Editing John Entwistle (section)

== Technique ==
[[File:John Entwisle 1987.jpg|thumb|right|Entwistle performing with the Who at the [[O2 Apollo Manchester|Manchester Apollo]] in 1981]]Entwistle's playing technique incorporated fingerstyle, [[plectrum]],<ref>{{Cite journal|url=https://www.muzines.co.uk/articles/john-entwistle/6648|title=John Entwistle (IM Sep 1975)|journal=International Musician & Recording World|date=September 1975|issue=September 1975|pages=24–27}}</ref> [[tapping]], and the use of [[harmonic]]s.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.musicradar.com/news/why-john-entwistle-was-the-greatest-rock-bassist-of-all-time|title=Why John Entwistle was the greatest rock bassist of all time|author=Chris Charlesworth|date=4 July 2019|website=Musicradar.com|access-date=26 August 2021}}</ref> He changed his style between songs and even during songs to alter the sound he produced. His fingering technique involved plucking strings very forcefully to produce a trebly, twangy sound. He changed his thumb position from [[pickup (music technology)|pick-up]] to the E string and occasionally even positioned his thumb near the pick-up. His plectrum technique involved holding the plectrum between his thumb and forefinger, with the rest of his fingers outstretched for balance.

The Who's studio recordings seldom did justice to Entwistle's playing, in part because he was better heard in concert,<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://drummagazine.com/partners-in-time-john-entwistle-keith-moon/|title=Partners In Time: John Entwistle & Keith Moon|date=23 August 2013|website=Drummachine.com|access-date=26 August 2021}}</ref> where he and Pete Townshend frequently exchanged roles, with Entwistle providing rapid melodic lines and Townshend anchoring the song with rhythmic chord work. At the same time, Townshend noted that Entwistle provided the true rhythmic timekeeping in the band, while Keith Moon, with his flourishes around the kit, was more like a keyboardist. In 1989, Entwistle pointed out that, by modern standards, "the Who haven't got a proper bass player."<ref>Guitar Player's Chris Jisi in 1989</ref>

Entwistle also developed what he called a "typewriter" approach to playing the bass.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/music/reviews/9ngb/|title=BBC - Music - Review of John Entwistle - So Who's The Bass Player?|first=Simon|last=Morgan|website=Bbc.co.uk|access-date=26 August 2021}}</ref> It involved positioning his right hand over the strings so all four fingers could be used to tap percussively on the strings, causing them to strike the fretboard with a distinctive twangy sound. This gave him the ability to play three or four strings at once, or to use several fingers on a single string. It allowed him to create passages that were both percussive and melodic. This method should not be confused with [[tapping]] or [[Slapping (music)|slapping]], and in fact predates these techniques. Modern players such as [[Ryan Martinie]] of heavy metal band [[Mudvayne]] have used similar techniques. Entwistle can be seen using this technique in [[Mike Gordon]]'s documentary film, ''[[Rising Low]]'' (2002). Notable in his left-hand technique was his use of slides, positioning his left hand for octaves, and his use of the [[Pentatonic scale|pentatonic]] when playing with the Who.

Entwistle was notorious for the extremely high volume at which he played bass, going so far as to rig pick-ups to each string on his instruments. This led to him developing hearing loss,<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.loudersound.com/features/john-entwistle-i-just-wanted-to-play-louder-than-anyone-else|title=John Entwistle: "I just wanted to play louder than anyone else"|first=Paul|last=Rees|date=2 November 2017|website=Loudersound.com|access-date=26 August 2021}}</ref> similar to Townshend. Although not as public about his problems as Townshend, he reputedly had to rely on lip reading to understand speech in his later years. [[Randy Bachman]] of [[Bachman–Turner Overdrive]] claimed that towards the end of his life, Entwistle mostly played by feeling the rush of air from his giant amp stacks.<ref>''Randy Bachman's Vinyl Tap Stories'', p. 45</ref> Entwistle blamed his hearing loss on using headphones.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.thetapesarchive.com/john-entwistle/|title = #21 John Entwistle (The Who) 1996|website=Thetapesarchive.com}}</ref>