The last two posts were about bassists that had influenced me, but I should probably mention the one that had the most impact, Paul McCartney. Paul turned 70 recently, and is still out there playing his hits from the Beatles, and Wings, plus his solo material. In addition, he is still putting out new music.
When I was a kid in the 1970s, my favorite band was the Beatles, I remember playing my older siblings albums and holding a little portable tape recorder up to the speakers so I could have my own copy. When I started playing upright bass in elementary school, I began to notice the bass in music, and to see what role it played. In Paul McCartney’s bass playing, you had more than the usual root – fifth style of bass playing. He played melodies, and countermelodies, although he wasn’t afraid of riding the root if need be. Not to mention his singing, guitar playing and keyboard playing. He was one of the first musicians I noticed who played what the song needed, either a particular instrument, or part. And although I consider myself a bass player, I play a number of other instruments, and probably owe what multi-instrumental ability I have to Paul McCartney.
Let’s give a listen to some of Sir Paul’s music.
Band on the Run
Let Me Roll It
Junior’s Farm
Mull of Kintyre
Coming Up
Okay, So I didn’t put any Beatles on here, I’ll get to it later…
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