Wow you really pinned this one. Im bass player as well, im seriously impressed. This song has a really easy melody but the way Ben Orr played the bass line in the studio it has many alterations on different parts. you nailed them all. Great job.
Something I noticed was a common theme with Ben's basslines in the studio (especially in the first three Cars albums) is that he NEVER played the parts exactly the same, always adding a little twist here and there. When you hear it it sounds simple but when you try to play it like the studio version, you're in for quite a ride! It's why he's one of my favourite bass players!
@@mjosiebert honestly thats just what bass playing *was* back then. Listen to any band from back then, if you couldn't hold down a riff and also improvise at least a little on it, you wouldnt be hired back then. Beatles, led zeppelin, all of the greats did this and it extended into the 90s and 2000s for the "better" bands even though it became more rare. Look at grunge bands like soundgarden and Nirvana, Krist noveselich of nirvana and ben Sheppard of soundgarden did it too, its really what makes bass so good because just playing one different note changes the ENTIRE context of the song, because when the bass plays a note it becomes the root note of what the guitarist is playing and can even change the quality of it, changing one note can give a bassist the power to change what the guitarist is playing from major to minor even, it can change EVERYTHING. Most bass players just play the root, maybe the fifth, and SOMETIMES the third, but a great bassplayer will learn when it's tactful to play a note outside of the chord to augment it, and can have the power to make the song a completely different experience without ANYONE even noticing because its subtle unlike the guitar and only needs one note to change it all. (Guitarists can do this too, but the bass is basically designed to be the key changer by default, a guitarist being the higher pitch can do it too but its more subtle and flows better when the bass does it, to a listener its out in the open when the guitar does it and everyone notices usually, but its more a subconscious "ooo what just happened there? That part was cool and I dont know why?" Kind of thing for a bass. Both are important qualities though) Now people just play the same exact notes over and over and that "soul" has been lost in most of rock music. Geddy lee of rush is really good at doing that type of bass playing too, he wouldn't even just do different variations it just sounded like the entire baselines were improvised. Check out even working man, it was their first album and he had it DOWN.
Micky Barr And he did it all while singing lead, too. He wasn’t always a bass player either. Except for keyboards it was the instrument he has the least experience with. He was so very musically gifted. It’s really too bad he was not more appreciated for how incredibly talented he was while he was still alive.
Yeah, wow, just wow... great tab and great playing. I had settled on it being a much simpler bass line, but after hearing you play it, I realize that it is definitely more intricate then I first thought. Like many have said, Ben Orr was a great bass player... Better than I ever remembered, but now trying to figure out some of the Cars songs on bass(and on guitar) is a real eye opener. Thanks for that!
This guy actually knows how to play a cars tune. So many people just put themselves playing their rendition of what they think it is. Thank u I needed to learn this song 👍🤘
@@BassistBreakdown really! Then you'll enjoy playing those songs with your band...then again just for yourself. Figured you might like it since they're around that same era.
5 string is not needed for this song. I used it for this song because it cut through the mix better than the other basses I have. I bought this bass when I was playing in a cover band that played songs in Eb and drop d. This prevented me from having to retune or grab another instrument mid set. Personally I love the way the low d and b sound.
@@BassistBreakdown Being a percussionist and not a guitarist, I have never known the reason for one over the other or if all bass players can play both?
A 4 string bass is standard. A 5 string has the exact same 4 strings plus one thicker string that gives you access to lower notes. I would say most intermediate bass players would be able switch from a four string to a five string with a little practice. It would be like adding a new drum to your kit.
I don’t think so, for this one, I used the bass only track and did my best to transcribe note for note. I’m sure there some mistakes but it should be close.
Newly Available! Bass Tab in Description
Learning this song to cover with my band, and this tab is...
...Just What I Needed.
Get out.
@@geckowithcamostay in
Best and most accurate cover on the net!
Ben Orr was fantastic, Thanks for this!
Wow you really pinned this one. Im bass player as well, im seriously impressed. This song has a really easy melody but the way Ben Orr played the bass line in the studio it has many alterations on different parts. you nailed them all. Great job.
Something I noticed was a common theme with Ben's basslines in the studio (especially in the first three Cars albums) is that he NEVER played the parts exactly the same, always adding a little twist here and there. When you hear it it sounds simple but when you try to play it like the studio version, you're in for quite a ride! It's why he's one of my favourite bass players!
@@mickybarr9032I've noticed that McCartney did that, too!
@@mjosiebert honestly thats just what bass playing *was* back then. Listen to any band from back then, if you couldn't hold down a riff and also improvise at least a little on it, you wouldnt be hired back then. Beatles, led zeppelin, all of the greats did this and it extended into the 90s and 2000s for the "better" bands even though it became more rare. Look at grunge bands like soundgarden and Nirvana, Krist noveselich of nirvana and ben Sheppard of soundgarden did it too, its really what makes bass so good because just playing one different note changes the ENTIRE context of the song, because when the bass plays a note it becomes the root note of what the guitarist is playing and can even change the quality of it, changing one note can give a bassist the power to change what the guitarist is playing from major to minor even, it can change EVERYTHING. Most bass players just play the root, maybe the fifth, and SOMETIMES the third, but a great bassplayer will learn when it's tactful to play a note outside of the chord to augment it, and can have the power to make the song a completely different experience without ANYONE even noticing because its subtle unlike the guitar and only needs one note to change it all. (Guitarists can do this too, but the bass is basically designed to be the key changer by default, a guitarist being the higher pitch can do it too but its more subtle and flows better when the bass does it, to a listener its out in the open when the guitar does it and everyone notices usually, but its more a subconscious "ooo what just happened there? That part was cool and I dont know why?" Kind of thing for a bass. Both are important qualities though)
Now people just play the same exact notes over and over and that "soul" has been lost in most of rock music. Geddy lee of rush is really good at doing that type of bass playing too, he wouldn't even just do different variations it just sounded like the entire baselines were improvised. Check out even working man, it was their first album and he had it DOWN.
