Your Favorite Bass Sounds from Chris Squire

[YesNY]

(Disclaimer - Let me get out of this out of the way: I am not a musician.)

I was wondering if people have a favorite bass sound from the amazing Chris Squire: The rowdy rumble that drove the music in the YES/TIME AND A WORD Days. The snap crackle pop of the "classic years". The melodic sound on FISH OUT OF WATER. The awesome hum on GOING FOR THE ONE. The wah wah bass sound that makes TORMATO worth the price of purchase. The more subdued support role in the Yes West Years. The snappy recent sound.

One of the things that inspired me to write this is the disappointment with his bass sound on Keys Live. There is a sound quality that was on YESSONGSS which is missing on Keys and other live efforts. Also there are points on MAGNIFICATION where I wish he either choose a different sound or accepted a more subdued role in the mix. Please do not get me wrong. I am a big time Squire fan. I am just curious what other people, musician or not, might think of their favorite and not favorite sounds from the amazing Squire.

[Purple Wolfhound]

Originally posted by YesNY
(Disclaimer - Let me get out of this out of the way: I am not a musician.)

One of the things that inspired me to write this is the disappointment with his bass sound on Keys Live. There is a sound quality that was on YESSONGSS which is missing on Keys and other live efforts.

I am not a musician also, but isn't funny how us non-musicians can pick up the nuances that musicians might sometimes miss... I would say that was "ironic", but h*ll, isn't that that term overused!

Anyway, you may be right in your summation of Squire's varying bass tones over the years - boredom, perhaps? Or maybe just a different bass guitar? I for one feel his most distinctive bass sound was in Yes' peak years (mid '70's) and this may be due in large part to his use of a Rickenbaker. But then, what do I know? As I said before, I'm neither a musician nor a bass player. I will admit to preferring The Fish solo from Yessongs over any other.

Peace,

Phil

[mrgone3]

I remember the first time I heard YES. My friend lent me a copy of FRAGILE! As soon as the stylus hit the groove I knew I was in for a NEW experience! And that DEEP bass riff!WOW!This guy was weaving all through this album. HUMMING and SOARING! And climbing into the sunshine! And then DIVING Into the water as a fish! He only stopped for air once and Climbed once again into the Heart of the Sunrise. I think the second show I saw him do, he played Parallels and threw a liitle Fish into the bridge.MAN! Chris hammered that Rickenbacker! It's the same one he plays now! I think he turned me on to that Jazz stuff. JOE :guitar:

[YesNY]

Two bass sounds I forgot to put on the list: Thejazzy sound found on RELAYER, particularly Soundchaser; the aggressive bass sound of DRAMA, like found on Tempus Fugit. Amazing stuff!

[illusion]

I am not a musician, but listen to the bass on Our Song...great stuff. I also like the bass on Homeworld, after about one minute.

Chris is the man!

[Plastic Man]

the bass playing on gates.

[solano]

otswof and ritual.

[Plastic Man]

the very begining of hold out your hand.

[ANTIOCH]

There are so many monumental moments in the playing/recording career of Chris Squire, that it's impossible for me to choose. Is it his sound, or the guitar he chose to create it; or is it the melodic counterpoint he weaves around the melody ?
There is, in the middle of "I'm Running" where the music stops and he and Alan recreate that unexplainable sound they have been performing 'live' for so many years. I love that truely unique and signature note.

[bjm0rwo]

There are so many to pick from but the one song that first had me sit up and notice his playing and sound was CTTE. I've never heard a rythym section sound so clean and crisp up to that point in my listening to music life.As Anderson has said it is immaculate.Love that Rickenbacher sound.Of course it helps when someone knows how to play it.

[BassAce]

I recently had a chance to meditate to "Close to the edge".

I was thinking at the time how the tones and shape of the bass sound in that tune epitomized Squires ability. Oh, the qualities of youthful experimentation.

Suspect Eddie Offord had some real good weed for that mix down.

[RobAdams]

One of my favorite SQUIRE moments....

Those 1000 MPH bass runs in SILENTLY FALLING on Fish Out Of Water

[nooscam9]

Squire live.

When he's playing a pattern over those thundering bass pedals.
Incredible combination.

[idlewild]

There's too much to choose from! Everything Chris does is exceptional. His work throughout The Ladder is impressive. He does a spot in Face To Face that is so fast, yet tightly crisp. There's also a really smooth part in Dreamtime (Magnification) where Chris creates this metallic cool-running sound, like a finely tuned engine. Often you don't hear his stuff right away, but when you notice, it leaves you speechless. Chris' bass has always carried the band's music to all the places they wanted to go.

IdleWild
www.iHUG.org

[illusion]

Welcome idlewind. Great post, everything Chris does is great.

[sychophant]

I'm not a musician, but I do play one on T.V. That's why I recommend the bass line on Roundabout.

[Alysoun]

Give me the whole bass sound on Heart of the Sunrise and
I'm a puddle on the proverbial floor.

From the lows to the highs, Squire is simply a bass god.

Allison

[louisk]

i agree allison, its a breautiful song. i enjoy playing that everyday.

[Nuke99m]

My favorite " Live" bass performances are

1) Ritual
2) Heart of the Sunrise
3) Fish

I think I will probably be adding On the Silent Wings of Freedom to the list. I believe this will be Chris' solo spot for the upcoming tour.

[freissig]

His majestic bass lines in Future Times/Rejoice. All of Fish Out Of Water. God this is hard! How about all his work from the first album to Drama?

Big Squire Fan,
Fred

[Alysoun]

Originally posted by idlewild
There's too much to choose from! Everything Chris does is exceptional. His work throughout The Ladder is impressive. He does a spot in Face To Face that is so fast, yet tightly crisp. There's also a really smooth part in Dreamtime (Magnification) where Chris creates this metallic cool-running sound, like a finely tuned engine. Often you don't hear his stuff right away, but when you notice, it leaves you speechless. Chris' bass has always carried the band's music to all the places they wanted to go.[/url]

Ditto.

It not only leaves me speechless, but take the combination of his spectacular laying, the pedals and then the dispirate harmony lines he sings over it all, well, really, he is just amazing.
Out of all the bass players out there he is one of the only ones I can think of who you know who it is immediately.

Time to start a bass-players hall of fame, I guess. And The Man with the Rickebacker gets inducted first.

Allison

[Plastic Man]

Originally posted by sychophant
I'm not a musician, but I do play one on T.V. That's why I recommend the bass line on Roundabout.
huh??

[Earl Grey]

...that he plays a musician on a TV show. Which show, and WHO are you psychophant, if I may be so bold???

I think Chris sounds best on Tormato. There. I said it!

Earl:yesbird:

[Squireaholic]

I don't usually admit this either, Earl, but I liked the 'harmonised' Ric of Tormato as well. Go ahead and flame if you wish, fellow bassists. Second to that tone is the semi-distorted, almost synthesized tone Chris gets during the 3/2 section (before the battle) in Gates.

[bataisflow]

I'd have to say that the sounds he gets on TYA to CTTE are the best for me. But Fish out of Water is some of his most amazing stuff!

