Thingus Posted October 1, 2003 Posted October 1, 2003 Now before i start, understand that i LOVE rush! Ive been studying Geddy Lee for a whille, and im beggining to see a pattern emerge in almost all of Geddy's pieces. Geddy is obsessed (did i spell that right?) with octaves. Nearly all the rush bass lines use octaves as a main way to push the groove along. There is nothing wrong with using octaves, but do people glorify Geddy Lee more than they should? He's a genius and all, but his stuff really isn't that hard to figure out. Like I said before, Rush is awesome, and Im not putting Geddy Lee down, in fact he is one of the people who inspired me to start playing. Does anyone else see what i mean though? Im just a dreamer Dreaming my life away
... Posted October 1, 2003 Posted October 1, 2003 The more you study individual players and learn their basslines, the more you will realize that most people have their 'bag of tricks'. Geddy isn't any different than any other player in this respect. Geddy always plays what's good for the song, hell, in a lot of cases, it's his bassline that *IS* the song. He's a helluva player and deserves the worship that people give him.
dcr Posted October 1, 2003 Posted October 1, 2003 The test of a good player isn't in what you see when you pick the song apart. It's the song.
Thingus Posted October 1, 2003 Author Posted October 1, 2003 You know something? I think your right! maybe I was looking at this from the wrong angle. Geddy is a helluva player! And an inspiration to anyone who has ever picked up the instrument. I concede! You were right and I was wrong. Im just a dreamer Dreaming my life away
schmee Posted October 1, 2003 Posted October 1, 2003 also, please remember that good = subjective opinion. thus, there is no 'right' or 'wrong'. or if there is, there only lies good and bad within the spectrum of opinion, in which case geddy sits in the right category more than most can ever aspire to. also, geddy is more than a bassist. he's more than an arranger, more than a performer, more than a singer, more than a producer, more than a technician. that, combined with what you've just identified, makes me tend towards the Geddy is Good argument. bear in mind, while i appreciate them and love much of their work, i'm not really a rush fan. but there's little question in my mind that geddy, is not good, he's great. neal pert is what impresses me, but geddy is what makes the whole thing tick and come together imho. --_ ______________ _ "Self-awareness is the key to your upheaval from mediocrity."
Rik Posted October 1, 2003 Posted October 1, 2003 I think the real strong point to Geddy's playing isn't his chops, though those are outstanding. It's his imagination. He stands out because he comes up with stuff that nobody else would have thought of.
dcr Posted October 1, 2003 Posted October 1, 2003 quote:Originally posted by Thingus: You were right and I was wrong.
erikmag Posted October 1, 2003 Posted October 1, 2003 Yea, to quote the idea from a chuck palahnuik book, if you start to pick apart the niddy griddy parts then you really loose sight of the big picture. Another thing to keep in mind, especially when judging bassist like Lee, Jack Bruce, Les claypool, etc., is that they all sing in the band, in it take tallent to be damn good and sing. We distort. You abide.
HiRoller Posted October 1, 2003 Posted October 1, 2003 Geddy also sings, plays Taurus pedals and bass at the same time. my band: Mission 5
jeremy c Posted October 1, 2003 Posted October 1, 2003 Why is this thread in the past tense? The dude is still playing, ain't he? Did I miss something? Yeah, he's that good. Free download of my cd!.
ibescotty Posted October 1, 2003 Posted October 1, 2003 Geddy is a great player in my opinion. In fact I've never really heard anyone have any qualms with the instrumentation. Usually Rush is disliked because of the sometimes preachy lyrics and his voice. I'm sure someone out there doesn't like any of it though. Double Posting since March 2002 Random Post Generator #26797
getz out Posted October 1, 2003 Posted October 1, 2003 Originally posted by Bumpcity: The more you study individual players and learn their basslines, the more you will realize that most people have their 'bag of tricks'. Like Michael Anthony of Van Halen - Root 1/8th notes. Umm, what a minute, that's my "bag" too! Crap...
Jode Posted October 1, 2003 Posted October 1, 2003 I learned a lot about Geddy Lee, and myself, through something I read in an interview once. The interviewer said something about the strides that Geddy had made and the things he'd added to the vocabulary of the bass, and he said that he still felt he'd never played his best. He felt like there were more musical ideas in his head and heart than he could muster with his hands - your body and your chops continually playing catch-up with your mind. I realized I felt the same way about my own playing, and that that's what keeps musicians going, whether they're geniuses or not. As for Michael Anthony: it's conventional wisdom to save your chops and shine them on at the appropriate moment, so that in context, it blows people away. Michael Anthony made us wait twenty five years before busting off some chops. Ever heard "Welcome To The Pleasuredome" from F.U.C.K. ? It is awesome! It's got to be the longest-awaited payoff in bass guitar history. I just knew that boy really knows how to play, and after a lifetime of listening to Van Halen, he finally delivered the goods. "I had to have something, and it wasn't there. I couldn't go down the street and buy it, so I built it." Les Paul
-Will- Posted October 1, 2003 Posted October 1, 2003 Ever heard "Welcome To The Pleasuredome" from F.U.C.K. ? It is awesome! I heard somewhere and I don't know if it is true or not that Eddie wrote all of Mike's parts. I know Mike had to be good enough to play them, but that is just what I have heard. Music has no boundaries. It is yours to discover, to enjoy, to draw from and to pass on to others.
