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Thread: IR and the bass guitar

  1. #1
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    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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  3. #2
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    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...

  4. #3
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    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...

  5. #4
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    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.

  6. #5
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    Thanks venus

  7. #6
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    the 'minnaa minungum' song from indias first 3d movie my dear k chathan is one ultimate tribute to Rajas mastery on bass guitar.

  8. #7
    Senior Member Devoted Hubber narayanan's Avatar
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    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').

  9. #8
    Senior Member Regular Hubber smss_engineer's Avatar
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    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.

  10. #9
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    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..

  11. #10
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    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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