Top 5 myths about learning bass
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- čas přidán 19. 06. 2024
- I’ve been playing bass now for around 20 years, which has been long enough for me to hear about every bizarre myth there is when it comes to learning the bass…
I thought it’d be fun to film a quick video for you focusing on some of the most common ones… in fact, my top 5!
The unfortunate thing is that these common myths can actually do damage to your progression as a bassist as they can make you doubt yourself, or simply throw you off the right track. Hopefully this video will help you focus on what’s actually important - hard work, practice, keeping inspired, and enjoying every minute of it.
As always, see you in the shed…
Scott :)
PS. And for giggles… here are my top 5 myths that are NOT related to bass playing… (for the bass version watch the video!)
• Humans use only 10% of their brains
• Thomas Edison invented the lightbulb
• There is no gravity in space
• If you shave your hair, it returns thicker and faster (are you kidding me, lol!)
• The great wall of China is the only man-made structure visible from space
Anyway… enough of those shenanigans… check out the video for the top 5 myths about learning bass!
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I'm a guitarist first, bassist second, but it always shocks me when I hear people say bass isn't as important or cool as guitar. Bass and drum are the heart and soul of the entire song; the backbone for everything else to rest itself on, and a groovy-ass bassline will suck me into a song so much faster than a sweet guitar riff.
I'm a drummer and I have to totally agree with u , but don't forget that we're much more inside the rythem then other ppl.
Melodys make them memorable, Rhythm section makes it good.
I’m a guitarist but I always have thought drumming would be the most fun. Just never lived anywhere where I could have a set, but man I think it’d be cool to be a drummer.
THANK YOU OMG
I play bass and drums, to me it's a one sided coin. Without the drums music is flat, and without the bass it's the same. They are the musical version of peanut butter and jelly. One without the other just isn't as good.
every time he says "absolutely" and "completely" i anticipate the word "bullshit" but he is too polite apparently.
I drink every time he says those words
Haha! Totally my thought too.... I wanna hear him let loose :P
Lucas Chu I laughed too hard at this
Yoooo saame
bullocks*
0:37 Myth number 1
3:11 Myth number 2
4:27 Myth number 3
5:52 Myth number 4
7:23 Myth number 5
Thenk you
I’ve picked up bass about a year ago and my dad is a bass player and has been for years and neither of us have got a clue how to read music
Ac0ustics0ul right yes, I’d say. cheers
I just started playing an I can’t read music, I just read tabs.
@@augciaa3517 same, i just read the tabs
I want to play bass and i have played ukulele for three years and i only read tabs
How should someone start learning to play the bass without someone to teach them
I'd say bass is easy to learn but hard to master
That is EXACTLY what I always say! Bass is easier to learn but harder to master in an ensemble setting because there is more responsibility to the entire group and flow of the SONG.
Rather, easy to pick up, but not to learn, and even harder to master.
No War No Nation I didn't realize that he has a glove
No War No Nation you could say the same about guitar
PunkSans Guitar is just flat out to learn.
Didn't know one of James McAvoy's split identity was bass player
Antonio Gómez Páez yoooooooooooooo that ain't even funny 😂
Antonio Gómez Páez does he have red socks???
etcetera
Antonio Gómez Páez XD
People say bass cant be a lead instrument..... etcetera
Why is that ukulele so big?
Ramen Noodlen that’s a chello dummy
@@cameronipepperoni7987 *cello
It's definitely a piano... What are y'all talking about?
I know it’s a joke but this makes me want to cry
Wrong channel lol
Hey man! Loved you in SPLIT
Wrong guy! 😂😂
Nicholas Cauton r/whoosh
Umbra Dread he does look like the guy from split.
Whoooosh
💀💀💀💀
i thought his left hand lost colour
@Xavier M ADAMS wich video is it?
Bossk von Trandosha lol
@@LilaLacktrichterling czcams.com/video/wOVGrGBeqiI/video.html
It might have lost color under the glove.
Johnny Silverhand's cousin, Dave TalcumPowderHand...
People : you can't play bass with a pick
Me : *angry bass noiseS*
i don't think anyone told dave ellefson that bit of wisdom.
not that you should primarily play with a pick. know when its appropriate.
@@samuelmeme7236 Some very successful bassists play with a pick all the time. Use one if you want, but be aware that some of your bandmates may have unwelcome, ignorant, loud opinions about pick tone.
Lemmy would have said something about that.
@@rebeltuba9422 Have people never heard of Phil Lynott?
I just started playing bass in January after realizing no one wants to jam with a tuba and your videos are a life saver. Thank you so much. I can't afford lessons and I could barely afford the bass but your videos have given me an amazing wealth of knowledge and advice that I apply every day.
What bass did you buy?
The great session bassist Herbie Flowers (the UK's answer to Carol Kaye) started out as a tuba player so you're in good company.
Hows your progress been may I ask?
id jam with a tuba
Someone: bass is easier then guitar!
Me: *bass clef*
The pianist have arrived
*cellists and bassists have joined the chatroom*
My hot tip:
Use a bass with the same notes as a guitar!
I.e: The E strings on a guitar works similar to an E string on a guitar, so simular that many say you shouldn't waste time learning the frets all over when switching from geetar to bass!
The great thing about learning bass is how the notes are farther apart!
than*
I was hoping this would have had the old, "Bass can't be a lead instrument." on the list. I think people who say that or think so little of the bass should listen to _any_ song without bass and see how empty and boring it becomes.
FredJokamotraye bass can't be a lead instrument of course it can't... it's a rhythm instrument it's designed to maintain the rhythm of the song... it may be a good instrument but that doesn't mean you can say what you want about it...
you really dont know anything about basses
He said that it can play lead in the last myth
You are both wrong. Bass isn't a rhythm instrument, those are the percussion. Bass has the option of playing both melody and harmony, but a.) why have a bass playing the melody when you have instruments that can do it better, also why waste the bass playing melodies when it's much better suited for harmony and b.) if you're playing harmony, _by definition_ you're not the lead. You're background. Melody is always the lead. Just because it sounds empty and boring doesn't mean the bass is the lead. It *can* lead but that doesn't mean it'll always do it and in most situations it probably shouldn't.
CustomKid420 you definitely dont know abotu Lemmy Kilmister or Cliff Burton...
I think the "myth" of needing a cheap bass to start is just that most people do that because we can't afford the best 😂😂😂
It also comes down to getting accustomed to the instrument and gaining experience. I started with a cheap Ibanez because the frets were close enough together for my somewhat stiff fingers. About six years later I moved to a Fender Jazz and could not play the Ibanez anymore (on account of there being more room between the strings on the Fender for a better attack).
@@synthonaplinth5980 not to mention, a lot of people gives up if they find it too difficult and it's just easier getting a cheaper bass rather than an expensive one, so that you don't end up busting a lot of money if you ain't going to keep to learning the instrument
@@DarthLeland How true, did that myself with guitar. A lot of people also don't understand that your technique will change and evolve as you practice more.
If you don't like the sound coming out of your instrument, and (like he says) if it doesn't play well (for whatever reason, not just setup), you won't want to play it. Buy an instrument that inspires you to play, and to practice and noodle around on, and ENJOY THE MUSIC. I beat myself up a bit at first when I bought a nice drum kit... Hell, I was an amateur player (still am, I could argue). I didn't deserve a nice kit like that! But... That nice drum kit plays and sounds like a DREAM, and inspires me to practice and jam out on it.
@@soundman1402 haha fair enough I'm kinda the opposite got a cheap used drum kit but been playing ages. I'll buy a good new one eventually.
I just got a bass (cheap one...lol) and I am 47 this week. Lets see if this old dog can still learn a new trick.
same here mate..have ya nailed ' Another one bites the dust ' yet?. The first and only one I've learned so far.. Then I thought I'd go and learn "Master of puppets". That didn't go so well, I better learn some notes first..
Good on ya, bud. Have a great time.
@@jasonthedragon73 after I learned another one bites the dust I went straight to teen town lmao
how'd it go ? :]
Also interested in an update! How’s your experience been thus far?
Myth #1 - bass is easier to learn than the guitar Myth #2 - you can't play bass with a pickMyth #3 - you have to start out with a cheap bassMyth #4 - you have to read musicMyth #5 - the bass is not as expressive as other melody instruments ---- Hint #1 - you don't have to play like Victor Wooten to be able to enjoy playing bassHint #2 - the more you practice the better you will getHint #3 - play the music you enjoy and find other musicians with likewise tastes
Cheers mate
Thank you very much. I don’t like how this guy makes his videos way longer than they need to be.
This single comment is more useful than the video, and it took me 20 seconds to read rather than 10 minutes of watching the video.
nrich just bought a 5 string Rouge Bass, also got a 4 String Squier, both roughly $200, and love em both :)
Bob Builder nah it’s as hard
'You can't play bass with a pick' - I hear the myth for the first time. In metal there's another thing: 'Pick sucks, fingers rule!' and vise versa
Andriy Vasylenko I've seen your vids, I know you primarily play fingers but have your ever tried picks?
The Ghost of the Flying Dutchman Yes, I can play with a pick. Everything has own specific usage.
ANDRIY!!! Huge fan of yours!
I personally like both but I find more comfortable pick
Nice to see you here=) Bassists like Ellefson, Newsted, DeMaio are one of my fav, and they all play with pick.
Andriy Vasylenko The bassist of Pantera(can't remember the name) played with a pick, aswell as Jason from Metallica. the current Megadeth's bassist aswell
Finally convinced my parents! Getting my bass tomorrow! So excited
it's been 11 months. how are you holding up?
Nice! I just ordered mine about a week ago, it comes tomorrow I’m so excited
Bass-guitar fight looks like viola-violin fight
Petisuide as a bassist and a violist, I completely agree with this statement. I am a joke in both musical settings
@@graceclark994 I've never related so much to a comment
bass and viola are the soul of a band
@@graceclark994 as someone whose favorite instruments are bass and viola....i feel so sad lol
yeah as a bassist and violist this is entirely correct
You forgot about : bass can play CHORDS! Lemmy from Motörhead was an awesome example.
Steve Harris, too.
He was more of a rhythm guitarist than a bass player, though.
Peter Hook
@@synthonaplinth5980 doesn't matter. Still can play plenty of chords on bass.
@@glitched100 That's what a rhythm guitarist does...
Good bassist as worth their weight in gold, especially amongst the semi pro or amateur ranks.
Bruce Hewat so if you were an amazing bassist and you just went mad at mcdonalds or something you would be worth more?! Shit man I need that aha
CustomKid420 I don't understand your point.
I am saying that there are too many people, often failed guitar players, who pick up the bass thinking it's easy and believe a lot of the myths. They give bassists a bad name.
Bruce Hewat I wasn't making a point, I was mocking your lack of sufficient grammar
Bruce Hewat and that isn't what you were saying whatsoever and it isn't what I was saying whatsoever don't know where the fuck you got that idea from haha
Thanks for that. 🙄
Myth #3. I think the important point is that there is a great difference between 'cheap' and 'low priced'. My maxim in business always was 'we can do sensibly priced; we can do competitively priced; we can do economically priced but we DO NOT do 'cheap'! Another great vid, Scott. Thank you.
I'm a guitarist first and just started to learn the bass, as the band I was asked to be in, didn't have a bass player. It is a great instrument to play and I have found the guitar learning, really useful. Stuff like shapes and pentatonics you can move from guitar to bass. Above all the bass is GREAT FUN to play, so give it a go.
Where the hell was youtube when I was playing bass back in the 80's and you Scott probably weren't born then, I learnt everything from just copying artist and music I love, I could have been so much better if I was born later than 1957! All the tutorial vids and lesson available now is astonishing. This stuff wasn't around when I was playing, watching g your stuff Scott makes me want to take it up again, I havent played for over 15 years! I hope you get to read this just so I can say thanks for the inspiration and for me, being too late for the party 😀
I can't read music that well. Never could and propably never will.
Realizing that I didn't really needed that skill to be a good bass player actually made me study music a lot more than in the past.
Thanks for that, Scott!
Another terrible myth is that you never need to change your strings.
If you only play for practice in your basement, sure...
But beyond that, strings have a useful lifetime.
millenniumtree It's personal preference. I prefer the sound on dead strings.
Depends on your tonal goals.
New strings have a brighter sound, which you can always dial off with the tone knob. Dead strings cannot be brightened. If you don't care for the brightness, then personal preference wins. :)
millenniumtree Aye, but there's more to the tone you can get from your strings than just the brightness. Deadened strings sound different from newer strings whether the tone is rolled off or not. I always try to keep one bass with deadened strings alongside the others with newer strings because it significantly increases the tonal palette available to draw from. But for those who don't care about the subtler qualities of tone, then sure, I get why it's pointless to worry about having different strings at the ready for them. :)
Nothing worse than a Muddy Bass
Guitarists who say bass is "the easy instrument" are the same people who only know four chords (using a capo crutch to change key). When asked as a guitarist about the difficulty of learning bass, I always say "it depends on how deep you want to go and what you're out to achieve." If you want to only play simple music, it's available on any instrument. As far as bass, there are the Marcus Millers, Victor Wootens, and Tony Levins out there who will really make heads explode. There is also Motown and so many other sources. When an instrumentalist tells me they're not being challenged enough, I tell them it's because they're not exploring enough. (Operator error? Lol) Bass is a wonderful instrument and a vital one at that.
I gave up guitar to 3 notes in order..simple as.
That was the first question I asked my mentor. "Well, I'll have a relatively easy time at this, because the bass is easier to play, right?" He just slowly smiled and shook his head ruefully. That was the beginning, and I am loving this instrument more and more.
I
The capo wasn't made for ''cheating'' lol it's all about tonality on different registers of the fretboard / open chords.. etc. But I suppose, yeah, people get lazy with it
There's a huge difference between saying something is "easy" and saying something is "easier than something else". I truly do not understand how you could know both instruments and not understand for a fact that playing bass is easier than playing guitar.
0:59 THATS A LOTTA DAMAGE
a little advice about myth 3 that I heard from Rob Chapman: Buy a guitar (or in this case bass) that makes you look at it and go "GIVE ME IT RIGHT NOW I WANNA PLAY IT!" while it's sitting on the stand at home, that'll drive you to practice a lot more and therefore get much better at it!
YES!!!!
That is what I do
I hate holding a pick, so I mastered a way to use my nails when I want a pick sound :)
Yep! :D
I used to play guitar simply with my nail and finger tips too. Until about 3 or 4 years ago because after 23 years my nail gotten so weak and the flesh got infected and never properly healed because I kept playing. So I had to switch to a pick and let the nail and finger heal completely. At first it was very awkward from me, especially. Now I only use my fingers when I play acoustic and finger picking music the rest I use a pick. Also I found that picks are what you need when you go to do metal, because you can't make pinch harmonics with just your nail :D Then again how often do bass players do pinch harmonics?
I play a lot of metal and dont' have problems with the harmonics :) It's a matter of practice! I mostly use the "nail picking" when playing punk or holding notes when I get tired of using my 3 fingers haha
Pinch harmonics with only your nail on a bass?! WOW! Can you make video on that love to see it.
Raymond Doetjes I dont use my nail for the harmonics I do them with my fingers, and sorry I cant help you with that :( I dont have the time to make a video, but you use what works for you :) keep rockin and sorry for my bad english
basses are sexy af
IDKHow Rat like Murdoc Niccals!
