My Mind Is Blown From This ABBA Bass Line!

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  • čas přidán 16. 06. 2024
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    In the video we'll listen to the recommended live track and break it down in every way! From the isolated track, to the bassist Rutger Gunnarsson, to the form and how to play...this tune is awesome!
    Bass Teacher Breakdowns are a hybrid part-by-part breakdown in addition to a reaction and live playalong. This series is here to give the most detailed breakdowns on the web.
    Instagram: / andrewfreedmusic
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    All links: www.liinks.co/andrewfreedmusic
    Intro 0:00
    Thank You Justin! 0:25
    Dancing Queen Background 1:02
    Rutger Gunnarsson 1:35
    Live Performance + Thoughts 2:08
    Breaking Down The Blueprint 5:15
    Isolated Track 6:33
    Difference Between Live Vid + Studio Track 7:31
    Ghost Notes 9:12
    More Of The Form 9:50
    Playalong w/ Live Vid 10:13
    The Approach Note "Error?" 11:44
    Summing It All Up 13:32
    Final Words 14:10
    #abba ‪@OfficialABBA‬
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Komentáře • 914

  • @beirch
    @beirch Před 11 měsíci +246

    How is it an underrated band? They're literally one of the most celebrated bands of all time.

    • @benjaminvolant2469
      @benjaminvolant2469 Před 10 měsíci +13

      I know. But I get what he means. Ibrahimovic (another Swede, funnily enough) is regarded as a world class football player, but despite all this, he was still underrated compared to more often put forward names like Ronaldo, Zidane, Messi, Beckham, Ronaldinho. If that makes sense.

    • @k1200ltse
      @k1200ltse Před 10 měsíci +43

      It doesn't. ABBA is a worldwide phenomenon. They might be underrated in the USA but that's the US's problem. Everywhere else? They aren't. mamma Mia! The musical on stage is worldwide (Inc the USA), two smash movies based on the stage show, a hugely popular 'live' show ongoing in London, 3 themed restaurants, a museum & massive (& on going) sales on cd's & downloads.
      Underrated isn't a term that applies to ABBA.

    • @iainwall
      @iainwall Před 10 měsíci +46

      Music snobs like to turn their nose up at them though. I think that's what he means.

    • @rsmickeymooproductions4877
      @rsmickeymooproductions4877 Před 10 měsíci +15

      One track that Abba did was called Eagle. Not sure if it was a big popular hit but its absolutely immense compared to their usual poppie stuff. It was a masterpiece in my opinion.

    • @virginia3168
      @virginia3168 Před 10 měsíci +16

      He's young.

  • @abbantologiabbavoyage
    @abbantologiabbavoyage Před rokem +423

    R.I.P Rutger Gunnarsson a real master in bass 😢🕯

    • @anderschristensen4072
      @anderschristensen4072 Před 11 měsíci +2

      that bassline here was easy

    • @rocknrollhippy771
      @rocknrollhippy771 Před 11 měsíci +14

      A lot of really great bass playing is 👍

    • @Frontdesk99
      @Frontdesk99 Před 11 měsíci +35

      @@anderschristensen4072 Sure. Now try to *come up with it* , and not just try to replicate it.

    • @bezalel5081
      @bezalel5081 Před 11 měsíci +6

      Definitely one of the coolest names ever.

    • @hackapump
      @hackapump Před 10 měsíci +4

      @@Frontdesk99 This. Exactly. The true masters come up with the best part for the song, often times on the spot. Very few are this good at it.

  • @josemiranda1241
    @josemiranda1241 Před 11 měsíci +21

    As a DJ in the 70's I had a blast playing ABBA. It was a musical feast! And in love with Frida since 1975. The American critics tried to destroyed them! But when you like the music, you give a crap about the critics!

  • @anonymusum
    @anonymusum Před 11 měsíci +172

    Every real musician has a lot of respect for ABBA and their backing band. You don´t have to like their songs, but the skills and musicianship is on top level - and I mean top level.

    • @MrKennyBones
      @MrKennyBones Před 11 měsíci +21

      Definitely, any songwriter should be in awe of their craftsmanship. These songs are absolutely stellar in both composition, arrangements and instrumentations.
      This is Beatles, Beach Boys, Billy Joel and Michael Jackson level of songwriting

    • @neocollective
      @neocollective Před 11 měsíci +6

      @@MrKennyBones Completely agree, this one makes the short list of greatest pop songs of all time; and they have a bunch of other great songs.

    • @evankeal
      @evankeal Před 11 měsíci +5

      That chord change under 'see that....' is so unique and powerful.

    • @supremelordoftheuniverse5449
      @supremelordoftheuniverse5449 Před 11 měsíci +15

      Metalhead here, ABBA is one of my all time favorite bands

    • @annika8207
      @annika8207 Před 11 měsíci +4

      ABBA’s plan was to play/sound the music at concerts as close/near to the studio track as possible- live! 🥹😘
      Bye from 🇸🇪

  • @leokimvideo
    @leokimvideo Před 11 měsíci +195

    ABBA knew when to funk it up. And it worked

    • @rinkinkel
      @rinkinkel Před 11 měsíci +1

      If by 'it worked' you mean 'it sold', you're right. Funky like a log of timber on marching day.

    • @abaxteria
      @abaxteria Před 11 měsíci +17

      @@rinkinkel Don't be that guy. Nobody likes that gun.

    • @danielesbordone1871
      @danielesbordone1871 Před 11 měsíci

      @@rinkinkel , you're right , they weren't funky at all.

