Rick
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Post by Rick on Jan 31, 2021 18:37:26 GMT
Apparently John played a 5-string bass on IGSM. I'm curious what type he used, if he really used one. It is possible to play on a 4-string (using the BEAD tuning, which is quite unusual).
I read somewhere the official scorebook of Innuendo has indeed a 5-string version. Same goes for Headlong.
Does anyone know?
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dcw70h
Tatterdemalion
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Post by dcw70h on Jan 31, 2021 19:26:03 GMT
I have the original off the record book. Definitely 5 string bass - tuned B E A D G. Hope that helps.
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Post by Dry Paint Dealer Undr on Jan 31, 2021 19:42:01 GMT
It is possible to play on a 4-string (using the BEAD tuning, which is quite unusual). Yes it is, if you transpose everything on the G string up 5 frets to be played on D instead of G |
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oreno
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Post by oreno on Feb 1, 2021 14:17:26 GMT
Is it not more likely that it is simply played drop D? See also Fat Bottomed Girls and Headlong. According to the online transcriptions (and my ears) the bass on these tracks never goes lower than D and a quick play along indicates it's perfectly doable on drop D. And the opening flourish on Slightly Mad includes a high D, 19th fret on the G string with standard tuning, but impossible if tuned down to BEAD. I think he's far more likely to have just tuned his Precision E string to drop D. Not one to sod about with things, our John..  |
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Rick
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Post by Rick on Feb 2, 2021 9:53:24 GMT
Is it not more likely that it is simply played drop D? See also Fat Bottomed Girls and Headlong. According to the online transcriptions (and my ears) the bass on these tracks never goes lower than D and a quick play along indicates it's perfectly doable on drop D. And the opening flourish on Slightly Mad includes a high D, 19th fret on the G string with standard tuning, but impossible if tuned down to BEAD. I think he's far more likely to have just tuned his Precision E string to drop D. Not one to sod about with things, our John.. Maybe you're right. I found some BEAD versions, that's why. I guess this version is accurate then: tabs.ultimate-guitar.com/tab/queen/im-going-slightly-mad-bass-3195773I read a Youtube comment that John used a 5-string and that it was shown on TV somewhere? Would be cool if that is true, but for now I'll take it with a pinch of salt. I guess we'll never be really sure, since there really isn't any footage from the Innuendo sessions (taking in account Freddie's health). |
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Post by ThomasQuinn on Feb 2, 2021 10:20:51 GMT
I'm not really familiar with alternate tunings on bass guitar (as opposed to guitar), but dropping the low E string to B is five semitones - unless you're using really high tension bass strings and/or a really high action, I'd imagine that would result in a whole lot of trouble with fret buzz. A five string would seem a more reasonable choice, and I can't really imagine John didn't own at least one.
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Post by Dry Paint Dealer Undr on Feb 2, 2021 12:07:57 GMT
I'm not really familiar with alternate tunings on bass guitar (as opposed to guitar), but dropping the low E string to B is five semitones - unless you're using really high tension bass strings and/or a really high action, I'd imagine that would result in a whole lot of trouble with fret buzz. Thats correct it would result in a lot of fret buzz, it may also result in the E string being pulled against the pickup which is even a problem I had with my 5-string with the B string |
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oreno
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Post by oreno on Feb 2, 2021 13:55:03 GMT
This is proper deep cut stuff, if this was The Beatles I guarantee it would be known (and it would be in a reference book).
I'm sticking to John using his 4 string tuned to drop D.. As indicated above it is perfectly doable, and has precedent in the Queen catalogue on FBG.
I could be wrong, but balance of probabilities.. I just cannot see him suddenly deciding to buy/learn/play a brand new 5 string when detuning his E string would take seconds, and have the same result on record. He plays no lower than a D.
Unfortunately most of the people who could say for sure are missing in action, one way or another. Perhaps Justin Shirley-Smith might know. Calling Justin..
