Hi, I didn’t see this exact topic, I apologize if it’s been posted before. I’m trying to learn a number of songs, several by the Cocteau Twins for example, where 2 or even 3 strings are being played simultaneously on different frets, more like I imagine guitar players do. Most of the time they are like a 5th of a root, or an open string as a drone plus two others, so close together, but it’s daunting.
I play with a pick, which helps, but I’m wondering whether any one has some recommendations for songs or exercises that started them out playing more than one string and fret at a time? This youtube video scared me.
For starters, Cocteau Twins rule. I hope Shallow than Halo, Garlands, and Persephone are on that list.
On to topic though, I think you mean playing chords? If so, our trusty bass senpai @Gio just did an article about getting started with chords (link below). He pops in here pretty frequently so if you’ve got any specific questions, I’d shoot them his way. Besides the fifth and root, I notice a decent amount of octaves also.
Ok that’s something to aspire to!. Can you tell me your bass, amp, pedal, and recording set up? I recorded myself on video for the first time ever with that song tonight, but I still have a way to go.
I did that one… 6ish months ago. I don’t remember the exact details of how I shaped the sound. I’m using my G&L tribute Kiloton, I would have used a Keeley compressor, a Boss reverb + delay pedal, and it sounds like I used my EHX chorus pedal as well. I would have run it through my Ampeg SGT-DI preamp into my audio interface and then Garageband to record. Effects wise, the reverb and chorus are mainly what you hear.
I think I’m going to play around tonight with Shallow then Halo. I haven’t recorded something fun in a bit.
Awesome. I’m playing it on my Epiphone Goth Thunderbird with the Boss CEB-3 Chorus through just a Rumble 100 on the vintage setting, which gets close enough to the sound. But my fingers are still stuck on a couple of parts that aren’t going smoothly. How did you deal with the section with multiple strings btw? For now I’ve just been playing the higher one, sounds ok with the recording.
Do you think I should start with the Will Heggie stuff on Garlands and then work my way to Raymonde? If you were Josh and had a 25 Cocteau Twins songs you should play, what would they be? They are my favorite band of all time. I was lucky to see them twice, both late, but one great show, on Blue Bell Knoll, and the other a terrible show during the worst of Robin’s lows and the break up with Elizabeth, the hostility was palpable (1994). I feel like this is turning into a Cocteau Twins bass thread but they were so innovative in everything they did bass included.
I’d save Will Heggie for now. He’s real, real good and his bass lines are hard. Even something that looks fairly simple like Shallow than Halo, getting the timing down is what is killing me. There’s basically 2 notes next to each other on the fretboard and I’m not even close to getting it sounding right. Cherry Coloured Funk is a perfect one to get into playing the Twins imo. After that, I’d look at something like Sugar Hiccup and Lorelei. I really want to get My Love Paramour down personally. There is not a single issue with turning this into a Cocteau Twins thread. We’re just missing @howard at this point.
Yeah Heggie’s next project Low Life is one of the real under sung post-punk bands no one ever knows. A stand out bassist even when bassists were the shit in every post-punk and goth band.
Oh, quick update. LOVE the 734. I just got some fast fret on and wiped down the neck (put it to bed for the night). I haven’t changed strings yet, so the roundwound experiment is still going well. I’ve got the SITs ready to go when it’s time to change them out.
