The hidden GENIUS of Duff McKagan (6 iconic examples)
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- Опубліковано 12 тра 2024
- In today’s video, you’ll learn what made Duff McKagan’s bass lines with Guns N’ Roses so impactful. We’re talking about some of the biggest hits - Welcome To The Jungle, Sweet Child Of Mine, Rocket Queen and more. Plus, you'll get playing examples & sheet music so you can understand every note. And decide for yourself if Duff deserves the title of bass genius.
From Appetite For Destruction to Use Your Illusion, we’re breaking down 6 of the finest Guns N’ Roses bass lines.
🔥 Download your PDF → sbl.link/4aLBj28
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Video Breakdown:
00:00 - Celebrating the Genius of Duff McKagan
00:58 - Rocket Queen: One of the Coolest Bass Riffs of All Time
03:55 - Duff's Brief Stint in Alice in Chains
06:22 - Bass Giveaway
06:47 - Welcome to the Jungle
08:04 - The Importance of Crafting Well-Thought-Out Parts
09:32 - My Michelle
10:29 - You Could Be Mine
11:39 - Did you know these facts about Duff McKagan?
13:08 - Right Next Door to Hell
16:15 - Sweet Child o' Mine
18:21 - Righting the Wrong!
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A video no one asked for, but everyone is very happy about. Duffs chromatic riffs are some of my favorite vibes ever
BASSED
I asked for it
Totally agree, his chromatic walks along with his octave work really defines his sound. His ghost notes are one of his best attributes as well.
tony franklin wrote the lines.
He is one of my top 5 favorite bassists
What's so brilliant about Duff, in my opinion, is that he has such a badass punk attitude in his playing, but at the same time he is very melodic and really dynamic and musically tasteful. He's like a mix of Dee Dee Ramone, Paul McCartney and Chris Squire or something.
Duff's sound cut through the mix so perfectly with out being over the top. This guy is the reason I started playing bass 21 years ago, an absolute legend!
*tony franklin.
He said in an interview that he always hated the term cutting threw the mix. He always just tried to find his place in the mix. It changed the way I looked at playing bass forever.
@@315hfd but Tony Franklin is the one who recorded his lines.
@@HunnysPlaylists Where did you hear this? I have heard several rumours about AFD and the parts on it, especially surrounding Sweet Child: that Slash didn’t write or play the solo on it, that is was recorded with a Jackson, not a Les Paul, etc. would love to know more.
@@MrDc1296 From the people themselves. Almost all big songs were studio musician only.
You touched a lot on Duff's bass lines, but he is the master of the fill. There are songs where the only person doing any fills is Duff; no guitar, no drums, just bass fills. Not a lot of other bands that will say "Let the bass player cover all of our blank spaces."
For what it’s worth: Duff is a HUGE Prince fan.
Yep. I saw GnR in Pittsburgh back in July of 2016. We didn't have the best seats, but Duff was playing a white PJ Bass with a logo on it. I took a few pics, zoomed in but still couldn't see what it was. Finally, they put a full shot of Duff on the big screens - it was a Purple Prince symbol. This concert was about 3 months after Prince's death. Props. \m/
One of his books has a list of his record recommendations and it’s eclectic as hell
It totally makes sense that he's a Prince fan....
Who isnt?
Sweet Child is a masterclass in how to use chord tones and scales within a rock bass line, glad it's getting the praise it deserves.
What gets me about that is the first time I took time to learn it I realized it was just every single thing Gene Simmons would've done. It's an early KISS bassline for sure
I just like how it's one of those rare tunes that can have multiple instruments basically doing their own riffing on the intro at the same time and it works out way better than it does on paper...
I find it annoying
Famous session player tony franklin did it, not duff.
word man🔥
Duff not only gets his A but this video makes me realize that I’ve done myself a disservice by neglecting rock bass. Bass has been my primary instrument for 5 years now, and I’ve immersed myself in jazz and funk/R&B but Duff has turned me on to rock bass !!! Thank you Ian and Scott !
The outro bass lick from Mr. Brownstone is always a classic Duff moment
Mr Brownstone is probably my favorite G&R song
Duff added cool shit, but it never sounded overplayed. 👌
Or the outro to rocket queen
It took me a long time to realize that Duff Mckagan is my biggest influence in bass playing. He is insane !
