Week 11: Bassist spotlight 2, "Heart Skips A Beat"

Partly due to another busy week as we reach the end of the semester and partly due to my concerted efforts to mix things up and keep them interesting, I am going to escape the realm of my homemade videos again this week. I thought it was informative explaining the many ways bassist can play the instrument outside of the two-finger technique by reviewing the harmonics technique used by Victor Wooten.

This week I would like to examine one of the most popular videos of a bassist on YouTube. With nearly nine million views, Venezuelan Bassist Gustavo Dal Farra puts his skills on display right on the street.  The technique he is using is not basic by any stretch, but it is one of the more common methods for the more advanced players.

In order to examine the technique, focus on his right hand (the one not on the neck of the bass). The first action he performs is slapping, which involves the bassist striking the strings with the side of his thumb. You can see this most clearly when he lifts the hand up from the guitar to hit the strings. The first motions he makes before he really gets started are slaps.

It is also noticeable that he makes his hand form almost a sort of claw. This allows him to quickly perform the next action which is called “popping”. Popping is simply the act of pulling the string up and plucking it. This combined with popping gives a sharp sound that is quite common in funk music. One good example in popular music is Flea’s bass solo at the beginning of “Higher Ground” by the Red Hot Chili Peppers.

 

Free Video!

This week I was disappointed as I scrolled through each free song and just couldn’t find one that I really enjoyed. And then I came to the free video of the week (“Heart Skips A Beat” by Lenka). The preview looked a bit strange, yet intriguing; watching the game of life-sized monopoly I couldn’t help but laugh. So I decided to watch the whole video on YouTube. Maybe it’s not the deepest song, but I’m a sucker for a cute video, hand-claps, and apparently dancing stethoscopes. Also, Lenka is quite adorable in the video so that might have something to do with it…

Anyways, if you enjoyed that video she has a new album available for pre-order on iTunes now. Also I ran into her song called “The Show” and I like it a little more, plus it’s also a cute video as well.

Week 10: "Wake Me Up When September Ends", "On and On"

As a thrifty shopper and a lover of good rock music, I was so pleased by the free video of Green Day’s live performance of “When I Come Around” on last week’s iTunes free music roster. This week, I found to my delight 15 popular Green Day tracks on sale for 69 cents apiece. Therefore I felt like it would be more than appropriate to dedicate this week’s video to Green Day by playing their famous song, “Wake Me Up When September Ends” (Tab credits go to Luiz Manzano on Ultimate-Guitar.com).

What I love about this tune is that it has a healthy mix between light guitar strums and soft vocals with heavy riffs and a pulsating rhythm section. For the first time in this series I accomplished a one-take and I was confident in a quick and painless process. However, much of the song had no bass part so I thought I might utilize what I have learned about video editing and using visuals with music to add some pictures for your viewing pleasure; so, after the editing it took me about 4 or five hours (so much for quick and painless). 

Feel free to watch it all, but I come in at the 1:45 mark

Freebies

I want to start by apologizing that a couple weeks ago (Week 8) featured a free video called “From the Cover of Darkness” by The Strokes came out late in the week so I picked it up after posting. To make up for it I’m going to post it below, so please check it out; it deserves some serious play and I have been listening to it constantly.

Finally, I’m going to leave you with a song that has caught my eye that you can still pickup for zero dollars and zero cents. Mac Miller is a white rapper who recently released what looks to be his debut album earlier this week. The track in question is “On and On”, and although this is not a technical term, I have to say that I love his flow in this song. I can really only use a word like ‘flow’ for this genre, so if you don’t know what it means, I can only describe it as the inflection and pace with which he raps (closest I can come to capturing it).

So check it out; it will only cost you a few minutes to give it a listen.

OH, and here's that song by The Strokes

Week 9: "Amazing Grace", "Beautiful Girl"

I love to play the bass, but I cannot stress it enough when I say that I am merely a beginner. That being said, I was planning to post a blog that showcased a true expert bassist. Coincidentally, the artist I have in mind performed at Penn State earlier this week. Therefore, I will pay homage to one of my favorite bassists, Victor Wooten. In this video, Wooten puts his own spin on the gospel standard, “Amazing Grace”. He begins by using a technique (more like a quality of the electric bass) called Natural Harmonics. If it seems like he is barely pressing the strings while making the high notes, it’s actually because the natural harmonics are played by placing your finger on certain parts of the strings without actually pressing them to the neck of this bass (how you would otherwise play a normal note). The vibrations cause the high-pitched tone you here in the beginning, end, and intermittently within the performance. When he begins to pick up the tempo, he actually plays natural harmonics and normal notes simultaneously, almost making it almost sound like two instruments are playing at once. On top of that, I love the way he has so much control over the neck of the bass; you can tell it by the fact that he barely needs to move his fingers in order to get from one note to the to the other. It’s inspiring to see people performing at the peak level to motivate me to improve my own skills.

