Mayor of Simpleton Bass Cover

[dasteelers75]

@TJH3113 You probably get alot of request for covering songs because your bass playing is (excuse my language) the shit! (And I mean "shit" as a complement). Can u take a listen to The Smiths: Barbarism Begins At Home. It has a great bass through out the song and especially the end. Hey TJH3113,you should have tutorials, bet you get tons of views. Keep slinging that bass bro!

[TJH3113]

@dasteelers75

Thanks for the kind words, I appreciate them. I will take a listen to the song you mentioned but I'm pretty finicky about what songs I like to learn so no promises, ok? I've done a few tutorial type videos but I'm afraid I'm not really much of a teacher though I'm more than happy to do what I can with the skills I do have. Take care and thanks again.

[TFMTraining]

That was awesome (and I dont use that word lightly). I especially the love way it sounds on the "Rick". You have an excellent ear to be able to pick all of that out of the song. Gave me a whole new appreciation for a song that I already love. Thanks for sharing.

Nice Mask Collection Too!

[TJH3113]

@TFMTraining

Thank you very much. Most of the masks came from Deathstudios.

[mutation999]

How long have you been playing this bass line you look like you know it pretty well !

[TJH3113]

@mutation999

I learned it around the time I posted it and practiced it for a few weeks until I became comfortable with it.

[Crowdies]

Great Bass line, and Great playing!  I have always loved and appreciated this bass line, and am trying to cajole my band to cover it (pure self indulgence), nice work.

[TJH3113]

@Crowdies

I agree and thanks a lot. This would be fun to play with a band but there's a ton of background vocal stuff going on.

[couchpotatotheatre]

Wonderful sounds.

[TJH3113]

@couchpotatotheatre

Thank you.

[mjedgerley]

Nice job Troy. Theres a lot going on there. Reminds me of McCartney on Veronica. I love Xtc and the dukes. Ever listened to Jellyfish? 90's band out of CA. You might find some great bass work there along the same lines.

[TJH3113]

@mjedgerley

Thank you. I'll have to listen to the song "Veronica" you mentioned. I have heard a song or two by the Jellyfish. A YouTube friend turned me on to them. Something about The Emperor's Clothes comes to mind. I thought it was really cool interesting stuff. Thanks for the suggestion.

[mjedgerley]

@TJH3113

Your welcome. Veronica, from Elvis Costello's "Spike".

And yeah! Jellyfish' Emperors New Clothes, off of "Bellybutton".

Good stuff, all melody and harmony.

[TJH3113]

@MrTank2112

Thanks.

[HotRod12667]

I must say I like your "audience" in the background. XD

[TJH3113]

@HotRod12667

Thanks.

[jeffdeanable]

Even your exit was good. Nice playin!

[TJH3113]

@jeffdeanable

Thanks.

[jeffdeanable]

@TJH3113 You're welcome.

[dasteelers75]

I had to see this again. Your technique is so fluid. You make it look so easy. I notice your only really using three fingers. I must be doing something wrong. U got skills my man. Can you cover Generals and Majors?

[TJH3113]

@dasteelers75

Thanks a lot. I'll give "Generals and Majors" a listen. I'm not familiar with it.

[pugggs]

very well done, very cool rick, very cool room. glad i stumbled upon our vid.

[TJH3113]

@pugggs

Thank you.

[geneymachiney]

WOW! I've always in complete awe of Colin Moulding's prowess in this song. (Actually, he's my favorite bass player, period.)

It's a death defying roller coaster of a bass line, and you nailed it. Bravo.

[TJH3113]

@geneymachiney

Thank you very much.

[snipersas]

yeah this is one of my favourite bass parts as well

[TJH3113]

@snipersas

Cool.

[JFLD02186]

You are a monster - fuckin awesome!!!

[TJH3113]

@JFLD02186

Thanks.

[spershall]

You are in the coolest room EVER!

[TJH3113]

@spershall

It is pretty cool isn't it?

[thesubstitute]

I wake up to this song every workday.

[TJH3113]

@thesubstitute

Sounds like a great way to wake up.

[gimmemojo]

great work troy, excellent technique, all that! one thing i noticed (just curious, probably your style) but the first two notes of the main riff G to F# (on the D string) is a half step down. you use your pinky for the G, but then skip to your middle finger to hit the F#, then, on to theB (whole step A string) with your index finger. thats a tough stretch. any reason?

[TJH3113]

@gimmemojo

Thank you. You have a keen eye. The reason for my odd fingering choice is because when I was teaching myself how to play I never learned to use my pinky - I would play "everything" with 3 fingers only. Some stuff was incredibly tough to do but I managed. I only recently started using my pinky and it will not function with the finger next to it (my ring finger) - it's like they're connected. While it may look awkward now, it's nothing compared to how it used to look.