And this Fender Jazz Bass Special is my dream Bass forever
He’s a legend
🔥🔥🔥
Duff is good but he is no Justin Chancellor 🏆
he is insane?...... he the only bassist you know?
I started playing bass 27 years ago because of Duff. He is a huge inspiration for me, as a musician and as a human being - I trully recomend his biography "It's so easy - and other lies". He is a bassis that delivers what the song needs in a very smart way. Thanks for this video
Me too!!!
Duff has such an instantly recognizable tone. He's one of the reasons that I started playing chords on bass.
I remember it well. I was 13 years old, debating music with another boy in the school playground. He loved hip-hop and asked why I listened to Guns 'N Roses. I told him that if he listened carefully, he would realise they were a funky band. A couple of years later, he came up to me and said, 'You were right, they are funky!' I’ll always treasure that memory.
I spent nearly 15 years being a semi professional hip-hop and funk DJ. I've loved Guns N Roses before, during and since then. They've got a good groove.
dann huff recorded the guitars and tony franklin recorded the bass in the studio.
hip hop is not music tho, lack of harmony, melody, all just repeated samples, scratches, beats. It's NOT music.
@@jakubsabosz2933 Play Queen's "We Will Rock You" in a stadium full of people and then tell them "by the way: this isn't music". Go on, then.
@@angelotro Agreed!
Duff truly was underrated back in the day, he’s getting his props nowadays, people are realizing what he added to find n roses. He was overshadowed by axl and slash, but people recognize nowadays. Good on him
I feel that way about Eric Avery in Jane’s Addiction. Their music without him seems to be missing some secret sauce (less melodic despite the bass’s rhythm role)
Steve DiGiorgio video about his time in Death when? We need it :)
Dude we need a DiGiorgio vid so bad, and we need a big spotlight on Sean Malone of Cynic as well!
A video on any of them individually is probably too much to hope for, but maybe there could be a video called like, 'Godfathers of Modern Metal Bass' or something featuring Di Giorgio, Sean Malone (RIP), Alex Webster...
@@KyleS.1987 totally agreed. Honestly as a died-in-the-wool death metal guy, I wouldn't even want them to focus too much on extreme metal just because they have their own thing going, but holy smokes those OG death metal legends deserve some love.
DiGiorgio, being a hired gun as well as involved in several side projects, could easily do an hour video on him.
He just chills out with his chickens in California somewhere, if you hit him up he might help you do it lol
I 100% agree! One of the best players and nicest guys ever. I was about 19 years old in 1999 and Steve and the guys from Testament walked into the restaurant I was in, started talking with me and my old band guys, then they sat down and had pizza with us. Steve sat next to me. I was blown away at how cool he was.
Billy Sheehan made me want to pick up the bass. Duff McKagan made me want to play it.
I had a chance to meet him while traveling in the early 90s. One of the nicest people, let alone celebrities, that I’ve ever met.
A genuinely good guy. I’ll be a fan of all of his work for the rest of my life.
Finally a tribute to this great bassist, who has always been underestimated.
Congratulations also on the initiative to help needy children. Here in Brazil, unfortunately, we have a lot.
Greetings
Locomotive is my honorable mention. That intro and riff make me want to run a marathon every time
Definitely.
Locomotive is such a killer song 🔥
@@blacklion401especially the “complicity” outro
I play guitar in a Gn'R tribute band, and can confirm that Locomotive is an absolute pig to play live, but great fun
damn that’s right💯
Duff is why I play a PJ. I always thought he played a PJ with no pickguard but now I know it's a Jazz Special. I got into GNR because of Terminator 2. I was 12 when it came out and GNR is one of the two bands that got me into playing.
I have been teaching Sweet Child. And its really not as easy as people imagine. He has great timing and feel and he slung his bass low, which makes it even more impressive!
I learned to play Sweet Child when I was doing my bass lessons, and I can agree it is not as easy as it first seems! Each repetition is slightly different from the last, and the different sections to think about, but so good to play when you get it.
There's something bout the intro that is hard to articulate quite how duff plays it,everytime in a covers band I play it I'm never happy while it's super fun to play I just don't sell it the same
@@gdonaldson26 Yup, if I remember correctly, different bass fills 2nd and 3rd time through the verse & chorus sections.