Free Songs of the Week

This week’s installment of freebies was surely a treat; so much that I am already enjoying a couple of the offers after owning them for less than 12 hours. Indie Spotlight of the week “Beautiful Girl” by William Fitzsimmons is one track that I have been listening to over and over again. It has quickly established itself as one of the most soothing songs in my 1,500+ song library.  I love how the calming vocals, piano, and bass melt into a relaxing ensemble; this is definitely a must-download. If that was not enough, Green Day is also giving out a free video of their classing song “When I Come Around” being performed live in Tokyo.

Week 8: "99 Luftballons", "Slow Lights"

I found myself trapped in my room one snow day during my high school years during an ultimately unsuccessful attempt to avoid shoveling snow. However, before I got down to chores I had to get a song unstuck from my head. That song was 99 Luftballons by Nena and the method for getting it dislodged was by listening to it as much as possible. In fact, I thought I’d do myself one better and teach it to myself on the bass.

The big difference between my effort to learn 99 luftballons and other songs that I have covered is that the other songs were picked up from tabs. I haven’t exactly clarified what tabs are exactly; they are basically a shorthand layout of how a song is played on the bass (there are also tabs for guitar and drums) based on the location on the instrument each note is played. It is an easy way to learn a song without having to go through the actual music notation.

So, instead of running to the cheat sheet, I decided to listen to the song and replicate the bassline by ear. Since the bassline was quite repetitive (and infectious in an over-the-top eighties way) it was no chore whatsoever to learn.

Free Song of the Week

I was pleased to see a shiny new free music page on iTunes this week with a much more convenient format this time around. Also, I found that iTunes added a St. Patrick’s Day song as the Discovery Download. However, my joy dissipated when I actually listened to the songs. There was no standout favorite for me this time around; but that doesn’t mean these songs aren’t worth a listen.

“Slow Lights” by Alternative act Sin Fang is the Indie Spotlight this week. I may not have been floored by the song by first listen, but I think it will grow on me. I enjoy the pulsating drum beats and the less emphasized instrumentals. However, the vocals drone on for the entire 4 minutes and 54 seconds without much variation. Again, this is only a first opinion and the song may have potential in future listens; besides, it’s free, so why not give it a shot?

Week 7: "3's & 7's", "The Beat Goes On"

Guitar solos have become almost a necessity in rock music, and even drum solos are not a complete rarity. It may just be me, but it seems like a bass solo is too hard to find in contemporary rock music. Therefore, I was enthusiastic to tackle an upbeat, bass-driven song such as “3’s & 7’s” by Queens of the Stoneage. Best of all, it has a bass solo! Albeit, the solo is less than 10 seconds, not long by any standards. Nonetheless, it is still worth learning based on the relative rarity of bass solos across the board.

3’s and 7’s is an entertaining song that exudes energy in almost every aspect; from the squealing guitar bursts, to the rapid drum hits, to the pulsating bass. It is a great song to work out to because the beat pushes forward at a rapid pace while holding a steady beat. All instruments play together as one and have this track driving on all cylinders. Simultaneously, the hook is catchy enough to have you humming along after the first listen; it is the kind of song that demands a good listening.

The most rewarding part of figuring this song out was remembering how lost I was when I first saw the tab by “oaxacamexy” on ultimate-guitar.com a year ago. I attempted to play it, but I simply did not have the quickness in my left hand to maintain the bassline throughout the song. Although I did not have a ton of time to prepare this time around, I put together a decent product without too much agony. It is always a rewarding to tackle the objectives you used to find impossible.

Free Song of the Week

I was pleasantly surprised that this week’s free song of the week lineup included a song by Beady Eye, a song comprised of some former members of the British band Oasis (famous for songs like “Wonderwall” and “Champagne Supernova”). The track is called “The Beat Goes On” and it is styled in a noticeably sixties fashion; I’d even say it is beatlesque in its arrangement. It’s something you should at the very least give a chance since I think it will be getting plenty of plays on my iPod.