[gimmemojo]

@TJH3113 Oh, Okay. But it did'nt look akward, quite the contrary. I play w/ 4 fingers and your technique looks much more polished. I tried playing it using your fingering and when I went for the third note my hand said "oh no you don't"! haha! Anyway, again, great playing, and thanks for the reply.

P.S. those mask's really are too cool!

[hamstar8]

@TJH3113 you my man have nailed this!!! i am self taught and have the same problem, i have never used my pinky in twelve years and to top it all i have small hands and use precisions and musicman stingrays every gig is a is like ive been using exercise grips.

[TJH3113]

@hamstar8

Thanks. My hands are on the small side as well. I could have made things a lot easier if I'd forced myself to use proper technique.

[wallofboingo]

Impressed by the bassline, but more impressed by the incredible mask collection behind you.

[TJH3113]

@wallofboingo

Thank you. I collect masks, among other things

[malthuswasright]

the main part of this is at least based on bell ringing changes. I never realised that till hearing this. Excellent work!

[TJH3113]

@malthuswasright

I'm not familiar with "bell ringing changes" but thank you.

[malthuswasright]

@TJH3113 In bell ringing - imagine a bell tower with 8 bells. A full peal is ringing all of those bells in every combination possible. That is ringing the changes. And your/XTC's bassline at the start is exactly like a part of a peal. On a bass, that's technically impressive. Nice work.

[TJH3113]

@malthuswasright

I see. Thanks for explaining. Thanks again for the compliment.

[byrne1965]

Yay someone who can play it note for note! Haven't seen anyone play this bass line as well as you. Excellent! You have a great feel for bass playing, which is what really stands out. Sounds lovely on your Ricky too! :) My favourite Colin bass line is probably 'One of The Millions'. If you haven't tried it yet, I recommend it - it's a gem to play.

[TJH3113]

@byrne1965

Thanks a lot. I have a great love for this song. I'll be sure to check out "One Of The Millions".

[YoungBrando25]

EFFORTLESS....IN THE POCKET!!!!

[TJH3113]

@YoungBrando25

Thanks.

[Stone8]

Wow, That was splendid. Thanks for making me smile today

[TJH3113]

@Stone8

Thank you. It was my pleasure.

[TIMPANIMAN1]

Nicely done, my favorite XTC song, and one of the best basslines ever.

[TJH3113]

@TIMPANIMAN1

Thank you. One of my favorite songs and bass lines as well.

[Azothian]

Awesome... 1:48-1:50 seams a bonus ; )

[TJH3113]

@Azothian

Thanks a lot. That part's in there. I tend not to ad lib.

[hcim71]

nice :)

[TJH3113]

@hcim71

Thanks.

[CC007]

Oh man...you killed that track, amazing job. I REALLY have a lot of work to do in learning this. Was wondering when you were working this out, which section gave you the most difficulty?. I love your Rickenbacker, I'm the proud original owner of a '99 Fireglow 4001v63 model with toaster pick up's. Thanks again for posting, peace!

[TJH3113]

@CC007

Thanks. The verse took a while to get smooth but the very end (during the fade out) always gave me a difficult time.

[deweypug]

Indeed SIr, mighty fine playing, fine bass, crazy good backdrop... and shite, XTC just makes life that much more pleasurable.

[TJH3113]

@deweypug

Thank you.

[TJH3113]

@galcivare

Right on indeed. Thanks.

[Bassmandave2000]

This one is the best version of all the ones I've seen on here.You playing the Rick gave it the right tone and sound as well.Great Job man.

[TJH3113]

@Bassmandave2000

Thanks a lot.

[No1Chihuahua]

This is a great bass line and your playing us faultless. Colin Moulding is a fantastic bass player (and songwriter), I think he's packed it in which is a great shame. Incidentally XTC guitarist Dave Gregory turned up on British prog band Big Big Trains album which is very good.

[TJH3113]

@No1Chihuahua

Thank you. This, to me, besides being a great song, is a perfectly composed bass line. I'll have to look up Big Big Trains.

[haffiluvreggae]

This is also one of my favorite basslines and your cover of it can only be described by one word: perfection. Your technique is so fluid, you make it seem effortless (it's not, folks, believe me...I tried it countless numbers of times!). Great job.

[TJH3113]

@haffiluvreggae

Thank you very much. You're right, the challenge to playing this song is try and make it flow like one seamless line.

[dasteelers75]

@TJH3113 How much for a bass like that one you have? How long would it take for a beginner like me to play bass like you just did? Yes, the intro to one of my fav tv shows "CHiPS".

