What Duck Done [Plastic Comb]

Tim Tindall (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 1, 1995

What Duck Done is an in-depth study of legendary bassist Donald "Duck" Dunn. The book contains 33 transcriptions of many of Duck's more famous works. Included are a breif biography, an analysis of Duck's playing and equipment, a selected discography and anecdotes from many of Duck's peers. Also included is a Double CD package with all the transcriptions played in their entirety. Tim Tindall performs the bass with full rhythm section accompaniment.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"Besides it's obvious value to bass players, it's also great for horn players and vocalists. Highly recommended!" --Bass Digest

"It's not quite as good as being in the studio with the M.G.'s, but it comes close." --Bass Player Magazine Nov. 96'

"This is an important book that should be a part of your collection of instructional materials... " --Bassics Magazine Feb. 96'

About the Author

Tim Tindall is a freelance bassist currently residing in the N.Y.C. area. He has toured extensively throughout the U.S., Canada, Europe, Africa, Japan and South America. He has toured/recorded with Pheobe Snow, Sam & Dave, Chuck Berry, Joe Louis Walker and Martha Reeves to name a few. What Duck Done is the first published work of his anticipated R&B and Blues bass studies.

Product Details

• Plastic Comb: 71 pages
• Publisher: Bass Is Bodacious (September 1, 1995)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0970138903
• ISBN-13: 978-0970138903
• Product Dimensions: 11.8 x 9 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 11.2 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,633,723 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

43 of 43 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Good transcriptions of great music, April 30, 2002

By 

Robert C. Rogers "Bob Rogers" (Blacksburg, VA USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: What Duck Done (Plastic Comb)

This book contains transcription of Donald "Duck" Dunn's bass lines for almost three dozen classic Stax and Atlantic R&B recordings. This music is the cornerstone of 60's R&B and Soul and as such the bass lines are fundamental to anyone playing modern R&B, pop, funk, and even country, gospel, and contemporary Christian.

The book is 70 pages long. About a dozen pages are text and pictures. The rest are easy-to-read, carefully written transcriptions in standard musical notation on the bass staff.

The book includes two 60 minute CDs of instrumental covers by the author (Tim Tindall) on bass (left channel) and accompaniment on the right channel. The tracks are well made and fairly true to the originals in terms of tempos and instrumentation. (Though clearly more care has been taken to keep the bass lines "exact" than the other instruments.) The tracks were clearly mixed to maximize their value as teaching tools. Each of the instruments stands out distinctly, even on the "mixed" right channel. Very few effects are used in the mix.

This book does what it does very well, but it has limitations. There is no tab or fingering suggestions. There are no transcriptions for instruments other than bass. The commentary is very terse. (One should really think of this as a sheet music book with CDs.)

The level of these bass lines ranges from early to advanced intermediate. Many passages are suitable for beginners with a good rhythmic feel. (Duck was never about playing a lot of notes.) For those who read standard music notation or work with a teacher who does this book is highly recommended.

26 of 26 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent -- a fine resource for anyone learning modern bass, May 24, 2004

By A Customer

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: What Duck Done (Plastic Comb)

I highly recommend this as an excellent reference -- a fine set of transcriptions of Donald "Duck" Dunn's classic bass lines. Many of these lines have become fundamentals for anyone playing modern Bass.

The book is exactly as advertised -- nothing fancy. Only a few pages are used for pictures or comments. The rest is straight-forward transcriptions in standard musical notation (Bass clef, no Tab). This book is not intended for the casual fan of 60's R&B. It's a musicians reference, complete with 2 CD's for learning/practice/play-along.

Tim Tindall has done a nice job pulling this together. But, the real spotlight is on the music itself. Most of these classic Bass lines are not technically difficult. So, beginning and intermediate players will probably get maximum benefit from the book. And, the transcriptions offer an excellent chance to develop rhythmic feel & reading ability.

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A necessary book for any intermediate/pro bassist, March 19, 2007

By 

Seth Forster "sideburnmikeguitar" (Austin, TX) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: What Duck Done (Plastic Comb)

I kind of hesitate to give it 5 stars, but the transcriptions seem really good to me--though I heard a few of the Pickett's a little differently--and most of the tunes should be familiar to just about anyone who grew up hearing soul music now and then. I like the variety too. Some of the Sam & Dave, Pickett, Otis Redding and Eddie Floyd lines were "must-know" basslines but it was cool to see how Duck handled Albert and Freddie King's songs and some Muddy Waters as well.

It's pretty much just the 33 songs and 2 CDs. There are a few pictures and some notes about style in the back that I wish were embellished on both accounts, but nothing you'd really need. Duck's stuff was typically a little easier to play than Jamerson's so I'd recommend this BEFORE "Standing the Shadows of Motown" if you're still progressing as a player. I didn't do it that way, but as a result I found I could pretty much sight read this stuff with only a few errors here and there. The editing for fingerings is pretty minimal too, whereas the Jamerson has a lot more on that. But the transcriptions were in a much bigger font and that helps a ton. The sound quality of the CD could've been a little better too. Still, a fantastic book, especially for someone who plays guitar and wants to actually sound like a bassist and not a guitar player playing bass. You can't help but understand groove, how to work changes, what notes to accent etc.