Week 6: "Nightmares", "Helplessness Blues"

I have reached the end of one long, exhausting week, and I thought that I might look into my archives instead of making a new video from my dorm (besides, if variety is the spice of life then it’s high time I add a little cayenne to my blogs). So, in searching through my past video collection I came upon a video I forgot I had even made; one that I should not ever forget: my first song!

This is the product of me fiddling around on the bass one weekend about a year ago and what I had initially come up with as a catchy bassline/guitar riff. The song is called “Nightmares” and I have since built off of the bassline and guitar part for the verse, written lyrics, and established a melody. Although this is certainly not the finished product it is today (granted, it technically is not “finished” until my band manages to get into the studio and record it), it demonstrates a solid bassline and it stands out in the song (especially considering the wattage on the bass amp was significantly higher than the guitar’s).

So, after I put together the bassline I grabbed my little brother Tyler and taught him the basic notes for his guitar and he built off of them for the guitar piece. Since we did not have drums available to us I provided the bass drum hits by hitting my muted strings during the opening guitar riff and Tyler set up a beat on the electronic drum machine for the rest of the song. It was simple, but I was pleased that it was nearly flawless in delivery from both ends. It makes me smile to see my brother’s talent shine through in this video knowing I was the inspiration for the song while his improvised solo was extremely well done.

I hope you enjoy this peek at my songwriting ability, and please check out (and ‘like’) my band’s facebook page, Jekkyl ‘N’ Hyde; we have a video up and we plan to put an EP together in the near future.

Free Song of the Week Review

I could be wrong, but I believe it was my LA101H classmate Emma Gregory who introduced me to the Fleet Foxes in name alone, so it was to my surprise that I found them among the free songs of the week on iTunes. Their single, “Helplessness Blues” is truly a standout among the freebies as the indie spotlight free song of the week. I enjoy how the song builds from the vocals to the guitar to the bass and then closes each one off to finish the track. Also, the lyrics are well-thought out and this folksy tune is certainly a keeper! So please check this song out and the numerous others on iTunes for free this week; what do you have to lose?

Week 5: "Wheels", "Happily Ever After"

In one of my earlier posts I commented that I rarely buy entire albums on iTunes; in fact I have only bought one complete studio album online (Doo Wops & Hooligans by Bruno Mars). Also, I have only purchased one EP as well, and that was the “Foo Fighters Greatest Hits EP”. It is strategic as an EP in that it includes only the tracks off the full Greatest Hits album that did not appear on previous albums; this allows potential buyers to purchase only these tracks if they have the already-released tracks and want to add to their collection without duplicates.

The EP includes an acoustic rendition of the popular hit “Everlong”, unreleased track “Word Forward”, and, as an avid Paul McCartney fan, I appreciated the inclusion of a cover of Wings’ “Band on the Run”. However, the song that introduced me to this EP (and my personal favorite) is “Wheels”.

Wheels found its way to me when my band and I were preparing for our first gig, and each member was allowed a certain number of cover choices to add to the setlist. Our lead guitarist proposed it, we played it in the gig (with me on the bass AND backing vocals), and I was hooked from the first listen.

The beauty of “Wheels” is the steady pace that carries it; the brief rests in the song are extremely effective and well timed. Every part naturally plays an important role, but for once I’d like to highlight a part outside of the bass; the drums. The drum beats are even-keeled yet purposeful, and the pickups leading into the choruses and guitar solo carry the momentum. It is a song that doesn’t rush itself because it doesn’t have to be fast to be enjoyable. This is one of my favorite songs and I dedicate this one to Scott, my lead guitarist.

Review

One song that spoke to me from this week’s iTunes free music selection is “Happily Ever After” by pop duo He is We. I was pulled in by the sweet, upbeat female vocal performance; it skips along though the track and comes to a soft landing at the end with a brief “hm” of laughter. It is probably one of the best tracks in the past couple weeks (definitely one of the cheeriest), and with the weather starting to look nicer, it is a good compliment to the coming springtime weather.

Valentine's Day! ("I Will", "Loving You Again")

Although it looks like I will not have a valentine this year, I thought that I should at least get into the Valentine’s Day spirit instead of continuing a tradition of uncelebrated February 14^th s. Therefore, I decided to pick a quality love song this week.

With over 100 Beatles tunes in my collection, I am very familiar with the Fab Four and their many love songs. My favorite among them for expressing love must be “I Will”, a track that is as short as it is sweet. Although it is a simple, stripped down, 1 minute and 43 second song, it represents such a dedicated love that it makes me smile each time I listen to it.