@@hadenbaillie1833I thought it was just me! It's like I can play but I always feel like it's not quite right lol
I was lucky enough to be at their first London gig, in 1987, at the Marquee club!
Duff always deserves more love!
"Believe in me" was an awesome solo album that very few people seemed to hear.
Duff was the reason I started playing bass. Never really stuck with that genre of music but he inspired me to pick up an instrument as a teen. A conversation with someone while I looked into bass convinced me to begin on guitar as I wanted to write songs but found the path to bass not too long after.
Krist Novoselic needs his own video
Yes I wasn’t a huge fan but I loved his playing.
Perhaps a grunge/90’s rock bass feature like Krist, Ben Shepherd, Robert DeLeo etc…
We really should at some point!
Nah
Yeah
Was also a drummer in a punk band The FARTZ 1982-83.
I am a guitarist, but I did play bass in a Guns n Roses tribute, and it gave me a new respect for Duff! Duff is amazing!
you guys are always so happy; I can't help but grin along with you
cheers
Please tell me this is only part 1 of a Duff series, because you’ve left so much aside! Great vid guys
I love the pure joy you guys still get from your instrument you have probably been playing a few dozen yrs and it's as enjoyable as ever
I was 12 years old up late watching good rockin tonight when all of a sudden i seen this guy with hair covering his face wearing a tophat being interviewed. After that the video for welcome to the jungle came on. I was blown away and hooked on rock n roll ever since. I'm almost 50 now. I see the nostalgia in you guys and i appreciate that. I am going to hit that subscribe button right now. Also i play bass too 🤘🤘
The all time greatest Duff line has got to be Locomotive. The intro with Matt and the groove they create is amazing. It’s the most underrated GNR song.
YES!!!
Yes! Been waiting for this for ages. Being able to play along to gnr was a big moment in my bass life
Love the chemistry and passion you both bring to every video. It shines through and makes for some great videos even when you are talking about something I do not like or am not familiar with. So awesome guys!
🧡🧡🧡
I love how much fun you guys are having! It's contagious, in a good way.
Thanks as always guys. A great underrated bassist gets his rightful tribute. So many great bass,Ines he put out!
Thank you guys!!! I thought that I was the only one who loves Duff´s bass lines and sound, made my day!!!
I have been watching your videos for a few weeks now and you guys make me want to learn how to play the bass!! 🎸🎸🎸
Watching this reminds me and makes me so happy to be a part of the SBL bass community. Thanks so much guys for all the research ❤ and duff is a definite A.
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Thanks guys, great delivery as always ! I know what you're saying about G&R's sound being on the edge (ie: sounding dangerous) yet totally rock'n'roll cool. This video certainly gives me better appreciation of Duff's playing !
Watching for years and indeed, I never subscribed. Now I did! And what better time on a Duff McKagan honored video. Loving it!
Completely brings back childhood memories with these albums. Appetite was basically my 7th grade anthem, and then in high school the Illusion albums totally blew me away for those years never getting tired of them over and over.
11 grade for me.
Thanks for the video. Hate to admit that I forgot about the talented Duff McKagan. Such great bass rifts brought back to life. Thank you!!
Guys I just discovered your channel!! I love the history, the interviews and the tips. To be honest, I’m a guitar player who secretly wishes I was a bassist. I bought my first bass recently and I’m loving the the complexity of the tones and grooving on the back beat. You’ve got my sub and 👍
Awesome job guys. Iconic album, iconic bass tone, and some of the coolest basslines and licks ever written.
Love this kind of content-fun interaction and talking about basses and bassists-especially cool ones like Duff. Much appreciated guys.
👍👍👍
Glad you are talking about Duff! Loved your videos since the beginning!
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YES! THANK YOU! I never paid close attention to Duff when I was a guitarist - because Slash, obviously - but when I migrated to bass and started REALLY listening to what was going on, oh man, his lines are awesome. And that wonderful 'chime' tone he gets, or his muted tones.....maaaaan. Snobs hate me for this, but I LOVE Duff McKagan's playing.
