Paul McCartney as bassist

chet · May 9th, 2007, 09:52 AM

Since i've become interested in playing bass I've tried to pay some of the Beatles music and have been struck by how complex some of his bass line were. I think he was lucky to have been associated with Lennon and Harrison to have as much quality material to work with.
Comments?

genelovesjez · May 9th, 2007, 09:58 AM

I love his bass playing. He's one of my favourite bassists, despite the fact that I'm not particularly a fan of his singing or songwriting.

chet · May 9th, 2007, 10:02 AM

I was playing one of his simpler bass lines this weekend- "Ballad of John and Yoko". They put the bass line out front and made it drive the entire song- great!

Five Finger Fender Fiend · May 9th, 2007, 10:37 AM

Paul McCartney is one of the most underrated bassists out there. Personally i think he's a brilliant player with impeccable timing.

clayfeat · May 9th, 2007, 10:38 AM

Brilliant melodic playing.

jimbach · May 9th, 2007, 10:42 AM

One of the great electric bass players in history, although only recently I've discovered how much he was influenced by the bass playing on Pet Sounds (was that Carol Kaye?).

As a bass player he's probably my biggest influence, along with 'Duck' Dunn.

kennl · May 9th, 2007, 10:42 AM

I'm a fan, but as one bassist buddy of mine says "picks are for coal miners, not bass players"
Ken

sjfoote · May 9th, 2007, 10:57 AM

who was a guitarist first. I know that there is usually a knock against bass players who were/are guitarists, but I really like the different approach to bass playing that these guys bring to the instrument.

My top 3 bass playing guitarists:

Paul McCartney
Michael Rutherford
Mike Oldfield

chet · May 9th, 2007, 11:18 AM

He really played some awesome/complex stuff like the bass lines in:
"She's a woman"
"Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds"
"Paperback Writer".

I have to watch the videos closely- it didn't look like he was using a pick.

cacibi · May 9th, 2007, 11:19 AM

I'm not a big Beatles fan - but I do like Paul's bass lines. It almost seems like he approaches them as another harmony vocal part sometimes. I also think Mike Mills from R.E.M. is pretty underrated.

Oskar · May 9th, 2007, 11:21 AM

One of the great rock bass players. And he even uses a pick most of the time!

vic108 · May 9th, 2007, 11:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by chet

I think he was lucky to have been associated with Lennon and Harrison

I think it was the other way around, Lennon & Harrison were
lucky to be associated with him. He is GREAT on BASS, DRUMS,
and GUITAR (and keys too). No doubt, the MOST well rounded
musician of the bunch (IMHO).

Dave W · May 9th, 2007, 01:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kennl

I'm a fan, but as one bassist buddy of mine says "picks are for coal miners, not bass players"
Ken

Whenever I hear that (from another bassist or any one else), it's instant confirmation that I'm dealing with a fool. So I automatically dismiss anything else the person has to say.

Stuco · May 9th, 2007, 01:18 PM

Paul is great. He is purely a musician and will do things his way. He made the short scale bass OK. Paul plays what is appropriate and needed in a tune, nothing more and nothing less. I love his guitar playing as well.

Stuco · May 9th, 2007, 01:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kennl

I'm a fan, but as one bassist buddy of mine says "picks are for coal miners, not bass players"
Ken

All I can say is have you ever heard phil lesh(grateful dead) play the bass?

Heather Anne Peel · May 9th, 2007, 01:50 PM

As far as I am concerned, Paul is Rock's ultimate bassist. Very rhythmic, with an uncanny sense of melody. His basslines are integral to the Beatles' music and are very memorable. Plus, his tone was always perfect on those records. I have many fave tracks, but the one that I like the most is "With A Little Help From My Friends".

hekawi · May 9th, 2007, 01:59 PM

my favorite bass player ever. Paul is brilliant on the 4-string. all the Beatles stuff is exceptional, especially after Geoff Emerick starting putting the bass and drums more up front in the mix.
even later on in his solo career with drivel like Silly Love Songs, that bass line cooks.

