I love how simple the Satisfaction bass line is. Just goes to show that you don't always need to play a million notes to be effective. Sometimes, less is more, especially when laying down a groove. Whatever best serves the song is the right bass line, and if that is a simple line, so be it.
You are absolutely right about how the instruments on the song that shall not be named work together to make that groove and ambiance. Thanks again for pointing out your video! It's almost magical how the three of you put together that great record!
wonderful advise, stories, riffs as usual ! thank you so very much again :) I just past my 40 th year on my bass journey and you help the inspiration going 3 fold. Thanks so much
I been learning from you even before the Firm and Blue Murder. I been gigging for over fifty years and played fretless for many years. The most valuable thing I learned from you is this; PLAY IT HOW YOU FEEL IT! If I am playing a fretless and the song tells me slap it I just do it and on a fretted bass I feel a slide I slide. Thank you for the freedom that we play the bass, but the gear doesn't play us.
Even your simpler bass riffs sound great mate! Yes, there is a certain magic about Fender for sure! RIP Jeff Beck he was a lovely bloke for sure! Cheers from Stoke-On-Trent
One of the things I love about "Satisfaction Guaranteed" is that it does the opposite of most rock songs - It actually gets QUIETER for the chorus. Great vibe to the entire thing. As for the song which shall not be named, if there's any problem with the name, it's that people don't recognize that words have more than one meaning. Especially strange since people DID know what it meant back then, but somehow have forgotten today.
Good point with Satisfaction Guaranteed. Such a vibe on that track. Yes you’re absolutely right on the title. These days people would just see the title and be put off. Oh well. 🤷♂️😂🤪
Thanks Tony, Love these back stories & the demonstration of how you played these songs 😀👍 I have always loved Satisfaction Guaranteed, good song, & all these years I thought you played it on a fretless 😊
Tony, how did you balance so beautifully between Chris Slade’s kick pattern and Jimmy’s guitar part on “Someone to Love”? It is truly remarkable! You stitched them together and made it groove so hard! Much admiration -Chris
Outstanding ! a few stories of how it comes together in a song and a bit of a Lesson Now that;s Cool Thanks Tony The Happy Bassist and of course The Fretless Monster > 217
I love this so much. I follow 2 of the greatest musicians on this site (you and some dude with a giant white beard), Both have incredibly different styles, but both have the same passion for music. I started playing bass 3 years ago, and have been having a blast figuring out how to make great sounds from it. You have been instrumental (see what I did there) in that journey, and I thank you for it! Thanks to Lee as well!
I had a bass in my 20's. Hated it so I traded for drums. Since then, for my 50th b-day I got a Yamaha bass. I wish I would have stayed with it. Having a blast. I'm actually hearing more of the song. The different layers building up and the bass adds so much more to music.
I’m happy you made it back to bass. You can probably appreciate it more now. Bass has the rhythm and the melody. Plus it’s a single note instrument. Perfectly suited for many aspects of the band, including the unique ability to interweave with the vocal. McCartney is a master of that of course.
I went through something similar to this subsaga in December 2022. It wasn’t because anyone told me they wanted me to play a fretted bass, but more appropriately because the elevator (or lift in British lingo) in my building wasn’t working, and I didn’t want to carry my fretless bass up and down five flights of stairs. The other bass I play, a Squier Bass Six, is a fraction of the weight of my fretless custom Carvin, much easier to lug up and down the stairs. In the only situation where I presently play bass, other than on my solo recordings, I discovered that it’s a give-and-take thing. It has frets, but the combination of 2 extra strings with its tonal palette of three pickups with individual switching is outstanding.
I like those simple "heart beat" lines like your chorus. I think they are so effective because they mimic our biology. Then again, maybe I should leave the philosophy for happy hour.
Funny story about this song. I have always loved it, but there was a long period that I didn hear it. Well, a friend I went to a strip club in Colorado, and this super hot girl gets up on stage and starts dancing to it. Now I have it on my phone. Not only are you playing it, but I keep seeing her dance to it. Thanks Tony.
