The Smiths. This Charming Man bassline. Judging from comments below, there is some confusion regarding the tuning of this song. I will try to set the record straight if I can……Rourke recorded this song with his bass tuned to F#, (give or take a few cents of a note in tuner speak). This means to play this song exactly like he played it you would have to tune your bass up 1 whole step so your E string now sounds like F# when struck openly…………now tune the rest of the bass accordingly in 4ths relative to your F# string………..so………..F#,B,E,A. This tuning makes the song very easy to play cause you can start it on the open second string or on the 5th fret of your F# string………………. Now let me explain how Ive played it here……..;when I learned this song (ages ago) I didnt know he tuned up to play it and I just assumed that it was standard 440 stuff but a bit sharp. So to play along to this song I had to tune my bass just a bit sharper (higher). Ive played it like this so long and Im too lazy to change it now although it would be easier to play in F#. I have a few more Smiths vids on my channel that are also played standard but should have been tuned to F#. Hope this helps, Thanks for stopping by, kev

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15 thoughts on “The Smiths This Charming Man Andy Rourke bass part”

  1. tbcass
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    Sticking to the top of the neck (first position) is very restricting. Moving up the neck with the changes allows you the freedom of all 4 strings for improvisation and adding color. Staying in first position is something beginners do because it’s easier.

  4. danbromley86
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    Nice. I’ve always played this in E too - not overly difficult once you get going, but so much fun to play. Andy Rourke is a genius for writing it!

  5. ramonv90
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    Wonderful video! This is really fun to play and thank you for this. I would love if you did the tab layout on the other videos 😀

  6. siggy75
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    I’m like you, I’ve learnt all The Smiths stuff in standard tuning, probably a lot harder but tuning up or down a step does my head in as I play everything by ear.

  7. chiasson65
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    i’ve been playing for 30 yrs and practiced an average of 20 hours a month, give or take….. that would be my best guess.

  9. Lordwatson303
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    Why don’t you just play all of it at the top of the neck?

  10. NeoApha
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    Thanks for sharing and thanks for putting the tabs on it!!!

  11. laxifist111
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    I love what you and rourke do at 1:10. AMAZING. is there a term for that

  13. chiasson65
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    For tuning advice open the "show more" tab……………
    cheers,
    kev

  14. iconic558
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    sweet, very sweet playing, this has got to the hardest Rouke riff (Bigmouth IS easier!)

    thanks for this

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