"Rock Steady" High Register Licks

I can play it but's it's a pain in the arse so I end up playing that lick an octave lower closer to my hand position when I'm playing the regular part but I mostly skip playing the lick. Only a bassist who knows the song would miss it.

Playing the lick is not that the issue. My problem is anticipating it. The lick seems to be played randomly, which makes it hard to follow in a play along.
 
Last edited:
  • Like
Reactions: dtripoli
I needed a chart too, so I transcribed it...:bassist:

Here's my very brief take on the tune. It's totally playable. I transcribed the three bars leading into (I think) the first time the fill comes in and also the fill. There's a little description about how one could play it. I agree though, at times the fill sounds out of place, like maybe it was overdubbed, on at least one of them the level sounds a little inconsistent with the rest of the bass line. None of us really knows for sure what they did in the studio, but it is playable, and it is a great groove.

EDIT: Just realized that the fill in question in my transcription is off by an octave. I also found this complete transcription of the tune online, here and a different version here.
 

Attachments

  • Rocksteady - Aretha Franklin.pdf
    37 KB · Views: 245
Last edited:
I needed a chart too, so I transcribed it...:bassist:

Here's my very brief take on the tune. It's totally playable. I transcribed the three bars leading into (I think) the first time the fill comes in and also the fill. There's a little description about how one could play it. I agree though, at times the fill sounds out of place, like maybe it was overdubbed, on at least one of them the level sounds a little inconsistent with the rest of the bass line. None of us really knows for sure what they did in the studio, but it is playable, and it is a great groove.

You made my point eloquently than I did. It was never a question of being able to play it. I could do it the first time I ever seriously tried to play it. It's just that the lick placement seems random or even out of place. That's why the possibility of an overdub crossed my mind.
 
That's not super hard. It's all built around open A with your thumb. With all fingers it is awkward string crossing. Practice just playing the As and the fills. Skip the low G and C. Once you are dialed on that you just have to jump down to hit the groove notes around the A, all the low notes as thumb plucks.

I think it's a little tricky, mostly about some muscle memory to get used to the quick position change. I don't think it needs to be played with the thumb on the A, but maybe it's easier that way, if you're good at that technique. I'm not, so I'll work on using my fingers.
 
Playing the lick is not that the issue. My problem is anticipating it. The lick seems to be played randomly, which makes it hard to follow in a play along.

I actually never worried about placing the lick exactly as it was recorded. As was already said, just place them when you feel them. I imagine that's what Chuck was doing on the session.
 
Cheese are you talking about Chuck playing an open A string AT THE SAME TIME as the F-F#-G lick? I thought that was the issue.

Or are you talking about Chuck being able to quickly shift from a fretted A on the E string all the way up a high F on the G string?

Please let me know as I plan on making a video tab of the song soon.
 
this guy seems to have it under control.
It's totally playable. I transcribed the three bars leading into (I think) the first time the fill comes in and also the fill.
No. that way it's easy. The problem is that the low A goes together with the high lick. To me it sounds dubbed or a guitar. The low bassline is never interrupted by the high lick, it goes on even when the high notes fall together with the low ones.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Dr. Cheese
Cheese are you talking about Chuck playing an open A string AT THE SAME TIME as the F-F#-G lick? I thought that was the issue.

Or are you talking about Chuck being able to quickly shift from a fretted A on the E string all the way up a high F on the G string?

Please let me know as I plan on making a video tab of the song soon.

Playing the open A and the lick would be most helpful.:thumbsup: