how to play bass line to London Calling Part 1

[RickTransit]

Thanks very much for this - I finally know how to play the song properly! Up until now I've been kind of bluffing it because I simply couldn't hear what the triplet notes were on the verse part, and I was also getting the run down wrong. I agree with lvartshiva that it's easier to use the open A string for the BAAB run - but as I wasn't playing it right at all before seeing this lession, that isn't a criticism. Oh, and your Joe Jackson (Is she Really...) lesson is great as well!

[howtoplaybassdotcom]

@RickTransit Hey Rick - thanks for the comment. Every is different when it comes to where we play stuff - it varies on our hand size, our fingering system, and the scale of our bass. If you find it easier an alternate way...that's cool. And kudos for experimenting! Glad the lessons have helped.

[Ivartshiva]

I find it easier to play the opening riff sliding up to 12th fret E (start with the first finger on the 7th fret and end with the third finger on the 12th, doesn't overplay the slide) and alternating notes on the two lowest strings, muting them to nail the high C on the D string and the low C on the E string (8th fret). Also the verse riff is easier for me playing the BAAB repeating riff on the A sting with two open As in the middle there and the E and F on the D string, G on the E string

[howtoplaybassdotcom]

@Ivartshiva Hey. There are always different ways to play stuff - bottom line is that if that works for you, then that's what you should do. This is why I don't like the 'tyranny of tab' as I call it - where someone else's fingering system is imposed on you when you may have different sized hands, a different scale for your bass AND a different fingering system. Good on you for investigating!

[Ivartshiva]

@howtoplaybassdotcom Thanks, mate! I should say that before I watched your video I was playing all of it wrong - thanks for showing the right notes, sounds much better - and your part 2 of this is right on also - that D chromatic walkdown makes the song. I probably have to play this the way I described because my little finger is kinda weak, and it's important to dig in and punch that imperial British G-E-G-C! Rule Britannia!

[howtoplaybassdotcom]

@Ivartshiva The main thing is that you've taken some action and learned something! Here's a piece of advice - if you've found your little finger to be weak then you've found a hole in your technique (which is great!). Because that means you can work on fixing it - and when you have you'll have improved as a bass player! This is one of the reasons learning songs is so cool - they work as an audit of your technique.

[nativephoto]

sort your levels out - cant hear your bloody bass

[TLJCBFH]

@nativephoto Are you deaf?

[giano26]

Thanks now I can play one of my favourite songs on the world.

[howtoplaybassdotcom]

@giano26 Excellent! Once you have it down, go and find something else to learn and learn that too.

[alarmclockmassacre]

It seems you are making more work for yourself by shifting back down to the third fret c after the triplet rhythm instead of just playing the c at the eighth fret on the e string. It also makes a lot of fret noise playing at the third.

[ManiacLobster97]

janick same name as the iron maiden guitarist

[dothestrand64]

thanks you're a great teacher

[howtoplaybassdotcom]

@psalomon2591 slow and careful practice is the best way. Don't aim to try and do it in a day. Build up over a period of months. You CAN do it. Slowly. And carefully.

[metalmilitia13111]

my fingers are too small ):

[howtoplaybassdotcom]

@metalmilitia13111 - No-one''s fingers are too small. Have you seen Tal Wilkenfeld play with Jeff Beck? She's about five foot nothing and plays a full scale bass and absolutely rocks it. There is always a solution to your problem - here are some suggestions: (1) either adapt your fingering system to suit your bass (2) buy a bass with a smaller scale so it suits your hand size better.

[AB213100]

Use headphones to listen to it and its crystal clear, thanks very much for this, got the bassline sussed. Now just need to find someone who shows the correct rythm guitar part :)

[AlantinoKLR]

Cant hear it!

[SlavicPurpose07]

I Think you should remake this vid, keep everythin the same, but at the beginning say ''todays song is london calling by the greatest band that ever lived....THE CLASH!!'' ,that is all i av ta say....lol

[howtoplaybassdotcom]

@SlavicPurpose07 That's funny dude. If you go to my website and subscribe you'll go through a sequence of 3 videos over the course of a few days - the 3rd one is I FOUGHT THE LAW by The Clash (great song).

Glad you enjoyed it.

[SlavicPurpose07]

@howtoplaybassdotcom

o reyt, i will do, thanks :)

PS. cud ya do a vid to spandau ballet - to cut along story short, iv not been able to find one!....lol

[shufflingyourcards]

Thank you thank you thank you <3

[loveforbowie]

it would help if i could hear the actual bass playing..

[howtoplaybassdotcom]

@loveforbowie Hey - have you tried using headphones. If you've tried with computer speakers, often they are just not designed to transmit lower frequencies. You'll definitely hear more with headphones.

[loveforbowie]

@howtoplaybassdotcom i think its just the laptop speakers,ill give it a try, thanks,your video helped none the less.

[bonsaitigre]

Is that a Honer Jack Bass in the back of the shot there? I have one of those at home but you dont see many knockin around these days!

Great Vid!

[twinkieramirez]

great lesson could you do some Joy Division sometime?

[howtoplaybassdotcom]

The only JOy Division tune I ever played (and ever liked) is LOVE WILL TEAR US APART. And i hated that Paul Young covered it (with one of my idols, Pino, playing the bass). Most of Paul Young's covers were actually really tasteful.

But he murdered that one!

[jrmel1994]

i really apreiceite it

your like super good teacher an your really friendly other bass players think their all that your really donw to earth :)

ELric"

Aruba

[jrmel1994]

i love your tut's nice man good teacher id like to see get up stand up someday

[howtoplaybassdotcom]

Thanks for the comment.

Get Up Stand Up is a cool tune...I'll add it to my list of possibles. You never know....one day perhaps?