[Squireaholic]

I agree with 'flow that FooW has the most amazing playing (short of Relayer) by Chris; those 32nd note runs at the close of HOYH are worth the price of admission alone! However, IMHO, the album was not the best quality recording I ever heard. Personally, I'd love to get the master tapes and do a remix!
I stand by my previous post, as the GFTO/T period was best, in terms of the quality of sound master Squire seemed to be getting in the studio. I alos get the impression that he was more aggressively persuing this in the recording process, as the excerpt from the Yesyears video indicates.

[Nautilus]

I love best the bass sounds in Heart of the Sunrise, CttE and Otswof.

[Silent_wings]

On The Silent Wings of Freedom :D

and Heart of the Sunrise thats just so cool. Oh and Gates and list goes on and on

[ANTIOCH]

as the last verse to "Machine Messiah" starts and the musics leading into it, you can hear Chris' bass growl . . I love that !!

[PO]

I am a bass player and I love the "non-musician" perspectives! It makes us bass players feel wanted (insert sentimental tear and sniff).

I really like the sound he got on Soundchaser. Listen to that crunchy part he plays during the raucous synth solo. What a jaw-jutting punch-in-the-gut sound! Compare that to the signature Roundabout tone. 2 completely different, yet signature, sounds. Pretty rare for any bass player.

[1yesfan]

My fav base sounds from Chris? The first, the last, and all in between during a LIVE SHOW!!

[leqin]

Everything really - over the years Chris has shown, like every member of the band, that he isn't a one trick wonder and when needed he can make his instrument do whats needed to make music that is inspiring rather than just plain ordinary stuff shovelled out to keep the punters happy for about 5 minutes - if he did then we would'nt still be here a zillion years later talking about the stuff he did all those years ago and still talk about it like it arrived yesterday - it's still strong and it's still relevant and it still gets our juices going.

[Earl Grey]

In fact...

