( 4 reviews )
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( 2 of 2 found this review helpful ) Posted: Aug 21 2006
Tabs are very close to the actual way that Les Claypool plays his songs. Notations are a little difficult to remember, but they are the same throughout both anthologies and Sailing the Seas of Chesse (play it like it is) tab books so it isn't impossible to learn them quickly. Also be aware that a lot of the songs are played using a 6string bass (like old Les) and makes it difficult to get all of your money's worth out of it without first owning a 6string. Overall a great buy!
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Posted: Jul 17 2006
like i stated for the other product directly related with this one. my skill has doubled in a matter of weeks
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( 8 of 9 found this review helpful ) Posted: Aug 22 2001
Cherry Lane has now released transcriptions of the "Progressive Freak-Out Music" band Primus, divided alphabetically by song title into two volumes. (For those who didn't know, Cherry Lane published many other transcription books and instructional videos during the late 80's shred-guitar era.) Each song transcription includes the guitar lines and bass parts in both standard notation and tablature, as well as the lyrics and vocal melody. A time line of the band's history is included each book. Everything, note-for-note, is taken straight from the original albums. Though being a bass player, I mainly bought these books for the bass parts.I was very, very pleased to see them feature many songs from the first two albums. Songs like "John The Fisherman", "Jerry Was A Race Car Driver", and "Tommy The Cat" were the ones that introduced me to Primus, and really intrigued me to sit down and learn how to play Claypool's parts. Though maybe some of the newer fans will be disappointed that the books do not include the South Park theme, or songs from the last couple of albums. Nevertheless, the thumb-slapping technique became extremely popular again for bassists around the early 90s, and Les Claypool (along with Flea, Robert Trujilio, etc.) had a lot to do with that. This brings me to the title of this review: why the heck they didn't print a Primus bass transcription book back then, when such a thing would be in its highest demand?Les also used a variety of basses, including a 4-string with a whammy bar, 6-string basses, uprights, and fretlesses. He also used a variety of techniques other than slapping, such as left and right hand tapping, strumming, and three finger picking. But all the transcriptions seemed to have been faithfully done. (Though I did find tablature to be an odd inclusion for songs like Mr. Krinkle, which features a bowed upright bass! Where is this "third fret" he's supposedly hitting?) The only other thing I find odd is the lack of drum transcriptions. I like Larry Lalonde's guitar style, but let's face it: Primus is mostly known amongst musicians as a "bassist's and drummer's" band. Though maybe drummers aren't that big into transcriptions; I don't know.I buy transcription books very rarely, but this is one that I've really been waiting for. That's probably what pushes me to give it 5 stars instead of 4. Sitting down with these books and my bass has been fun, a bit nostalgic, and challenging.