The most poignant of the lyrics is without a doubt “Will I wait a lonely lifetime? If you want me to I will”. It is innocent and heartfelt in that it is one part inquiry and one part plea. As for the music, its beauty lies in its utter simplicity. The single acoustic guitar, the basic drumbeat, and the quiet tone combine for the perfect song to quietly ponder over your feelings of love.

As for the bassline, it enhances the simplicity and genuineness of the song because Paul McCartney vocalizes the bass part in lieu of playing it on the bass guitar. It gives the song a personal touch that makes the song as heartfelt as a homemade love letter.

Since the series is called “So’s Your Bass”, I feel like I should actually learn the song on my instrument so I decided to do my best instrumental rendition (a little spotty I admit). The bass was extremely simple, but it is a sweet-sounding line that was made even easier by a stellar tab by an unregistered Ultimate-Guitar.com user who dedicated this tab to his amor, Lorena. So much love!

Review

While I’m still in Spanish Mode, I thought I should cover this week’s “Canción de la Semana” (“Song of the Week”, and yes, it is located in the U.S. iTunes store) is “Loving You Again” by Los Romanticos de Zacatecas. This song is most definitely in Spanish, and if that doesn’t turn you off then give it a listen. I personally love the screaming guitar that sounds like it’s almost competing with the vocalist as well as the well-timed breaks and overall dynamic variation.

"Hit Me With Your Best Shot", “The World (Is Going Up In Flames)”

I spent more time on this week’s song than in previous weeks for a couple of reasons. I pondered over which song would have a bassline as fun to watch as it is to listen to, and then it just hit me; at the end of Sunday’s Lady Lions basketball game, Pat Benatar’s “Hit Me With Your Best Shot” came on the stadium speakers and I couldn’t get it unstuck from my head since.

I love how this song attacks you from the first beat and doesn’t back off. The tough girl attitude gets in your face and presents itself in all aspects of this song. The guitar and bass play a verse that is just as catchy as the vocals and the guitar solo is quick, clean and to the point. The bassline is instantly noticeable and it stands out even when you aren’t listening for it (especially during the third verse, the one coming out of the solo) although it isn’t particularly difficult, it allows some room to improvise which is so much fun to do. I try my best to play the song as straightforwardly as I can for the video, but I did make some tweaks in what I was playing.

Speaking of recording, making the video was the second reason I spent so much time with “Hit Me With Your Best Shot”. Up until now I had been able to crank out a decent recording in one take, but the third verse kept eluding me, and I kept falling apart there because the song is pretty repetitive leading up to and following that portion of the song. However, the third (okay, perhaps it was the fourth or fifth) time was the charm and I got through it pretty successfully.

I used a tab by Gary Hricewich for the elusive third verse and the rest of the song I based off a tab by “lilwelshrocker” (both were found on Ultimate-Guitar.com). However, I added slides on my own, and I actually play two octaves of E for the root note simultaneously (basically I played a high E and a low E at the same time for the opening note) which I thought helped give it a fuller, more emphasized sound. Honestly, it was a blast, and a slight yet rewarding challenge to put together. No special effects this week; I tried to get HD video quality, but it wouldn’t fit into blogger!

 

Free Song Review

Nobody makes classic R&B anymore! I guess nobody told that to Charles Bradley, because his Discovery Download, “The World (Is Going Up In Flames)”, brings me back to Marvin Gaye and Al Green. He really pulls off what makes classic Rhythm & Blues so irresistible, he carries a raspy tone he even utilizes the essential female background singers. It almost reminds me of “Ball of Confusion” by the Temptations perhaps from the “world falling apart” message conveyed (Oh, and if you haven’t heard of Ball of Confusion, drop what you are doing right now and listen to it!). Anyway, if you love good classic R&B, it wouldn’t hurt to download this one, and if you don’t know a lot about R&B, then give it a try and take a listen to some “Earth, Wind & Fire” while you’re at it!

Week 2: "Runaway Baby", "Violin"

I have never purchased an entire album on iTunes before I came across Bruno Mars’ new album, but Doo-Wops & Hooligans made a believer of me. Surprisingly, it wasn’t the smash hit “Grenade” or even “Just the Way You Are” that pulled me in. Rather, I was enticed by tracks like “The Lazy Song” (a song as relaxing as its title implies) and “The Other Side” (a song with smooth vocals from Mars and Cee-Lo Green, and a rap verse courtesy of B.O.B). However, there was one track that caught my eye that wasn’t the biggest hit and doesn’t even have its own video; that track is “Runaway Baby”.