I must hear it right now! Right this very second. Excuse me while I prime it up on the soundbox...
~~~~~

Here we go: a version from the 1978 LA Forum show. I was there!
Chris Squire barely able to hold those heavy profundo-notes back until the exacting vantage point: they spill from his sternum and teeter and jar the Forum at it's kneecaps... A precision earthquake.

Squire riding the untempered beast.

A burst of Howe-notes splicing the drone like a punctuation mark.
All in that sweet bird of youth night, so long ago.

Feels like it was yesterday.
Yesterday/Now.
So it is.
An eternity in a moment.

:yesbird:

[buypipersdreamhom]

For me it has to be when the bass lick kicks in on CTTE's verse. If ever there was an air bass moment that is it.

[mipo]

I can't disagree with any of the previous posts, but I thought I should mention one that I believe hasn't come up yet: the tremelo tone he uses on Starship Trooper, PARTICULARLY the short ascending line he plays just before "Speak to me of summer"...it totally sends me to the stratosphere every time I hear it!

[R'tanys]

All his sounds are great. Every new one makes me go "Oooohhh,". Picking a favorite is a nigh-impossible task, HOWEVER....

Honorable mention should go to the following:
Yessongs' Fish
Does It Really Happen
Tempus Fugit
Silent Wings
Every single note he plays on GFT1 (yes, the whole album)
and the micro-solo on Lighning Strikes is just a mind scrambler.

Mr. Christopher Squire, We're not worthy! We're not worthy! :bowdown:
Dopey me. I forgot to mention Leave It. You can smack me in the back of the head in Chi-town, Sheilers.;)

[electricfreedom]

I pretty much love all of Chris' sounds from every period of Yes, with the exception of Big Generator. But for my all time faves. I would have to say in no particular order these:
Fish Out Water: This is where the bass takes the place of Steve Howe and is pretty much the lead instrument in every song. It gives the album a very distinctive sound.

Drama: I like the bass sounds on GFTO and Tormato, but I felt they were not up to Yes standards. However, when it came to Drama, that great trebly bass punch on earlier efforts like Yes, The Yes Album, Fragile and CttE were brought back to form on Drama. The lead bass runs on Machine Messiah, Does it Really Happen, and Tempus Fugit are to die for.

[RobAdams]

One great Fish moment for me...

The beginning part of WURM where Chris seems to "leave the capsule" and start his space walk/bass walk. Far from his most amazing bass work, but watching him ham it up is such a treat!

[TNyesfan]

All you Chris fanatics and bass players must, must, MUST go over to Chris' new site and listen to his unfettered bass tracks. That thundering bass in its most pristine state! A rare animal, indeed. Glorious!

[pk]

I love every example of Chris when he's prepared to show off, and everything he does we he isn't.

Possibly one of the more overlooked parts of the gentle backing to the "Cathy I'm lost...." segment of America, not fast, not raunchy, but perfectly beautiful.

Can't get enough of the big guy!

Paul

I'm not a muso either, but I play a bit of bass, so I've been trying to talk my daughter into entering one of those Dreams Come True kind of TV shows where they take someone off to fulfil one of their dreams, I'd love a couple of bass guitar lessons from the master himself!!!! (Chris, if you're reading this, I'm free all year!).

[Faceintheplace]

I've never met a Chris Squire bass tone, sound or solo I haven't liked. I have a few personal favorites though, the low buzzing tone of the first three Yes albums and the heavily phased sound on Drama.

Solo wise, I'm going to go with "Heart of the Sunrise," "Yours Is No Discrace" and "Ritual" especially any live version where he gets to stretch out. The one captured on Yesshows is particuarly stunning.

As for a bass lines that intergrated into a song, he's done a lot of great ones but I esepcecially enjoy the ones in "America", "I'm Running" and "Homeworld" because I think on these, his humorous and easy going attitude towards life can be heard in his playing.

[FishOutOfWater]

I'll choose:
Everything, from The Yes Album to Drama, and definitely including Fish Out of Water. (It must be the Ric!) Some highlights:
Starship Trooper
Yours is No Disgrace
Roundabout
Heart of the Sunrise
South Side of the Sky
Hold Out Your Hand (FOoW)
Silently Falling (FOoW)
Lucky Seven (FOoW)
Tempus Fugit
... others...

[Full Tilt Boogie]

Gotta be some of the tracks off Tormato, with the 'Harmonised' Bass! Some good base riffs too!

[yessongs72]

All of Chris's bass sounds/playing.He is the driving force,so mega ditto's to Mr Squire.

[Earl Grey]

The entirety of 'Silent Wings Of Freedom'. But especially the first few notes. WOW!

Also, his live solo 'Whitefish'.

The spooky climbing bass-runs in HOTS.

The lyrical notes he plays with such fluidity during the 'Speak to me of summer...' portion of Starship Trooper.

But literally anything will suffice.

The world's greatest bassist, hands-down.

Dont put those hands down Chris, keep 'em running up and down the fretboard, PLEASE!

:yesbird:

[Tonydess]

Chris's best bass song to me is On The Silent Wings of Freedom.I like alot of the bass work on Drama also.Heart of the Sunrise is real fun to hear too.

[MrCalling1]

I have to say the best bass sound from Chris for me is on Drama, and Keys - the live sound that he gets on almost every song on that is very percise and the chorus, harmonics on SK and COTC are excellent!

[MrCalling1]

I meant Turn Of The Century!

[Suzy]

the tormato album

[ES-335]

Raunchy rickety roundabout for me, thank you very much! ;)


In and out the valley

[Scooty]

See I am biased because I would say..um...ALL..but if I have to choose..jeees.LOL...Ilove the sound On the Tormato album..that waau waka waau..harmonized Rickenbacker..holy moley do I love that sound.

[TTT]

Chris Squire's entire body of work is incredible and inspiring. Of course there are highlights (not limited to):
On the Silent Wings of Freedom
Tempus Fugit
Leave It
Heart of the Sunrise
Soundchaser
Hold Out Your Hand
Parallels
... and the list goes on...

[Nellsalot]

This is an intense thread! I can't really say which sound I like best because it's sort of impossible for me... plus I'm relatively new to the band so I haven't heard over half of their releases. But I've heard enough to know that Chris's sound is out of this world.

I gotta say, it's rare that I hear bass that makes me go "hot damn" like some drums, melodies, etc make me go hot damn. But Chris's work makes my world explode with "hot damn" all over the place (I couldn't think of a better way to put it - sounds kind of gross, huh?). I'm a self-taught beginning bassist and also play guitar, drums, and sing/songwrite. So far I've been learning his basslines almost exclusively. All the other bass I've attempted to learn has gotten somewhat boring, I don't understand why more bassists don't break free and get a little more complex and melodic.

I'm kind of tired and rambling so I don't think I'm really giving much to this thread... but I'll just say that I can't decide!! As far as the bass tone goes, I guess I'd probably be between that meaty sound as displayed in Siberian Khatru and that springy, melodic feel on Hold Out Your Hand, for a couple examples.

[the'YES'kid]

I still remember that day I heard "Lightning Strikes" on the radio. That part where Chris plays his mini solo or intervension , huh, that was hair raising!!!!!
for the following reasons:

1) it kicks ass (as always)
2) as far as I'm concerned that's the only song where at this point you hear just the bass, no drum, no keys, etc, which works as a spotlight.
3) it was a single!!!!, we're used to hear these lines on long songs, but in the radio?

[brian6660]

Just listen to THE ANCIENT... A pre tormato taste

[Michael42]

My favorite Squire Moment:

The haunting, unaccompanied bass coda at the very end of "Safe (Canon Song)" on 'Fish Out of Water."

It's Chris at his purest.

[enki]

That bass solo at the middle of GOD always leaves me thunderstruck.

[C0ops]

It's Got to be the unorthodox (in a positive manner) play on Close to the Edge... am i talking about the song or the whole album?....I don't think it really matter which one im refering to.

[airshift]

It's Got to be the unorthodox (in a positive manner) play on Close to the Edge... am i talking about the song or the whole album?....I don't think it really matter which one im refering to.

OMG- you have all posted great examples so I am gonna mention the awesome Fretless solo(Warwick Streamer 4) in The Unknown from Conspiracy...I listened to that song 4 times in a row today while working and if you don't already know the song is about 9/11 and the USA response to it.

He is really getting very good at the Fretless and he is so modest and always says there were better players like Jaco and Jack Bruce but...for some reason he went out and bought 2 of them anyway. The other being that acoustic we all saw on Kilbourn's show.

I may start a thread about this soon.

btw-I am a musician...played guitar for 38 yrs. Piano for 34...Bass for about 10....and own fret and fretless basses.

Also, I agree with the mention of Relayer esp. changing tones on GoD...but I am almost positive the change comes from playing the Fender Jazz Bass on that album.

And...the "harmonised" bass sound is really a Mutron Envelope pedal...aka auto-wah. They were used a lot by FUNK players like Larry Graham in Sly and the Family Stone...who he must love because for over a decade Chris has played Wanna take You Higher toward the end of Roundabout as a small salute to Larry.

Check out Woodstock and then listen to Roundabout and Siberian Khatru and you will see where that low booming G pattern came from.

[bbb]

Just back from the tour, the bass part on Show Me has been blowing me away. It's beautiful.

[Earl Grey]

Just back from the tour, the bass part on Show Me has been blowing me away. It's beautiful.

It truly is.

The man has a magic touch.

His basswork always causes one to stop what it is that they are doing, causes one to drop things (SMASH! 'Oh damn!') and take notice...

Usually, I just ignore the bass guitar that commonly appears on rock tracks.

The stereotypical bassist simply plays the root of the chord along with the bass drum, and there's your low-end.

NOT SO with Squire.

He stands in the ranks of Jimi Hendrix, Jaco Pastorius, Charles Mingus...

He re-invented the instrument.

He added lyricism and chops to modern pop music, and he approached, and he approaches the instrument in the same way that Vladamir Rostropovich approached the Cello.

Chris Squire forged the common bass guitar into a melodic 'Lead Instrument'.

And he didn't sheath it in the simplicity of 'The Blues', as Entwhistle did...

He takes it all on balls to the wall: "Damn the Tormatoes! Full speed ahead!"

A Sage, I tell you!

Chops and melodicism. And heart.

Chris Squire changed the way we listen and play. He has a fine legacy in his footprints, and he continues to be the greatest rock bassist of all time.

Prove me wrong.

I knew you couldn't.

The Greatest.

:yesbird:

A fine post g. comer! Thank you!

EG

[pianozach]

Okey dokey - - - I have to agree with you all: Fish Out of Water, Tormato, Drama, etc. All fab!

So here's a different way of [literally] looking at it: Back in my younger days all of us misfits hung out together listening to great music together. One friend had access to an actual -gasp- laser (Hey, this was pretty new technology in the late 70's . . .). We would point the beam at a very small mirror that was glued to a balloon that was attached to a speaker. The music would vibrate the balloon, and thereby the mirror. The beam would reflect, magnified, on the opposite wall, sort of a poor man's light show.

Average music made average patterns: Messy, nonsensical, not visually very artistic. So, naturally we all preferred Yes music since it would make the most interesting patterns, but I remember that the most interesting pattern that it ever made. It was during "Roundabout," when Chris would hit that very low note several times during the song (" . . . in and out the valleyyyyyyyyyy" and " . . . make you out and ouououououououououout . . . . ") and the pattern made a PERFECT CIRCLE. Naturally we concluded that Yes obviously made perfect music!

So I vote for the "Perfect Circle" bass sound in "Roundabout."

[Earl Grey]

Okey dokey - - - I have to agree with you all: Fish Out of Water, Tormato, Drama, etc. All fab!

So here's a different way of [literally] looking at it: Back in my younger days all of us misfits hung out together listening to great music together. One friend had access to an actual -gasp- laser (Hey, this was pretty new technology in the late 70's . . .). We would point the beam at a very small mirror that was glued to a balloon that was attached to a speaker. The music would vibrate the balloon, and thereby the mirror. The beam would reflect, magnified, on the opposite wall, sort of a poor man's light show.

Average music made average patterns: Messy, nonsensical, not visually very artistic. So, naturally we all preferred Yes music since it would make the most interesting patterns, but I remember that the most interesting pattern that it ever made. It was during "Roundabout," when Chris would hit that very low note several times during the song (" . . . in and out the valleyyyyyyyyyy" and " . . . make you out and ouououououououououout . . . . ") and the pattern made a PERFECT CIRCLE. Naturally we concluded that Yes obviously made perfect music!

So I vote for the "Perfect Circle" bass sound in "Roundabout."

Hey there Zachary!

This guy KNOWS what he's talking about...

He's an AMAZING keyboardist, a fine composer, and a friend and band-mate from years gone bye...

It's FANTASTIC to see you here my friend!

Damn, but I HATED YES when we were playing highschool dances and battles of the bands back-when...

YES is a high ideal, and I love and embrace it now, but back when I struggled with augmented chords, it was a burr in the ass!

HAHA! True confessions!

How the good eventually floats to the top!

Best of days dear brother,
Earl :ele:

[Scooty]

EG

how could anyone prove you wrong with the statements you just made.

Uncle Christopher Squire...did everything you said he did...and with grace, pinache, and glory...

his bass playing is otherworldly, and raises the bar..TO THIS DAY...on the role that bass players now take for granted.

Heed these words..Chris Squire is the GREATEST rock and roll bass player to ever make his way to my ears...

and to top it off he's a great vocalist...and one hell of a guy!

Scoot


Oh and on topic..his Bass sound on Tormato..is simply fanfrigintastic!

[bbb]

At the Paris show I told him afterwards that the bass part from Show Me was gorgeous..a little like telling Shakespeare that Hamlet is pretty good methinks..:)

[Earl Grey]

At the Paris show I told him afterwards that the bass part from Show Me was gorgeous..a little like telling Shakespeare that Hamlet is pretty good methinks..:)

You know g. comer...
When I met Chris, I could barely squeek-out what I wanted to say.
So instead...
I handed him a silver pen, to sign a photo I had of him.
Chris began signing the photo, and the silver-ink-pen did a Charlie Brown thing, murcurial ink spreading out from a concentric point...

Chris scowling at the errent ink
huffing disdainfully "Oh, OH!"

He hands me back my smudg-ed photo
and hastens off to the next Yesfan!
~~~~~~~~

