A while ago I watched three Sheehan vids on G.com. He certainly has his own unique style. I especially like the bass he played for many years. He called it his wife.
It looks like he added an old Gibson Mudbucker as the neck pup. I read that he carved the scallops between the frets on the four frets you can see in this pic on his mother's kitchen table.
Yeah, that's a beast of an old P-Bass, isn't it? I think he started out with a Gibson pickup in the neck and then switched it out with some DiMarzio "Model One" which was their replacement for the Gibson EB pickups. That's some pretty sad scalloping, to be sure! I remember being fascinated with scalloped necks--until I played one and realized I don't like the feel at all.
Listening to him you would think I was his instructor I have always played something and then figured out what it was and I always use patterns rather then "scales". I know I start on a certain note but I will have no idea what scale I am using just what pattern my fingers move in. He does have one up on me though, he already knows the Modes, I am still learning them.
HAZ
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"Practice doesn't make perfect. Perfect practice makes perfect."
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-------------------------------------------------------------------------- "Carburetors man!! That's what life is all about." Musicians Collaboration Studio
I was surprised at what a "feel" player he is. I use that same--what guitarists sometimes call--CAGED system (i.e. five interlocking patterns) for understanding the neck. But I also tend to know what degree of the scale I'm on (though not always what note name, per se). He lays down some really nice stuff with Niacin. So I guess his ears and amazing fingers have done just fine for him. I'm too analytical, I guess. I want to know what I'm doing as well as be able to do it.
But it's often true that you find something and then--long time after--figure out why it worked.
If you need any help understanding the modes thing, let me know. That's so much easier (and so much less a big deal) than it gets made out to be.
Thanks for posting these vids. Very informative and interesting.
I'm pretty much the same way as you, I think in terms of scale degrees, not notes. Makes it a lot easier to transpose tunes on the fly. I can't imagine thinking "Now, let's see... we were in Ab, but now we're in Bb, so that means all the notes of the major scale are now..." Way too much work for me! Much easier to just move my hand and continue playing the same intervals.
Maybe I'm too analytical as well. I at least like to know what sort of scale I'm playing. ;)
Knowing the degree makes more sense to me than the note name. Though now I'm trying to get more familiar with the note names, since that's also handy a lot of the time. I think focusing on the degree also underscores the identical structure of all scales of a certain type (i.e. all natural minor scales are the same pattern of intervals, even though each is composed of different notes).
Exactly! When playing in F#, for example, I don't want to have to thing F#, G#, A#, B when I can just think 1,2,3,4, and the same 1,2,3,4 works in any key. The note names, however, change with every key. Far too complicated for me when I am playing by the seat of my pants!
This Guy is Something
A while ago I watched three Sheehan vids on G.com. He certainly has his own unique style. I especially like the bass he played for many years. He called it his wife.
It looks like he added an old Gibson Mudbucker as the neck pup. I read that he carved the scallops between the frets on the four frets you can see in this pic on his mother's kitchen table.
Pete
The Wife
Yeah, that's a beast of an old P-Bass, isn't it? I think he started out with a Gibson pickup in the neck and then switched it out with some DiMarzio "Model One" which was their replacement for the Gibson EB pickups. That's some pretty sad scalloping, to be sure! I remember being fascinated with scalloped necks--until I played one and realized I don't like the feel at all.
bassplaying.com
Part two of the same
The first minute of this is the same as the other, but it diverges from there:
bassplaying.com
Listening to him you would
Listening to him you would think I was his instructor
I have always played something and then figured out what it was and I always use patterns rather then "scales". I know I start on a certain note but I will have no idea what scale I am using just what pattern my fingers move in. He does have one up on me though, he already knows the Modes, I am still learning them.
HAZ
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
"Practice doesn't make perfect. Perfect practice makes perfect."
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
"Carburetors man!! That's what life is all about."
Musicians Collaboration Studio
I was surprised...
I was surprised at what a "feel" player he is. I use that same--what guitarists sometimes call--CAGED system (i.e. five interlocking patterns) for understanding the neck. But I also tend to know what degree of the scale I'm on (though not always what note name, per se). He lays down some really nice stuff with Niacin. So I guess his ears and amazing fingers have done just fine for him. I'm too analytical, I guess. I want to know what I'm doing as well as be able to do it.
But it's often true that you find something and then--long time after--figure out why it worked.
If you need any help understanding the modes thing, let me know. That's so much easier (and so much less a big deal) than it gets made out to be.
bassplaying.com
Hey Wheat, Thanks for
Hey Wheat,
Thanks for posting these vids. Very informative and interesting.
I'm pretty much the same way as you, I think in terms of scale degrees, not notes. Makes it a lot easier to transpose tunes on the fly. I can't imagine thinking "Now, let's see... we were in Ab, but now we're in Bb, so that means all the notes of the major scale are now..." Way too much work for me! Much easier to just move my hand and continue playing the same intervals.
Maybe I'm too analytical as well. I at least like to know what sort of scale I'm playing. ;)
Kelly
There is no substitute for proper technique!
Degrees vs. note names
Knowing the degree makes more sense to me than the note name. Though now I'm trying to get more familiar with the note names, since that's also handy a lot of the time. I think focusing on the degree also underscores the identical structure of all scales of a certain type (i.e. all natural minor scales are the same pattern of intervals, even though each is composed of different notes).
bassplaying.com
Degrees vs. note names
Exactly! When playing in F#, for example, I don't want to have to thing F#, G#, A#, B when I can just think 1,2,3,4, and the same 1,2,3,4 works in any key. The note names, however, change with every key. Far too complicated for me when I am playing by the seat of my pants!
There is no substitute for proper technique!
There is no substitute for proper technique!
Right on, my brutha!! BoHLow
Right on, my brutha!!
BoH
Low B, or not low B? That is the question!
Bo
You don't love me, you just love my FINGERSTYLE!
Peavey T40; SX/Squier P-bass; Spector Legend 5
Roland Bass 30 Cube