Slow Waltz Ballad for electric bass - Owen Keenan

Owen Keenan - Slow Waltz Ballad for electric bass. This has a title, but I've forgotten it! It's an original composition circa 1992, now being reworked for collaboration with saxophone.

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I originally wrote this piece around mid '92 (IIRC) and it's been through a few different configurations over the years, but for some reason I've never recorded it before now. I had to dig deep to recall exactly how it all went, but no matter how deep I dig I can't recall what the thing is actually called, so for now it's just "Slow Waltz Ballad for Electric Bass".

The feel of the piece is (subconsciously) inspired by a few very disparate things. Firstly, at the time I was listening to Louis Tillett's Letters to a Dream album a hell of a lot, and the chord progression could almost be lifted straight from that. As a complete contrast I'd also been watching a lot of videos from Jason Newstead's time with Metallica, paying attention to how he approached his bass when soloing. His chordal technique intrigued me at the time and was a major factor in my later musical development. I'd stopped liking Metallica by then, but at the time still had, and to this day still do have a lot of respect for Newstead's musicianship. Thirdly, I think there's a bit of Simon Jeffes' Penguin Café Orchestra in there too.

Category:

Music

Tags:

• owen
• keenan
• point
• moot
• jesters
• planet
• electric
• bass
• guitar
• waltz
• ballad
• newcastle
• ovation
• magnum
• jason
• newstead
• metallica
• simon
• jeffes
• penguin
• cafe
• orchestra
• louis
• tillett

[Rikitocker]

Fantastic bass guitars ... I have a Magnum II ... Wobble has played one since year dot.

[pointmoot]

@Rikitocker Yeah, Jah is definitely the most well known player, though Kim Gordon also has used one, and Tony Levin owns one (though I don't know if he has ever found a reason to use it)... and there's also the guy from Journey (but I tend not to tell people about him :D)

[methbreath]

Are you using both pickups on this? Have you ever done any adjustments to the bridge pickup? Great stuff!

[pointmoot]

@methbreath Thanks! This is just the neck pick-up. I may have raised or lowered the bridge pick-up, but certainly not for many years. I'd be worried about stuffing up the tone if I changed it now.

[Noo51]

I would be very happy to hear from you too, if you got the tabs for this piece.

It's really very nice!

[pointmoot]

@Noo51 Thanks! No tabs though. :D

[pointmoot]

@jetsrush01 Nah, it has the sound of an Ovation Magnum. ;-)

[Noo51]

I would be very happy to hear from you too, if you got the tabs for this piece.

It's really very nice!

[pointmoot]

@Newklear14

Thanks! No, I don't have tabs for this at this stage, but if I make some up I'll be sure to let you know.

[Newklear14]

Have you got tabs for this song? Great playing!