James Honeyman-Scott audio: "I cannot count Chrissie's timing!"

JasO

During our 1981 interview for Guitar Player magazine, the Pretenders' James Honeyman-Scott talked at length about his development as a guitarist, his early bands, his musical interactions with Chrissie Hynde, his gear setup, and the guitar parts on the first Pretenders' album and as-yet-unreleased EP. In this audio excerpt, he explains how his inability to "count Chrissie's timing" led him to alter his playing style:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-blEXEO4qSY

Hattigol

Absolute hero of mine. Such an underrated player - huge influence on the likes of Marr, Butler, Squire...

Died way too young - and too stupidly.

Thanks for sharing. 

digitalkettle

https://www.thefretboard.co.uk/discussion/233500/kid-8-bars-of-awesome

Kebabkid

Hattigol said:

Absolute hero of mine. Such an underrated player - huge influence on the likes of Marr, Butler, Squire...

Died way too young - and too stupidly.

Thanks for sharing. 

Couldn't agree more and Brian May was also a fan

ElectricXII

Brilliant, brilliant guitarist. Our band is covering Kid and it's a fantastic bit of Jimmy's work.

AK99

Well, finally found something JHS and I have/had in common ...buggered if I can suss the timing in the chuck-chuck-chuck intro section on The Wait

26.2

AK99 said:

Well, finally found something JHS and I have/had in common ...buggered if I can suss the timing in the chuck-chuck-chuck intro section on The Wait

26.2

AK99 said:

Well, finally found something JHS and I have/had in common ...buggered if I can suss the timing in the chuck-chuck-chuck intro section on The Wait

Sorry pressed send by mistake. I played this and we counted it as 13/4. If you count along 1,2,3,4 - 1,2,3 - 1,2,3,4 - 1,2 it’s easier. There’s a couple of little skips on the snare that can throw you off though! That count seemed to work and I could get the guitar fitting in ok. Needed a bit of work though! 

digitalkettle

26.2 said:

AK99 said:

Well, finally found something JHS and I have/had in common ...buggered if I can suss the timing in the chuck-chuck-chuck intro section on The Wait

Sorry pressed send by mistake. I played this and we counted it as 13/4. If you count along 1,2,3,4 - 1,2,3 - 1,2,3,4 - 1,2 it’s easier. There’s a couple of little skips on the snare that can throw you off though! That count seemed to work and I could get the guitar fitting in ok. Needed a bit of work though! 

Sounds like 3 bars of 4/4 followed by one bar of 2/4 to me.

CaseOfAce

This is the guy in action at what looks like a lunchtime rehearsal session at a South London boozer!
I have no idea what he steps on to rock it up at 1:50 in but it sounds great....

Pretenders - Brass In Pocket (Live Rehearsal) (1979) (HD) - YouTube

26.2

digitalkettle said:

26.2 said:

AK99 said:

Well, finally found something JHS and I have/had in common ...buggered if I can suss the timing in the chuck-chuck-chuck intro section on The Wait

Sorry pressed send by mistake. I played this and we counted it as 13/4. If you count along 1,2,3,4 - 1,2,3 - 1,2,3,4 - 1,2 it’s easier. There’s a couple of little skips on the snare that can throw you off though! That count seemed to work and I could get the guitar fitting in ok. Needed a bit of work though! 

Sounds like 3 bars of 4/4 followed by one bar of 2/4 to me.

Just had a listen and you’re right! Either I misremembered it or we made a right balls up of it! Sounded spot on at the time though - I’ll see if I can find a recording

digitalkettle

CaseOfAce said:

This is the guy in action at what looks like a lunchtime rehearsal session at a South London boozer!
I have no idea what he steps on to rock it up at 1:50 in but it sounds great....

Pretenders - Brass In Pocket (Live Rehearsal) (1979) (HD) - YouTube

That's awesome...just knocking a new tune into shape

Hattigol

CaseOfAce said:

This is the guy in action at what looks like a lunchtime rehearsal session at a South London boozer!
I have no idea what he steps on to rock it up at 1:50 in but it sounds great....

Pretenders - Brass In Pocket (Live Rehearsal) (1979) (HD) - YouTube

Absolutely marvellous stuff - thanks for sharing.

digitalkettle

Hattigol said:

CaseOfAce said:

This is the guy in action at what looks like a lunchtime rehearsal session at a South London boozer!
I have no idea what he steps on to rock it up at 1:50 in but it sounds great....

Pretenders - Brass In Pocket (Live Rehearsal) (1979) (HD) - YouTube

Absolutely marvellous stuff - thanks for sharing.

Non-metal guy being cool with a V!

AK99

digitalkettle said:

26.2 said:

AK99 said:

Well, finally found something JHS and I have/had in common ...buggered if I can suss the timing in the chuck-chuck-chuck intro section on The Wait

Sorry pressed send by mistake. I played this and we counted it as 13/4. If you count along 1,2,3,4 - 1,2,3 - 1,2,3,4 - 1,2 it’s easier. There’s a couple of little skips on the snare that can throw you off though! That count seemed to work and I could get the guitar fitting in ok. Needed a bit of work though! 

Sounds like 3 bars of 4/4 followed by one bar of 2/4 to me.

I'm better informed but alas, little the wiser  

So basically there's a rhythmic pattern that repeats every 14 beats - right ?
Could anybody please point me towards the time-stamps on this where the 14 beat pattern(s) start and end.. ?

digitalkettle

AK99 said:

digitalkettle said:

26.2 said:

AK99 said:

Well, finally found something JHS and I have/had in common ...buggered if I can suss the timing in the chuck-chuck-chuck intro section on The Wait

Sorry pressed send by mistake. I played this and we counted it as 13/4. If you count along 1,2,3,4 - 1,2,3 - 1,2,3,4 - 1,2 it’s easier. There’s a couple of little skips on the snare that can throw you off though! That count seemed to work and I could get the guitar fitting in ok. Needed a bit of work though! 

Sounds like 3 bars of 4/4 followed by one bar of 2/4 to me.

I'm better informed but alas, little the wiser  

So basically there's a rhythmic pattern that repeats every 14 beats - right ?
Could anybody please point me towards the time-stamps on this where the 14 beat pattern(s) start and end.. ?

First one starts at 0:16...next one at 0:21...it's where the B chord hits.

digitalkettle

Looks like this:

AK99

^ That's excellent. Thanks @digitalkettle ;; 

Forgive me for labouring the point ...

When I listen closely to the first bar of the set starting at 0:16 - I can relate exactly what I'm hearing on the guitar to what's written in the score above.

When I listen to the first bar of the following set beginning 0:21 though, the percussive strikes on the guitar sound like there's an extra rake of the strings on the upstroke added in between each down-stroke on the beat (if that makes any sense ) ?

digitalkettle

Erm...maybe something like:



It's just messing around with syncopation

SRich

What a banger that album is..........just sat and listened soup to nuts. Amazing music. That one is going into rotation when I re-find it upstairs.

And Chrissie....I mean come on!

AK99

digitalkettle said:

Erm...maybe something like:



It's just messing around with syncopation

Ah man.. I'm still trying to get my head round the switch of time signature in the 3rd bar..and u drop this on me ?

(If the 00:16 and 00:21 references in those scores relate directly to the audio track btw - that is either a really comprehensive score, or some bl**dy sophisticated transcription software - impressive either way! Thank you..)