Edit: I love your username
@@Kai-xb1iw I actually started learning bass from Gorillaz and keyboard! The animation looked cool so as a 10 year old I used to think "If a cartoon can do it so can I"
Yes dallon weekes is proof
IDKHBTFM is the whole reason I wanna learn the bass
Lilphagx I want to get a bass just to learn do it all the time aha
Sports Perspective to people who don’t understand
LeBron James = Lead Guitar
Tim Duncan = Bass Guitar
I'd say more of a clay tomson
Great, idk sport either 😞
MF DDDOOOOOOMMMM!
I'm actually a vocalist and I just picked up a bass to learn cuz base from my experiences with bands, I've always noticed how important the bass is. When you explained how we are like kids at a candy store, that's exactly how I felt when I started learning the bass. The possibilities are so much more than I know. Thank you for this video. Faved it!
Angelikus the Cruel I'm a scream vocalist who's learning bass as well. I have a little bit of knowledge on the drums and thought it would be a good instrument to pick up
Angelikus the Cruel try
Angelikus the Cruel I bet u suck at singing
Have u gotten better?
I’m a SUPER beginner and I’ve just gotten my bass, I was sooooo scared that this was gonna be so difficult, but this vid really cleared everything up for me, thanks mate. Cheers 😊
Glad this helped dude!
Finally, someone who is not full of fluff. Thanks for your honesty and cheerleading, at the same time!!! Realistic, yet you still help me feel optimistic (hopeful) about trying (practicing, pressing forward, etc). I appreciate you.
You are such a rocking myth destructor Scott. Great video. Keep rocking
Officially BUSTED myths: 1. Your playing is more important than your BASS FACE. 2. If you get drunk, and miss the recording session, the guitarist, producer, drummer or custodian won't lay down your parts 3. You get first choice on groupies 4. You get cooler amps and pedals. ;)
Now really - there are (in my experience) two kinds of bass players. The ones who lack even basic musical talent and those who are the musical savants of the band and always beg the band to play more songs in 7/8 time.
The Guitar Geek this is funny, especially number 2.
The Guitar Geek like what's the deal with bass players not showing up to practice? I swear, a good, down to earth bass player who has a drop of responsibility is worth his weight in gold
Money doo dee dut, doo dooo do doo doot.
Jesus lol.
Oh, you mean the good bass players and the bar managers, eh...?
Just become a drummer long enough to run him.off the stage for not effing listening to you! :)
I really like the more personal feel of your newer videos. You always do a great job, but the informal nature is really nice. Thanks Scott.
I'm taking the challenge! I don't have a bass yet I only have an acoustic guitar but I play bass notes with the fat strings until I prove my parents that I can buy a real bass. I'm a drummer so I love the beat and the low notes and this video may made the bass seem really hard to play but like I said I'M TAKING THE CHALLENGE
yeet so how has the bass playing been going. Has it been going well for you? And also do you think anyone could play it? I'm currently looking into getting one but I'm concerned because I don't necessarily have the strongest hands due to an incident years ago. I hope you have a wonderful day. Stay blessed my friend.
P.s. I love your picture it's cool.
I was actually wondering if one can go straight to bass without learning guitar.
I know it’ll be more difficult but I prefer the sound of the bass.
Of course you can! Sure, if you have exlerience from guitar its a bit easier, but guitarists also had to start from nowhere!
i'm also starting bass without having ever played guitar
@@victoriajacobsen9498 I went to buy a bass at my local store and got some serious discouragement. He said you need to understand guitar(acoustic one) first, learn to play on the six strings which takes a long time and then move to bass. I want to just play bass. I don't know what to do but I think forcing guitar on myself is the only choice left, but I don't know if I will do it tho
@@subbarao1928 i have just jumped straight into playing bass, all i know is stuff i have learned from youtube, scott's channel here is really good but i also recommend bass buzz
@@victoriajacobsen9498 I wish I could do the same. I was lurking around the same channels for some inspiration. Anyways hope you enjoy playing that!!
i highly recommend to all aspiring bassists to learn the instrument and then learn the guitar as well. this approach will make your appreciation of music more diverse. anyone can appreciate a good guitar line/ lead line but it's usually bassists that can easily pin point the bass line in a track and really indulge. the relationship between bass and drums also makes you more appreciative of a great drum groove. if you learn guitar before bass, you'll end up playing the bass like a guitar (which i know sounds ignorant) but ive witnessed this many times. a definite disadvantage of learning bass is the lack of motivation: there just isn't as many basslines for a beginner to ease in to that correlate to songs they may enjoy. you're more likely to be forced to start with genres you may not particularly like simply because its got a decent bass line. this is however not the fault of the instrument but the music industry as a whole.
Amazing comment. So true
@4wren you are so right, I've seen so many people play the bass like a guitar, I mean, for me, I started on guitar and only recently (A yea and a half ago or sor) started with bass, but I made myself practice on the guitar, as if It was a bass, which then aided me in a better experience as a bassist, and with motivation you can do anything, I joined a band all because I was motivated to learn, and now I am working on learning drums too, all while learning how to respect and work with other instruments.
