Features of the Performing Style of Bass Guitarist Paul McCartney (based Examples of hi performance)

Abstract

This article explores the features of the performance style of the English composer and bass player Paul McCartney. Of particular interest is the musician's choice of the first Höfner 500/1 Violin Bass. It is noted that this decision was due to practical considerations, in particular, the shape of the instrument had a symmetrical body. The scale and the distance between the strings were close to those of an electric guitar, which made it possible to play with a mediator (plector) technique. In addition, the use of the Höfner 500/1 Violin Bass bass guitar allowed P. McCartney to get a special sustain and characteristic sound attack, in comparison with bass instruments from other companies. The author analyzes the bass parts of P. McCartney in the works I Saw Her Standing There and Please Please Me. Particular attention is paid to the musician's commitment to a clear and accentuated performance of the bass canvas, based on the bass riff or the main sound of the chord. An important aspect of the instrumental lines is the absence of pauses, emphasizing the density of the musical fabric. The practical application of mediator technique allows P. McCartney to perform works in a more rigid and aggressive manner. The key element is the ornamentation of the bass part with the help of rare grace notes and glissando, which contributes to the activation of the metro-rhythmic basis, demonstrating the nature of the performed works. Thanks to the original manner of performance, the musician manages to transform the bass guitar from an auxiliary instrument into an independent one, revealing its performing and expressive potential. At the same time, most of the bass parts created by P. McCartney are studied in music educational establishments around the world, thereby emphasizing the musician's contribution to the development of bass guitar performance.