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2nd September 2005, 05:41 PM
#1
Senior Member
Senior Hubber
IR and the bass guitar
In my mind, IR's usage of the bass guitar is special and unique in that it has both variety and depth, especially the songs composed during the eighties. True, Keith Peters is as good as anybody around, but let's focus on bass in IR's songs here.
The unique feature of IR's bass usage is the unconventional nature of support that the bass gives to the songs, in that, in some cases ("Thumbi Vaa") the bass guitar instead of acting as a support/rhythm instrument, acts as the lead in carrying the song. A list of such songs would run too long and hence we can discuss about a song or a few songs apiece.
Another unique feature is IR's tendency to use the "high" notes of the bass, especially in the beginning of songs - ("Kodai Kaala kaatre", "Kadavul Ullame or karunai illame", when the pallavi starts in "Madram vandha", to name a few...). This usage is also not common in rock/pop genres but can be found in jazz were the bass counters the main instrument (Sax, piano etc).......
Experts please enlighten this novice on this.......
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2nd September 2005 05:41 PM
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2nd September 2005, 10:42 PM
#2
Senior Member
Platinum Hubber
http://tfmpage.com/forum/6147.06.48.17.html
This has some references. However, there was still another older thread which had excellent postings (by Srinath, who was a bass guitarist himself and others)...I think that was probably lost during a server crash...can't see that in the archives anymore...
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27th October 2005, 11:49 PM
#3
Senior Member
Seasoned Hubber
Please listen to the song MEEN KODI THERIL MANMADHA RAAJAN OORVALAM POGINRAAN...from Karumbu vil....
and also
Madai thirandhu thaavum nadhiyalai naan from Nizalgal...
These 2 numbers come to my memory immediately....
Highly Bass guitar based songs....
Infact, IR pioneered the art of Bass guitar usage in Tamil film music...
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28th October 2005, 04:01 AM
#4
Hi AA,
Please find the following posting I posted few days ago in the thread "IR's Composing techniques"
http://users.wireweb.net/green/pianolessons.htm
In the above link, there are some very interesting lessons on bass patterns. Please click lessons #26,#27,#28 and #29.
In the lesson #28, the author introduces the "Walking Bass Pattern". He explains that there are hundreds of patterns like this used in Rock& roll and other style of music.
At the bottom of the page he gives a link to a MIDI file where he has used the pattern in a actual song.
http://users.wireweb.net/green/pianolesson28.htm
I could think of three songs in which IR used similar patterns
1. Rum Bum Bum (Rock and Roll???)
2. Pudhu mappillaikku
3. Vanam enna (vettri Vizha)
It looks like IR used several of these patterns and created his own patterns as well to meet TFM requirements.
I remember the discussions on "Base guitar usage by our MDs" by TFM DF experts like Srikanth, Srinath, Rjay, Swamiji,Sashi, Sridhar and others. Interesting and informative discussions. Missing those discussions.
Thanks.
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28th October 2005, 04:33 PM
#5
Senior Member
Senior Hubber
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8th January 2006, 02:20 AM
#6
the 'minnaa minungum' song from indias first 3d movie my dear k chathan is one ultimate tribute to Rajas mastery on bass guitar.
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27th March 2006, 12:43 AM
#7
Senior Member
Devoted Hubber
How about Vizhiyil Vizhundhu from Alaigal Oyvadhillai ? Especially the slow female singer+guitar pieces towards the end of the song ('Kalvi Karka naalai sella' to end of song, infact include 2 'Vizhiyil Vizhundhu pieces before 'Kalvi Karka').
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3rd September 2006, 11:10 PM
#8
Senior Member
Regular Hubber
maestro's bass guitar work
I feel that the following songs have extraordinary Bass guitar work and those periods will not come back!
1. Thumbee vaa (Olangal).
2. Vanithavani vathanamohini from (Vikram).
3. Ennamma kannu (Mr.Bharath)- Also Excellent drum beats.
4. Oru kunguma sengamalam (movie?) superb song by IR/SPB combo.
5.sengamalam sirikuthu(Thaavani Kanavugal).
6. Vaan megam (Punnagai mannan) & Chinna chinna vanna kuyil (Mouna raagam)
- Definition for Bass guitar!
7. Illamaiyennum poonkaatru (Pagalil oru Iravu)
- This song can't be reproduced by anybody & IR himself forever.
8. Varuvvaay anbe tharuvai (Garjanai)
- How many treasures like this have been shelved?
9. Vaanengum thanga meenkal (Moondram pirai)
10. Ninaivellam nithya songs
and there are uncountable numbers of songs having great IR- bass touch in 1979-1990 periods.
Really we are missing these treats now.
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4th September 2006, 07:39 AM
#9
Senior Member
Devoted Hubber
Other two songs are:
1)Vanna Kuyile thamizh tharum isaye..A Jayaram,Kushboo starrer which came in 1990's
2)Vanthal vanthal Rajakumari--Bhagyaraj movie..
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6th September 2006, 04:03 AM
#10
Senior Member
Senior Hubber
Check out ilam pani thuli vizhum nEram. I had some here say that IR's use of the bass guitar is similar to 'basso continuo' in baroque music. Guitar Prasanna's explanation is it plays the rhythm switching to counter/highlight melody now and then. This explanation is something even non-technical people like me can understand. Once you are exposed to the nuances in IR's music it is very difficult to find a better source for tamil popular music.
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