You aren't wrong about the whole band thing . have been paying attention to you ever since blue murder but I have to tell you that the rendition /cover of stormbringer was phenomenal Mr Franklin 👍👍👍👍👍
Great!! Thanks so much. I love that we took Stormbringer to a new place - though some people criticized it. Why remake the original when it’s already been done?? 🤷♂️🤩
Thanks Tony, those were fun stories mate. I know why you can't mention that title, and I won't either. Those were different times and that's alright, things change, but bass is forever. We thought back then that synths would take over everything but they didn't and never will. We just keep playing! Cheers mate!
Right? It’s true. I’ve heard it before. Then saw a snippet of Jeff Beck mentioning it recently. It just kind of fit in with the dialog. Wasn’t planning on it.
@@FretlessMonster True is right. I’ve gone onto a Fenders, a jazz and p, after playing a lovely Stingray for years. You have to get to know them … ups and downs … but they do give something special back. Passive basses and Fender necks - enjoying the wrestle and wrangle. My fretless is a Ray mind you … I’d love a go on your Fender … must try a TF signature model sometime …
Great content as always. I’m also in the half century club playing bass. the Firm album got me started on fretless. I play a 5 string Warmoth gecko I built almost exclusively. Bartolini P/J with a 3 way so tonally the same as my Fender P/J precision. My playing is better learning from your videos here and elsewhere. The produce like a pro video teaches so much.
Great to hear that. Thanks for sharing. There’s always more to learn. I’m still learning. I love it. Happy you enjoyed the Produce Like A Pro video too. There’s a lot of subtle and real world useful info in there! Bass on! 😊🤩
Hello, Tony! This was such an amusing video, I was really impressed with the editing but I never knew that a standard fretted P-bass was used on Satisfaction Guaranteed. Jimmy’s bends and the layers of orchestral synth certainly make it sound like a fretless is involved like all the other tracks. Thank you for all you do - Eric
Thank you. Much appreciated. It was actually an Alembic on Satisfaction Guaranteed… and also no guitar synth. I played all the orchestral parts on keyboard. Jimmy played some tasty moody vibe parts for sure though.
Oh, that’s right LOL you said it was an Alembic. I think my mind just kept associating the P-bass you were holding with the track. One of my closest friends got an Alembic as his first bass (can’t remember which model) in 1975. It’s his most treasured instrument, although he rarely plays it. These days he leans more on his gorgeous mahogany Guild fretless or his Ovation. He also has an old semi-hollow Danelectro guitar. Not exactly like Jimmy’s but he slacks the tuning way down for a bass-like anchor effect while playing riffs and full chords
Gotta say... It must of been so awesome to play with the great musicians in The Firm at such an early stage of your career. You really did contribute something incredible to the unique sound and stage presence of that band and it is no wonder why these respected gentlemen wanted you there. Curious as to why Mr. Page requested that you try S.G. on a fretted base? Was there a reason given or a different feel to it? From where I sit, any Bass sounds great in your hands and I'm in awe when you create those perfect frettless grooves. More power to ya and thanks for the tunes!
Nice Bass collection you have love the Pbass with a Jazz Pickup on it. Love the thicker P neck. Jimmy wanted that dirty fretted sound on Satisfaction Guaranteed on the chorusy part
I was actually just listening to both Firm albums last night. So magical, so majestic. And it was really YOUR bass doing the thing. Hope you’ll find your way near Dayton Ohio again some day.
I love those hidden stories so much. I even want to buy bass truck only CDs from The Firm , Blue Murder ,SLB . Do you use same string-hight -fretless bass when you use finger or when use picks? Appreciate this post so much.
Thanks so much. The bass set up is the same. I often go between finger style and pick so it’s not practical to switch. On the unnamed song I go between pick, fingers and slap! 🤪🤷♂️
I only discovered Blue Murder very recently and I have to say the work you, Carmine Appice, and John Sykes did on that debut album is amazing. Especially on tracks like Valley of the Kings, Riot, and the title track. Is there any chance of the debut album getting a vinyl reissue? Cheers from Chicago.
Thanks so much. It was reissued apparently. Not sure if it made it to vinyl. I don’t know how the reissue was handled though. The band had nothing to do with it.
Playing fretted bass feels weird after playing fretless for a long time. There aren’t enough notes and they aren’t in the “right” place. I’m sure you know what I mean.