Jim W · May 9th, 2007, 02:11 PM

"Paul McCartney is one of the most underrated bassists out there" or is it overrated. I like his stuff with the Beatles, but if I was going to be listening to or trying emulate a player it would not be Paul, but rather Duck Dunn, Carl Radle, Tommy McClure, David Hood, Dave Pegg, or Tommy Cogbill.

Oster · May 9th, 2007, 02:20 PM

Absolutely phenomenal bass player, particularly his Rickenbacker work (Sgt. Pepper's, etc.)

His fellow Beatles would apparently grouse about him spending more time on the bass parts for his own songs while keeping it simple for everyone else.

Then again, it's said that the bass part for 'Something' bothered George because he thought it too busy!

Poor Paul couldn't catch a break! I'm a very sympathetic fan of his and his immense role in making '60s & '70s rock music the new renaissance that it was. A true giant.

Stuco · May 9th, 2007, 02:23 PM

I just want to say that paul has said his biggest influence is James Jamerson of Motown fame(funk brothers)

chet · May 9th, 2007, 02:23 PM

LOL! Keep the pick vs. fingers debate outta this please!

This is about Paul's magnificent bass playing with the Beatles.

Califiddler · May 9th, 2007, 02:26 PM

Paul is incredible. He played that bass line to "I Saw Her Standing There" and sang that great vocal at the same time?!

I think that the bass on "Michelle" is really beautiful.

Jackson Jackson · May 9th, 2007, 03:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by vic108

I think it was the other way around, Lennon & Harrison were
lucky to be associated with him. He is GREAT on BASS, DRUMS,
and GUITAR (and keys too). No doubt, the MOST well rounded
musician of the bunch (IMHO).

Took the words right out of my mouth...er...keyboard..uh...whatever!

+100!!!!

Jackson Jackson · May 9th, 2007, 03:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dave W

Whenever I hear that (from another bassist or any one else), it's instant confirmation that I'm dealing with a fool. So I automatically dismiss anything else the person has to say.

I couldn't agree more!!! MOST of my favorite bassist know when to use thier fingers and when to use a pick, and do both well.

zooropamofo · May 9th, 2007, 03:51 PM

Love Macca's bass playing. He really introduced a melodic sense into RnR. Some of his finer moments include:

Drive My Car
Paperback Writer
Rain
Taxman
All of Sgt. Pepper

Cassidy · May 9th, 2007, 04:24 PM

As usual, Heather and Hekawi both put my thoughts into words perfectly... your assessments fall very close to my thinking. As most of you have said, Macca's bass playing is awesome!

Cassidy

shandraster · May 9th, 2007, 04:25 PM

Paul rocks.

maestrovert · May 9th, 2007, 04:49 PM

Paul McCartney as bassist ?
in a word: PHENOMENAL

jes' m.h.o., y.m.m.v.

Telemarkman · May 9th, 2007, 04:52 PM

What can I say other than "Penny Lane".

Someone who could write a bass line like that, has to descend from J.S. Bach.

Technically he's no match for either James Jamerson or Duck Dunn, but musically he has few equals. (One is Rick Danko).

Roli · May 9th, 2007, 04:52 PM

Good site about his bass playing: http://abbeyrd.best.vwh.net/paulbass.htm

trag-o-caster · May 9th, 2007, 05:21 PM

Paul took up the bass at a time when the instrument was in it's infancy. I remember John Paul Jones (then Baldwin) saying that in the studios the writers didn't know how to write for the electric bass, so they would most often leave it up to the bassist to come up with his or her own part. So when you look at the circumstances involved, I'd say that Paul was indeed a pretty spectacular musician on the bass. Sometimes a little too much (ala "Something"), but when you ask some older jazz fans, who dislike the Beatles, about the Beatles musicianship, they'll always say "Well Paul was great", even if they hate the others. So that says something for Paul's musicianship, I think.

Now is that REALLY Paul or is it...... nevermind....

TG · May 9th, 2007, 05:24 PM

I can never get my head around the 'pick vs fingers' debate. Who cares, so long as they deliver the goods?
(Chris Squire from Yes was a picker too, BTW.)