    • @atlasgunther8947
      @atlasgunther8947 Před 11 měsíci +1

      the bassist in this case in particular

    • @kaaring
      @kaaring Před měsícem

      Check the bass on My Mama Said

  • @ronaldl9085
    @ronaldl9085 Před 11 měsíci +143

    Incredible how fresh Abba's music still sounds after decades. Underrated band.

    • @rikprince8414
      @rikprince8414 Před 11 měsíci +15

      I was amazed that when they released "Voyage" last year, it sounded like they had just taken a feww weeks off and started recording again. But, it was 40 years! LEGENDS!!

    • @avonacolyte
      @avonacolyte Před 11 měsíci +17

      For a band that dominated the world music scene for the best part of a decade... yes, somehow they are still underrated.

    • @Peppeblackmetal
      @Peppeblackmetal Před 11 měsíci +16

      Underrated maybe in the US, in the UK they are massive.

    • @anderschristensen4072
      @anderschristensen4072 Před 11 měsíci +12

      underrated they are known around the world,sold mil. of albums have tons of fans. underatet no way

    • @anderschristensen4072
      @anderschristensen4072 Před 11 měsíci

      @@Peppeblackmetal in the hole world

  • @joerichardwad1645
    @joerichardwad1645 Před rokem +150

    Rutger’s choices in their song Knowing Me Knowing You are downright mind boggling and awesome. Best baseline in an ABBA track in my opinion.

    • @ProgrammedForDamage
      @ProgrammedForDamage Před rokem +9

      Couldn't agree more. I started learning to play it because my dad loves the song, and the more and more I listened to it the more nuance I discovered.

    • @Urfinchannel
      @Urfinchannel Před rokem +3

      This song infected me to be a huge Fan until Now!

    • @ainsleystones4600
      @ainsleystones4600 Před rokem +4

      As a bass teacher, I'm in full agreement with you Joe!

    • @pihermoso11
      @pihermoso11 Před 11 měsíci +3

      Mama Mia

    • @eggy1962
      @eggy1962 Před 11 měsíci +4

      One of us…..resonates with me for a good bass sound, i cannot speak for any technical side as i cannot play or read music

  • @elforeigner3260
    @elforeigner3260 Před 11 měsíci +21

    Frida and Agnetha perfected the overdub vocal in real time! They almost sound like one voice with light flange

  • @jamesdignanmusic2765
    @jamesdignanmusic2765 Před 11 měsíci +34

    It's surprising how much ABBA is bass-driven. My favourite of their songs, "The Name of the Game" has immaculate arrangement and production, and beautiful melody and lyrics - but it's the bass that drives it along.

    • @FunkyDisco79
      @FunkyDisco79 Před 11 měsíci +6

      Pop and rock music were generally much more bass-driven in the 70's than today.

  • @paulecrosby2006
    @paulecrosby2006 Před rokem +30

    One of the best bands ever.

  • @MrCrrispy
    @MrCrrispy Před 11 měsíci +27

    My mind is blown by how their music still sounds good after 4-5 decades 🙂

    • @mikosoft
      @mikosoft Před 11 měsíci +4

      It's because it wasn't a massproduced generic corporate pop. The four members were all heavily involved in songwriting and production of all their music so it isn't just a singer singing somebody else's lyrics to somebody else's music. And another factor is Benny and Bjorn were really perfectionists when it comes to arrangements, it's crazy how complex the music actually is. Me and my band we tried our hand at Mamma Mia, it was NOT straightforward at all! But it's a blast, it's a crowd pleaser and we really enjoy playing it

    • @Saibotz1
      @Saibotz1 Před 10 měsíci +4

      J.S. Bach still sounds great after almost 300 years.

    • @noahnordenstrom3175
      @noahnordenstrom3175 Před 10 měsíci +1

      @@Saibotz1not really lmao

  • @mkhud50n
    @mkhud50n Před rokem +302

    I used to always compare ABBA to Led Zeppelin, mainly to throw people for a loop but the musicianship is kind of mind blowing for a pop group, especially the bass lines And nothing beats their vocals.

    • @virginiaviola5097
      @virginiaviola5097 Před rokem +54

      Once upon a time, to get really famous as a musician, you needed actually to be one. But auto tune, beats and songs by committee put an end to all that talent and creativity. And as for ABBA all four were already successful and established artists quite separately each other before the 4 musical friends and couples pooled their musical talent, for fun.

    • @christianoazzuro6711
      @christianoazzuro6711 Před rokem +9

      thank you sir!

    • @bachatamusica
      @bachatamusica Před rokem +34

      @mkhud50n 😐Led Zeppelin recorded one of their albums, at ABBA's studio, in downtown Stockholm.

    • @shadow-js2hn
      @shadow-js2hn Před rokem +12

      ​@@bachatamusica yes- Polar Music- most advanced studio then.

    • @bachatamusica
      @bachatamusica Před rokem +3

      @@shadow-js2hn 😐That building looks the same from the outside, as it was back then.....but on the inside, it is no longer a music recording studio.

  • @inspector_7152
    @inspector_7152 Před 11 měsíci +18

    Bass-wise my favorite ABBA song is “One of us”. It is epic in my humble opinion.

    • @superbrainboy5382
      @superbrainboy5382 Před 7 měsíci

      I agree with you 100 percent - almost every morning on the way to work I demand everything from my 15 inch woofer just to hear that exact bassline

  • @robert4you
    @robert4you Před 10 měsíci +14

    Hello from Sweden! Really enjoyed this video. A huge shout out to Michael B.Tretow, an audio engineer, musician and composer. Tretow experimented with different recording techniques, and played an essential part in creating that special "ABBA sound". He also composed several themes and jingles for Swedish national radio and television. In 2001 Michael suffered a severe stroke, he lost his speech for ten years and all the memories from the ABBA-time vanished... he sold his studio in 2004. You will always be in our hearts, Mr Tretow, what a brilliant man you are. 🎸🎵🎶🎹💛💙

  • @stuartcarden1371
    @stuartcarden1371 Před rokem +19

    Abba basslines make me cry as I always get them wrong. Such epic musicianship!