It definitely feels if I’m on one or the other for an extended time. I typically mix it up though. I do a fair bit of work on fretted. Probably 40% of my playing. 😊🙏🏻
@@FretlessMonster That’s interesting. I just assumed you were like me and played fretless all the time. I have a fretted 78 J Bass that spent almost 25 years in its case played only a handful of times, and on those times I felt restricted. Do you think playing fretted makes you a better fretless player, or is it just something you have to do? I have a Jaco reissue that has been in its case since 2006, and I just don’t even like having lines on a fretless. I think it makes me play visually, rather than by ear. I know generally where the notes are for a key, but they aren’t necessarily on the line, precisely as a “Precision” bass would have the maj third out by 24 percent. Anyway, I don’t need to tell a fretless monster what he already knows, I’m just surprised that you switch between both animals.
Bassriffs that slide from one note to the next don’t sound good on a fretted bass to my ears 🙉🙊 It’s like we all just agreed to pretend the clickety clickety sound of the frets aren’t there 😅Just like the string buzz when changing chords on a guitar. Cool riffs though 😊
I love how simple the Satisfaction bass line is. Just goes to show that you don't always need to play a million notes to be effective. Sometimes, less is more, especially when laying down a groove. Whatever best serves the song is the right bass line, and if that is a simple line, so be it.
Bingo.
Less notes is often more powerful. And as you say, whatever the song needs.
Doesn’t matter if it’s simple or not, just whether it fits the song or not.
Bingo!! 👏🏻👏🏻
You are absolutely right about how the instruments on the song that shall not be named work together to make that groove and ambiance. Thanks again for pointing out your video! It's almost magical how the three of you put together that great record!
Great! Thanks Michael.
Sweet and beautiful, keep sharing the sweet 😊 ❤
wonderful advise, stories, riffs as usual ! thank you so very much again :) I just past my 40 th year on my bass journey and you help the inspiration going 3 fold. Thanks so much
That’s amazing to hear. Thank you. Means a lot. I love sharing this stuff.
Waiting for Blue Murder reunion
Your works are great on that
But no more
I been learning from you even before the Firm and Blue Murder. I been gigging for over fifty years and played fretless for many years. The most valuable thing I learned from you is this; PLAY IT HOW YOU FEEL IT! If I am playing a fretless and the song tells me slap it I just do it and on a fretted bass I feel a slide I slide. Thank you for the freedom that we play the bass, but the gear doesn't play us.
That’s great to hear. Very meaningful to me.
Enjoy it! We PLAY music right??… we don’t work it.
Have fun!
love your playing, your enthusiasm, and your absolute positivity. You are happy to speak to us and share your gift and time with us. Thank you sir
I truly appreciate that. I love playing bass and creating music. 🙏🏻🤩
Even your simpler bass riffs sound great mate! Yes, there is a certain magic about Fender for sure! RIP Jeff Beck he was a lovely bloke for sure! Cheers from Stoke-On-Trent
Cheers mate. Thanks so much
Thanks for sharing this Tony 🎶🎵🎸
One of the things I love about "Satisfaction Guaranteed" is that it does the opposite of most rock songs - It actually gets QUIETER for the chorus. Great vibe to the entire thing.
As for the song which shall not be named, if there's any problem with the name, it's that people don't recognize that words have more than one meaning. Especially strange since people DID know what it meant back then, but somehow have forgotten today.
Good point with Satisfaction Guaranteed. Such a vibe on that track.
Yes you’re absolutely right on the title. These days people would just see the title and be put off. Oh well. 🤷♂️😂🤪
@@FretlessMonster Hah - yeah, between the name "Blue Murder" and... that song... my mom was not thrilled that I owned the Blue Murder CD :)
Thanks Tony, Love these back stories & the demonstration of how you played these songs 😀👍
I have always loved Satisfaction Guaranteed, good song, & all these years I thought you played it on a fretless 😊
Thanks so much.
Satisfaction Guaranteed even sounds Fretless to me! 🤷♂️😂
I named my first band after that tune in 1990! (2nd.song in the L.P.) Love ya Mr.fretless monster! Greetings from Italy!