[TJH3113]

@dasteelers75

I believe these go for around $1,900 now but I'm not entirely sure.

Everyone is different and progresses at their own pace. I used to practice "a lot", I'm talking like 5-6 hours a day during the summer when I was a teenager. Plus I've been playing for a very long time. I'm sure there are plenty of people who play better than I do who never practiced nearly as much as I did or played nearly as long as I have.

I'll give CHiPS a listen but I'm not sure about that one.

[dasteelers75]

That's skill! Wish I can do what u just did. I love the bass which IMO is underrated. Great cover to a great song. Do you know how to cover the bass line to CHiPS? Another great bass line.

[TJH3113]

@dasteelers75

Thanks.  The bass line is not underrated by me - it's one of my favorites. Do you mean the theme to the old television show "CHiPS"?

[cropduster001]

One of my all time favorite bass parts. Excellent job!

[TJH3113]

@cropduster001

Mine as well. Thank you.

[wysiwyg248]

"To be called a genius In the actual music business you have to:

a) Sell a lot of bad records

b) Star in a couple of movies

c) Shake a lot of bootie

Two of the three will suffice".

By the way, great cover. Colin would be proud.

[TJH3113]

@wysiwyg248

Thank you.

[wysiwyg248]

@TJH3113

You are welcome TJH.

BTW, my previous note is actually an introductory quote from Anthony Jackson for the Standing on the Shadows of Motown book.

[TJH3113]

@wysiwyg248

Anthony Jackson is a great bass player and a very outspoken individual.

[Merlin97]

Silky as usual.

Is that Hipshot's bridge you put on? I don't recognize the bridge p'up guard though, did you fabricate that yourself? I have a '74 4001R... so would like to know if you get the chance.

[Josh0Malmstrom0Cult]

Wow... that's awesome, also very nice bass. I love Rickenbackers.

[TJH3113]

@Josh0Malmstrom0Cult

Thanks. I like Ricks as well. I also like cats a lot, we have six.

[tgear77]

@TJH3113 In my life I have a blonde (like yours in the video), a blue (my very first; you never forget your first) and two black Ricks. I have played a red one. What am I missing (or do you just have multiples of the same color or better yet, an 8-string)?

[TJH3113]

@tgear77

It took me a minute to figure it out but I have six "cats" and just one Rick. Sorry for the confusion though I've had a Fire-Glo and a fire engine red Rick in the way past.

I did play an eight string once in a store which was cool but I couldn't see using one on a regular basis.

[tgear77]

@TJH3113 Sorry about the confusion. I know what you mean about the 8-string. I lucked into an Ibanez 8-string back in my band days in the '80s. Guy was getting divorced and needed case, so I picked it up for $100. I was so ecstatic. Then I slowly came to the realization that there were only about 3 songs in our set that I could use it for. But it looked good on the stand behind me.

[TJH3113]

@tgear77

You should check out this band/duo on YouTube by the name of "clattermo". The girl has a really interesting and unorthodox approach to the bass and uses a 12 string quite a bit.

[Dillboy]

Nice

[terminalmf]

The only thing that rivals the magnificence of your bass playing is that wall of masks behind you - FUGGIN' EPIC. I'm really interested in the story behind that...

[drumbago]

awesome.

[TJH3113]

@drumbago Thanks.

[arielrotman]

Excelent!! great tone and very smooth 5/5

[TJH3113]

@arielrotman Thank you very much.

[algismorales]

Wow...

[TJH3113]

@algismorales Thanks.

[ifutureman]

Great job on one of Colin's MANY great bass lines!

[TJH3113]

@ifutureman Thanks, this is one of my favorite songs.

[ozmensan]

Hi, I don't mind the Oils, a good band for the time! cheers and greetings from Oz.

[ozmensan]

Really nicely done, a very tasty bassline from Colin Moulding and you have pulled it off in this vid. Nice to see you are an SD fan also, I'd like to see you cover some of Walts bass work.

[TJH3113]

Thanks ozmensan, I'll have to take a shot at a Steely Dan song. Any suggestions? I'm also a big Midnight Oil fan as well (seeing as you're from Australia and all).

[ozmensan]

Hello again, my suggestions would be: Josie & Peg for SD, also some Jamiroquai would be excellent if possible: High Times (5:58 long version), Space Cowboy, When You Gonna Learn (JK Mix). If you like Acid Jazz, the Brand New Heavies have some nice work, Stay This Way has a nice bass groove. Simon

[TJH3113]

I'll give the SD stuff a try and check out your other suggestions. I've never learned a Steely Dan song, I just enjoy listening to them. I find their music relaxing. Love Kid Charlemagne. "Is there gas in the car?"