True story!

EG:yesbird:

[Ronboy]

Ritual,during the Wembley show last week, brilliant, brilliant. And come to that most of everything else played by CS.The guy's guitars sing!

[Earl Grey]

Ritual,during the Wembley show last week, brilliant, brilliant. And come to that most of everything else played by CS.The guy's guitars sing!

They do sing!

Think of On The Silent Wings Of Freedom.
Or the 'Speak to me of summer' portion of Starship Trooper...

Bass riffs that you remember and hum after the show...
Other than McCartney, I can think of no other...

And Squire's technique overshadows Macca by far!

Melody and chops, what a thing.

Truly the world's greatest living rock bassist, Squire.

:yesbird:

[paulovajao]

Sorry Earl But Macca´s Did Great Stuff On A Rickenbaker Too!!

[Earl Grey]

Oh, I know that Paulo!

I'm a huge McCartney fan.

I forced Smatt and Scoot to listen to The Best Of Wings all the way back from Venice Beach, and they were stuffing newspaper into their ears! Haha!

No, Macca is great. I just prefer Squire.

But that's like comparing Picasso to VanGough.

They are both inimitable, and indespensible.

Fair enough?

:ele:

[Scooty]

Oh, I know that Paulo!

I'm a huge McCartney fan.

I forced Smatt and Scoot to listen to The Best Of Wings all the way back from Venice Beach, and they were stuffing newspaper into their ears! Haha!

No, Macca is great. I just prefer Squire.

But that's like comparing Picasso to VanGough.

They are both inimitable, and indespensible.

Fair enough?

:ele:


:lmao: Gawd that was funny EG...someone shoulda' had a camera ready for that one...Smatt and I were so beligerently drunk that we REFUSED to listen to WINGS Greatest Hits..whilst Sheilrs and Earl were perfectly enjoying the music...Smatt and i would have nothing to do with it..till I suggested taking clumps of the LA Weekly and placing them in our ears as protection from the Wingsounds coming from EG's stereo...little did I realize till we woke up, after that bigass steak from The Pantry that Smatt and I were very Shreklike with our paper stuffed in our ears..LOL.....very diplomatic..so grown up...but gawddamn we're funny..LOL

Scoot

[paulovajao]

Ok Earl No Problema,but Pity !!smatt&scott They Are Alive After The Scene?!!!hope So!it´s Unquestionable What You Said,mate!and Klaus Voorten Can You Remember Him?

[prem895]

It is all great

[custom55]

HOLD OUT YOUR HAND from Fish Out of Water. I played the hell out of that record when it first came out. Today it still finds its way on to my CD player a few times a year. LOVE IT.

[Starship Trooper]

HOLD OUT YOUR HAND from Fish Out of Water. I played the hell out of that record when it first came out. Today it still finds its way on to my CD player a few times a year. LOVE IT.

Hold Out Your Hand is awesome, except that the production isn't that great and the recording is too trebly.

I love Squire's sound on the studio version of CTTE with the Rickenbacker bass. That's the epitome - it's so heavy, rich, and warm.

[Squire*Fan725]

I love it all!!!!

CHRIS IS THE MAN!!!!! :hearts::hearts:

[tommc]

Ritual-Live at MSG on 5-13-04. Anyone there would agree it doesn't get any better than that!!!!!!

[Alex the great]

Two of my favorite bass sounds are silent wings of freedom and the outro to does it really happen. Being a bass player i often single out basslines and study stiles. There are so many bass players that are influenced by squire (conscious or subconscious). One song that always stuck out in my head was green day's longview. The opening part with the trebbley walking bassline sounds very much like squire.

[pianozach]

HOLD OUT YOUR HAND from Fish Out of Water. I played the hell out of that record when it first came out. Today it still finds its way on to my CD player a few times a year. LOVE IT.

Hear hear! FOoW is uniquely great (and sort of foreshadows Drama in a way)

[Earl Grey]

I loved 'WhiteFish' during the 2002-2003 tours.

Chris was chewing-up the scenery and spittin' out the bones!
I thought it was amazing, and the synchronicity between Chris and Alan.
They were playing like one single entity, and it was a thing to behold.

:yesbird:

[Scooty]

Chris could play Whitefish every show for every tour from here on out and I would love every minute of it...Uncle Squire is quite the bassist, and the show off...but he deserves it...

Im always a sucker when he "takes the knee" it always reminds me of the James Brown " I cant take no more..insert cape over slumped shoulder now"..and then gets back up for Mo'!!....

Its supplication for the Bass Gods folks.

Scoot

[Earl Grey]

...Im always a sucker when he "takes the knee" it always reminds me of the James Brown " I cant take no more..insert cape over slumped shoulder now"..and then gets back up for Mo'!!....

Scoot

Just like on Letterman! Haha!

Chris should have a different celeb on stage each night, to drape him with a James Brown robe...

:ele:

[Scooty]

Just like on Letterman! Haha!

Chris should have a different celeb on stage each night, to drape him with a James Brown robe...

:ele:


Totally!!

Gawd he would love that!!

Or better yet that fantastic coat from the GFTO tour...

[Amy]

Ritual-Live at MSG on 5-13-04. Anyone there would agree it doesn't get any better than that!!!!!!

I have to agree!
That was so awesome!
I want to do it again!

[brotherofmine]

Fish OUt Of Water is very inspired, Favourite Yes piece Heart Of The Sunrise. Interesting observation, others here have mentioned that his recent contributions have not been quite as good as earlier works. Interestingly he only used to play Rickenbaker bass, now he plays a range of different bass, I think Rickenbacker sound is hard to beat. (PS I'm also not a musician.)

[GaryC]

Yours is No Disgrace, Into The Lens, South Side of the Sky

[Mario1970]

In "Astral traveller" Chris plays a very great bass line. Probably, it was this song that inspired me to play also bass guitar.

