What does this mean? "Paul’s signature descending bass

[lindafan]

I came across this article and never heard that expression before. What does it mean? https://www.eastvillageradio.com/content/content.php?id=6502

[martinput]

I'm not sure about the descending bit. But here's an interesting blog entry from 2007 where the author list his personal choices of Paul's best Bass playing: http://cosmicamericanblog.blogspot.co.uk/2007/07/paul-mccartneys-best-bass-lines.html Lift the song titles across to YouTube to hear the bass lines the author speaks of. You could also play your own recordings on a decent sound system with the bass turned up to truly appreciate them. All Beatles songs I note - but I'm sure others will chip in with other examples from other eras. Martin

[martinput]

Ooh... fiddling about on YouTube I came across a series of "deconstructed" songs which highlight the bass only Hey Bulldog:

Paul Bass Lines;

I Want You (She's So Heavy):

Day Tripper:

Get your fill of those Martin

[lindafan]

Thank you for the links. I found some explanations! http://guitar.davidsouthwick.net/chord-progressions/simple-bass-line-progressions/ "Descending Bass Line Progressions are a type of Moving Bass Line Progression where the bass notes of each chord in the progression move lower generally in half or whole steps typically following the "8-7-6-5" and "8-7-b7-6" bass note patterns. Descending Bass Line Progressions are popular with songwriters to create a romantic mood. Some of the best popular music of the last century were written around a Descending Bass Line Progression such as Georgia On My Mind (1930), Night And Day (1932), Let It Be Me (1960), One Note Samba (1961), Whiter Shade of Pale (1967), Ain't No Mountain High Enough (1967)..." http://www.angelfire.com/fl4/moneychords/DBL.html

[Nancy R]

martinput:

Ooh... fiddling about on YouTube I came across a series of "deconstructed" songs which highlight the bass only Hey Bulldog:

Paul Bass Lines;

I Want You (She's So Heavy):

Day Tripper:

Get your fill of those Martin

Those are great Martin--thanks!

[admin]

It could possibly mean a bass swimming down stream near Paul's feet love doris

[Fast City Line]

In Think For Yourself, Paul's "fuzz bass" stairsteps down after the 2nd line, bridging into the 3rd line:

Do what you want to do,
and go where you're going to [fuzz bass down]
think for yourself cuz I won't be there with you

[NJR]

@fast-city-line