  • @NelsonMontana1234
    @NelsonMontana1234 Před 11 měsíci +60

    I did the Mama Mia show and all the bass parts were transcribed exactly. It was a bitch! So cool. So funky. So musical. Rutger is a monster. Dancing Queen is often played differently because there's so much improvisation going on. I used to think ABBA was a nice slick sweet pop music , but after doing the show I realize they're songwriting geniuses. And yeah, the girls vocals are balls on.

    • @thethinredline4714
      @thethinredline4714 Před 11 měsíci +11

      Very few singers would be able to match those girls

    • @davideanil
      @davideanil Před 11 měsíci

      One of the best bass lines for me...

    • @theendmyfriend
      @theendmyfriend Před 10 měsíci +1

      Cool. Yeh ABBA has some nice progressions good song writing. Same here. I played theatre bass and guitar choir musicals and stuff. Did the ABBA Grease Bee Gees Rocky Horror Jesus Super Star Cats etc Learn a lot respect once you have to work out some parts and write your own charts which of course then the damned choir want to change into some messed up key hahaa hate that. Such is life. Rock on. Peace.

    • @bjornjohanlinder2089
      @bjornjohanlinder2089 Před 10 měsíci

      me thinks..bassline on the particular..song MamaMia is played by...another great:MikeWatson(?)

    • @ruthietreselan
      @ruthietreselan Před 9 měsíci

      somewhere on youtube Ani does an interview...the brunette with the very recognizable voice.....she said it was because of Hitler she was born...he had homes and nurses for babies and outlawed abortion...she was in that program.....@@thethinredline4714

  • @chelseacharger
    @chelseacharger Před rokem +114

    Among ABBA's hardcore fans, Rutger is a legend. He was also classically trained and did many of ABBA's string arrangements. A lot of great bass lines in ABBA songs. 'Gimme Gimme Gimme' is well worth checking out and especially the long album version where it gets seriously funky during the instrumental break. czcams.com/video/QJtWwmt0cXM/video.html

    • @thomasnicolaisen7312
      @thomasnicolaisen7312 Před rokem +1

      Wasn't "Gimme Gimme Gimme" recorded with Mike Watson on bass?

    • @chelseacharger
      @chelseacharger Před rokem +4

      @@thomasnicolaisen7312 No, Although Mike Watson was involved around that time (he is bassist on 'Does Your Mother Know') GGG was definitely Rutger. It's detailed in the 'ABBA Complete Recording Sessions' book. Rutger can also be seen playing in the background of the GGG official video plus he played it on the 79/80 tours.

    • @eggy1962
      @eggy1962 Před 11 měsíci

      @@chelseacharger watson did ...If it wasn't for the nights if im not mistaken from the same album

    • @FunkyDisco79
      @FunkyDisco79 Před 11 měsíci +4

      I love Rutger's funky playing on "Lovers (Live A Little Longer)".

  • @billybud9557
    @billybud9557 Před 11 měsíci +7

    RIP, Rutger.......you were one of the 3 best bass players in rock. Under appreciated. "Knowing me, Knowing you" was one of your best.....

  • @kennet7837
    @kennet7837 Před rokem +76

    Another great ABBA bassline (also played by Rutger) is "One of Us" from The Visitors.

    • @Lisa-M
      @Lisa-M Před rokem +2

      Or Bang-A-Boomerang

    • @nlptrckshmn5535
      @nlptrckshmn5535 Před rokem +1

      It has such a satisfying tone, in part down to the short note lengths I think.

    • @herrbonk3635
      @herrbonk3635 Před rokem +1

      @@nlptrckshmn5535 Sounds like he plays fretless bass on that one. Like Stefan Brolund (Sw) or Jaco Pastorius (Am, Weather Report) did in the 70s.

    • @javierduhart336
      @javierduhart336 Před rokem +2

      Ever noticed the bass level drop in the intro of Mamma Mia?

    • @stevenorman4190
      @stevenorman4190 Před 11 měsíci +3

      I’ll throw in “Money, Money, Money”. Some of my favorite bass work from anyone on any song.

  • @aucourant9998
    @aucourant9998 Před 11 měsíci +15

    Rutger Gunnarsson was a genius as he showed on 'One of Us'. And by the way, ABBA weren't 'underrated', they were one of the biggest and best selling musical groups in the world.

    • @firemarshal2629
      @firemarshal2629 Před 11 měsíci +2

      These days they are highly underrated. I never hear them on the radio, there are no calls for them to record a new album, no one is making remixes of their songs, basically they get lumped in with every other disco act and forgotten

    • @NotThatOneThisOne
      @NotThatOneThisOne Před 11 měsíci

      ​@@firemarshal2629no calls for them to record a new album... Apart from all the calls for them to record a new album and the dedicated arena in London for their live show that opened last year.

    • @GuitargloucesterCoUk
      @GuitargloucesterCoUk Před 10 měsíci

      Only underrated in the US. Everywhere else legends. Massive in fact.

    • @aucourant9998
      @aucourant9998 Před 10 měsíci

      @@firemarshal2629 Actually, they are more popular now than they were twenty years ago. And they are constantly on the radio. They were never considered a 'disco' group. So you don't even understand what genre they were and what their place in musical history was.

