Beatles - Nowhere Man (Bass cover with tabs)

#basstranscription #basscoverwithtabs
Another excellent bassline by Paul McCartney. This is how you use arpeggios.
The song is in the key of E major with a little harmonic twist by using the flatted sixth degree ("C") in the vocals and of course in the minor iv chord (Am). The chord in the fifth bar of the verse could also be notated as A6 instead of F#m (especially as Paul is playing an "A" in the bassline) but the vocals sugest here an F#m/A chord. But both chords work as subdominant.
The fingering of the bassline is a little bit tricky and of course there are other possibilities, but I don't think it'll make things easier ;-)
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[@josecastillo4559]

Another reason why Paul was voted #3 on all time bassists. A good example of why he is very talented and puts an underlying melody to a great song just like " I'm looking through you" ......just pure genius.

[@basscination]

Exactly!

[@unklefester1980]

#3 ? Yeah that always cracks me up. Paul really got it right, but if we are to diminish to any comparative scale, #3 purely suggest George Martin had a lot to do with it, but the score still had to be performed. Cheers

[@victorgoularte5792]

Number 1 in my hop

[@victorgoularte5792]

And singing harmony

[@muchanadziko6378]

@@unklefester1980 how come George Martin had anything to do with Paul being voted n3?

[@JR-zv6qm]

Paul was playing amazing melodic bass back to '63. He was the 1st. There was nobody before him playing bass like that.

[@brownthrasher78]

Good point. Another of the 60s era was James Jamerson (Funk Brothers / Motown house band), who used a lot of counter-melodies mixed with melodic bass lines. Masters and ahead of their time were McCartney and Jamerson

[@jaelge]

All My Loving still drives me crazy. Paul´s the best.

[@KRW628]

I saw them do this live in '66. Thank you!

[@SoundVillageChunin17]

Beach grove hornets?

[@KRW628]

International Amphitheater, Chicago

[@SoundVillageChunin17]

@@KRW628 im jealous but i was reffering to your profile picture. its very close looking to my hometowns mascot. was just wondering.

[@KRW628]

My former nom de youtube was BiggBuzz

[@rodneybaker49]

lucky bastard!!

[@michaelmonfils2642]

The busy bass part notwithstanding, the sentiment of the song is akin to a ballad. Paul's work as a writer, singer and instrumentalist throughout his career has always had a strong melodic sense, but the fact is that much of his bass playing was very rhythmic. With all due respect to Ringo's solid contribution as a drummer, it can be said that at times, Paul's driving bass lines were providing more functional rhythm than even the drum parts. How he could do that while simultaneously singing and emoting on stage is quite remarkable. Every member of the Beatles was very talented.

[@BeatlesCentricUniverse]

Hmmm. "Busy" is not the right word for this monumental bassline.

[@bensmyth450]

The 3-5-8-7 pattern was a stroke of genius. Exactly what the song needed.

[@BonesBones-qx9jd]

The reason why I searched for this even tho i don't have bass, that part was just so good

[@hungfao]

When I write bass lines to my songs, I always reference McCartney. It has worked very well. Thanks for the post.

[@sulatlalaki]

And he played this WHILE HARMONIZING!!

[@bensmyth450]

He recorded vocals and bass together?

[@simpego81]

​@@bensmyth450surely on live shows

[@JR-zv6qm]

@@bensmyth450 From '64 on they recorded on a 4 track machine. Pretty funny compared to the 48 track machines of the '70's & '80's. On this track it sounds (to me at least) like Paul's bass was recorded with George's guitar fills. I believe all the vocals were recorded on one track.

[@Jay1Joe]

great Job! This saved me when I needed to learn this in a pinch for a gig the next day. And I love how you added the music score! This helps me tremendously. Thank You Tom!!!!!!!!!!!!

[@malothedog1]

I've found a whole new level of respect for Paul and the Beatles.......

[@carlproctor9101]

Was it not their before

[@carlproctor9101]

Was it not their before

[@Ferdybroom]

the best exposition I've yet seen of this superb bass line, and many thanks to you for breaking its down so well, and so easy to follow. And now I've got the hang of it, it's such a pleasure to play. McCartney has the gift of melody - or should I go further still and say 'polyphony' - with endless inventiveness and variations as he goes along, and that isn't true of most bass players. Jaco had that exceptional talent too, even though at first hearing the two of them appear to be chalk and cheese. This melodic and arpeggiated bass style has been out of fashion for years and years, so here's hoping younger players will be inspired by it. And the voicing of your own bass is just gorgeous, not harsh or overintrusive, but still with massive presence alongside an unusual purity of tone

[@whyyeseyec]

Paul was doing most of the work on this song!!

[@sulatlalaki]

Well...they were also harmonizing brilliantly, too!

[@thoshodges]

I LOVE this instructional video. Gets right to the point and easy to follow. The notation makes a big difference in being able to pick it up quickly. And it’s a great bass line that is fun to play. Well done, Tom Bornemann!

[@lenardmasamoc6167]

Paul was a very very very good bassist

[@sheistcoff]

As of April 2024, he's still very good.

[@kennethbarratt9719]

WOW! And thanks for the tabs. I’ve been meaning to learn this song for years. I will definitely try!

