Tony Garnier on how to play with Bob Dylan

I don’t know anyone who knows as many songs as Bob does—including from the earliest times of man.

Original source: Bassplayer.com

About a year into my tenure, G.E. Smith and Bob were doing three or four acoustic duo songs in the middle of the show; I asked if I could add upright, and it grew from there. I’d say it’s about 50/50 now, or maybe a bit more electric. In addition to my single-cutaway Warwick Star Bass—which is one of my favorite electric basses I’ve ever played with Bob—I’ve been playing some Fender VI “tictac” bass. I use a medium pick, usually muting the strings with my palm, and it really cuts in a big room. Generally, I make a decision and if Bob wants something else, he’ll say so. With the songs I’ve recorded since I’ve been in the band, I basically stay the same way on tour, although I cut “Thunder on the Mountain” [2006, Modern Times] on upright, and live, it seems to work better on electric.