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How did John play bass?

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who here has a good idea of what method John used to play bass and in what songs for example? I think I have noticed some pick playing and some finger style playing, plus some thumb playing, but am not too sure.
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How? I think with his hand. Could be wrong...
John: "It's the one thing I wish I could do - sing."
Straight from Ratty:

"In Early Queen days John never used a pick for live shows, he started using them around 1979/1980 - if I remember correctly...... He only ever used blue Martin heavy picks. He would use them selectively on stage: sometimes he just use fingers on certain songs (Another one bites the dust) sometimes just pick (Under pressure) and sometimes both fingers and pick (Now I'm Here) It could also depend on his mood. The graphic equalisers were part of John's electronic rack which controlled his sound on stage. He did have 2 - he had 2 of everything. The reason being, he could switch between his sound controls to get a different sound and the second one was a spare if anything went wrong or broke!!! It didn't, because his roadie was very good - totally professional!!! "
John hated Hot Space. Frederick's favourite singer was not Paul Rodgers. Roger didn't compose 'Innuendo.' 'Bohemian Rhapsody' hasn't got 180 vocal overdubs.
I think that he played his Precision Bass with his cock.....
"Not a fan of the ladies, are you Trebek?" Sean Connery
erm, he played it abit like this:-

picks up bass
puts it on
plugs it in
starts dancing and hopping around crazy
plucks any string his fingers can find that make a noise
still hopping around as if he was a little child!
i think he probably had soem lessons when he was younger
go deo na hÉireann The best QZ epoch: BG17-00 (Before Gerry 1996-2013)
He used his fingers. Maybe his toes. But that really depends on how much "tea" he's had.
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<font color=green>Rick wrote:
How? I think with his hand. Could be wrong...


Hey, you stole my line! lol
he was an important member of queen better than tim staffal anyway]
He licked his fingers often.
John: "It's the one thing I wish I could do - sing."
I cannot help myself at wondering why he used to lick the fingertips. For a proper picking? I did't see that (as frequent as with John) at other bass players.
But, then again, there are other people picking their nose, so what John did is not that weird...
You can be anything... anything you think that you could ever be
An Ordinary Guy wrote:
I cannot help myself at wondering why he used to lick the fingertips. For a proper picking? I did't see that (as frequent as with John) at other bass players.
But, then again, there are other people picking their nose, so what John did is not that weird...

If your fingers are moist when playing bass, you tend to get less percussive noise or string buzz when you pluck the strings. a handy little tip. As for why john did it more than other bassists - perhaps he has naturally very dry skin. Who knows?
"I'll probably make loads of plans, and then just sit around on my bottom all day long and do nothing." The Man In The Shadows says it like it is. http://www.myspace.com/petearnold
Could have been habit as well... Just because of stage fright (everyone has it...)...
http://www.queenzone.com/queenzone/forumnew/forum_topic_view.aspx?Q=696327 Wanna trade? Here's my list...
Fenderek wrote:
Could have been habit as well... Just because of stage fright (everyone has it...)...


Well, everyone has stage fright except YOU, you totally rockin' dude! ;)
I saved Spike's life in 'Nam.
It's a well known fact that John Deacon never played the bass live because it got in the way of his singing.

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