For me, some of Macca's finest bass moments are on Rubber Soul. You Won't See Me has a cool bass line.
And listen carefully to the bass on The Word. You usually don't notice the bass on that one due to all the vocals, but it's ace with some tricky fills.

Telakaster · May 9th, 2007, 05:33 PM

I think McCartney is the responsible for elevating the electric bass beyond the root and fifth role it had previously played in early rock&roll. He moved it out of the strict rythym section chores and into the melodic realm. Jaimerson and Babbit were doing a similar thing at the same time but were restricted by the support roles they played. They didn't get the freedom to call the shots that McCartney had by being a frontman and songwriter.

chet · May 9th, 2007, 05:34 PM

After watching Beatles Anthology DVD I can't imagine anyone but him playing the bass on all the Beatles material.

I'm really blown away by the Sgt. Peppers bass playing.

Blazer · May 9th, 2007, 08:51 PM

Here are a couple of Beatles tunes that featured some stellar bassplaying by Macca.

"Do you wanna know a secret" which is from their first album, listen closely to what Macca is playing, you'll be amazed at how good he was even back then.

"Hey Bulldog" Nice song, rocking riff and Macca rumbling on his Rickenbacker.

The Wings at the concert for Kampuchea in 1979 "Coming up" listen how tight Macca's line ties the song together, it's not a difficult bassline but it's the timing that makes all the difference.

franchelB · May 9th, 2007, 11:38 PM

Sir Paul, and James Jamerson are the 2 bassists that I remember listening to when I was 5 or 6 when my brothers played their records in the late 60s/early 70s.

Tnek23 · May 10th, 2007, 12:12 AM

thanks Blazer, I enjoyed those examples!
He can be underappreciated, basswise, cause with Sir Paul, it's about the creation of the piece of music. If a piece requires a certain instrument, he'll play it.

Bonneville Bruce · May 10th, 2007, 02:01 AM

Mr. McCartney made the bass sing. He brought it up as the melody instrument, where it had been mostly a rhythm instrument. He and the rest of the crew also experimented widely with tone, effects, micing for the bass that set the standard for much of what has happened since. He was a visonary on the instrument.

Bonneville Bruce

20texas20 · May 10th, 2007, 02:29 AM

I like his bass playing. Melodic and expressive. He can really work the neck.

bowman · May 10th, 2007, 12:13 PM

The thing that always blows me away is just how casual he was about it. If you watch some of the live clips from the Beatles days, he's usually singing some great vocal part while his fingers are just flying up and down the fretboard - and it looks like he's not even THINKING about it at all. He's a great musician.

May 9th, 2007, 09:52 AM	#1 (permalink)
chet Doctor of Teleocity Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: The Jersey Shore Posts: 11,891	Paul McCartney as bassist Since i've become interested in playing bass I've tried to pay some of the Beatles music and have been struck by how complex some of his bass line were. I think he was lucky to have been associated with Lennon and Harrison to have as much quality material to work with. Comments? __________________ You could be the next internet Superstar!

May 9th, 2007, 10:02 AM	#3 (permalink)
chet Doctor of Teleocity Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: The Jersey Shore Posts: 11,891	I was playing one of his simpler bass lines this weekend- "Ballad of John and Yoko". They put the bass line out front and made it drive the entire song- great! __________________ You could be the next internet Superstar!

May 9th, 2007, 10:37 AM	#4 (permalink)
Five Finger Fender Fiend Tele-Holic Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Bron-Yr-Aur Posts: 674	Paul McCartney is one of the most underrated bassists out there. Personally i think he's a brilliant player with impeccable timing. __________________ I'm on the road tonight with this old hillbilly band. We may not be good looking but we sure get outta hand. -Neil Young

May 9th, 2007, 10:57 AM	#8 (permalink)
sjfoote Tele-Meister Join Date: May 2003 Location: Lawrenceville, GA Age: 55 Posts: 362 4 Photos	Paul is one of my favorite bass players.... who was a guitarist first. I know that there is usually a knock against bass players who were/are guitarists, but I really like the different approach to bass playing that these guys bring to the instrument. My top 3 bass playing guitarists: Paul McCartney Michael Rutherford Mike Oldfield __________________ no better, just older

May 9th, 2007, 11:18 AM	#9 (permalink)
chet Doctor of Teleocity Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: The Jersey Shore Posts: 11,891	He really played some awesome/complex stuff like the bass lines in: "She's a woman" "Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds" "Paperback Writer". I have to watch the videos closely- it didn't look like he was using a pick. __________________ You could be the next internet Superstar!

