Simple Stuff ain’t that simple!

[Dr. Cheese]

This mid Eighties Luther Vandross song with Marcus Miller on bass has been on my mind lately. I have played along with this song since it was new, but for years I was bad about getting a song maybe 60-80% right and just playing along with what I thought I heard. As mainly a bedroom player for years, I did not get much pushback.

Taking lessons has definitely made me a more careful about how closely Iisten. At the beginning of the song, when he is establishing the main riff, Marcus Miller plucks a Eb on the eighth fret of the G string in anticipation of the main riff which starts on Ab on the fourth fret of the E string. I find I really need to pay attention to my hand position to hit this cleanly and time. Marcus Miller regularly used the high pluck in anticipation of the main riff, perhaps most famously on Luther Vandross’ first solo hit, Never too Much. Later this week, I plan to post of video of me doing this on my five and my four string detuned (I’m sure that’s how Marcus recorded on his Jazz with the E string tuned to D (it resolves on D#.)

 

[LadyLoveStingRay5]

Haven’t heard this song in years . Marcus is just so precise and intentional with every single note.

 

[Dr. Cheese]

Haven’t heard this song in years . Marcus is just so precise and intentional with every single note.

Marcus Miller is a genius level player. He was playing like a veteran when he was a teenager. It’s like Anthony Jackson playing on Billy Paul’s Me and Mrs. Jones when he was 18.

 

[mambo4]

35 years of playing I find this more and more true : music that strikes me as simple at first listen rarely turns out so simple on a deep dive

 

[Dr. Cheese]

35 years of playing I find this more and more true : music that strikes me as simple at first listen rarely turns out so simple on a deep dive

This makes me think of a story Darryl Jones told of auditioning for Miles Davis. Davis told Jones to play a Blues in F. Jones started playing and Davis put his hand on his bass and told him to play more simply. Jones started again, and Miles stopped him again and told him to
make it more simple. The third time, Jones gave Davis what he wanted. Truly simplifying takes some thought.

 

[fretno]

The space between the notes.

 

[fretno]

I just listened to that track and simple does not apply in any way.

 

[Dr. Cheese]

I just listened to that track and simple does not apply in any way.

Back in the Eighties, it was slap on a Pop record, and folks like me heard it and went for it.

 

[Whousedtoplay]

I just listened to that track and simple does not apply in any way.

Yes. It's not a simple bass line.
I think it clearly shows how much progress as a bass player Dr. Cheese achieved by having a teacher.

 

[Dr. Cheese]

Yes. It's not a simple bass line.
I think it clearly shows how much progress as a bass player Dr. Cheese achieved by having a teacher.

If you had heard me play it back in 1984, it would have been recognizable, but not totally correct.

 

[Whousedtoplay]

If you had heard me play it back in 1984, it would have been recognizable, but not totally correct.

Let's listen to that bass line (with the drums and the metronome.)
It's not a simple bass line!

 

[brianrost]

Noone ever gets fired by playing the fifth just before playing the root for the first time, eh?

 

[Lo-E]

I think it was Dave Pomeroy who, when asked about crafting the perfect country bass line in the studio, said: “Think of the simplest line you could possibly play, then play half of that.”

It’s a premise that goes far beyond just playing country and just playing in the studio. Developing the discipline to play less takes a long time and once you get there, subtleties start to have a lot more impact than flash. Sure, Marcus can play flashy but it’s when he’s subtle that his playing is the most impressive.

 

[Dr. Cheese]

Let's listen to that bass line (with the drums and the metronome.)
It's not a simple bass line!

View attachment 7085404

I was playing 70-80% correct forty years ago. I knew it was not easy, but it was not like slapping Teen Town either.

 

[Dr. Cheese]

I think it was Dave Pomeroy who, when asked about crafting the perfect country bass line in the studio, said: “Think of the simplest line you could possibly play, then play half of that.”

It’s a premise that goes far beyond just playing country and just playing in the studio. Developing the discipline to play less takes a long time and once you get there, subtleties start to have a lot more impact than flash. Sure, Marcus can play flashy but it’s when he’s subtle that his playing is the most impressive.

That’s it! Serious study makes subtleties much more apparent then before.

 

[Dr. Cheese]

Actually, hearing the bass isolated, the line is not as hard for me to play as I what had been doing for years because of what seems to be an eighth note rest where I thought it was a quick triplet.

 

[Brother Goose]

absolutely LOVE this song - used to play along with it back in the 90s when l first started playing. monster groove and delicious note choices

 

[logdrum]

I do not classify that as a simple bass line but maybe my standard is much lower.

I think I am a pretty reliable jazz bassist and a saxophone soloist to discern what is simple and complex

 

[Whousedtoplay]

the line is not as hard for me to play

Really?
Let's say, what around and after 3:26?

 

[Dr. Cheese]

Really?
Let's say, what around and after 3:26?

All of it is in my wheelhouse. I am crappy at double thumb. I love Run for Cover, but I butcher the double thumb part. It’s Over Now is well executed conventional slap and pluck with rhythmic quirks. That I can do.