Dan South Posted October 1, 2003 Posted October 1, 2003 You're trying to sum up Geddy's style in one word? Octaves?? Which Rush albums are you listening to? How about some other words - - tone - clarity - accuracy - speed - attitude - string bending - scales - arpeggios - chromaticism - groove - punch - adrenaline - countermelodies - polyrhythms - songwriting - arranging Not to mention that he does everything live that he does on record (and THEN some), and he's been thrilling audiences world wide for over thirty years. I agree with Jeremy. Geddy Lee is a monster player. The Black Knight always triumphs!
dcr Posted October 1, 2003 Posted October 1, 2003 Octaves?!? Gosh, the only thing worse would be octaves with fifths. Like that poseur Jamerson; I mean, check out the line on "I'll Be There" sometime. Just roots, fifths, octaves, & some simple passing tones. What a joke. [Note: the above must be read with the Irony Detector turned to 11.]
The Bear Jew Posted October 1, 2003 Posted October 1, 2003 My sarcasm meter just imploded. \m/ Erik "To fight and conquer in all your battles is not supreme excellence; supreme excellence consists of breaking the enemy's resistance without fighting." --Sun Tzu
dave64o Posted October 1, 2003 Posted October 1, 2003 Originally posted by jeremyc: Why is this thread in the past tense? The dude is still playing, ain't he? Did I miss something? Yeah, he's that good.When I first read the thread title I thought of only one possible response - "WAS?!?!" Put me down for being on the "Yes, I think he's that good" list. -------------------- Dave O.
davebrownbass Posted October 3, 2003 Posted October 3, 2003 Yep. I thought of Dan's list as well. He does do a lot of root-2-minor3, I guess! But that punchy tone. The incredible sense of mixed meter. One of his most underrated aspects. How about this one...Sing lead in that weird voice, play bass and pedal synth at the same time. And, still "open-hearted." "Let's raise the level of this conversation" -- Jeremy Cohen, in the Picasso Thread. Still spendin' that political capital far faster than I can earn it...stretched way out on a limb here and looking for a better interest rate.
Rik Posted October 3, 2003 Posted October 3, 2003 He makes good, creative use of syncopation as well.
The Guy Posted October 3, 2003 Posted October 3, 2003 Originally posted by Rik: I think the real strong point to Geddy's playing isn't his chops, though those are outstanding. It's his imagination. He stands out because he comes up with stuff that nobody else would have thought of.So true. If you listen to rush, the whole band was origional. Neal Pert is an incredable drummer, and he's the main reason that I listen to rush, but a good drummer is best accompanied by a good bassist. In the case of Geddy and Pert, they mixed perfectly, and both complimented eachother increadibly, no question, and half the reason for that was Geddy.
Jezza Posted October 3, 2003 Posted October 3, 2003 I think Geddy Lee is sensational, if your've ever tried to play and sing his parts simultaneously as he does you will know that it's much, much more difficult than he makes it look and sound. I believe his use of octaves is in part a function of him playing in a three piece band. I played in a power trio for about 6 years in the early nineties and found that octaves tend to fill out the sound, especially when the guitarist is soloing. John Paul Jones often use an 8 string bass live to fatten up the sound of Led Zepplin, which effectively means he played octaves on every note!, making Geddy look positively understated in this regard. Always remember that the smaller the ensemble the greater the space left for the bass player to fill.
rockinredneck69 Posted October 3, 2003 Posted October 3, 2003 Originally posted by Will-Bass: Ever heard "Welcome To The Pleasuredome" from F.U.C.K. ? It is awesome! I heard somewhere and I don't know if it is true or not that Eddie wrote all of Mike's parts. I know Mike had to be good enough to play them, but that is just what I have heard.sorry about the blank....ummmm, anyway. I know that Edward VanHalen played bass on Sammy Hagar's self-titled album, so it would'nt be surprising to think that he has over the years done that to Michael Anthony. Yet, I don't believe it for the reason that the style sounds the same from the first album to the last one. I know that could be deceiving, but keep in mind that Hagar had a musical influence on the band that showed. Oh yeah, just remembered...Michael Anthony has quit the band and has been playing with Sammy. Donnie Peterson
Bouncer Posted October 3, 2003 Posted October 3, 2003 Ok, I'll admit it!! Besides Tom Sawyer, I never ever really have listened to Rush!! I'm 36 and grew up with all that stuff but for some reason never Rush. My influences for the most part were the likes of Rudy Sarzo, Billy Sheehan, Ron Trujillo and so forth. But....let this be said as i'm sure it already has.....Geddy Lee is da Mac!! I picked up one of my sister's Rush CD's and listened in awe to every song. I dont remember the album, one of the newer i'm sure but it kicked!! Geddy and Neil have got to rank high on the list!!! Not only have i become a major Geddy fan but a total Rush fan!! I never even knew there was only three of them!! I just learned Tom Sawyer this week, well actually there are a couple lines i'm having trouble with( the da da da da da da...da da da da da da part). well, just thought i would share my stupidity with everyone! Set the pace.......add more Bass!!
Bouncer Posted October 3, 2003 Posted October 3, 2003 Test for Echo i think was the album i listened to. My first Rush experience. Set the pace.......add more Bass!!
alexclaber Posted October 3, 2003 Posted October 3, 2003 Originally posted by davebrownbass: Sing lead in that weird voiceNow if he'd just stop doing that I might enjoy listening to Rush... Alex Barefaced Ltd - ultra lightweight, high ouput, toneful bass cabs
ibescotty Posted October 3, 2003 Posted October 3, 2003 I had read an interview where Geddy said that they had actually talked about getting a 4th member to come in and be the singer. The band collectively decided that it wouldn't Rush if they did that. Double Posting since March 2002 Random Post Generator #26797
Rik Posted October 3, 2003 Posted October 3, 2003 Now if he'd just stop doing that I might enjoy listening to Rush...Have you listened to their stuff from the last decade or so? He knocked off that screeching a lon time ago. In fact, his voice has matured remarkably, improving with time. His vocal layering techniques are fantastic. His vocal layering has actually replaced the synths, too.
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