4wren I think the best advice for somebody who wants to start playing music is to embrace every instrument of the song, every note. don't play only a piece of wood with strings play music
4wren I know how to play the Viola and clarinet,I'm gonna try to learn the bass. I learned clarinet by myself I'm sure I can learn bass... it's gonna take time;)
4wren So, if I learn classical guitar first for some orientation, would this be sufficient?
Scott, I've been playing bass since I was 15.Damn, that was in 1969 when bass was first first invented lol . I have always been under the assumption that you should never stop learning, and you seem to be a very insightful young man. I just pushed the subscribe , and look forward to many more vids, cheers!
Fender jazz 62 Base veteran
Fender jazz 62 But the bass was invented in the 30's to "play a cello horizontally"
Fender jazz 62 h
Bass has been around for centuries lol, ever heard of the double bass??
This video is incredibly helpful! I’m a classical cellist and looking to pick up bass for a change. I do have a guitar as well, but bass just seems more appealing and relatable to me. Great content 👍!
You and Marlowedk are my go-to instructors. You have taken my playing to another level. You have essentially given me permission to express myself on my instrument. Thank you.
It is, at least as far as MY experience is concerned, probably one of the most difficult instruments to sing whilst playing. Due to having to keep the time, and groove, that likely will be contrary to where the melody is going. With guitar, it's easier to simplify your part to allow you to think less about what you're playing so that you can also focus on singing.
Yes, that's definitely true. Like 'Come Together' by the Beatles, you'd just strum the guitar but to sing and play the bass line is really tough.
This is especially difficult, I agree. With guitar you have rhythms and chord shapes generally while singing (unless you're doing something crazy like The Fall of Troy). With bass, even in more harmonically simple styles of music or pop/commercial tunes, you will likely be improvising your part within parameters- your mind has to work in two lanes unless you've established a very definitive way of playing the bassline. Even then the two parts don't tend to mix well and are often very syncopated between one another and it can get really easy to cross the streams and mess up or flip things around unintentionally. It gets even more hairy when you play harmonically dense music where you might be singing sevenths or upper extensions with the bass that are more dissonant without the rest of the harmony.
The perfect youtuber doesn't exi-
@@aakriti1288 no.
This doesn’t really work... sorry bro
You've made my day with this video. Thanks to that I've got greater energy to grab my bass and just practice. Thanks a lot :)
I so love that I found your channel, Scott. You do great work, thank you!
Haha, I'm a thrash metal bassist, so I freak guitarist out with my finger speed and they shut up
Stegy82 lol same
Can you play whiplash?
FloodExterminator Hell yeah
I am a guitarist and I love how bass players are just as good if not better than the lead guitarist playing the solo in a band.
Jerks shut up - girls scream
the real question is....
why does you guitar have 4 strings?
Its not a guitar its a ukulele
Ramen Noodlen it’s actually a violin
Stranger than this, I have some with 5 strings. And no, I didn't break a string.
I don't get it. Because that's how it was built, I guess?
No, thats clearly a flute
Thank you. This video was so motivating and helpful, especially for a beginner like me. Can't wait to start!
I just came back from a music festival, Colin James was the headliner. The bassist and drummer locked into a single note pocket for 32 bars, the subs were crushing my chest! It was absolutely huge! Nothing fancy but BAM! My wife said it felt like a pace maker! Bass does not need to be complicated to get the job done.
I'm a simple Tool fan. I hear Justin Chancellor, I like the video
I just started learning this week after twenty+ years of wanting to play. Thanks for this fun and informative video! I'm gonna try to learn some music theory fundamentals now, but it's nice to know I don't need to read music.
Thank you so much. As a long time guitarist I've recently purchased a squire p-bass with a sick set up and have been loving just jamming and learning. Great vids. Very informative and enjoyable. Earned a new subscriber. Thanks again.
I have been playing guitar for many years, but always liked bass too. But since dipping my toe in jazz I have gotten a new respect for the instrument. The knowledge and skill displayed is amazing. Looking at getting my first bass, I'm excited. I hope my guitar playing doesn't get in the way.
Really cool! I've always kind of thought of the bass as a support instrument in the context of a song. The main reason I've never learned it is b/c I never felt like it was a standalone instrument. I mean, I know it's not so different from a guitar, but I guess I just need to play one sometime. I really like exploring new instruments so thanks for providing your insights!
I like this guys lessons, but this clip annoys me a bit. This video keeps mentioning that it's not about sitting in the background, playing root notes. Well, for some of us it is and there's no shame in that. I've been playing in bands for over 20 years, gigs, recordings, jam sessions etc with various musical levels of members and I play root notes. Nothing fancy, I just sit on the beat. Some players have made a whole career out of this - Cliff Williams of AC/DC for example. I feel a lot of CZcams bass teachers expect everyone to be playing funk style, million note basslines or nothing. Well for some music, it just doesn't work, especially the kind of blues/rock I play. Imagine if Kris Novoselic started slapping out a fancy funk line in the middle of a Nirvana tune? It would be awful. I think if your bass player is trying to overplay it ruins the song, just like a drummer who does a fill/roll every four bars or a guitarist who solos all the way through a tune. For me, less is definitely more with bass and it works. I think the statements about sitting on the root notes are very short sighted here.
