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Paul McCartney's Bass Playing After constant spins of Sgt. Pepper, The White Album and Abbey Road, I'm growing to appreciate Paul McCartney's work on the bass more and more. His work on Abbey Road alone is classic, especially You Never Give Me Your Money and Mean Mr. Mustard. What are your feelings of McCartney as a bass player? | |
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Well a lot of people on this site obviously think it's all about the funk...and sometimes I'm inclined to agree...sometimes it IS. But as for melodic invention in bass lines, Paul McCartney was great. A very lyrical bass-player. Some of his lines remind me of tuba parts in a large band or orchestra...and that's a good thing.  | |
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mrdespues said: Well a lot of people on this site obviously think it's all about the funk...and sometimes I'm inclined to agree...sometimes it IS. But as for melodic invention in bass lines, Paul McCartney was great. A very lyrical bass-player. Some of his lines remind me of tuba parts in a large band or orchestra...and that's a good thing.
I agree wholeheartedly...I love funk as much as anyone, however I do like melodic bass lines as well. | |
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I dig His tone&Vibe.He is very Underrated as a All-Around Instrumentalist IMHO.but it's because His Songwriting Genius&Historic Musical Past Dominates His Past.but the Cat has a tight touch on the Bass IMHO. mistermaxxx | |
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Anybody that denies his ability either hasn't listened to the required music, or knows nothing about bass playing.
McCartney is one of the world's most underrated bass players. That whole Abbey Road album is one of his biggest showcases. Listen to "She Came In Through The Bathroom Window": check out how his phrasing on the second verse is different from the first verse - he's trying to get that dip in your hip funky phrasing going there. Listen to "Reception" from ... I forgot which solo album. He allows himself to swing it, although it's a short introduction track. Listen to "Goodnight Tonight" and tell me you don't feel his playing. Those are big, bouncy, warm basslines. Listen to the bridge on the Beatles "Tax Man." When McCartney went solo his playing became more pronounced on his material a more consistent basis. "Come Together" from the AR album itself is subtle brilliance. He could be subtle, and he could be more pronounced. Whatever the music called for. I think the Beatlemania hype really overshadowed his playing, particularly during the last half of their career together. Some neophytes think bass playing (or musicianship itself)has to be in your face to be considered a great bass player. It's not the case. But it does have to be expressive, and McCartney's playing is nothing if not expressive. [This message was edited Tue Feb 4 23:05:46 PST 2003 by Supernova] This post not for the wimp contingent. All whiny wusses avert your eyes. | |
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Supernova said: Anybody that denies his ability either hasn't listened to the required music, or knows nothing about bass playing.
McCartney is one of the world's most underrated bass players. That whole Abbey Road album is one of his biggest showcases. Listen to "She Came In Through The Bathroom Window": check out how his phrasing on the second verse is different from the first verse - he's trying to get that dip in your hip funky phrasing going there. Listen to "Reception" from ... I forgot which solo album. He allows himself to swing it, although it's a short introduction track. Listen to "Goodnight Tonight" and tell me you don't feel his playing. Those are big, bouncy, warm basslines. Listen to the bridge on the Beatles "Tax Man." When McCartney went solo his playing became more pronounced on his material a more consistent basis. "Come Together" from the AR album itself is subtle brilliance. He could be subtle, and he could be more pronounced. Whatever the music called for. I think the Beatlemania hype really overshadowed his playing, particularly during the last half of their career together. Some neophytes think bass playing (or musicianship itself)has to be in your face to be considered a great bass player. It's not the case. But it does have to be expressive, and McCartney's playing is nothing if not expressive. [This message was edited Tue Feb 4 23:05:46 PST 2003 by Supernova] i'm with you all the way on all that, Supernova! | |
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paul's playing is simply perfect the music of the beatles... he's a brilliant musician
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its good bull | |
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listen to the bassline in dear prudence... | |
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Paul's approach to bass is great. He has good lines that add to the song. Paul is a guitar player who switched to bass and I've always wondered if that added ideas to your playing instead just holding down the root of the chord.
Paul loved James Jamerson who played on the great Motown recordings and He loved Brian Wilson's music in the Beach Boys. Brian wrote great bass lines that were played on the records by the legendary Carol Kaye who recorded with Q, Phil Spector and everybody. But then musicians listened to each other and when they liked something they would "put it in the mix." Jimi Hendrix loved Dylan and The Beatles and Cream and he played their songs when the songs first came out. Bands nowadays don't really tip the hat to each other like that, but oh well. | |
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Check out the bridge part in "Everybody's Got Something to Hide...". Pretty funky stuff if you ask me. Paul is a totally underrated bassist. NEW WAVE FOREVER: SLAVE TO THE WAVE FROM THE CRADLE TO THE GRAVE. | |
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Pauls bass playing is so melodic, like his music, its full of hooks and interesting turns of melody. The most obvious choice would be Something which almost makes that song, but i also find his ability to play bass seemlessly and sing at the same time a very admirable trait. I know he's not the only one but it certainly shows talent for the instrument.
Actually his last album (Driving Rain) was a real reminder that he was initally a bass player and refocused attention upon this. However two songs absolutely stand out for his bass playing. Paperback Writer & Rain (both on the same single in 1966) are examples of how bass can completely dominate a song, no matter how good the actual track. | |
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Paul is an Excellent Bass Player.. Now HE has proved himself as an excellent bass player, perhaps one of the best. yes, most definantly.. disagree? just listen to the White Album, Sgt Peppers, and Yellow submarine (The Beautiful) | |
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Sdldawn said: Paul is an Excellent Bass Player.. Now HE has proved himself as an excellent bass player, perhaps one of the best. yes, most definantly.. disagree? just listen to the White Album, Sgt Peppers, and Yellow submarine (The Beautiful) . I think he is sooo cute.
Paul is something else. I agree don't you .Don't you think he needs to find somebody else to sing i don't think he can sing.. anymore [This message was edited Thu Jun 26 19:50:14 PDT 2003 by LuvinPURPLEMAN] | |
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I love his bass playing on "Silly Love Songs" and "Let Me Roll It". He also had a prince vibe goin' on "Comin' Up". That was a funky song!!!
He, along with Todd Rundgren (another badass), was doin' the "one man band" thing back in the early '70's. My author page: https://www.amazon.com/au...eretttruth | |
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Paul Rocks! | |
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I thought Paul was probably one of the best white bass players...until I heard Flea!!!  | |
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