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Post by Billblackman on Feb 3, 2021 0:47:37 GMT
This is proper deep cut stuff, if this was The Beatles I guarantee it would be known (and it would be in a reference book). I'm sticking to John using his 4 string tuned to drop D.. As indicated above it is perfectly doable, and has precedent in the Queen catalogue on FBG. I could be wrong, but balance of probabilities.. I just cannot see him suddenly deciding to buy/learn/play a brand new 5 string when detuning his E string would take seconds, and have the same result on record. He plays no lower than a D. Unfortunately most of the people who could say for sure are missing in action, one way or another. Perhaps Justin Shirley-Smith might know. Calling Justin.. You're right. I'm a bassist and the E string must be tuned down to D on a 4 string bass on IGSM. Same with Headlong, Fat Bottomed Girls. |
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Raf
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Post by Raf on Feb 4, 2021 0:20:33 GMT
I could be wrong, but balance of probabilities.. I just cannot see him suddenly deciding to buy/learn/play a brand new 5 string when detuning his E string would take seconds, and have the same result on record. He plays no lower than a D. Unfortunately most of the people who could say for sure are missing in action, one way or another. Perhaps Justin Shirley-Smith might know. Calling Justin.. He learned double bass and got one for '39. Getting a 5-string bass (especially given his wealth in 1989-1990) and learning how to play it wouldn't be too much of a hassle. Besides, I suppose "learning" how to play a 5-string bass for a bassist with 20+ years of experience wouldn't be too challenging. Perhaps it would be roughly the same effort as learning to play in drop-D (as he'd always have to remember to "transpose" one single string, as opposed to the 5-string one, where all his old strings are still there). |
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Feb 4, 2021 16:09:11 GMT
He learned double bass and got one for '39. Not the same case: the type of sound produced by a double-bass is radically different from an electric one, and Brian had (sort of jokingly) suggested they went for something more authentic. There's nothing on 'Slightly Mad' that would've been more authentic by using a five-string bass. Getting a 5-string bass (especially given his wealth in 1989-1990) and learning how to play it wouldn't be too much of a hassle. Correct, but, do you know what would've been even less of a hassle? Tuning the lowest string of one of his many four-string basses! Perhaps it would be roughly the same effort as learning to play in drop-D (as he'd always have to remember to "transpose" one single string, as opposed to the 5-string one, where all his old strings are still there). Not really the same case. I agree it wouldn't be difficult, but that doesn't automatically mean it happened. |
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gambaaaa
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Post by gambaaaa on Feb 4, 2021 18:22:30 GMT
I could be wrong, but balance of probabilities.. I just cannot see him suddenly deciding to buy/learn/play a brand new 5 string when detuning his E string would take seconds, and have the same result on record. He plays no lower than a D. Unfortunately most of the people who could say for sure are missing in action, one way or another. Perhaps Justin Shirley-Smith might know. Calling Justin.. He learned double bass and got one for '39. Getting a 5-string bass (especially given his wealth in 1989-1990) and learning how to play it wouldn't be too much of a hassle. Besides, I suppose "learning" how to play a 5-string bass for a bassist with 20+ years of experience wouldn't be too challenging. Perhaps it would be roughly the same effort as learning to play in drop-D (as he'd always have to remember to "transpose" one single string, as opposed to the 5-string one, where all his old strings are still there). It took me some months to be able to play a 5-string bass (and I was playing bass for 4/5 years at that point), I'm pretty sure that a professionist like John would take much less time than me to learn how to play it. But it also depends on what kind of bass you were playing before, because you're playing a different bass for the first time your muscle memory can really trick you sometimes.
But anyway, I like to play their songs on bass and the lower note I played was a D, so it would be plausible that John would play in drop-D rather than buy a new bass and learn to play for just a song.
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Post by ThomasQuinn on Feb 5, 2021 12:27:55 GMT
I haven't much experience playing a five-string bass, but I've had enough to know it really is a different beast. The wider neck alone takes getting used to.
I honestly can't understand either how or why anyone would play a six-string bass, btw. Why on earth do you need a higher-pitched string, and how do you even get your hands around those necks?!
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gambaaaa
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Post by gambaaaa on Feb 5, 2021 13:46:50 GMT
I haven't much experience playing a five-string bass, but I've had enough to know it really is a different beast. The wider neck alone takes getting used to. I honestly can't understand either how or why anyone would play a six-string bass, btw. Why on earth do you need a higher-pitched string, and how do you even get your hands around those necks?! In my case it was a transition to used, cheap and broken bass to a 5-string Steinberger, different scale length and string spacing, etc. so it was bas(s)ically learning to play bass again.
About those 6-string beasts, ask Patitucci, Claypool or Myung why they like to use them  |
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Post by ThomasQuinn on Feb 5, 2021 14:30:37 GMT
Whoo yeah, that sounds like quite a transition. I've only ever played other people's five-strings, I have a decent enough Yamaha four-string that does everything I've ever wanted it to.
There are people who get great sounds out of six string bassees, but hey, they'd get great sound out of five string basses too. It's always struck me as novelty-for-novelty's sake, like 7-string guitars. But I'm sure there are people out there who can get something extra out of them.
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georg
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Post by georg on Feb 5, 2021 15:03:19 GMT
John Entwistle got what Pete Townshend equated to the sound of a musical Mack truck out of his 8-string basses on Success Story, Trick of the Light, and You. Indeed he made quite a noise!
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