Upon hearing it for the first time, I just thought “funky, what a funky song!” the bass just rings out and makes itself known with a tight riff. The guitar and bass work in tandem to lay down a slick verse and a solid chorus, and I love how they drive the beat of the song. Meanwhile, Bruno Mars sings with an inflection reflecting the sly and charismatic lady-killer character described in the lyrics.

The bassline was so infectious that I knew I would want to learn it the moment I heard it. For the main riff and second verse I used the tab by “rbnbass” on Ultimate-Guitar.com. It is a solid tab, especially since he (or she if it is a “she”) claims it as his first; however, the chorus didn’t really suit me. It was a pretty simple progression so I came up with it myself (it’s simply B, B♭, E♭, A♭). The riff itself wasn’t entirely complex either; it is a funky line that with a little practice can sound very well-done.

As for the video, I added some effects to make things interesting and I had to really play out the low notes so the microphone could pick it up. The name of the game is improvement from the week before and I think I accomplished at least that much.

Review

I have been paying particular attention to iTunes’s Discovery Download this week: “Violin” by Amos Lee. It is a folksy tune, and something about the bluesy-country instrumentals and the haunting echoes pulls me into this one. It is also notable to point out that his album reached #1 in iTunes album sales (and still sits there as of Friday the 28^th). Speaking of albums, check out Talib Kweli’s new CD, Gutter Rainbows if you’re tired of garbage hip-hop. Many people I talk to have never heard of him and I wish they’d give him a listen! It’s the kind of music that makes you think, and that is exactly what hip-hop today needs.

Week 1: "Animal", "Keep Your Head Up"

Brief Introduction: Since I started playing the electric bass three years ago, I have gained a new appreciation for different kinds of music. I played in a blues-rock garage band (known affectionately as Jekkyl & Hyde) and I currently play at Penn State University basketball games with the pep band, Pride of the Lions. I have a passion for discovering music from various genres and occasionally learning to play them on the bass. With this blog I hope to share in my exploration of music through the perspective of a developing bass player and all-around music lover. I expect to post a new video of myself each week playing all or part of a song I love. Also, I will give a brief review of a song or music video I have been enjoying, especially if it is an iTunes free song of the week since we should all find ways to enjoy free music legally.

With most music I hear, I naturally cannot pinpoint the moment I first heard it. However, once in a while I will find that a song gets lodged in my brain from out of nowhere and I won’t be able to get it unstuck until I discover the title of the song and inevitably add it to my collection. This was the situation in which I found myself one fall afternoon as I meandered about my dorm incessantly whilst humming the catchy chorus to a song whose precise origin I was unaware of. With a little bit of research, I finally discovered “Animal” by Neon trees and I have been listening to it ever since. What I love about this song are the driving beats, infectious vocals, and, of course, catchy hand-claps (who doesn’t like a well-executed hand-clap?). On top of that, I am a total sucker for lyrics such as these, which confront the trepidation of expressing love (“I kinda want to be more than friends… I’m afraid I won’t get out alive… I just wanna run and hide”) and turn it into firm determination (“I won’t be denied by you the Animal inside of you”). As for the bass line, I found it pretty simple and quick to grasp; it is a straight forward driving line that doesn’t deviate from a steady beat. I used a pretty spot-on tab, compliments of an unregistered user on Ultimate-Guitar.com. Although I followed it with unquestioning loyalty in my video, I would have made a couple changes for anyone who would like to play this song for themself. In the chorus, the second time at the eighth fret of the E string (a second octave C) should be moved up an octave to the tenth fret on the D string (a third octave C); also, there is some work that could be done with the bridge. However, it is a good, clean tab that I would surely recommend.  As for the video, I am still experimenting with the new video software, and there should be serious improvement each week (apologies on the sound drop-off around the chorus).

Review

                Last week’s iTunes free video of the week was called “Keep Your Head Up” by new pop soloist Andy Grammer.  The video is pretty random, but it is quirky and has character (as well as a guest appearance by The Office’s Rainn Wilson). As for the song, I simply cannot get enough of it; the lyrics are cheerfully optimistic without being syrupy-sweet and unrealistic. Although the video is not free anymore, I would highly recommend this upbeat tune.

Since I’d like to at least offer up a good currently free song, check out the free single and free video of the week on iTunes. I enjoyed both the live hip-hop track “Gone” by Donnis (but if you are willing to pay, get the studio version) and the alternative teen punk video “I Just Wanna Run” by The Downtown Fiction.