[fish62858]

have to say that there is at least one magic moment on every album. usually many magic moments.

but as a bass player who just adores him, i have to say that fragile, ctte, relayer, big generator, and magnification are some of my favorite examples of the master's sound.
i especially have been paying more attention to his work on mag... the more i hear it, the more insight i get into his playing...

[DEzerov]

New Languages, the little riff in the middle of Lightning Strikes, Parallels...Yes this is a hard one...

[Stever]

Way too many to list, but I think extra special mention needs to be given to Heart of the Sunrise, Sound Chaser, Does it Really Happen?, and Tempus Fugit

[MyLadySquire]

IdleWild:

i couldn't agree w/you more.

[squiredevotee]

"Silent Wings OF Freedom" blows me away every time.

[wefollowthesun]

It's all good but Starship trooper is so much fun especially watching him play it is a blast !

[Earl Grey]

I've been listening to Fish Out Of Water non-stop this week...

What impresses me about every song on the album is how Squire approaches the bass as a lead instrument. I used to wish he had gotten Howe to play some lead on the album, but have changed my mind of late. It's PERFECT as is...

Much like the basswork Jaco Pastorius played on Joni Mitchell's Hejira album... Busy, yet thoughtful, heartful... No need for high-end six string there, Squire more than suffices...

Today, FOOW is my favorite Squire sounds. Nothing else quite like it, as he forged a new musical path there! How I'd love to see him record a sequel!

EG:yesbird:

[A Student of YES]

OK I guess I have to start somewhere! Just signed up. I will make a terribly long story quite short. Used to do the band thing, gave up music, keep an old acoustic around for fun, 20 or so years pass, I see a CD of an album I used to own at a garage sale, I buy it I play it, It inspires my second childhood at 42! Didn't buy a Vette, didn't get divorced and do the young girlfriend thing, Thank God! I returned to music as a Bass/acoustic guitar player because of Chris Squire's Fish Out OF Water Album. Buy a bunch of equipment buid a garage and sound proof music room and get to work.

Ok so now thats over Hey! .................Nice site!

Working on a Band again and doin it right this time. When I stopped I was in the middle of a great Pink Floyd/Yes Genesis band gig that never quite got off the ground. So here I am learning everything Chris Squire ever did for myself. I have to tell ya I used to curse Steve Howes name under my breath trying to learn his stuff, Now I swear at Chris ? ............ Sorry.
I am working with a great keyboard player this time only and the two of us are getting a lot of music down quite well.
So Chris Squires sounds?
We just learned "Heart of the Sunrise" (total workout) but found the sounds pretty well.
I am doing all the acoustic work as well as some of the bass lines in "And You and I"
Again fantastic song but have found the sounds.
I am working out Sound Chaser for fun but will most likly never try to play this one! It is just to complicated and not a good flowing song for the majority of any audiences we will play for? Again have the sounds for this one. Although bass lines get real quick and hard to keep up with in some spots.

I guess of all the songs I could go through that we have kind of touched on but not worked all the way out it is "Silently Falling" That befuddles me the most soundwise! I just can't come up with that clicky, buzzing, sort of sound he used on this song! I absolutly love this song and intend to do this one with just the drummer and keyboards. It has proven to be my nemesis thus far.

I know this was lenghty but I had to start somewhere and this was the topic I saw that made me want to sign up and add my 2 cents worth? Well for what it's worth Hello! hope you enjoy my postings?

Randy
By the way I am from Upstate NY I see there is a least one guy from my area on here? Anyone else? Hey Rob.

[sparky]

I love the intro of "Safe" from Fish Out Of Water. The way the bass kicks in on top of the electric piano is pure Squire Magic to me. It´s that stabbing sound again. I read somewhere that Rabin said about Squire that "when he´s hit a note, you know he´s hit it!" I think the bass in the beginning of Safe sums that up...

[Kingfish]

Yours is no Disgrace pops into my mind. I have many more. Love it all. He is great bass player. I just found fish out of water on CD earlier this spring. I had the album when he first put it out.

[crotale2112]

magnification sounds phat ... but i love the live rituals .....that part when he makes his bass sound like godzilla.i have blown meny subwoooofers from that part of the tune and vibrated and broke my moms fine china of the walls of the house.sometimes even 18's will no do.

[ProgMaster]

Has to be 'On The Silent Wings Of Freedom' for me.

That and everything on 'Fish Out Of Water'.

D.C.

[henny]

The most overlooked of his bass tones comes from his unmistakable JAZZ BASS.

Tracks such as No Opportunity, Parallels and Sweet Dreams.

That Jazz Bass is one gorgeous sounding instrument.

[allpurechance]

..that pumping,thumping sound he got for Yours Is No Disgrace.THIS was the sound that reached out & grabbed me nearly 34 years ago,before I ever even knew who it was...
..& from that time henceforward,if I heard something I liked,I HAD to know who it was,so as not to get caught at unawares,EVER again!...(this meant alotta calls to college radio stations in the wee hours of the morning,'cause they never toldya who they were playin','lessya asked!...)

[rickweber]

Chris' bass sounds are unmistakeable. The beginning of The Messenger on The Ladder is a beautiful sound to me. Fish Out Of Water is a great demonstration of the bass guitar. Who else could it be but Chris Squire. Tony Levine has done some great stuff too. There's lots of great bass players, Jeff Berlin, Stanley Clark. Chris seems to keep a step ahead of everyone else. He's the best bass player in the business.

[rabinmovies]

I love the power and the deep, rumbling depth Chris gets on his bass on Endless Dream, just after the section when chris sings ''talk, talk, and start to sing...
''so take your time''

[rabinmovies]

Funny tho, coz when Chris played Endless dream live he used his 4 string green custom made meridian. Must have been the taurus pedals maybe to give the depth?

[henny]

Mouradian, you mean.

[rabinmovies]

Sorry, mouradian i mean.
More awesome bass sounds are that of close to the edge and hold out your hand from fish out of water

[henny]

:p

[MrCalling1]

I love that Mouradian sound just like the sound on "Homeworld" which is that green bass that he used on 90125. It has a very rich and clear deep sound, I myself have a custom built bass that looks just that green bass, but doesn't have quite the richness that he has. Of course I'm certainly not comparing myself to him by any means, Chris is the most influential musician in my world of performing and recording though. His sound and music (music of Yes as well) will be with me everyday for the rest of my life. :thumbs:

[henny]

It isn't an Ed Roman Mysterion is it?

http://www.edromanguitars.com/guitar/abstract/abs_models/images/Mysterion_950.jpg

If so, tell me more about it.

[SonicDeath10]

i like them all honestly, except maybe the sometimes cheesy tone on tormato, but even that is more fun and goofy than cheesy. as that whole album is: fun and goofy, but packing some seriously good music.

[Leisesturm]

That thick, fuzzy, yet punchy bass tone in Roundabout made me 'want' to play bass! I only wanted to play if I could sound exactly like Chris. So I bought a 4001 and a Maestro Fuzz and plunked around for a few months but you know what? There's only one Chris. There is this thing he does in South Side of the Sky during the 'la la's' where the tone lightens up and he takes the fuzz off and probably plays without the pick and he makes his way up and up and up the fretboard and then dives back into bass range and the whole figure repeats till the main verse comes back with the classic fuzzbass tone. Can you tell I never get tired of the early stuff? What about "America" (Time and a Word)? Squire is a tone GOD.

