5 Louis Johnson Basslines (and how to play them)

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  • čas přidán 4. 07. 2024
  • Who doesn't love Louis Johnson's bass playing? In this video, I'll take you through 5 selected cuts by "Thunder Thumbs", with transcriptions and breakdowns.
    Chapters:
    00:00 Teaser
    00:31 Get The Funk Out Ma Face
    03:03 Chorus breakdown
    04:08 Verse breakdown
    06:15 Get On The Floor
    08:11 Chorus breakdown
    10:11 Verse breakdown
    11:53 Stomp!
    13:58 Verse breakdown
    15:01 Pre-chorus breakdown
    16:00 Chorus breakdown
    17:33 Bass solo breakdown
    19:24 Synth solo breakdown
    19:57 Outro breakdown
    21:22 I Keep Forgettin'
    22:54 Chorus breakdown
    24:51 Verse breakdown
    25:29 Pre-chorus breakdown
    26:31 Reach Out
    28:25 Chorus breakdown
    29:29 Interlude breakdown
    30:46 Verse breakdown
    32:07 Outro
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  • Hudba

Komentáře • 88

  • @visualsoundworks
    @visualsoundworks Před 9 měsíci +13

    It's really interesting seeing bass players of today playing and teaching these songs. I started playing bass in 1976 the year George and Louis came out. We had to know all of these songs and more just to get into a basement band to jam! Our stereo systems were so bad we could not make out all of the notes Louis, or Bernard, or Mark Adams from Slave and others were playing. And we didn't break them down the way you are on this video. We just had to learn the new hot songs of the day back then. Man, was it fun, and the lessons we learned as all of this unfolded in real time! Good video Huw!

  • @aaronj.brooks1977
    @aaronj.brooks1977 Před rokem +11

    Louis ( Thunder Thumbs) Johnson is one of the baddest bass players that ever lived.thanks for sharing this was great.

  • @bigfuzzztv787
    @bigfuzzztv787 Před 8 měsíci +3

    LJ and Stanley Clark are the reasons that I started playing the bass,... EXCELLENT JOB. Subscribed,...

  • @chriscureton622
    @chriscureton622 Před 2 měsíci +3

    I saw him live 1978 at his peak he was 23 and the blam album just came out. Take it from someone who's seen Larry Graham and Victor Wooten. Louis Johnson is the goat of slap bass. 👺🔥

  • @Lysdexia
    @Lysdexia Před 8 měsíci +5

    Huw: mild-mannered, considerate, articulate and polite to a fault. And, yet, plays bass like an absolute motherfucker - it's brilliant! Thanks for this Huw and more, please!

    • @HuwFoster
      @HuwFoster  Před 8 měsíci +1

      Haha wow, what a review. Thanks so much!

  • @antonfokker4671
    @antonfokker4671 Před 5 měsíci +3

    Thank you, my friend ! Louis is my hero. And I appreciate you keepin' the funk alive !

  • @Brownhornet201
    @Brownhornet201 Před 2 lety +12

    I've been talking about Louis's thumb technique for years, and I have been chasing his tone... you are correct, he has a strong attack with his thumb, which you can hear... I saw the Brothers Johnson live up here in Spokane,Washington, many many years ago, kinda pre M.J. they opened for the Commodores... Blew the Commedores out of the water... Anyway, take a listen to his cool thumb work on tune The Dude, which is on the Album called The Dude... I'm still chasing the tone he gets on that tune.... Great video, I just subscribed.... keep up the great content...

  • @danielpalmersofficial
    @danielpalmersofficial Před 11 měsíci +3

    Louis Johnson was fantastic, he was a beast at the bass. ✌️😙

  • @DarrylSims-ug9wr
    @DarrylSims-ug9wr Před 4 měsíci +4

    Hello Sir ! My name is Darryl Sims , I was taught by Louis PERSONALLY!!! But the answer to your question ' he used his FENDER PRECISION on their 1st album, 2nd album he used his Alembic on Strawberry Letter 23! On the rest of the LP he used a Music Man Sting Ray, on their 3rd BLAM it's Music Man Sting Ray! On their 4th album all Sting Ray except on a track called CELEBRATIONS he used a Music Man Sabre Bass! The Bass solo is TOO FUNKY !!!!! CHECK IT OUT. ........I was in his inner circle! I know the SECERTS to the Louis Johnson tone ' I KNOW HOW HE GETS SOUND! He showed it to me in secret !!! I'm telling ANYONE

  • @shugemery
    @shugemery Před rokem +3

    Big funky thanks to you Huw for breaking this down clearly and playing it so well. Mucho Appreciato~~~Thunder-Thumbs Up.