  • @uselessoldman7964
    @uselessoldman7964 Před 11 měsíci +5

    One has to remember they were all accomplished professional musicians before they formed ABBA for the Eurovision contest. It came as no surprise they went on to the success they had, they made music people loved !

  • @HearGear
    @HearGear Před rokem +30

    This is awesome, Rutger Gunnarsson and Ola Brunkert got some really good beats going on no matter its recorded or live, these two legends are gone but their legacy will live for ever, you know, most of them appearing on studio music and live music are fantastic and Janne Schaffer not to forget.. sometimes i live in the past, just watching and listen to all this great old recorded live and studio music, it´s an era that will never come back... thanks..

    • @snillethans
      @snillethans Před 11 měsíci +3

      Rutger has arranged and played bass on a whole line of Swedish hits from the -70s and -80s, the Abba ones is just a bit of his astounding legacy.

    • @louise_rose
      @louise_rose Před 11 měsíci +2

      Yes, musicians who were in completely different genres recognized the playing skills and solid production on ABBA's albums - Phil Collins obviously (who recorded at Polar both with Genesis and later when producing a solo album for Frida) and Big Country.

    • @simonjackman6135
      @simonjackman6135 Před 5 měsíci

      Definitely a mistake but brief and deep in a rich funky mix; in that day and age you could easily let it go even if you heard it in the booth.

  • @Jonas_Fridh
    @Jonas_Fridh Před 11 měsíci +5

    ABBA used the elite of Swedish studio musicians on their records.

  • @eggy1962
    @eggy1962 Před 11 měsíci +8

    its good that Abba are getting more love now from current generations that they did in their prime period, they really were innovative and well as just great artists

    • @barackmycat9448
      @barackmycat9448 Před 11 měsíci +2

      You are describing me The incoming disco scene was a nightmare for the "cool" folk at that time. I was playing Hendrix type stuff. I play bass and this vid was great. They amaze me now.

  • @jerrycote659
    @jerrycote659 Před rokem +42

    😮 Wow! I was blown away with this video. First, I’m coming from a totally non-musician’s perspective. I clicked to this because it came up in my feed and being a huge ABBA fan I love hearing how a song can be broken down into individual, isolated parts. Your video did this but in a way that blew my mind. I was totally hearing something completely new from a song I have heard since the day it was released (yup! that old! 😆). But having you break down the bass lines was just amazing. I am not going to hear Dancing Queen the same way ever again, and that’s a great thing! I’m so pumped that I will be able to hone in on the bass, which I think is freaking awesome on both versions, and I actually had never really like the live version very much, but, I absolutely LOVE it now and I think your acknowledgement of it being so good and just the points about their live performance being so professional and how great Agnetha and Frida’s vocals were, I was like “yes! Exactly!”. And you are so right! I watched the live version again after your video and, yup! Amazing. Your excitement and your obvious love of music and the bass is so evident in your presence and your delivery and also when you played. It’s awesome to hear someone like you who is obviously an amazing musician and an obvious student of your artistry. There was so much you shared I had absolutely no knowledge of, such as song structure and progression, transition and other terms and concepts that I now will have in my head when listening to songs, particularly the ones I love the most and Dancing Queen is absolutely one of those songs. I’m definitely gonna check all your videos out. You are extremely talented and a really positive force. Thanks so much!

    • @BassFreedom
      @BassFreedom  Před rokem +10

      Jerry, thanks so much for the lovely comment. It means the world to me that you not only enjoyed the video, but it changed the way you'll hear it from now on! The reason I do these videos are exactly for people like you. Thanks again my friend!

    • @MakeAllThingsBeautiful
      @MakeAllThingsBeautiful Před 11 měsíci

      I'm gonna have to listen to Dancing Queen a few times and focus on the base and other instruments because there are these songs where on its own I'm not sure i would recognise the bass line as having anything to do with song, which is awesome in itself ... or i'm just totally tone, music, beat and everything else deaf. Having said that 'My Generation' is one of my all time favorites especially for that raw dominating bass line. Music is so fascinating esepcially the way the bassline can seemingly hide in plain sight.

    • @thethinredline4714
      @thethinredline4714 Před 11 měsíci +1

      @@BassFreedom Maybe you should take a look on bass player Peter Hook of Joy division and New order , he plays the bass almost like a guitar

    • @daze023
      @daze023 Před 4 měsíci

      Gotta love CZcams channels.
      I've heard Abba from day 1 and never noticed the bass guitar until now

  • @tiffsaver
    @tiffsaver Před 11 měsíci +32

    Thank you for posting this great tutorial. I used play in a well-known rock band in the mid-seventies. I admit it, I used to HATE Abba, and even groups like the Carpenters, because I thought that they were all playing "bubble gum" music. But only when I became much older do I truly appreciate and enjoy these bands and their music, in spite of myself. Abba's ability to write hit songs, their live performances, were superb by anyone's calculations. And Karen Carpenters incredible voice and drumming abilities were on a level far above most musicians of my era. I'm just glad I lived long enough to put my "purist" ideas behind me and truly appreciate all kinds of music, in all their limitless iterations.

    • @creativesource3514
      @creativesource3514 Před 11 měsíci

      Which band were you in?

    • @tiffsaver
      @tiffsaver Před 11 měsíci +3

      @@creativesource3514
      I started with a little known rock group that you've probably never even heard of. We used to open for bigger groups like Ike and Tina Turner "back in the day." Then I joined a group called "Climax" in the early seventies when their drummer took ill when they were touring the country. Our guitar player Walter Nims wrote a hit song in '71 called "Precious and Few," and our lead singer Sonny Geraci passed away a couple of years ago. Sonny and Walt pretty much pioneered "soft rock," after their mainstream rock tune "Time Won't Let Me" was released in 1964. After that, musical tastes began to change with groups like Bread and The Association, and they had to change with it.

