pointers here.

To add to Dave's post, I'd say this - there will always be someone better than you technically (for example, Dave is a much better player than me - thanks Dave! ;-)). They'll be able to tap, slap, pop, fingerstyle, pick style, out harmonic you. And that's OK. It's not so much what you can do, but when you do it. I always get a kick out of these guys who can tap and slap like mad, yet cannot play a line in the pocket if their life depended on it. Impressive, yes, useful in most situations? IME no. Like Dave said, it's all about heart.

Practice. Don't quit. Enjoy laying down the bottom. It will provide you a lifetime of enjoyment, I guarantee you.

Alan

811952 · « **Reply #16 on:** June 08, 2008, 05:56:33 PM »

Jared,

If you go to a YES concert, chat up the sound guy early in the evening before they start, and hang out by the stage door after the show, they will gleefully shake your hand and autograph whatever you've got.

It was my daughter's first concert. She was eleven years old, and they each treated her significantly differently than the rest of us.

John Anderson put his arm around her and asked her a lot of questions about why she came, what music she liked, what she didn't like and other interesting and relevant topics.

http://scarysharkface.smugmug.com/photos/131264817_3NJcp-L.jpg

Wakeman hugged her and told her a couple of jokes.

http://scarysharkface.smugmug.com/photos/131264718_wsUtu-L.jpg

Steve didn't touch her (or allow anyone to touch him), but asked her questions as well.

http://scarysharkface.smugmug.com/photos/131264730_9P5MD-L.jpg

Alan White was just cool and friendly, like a familiar uncle. He gave her a warm hug and thanked her for coming.

http://scarysharkface.smugmug.com/photos/131264674_ugmhc-L.jpg

Squire had already left for the bar..

Just people though, and one day maybe we'll line up and wait for you to exit the stage door.

Read Neil Peart's Ghost Rider and Roadshow when you get time. I think you will enjoy them.

John

dannobasso · « **Reply #17 on:** June 08, 2008, 06:59:07 PM »

All ernest young players can see themselves on the cover of a magazine as they dream of the future. Most veterans can tell you that goes away and the sheer love of playing takes over. I learned like AJ did. Wore out several turntables in the process. I always seek out players that can kick my butt from here to heck and back. Why? Because I love the instrument and admire dedication and skill. Adam Nitti is the latest in a long line of devastating players that inspire me. Also the best player is not always the one who gets the gig. I know guys who tour all over the country and world who aren't any more talented than a bar band player. But they are playing huge festivals and the others are playing to the locals for not too much a night.
Enjoy the bass, practice like the dickens, and never tell yourself you've reached the limits of your talent. Oh, and if you can sing, work on getting that together with your playing. You'll get more opportunities that way!

anarchyx · « **Reply #18 on:** June 08, 2008, 07:24:17 PM »

I guess so. Danno's right. I was just at this hardcore metal concert and the bands were awesome, but their playing basically consists of open notes and the 1st frets. play like that in Drop- C Tuning and it sounds awesome. Mind you, I'm just into that kind of music. so, yeah.

by the way, if anyone likes that kind of music, they've probably heard the 3rd fret be played in a bent harmonic. I don't know how to do that because I'm a lefty and a play a right- handed guitar upside- down, so I can't bend it right

anarchyx · « **Reply #19 on:** June 08, 2008, 07:24:28 PM »

I guess so. Danno's right. I was just at this hardcore metal concert and the bands were awesome, but their playing basically consists of open notes and the 1st frets. play like that in Drop- C Tuning and it sounds awesome. Mind you, I'm just into that kind of music. so, yeah.

by the way, if anyone likes that kind of music, they've probably heard the 3rd fret be played in a bent harmonic. I don't know how to do that because I'm a lefty and a play a right- handed guitar upside- down, so I can't bend it right

keurosix · « **Reply #20 on:** June 08, 2008, 08:17:46 PM »

Moder Dave,
Love the post! Wish I had a dad like you!
John, thanks for the pics and the story. I took my daughter (15 yrs old at the time) to her first concert last year. We saw Roger Waters in Hartford, CT. We had a very special time.
Am really enjoying this topic!
Kris

811952 · « **Reply #21 on:** June 09, 2008, 06:57:00 AM »

Danno's right on about the singing (and everything else). Singing while playing bass is challenging, and especially rewarding when you are able to do both well.

I might also recommend learning as many Beatles tunes as you can. That will open lots of musical doors for you.

