The Smiths This Charming Man Andy Rourke bass part
The Smiths. This Charming Man bassline. Judging from comments below, there is some confusion regarding the tuning of this song. I will try to set the record straight if I can……Rourke recorded this song with his bass tuned to F#, (give or take a few cents of a note in tuner speak). This means to play this song exactly like he played it you would have to tune your bass up 1 whole step so your E string now sounds like F# when struck openly…………now tune the rest of the bass accordingly in 4ths relative to your F# string………..so………..F#,B,E,A. This tuning makes the song very easy to play ’cause you can start it on the open second string or on the 5th fret of your F# string………………. Now let me explain how I’ve played it here……..;when I learned this song (ages ago) I didn’t know he tuned up to play it and I just assumed that it was standard 440 stuff but a bit sharp. So to play along to this song I had to tune my bass just a bit sharper (higher). I’ve played it like this so long and I’m too lazy to change it now although it would be easier to play in F#. I have a few more Smiths vids on my channel that are also played standard but should have been tuned to F#. Hope this helps, Thanks for stopping by, kev
Reader Comments
Good bass playing although I don’t like the song much. Too much of the sweet sickish 80′s vocals I never liked.
Sticking to the top of the neck (first position) is very restricting. Moving up the neck with the changes allows you the freedom of all 4 strings for improvisation and adding color. Staying in first position is something beginners do because it’s easier.
AWESOME!
brilliant, thanks
The Smiths make me feel like learning bass.
Nice. I’ve always played this in E too – not overly difficult once you get going, but so much fun to play. Andy Rourke is a genius for writing it!
Beautiful Bass Line
Wonderful video! This is really fun to play and thank you for this. I would love if you did the tab layout on the other videos
I’m like you, I’ve learnt all The Smiths stuff in standard tuning, probably a lot harder but tuning up or down a step does my head in as I play everything by ear.
That is some mighy fine bass work! Wow…
i’ve been playing for 30 yrs and practiced an average of 20 hours a month, give or take….. that would be my best guess.
’cause thats the way i play it dude.
Why don’t you just play all of it at the top of the neck?
by far and away the most accurate and un-plodding of all the Smiths bass cover-ers on here.
Thanks for sharing and thanks for putting the tabs on it!!!
Hello chiasson65, thanks so much for the tab, I did a version for you. it’s no where near your level of competency and I just wanted to say thanks for being such a cool chap and posting the tab with your awesome vid. will you check out my version if you get a chance? all the best stay cool and thank you again
Amazing!
How long you play bass? And how much time did you pass training in the week?
I love what you and rourke do at 1:10. AMAZING. is there a term for that
Brillliant
For tuning advice open the “show more” tab……………
cheers,
kev
sweet, very sweet playing, this has got to the hardest Rouke riff (Bigmouth IS easier!)
thanks for this
For anyone who doesn’t understand what “Sharper than standard” is let me explain.
I have been trying to play it too but somehow I couldnt because when you play it in standard its sound out of tune because. For example the first note of the bass is neither A# nor B its rather a note in between A# and B. A quarter tone.
So if you want to play this just tune your bass according Rourke bass or just shift the songs pitch until it sounds ok with your standard tuned bass.
your a freaken beast XD
I don’t think marr wrote the basslines