Bass Tuition Services

 

Wake Up - Rage Against The Machine

This is the tune made famous as the end credits of the film 'The Matrix'. It uses Drop D Tuning and is exclusively based on a D minor harmonic centre. There are four main riffs which make up 99% of this tune, I found the most challenging to be at the middle section. The line sends you in one direction, then in the opposite direction, bouncing off open strings. It takes a while to process, so be patient and take your time on it.

Click here to download:
Wake_Up_-_Rage_Against_The_Machine.pdf (139 KB)
(download)

*DISCLAIMER* Whilst all attempts have been made to make the transcriptions as accurate as possible, it is advisable that you listen to the original recordings

Posted April 8, 2011
 

Higher Ground - Red Hot Chili Peppers

The well-renowned Red Hot Chili Peppers cover of the classic Stevie Wonder tune. I'm surprised at how many young students I see who are familiar with this, even though it was released in 1989. But as it's a formidable slap-bass line, and catchy, it's very appealing to young bass enthusiasts.

I've created a slowed-down version of the track, to give you a chance to get some of the technically challenging aspects of the line. Once you're able to play the line comfortably at this tempo, it's then worth having a go at the track at normal speed.

(download)

I'm well aware they may be elements that are not necessarily accurate to the record, especially the run at the end of the chorus. However, it fits, it's my own interpretation and it's how I would play this tune. Hope you have fun on it!

Click here to download:
Higher_Ground_-_Red_Hot_Chili_Peppers.pdf (116 KB)
(download)
*DISCLAIMER* Whilst all attempts have been made to make the transcriptions as accurate as possible, it is advisable that you listen to the original recordings

Filed under  //   Higher Ground   Red Hot Chili Peppers   Stevie Wonder  
Posted January 13, 2011
 

Rescue Me - Fontella Bass

This is a real bouncy, vibey motown song, and the bass is driving it, it never stops moving. What I aim for in this is consistency in the notes, not only from a time point of view but also from volume of note, so that each note is as strong as the last. Also try to play with your right hand closer to the end of the neck rather than over near the bridge. This gives you the warmer sound associated with this style of music.

 

Click here to download:
Rescue_Me_-_Fontella_Bass_(1).pdf (90 KB)
(download)

*DISCLAIMER* Whilst all attempts have been made to make the transcriptions as accurate as possible, it is advisable that you listen to the original recordings

 

Posted January 4, 2011
 

Don't Stop Me Now - Queen

(download)

Click here to download:
Don't_Stop_Me_Now_-_Queen.pdf (109 KB)
(download)

*DISCLAIMER* Whilst all attempts have been made to make the transcriptions as accurate as possible, it is advisable that you listen to the original recordings

Filed under  //   Don't Stop Me Now   Queen  
Posted November 16, 2010
 

Superstition - Stevie Wonder

This used to be one of my favourite songs, but I've heard it too many times now... there's no physical bass part on the record (Stevie plays Moog Bass) so here's what I do to try to fill the gap. I'm sure much of it doesn't tally, but it does a decent enough job. Experiment with the harmony, or use your own fills, and settle on a few ideas if you feel like doing things differently...

Click here to download:
Superstition_-_Stevie_Wonder.pdf (99 KB)
(download)

*DISCLAIMER* Whilst all attempts have been made to make the transcriptions as accurate as possible, it is advisable that you listen to the original recordings

Filed under  //   Moog Bass   Stevie Wonder   Superstition  
Posted November 15, 2010
 

I Got You (I Feel Good) - James Brown

Classic James Brown, nothing more need be said. Here's the bass chart...

Click here to download:
I_Got_You_(I_Feel_Good)_-_James_Brown.pdf (96 KB)
(download)

*DISCLAIMER* Whilst all attempts have been made to make the transcriptions as accurate as possible, it is advisable that you listen to the original recordings

Filed under  //   I Feel Good   I Got You   James Brown  
Posted November 2, 2010
 

Too Young To Die - Jamiroquai

The breakthrough and second single from Jamiroquai. Remarkable that Stuart Zender, the bass player who provided a lot of appeal to the first three Jamiroquai albums, was 17 when this was recorded.

Video is a rough guide.

Click here to download:
Too_Young_To_Die_-_Jamiroquai.pdf (172 KB)
(download)

*DISCLAIMER* Whilst all attempts have been made to make the transcriptions as accurate as possible, it is advisable that you listen to the original recordings

 

Filed under  //   Jamiroquai   Stuart Zender   Too Young To Die  
Posted September 21, 2010
 

Killing In The Name - Rage Against The Machine

Ah! This is nice! As is understandable this tune has courted a lot of controversy since it's release in 1992. The then BBC Radio 1 DJ Bruno Brookes played it live on his show... having not listened to the last minute and a half of the song. Cue enormous apologies. The BBC then repeated this gaff in December 2009 when they foolishly invited the band to perform it live on BBC Radio 5's Breakfast Show with Nicky Campbell, to help promote an online campaign which climaxed with the tune landing the Christmas Number 1 slot in the UK, ahead of the usual X Factor winner's song. A moral victory for music over Simon Cowell's monopoly on the charts.

The tune is in drop D (tune your E string down to an octave below the D string). Not much more to mention about this tune, other than mind the bad language if you're young and/or easily offended. Cheers

Click here to download:
Killing_In_The_Name.pdf (128 KB)
(download)

*DISCLAIMER* Whilst all attempts have been made to make the transcriptions as accurate as possible, it is advisable that you listen to the original recordings

Filed under  //   BBC   Bruno Brookes   Christmas Number 1   Drop D   Killing in the name   Nicky Campbell   RATM   Rage Against The Machine   Simon Cowell   X Factor  
Posted September 21, 2010
 

Sir Duke - Stevie Wonder

Ok, so the video quality of the demo is quite poor but this is a great tune to get under your belt, when I came across this tune around 10 years ago by my then bass teacher it felt like a revelation and I wanted to practice the run constantly. It's one of those infectious tunes, never seems to get boring.

There are some differences to the sheet music compared to the video, only very slight, but follow the chart and get your fingers up and down the major pentatonic scale used in the run. Try to help yourself out by looking ahead and incorporate that into the way you use your left hand, there's plenty going on there so give yourself the best chance possible by being economical with your left hand.

Click here to download:
Sir_Duke_-_Stevie_Wonder.pdf (137 KB)
(download)

*DISCLAIMER* Whilst all attempts have been made to make the transcriptions as accurate as possible, it is advisable that you listen to the original recordings

Filed under  //   Nathan Watts   Sir Duke   Stevie Wonder  
Posted September 21, 2010
 

Double Bass Major Scale 3rds Exercises

These are really good for getting your intonation together. Instead of simply playing up and down each scale, these follow what I previously mentioned here of playing the scale in the order of 1,3,2,4,3,5,etc. This gives the exercise an extra dimension as there is more shifting left hand positions between half, 1st and 2nd positions.

Try these with a bow and also pizzi with a metronome. Take it quite slowly and really absorb the sound of each note and how they relate to the rest of the scale, this should help to solidify your intonation.

Click here to download:
Double_Bass_Major_Scale_3rds_Exercises.pdf (56 KB)
(download)

Filed under  //   Double Bass   Major Scale   Technical Exercises  
Posted September 15, 2010