[@andrewbradice8916]

I love this base line, it's a melody within itself awesome.

[@westfield90]

Just absolutely Superb. Please do more of McCartney’s great bass lines.

[@basscination]

Thank you! I've already done Obladi, Oblada and While My Guitar Gently Weeps

[@westfield90]

Tom Bornemann oh wow I will check them out. I appreciate your channel. But there are approx another hundred Beatles bass lines left to go ...😆

[@14sumnerheights]

A lot of work to do this for us. Thank you from Toronto!

[@jaelge]

Paul´s bass-playing skills just drives this guitar player crazy sometimes. And he did it while singing. What an amazing guy.

[@barrywein2185]

Thank you. You answered questions I hadn't even thought to ask yet. Top notch work.

[@Andyjefford]

Excellent Tom,must learn this one🔥🔥👍

[@benjanning]

Loving your videos! Great for working on sight reading. Thanks!

[@movid]

Fabulous ❤ from Montreal... Pure melodic genius 😊

[@luisburgos6940]

Excellent bass line!! 👍 👍

[@snepmepi]

Paul is my favorite bass player!

[@komugiko2508]

So beautiful humming bassline !

[@markr.devereux3385]

Great McCartney bass track.♥️♥️

[@BSidentifier]

Nicely Done. Looks like a 2000-2002 Fender American Standard Precision in Hot Rod Red? Looks great! I'm putting the white pickguard back on mine after seeing this.

[@ffcorona]

One of my 5 favorite Beatle songs.

[@Fili2009able]

Very nice ,congrats , it will be easier to learn how to play this song , thanks a lot

[@clairecouplandmusic]

this is awesome, thanks Tom! so helpful

[@4EverLearning757]

Great video, thanks for throwing in the tabs.

[@alejo7365]

More of Sir Paul Please! great job is a nice tab

[@jamesrenfro9770]

Sweet!! I love your videos!! Would you maybe consider doing one for Quicksand Jesus, Skid Row..??? I’ve been struggling with that song for a little while now. That was the first song I ever really noticed the sweet sound of the bass as a kid and loved it. Promised myself I’d learn it someday. And I struggle like heck to hear most of the bass in that song. And everyone online plays it wrong, and super sloppy. And no correct tabs for it. 😞

[@NelsonMontana1234]

One of Pauls best but that C# over the Am chord always bugged me.

[@greenNRGinit]

Nice job on the bass runs

[@greenNRGinit]

Hey Tom, what kind of bass are you playing?

[@patricknabong9122]

Very helpfull and nice

[@IntoTheBass]

Sir Bassist, Tom Bornemann. Nicely done.

[@basscination]

Thank you 🤗

[@Joetime90]

I couldn't imagine trying to remember this line while trying to harmonize (good grief if you're the singer and bassist in a band doing a cover). Geddy Lee or John Entwistle could do it, but not me. But also one of my favorite Beatles songs, I love the lyrics and just everything about it. It's got a certain personal effect for someone with depression.

[@Caperetiree]

Does anyone know what a yearly transcriptions archive gives you with respect to existing (older) pdf archives? Didn’t know how to contact Tom with this question.

[@MrMonkey68]

very nice... Can you cover some songs slowrock and chacha Style ... Thank You !... Happy Valentine!!!

[@DavidTurchickVEGAN]

I really like that Beatles wig on the last fermata! But why on Earth would Paul be hitting the ninth fret of the E string on those A minor chords, instead of the eighth fret? Doesn't sound right at all...

[@tommythevenot7617]

Where exactly in the song does that happen?

[@JohnnyRPando]

Por favor, graba ahora con la canción ''You're gonna lose that girl''.

[@Jay1Joe]

Sorry if I got your name wrong

[@sammieharris116]

Macca’s bass is way too busy in this song, in my opinion. Less would have been more for this song, again, in my opinion.

[@basscination]

This is Paul McCarrneys original bassline. Maybe you should tell him!

[@sammieharris116]

I know it’s Paul McCartney’s

[@sulatlalaki]

Have you ever listened to Nowhere Man? Bach also put Melody and Melody together. Sheesh!

[@sammieharris116]

One of my favourite songs ever but less bass would have made it even better. Quite busy

[@thoshodges]

I love the busy-ness of this bass line. Makes an already great John Lennon song even better, IMHO.

[@blackisblack22]

Not a fan of Beatles bass lines but nice grooving tho 👍

[@FODENSZN]

how can you not be a fan of beatles bassline lmao

[@blackisblack22]

Zariah Because it is not real bassism but a guitarist playing the bass.

[@dariene1926]

@@blackisblack22 ok... what would you consider real "bassism" then

[@blackisblack22]

Darien E If you do not know the objective of the bass you have nothing to do asking as if you were a troll.

[@dariene1926]

@@blackisblack22 or you could maybe not be an asshole, and clarify as to why you don't like good bass playing

[@Oh-kl9um]

Is it possible for you to link tabs in the description if that's ok.

[@basscination]

the pdf transcriptions to all my videos are available on my PATREON page: www.patreon.com/tombornemannbasslessons

[@Oh-kl9um]

@@basscination Thanks :)