how the heck am i supposed to do this

I started playing bass at 50. I never played a stringed instrument before. Some keyboard in my teens, that was all. I know I'm a mediocre bassist, but I don't care. There's more in life than bass playing. I'm perfectly happy with my playing level.

This thread reminds me. A little bit ago I had a guy comment on one of my videos about how I wasn't playing the song the correct way. A month later when I finally decided to respond to him I explained, as I often to to those who notice, that I almost never do exactly what the tabs say to do because alot of times they call for something slightly beyond my abilities so I simplify riffs to make them easier to play or remember. His response was something to the effect of “dont be lazy”. I asked for a explanation and he produced the following rant:

“Well if only you were doing it your own way for no other reason then wanting to I can respect that but the fact that the wrong section you are doing it actually harder then what is being played says your motivations are not what you report them to be. You can't figure out that section or you figured it out wrong. At 3:17 through 3:25 in your video the notes are more or less right but after that the bass breaks form the riff and plays along the G root note before doing something else also more easy then the main riff you are playing. And the riff you are playing needs to be played with Tremolo picking or constant picking not single notes. We don't play things because they are easy, no pain no gain and the point about the part you are playing wrong that is more easy if you played it right tells me your agreement is not based on what you said but rather my observation of being lazy. Sorry to break it to you but I've been playing since 1982 and a two or three year student it not really going to be able to make excuses and pull the wool over my eyes that I will take as valid. Sorry, you asked.”

Its long I know. I see this and im like wtf? “We dont do things because they're easy”? Really? Ok then, no alternate picking you f***ing cheater. I can tell you from my “two or three years” of experience that it makes tremolo picking way to easy, and that's coming from someone who used to exclusively downpick. I told him if it bothered him that much he should just tab out his version and I would redo it.

Im still waiting on those tabs.

And another thing, tabs are only a guide, unlike standard notation they cant show things like note duration, rests, slides etc, so how does he know you were playing the tab wrong, you were just playing your interpretation of it. One last thing, Duff McKagan cant play bass like Billy Sheehan, but he played bass for one of the biggest rock bands of the 20th century…did Billy?

Play it your way.
I play like that.
So if when tabs say jump up and play a B at the 7th fret from F at the 1st fret, I just play a B on A string.
I have small hands, so for example a minor 3rd is easier for me to play lower down than going up for it.

Is there a correct way to play a cover song?
Unless you are the original bass player or in a covers band and need 100% accuracy what does it really matter.?

Also, what happened to lefty O.P.? his thread has developed mightily from what it began as..

I prefer to play a song the way that it was written. I never feel completely satisfied unless I know a song inside and out. This is not to say that I do not improvise once I've learned a song, but I always try to ensure that I am playing a song the way that it was written.

Watch Peter Hook show the correct way to play "Love will Tear Us Apart. Laddie is a lefty too.