  • @terrykemp1876
    @terrykemp1876 Před rokem +27

    The vocal range in this song is insane. 🎉

    • @stevecarter8810
      @stevecarter8810 Před 11 měsíci +2

      Backing Vocals go full metal scream on the record after 'tambourine'

    • @thethinredline4714
      @thethinredline4714 Před 11 měsíci +3

      Which is why no one attempts to copy them

    • @annika8207
      @annika8207 Před 11 měsíci +4

      I’ve sung this song in a huge choir as the high soprano. ABBA conserto in April in Malmö, Sweden 2014. We were three girls singing the high notes at the besinning (Aaaaa aaa aaa aaa aa as a! 😂) It’s really high in the choir version! We were standing on our toes hitting the highest notes! 😅😛
      Bye from 🇸🇪

  • @whitebeardskydaddy6756
    @whitebeardskydaddy6756 Před 11 měsíci +8

    I'm a hard rocker. Over the years though, I've become interested in what differentiates the two kinds of music. Yeah, the two kinds. GOOD and BAD. Just like with so many things in life.
    This is phenomenal. Good breakdown. They're great musicians.

  • @christianoazzuro6711
    @christianoazzuro6711 Před rokem +22

    For me the ultimate live version was from 1977 Aussie tour filmed in Abba the movie.This is 1979 Wembley London.But wait till you hear ''Gimme Gimme Gimme is another one with and killer bass and killer riff too.They had a genius sound engineer Michael Tretow that made every single detail audible and sparkling shinny.

    • @bachatamusica
      @bachatamusica Před rokem +2

      @CHRISTIANO AZZURO 👍😉I agree, the same for me❗ That Australian Tour 1977 version is the best❗And, in Sydney, when they performed "S.O.S." with the torrential rain downpour, was ABBA's most memorable performance of their entire career.

    • @Urfinchannel
      @Urfinchannel Před rokem +2

      @@bachatamusica and they’ve had an orchestra in Australia

    • @janmuenther
      @janmuenther Před 10 měsíci +1

      Rutger is absolutely going WILD on "Summer Night City" from the 1979 London Wembley show. The whole thing is musically really impressive. Fantastic musicians, all of them.

  • @michaelconvery8871
    @michaelconvery8871 Před 11 měsíci +6

    Knowing me knowing you by Abba had a killer bass groove as well. Rutger Gunnarsson was a virtuoso on the bass.

  • @mattias5157
    @mattias5157 Před rokem +13

    "Rutger" is pronounced with an "u" like in bull, not like in butter. Same with his family name Gunnarsson. Not that it matters in base heaven where he is now, probably playing a duet with ABBA guitarist Lasse Wellander that went over yesterday. RIP both of you guys. Vila i frid!

  • @airbornesoldier8104
    @airbornesoldier8104 Před 8 měsíci +2

    Any ABBA bass line is pure magic my friend, like you I didn’t really acknowledge them at the time . Now analysing their music as you so rightly said breathtaking musicianship pours out from every song .

  • @ianmccarty2632
    @ianmccarty2632 Před rokem +11

    Love the combo of dissecting the song/reacting in real time to the live video! Great work!

  • @musicmarc.bassandkeys
    @musicmarc.bassandkeys Před rokem +5

    Awesome breakdown! I’m going to LOVE this new series. Thank you, Andrew!

  • @bryede
    @bryede Před 11 měsíci +4

    When I was a kid listening to the radio, I never would have imagined one day we'd be breaking those songs down and understanding their composition. It's amazing how much technical prowess you can hide in a pop song.

  • @jerrytaylor8889
    @jerrytaylor8889 Před rokem +10

    I've been a drummer for the past 43 years & always loved & enjoyed playing this song, especially the syncopated snare / open hi-hat at the end of certain verses. The bass, however, - WOW! I just happened across your video while listening to different reaction videos & was so glad to see someone besides me had picked up on that bass line. Dancing Queen has one of my favorite bass guitar riffs, I never really had to learn notes with the exception of Jr. & High school band. I played the quads (new to the scene) my senior year in marching band, but the tympani during concert season. That was the extent of my knowledge of my note scale, but I wished I had learned at some point in my life to play the bass guitar & am glad to hear you breaking it down. My favorite part is at the end of the second verse where he does that very quick slide, for lack of the proper term. New subscriber as soon as I saw this!!

    • @BassFreedom
      @BassFreedom  Před 11 měsíci +3

      Thats amazing!!! Thanks so much for watching 😀🤘

  • @1965JB
    @1965JB Před 11 měsíci +6

    I’ve been geeking on this song’s bass and drum groove for at least 10 years. Thanks so much for this incredible video!

  • @wasanasaw
    @wasanasaw Před 11 měsíci +3

    Dude, the way you geek out over this is utterly beautiful! Don’t ever stop, bro.

  • @ainsleystones4600
    @ainsleystones4600 Před rokem +16

    What a great choice Andrew! I love Rutger's playing and teach many of his bass lines. I'm a huge ABBA fan and also a good, old-fashioned hairy Metaller! It's very easy to love ABBA and say, Iron Maiden for example, for pretty much the same reasons: great playing, great singing and fab tunes!