Oh wow. That’s pretty rocking!! Cheers!!
Thanks for sharing this info with everyone! I really love you & John & the song "Valley of the Kings"!! My favorite song!!❤😊
That’s great. Thanks so much. Love Valley Of The Kings!! 🔥👏🏻
What a treat... thank you, Tony!
Thanks Jay!
Tony, how did you balance so beautifully between Chris Slade’s kick pattern and Jimmy’s guitar part on “Someone to Love”? It is truly remarkable! You stitched them together and made it groove so hard! Much admiration -Chris
Thanks for that. Gosh I never really thought about it. I simply played what felt right! 🤷♂️🤩
I guess it worked.
Could watch your videos all day long tony,(sometimes do 😊). ❤
That’s great. 🤩👏🏻
Thanks so much
Outstanding ! a few stories of how it comes together in a song and a bit of a Lesson Now that;s Cool Thanks Tony The Happy Bassist and of course The Fretless Monster > 217
Thank you. It’s fun to share it.
Fretted or Fretless, it's still amazing and cool! Cheers Tony
Thank you!!!
Thank you sir . sending good vibes from NJ
And good vibes to you! From Cali
What Rick Beato does is a gift to music and musicians everywhere - Thank you!!
👏🏻👏🏻❤️❤️
I've been a fan from your very start! You are my Bass hero...
You’re very kind. Thank you so much 😊
Tony thank you for sharing this! You always play tasty riffs whether its fretless or fretted Bass!
Truly appreciate that. Cheers Marc!
I love this so much. I follow 2 of the greatest musicians on this site (you and some dude with a giant white beard), Both have incredibly different styles, but both have the same passion for music. I started playing bass 3 years ago, and have been having a blast figuring out how to make great sounds from it. You have been instrumental (see what I did there) in that journey, and I thank you for it! Thanks to Lee as well!
@@TheDynamiteGuy I have not, but I will look them up! Thanks for the tip!
I had a bass in my 20's. Hated it so I traded for drums. Since then, for my 50th b-day I got a Yamaha bass. I wish I would have stayed with it. Having a blast. I'm actually hearing more of the song. The different layers building up and the bass adds so much more to music.
Thanks so much. Lee’s great. Funny too.
I’m happy you made it back to bass. You can probably appreciate it more now.
Bass has the rhythm and the melody. Plus it’s a single note instrument. Perfectly suited for many aspects of the band, including the unique ability to interweave with the vocal. McCartney is a master of that of course.
@@treadhead1945 Also check out @CharlesBerthoud
I went through something similar to this subsaga in December 2022. It wasn’t because anyone told me they wanted me to play a fretted bass, but more appropriately because the elevator (or lift in British lingo) in my building wasn’t working, and I didn’t want to carry my fretless bass up and down five flights of stairs. The other bass I play, a Squier Bass Six, is a fraction of the weight of my fretless custom Carvin, much easier to lug up and down the stairs. In the only situation where I presently play bass, other than on my solo recordings, I discovered that it’s a give-and-take thing. It has frets, but the combination of 2 extra strings with its tonal palette of three pickups with individual switching is outstanding.
Ha. Interesting. It’s always a give and take. Spot on.
👌
Very nice. Love that song.
Thank you. (Me too!) 🤪👍🏻
I like those simple "heart beat" lines like your chorus. I think they are so effective because they mimic our biology. Then again, maybe I should leave the philosophy for happy hour.
Haha. It sounds right to me. 👏🏻😂
Thanks 😊
3:28 I have always loved that F - G part.
Me too!! So simple yet very powerful
Thanks for sharing this. It's nice to see how the tracks were created. Cheers, Tony! ✌️
Great. Thanks for checking it out. It’s fun to share.
Funny story about this song. I have always loved it, but there was a long period that I didn hear it. Well, a friend I went to a strip club in Colorado, and this super hot girl gets up on stage and starts dancing to it. Now I have it on my phone. Not only are you playing it, but I keep seeing her dance to it. Thanks Tony.
Haha. Great!! 🤩
👍👍👍👍👍
👏👏👏👏👏
You aren't wrong about the whole band thing . have been paying attention to you ever since blue murder but I have to tell you that the rendition /cover of stormbringer was phenomenal Mr Franklin 👍👍👍👍👍
Great!! Thanks so much.