I'd love to hear Scott talk about playing in the pocket for once. As Paul S. Denman once said, "I’d rather play
one note for three minutes than trample on somebody’s feet with two. You eventually learn to find your pocket, and sometimes that pocket is filled with space."
However, you can't really beat playing jazz or funk as a practice tool for learning harmony and timing. If Scott were to analyse Cliff Williams's lines, you wouldn't learn an awful lot from them ;). They work perfectly in AC/DC but there's not much going on in terms of harmony and timing so making an interesting video about it would be challenging. Also, jazz and funk are pretty much the only genres where the bass shines.
Now I can't help but imagine Kirst Novoselic unleashing the funk during the solo section in "Come as you Are", lol.
As a former rhythm guitar player and now lead player for many years I totally agree! We musicians often forget that we are playing in service of the vocalist and we need to work hard to restrain ourselves. Even today I was recording a "dirty lyric cover of Pour Some Sugar on Me" and as I was laying down the rhythm guitar, I was fiddling in fills during the first take. I had to restrain myself and be in service of this song -- especially a parody is more about the lyrics than the music.
Less is indeed more!
+Finn V. Arthur bass in underground punk is essential in such a way that guy described
Hell, I'd say that in most rock/metal music the bass serves a purely supportive role bar a section or two in a song. Jean-Michel Labadie from Gojira follows the guitars most of the time and I haven't heard complaints about his lines being simplistic or whatever. Same goes for Mike Inez from AiC and countless other solid bass players out there who are just doing their job. I'm not saying you can't be fancy with your bass lines in rock/metal but, in most cases, root notes are the way to go.
Grega Križnar curious...
Thank you, Scott! I use to play guitar (not very well) and decided to try my luck on the bass guitar. I haven't bought it yet because i was a bit hesitant. Your top 5 list is very helpful and encouraged me to get one. Great video and great motivation. Salud, brother!
Just started to play bass yesterday after 30 years on guitar.
-Got my first Fender Precision Bass USA Sunburst... And....
You sir was the first video i played on youtube.. I am so happy that I saw this!!!!
I joined a band right when I started bass, because some friends needed a bassist, so i just impulsively went for it, but I was the only one who hadn't mastered my instrument, so I felt a constant pressure to get better and even though it was just jamming with my mates and occasionally getting a gig at a pub, it was just a big pool of anxiety. Our band broke up later for other reasons but when we would play, I'd always simplify my lines so I was sure not to mess up, and it overall made it so we didn't live up to our full potential, which was a shame.
Love the passion for Bass. With bass is easier then guitar to play some aspects definitely are but there’s things done on a bass that are not commonly done on guitar, not much slap guitar going on but slap Bass is definitely a thing and quite a big one ☝️.
Bass is a fun instrument to play 😊
Loved this! I've toyed around with the bass.. but recently... Lost my bass player to a job relocation.. and she has inspired me to try a serious go at it.. This was awesome!! Thanks
Subscribed. You are inspirational. I am a guy who is discovering the bass for the second time in my life and I am of the jamming out in the garage variety, fantastic video. Thank you!
I am old but would like to start playing the bass. This is a really cool video and thanks for the upload
I am old as well, I have a silvertone that was 40 bucks WITH an amp and I play it for kicks and I am awful at it
@@angelofverdun456 That's awesome and as long as your playing your playing!!
Myth #1: As someone who has taken lessons for the last couple years on both bass and guitar, I've made the switch to bass, and I have to say it is much easier than the guitar. All of those things about knowing more than just the chords, is also true of guitar. Saying that a bass has to know it, in relation to bass being more difficult than guitar, doesn't help.
I find the bass a lot easier than guitar for several reasons:
1) There are a ton of guitar techniques that I have not managed to do. Whether it's a 3-string barre with the ring finger (as in the B-minor shape), a pinch harmonic, or many techniques I have not even attempted. There are also a lot of bad habits I have on guitar that are irrelevant on bass (such as my habit of resting my hand if I'm strumming).
2) Not only the fact a guitar has 6 strings (2 more strings), but also the fact that the dang B string has a different interval and it screws up all of the scale shapes.
3) There aren't that many different techniques that are commonly used on the bass. If you take what's typically called for in bass vs. guitar, there's a lot guitar has that bass doesn't, and very little that bass has that guitar doesn't.
I don't say this to make fun of the bass or put it down. I'm really struggling with it. But I also feel like I'm making progress, whereas with the guitar I felt like I was learning more things, but not necessarily getting that much better.
You're sick man. As a guitarist learning to play bass I whole heartedly agree with what you said. I hope I can become at least half as kick ass a bassist as you.
I played in the nightclubs in Cleveland, Ohio USA for 11 years and always used a pick. I was always looking for ways to be expressive while still supporting the guitar/keyboard/vocals. I started with a Fender Musicmaster and later a Rickenbacker copy, Guild and two Kramers. It was not about hanging on the root of the chord but finding times when playing another note would still support the chord. A very hard lesson was to learn when NOT to play (let the vocals/guitar step forward as well and also - cut off my note just before the snare hit to let it come out more!) I dig your lessons, Scott! Keep 'em coming! Cheers!