[shortexchanges]

the original fish from fragile

the last part of minddrive

the middle war section of gates

heart of the sunrise

ritual

into the lens

tempus fugit

parallels

I could go on and on

how about his celestial voice -run with the fox from yesyears!!!

[Vic W.]

All you Chris fanatics and bass players must, must, MUST go over to Chris' new site and listen to his unfettered bass tracks. That thundering bass in its most pristine state! A rare animal, indeed. Glorious!

Wow, I didn't know that was there. That is REALLY, REALLY COOL!!

[Kingfish]

magnification sounds phat ... but i love the live rituals .....that part when he makes his bass sound like godzilla.i have blown meny subwoooofers from that part of the tune and vibrated and broke my moms fine china of the walls of the house.sometimes even 18's will no do.

Ritual is fantastic, good one man.

[Steve St Thomas]

Something about the Drama album stands out to me. The tone he had, or the way it was recorded, just seems to me one of the best bass sounds he ever had. Or maybe because Howe/Squire/White seemed to be playing as a team to support Downes & Horn, I don't know. It's different than his ''70's'' sound. More punchy I guess.

Fish Out of Water is just a complete Bass paradise.

The deeper tones in the 80's were highlights for me as well, especially Rhythm of Love.

[fovman]

Chris Squire's revolutionary sound comes from his Rickenbacker bass with roundwound strings boosting the bass and treble with some distortion/fuzz added; and of course his talented finger touch on the fretboaord. He endlessly experiments with his sound and parts.

He also has a great sense of melody, harmony and music theory from being a world-class choirboy. Chris had Bruford chart out all his bass drum and snare hits for reference.

.........then quick to the tub

(All this drove 'Llittle Billy' crazy.....that is why he came up with his unique high pitch rim snare to cut through the bass sound)

Squires's unique sound on "Roundabout" came from doubling his Rick bass part with a Gibson hollow-body electric guitar miked.................not ampliphied. This my favorite Squire bass sound! His flanged bass sound on Tempus Fugit is also cool!

Squire is a perfectionist!.........redefining his instrument!
.........and one of the best harmony vocalists ever!

[Scooty]

Something about the Drama album stands out to me. The tone he had, or the way it was recorded, just seems to me one of the best bass sounds he ever had. Or maybe because Howe/Squire/White seemed to be playing as a team to support Downes & Horn, I don't know. It's different than his ''70's'' sound. More punchy I guess.

Fish Out of Water is just a complete Bass paradise.

The deeper tones in the 80's were highlights for me as well, especially Rhythm of Love.


Actually, Drama for the most part, sans Run Through The Light (Horn played bass) and Tempus Fugit..sounds to me like the best direct line Rickenbacker input Ive ever heard. Its got that earthy deep tone to it that escaped or was muddled on the previous recordings. I swear to Yoda he plugged straight into the board on Drama, but what do I know :)

FOOW is pure bass paradise, well said Bro.

I didn't appreciate ROL until the '04 tour for some reason, but live Chris' tone on that was nice.

[talkaboutsending..]

I love most of his work - even his parts on Real Love and City of Love.
One song I was listening to yesterday that has a sensational bass part and sound is Run with the Fox. Especially towards the end.

[allpurechance]

I also love the pseudo - precessing bassline in Shoot High Aim Low.Genius!

Has anyone ever heard that Chris used a small keyboard amp,or even a "monitor" amp during the recording of Close To The Edge?Something small,maybe even one of those starter/beginner/kiddie guitar amps...something!lol!It's been so long ago now that I'd heard this,I can't even remember the details.Yet,it rings true if you listen to that somehow "treble grunge" sound he achieved,then.Particularly on the title track.

Oh,and while I'm at it,Chris,et.al. on the still amazing and unique The Solid Time Of Change.Absolutely remarkable musicianship and originality!

We shall,in all likelihood,never see the likes of this man's ability with the instrument and the voice again in our time.

As well as with the rest of the band,the other wonderful Yesmen,Chris Squire has caused me to extend my arms skyward and stageward in humble homage,repeatedly.They are the best I've ever seen.Someday,I'm going to tell my grandchildren about them(-stolen line,lol-with thanks to the screenwriter of a movie called Let It Ride)!

And,with a little luck!-lol!-Maybe even get those - potential - grandkids to a Yesshow!

Ever the eternal optimist,
Frank

:O)

[SonicDeath10]

Yeah those two notes he plays in City Of Love are the best.

[Steve St Thomas]

Actually, Drama for the most part, sans Run Through The Light (Horn played bass) and Tempus Fugit..sounds to me like the best direct line Rickenbacker input Ive ever heard. Its got that earthy deep tone to it that escaped or was muddled on the previous recordings. I swear to Yoda he plugged straight into the board on Drama, but what do I know :)

FOOW is pure bass paradise, well said Bro.

I didn't appreciate ROL until the '04 tour for some reason, but live Chris' tone on that was nice.

Ah so that's it. I thought it sounded a bit brighter, a bit punchier. It just worked with Alan's drums so well on that album. It seemed to have a lot of mid-range that wasn't there before on previous recordings. It was just brighter. Thanks for the info!

You gotta get a vinyl version of Big Generator. And a turntable. And a grounding wire. And some dill and chives apparently. The Bass on Big Generator is deep. That drop on I'm Running is lowwww.

[Squire7508]

I'm rather fond of the tone from the Fragile/CTTE era. Particularly 5% for Nothing, LDR, and America. Every time I hear those, I think THAT'S the way a Ricky should sound. Also rather fond of the Thunderbird on Release, Release.

[Squire7508]

All you Chris fanatics and bass players must, must, MUST go over to Chris' new site and listen to his unfettered bass tracks. That thundering bass in its most pristine state! A rare animal, indeed. Glorious!

Hmm...I seem to recall the site originally saying these tracks weren't actually performed by Squire, but now that disclaimer isn't there.

[PO]

I've heard those tracks before. I sure hope it's not Squire! The G string on Siberian isn't in tune and a number of the parts aren't played too well.

I think it's one of the transcribers. I recall reading that, too.

[Scooty]

It is not Chris..
Its whomever transcribed it that made the MP3's

[Buglunch]

(Disclaimer - Let me get out of this out of the way: I am not a musician.)

I was wondering if people have a favorite bass sound from the amazing Chris Squire: The rowdy rumble that drove the music in the YES/TIME AND A WORD Days. The snap crackle pop of the "classic years". The melodic sound on FISH OUT OF WATER. The awesome hum on GOING FOR THE ONE. The wah wah bass sound that makes TORMATO worth the price of purchase. The more subdued support role in the Yes West Years. The snappy recent sound.

One of the things that inspired me to write this is the disappointment with his bass sound on Keys Live. There is a sound quality that was on YESSONGSS which is missing on Keys and other live efforts. Also there are points on MAGNIFICATION where I wish he either choose a different sound or accepted a more subdued role in the mix. Please do not get me wrong. I am a big time Squire fan. I am just curious what other people, musician or not, might think of their favorite and not favorite sounds from the amazing Squire.


