paul mccartney’s bass playing habit

[bon viesta]

i’ve been listening paul mccartney bass lines recently, and something i notice thats particularly interesting is this habit (or some would say... music writing style?!!!) of grabbing several little swipes of notes on usually the d or g string before usually going back to “home base” on the a or e string. think band on the run, something, sun king, i want you, and probably several others i just can’t think of right now. i love it. he’s a very melodic bassist.

 

[godofthunder59]

Paul crafts great bass lines, melodic, pumping, fluid. He rarely plays a line exactly the same twice. Always working around the beat he really can make a song move. Paul is one of my favorites certainly in my top three and definitely my early biggest influence.

 

[Roxbororob]

I agree with both of you, although he is not my avator he is my biggest influence. I keep coming "home" to his style (and feel great when I do).

 

[bon viesta]

another big one is getting better!!! and hey bulldog too... though, usually his notes increase in volume almost like they’re fading in, and then he goes back downwards. here’s a great example

 

[ElectroVibe]

Someday I'm going to learn "Ebony and Ivory" on bass.

Someday

 

[thunderstation]

I always enjoyed the bass he put to George Harrison's " Something". some people ( including George) have said it's too busy , but to me it supported the song perfectly as well as highlighting the possibilities for bass in the song.

 

[ElectroVibe]

I always enjoyed the bass he put to George Harrison's " Something". some people ( including George) have said it's too busy , but to me it supported the song perfectly as well as highlighting the possibilities for bass in the song.

Too bad that George didn't appreciate. It really added to the song.

 

[dougjwray]

Actually, I've read that George did appreciate the effort that Paul put in on "Something." I'll try to find the quote.

 

[thunderstation]

Actually, I've read that George did appreciate the effort that Paul put in on "Something." I'll try to find the quote.

After some research it appears that Paul did play the bass part on Something the way George asked him too. Thanks for the update and correction.

 

[MartinzeBassman]

One of my favorite bass players. I think every bass player should study his style because of his influence, musicality and versatility. A master of playing for the song, and there's something for every level of bass - from the basic yet effective to the super melodic.

 

[Dr. Cheese]

I remember Louis Johnson saying that Paul McCartney told him he was the greatest bassist he had ever seen, and I an sure he said that, if anyone can afford to be gracious, it is McCartney, but no one except James Jamerson has inspired more bassists. That said, McCartney is a front man, so he had an impact that even Jamerson did not have.