  • @kevfrets
    @kevfrets Před 11 měsíci +1

    Outstanding!! Very cool breakdown .👍👍

  • @morodersson303
    @morodersson303 Před 11 měsíci +10

    Two things:
    I do think that tension note was a happy little accident. From what I've gathered, B&B weren't overly concerned with perfection for perfection's sake - they were open to experimenting with the sound (which happened to be Michael B. Tretow's forte), and if something sounded good in the mix, it stayed. (Also, in 1975 when the song was recorded/mixed, fixing stuff "in the mix" wasn't as easy as it would be later in the digital era. Sure, they could have spliced some different takes together if necessary - but for a small, barely noticeable "defect" I hardly think it would have been worth the effort.)
    Regarding ABBA being underrated - they _were_ massively underrated at the time on the subject of artistic merit. They were seen as a purely commercial act with little to none artistic value. Fortunately, time has proved their detractors wrong and I think it is fair to say that they are now receiving an almost universal (and IMO well deserved) appreciation.

  • @keefos66
    @keefos66 Před 11 měsíci +8

    Awesome introduction to Rutger’s playing. The real mad-scientist stuff is on Knowing Me, Knowing You. Even when you know it, it’s hard to fathom how or why he decided on his parts. His timing and note selection are so odd but so perfect.

  • @michaelacord228
    @michaelacord228 Před rokem +1

    Enjoyed your breakdown very much. Thanks for sharing!

  • @anthonysmith8800
    @anthonysmith8800 Před rokem +6

    As a lifelong Abba fan, it is soooo refreshing (and educational) to hear a different perspective of their songs. Thank you for highlighting what importance the Bass Guitar has on a song ❤

  • @NoiserToo
    @NoiserToo Před 11 měsíci +3

    Great job breaking it down - I have always loved Rutger’s playing!

  • @orbitaljellyfish808
    @orbitaljellyfish808 Před 11 měsíci +5

    8:25 after the 3 chromatic notes the backing vox begin their arp/riser scale into the chorus. Brilliant arrangement work.

  • @myoptik3x103
    @myoptik3x103 Před rokem +3

    Terrific analysis, thanks for the lesson! Now I’m gonna go learn it.

  • @chrissargent8398
    @chrissargent8398 Před 11 měsíci +1

    What a great discussion. Thanks for doing this! Very well done. What a talent and iconic tune.

  • @zootallures6470
    @zootallures6470 Před 11 měsíci +5

    The musicians in ABBA were some of the best of the Swedish jazz and rock scene.

  • @motoboy6666
    @motoboy6666 Před 11 měsíci +5

    That live performance of ABBA, all live playing and singing was crazy good, what proffesionals 😮

  • @glenngastonjonsson7954
    @glenngastonjonsson7954 Před rokem +2

    Brilliant stuff. Thanks!

  • @brucemillar
    @brucemillar Před 11 měsíci +2

    I was a kid in the 70’s and ABBA was everywhere. It was always the bass lines that stuck in my head early on, from Waterloo onwards. I would have been 10 years old. Yes, I went on to become a bass player. But I always remember that the bass was always prominent, or forward in the mix as I learned later.
    I’m glad you mentioned the ABBA bass players as I feel they were the subliminal element that made their hits imho. People were singing those catchy lyrics to those catchy tunes and dancing to that grooving bass movement! 😃👍

  • @roberteriksson1629
    @roberteriksson1629 Před rokem +4

    When ABBA had their big breakthrough at ESC in Brighton. The conductor of the orchestra steps out dressed as Napoleon looking very much like the doll you have in the background. Funny coincidence!

  • @perfumetherapie
    @perfumetherapie Před 11 měsíci +5

    New bass player and bass geek here! In love with this instrument, I can’t wait to learn more, thanks fir this video 👍

  • @jensastrup1940
    @jensastrup1940 Před 7 měsíci +1

    I think RG was a big part of the reason for why DQ and many other Abba songs are so good. He was fantastic.

  • @dimitriosdaskalakis6127
    @dimitriosdaskalakis6127 Před rokem +1

    Hey this was a great video. I learnt a lot here. Thanks 👍🏼

  • @andrewpappas9311
    @andrewpappas9311 Před rokem +11

    I remember having to learn this song for my high school band (I played bass) since that was one of the songs we were doing that year and it was honestly pretty fun to do, I sometimes forget just how funky the bass in this song is

  • @nelsonmellososobrinho1123
    @nelsonmellososobrinho1123 Před 11 měsíci +4

    RIP Rutger Gunnarsson

  • @GrooveTubeBass
    @GrooveTubeBass Před 11 měsíci +2

    Great breakdown man - love your energy!

  • @TheFunkyCriminal
    @TheFunkyCriminal Před 11 měsíci +1

    Duuuude solid video. So much great information and analysis and no filler dude. Good stuff bro

  • @erinikeuchi6447
    @erinikeuchi6447 Před 11 měsíci +3

    I’ma acoustic guitarist and always wanted to learn to play the bass. I just happened across this video and couldn’t stop watching it. I grew up with abba and dig your breakdown.

  • @kickitlikekirra
    @kickitlikekirra Před 11 měsíci +13

    Dude, this video was so much fun to watch and listen to! I don't even play bass, and your mastery of music in general is way above mine, but I know enough to appreciate your knowledge and passion.
    Thank you for your sincere and unbridled excitement! I was planning on skipping ahead when I saw the thumbnail (I'd never seen a video of yours before), but within seconds realized you and your breakdown were worth watching with my full attention.

    • @BassFreedom
      @BassFreedom  Před 11 měsíci +1

      Thank you SO much! I appreciate you! 🤘

    • @annika8207
      @annika8207 Před 11 měsíci +1

      Agree! Just found you here today! Looove ABBA!🤩😍🥰😘
      Bye from 🇸🇪

  • @hakanaxlund4316
    @hakanaxlund4316 Před 11 měsíci

    Thank you for this awesome video. Love your enthusiasm and “nerdy” (in the most positive sense) approach. 😊

  • @andersgranstrom7128
    @andersgranstrom7128 Před 10 měsíci

    Love that you highlight the fantastic Rutger, and the beautiful instrument of bass! 😍Thank you!

