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Beatles forums => Songs => Topic started by: Xose on March 13, 2011, 01:02:44 PM

Title: Oh! Darling Bass Line Analysis
Post by: Xose on March 13, 2011, 01:02:44 PM
If I'm not wrong, 'Oh! Darling' was recorded on 20 April 1969 and, supossedly, this is Lennon on Fender VI:

Oh Darling bass (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B5XM0-WTw6M#)

In the next one, I guess Lennon on Casino and McCartney on..., 500/1?? This is from the January 'Get Back / 'Let It Be' sessions..., right??:

Oh Darling (Anthology Version) (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hmrIXwUQ2jw#)

From the riffs the supposedly Lennon is playing with his guitar (=Casino??), some of the riffs in the former bass line are already there..., correct??

Nevertheless, McCartney bass line is very different, compared to the "Lennon's" one...

Xosé
Title: Re: Oh! Darling Bass Line Analysis
Post by: peterbell1 on March 14, 2011, 10:19:24 AM
Here's a few thoughts from me ....

In the January 1969 version Paul is singing and playing bass at the same time, so what he is playing on the bass will be fitting in around what he is singing.
In the version recorded in April 1969, however, John is playing the bass without worrying about having to sing a lead vocal. So the two styles will naturally be different.

Also, John's bass line seems a bit more "obvious" to me - it's probably something along the lines of what I would play if I was asked to play Oh Darling and I hadn't heard it before (Like Lennon, I'm a guitar player not a bassist).
A good bass player like McCartney, on the other hand, will do stuff that is not so obvious but which complements what is going on around it.

And finally, I've been told by bass players in the past that when guitarists try to play the bass they always do too much - a good bass player is happy to leave a silence now and then, if it fits the song, but a guitar player will be trying to squeeze notes in everywhere!
If you listen to Let Me Roll It, for example, there are parts where Paul plays a similar line to Oh Darling, but there are other parts of the song where he is playing virtually nothing and it suits the song perfectly.
Title: Re: Oh! Darling Bass Line Analysis
Post by: Xose on March 14, 2011, 01:11:08 PM
Here's a few thoughts from me ....

In the January 1969 version Paul is singing and playing bass at the same time, so what he is playing on the bass will be fitting in around what he is singing.
In the version recorded in April 1969, however, John is playing the bass without worrying about having to sing a lead vocal. So the two styles will naturally be different.

Also, John's bass line seems a bit more "obvious" to me...

And that is the most outstanding Lennon's bass line in the whole Beatles career...

Xosé
Title: Re: Oh! Darling Bass Line Analysis
Post by: peterbell1 on March 14, 2011, 02:03:05 PM
And that is the most outstanding Lennon's bass line in the whole Beatles career...

Xosé

Yeah, it's a bit better than his bass playing on Long and Winding Road, that's for sure!!  ;D
Title: Re: Oh! Darling Bass Line Analysis
Post by: Xose on March 14, 2011, 02:25:29 PM
Yeah, it's a bit better than his bass playing on Long and Winding Road, that's for sure!!  ;D


Yes. And better than his bass playing on 'Let It Be', 'Rocky Raccoon', 'Back In The USSR' or 'Helter Skelter'.

Here there is his bass playing with the Fender VI on 'Helter Skelter':

"Helter Skelter" by The Beatles (Isolated Bass) (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0PxVrOuMxy0#ws)

Xosé