I like bass vibes tbh. I learned guitar first because that's what I could get my hands on but I'm learning bass and I feel like I connect to it. It's feel is great. And yeah, it's easier but it takes way more technique. The vibe is what drew me in. Great vid :3
Playing with a pick... Don't forget Cody Wright! I know he's been on your channel but the dude's an absolute monster!
i absolutely love the pick sound and its not easy to do well
First video iv'e seen from this channel and i immediately subbed. You got a rad personality and I'm so gunna watch more.
I have played the bass once in my life. For 20 minutes in all of my life I've played the bass, and I love it so freaking much. I'm getting one asap, I need to master this awesome instrument.
Cliff Burton approves this video.
Didn't cliff play with his fingers? lol
Vlad think u mean Jason newsted mate
Regarding myth #4, Conversation between Bass players goes like this:
The Jazz bass player asks, "Do you read music?" to which the Blues bassist replies, "Yeah, but not enough to hurt my playing."
Bass for me has always been more of a recreational thing for me, but i can say i agree with you here. Good vid, i learned some new myths about bassin' around today
"It isn't an expressive instrument."
*CLIFF BURTON PULLS YOUR TEETH OUT*
I thought he was playing '1612' in the beginning
I heard that too! He was playing in the same key and some of the same lines actually
Spend the whole video wondering where the hell I'd heard that before, realised it was a song I've listened to 4-5 times daily for the last month.
I find when I listen to a lot of music that's heavy on the bass, I end up quoting it in my improvs, even if it's accidental. So who knows? Definitely 1612 though.
He definitely quoted it at 1:05
No he was playing Farts 101
You forgot Lemmy Kilmister at point 2 ;) anyhow, great video!
Dude I'm not a bass player I actually play guitar but I freaking love your vids and I've been thinking about getting a bass and learning cause of you. Thx for the awesome vids
You're my favorite go-to bass guru on CZcams. Firstly you have bad ass skills. Next you have a great personality, and engaging way to teach. Kudos and keep it up! . . . and on Myth 5, YES!!! Nothing matches a bass or fiddle for having such an incredible range to express mood and emotion.
#3: Well, you definitely should start with a _simple_ instrument. Don't give a newbie an active 6-string fretless. That's _asking_ for trouble.
I can't read music, I don't know which note is which. Doesn't matter. Tabs help you play by telling you the fret and my Guitarist and I simply work by fret. "What chord is that?" "3rd fret on C". It's that simple. Don't use price as a buying point. Find a bass that fits you because that will Impact your playing more than the cost and remember, cheap basses are great. You can mod and customise them without a major risk to your bank balance.
Price will affect your tone but only where strings and pickups are concerned.
I've been playing for 4 years now and it's hard but only if you make it hard. Start with some easy riffs like Feel Good Inc or 7 Nation Army then work your way up. I started with Sleepwalking by BMTH and Aerials by SOAD, now I'm able to play Schism by Tool, Spiders by SOAD, 46+2 by Tool. It's about perseverance. If you're getting stressed, try another song. No one picks up a bass and plays like Les Claypool in their first go, we were all pretty crap on our first try.
Someone who learned for just one year how to read music/play properly under a teacher is probably better than a pleb like you with four years of tabs, sorry but it's the truth... I bet you can't even play by ear random songs you hear on radio because your ears can't distinguish each note properly. Basically you just wasted time by doing it ghetto.
In my experience, people who learn music by ear have better developed ears, so they actually can recognise the notes by ear. Their theoretic knowledge is bad though which is also important, especially if you're playing with chords and stuff (to know what you're doing). On the other hand, people who learn music with sheet music, have a major risk of focusing too much on the notes/visual part and not enough on the ear part. I'm one of the latter group and it's been a real handicap in my education (conservatory). So I've seen both types and both have (dis)advantages. But saying that Andrew wasted his time, I absolutely disagree. Even if he didn't learn anything, he had fun while playing/practising and that's the most important thing about music, ever and always.
SannatheGamer but, wow, how embarassing to have to communicate with the guitar player by number on the fret...? Seriously?? Even if you were good, you'd look ridiculous. If you wind up.playing live at some jam night, it's going to be embarrassing. Because they WILL throw stuff at you. Randomly. You'll be very dependent on your vague memory of a song you haven't heard in 35 years. Always better off with a good ear and a decent memory, than a barely useful.skill like tab. JMO. I play drums. Only had to learn sheet to do piano and more complex drum parts. And I still suck at it. Still rely on memory, but its usually right.
my experience lines up with Sannath on this one. people who always play by sheet music lack at improvising. musicians that insist on only practicing with a metronome have a really hard time playing in decent time without them. an even harder time finding the groove with actual human beings that have feelings and emphasis. also i'm the only guitar player i know that reads sheet music; they all talk in frets or chord names at best. i've known one guitarist that knows theory exceedingly well, and one bass player. most others pretend. not that it matters. my own grasp of theory is certainly limited.
oh- and the only plebians on here are the dipshits who assume they're better than someone they've never heard play! way to sound like douchebag. the difference isn't where you studied at, whom you took lessons from, or how much money you're able to throw at learning the instrument. the difference is how much you love to play and how well your brain is wired to learn and explore.