I love that we took Stormbringer to a new place - though some people criticized it. Why remake the original when it’s already been done?? 🤷♂️🤩
Tony,you guys all took that song to a level unknown until recently and over the top spectacular! Anyone that claims any different is deaf.🤘
I think the critics might be drinking bud light 😂
Hope 2023 is good for you Tony. Thanks for the videos...always look forward to them. Cheers
Have a great 2023! Thanks!
This was awesome, thanks!
Thanks so much 😊
Thanks Tony, those were fun stories mate. I know why you can't mention that title, and I won't either. Those were different times and that's alright, things change, but bass is forever. We thought back then that synths would take over everything but they didn't and never will. We just keep playing! Cheers mate!
Yes exactly. Different times indeed. Good old rock and roll.
Cheers!
Both songs are incredible
🙏🏻🤩
Tony Franklin super good luck. Благодарю за прекрасное исполнение на ладовой бас-гитаре . Всех благ в Новом году.
❤️❤️❤️
Tony, looking good! Thank you for all you do for us.
You’re very kind. Thank you
Loved the bit about fighting with a Fender …
Right? It’s true. I’ve heard it before. Then saw a snippet of Jeff Beck mentioning it recently.
It just kind of fit in with the dialog. Wasn’t planning on it.
@@FretlessMonster True is right. I’ve gone onto a Fenders, a jazz and p, after playing a lovely Stingray for years. You have to get to know them … ups and downs … but they do give something special back.
Passive basses and Fender necks - enjoying the wrestle and wrangle.
My fretless is a Ray mind you …
I’d love a go on your Fender … must try a TF signature model sometime …
@@FretlessMonster love your work man
Fretted 😱
Cool story. Thanks!
Great content as always. I’m also in the half century club playing bass. the Firm album got me started on fretless. I play a 5 string Warmoth gecko I built almost exclusively. Bartolini P/J with a 3 way so tonally the same as my Fender P/J precision. My playing is better learning from your videos here and elsewhere. The produce like a pro video teaches so much.
Great to hear that. Thanks for sharing. There’s always more to learn. I’m still learning. I love it.
Happy you enjoyed the Produce Like A Pro video too. There’s a lot of subtle and real world useful info in there!
Bass on! 😊🤩
I enjoyed that , your passion is inspiring . I'm to old to start now but I love watching the talent you possess . Bass on brother ! 😊
You’re very kind. Thank you.
Never too old to start having fun though. 😊🤩
Your signature line is the best thing Fender is making now. Fretless or fretted.👍🤘
Wow. Thanks for that. I’m humbled. 🤩🙏🏻
Tony Franklin slap monster 😅😅
😂😂👏🏻👏🏻
Hello, Tony! This was such an amusing video, I was really impressed with the editing but I never knew that a standard fretted P-bass was used on Satisfaction Guaranteed. Jimmy’s bends and the layers of orchestral synth certainly make it sound like a fretless is involved like all the other tracks. Thank you for all you do - Eric
Thank you. Much appreciated.
It was actually an Alembic on Satisfaction Guaranteed… and also no guitar synth. I played all the orchestral parts on keyboard.
Jimmy played some tasty moody vibe parts for sure though.
Oh, that’s right LOL you said it was an Alembic. I think my mind just kept associating the P-bass you were holding with the track. One of my closest friends got an Alembic as his first bass (can’t remember which model) in 1975. It’s his most treasured instrument, although he rarely plays it. These days he leans more on his gorgeous mahogany Guild fretless or his Ovation. He also has an old semi-hollow Danelectro guitar. Not exactly like Jimmy’s but he slacks the tuning way down for a bass-like anchor effect while playing riffs and full chords
Gotta say... It must of been so awesome to play with the great musicians in The Firm at such an early stage of your career. You really did contribute something incredible to the unique sound and stage presence of that band and it is no wonder why these respected gentlemen wanted you there. Curious as to why Mr. Page requested that you try S.G. on a fretted base? Was there a reason given or a different feel to it? From where I sit, any Bass sounds great in your hands and I'm in awe when you create those perfect frettless grooves. More power to ya and thanks for the tunes!