May 9th, 2007, 09:58 AM	#2 (permalink)
genelovesjez Friend of Leo's Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Toronto, Canada Age: 42 Posts: 3,736	I love his bass playing. He's one of my favourite bassists, despite the fact that I'm not particularly a fan of his singing or songwriting.

May 9th, 2007, 10:38 AM	#5 (permalink)
clayfeat Tele-Holic Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: bloomington, in Posts: 704	Brilliant melodic playing.

May 9th, 2007, 10:42 AM	#6 (permalink)
jimbach Tele-Meister Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Columbus OH Posts: 187	One of the great electric bass players in history, although only recently I've discovered how much he was influenced by the bass playing on Pet Sounds (was that Carol Kaye?). As a bass player he's probably my biggest influence, along with 'Duck' Dunn.

May 9th, 2007, 10:42 AM	#7 (permalink)
kennl Tele-Meister Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Moon Township, PA Posts: 182	I'm a fan, but as one bassist buddy of mine says "picks are for coal miners, not bass players" Ken

May 9th, 2007, 11:19 AM	#10 (permalink)
cacibi Tele-Afflicted Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Seattle Posts: 1,860	I'm not a big Beatles fan - but I do like Paul's bass lines. It almost seems like he approaches them as another harmony vocal part sometimes. I also think Mike Mills from R.E.M. is pretty underrated. __________________ www.thegearspy.com

May 9th, 2007, 11:21 AM	#11 (permalink)
Oskar Friend of Leo's Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Northampton, MA Posts: 3,247	One of the great rock bass players. And he even uses a pick most of the time!

May 9th, 2007, 01:18 PM	#14 (permalink)
Stuco Friend of Leo's Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: GA Posts: 4,567	Paul is great. He is purely a musician and will do things his way. He made the short scale bass OK. Paul plays what is appropriate and needed in a tune, nothing more and nothing less. I love his guitar playing as well.

May 9th, 2007, 01:50 PM	#16 (permalink)
Heather Anne Peel Friend of Leo's Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Nowhere Age: 46 Posts: 3,000 3 Photos	As far as I am concerned, Paul is Rock's ultimate bassist. Very rhythmic, with an uncanny sense of melody. His basslines are integral to the Beatles' music and are very memorable. Plus, his tone was always perfect on those records. I have many fave tracks, but the one that I like the most is "With A Little Help From My Friends".

May 9th, 2007, 01:59 PM	#17 (permalink)
hekawi Friend of Leo's Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: greenville, sc Posts: 2,741	McCartney my favorite bass player ever. Paul is brilliant on the 4-string. all the Beatles stuff is exceptional, especially after Geoff Emerick starting putting the bass and drums more up front in the mix. even later on in his solo career with drivel like Silly Love Songs, that bass line cooks. __________________ ____________________________________________ "Rule Number One: Obey All Rules" - Barney Fife

May 9th, 2007, 02:11 PM	#18 (permalink)
Jim W Tele-Holic Join Date: Mar 2003 Posts: 561	"Paul McCartney is one of the most underrated bassists out there" or is it overrated. I like his stuff with the Beatles, but if I was going to be listening to or trying emulate a player it would not be Paul, but rather Duck Dunn, Carl Radle, Tommy McClure, David Hood, Dave Pegg, or Tommy Cogbill.