  • @willieshorterjr9753
    @willieshorterjr9753 Před 2 lety +4

    Great job, Huw!!! Thanks for the shoutout as well my brother!!! On the George Duke album, I think OVERTURE is great! Pure speed & aggression. Then there’s the track FLY AWAY. Slow slapping but oh so funky! Please consider those tunes if you ever do a Louis Johnson part 2! LOVE YOUR PLAYING!!!! 👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾

  • @faziolisp4102
    @faziolisp4102 Před rokem +8

    Louis Johnson y Bernard Edward son mis bajistas preferidos, ambos dejaron un legado en el bass.

    • @HuwFoster
      @HuwFoster  Před rokem +1

      Estoy de acuerdo, completamente.

  • @markr.devereux3385
    @markr.devereux3385 Před rokem +4

    Louis Johnson's bass skills are the best any add ons are unnecessary in my opinion. Bass players are now in a contest to play the most 32 nd notes.

  • @mathieuvaylet1782
    @mathieuvaylet1782 Před 6 měsíci +1

    the "level42 : the early tapes" bass !!!! wow ! 😍😍

  • @colinbradford2671
    @colinbradford2671 Před 2 měsíci +1

    Well played Sir, you certainly kept the Funk very much in our face!

  • @JGulliMusic
    @JGulliMusic Před 9 měsíci +2

    Outstanding music 🎶 video production. Truly enjoyed watching 👀 you play all the classic bass lines of Louis Johnson. You too are an amazing bassist👍🏽. Thank you for sharing 🙏🏽 😊! Continued success 🙌🏽!

  • @artakha14
    @artakha14 Před rokem +3

    LJ used a Fender P bass in his earlier years, as documented in a video of him playing in Billy Preston's band. Before Stingray, he also played Alembic and Gibson basses for some time, mostly heard on Brothers Johnson's second album.

  • @dslapster64
    @dslapster64 Před rokem +3

    This is absolutely brilliantly done . Bravo

  • @briezim
    @briezim Před 3 měsíci +1

    Thanks for this, I needed a good Louis Johnson study, I am going to be hanging out with this video for several weeks This is great!

  • @richardrichard5409
    @richardrichard5409 Před 2 lety +4

    This is gold, many thanks for the upload😎👍

  •  Před 2 lety +3

    Really great video, thanks Huw 🙏🙏🙏

  • @Intenzity
    @Intenzity Před 2 lety +10

    Awesome stuff, yet again. Classic foundational slap techniques, there could be no Victor or Marcus without Louis...

  • @jakesensi5552
    @jakesensi5552 Před 7 měsíci +2

    One of my bass heroes. He used a Gibson Ripper also. It's why I brought one in 77.

    • @HuwFoster
      @HuwFoster  Před 7 měsíci

      Awesome, I’ve always wanted one of those. How’s your chiropractor bill? 😂

    • @jakesensi5552
      @jakesensi5552 Před 7 měsíci +1

      @@HuwFoster I was 16 years old then. I had no problems. LoL. It had a great sound.

  • @bigtimelakersfan5836
    @bigtimelakersfan5836 Před 2 lety +3

    Very very nice playing and i totally appreciate your breakdown of Louis Johnson’s bass lines. Now I’m going to check out your whole repertoire your a awesome bass player 👍🏾👍🏾👍🏾

  • @sirmoog
    @sirmoog Před 2 lety +2

    Absolutely LOVED this video. Thank you so much.

  • @MultitrackCassetteFans
    @MultitrackCassetteFans Před 2 lety +3

    Fantastic demonstration, thanks a lot!!!

  • @nickpicc
    @nickpicc Před 2 lety +2

    Great video and tight playing!

  • @alessiopizzignach3878
    @alessiopizzignach3878 Před 2 lety +1

    Great job and great video!!

  • @fergieweather
    @fergieweather Před 2 lety +1

    Super stuff Huw, as ever. Thanks for this video. As you rightly note, the Tokyo recording of George Duke's fabulous show will forever serve as testimony to the very essence of Louis, both in terms of his musicianship & showman quality. Like Bernard Edwards - the Stingray's other late '70's great exponent - Louis is so sorely missed & was lost far too soon.