Thanks for that. He just asked what would I think about trying the fretted bass? I wasn’t going to debate him. Haha! It worked out.
It worked out Great!@@FretlessMonster
Nice Bass collection you have love the Pbass with a Jazz Pickup on it. Love the thicker P neck. Jimmy wanted that dirty fretted sound on Satisfaction Guaranteed on the chorusy part
I guess so. Yes I love the PJ set up.
Brilliant mate, rock on
Cheers mate!
I was actually just listening to both Firm albums last night. So magical, so majestic. And it was really YOUR bass doing the thing. Hope you’ll find your way near Dayton Ohio again some day.
Epic
👏🏻🤩🔥
i use to have a 75 p-bass natural. sold it years ago. have a good day.
Great basses
@@FretlessMonster yes bad choice to sell ,but if you were to see my gibson lpb-2. no regrets.
👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍
👏🏻👏🏻👍🏻👍🏻🤩🤩
I love those hidden stories so much. I even want to buy bass truck only CDs from The Firm , Blue Murder ,SLB . Do you use same string-hight -fretless bass when you use finger or when use picks? Appreciate this post so much.
Thanks so much.
The bass set up is the same. I often go between finger style and pick so it’s not practical to switch. On the unnamed song I go between pick, fingers and slap! 🤪🤷♂️
I had to look at the album to see what song. I never even took it as anything but a good song.
Thanks! Yes we never thought that either. It’s only recently that people have mentioned it. Different times. 🤷♂️
I only discovered Blue Murder very recently and I have to say the work you, Carmine Appice, and John Sykes did on that debut album is amazing. Especially on tracks like Valley of the Kings, Riot, and the title track. Is there any chance of the debut album getting a vinyl reissue? Cheers from Chicago.
Thanks so much. It was reissued apparently. Not sure if it made it to vinyl. I don’t know how the reissue was handled though. The band had nothing to do with it.
@@FretlessMonster Thanks for responding. I actually ordered an older pressing of the first record on vinyl. Can’t wait for it. Keep up the good work.🤘
Playing fretted bass feels weird after playing fretless for a long time. There aren’t enough notes and they aren’t in the “right” place. I’m sure you know what I mean.
It definitely feels if I’m on one or the other for an extended time. I typically mix it up though. I do a fair bit of work on fretted. Probably 40% of my playing. 😊🙏🏻
@@FretlessMonster That’s interesting. I just assumed you were like me and played fretless all the time. I have a fretted 78 J Bass that spent almost 25 years in its case played only a handful of times, and on those times I felt restricted.
Do you think playing fretted makes you a better fretless player, or is it just something you have to do? I have a Jaco reissue that has been in its case since 2006, and I just don’t even like having lines on a fretless.
I think it makes me play visually, rather than by ear. I know generally where the notes are for a key, but they aren’t necessarily on the line, precisely as a “Precision” bass would have the maj third out by 24 percent. Anyway, I don’t need to tell a fretless monster what he already knows, I’m just surprised that you switch between both animals.
Will we ever hear/see you and John play again?
It’s possible. Though nothing is scheduled at this point so don’t get too excited! 😊
@@FretlessMonster I guess we can all hope the 2023 will see you guys playing again, even if it's just a jam or even an interview/chat type video.
Hi. Mr Tony. Do you have a Dimarzio Jazz Pickup on your Precision Bass ? Do you know the year of the Jazz Pickup? Thanks
Yes it’s a DiMarzio Model J. I installed it in 1983.
The same pick is in my signature bass.
Bass players are so tricky people. They have four strings and four fingers. %)
Some have more strings. But not more fingers. 🙃🤪
@@FretlessMonster Yes, harp players have legion of strings but them do not arguing %)
Bassriffs that slide from one note to the next don’t sound good on a fretted bass to my ears 🙉🙊 It’s like we all just agreed to pretend the clickety clickety sound of the frets aren’t there 😅Just like the string buzz when changing chords on a guitar. Cool riffs though 😊
I know what you mean. I noticed that for the first time on Queen’s Bohemian Rhapsody. That’s before I even knew what a Fretless bass was!