Tag Archives: Time and a Word

Bassline for Time and a Word’s “Astral Traveller”. This one totally drives the whole song. Actually the whole album is very “bassy” thanks to a very generous mix (if all Yes albums were like that…!:) This song turned out to be more exhausting to play than I expected. After a good deal of takes, both hands started to give up, especially on those high-register 16ths!

Oh btw, in case you haven’t noticed, I couldn’t really play those high ‘E’s at 2:36 and 2:42. Chris played a 21-fretter back then. The 4001CS is a regular 20-fret… I pressed the neck after the 20th fret anyway and it sounded something like an E… although without any sustain. What you hear there is mostly the original bass. Hopefully I will try to do it one time on a 21-fretter!

This time I brought a little patriotic element making this one and associated the concept “Astral Traveller” to a travel back in time, to the late XI centrury, illustrating the history of my Nation through the evolution of our Flag. Funilly enough, today is June 10th, our National Holiday so I guess it all comes together pretty well:) Hope this does not become too distractive. Thanks for watching!