May 9th, 2007, 02:20 PM	#19 (permalink)
Oster Friend of Leo's Join Date: May 2003 Location: Latveria Age: 40 Posts: 2,855	Absolutely phenomenal bass player, particularly his Rickenbacker work (Sgt. Pepper's, etc.) His fellow Beatles would apparently grouse about him spending more time on the bass parts for his own songs while keeping it simple for everyone else. Then again, it's said that the bass part for 'Something' bothered George because he thought it too busy! Poor Paul couldn't catch a break! I'm a very sympathetic fan of his and his immense role in making '60s & '70s rock music the new renaissance that it was. A true giant. __________________ Cassowary!

May 9th, 2007, 02:23 PM	#20 (permalink)
Stuco Friend of Leo's Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: GA Posts: 4,567	I just want to say that paul has said his biggest influence is James Jamerson of Motown fame(funk brothers)

May 9th, 2007, 02:23 PM	#21 (permalink)
chet Doctor of Teleocity Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: The Jersey Shore Posts: 11,891	LOL! Keep the pick vs. fingers debate outta this please! This is about Paul's magnificent bass playing with the Beatles. __________________ You could be the next internet Superstar!

May 9th, 2007, 02:26 PM	#22 (permalink)
Califiddler Tele-Afflicted Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: California Posts: 1,286	Paul is incredible. He played that bass line to "I Saw Her Standing There" and sang that great vocal at the same time?! I think that the bass on "Michelle" is really beautiful. __________________ "In the fiddler's house, all are dancers."

May 9th, 2007, 03:51 PM	#25 (permalink)
zooropamofo Tele-Holic Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Ottawa Age: 29 Posts: 935	Love Macca's bass playing. He really introduced a melodic sense into RnR. Some of his finer moments include: Drive My Car Paperback Writer Rain Taxman All of Sgt. Pepper __________________ I was tryin' to find my way home But all I heard was a drone Bouncing off a satellite Crushin' the last lone American night This is radio nowhere, is there anybody alive out there? This is radio nowhere, is there anybody alive out there?

May 9th, 2007, 04:24 PM	#26 (permalink)
Cassidy Tele-Holic Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Out West... Wisconsin Age: 62 Posts: 504 11 Photos	As usual, Heather and Hekawi both put my thoughts into words perfectly... your assessments fall very close to my thinking. As most of you have said, Macca's bass playing is awesome! Cassidy

May 9th, 2007, 04:25 PM	#27 (permalink)
shandraster TDPRI Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Greeley, Colorado Age: 24 Posts: 59	Paul rocks.

May 9th, 2007, 04:49 PM	#28 (permalink)
maestrovert Poster Extraordinaire Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Somewhere over the rainbow Posts: 8,024	Paul McCartney as bassist ? in a word: PHENOMENAL jes' m.h.o., y.m.m.v.

May 9th, 2007, 04:52 PM	#29 (permalink)
Telemarkman Poster Extraordinaire Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Norway Age: 63 Posts: 6,653	What can I say other than "Penny Lane". Someone who could write a bass line like that, has to descend from J.S. Bach. Technically he's no match for either James Jamerson or Duck Dunn, but musically he has few equals. (One is Rick Danko).

May 9th, 2007, 04:52 PM	#30 (permalink)
Roli Banned Friend of Leo's Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: ¤ Hungary ¤ Posts: 2,477 6 Photos	Good site about his bass playing: http://abbeyrd.best.vwh.net/paulbass.htm

IMPORTANT:Treat everyone here with respect, no matter how difficult! No sex, drug, political, religion or hate discussion permitted here.

May 9th, 2007, 05:21 PM	#31 (permalink)
trag-o-caster R.I.P. Poster Extraordinaire Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Flushing, Michigan Age: 48 Posts: 5,142	Paul took up the bass at a time when the instrument was in it's infancy. I remember John Paul Jones (then Baldwin) saying that in the studios the writers didn't know how to write for the electric bass, so they would most often leave it up to the bassist to come up with his or her own part. So when you look at the circumstances involved, I'd say that Paul was indeed a pretty spectacular musician on the bass. Sometimes a little too much (ala "Something"), but when you ask some older jazz fans, who dislike the Beatles, about the Beatles musicianship, they'll always say "Well Paul was great", even if they hate the others. So that says something for Paul's musicianship, I think. Now is that REALLY Paul or is it...... nevermind.... __________________ Timothy Jon Lamb