Micky Barr And he did it all while singing lead, too. He wasn’t always a bass player either. Except for keyboards it was the instrument he has the least experience with. He was so very musically gifted. It’s really too bad he was not more appreciated for how incredibly talented he was while he was still alive.
@@anij8226 Yea Ben was great. I Feel privileged to have grown up in Boston. in this music scene.
Yeah, wow, just wow... great tab and great playing. I had settled on it being a much simpler bass line, but after hearing you play it, I realize that it is definitely more intricate then I first thought. Like many have said, Ben Orr was a great bass player... Better than I ever remembered, but now trying to figure out some of the Cars songs on bass(and on guitar) is a real eye opener. Thanks for that!
YOU FUCKING ABSOLUTELY NAILED THIS SONG
This guy actually knows how to play a cars tune. So many people just put themselves playing their rendition of what they think it is. Thank u I needed to learn this song 👍🤘
thankyou for putting the tab up the top - why people put it low is doing my head in haha
Thanks for the tab man. Benjamin Orr was pretty busy on this song lol
Sure thing. One of my favorite bass lines. Also a great song
RIP Ric and Benjamin
Not a bass player and this is awesome. Gives a better understanding of the structure of the song. Thanks. 🙂
Grew up on the Cars, one of my fave tunes. You just happen to be using the same bass as me, totally cool. Thanks
Finally!! Someone who plays that E flat note coming down toward the chorus!!! Well done!
I have a Stingray 5 myself, and and can’t help but notice you get the same “farty” sound that I get. We need to fix this.
you could buy a G&L M-2500 instead LOL .... still active but less farty imo
awesome bass part, awesome tab, awesome playing! thank you very much!
Thanks for this. I've been having a hard time figuring out the part during the solo!
Glad I could help.
Great job, as usual. Keep 'em coming
Thank you! There’s one part I couldn’t nail down trying to learn it by ear.
that's just what i needed , thanks
I love how the E-G#-E & B-F#-B sounds in the bridge to the 1st verse. It's somehow buried when you listen to the real song.
Thanks! This really helped me out.
Awesome! This is great! Thank you.
very nice just what we needed lol
thank you one of my fav songs
One of my favorites as well
Nice bass tone,love this song👍
Awesome Mr. N. You nailed it!
My HERO! many thanks!
@1:30 Wash rinse repeat until you can play it in your sleep
I’ve been playing this wrong my whole life...thanks
Super👏
Great tone!
Thanks
perfect!
thanks for the transcript
the best cover so far! standard tuning?
Yes
@@BassistBreakdown thank you!
How about a Squeeze cover, another nail in my heart! maybe in the near future? Thanks for sharing bro!
Thanks. I've never heard of the band Squeeze before today. Cool band. I like pulling mussels.
@@BassistBreakdown really! Then you'll enjoy playing those songs with your band...then again just for yourself. Figured you might like it since they're around that same era.
Wow, so much more to the bass line. Great work! Is there a way I can pdf the transcription?
Is it possible to get a pdf (or whatever) of the sheet music? Also, great job on this transcription!
Send me an email request at bassistbreakdown@gmail.com and I'll send you a copy
how about nail in my heart by SQUEEZE
NICE!!!
Brilliant thanks , is there a paper/pdf copy?
Original bassist used a plecard (pick).
That's true. Good call
Sorry for the dumb question - can I play this on a 4-string bass?
Yep. No need for a five string bass.
wow great job. Any chance I could get that tab??? :)
wait so do bass guitarist only use their fingers?
No, plenty of bassists use pick. In fact, this song was originally played with a pick.
4 vs 5 string bass. Just a personal preference?
5 string is not needed for this song. I used it for this song because it cut through the mix better than the other basses I have. I bought this bass when I was playing in a cover band that played songs in Eb and drop d. This prevented me from having to retune or grab another instrument mid set. Personally I love the way the low d and b sound.
@@BassistBreakdown Being a percussionist and not a guitarist, I have never known the reason for one over the other or if all bass players can play both?
A 4 string bass is standard. A 5 string has the exact same 4 strings plus one thicker string that gives you access to lower notes. I would say most intermediate bass players would be able switch from a four string to a five string with a little practice. It would be like adding a new drum to your kit.
What kind of strings on your MM?
Ernie ball Flatwound.
is the scrolling music available for download somewhere?
Your adding notes that aren't there.
I don’t think so, for this one, I used the bass only track and did my best to transcribe note for note. I’m sure there some mistakes but it should be close.
Your incorrect you start too early