  • @mattfoley6082
    @mattfoley6082 Před rokem +2

    20:00 Descending 4 note pattern is G F D G starting on the G of the D string, notes are not ghosted.

    • @HuwFoster
      @HuwFoster  Před rokem +1

      I've played it like that previously, and the first couple of measures sound like they start on G, but I'm convinced he's doubling up on Fs after that point. The horns hitting concert G might create the illusion that he's hitting a G as well. Anyway, it's a tiny detail, and who really cares? I'm sure Louis wouldn't, as long as the vibe is right.

    • @mattfoley6082
      @mattfoley6082 Před rokem +2

      @@HuwFoster If you listen to him at .75 speed you'll see he's playing GFDG. He cuts the notes short a few times but he's always starting on that G. Don't believe me, listen for yourself!

  • @shugemery
    @shugemery Před rokem +1

    Thanks!

    • @HuwFoster
      @HuwFoster  Před rokem

      Aw thanks for the Super Thanks - I believe that’s my first one!

    • @shugemery
      @shugemery Před rokem +1

      @@HuwFoster Well worth it. Hope you get more thanks and all that. You are a mighty fine player. I'm pretty new at bass but all in~~

  • @eisenyeo
    @eisenyeo Před 5 měsíci +2

    The key changes, you are right also, but I'll describe it as a G Minor to G Major key change. Thanks for your videos, great work.

  • @darrylsims3242
    @darrylsims3242 Před 3 měsíci +1

    Get on the floor was originally intended to be a song 🎵 for The Brothers Johnson's! What Louis told me was they had just finished one of the Off the wall sessions and Michael ran out to the parking lot to tell Louis thank you and Michael heard that Bass! And was totally floored and said to Louis WHAT IS THAT and Louis replied just somethin I'm working on and Michael asked Louis CAN I HAVE THAT? Louis said yeah! Louis went home and wrote the music 🎶 and Michael wrote the lyrics and the song was ' Get On The Floor '

  • @stcezaire06
    @stcezaire06 Před 2 lety +2

    Awesome video , Thanks and Super MM stingray and Shergold sound

  • @MrJsfingers
    @MrJsfingers Před 2 lety

    Great stuff!

  • @FrowinIckler
    @FrowinIckler Před 2 lety +1

    Awesome !!

  • @painalain
    @painalain Před 2 lety +1

    Very very very Good job 😎 you make practicing !!! You are my best teacher on the web 😉👍🏽👍🏽👍🏽thanks 😁

  • @l7funk
    @l7funk Před rokem +1

    Thank You

  • @steve441962
    @steve441962 Před 9 měsíci +1

    george duke for the win - and dont forget paul jackson jr playing on that dukey gig - how about a special on george duke synth bass lines? mystery eyes, let your love shine... you get the idea ;-)

  • @supersam1914
    @supersam1914 Před rokem

    Love Louis one of my favorites

  • @steve441962
    @steve441962 Před 9 měsíci +2

    nice tone on the hayman

  • @trevorblair5552
    @trevorblair5552 Před rokem

    Hi Huw, it was the natural coloured P-bass! 🙏🏿 lovely playing. 😊

  • @ROCKNROLLFAN
    @ROCKNROLLFAN Před 2 lety +1

    He had some monster bass lines....

  • @anthonyterrell9239
    @anthonyterrell9239 Před 6 měsíci

    Thanks for playing Prince and the Brothers Johnson Bass lines. Nice funky grooves. I like funky Bass lines. I’m a beginner do it slower for us first timers. Say the notes step by step slowly.

  • @jonathanchevallier7046
    @jonathanchevallier7046 Před 2 lety +4

    Very very nice explanations ! And thank you for your skill and the sound quality ;-)

  • @Thesilverthunder777
    @Thesilverthunder777 Před 8 měsíci

    James Jamerson, Louis Johnson, Bernard Edwards, Larry Graham and Jaco.

  • @markcoward2472
    @markcoward2472 Před 12 dny +1

    Excellent stuff, you have a new subscriber here! Do you have these tabs available for download, I'm not always online?

    • @HuwFoster
      @HuwFoster  Před 12 dny

      Thanks, appreciate the sub!
      The tabs are available to download from my Patreon at the Pentatonic Patron tier: www.patreon.com/huwfoster

    • @markcoward2472
      @markcoward2472 Před 12 dny +1

      @@HuwFoster Appreciate the reply mate. I'll have a look at your Patreon later.