Andrew's advice was sound and really quite wonderful. people who learn by tab develop good ears because tab is such an incomplete system- no rhythm notation. gotta listen to the song to get it right. unless of course they just don't care if they get it right, but that would make anyone suck. his advice with starting with simple stuff that you are actually capable of getting right, finding the groove, and feeling good about... is sound advice for musicians of any level. i always recommend my guitar students learn at least two songs at a time. one right in their comfort zone that is fun to jam on or maybe sing along with, and another that is just notably too hard for them to challenge them to learn more. practicing scales is great, but learning songs that use different scales is better! i know were the notes are on my instrument, but i never, ever think about it while playing! this is a personal rule. a person with a good ear doesn't need to ask what key a song is in after even a few years of dedicated playing. they don't need to know what a note is called. playing music doesn't come from theory. theory comes from attempting to describe music that has been played.
Slaves Forging . Excellent comment!!
I've played as a very dedicated guitarist for more than 30 years, guitar/bass are basically the same but guitarist have luxury of chords. I can't really read music but I figured out music theory from reading library books and has been the largest reason for my musical growth and understanding. It helps tremendously. Everything said in this vid is true.
This is encouraging! I'll be 60 this May and I think I'm going to pick up the bass again, having played by ear when I was younger, but I haven't picked one up since I was 18. I played trombone in the van and learn to read music for that, so I'd say there could be some crossover if I decide to learn notation.
I like bass i don't play though . I play guitar . But bass is very important
Myth 6 - chics love bass players. 😂.
Ladies love our finger stamina. ;)
Ladies love the fast fingers and the more importantly the intellect of guitar players ;)
Raymond Doetjes that was so fucking arrogant. this video was about to change people mind about the bass and it seems that you just ignored everything he said.
Andrew Ince my girlfriend can attest to that! And It gets better because I double on sax as well c;
gus weatherfield somebody missed the joke
I've been thinking about the bass for the longest time now. I think knowing this now finally pushed me to getting one
You won me over when you discussed the age old pick or no pick argument. You got yourself a new subscriber my man.
I'm so weirdly happy he mentioned Justin Chancellor when he was talking about bassists who use picks :b
1:54 I need to learn how to move my neck like that.
My first bass was literally a B.C. Rich Warlock from the 80s. Being a Jazz player, I had an interesting time working with the Warlock. I think that’s why my playing style is so versatile. I recommend trying out different things, instead of the same thing over and over again. You’ll become more flexible with your playing
I have created so many original songs on my bass alone!!!!....once you pick one up and thump out some interesting lines and grooves all of a sudden guitar parts flash in my head i never would have thought of without those bass lines...its amazing what you can do with a bass!!!
About myth number 4: Do you have any videos about the stuff you were talking about? Like diatonic harmony and stuff?
Root notes are root-imentary.
...I don't know why that came to mind, but I'll see myself out.
😂😂😂
You can stay... that's not bad
I am starting on learning bass guitar and your video has been extremely helpful. Thank you so much!
Take this to heart man. I can tell you as a bass player for many years in a band. People are gonna try and control the way you play and have you play the root with the rhythm of the drum. Which yes following the deums is important if the drums were written first. But honestly I wish I knew this information when I picked up the bass. Everything he is saying is incredibly true. Pro tip, dont let someone else dictate how you hear the bass line for a song.
Just came across your channel and just picked up an acoustic bass to "mess with." Looks like it's gonna be fun with the range and flexibility it has. Thanks for the info and the myths.
If you're getting a bass for the first time, should you get a 4 string or 5 string?
i definitely recommend a 4 string. easier to start with, cheaper and at least i had to get used to the weight of the bass. i may add that i was pretty young when my parents got me my first bass so you might not have the same problem there aswell. 4 strings are enough most of the time. i got a 5 string and it´s actually my main bass now just of convenience reasons. i play in a few bands, of which one is a metal band where i need a low b and wanted a bass i could use in every genre.
Omoplata1916 I got a 5 string and I mean, the 5th string was just there when I started, didn't bother, just didn't use it until I had the necessity or I wanted to/started learning songs with it. If you're gonna stick to the bass and like the 5th string I think you should go ahead and get a 5
Omoplata1916 4 string bass every time, beginner or advanced... 5 strings are an unnecessary and pointless trend that emerged a few years back that some people take seriously :P nah man, stick with an actual bass
I play in a concert band and there are songs I could really use a 5th string for because the notes are so low 4 string bass can't reach them. It's definitely not unnecessary or pointless.
Depends on what kind of music you play. You could really use the fat notes in some types of music, or you could use the c string for soloing purpose etc.
best quote "absolute tosh!"
Tosh and piffle!!
Great material in your videos, Scott!
With nearly 30 years playing bass guitar, let me please remark this::
(About myth #1)
Even in your very first example there are two aspcts going on: the notes being played and HOW these notes are played. You add accents, dead notes, etc. And THAT conforms the hardest part, a life long task to to learn. THAT is the particular way each of us play, what makes our style. So, may be easy to play a few notes but to fullfill them with meaning and to sound only as you, that is the longest and sweetest road to drive.
I'm a sound guy and bassist beginner and I love to make grovers as simple as it possible. Straight foundation and punchy roots gives me so much fun and glue melodic instruments with rhythm ones so hard that fits me perfectly.