  • @wildcard04
    @wildcard04 Před rokem +16

    Great analysis. I was also surprised at how great ABBA was live. The ‘Does Your Mother Know/Hole In Your Soul’ live performance by them is my favourite..

    • @annika8207
      @annika8207 Před 11 měsíci

      Yess! Hole in your soul is one of my favourites too! Nobody ever mentions this, almost hard rock track with the girls almost screaming a crecendo!😍🤩

  • @99f234
    @99f234 Před rokem +15

    Thanks for highlighting this song. I think this is probably my favorite bass line to hear and play. I have always been in metal/rock bands but my heart is in pop/country bass lines. I always bust out these riffs in between songs during practice hoping the drummer will fall in lol

    • @SusanneBreul
      @SusanneBreul Před rokem +4

      as a drummer and loyal abba fan, I would 😄

  • @user-io2lx4qm9u
    @user-io2lx4qm9u Před 9 měsíci

    Thanks so much for this, a joy to listen to.

  • @MegaKillerwatt
    @MegaKillerwatt Před 11 měsíci +1

    Rutger Gunnarsson and his bass made Dancing Queen a smash. ABBA was lucky to have him. Smooth Smooth Smooth.

  • @garrettmacrae1495
    @garrettmacrae1495 Před 11 měsíci +4

    great tone on your Jazz bass

  • @Chubbydippin
    @Chubbydippin Před 11 měsíci +7

    Thanks for doing this. Tasteful bass playing so often gets overlooked compared to technical ability on the instrument. ABBA is timeless magic. So many hits have created so many memories for so many generations. I think even the band had no idea of the length/yrs of their relevance. They will be talked about and listened to for 100's of years.

  • @juani2929
    @juani2929 Před 11 měsíci

    I love these breakdowns. keep'em coming. new subscirber!

  • @nissebjorn9916
    @nissebjorn9916 Před 10 měsíci

    Great video with a nice enthusiasm. Love the song and the bass lines.

  • @jcee6886
    @jcee6886 Před 11 měsíci +2

    They sound amazing live!

  • @Al69BfR
    @Al69BfR Před 11 měsíci +8

    13:09 I especially like that C because it has a more bluesy vibe. And it makes the difference between amateur and pro bass players in a cover band. Everytime I hear that C played by a bassist I nod to him expressing my respect for her/his approach to Rutger Gunnarsson‘s style.

    • @PatNetherlander
      @PatNetherlander Před 11 měsíci

      Same here!

    • @brixelfumpf
      @brixelfumpf Před 11 měsíci

      I totally agree about the more bluesy flavor that the C chord adds. I've noticed this in a number of rock songs as well, sometimes playing the major seventh over a major chord tends to sound a bit too pretty, and using the flat seventh instead adds a bit more spice -- provided it doesn't clash too much with the rest of the instruments. In this case it definitely works as the C is used as an approach note. It seems to be similar in Hysteria, where Chris also chooses the flat seventh over the major seventh when playing over the C major chord later on. I also often hear rock players choose the perfect fourth instead of the sharp fourth over the IV chord, and the major sixth instead of the flat sixth over the VI chord.

    • @jazzpotato7483
      @jazzpotato7483 Před 11 měsíci +1

      I can't understand how people think that this note would be a wrong note. I am 100% sure that it was just the jazzy attitude that Rutger had and that it was what he was hearing in his head when playing and that he was improvising. That chromatic playing is super common when you play jazz and with that choice of note you temporarry make the harmony to be a C7#11. It is unfortunally forbidden in Pop music but totaly normal in Jazz. Maybe Rutger also was playing some jazz between the ABBA gigs?

  • @scottryley7517
    @scottryley7517 Před 11 měsíci

    great breakdown!

  • @pedrito77
    @pedrito77 Před 10 měsíci +1

    I appreciate what you do. I can only play a few songs in the clarinet, but I love ABBA and I enjoy these videos that dissect their music, especially the bass lines. Gunnarson was amazing. I also appreciate people like you who share their talent with the rest of us music fans. Live long and prosper, Mr. Andrew.

    • @BassFreedom
      @BassFreedom  Před 10 měsíci +1

      Thanks Pedro! I appreciate you!

  • @bassboy8910
    @bassboy8910 Před 11 měsíci +3

    great job and you are a great bassist with a great ear - did I say great enough time? Kudos to you- I also love ABBA! ❤

  • @jimmyers8939
    @jimmyers8939 Před rokem +3

    great video, loved it.....

  • @GVike
    @GVike Před 11 měsíci +2

    Great that Rutger is getting recognition.

  • @adigunowiradi7427
    @adigunowiradi7427 Před 11 měsíci +1

    The whole live performance is fire!! So good

  • @RebornThroughHate
    @RebornThroughHate Před 11 měsíci +6

    All that 70's stuff has great bassists and great basslines. ABBA were an amazing band, as were the Bee Gees. I'm mostly into death / thrash / black metal, but fact is fact.

  • @bassdocblog
    @bassdocblog Před 11 měsíci +4

    I always tell beginning bassists if they can master "Mamma Mia", note-for-note and stop-for-stop, that they can move on to other, more 'difficult', songs with confidence.
    That song is a perfect example of the "what you don't play is as important as what you DO play" statement.

