little bouncy bass line, he didn’t play a lot of many notes as I can, I try to say, “What are the [WM] Every time I hear that the inner bass
crazy fills per se, but he made basslines that fit chords being played by the guitar player, the player in me just kind of melts – it’s gorgeous
perfectly into the song. Because he was singing piano player, what is the vocal melody, what are and so perfectly placed. Do you have a little
the song he really understood what notes to all of those notes and common denominators?” collection of ‘cherry on top’ licks that are in your
pick and play that just fit. He’s unbelievable. And maybe I can find something really creative arsenal?
within those. There may be like three notes that
[WM] The best accompanists, regardless of are all around and I’ll just pick apart those and [David] That one specifically, people ask me
instrument, understand that trained singers that’s how I’ll find something. It might sound about that one. So, if you think about what
are used to standing around a piano while very spur of the moment but it never is. It’s the chord progression is doing, it’s going from
an accompanist walks them through a song. usually me sitting in my office for hours picking 4 to a 3, then 4 to a 1, then it’s just walking
Noting that Paul wrote a lot from the piano, how apart notes just to get one little thing down. back up to a 4. I was just going from a 1 to a
3 and then going back down on the downbeat
much do you think your approach relates to the
left hand on the piano?
[WM] As a bass player you’re half rhythm on the 4, and I was like, “That’s kind of boring,
instrument, half melodic instrument, and every or pretty cliché. What could I do that would be
[David] If you think about it, he’s even playing now and then, a little fill creeps out. On “Do It a fun thing?” And there’s so much space in
the bass like the left hand of a piano. If you Again”, that’s your fill right? the song, it’s not like there are ten guitar parts
and synth lines all over the place, there’s really
listen to a piano player, they’re not just playing
a whole note and letting the right hand do
[David] Yes.
nothing. Those are the times where there’s a
everything. I guess it does depend on what little breadth for me to do something. And you
kind of music your listening to, but for the most said that line is a 2, 3, 5, 2. So I am doing a
part both hands are working pretty hard to get a walk up but I’m not doing it in a linear way and
full picture going. I do pay attention to what the I’m doing it up the octave so it stands out a
piano is doing because it is the one instrument little more. But that’s how my approach for
that, for the most part, could step on my toes that came about. It’s a classic Southern Rock
sonically. If I’m doing something with a little bit Lynyrd Skynyrd line. It’s just slowed down is all
more movement in it I don’t just try to play as
“Do It Again” // Elevation Worship
October 2018
it is.
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