I Know a Song

Saturday, June 28, 2008
Yes, it's official. I actually know how to play a song on my bass.

Granted, the song in question probably has the easiest bass line on the entire planet, but it's still a song, and I can play it.

It's U2's With or Without You.

Go, me!

18 comments:

MWT said...

VI-DEO! VI-DEO!! VI-DEO!!!

Eric said...

The easiest bassline on the planet is Pink Floyd's "One Of These Days," so you're one up! (If I remember correctly, it's a B, and then when you get bored with it you drop to A. And then if that gets kind of clunky, you can go back up to the B. Oooh.)

But here's the thing: "One Of These Days" is an example of how you only really need the one note if it sounds really cool. "With or Without You" may have a pretty simple bass part, but it sounds cool, so that's really all that matters.

And fairly basic or no: I think U2 has one of the best rhythm sections in popular rock. If Adam Clayton decided he only needed a couple of notes in that song, believe me it wouldn't sound better with more. And think about it--it wouldn't. It's an awesome song because of its starkness, and you can play it. So that's fucking awesome.

And one more thing: a lot of times, the "easy" basslines are the most fun to play anyway. The one bass part I can play reasonably well is Floyd's "Money," which isn't very hard but you really could just sit around and play it for, like, six hours straight. It's just fun. Violent Femmes' "Blister In The Sun" is the same way.

Congrats!

Janiece said...

MWT, lay down the crack pipe and step away from the Internet. Seriously.

Eric, Money is one of the songs my teacher has in my book, but it appears that he's choosing each one to demonstrate a specific concept. With or Without You is to be played entirely on the "E" string, and includes a slide, which is a new technique for me. We'll see what he has in mind with Money when the time comes.

And it is cool. I am filled with glee at my accomplishment!

HA! I can play the bass!

vince said...

And the crowd chant grows:

VI-DEO! VI-DEO!! VI-DEO!!!

Janiece said...

Nice going, MWT. You passed your crack pipe up to Vince, and now he's lost his damn mind, too.

I'll tell you what - I'll post a video of me playing With or Without You when Jim posts his video of himself doing the "Oh, yeah" dance.

Yeah, that's what I'll do.

Random Michelle K said...

Video? I wanna see the video!

And congratulations!

(As an aside, I almost bought a Flip today when we were buying Michael's early birthday laptop.)

Jeri said...

That's great news that you're making such progress! You've inspired me to pick my guitar back up once again. (I was inspired to do it the first time after 'O Brother' came out.)

Then I hit a learning block and instead of getting lessons, like a certain WISE woman I know did, I gave up. Sigh. This time I'll get past it. :)

Janiece said...

Michelle, I told you - no video unless Jim goes first.

Jim? Jim? Bueller?

Tania said...

Yeah! Woo hoo!

NPR had a piece tonight that made me think of you, it was an interview with Victor Wooten.

Damn, I forgot just how well that man can play.

(stuck in the Anchorage airport, sad that I it is messing up our plans)

Nathan said...

I don't even have to say it. You know I picked up the crack pipe.

Jim's never gonna post the video, so we're just gonna start bugging you instead.

And I don't just want video of you playing the bass. I want you playing the vase while canning jam, responding to customer email, and giving Boogie a bath. Now that would be bitchin'.

Nathan said...

And I didn't mean it about playing a vase, but that would be cool too.

Anne C. said...

Congrats! And I love the bass in your header! :)

kimby said...

Pass that pipe over here Nathan....

VI-DEO! VI-DEO!

Come on..if i can post a video of me singing after my hearing loss... you can post one while you are playing the base (or vase if you wanna goe with Nathan's idea)

Janiece said...

Bitchin' or not, it's not going to happen. And the groomers give Boogie his baths, not me.

You guys can bug all you want...until I achieve some modicum of skill, there will be no public performances.

Plus, I don't have a video camera, so there you go.

vince said...

I hereby offer my services in organizing the "Let's Get Janiece A Video Camera So We Can Have Video Of Her Bass Playing" campaign.

No, your donations aren't tax-deductible. But think of the fun we'll all have!

::tokes another toke on the crack pipe::

Random Michelle K said...

Waitasecond...

Video has three syllables.

MWT said...

VI-DEE-OH! VI-DEE-OH!

...ehh. Doesn't have quite the same ring to it, sorry Michelle. ;)

No webcam? How about a microphone?

POD-CAST! POD-CAST!! POD-CAST!!!

vince said...

MWT, great idea!