1. Silent Wings of Freedom timbre.
2. Sacred Ground quiet rising part- never associated him with Fender until I saw the Symphonic DVD.
3. South Side of the Sky riff, naturellement.
4. Anything where Chris gets that prongy pulling ropy Rickensound©.
5. Homeworld sound on that green Mouradian custom 4.

[JB86]

Into the Lens. I love the intro.

[fish62858]

Quote: ...the disappointment with his bass sound on Keys Live. There is a sound quality that was on YESSONGSS which is missing on Keys and other live efforts...


funny you should say that.... i have this discussion with rusty/guitarist often, and not just about chris, but Mr. Howe's sounds as well. a certain lack of "piss in it". (sorry if i offend)
part of it comes from the very different way that music was recorded and performed live in the past, compared to today's clean modern digital electronics. today you can get thousands of different sounds/styles recorded and reproduced at the press of a button, foot switch, even automated! in the Yessongs days, the total signal processing on stage would today fit in Chris' or Steve's rack unit. so acoustic guitar parts on the studio album would be played live on the electric.... the cleaner electric parts in studio, get played on the same electric on stage.... rythmn parts, lead parts all coming from the same amp/feed arrangement give a certain edge to both Steve's and Chris' sounds.
we fell in love with the early sounds, and find the newer cleaner recordings to be "missing something."

[Buglunch]

I just found a perfect used Big Generator tape a block away to replace my stolen one and it sounds incredible on my mini stereo; amazing job andnnow I notice the bass on title track. CD ain't the same and my vinyl's not dubbed.
Haven't had a tape of it since november.....
you're right about the bass quality.
But it's kinda like Stones' 'Jumping Jack Flash' where band goes up to one chord and bass only goes up to the fourth.

[Yesgalaxy]

My favorite is [and I cant believe that someone hasn’t mentioned this one specifically ] at the very end of Fish out of Water album the incredible subtle bass harmonics vignette that was so memorizing and dreamy, it seems to last forever but is probably only 20 seconds. Reminds me of our new Planet, out there! www.skypub.com

[soundchaser77]

Well i love al his work but, his playing on Relayer is great! Ofcause i love soundchaser and even his bass playing on soon is so nice and flowing! But i love all his stuff!

[MrPhil]

The sound: from the 80:s til now.
The sound on Magnification is really great, also 90125 and the Ladder.

The favourite section is always Wurm live, when it comes towards the end and Chris hits those single notes, first the high ones, and then going low, increasing the intensity, and then do the riffy part while waddling across the stage. Totally amazing and he steals the show from both guitar and key solos. :rightG:
I really really love that part of music, and can listen to it again and again and be in seventh heaven everytime.
IMO.

[Awaken1976]

My favorite sound from Chris was at the St. Louis, Open Your Eyes tour show when he did his solo. The architecture there in the Fox Theater (especially around the stage) is ornate. Well....Chris was "Thunderin' Along" and bam! Pieces of the ceiling started falling out! I'm serious! lol....now that's some bass!

[Squire*Fan725]

I love it all!!!!

CHRIS IS THE MAN!!!!! :hearts::hearts:


Hell, I even love the stuff I haven't heard yet! ;)

[smatt]

Off the top of completely non-musician head... I love the sound he got out of his I believe Harmonized Ricky 4001 on Future Times/Rejoice... Just a stunning bass sound!

[frank zappa]

Chris Squire threw away all the rules and wrote his own encyclopedia.

He started a bass revolution.

You could give him a broomstick with some cords attached to it and he'd still sound great.

Amazing bass, how sweet the sound.

My fave bass sound? Too many to name

[Earl Grey]

Easy...

'On The Silent Wings Of Freedom'.

The best, ...besides Heart Of The Sunrise, Close To The Edge, and...

AW. Forgit it.

:ele:

[SonicDeath10]

I wouldn't say chris "threw away all bass rules" as he is obviously highly influenced by bass players like john entwistle and paul mccartney etc. or the "english school of bass playing". But he did take it to new heights.

[KPatrick]

To pick just one is too much. Generally, I remember hearing CLASSIC YES for the first time -- my intro to "old" yes after starting out on 90125, BG, and UNION -- and being kind of irritated by the bass sound. Too twangy. It has grown on me since!...

I have to go with a gut reaction here, because if you have to think about it, it's not your top 5 -- the guy's been recording for almost 40 years. So I'll take the bass sound in "Dreamtime" (and on the rest of the album too). "Dreamtime", off the top of my head, has the best of both worlds; the dirty, gritty, busy, RANGY sound of the 70s, with the earthy, hearty sound of 80s and 90s Yes.

I'll have a different answer in 5 minutes, but this is a nice sound here.

[DoctorWu]

well for me...it's a tie between "Ritual" and "I'm Running." All I can say is that the man must have some strong fingers....Damn!!!

[Hugh Shiebler]

Off the top of completely non-musician head... I love the sound he got out of his I believe Harmonized Ricky 4001 on Future Times/Rejoice... Just a stunning bass sound!

Me too! I love that sound.

Who can tell me exactly what "harmonized" meant there? What kind of effect; exactly what did it do to the sound?

[sunburstbasser]

The harmonized bass sounds like hes running an envelope filter of some kind. I'd bet he runs it through just one pickup, and the other is clean so it gets a little blend between the two.

[The Whale]

My fav Chris is the part of RSOG where he followes Rick with that little ditty right after the intro. Any one Know what I mean?

[Gen_McWild]

love Chris for sure.

but some of my favorite bass playing by anyone is on 'I would have waited forever' and the other ABWH songs on Union.

that is some KICK ASS bass playing by Tony Levin.

[Hugh Shiebler]

Absolutely. Levin is a giant who can play anything, including out-Squiring Squire. AWBH with Levin could have been incredible as an ongoing concern.

[Scooty]

Absolutely. Levin is a giant who can play anything, including out-Squiring Squire. AWBH with Levin could have been incredible as an ongoing concern.

Ummmm...No.

But an interesting thought.

Who out Squire's Squire?? No One!!!!

[Hugh Shiebler]

What was I thinking...

But if anyone could, Levin could.

[Scooty]

What was I thinking...

But if anyone could, Levin could.


No
Impossible

But your a Zappa fan..so Ill give you a pass...this time ;)

[Hugh Shiebler]

Thank you, sir.

And you are welcome to come on over to our Crimson board anytime you want:

http://www.krimson-news.com/phpbb2.0/viewtopic.php?t=408&start=1575


By the way, I just watched that promotional video of "Hold Out Your Hand" - - what a blast. But this is the actual album cut with everyone sync-ing along, no? Either way an incredible clip.

[Scooty]

Thank you, sir.

And you are welcome to come on over to our Crimson board anytime you want:

http://www.krimson-news.com/phpbb2.0/viewtopic.php?t=408&start=1575


By the way, I just watched that promotional video of "Hold Out Your Hand" - - what a blast. But this is the actual album cut with everyone sync-ing along, no? Either way an incredible clip.


It is..lip-synced
But a beautiful vid none the less

I will check out the Crimso site!

[Drumaddict]

Does anyone know how I can get a recording of either (or both) the Relayer and Tormato tours? It would bring back awesome memories from my early years as a drummer. Thanks So Much!

drumaddict@highstream.net

[sunburstbasser]

Levin's playing on Union hasn't really grown on me as much as Squire's throughout the years. Mostly because of the slapped songs. I love slap bass (and Tony has a great sound and technique for it), but not on a rock song. It always sounds a little out of place to me.

