I've been learning to play the bass guitar now for a little over two years. In that time, I have learned a lot but I am still at more or less a begginer's level - perhaps an "advanced beginner". Lately I have been trying to take on songs that are a bit beyond my current skill level. My goal is to at least give some more advanced songs a try. I find that it really helps to learn a song that you are familiar with - the learning process is more enjoyable and it is much faster to master a song that you more or less know inside and out. Thus, I decided to try my hand at a song from my youth that I loved back in the day and still love: "Hysteria' by Def Leppard.
It amazes me that this song was released back in 1987 - 35 years ago! It doesn't seem that long ago that this music was new. I remember heading to downtown Regina by bus in the spring of 1988 to go music shopping and look at stereo equipment (my friend and I were really into that at the time). We wound up at Eaton's deparment store in the Cornwall Centre where I purchased the Hysteria LP for around $10. Yes, vinyl was still being sold in department stores at that time. I also vividly remember the ride back home on the bus holding the LP like it was priceless. Little did I know that this album would define the sound of that spring of 1988.
A friend of mine from school discovered Def Leppard long before I did. I really didn't think that I would like this album at all. At the time, I was really into the back catalogues of many bands from the late 1970's. One day during gym class, we were in the weight room and someone had a radio on which was playing "Pour Some Sugar on Me". I asked my friend, "What's that song?" He replied with something like, "That's Def Leppard. I told you they were good!" Not too long after that, I found myself on that bus downtown.
The Hysteria album sold millions and millions of copies after a slow start. By 1988 and 1989, the album and the tour surrounding it were unstoppable. There are so many great songs on this record. I would hesitate to call any of it "filler" (although there are perhaps a couple of tracks that could get that classification). For the most part, this thing is just a juggernaught - excellent track after excellent track. The producer, Robert John "Mutt" Lange, was definitely at his peak when he helped the dudes in Leppard put this album together. I listened to the LP so much that I basically wore it out (and I was one who took excellent care of my vinyl).
The standout track for me was the song "Hysteria" which appears on side two almost at the end of the album. The song is powerful yet soulful and very harmonic. It had me enraptured from the first time that I heard it. "Hysteria" and its layered guitars, chugging bass line, and beautiful vocal harmonies was the sound of that spring of 1988 for me. When I listen to this song today - 34 years later - I can still see and smell and feel what it was like back in 1988. It's just amazing.
So, when I came across a YouTube video by Samboat Music of a bass cover with tabs for "Hysteria", I was game to give it a try. I was not sure if I would have the skills yet to play this song. Yet, when I took a closer look at the tab, it became obvious to me that the bass line is quite simple - it chugs along on just four or five different notes. I was definitely up to give this a try! The simple bass line coupled with my deep familiarity with the song made this not only within my skill level but also just a simple joy to play. I was not just learning to play this song, I was feeling how to play this song.
Here is my attempt as a beginner bassist to play through one of my all-time favourite tunes, "Hysteria" by Def Leppard.
And... a big thank you to Samboat Music for posting the demonstration video and tab for the song. Samboat has lots of interesting bass tabs and tutorials. Check them out!
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