May 9th, 2007, 05:24 PM	#32 (permalink)
TG Poster Extraordinaire Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Beside a bog in the west of Ireland Age: 48 Posts: 6,622 9 Photos	I can never get my head around the 'pick vs fingers' debate. Who cares, so long as they deliver the goods? (Chris Squire from Yes was a picker too, BTW.) For me, some of Macca's finest bass moments are on Rubber Soul. You Won't See Me has a cool bass line. And listen carefully to the bass on The Word. You usually don't notice the bass on that one due to all the vocals, but it's ace with some tricky fills.

May 9th, 2007, 05:33 PM	#33 (permalink)
Telakaster Tele-Meister Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Toronto Age: 55 Posts: 248	I think McCartney is the responsible for elevating the electric bass beyond the root and fifth role it had previously played in early rock&roll. He moved it out of the strict rythym section chores and into the melodic realm. Jaimerson and Babbit were doing a similar thing at the same time but were restricted by the support roles they played. They didn't get the freedom to call the shots that McCartney had by being a frontman and songwriter.

May 9th, 2007, 05:34 PM	#34 (permalink)
chet Doctor of Teleocity Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: The Jersey Shore Posts: 11,891	After watching Beatles Anthology DVD I can't imagine anyone but him playing the bass on all the Beatles material. I'm really blown away by the Sgt. Peppers bass playing. __________________ You could be the next internet Superstar!

May 9th, 2007, 08:51 PM	#35 (permalink)
Blazer Poster Extraordinaire Join Date: Dec 2003 Posts: 5,118	Here are a couple of Beatles tunes that featured some stellar bassplaying by Macca. "Do you wanna know a secret" which is from their first album, listen closely to what Macca is playing, you'll be amazed at how good he was even back then. "Hey Bulldog" Nice song, rocking riff and Macca rumbling on his Rickenbacker. The Wings at the concert for Kampuchea in 1979 "Coming up" listen how tight Macca's line ties the song together, it's not a difficult bassline but it's the timing that makes all the difference. __________________ "I reject your reality and subsitute my own." - Adam Savage, Mythbusters

May 9th, 2007, 11:38 PM	#36 (permalink)
franchelB Friend of Leo's Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Irving, United States of Texas! Age: 45 Posts: 2,399	Sir Paul, and James Jamerson are the 2 bassists that I remember listening to when I was 5 or 6 when my brothers played their records in the late 60s/early 70s. __________________ Feel free to visit my homepage! http://www.myspace.com/francisbalagtas

May 10th, 2007, 12:12 AM	#37 (permalink)
Tnek23 Tele-Meister Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Rockville, Md Posts: 149	thanks Blazer, I enjoyed those examples! He can be underappreciated, basswise, cause with Sir Paul, it's about the creation of the piece of music. If a piece requires a certain instrument, he'll play it.

May 10th, 2007, 02:01 AM	#38 (permalink)
Bonneville Bruce Tele-Holic Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Caldwell, Idaho Posts: 654 3 Photos	Mr. McCartney made the bass sing. He brought it up as the melody instrument, where it had been mostly a rhythm instrument. He and the rest of the crew also experimented widely with tone, effects, micing for the bass that set the standard for much of what has happened since. He was a visonary on the instrument. Bonneville Bruce __________________ "Let us issue, 'Live Music is Better' bumper stickers."

May 10th, 2007, 02:29 AM	#39 (permalink)
20texas20 Tele-Meister Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Austin, TX Posts: 142	I like his bass playing. Melodic and expressive. He can really work the neck. __________________ I'm a sucker for a cheap guitar... My guitars are a platform for experimentation... and, my Tone is highly overrated.

May 10th, 2007, 12:13 PM	#40 (permalink)
bowman Tele-Holic Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Westborough, MA Age: 57 Posts: 645	The thing that always blows me away is just how casual he was about it. If you watch some of the live clips from the Beatles days, he's usually singing some great vocal part while his fingers are just flying up and down the fretboard - and it looks like he's not even THINKING about it at all. He's a great musician.