[Hugh Shiebler]

Levin's playing on Union hasn't really grown on me as much as Squire's throughout the years. Mostly because of the slapped songs. I love slap bass (and Tony has a great sound and technique for it), but not on a rock song. It always sounds a little out of place to me.

I love Levin's slapped bass on Peter Gabriel's "Big Time". In fact, it really makes that song.

As for other rock songs, Levin slaps the sh** out of the song "Sleepless" from Crimson's "Three of a Perfect Pair". Or think of "Thela Hun Ginjeet", one of the rockiest tunes from "Discipline" and a veritable slap-fest.

[allpurechance]

Chris's sound and sounds all over Close To The Edge...

...from The Solid Time Of Change...to the close of Siberian...

I've mentioned this before,but has anyone heard that in the studio,he used a very small,keyboard-ish amp?I heard this once from a great Chris admirer...many,many years ago,now...

[Steve St Thomas]

One is definitely Tempus Fugit, but his bass sound on Drama was just fantastic.

I really liked what he was doing on 5 string bass though.

Silently Falling's bass sound ---- killer.

[Hugh Shiebler]

That deep, resonant sound on "Amazing Grace".

That punchy, lean sound on "No Opportunity Necessary"

[proggtr1]

i think all of his bass sounds over the years were awesome...they evolved nicely over time.....although i must say the sound on Keys to Ascension really surprised me in a good way....wow...everytime i listen to that CD in my car...i love it....the subsonic low end....i dont believe he ever had that sound after that live disc....anyone out there know what he added to his gear to get that sound.

[KPatrick]

[QUOTE=DoctorWu]well for me...it's a tie between "Ritual" and "I'm Running." QUOTE]

"I'm Running." Yes. That's probably the song that made me want to learn how to play bass.

Can you hear me Doctor Wu?

[StarshipTrooper67]

okay, I'll go:

On the Silent Wings of Freedom--Holy Shiznit!
Tempus Fugit--whoa!
Yours is No Disgrace---ow!
Ritual---wowie zowie!
Gates of Delirium---bamboooozling!
Heart of the Sunrise---sweeeet!

and and the mother of them all, "Madrigal." (i'm kidding...but you knew that)

[chungiemunchin]

Interestingly enough, your user id contains the name of a song which I particularly favor due to the sounds Chris got in his performance ...... Starship Trooper. Besides playing kick-ass lines (very tasty indeed), his was a unique sound to Chris Squire (at that time) on that song. It also seems to fit so beautifully with the atmosphere of the song!

[relayeire]

Tempus Fugit, and that phased-from-the-inside bass... I love the way he adds bass pedals to YIND, AYAI, MM and other songs to make them more powerful...

Ritual is a nice contrast, with its muffled, echoey sound...

and then the harmonised bass he was using for GFTO and Tormato... OTSWOF for sure!!!

[MrZuLu]

Ummmm...No.

But an interesting thought.

Who out Squire's Squire?? No One!!!!
well...

lol
I agree Scooty

Rickenbacker... really no matter who plays one... it has a signature tonality I find most irresistable

[zapotec]

'envelope/fuzz' from tormato and live yesshows (don't kill the whale & wondrous stories) :git[1]:

[SadPreacher]

simply put...what killed me immediately when i first heard Squire was his use of a pick...that is what gets that funky sound out of his Rickenbacher....it is more than apparent on their first album that this was a special bassist.....and he was the first bassist i ever heard use a pick (he set the standard, now i really don't know many bassists the do NOT use a pick)

[fovman]

bass picks:
Paul McCartney always used a pick
Dave Hope/Kansas..used a pick
......most bass players in the 1970's and before used a pick.

......most bassists today that I have seen do not use a pick.


Did you know that Squire double-tracked his Rickenbacker bass part with a Gibson hollow body electric guitar (unplugged and miked) to get that historic sound on "Roundabout".

[RABARKS]

I am not a musician, but listen to the bass on Our Song...great stuff.
Chris is the man!

A little late to pick up on this, but I agree totally.
I'd almost say that that's the last song Chris plays great and impressive all the way. What I mean is that eversince there have been lots of great Chris moments and licks in many Yessongs, but IMHO he doesn't excell for the whole duration of a song anymore (or he's mixed so low that he can't be heard properly) ...

I hope I don't get slaughtered by all you Chris fanatics for this comment.
:headset:

[Buglunch]

bass picks:
Paul McCartney always used a pick
Dave Hope/Kansas..used a pick
......most bass players in the 1970's and before used a pick.

......most bassists today that I have seen do not use a pick.


Did you know that Squire double-tracked his Rickenbacker bass part with a Gibson hollow body electric guitar (unplugged and miked) to get that historic sound on "Roundabout".
Never heard this before, what a sneaky-sneak! Who'da thought to figure that out? Our bassist in the 70s used a Fender Precision and did well, but we had no access to any Rickies, waaaa...

:git[1]:

A harmonizer fiddles with harmonics and such and brings out/doubles/suppresses various frequencies for new sounds; Jon Anderson sings the praises of the almighty Eventide on the Animation album.

[John Holden]

I recall watching the Chris Squire Starlicks video (good entertainment even if the interviewer is a bit lame)

He demonstrates a lot of different basses and also his pick technique which I think is unique.
Hard to explain but....
he hits the string with the plectrum but holds the plectrum so it only just protrudes...this means his thumb also hits the string milliseconds after the initial stroke.
This does 3 things
it gives the brightness of the picked string but then delivers a "warmth" as well.
the slight delay gives a slightly "chorus" type sound or "adt".
and lastly it emphasizes harmonics.

you put all that together plus the left hand fingering and choice of lines and you get a Chris Squire sound !!
hmmm sounds simple - lol
whether Chris is the "best" bass player is not really of consequence he is without doubt an innovator and inspiration to generations of listeners and musicians.

I hope this explanation makes some kind of sense !

[Earl Grey]

The last time I hung-out with Chris, ...he was in the other room, drinking and arguing about some SYN-thing with Smatt.

Meanwhile...

Chris's 'bass case' was leaning against the wet-bar.

...I put my hands on that case:

Electricity was sparking from the corners. It was like handling ball lightning.

The artist's medium.

Nothing 'medium' about it, ...a box of fire.

Sound and the fury. It was all in my mind, but what isn't. Perception is still perceived.

Squire is the shyte. The world's greatest living rock bassist.

Great post John, welcome! Carry on.


Earl Grey:yesbird:

[chungiemunchin]

For me that is easy.......I love and always have loved the bass tones on Starship Trooper........one of the things that really got me into Chris' bass guitar playing besides his unbelieveable phrasing and tasteful melodic style of playing, is his tone. All hail the masterbasser....

[soul warrior]

I love the way his B flat sounds! ;-)

[smatt]

Hmm, this is so hard.... It's got to be the amazing sound he achieved on The Silent Wings of Freedom..... Awesome and totally unique IMO! :clap:

[muff]

It's got to be the amazing sound he achieved on The Silent Wings of Freedom..... Awesome and totally unique

I have to agree with you matt without a doubt one great piece of magic when Chris lets rip on this is mesmerizing, :D