John

briant · « **Reply #22 on:** June 09, 2008, 11:30:57 AM »

If you listen, there is a separate bass track in the middle that is extremely divergent from the obvious track. It's very low in the mix, and it's all bottom, but it's definitely there. My sister in law, who is an excellent musician, couldn't believe I hadn't heard it all along. She's amazing though, so I don't feel completely stupid.

At what point are you talking about? I either don't hear it or I've always heard it and just don't know what you mean.

811952 · « **Reply #23 on:** June 09, 2008, 06:37:20 PM »

Without having it available to listen to, I believe the second bass part is during this section, and is a climbing part:

Along the drifting cloud the eagle searching
Down on the land
Catching the swirling wind the sailor sees
The rim of the land
The eagles dancing wings create as weather
Spins out of hand
Go closer hold the land feel partly no more
Than grains of sand
We stand to lose all time a thousand answers
By in our hand
Next to your deeper fears we stand
Surrounded by a million years

811952 · « **Reply #24 on:** June 10, 2008, 07:09:37 AM »

The second part is fairly easy to hear after 3:25 *if* you're listening for it.

Pathetic as it may seem, my only access to the original recording at this time is this video on youtube:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oyR-BNo-tUk

So the guys down the hall in Networking think I'm watching a Jennifer Love Hewitt montage. I guess it could be worse! Too funny..

John

edited twice because I apparently can't type

(Message edited by 811952 on June 10, 2008)

(Message edited by 811952 on June 10, 2008)

cozmik_cowboy · « **Reply #25 on:** June 10, 2008, 07:27:18 AM »

Thanks for the link, John - in 37 years of listening to that song, that be the best it ever sounded

Peter

kenbass4 · « **Reply #26 on:** June 10, 2008, 07:53:19 AM »

Just throwing my 1 1/2 cents in

My band does this song too, and while I'm only playing the main bassline in this section, it's still really tough, because the vocal line is counter to the rhythm of the bass. Also, they added a bongo percussion line on top of the drum part as well. But the live version is still pretty humbling despite the cheating

richbass939 · « **Reply #27 on:** June 10, 2008, 07:30:33 PM »

Jared,
Many great comments in these posts, not just for someone who is beginning but for all us old guys too.
There are a couple of devices that might help you (1)learn a song's notes and (2) get the lick up to speed.
(1) My Sony MP3 (as well as many digital players) has an A/B repeat function. You set the beginning and end of the segment you want it to repeat and it loops it, hands free, until you tell it to move on. You can concentrate on just a small piece of a lick until you learn it without having to wait through a lot of other stuff.
(2) My looper will record something and then let me speed up or slow down the tempo. You can record on a higher speed and slow it down if the lick is too fast. Learn it on slow, then speed it up a little at a time. The looper changes the tempo without changing the pitch.
As people have said, don't be too concerned that you aren't melting the frets off your guitar. Lightning licks do have their place and can add to your contribution to the overall package. However, great feel, a deep groove, and big ears make the music better for you and everyone else in the room.
Rich

elwoodblue · « **Reply #28 on:** June 10, 2008, 10:32:27 PM »

...Reminds me of how steve martin learned those lighning fast banjo licks..playing a LP at 16 rpms,which would make it an octave lower and half speed...
...to catch all those notes that at full speed become a beautiful blossoming bluegrass bouquet.

Thanks all for this great thread, at 42 I'm just gettin the knack of 'letting go'; it makes playing easier when you can just play (fretting is for the fingers).
Also, quitting smoking cigarettes helped the circulation and playing got better quickly.A very welcome surprise besides the obvious benefits.Hopefully Anarchyx ,you don't have this problem(I started when I was in junior high).

elwoodblue · « **Reply #29 on:** June 10, 2008, 10:33:52 PM »

...Reminds me of how Steve Martin learned those lightning fast banjo licks..playing a LP at 16 rpms,which would make it an octave lower and half speed...
...to catch all those notes that at full speed become a beautiful blossoming bluegrass bouquet.

Thanks all for this great thread, at 42 I'm just gettin the knack of 'letting go'; it makes playing easier when you can just play (fretting is for the fingers).
Also, quitting smoking cigarettes helped the circulation and playing got better quickly.A very welcome surprise besides the obvious benefits.Hopefully Anarchyx ,you don't have this problem(I started when I was in junior high).
...back to practicing...