  • @FL-PHILLIP
    @FL-PHILLIP Před 11 měsíci +2

    Wow, I've always marveled about ABBA's bass lines. Then i see this video out of the blue. So cool!

  • @Terraceview
    @Terraceview Před 10 měsíci

    Such a playful bassline, so youthful and that's why it's timeless. Brilliant.

  • @soul72music
    @soul72music Před 11 měsíci +3

    Rutger Gunnarsson was The Man 💥

  • @yoddeb
    @yoddeb Před rokem +23

    Rutger gunnarsson is a genius

    • @rinkinkel
      @rinkinkel Před 11 měsíci

      Really? What's so genius? It's average and mostly clichés, and what was good about got flattened in post production.

    • @ImaginaryEvil
      @ImaginaryEvil Před 11 měsíci

      ​@@rinkinkelmillions of people disagree with you

    • @rinkinkel
      @rinkinkel Před 11 měsíci

      delusion is common.

    • @perwestermark8920
      @perwestermark8920 Před 11 měsíci +1

      ​@@rinkinkelAnd you are an example of that...

    • @rinkinkel
      @rinkinkel Před 11 měsíci

      @@perwestermark8920 I rest my case.

  • @Foolishpleazure
    @Foolishpleazure Před 11 měsíci +1

    I always did love the beginning guitar riff of "Gimme Gimme Gimme"....one of the best song intro's I have ever heard!!!

  • @Franky46Boy
    @Franky46Boy Před 11 měsíci

    Thanks for opening my ears!

  • @aresmoriendi9449
    @aresmoriendi9449 Před 11 měsíci +4

    40+ years of looking down my nose at ABBA just vanished. I never knew! 🤯 But I'm looking forward to tackling Gunnarsson's work.
    And I'm also pretty sure I just heard a quiet howl of pain from the ghost of my 20 year old tech/death metal loving self 😱

    • @kaaring
      @kaaring Před měsícem +1

      Quite a few ABBA songs are actually metal. Check out Summer Night City live (ABBA) and Yngwie Malmsteen's version

    • @aresmoriendi9449
      @aresmoriendi9449 Před měsícem

      @@kaaring Cheese mate, will do 🤘

  • @danielpalmersofficial
    @danielpalmersofficial Před 10 měsíci +6

    Rutger is amazing, all of his bass lines are wicked!! 😙👍

  • @janetarmitage9745
    @janetarmitage9745 Před 10 měsíci +1

    ...Hi, i don't know how far I've fallen down the ABBA rabbit hole, but I've just tripped into your channel ! ..i just have to tell you that i love your enthusiasm, interest and the way you can easily brake down and explain what you're finding in this iconic melody from my favourite band...by doing what you've done you are keeping ABBA relevant in today's generation of young fans who i hope will go on to discover the magical delight of ABBA... I'm the "1st generation fan" from all those years ago....thank you. 💞🎼

    • @BassFreedom
      @BassFreedom  Před 10 měsíci +1

      Janet, I appreciate you for watching! I'm happy to keep ABBA's magic going with this generation :) thanks so much!

  • @peterwest8113
    @peterwest8113 Před 10 měsíci

    Thanks for your interesting insights Andrew. Loved exploring the wonderful bass of DQ.

  • @jorishaze3408
    @jorishaze3408 Před rokem +5

    As an ABBA fan and pianist, I really love the bass line of Dancing Queen and play it very often even though I’m not a bassist. I personally like the wrong note at the end. If you want to do another video on ABBA’s bass lines and amazing bassist, I would recommend “Voulez-Vous”. Thanks for the nice video! 👍🏼

  • @localbod
    @localbod Před 11 měsíci +8

    Rutger Gunarrson was an absolute monster. Excellent feel and tone. A truly underrated bassist.

    • @markrae1317
      @markrae1317 Před 11 měsíci

      What nonsense! He is massively respected!

    • @localbod
      @localbod Před 11 měsíci

      @@markrae1317 That's your opinion.
      I have met many bassists and guitarists who don't know who he is / was or appreciate his talent.

    • @markrae1317
      @markrae1317 Před 11 měsíci

      @@localbod That's not what ubderrated means!

    • @localbod
      @localbod Před 11 měsíci

      @@markrae1317 Underrated (ubderrated - your spelling) means undervalued. Perhaps amongst the bass playing fraternity Rutger Gunarrson isn't underrated. However, amongst the non-playing public , I think he is underrated.

  • @TheJimbo1791
    @TheJimbo1791 Před 6 měsíci

    THANK YOU for this. I am no professional musician but I know genius pop when I hear it - Abba is one of my favourite bands, probably my fav alongside the Beatles. I enjoyed your analyzing very much, this was so in-depth and still easy to comprehend and enjoy. The bass is truly one of the very important ingredients of iconic Abba songs! Greetings from Finland.

  • @urchinden
    @urchinden Před 10 měsíci

    Thanks for sharing!

  • @mv9787
    @mv9787 Před 11 měsíci +27

    I got a LOT of chills from their singing. Modern singers don’t do this. I don’t know what happened?

  • @FreeSociety1
    @FreeSociety1 Před 11 měsíci +3

    Listen to the bass guitar work in ABBA's: "Knowing Me Knowing You" -- its Awesome!

  • @lvmplvmp4736
    @lvmplvmp4736 Před 11 měsíci

    Great Work Mate

  • @phillipleblanc7823
    @phillipleblanc7823 Před 11 měsíci +1

    I just stumbled across your video. As a teacher and a man-cave drummer, I'd like to thank you for saying what's right. It's okay to be yourself, be inventive, and put your own spin on things as long as the roots are there. Hey man, as the Rolling Stones sang, "I know, it's only rock and roll, but I like it."