Adam Clayton recently spoke with Guitar World about what’s most challenging about being in U2.
Clayton has been on the rock music scene for over four decades. He shared what’s hardest in his job, saying:
“I don’t have the kind of technique that allows me to get through ideas quickly and easily. I’m instinctive when it comes to looking for a different sound. I start with the opposite of what I feel has been done before, and often that’s something I don’t find easy to play.”
Clayton talked about the rest of his creation process:
“From that extreme position, I bring it back to the centre and gradually refine it until it’s more conventional. If you start in the obvious place, it’s hard to get into new territory.”
The Bassist’s Approach To Playing Music
A follow-up question wanted to learn whether he ever tries to stop himself from playing too much. To which the rocker responded:
“No. Sometimes I get a little frustrated by always playing eighth-notes. But at the end of the day, we perform songs live, and that’s what works. Eighth-notes drive the band, they’re propulsive, and they form a foundation for what Edge and Bono are doing. There are only so many different ways of doing it.”
Clayton also said in the rest of his interview that over the years, he feels like he became more precise as a musician and bass player. He mentioned that his bandmate Edge says the way he plays notes sounds different now. Adam developed a sense of knowing which notes to play, how hard to play them, and how long to hold them without having to think too much.