  • @veter6074
    @veter6074 Před 9 měsíci +2

    Legendario Louis 👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼

  • @funkonrr8705
    @funkonrr8705 Před rokem

    🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥

  • @jway-z8405
    @jway-z8405 Před rokem

    He also used a Gibson Ripper bass back then.

  • @stevotisdavis2462
    @stevotisdavis2462 Před rokem

    Hue I've been playing for at least 8 years and I'm at a brick wall again. My ear it sucks. The first time I heard you play I think you played what's going on by late great Marvin gaye. I'm going to make you my go to teacher, I recently found you again I don't have money so I'll have to learn from ur free stuff ... Keep it up your great, thanks for everything but if you ever read my comments please drop my a message on what to do when ur stuck please

  • @darwin_j
    @darwin_j Před 2 lety +2

    Awesome video ! Could you do one on Ai no corrida bass lesson ?

  • @andrewgrace4410
    @andrewgrace4410 Před 10 měsíci

    You should check out "Have you heard the word" by his band Passage😊

  • @pietervisser4479
    @pietervisser4479 Před rokem +1

    Good video, what kind of bass do you have in the first song?

    • @HuwFoster
      @HuwFoster  Před rokem

      Thanks! It’s a Hayman 40-40.

  • @ErixSamson
    @ErixSamson Před 2 lety +1

    super nice. what bass is that?

    • @HuwFoster
      @HuwFoster  Před 2 lety

      Thanks! First bass is a 1975 Hayman 40/40.

  • @rogervlog.
    @rogervlog. Před 8 měsíci +1

    Huw foster SER idol very beautiful voice bass guitar 🎉🎉🎉🇵🇭🇵🇭🇵🇭🇵🇭🇵🇭👍👍👍👍♥♥♥♥♥♥🎵🎵🎵

  • @marcuswarren1320
    @marcuswarren1320 Před rokem

    If you haven't, do a video like this for Larry Graham

  • @thunderbolts2438
    @thunderbolts2438 Před 2 lety +3

    Heyyyy I was "like" #23 😀

    • @HuwFoster
      @HuwFoster  Před 2 lety

      🎵 Rainbows and waterfalls run through my mind 🎵

    • @sandrasanders706
      @sandrasanders706 Před 10 měsíci

      A present from you, Strawberry Letter 22, the music plays, I sit in for a few😊😊😊

  • @dwaynejones1146
    @dwaynejones1146 Před 5 měsíci

    Well done.

  • @REAL-oo6xe
    @REAL-oo6xe Před 8 měsíci

    Bro thank u I’m good on the tricks but what im trippin on is ur bass ?? What is that ?

  • @chidalchoe5791
    @chidalchoe5791 Před 2 lety

    Bass lesson celebrations the brother jonhson

  • @REAL-oo6xe
    @REAL-oo6xe Před 8 měsíci

    Yes it’s two tracks

  • @DarrylSims-ug9wr
    @DarrylSims-ug9wr Před 4 měsíci

    Correction: I'M NOT TELLING ANYONE!!! He showed me his Amp settings, the strings he used you WON'T find them at any music store, MOST OF ALL He showed me how he adjust his treble&bass knobs on his bass! HE WILL ALWAYS BE THE BADDEST BASS PLAYER!!!

  • @niarotica
    @niarotica Před rokem

    Great lesson. Check out Twinkle by Earl Klugh and I'll be good to you.

  • @fabioupc
    @fabioupc Před 2 měsíci

    Neil jason mi favorite play bass on roxy music the main thing song

  • @precisionhoops3652
    @precisionhoops3652 Před 2 lety +1

    Do you give private lessons?

    • @HuwFoster
      @HuwFoster  Před 2 lety

      Yes! Send me a message on my website: www.huwfoster.co.uk

  • @troybranch
    @troybranch Před 7 měsíci +1

    Great job sir , I know it's the in thing to refer to thumping as slap, but it's no where near the truth , your upright bass players slap the finger board and pull the string players. Thumping is what your doing now. 👍

  • @thesuncollective1475
    @thesuncollective1475 Před 10 měsíci

    Great , a lil too much talking tho

  • @REAL-oo6xe
    @REAL-oo6xe Před 8 měsíci

    Stomp is done on a music man . The old shit on PBass