Scott and Ian are the best!! As a bass player, the best thing I ever did was become a member of SBL. I learn so much about music, theory, equipment. Everything about bass. It is my obsession and I have found some place that others share that passion. They are always introducing me to new topics, old songs that have interesting bass features I may have never discovered (Sledgehammer), reinforcing my knowledge of bass and so much more. Thank you 4ever SBL!!!
Ahhh thanks so much for the warm words!! 🧡🧡🧡
Could they play in Anthrax if they came as a duo?
So glad to see some PJ representation/appreciation on this channel!
I have an 84 jazz bass special, love all the tones you can get from these basses!! You guys are the best, keep it up!!
Great vid and thx for putting up Duff! But what i enjoyed most was your enthusiasm talking about him ❤🤘🏼
🤘🏻🤘🏻🤘🏻
@@devinebass ❤️
Subbed YEARS ago. Lifelong member at SBL aswell. Never regretted it!
Duff is beyond brilliant.
Spinning this record with a good hifi setup and his basslines Scream and are SO WELL PLACED.
Thanks for this video.
I remember learning Duff’s bass lines back to back when I was starting to learn bass back in he day. The bass riffs and fills on appetite are great. There’s always cool little fills going on in there that you can take and apply pretty much anywhere. It’s simple but effective.
I just got a squire affinity pj as my first “real bass” freaking love it
Great video guys, love your enthusiasm, and Duff is a brilliant musician and great dude. 🎸🌍✌️
Thank you SBL! Duff's my childhood bassin' hero, and a big reason I'm a bass player to this day
Yes I remember 😊 ..I'm 50 years old I was born in April 1974 and I got into G.N.R. in 87 appetite for destruction is my favorite G.N.R album 😊
'73 here. Appetite is probably on my top 5 albums of all time. I'd also put back in black and master of puppets in there.
@@mikemurray3962 what about warrant cherry 🍒pie
@@shawnhuff3920 they probably got a bad rap with the image and video. Uncle Tom's cabin was pretty cool. The most legit 'hair bands' of the time were gnr, tesla, and maybe Cinderella. Just my opinion of course
@@mikemurray3962 ove course... I like warrant. And RAT. Cinderella and G.N.R and Metallica and mottley.crew up until Dr. Feel good 👍 and the gogo's. And bangles. And. Roxette. And poison. And white zombie . Pantera
Yes yes yes! Love this video, love G’nR and Duff. Gonna have fun with these tabs! Thank you SBL!
enjoy!!
Both Scott and Ian sat with PJs with smiles on their faces... has hell frozen over??
Played bass 25 years ago in a band in front of like 50,000 people….haven’t really touched one for well over a decade. Sold my last one….so tempted to get another and get back into it after watching videos like this. Duff wrote killer bass lines!
Come on...a guy that plays to 50k people always keep one bass at hand. Go get your new P Bass! Now ! 😂
Do it!!
@@devinebass I will! Thanks 👍
@@HF1600ie I’m probably more of J bass guy 😜
Go do it. Live it again. Make UA-cam channel and share your journey. Inspire others.
Love his bass sounds from Appetite for Destruction and Use Your Illusions I & II. Those albums were my childhood. My mom had the best albums for me to get into and listen.
Duff's bass sound and his playing gives me chills. It's a very iconic sound
Duff is such a huge inspiration for me man i love this video, just recently got myself a 1995 jazz bass special as well
That green PJ bass looks incredible... I want one...
What I would have given for this video back in the day! 💥
Thank you so much for this.
It probably bears a Part 2?
He's been a part of many other bands as you alluded to.
Thank you for righting the wrong that bass player magazine did.
Okay, this video did it to me, I became a subscriber - having watched dozens of your videos already. Appetite for Destruction was released the year I turned six. I got the album as a birthday gift when I turned 7 if I remember correct - and no, that didn't happen by chance: I remember having made it very clear to my parents that I needed to have an album by this new interesting band I had seen on TV. It was the vinyl version with the original, soon-to-be-censored cover of course. It didn't take long to realize that I was determined to become a musician after giving some spins on that vinyl. Today I play the guitar for a living (both gigs and session work) as well as run my own studio. At times I also teach guitar, do some transcription work and try also to be a husband and a father.
In a way I could say now as someone soon to be 43 that Guns n' Roses for a major part made me who I am today. I've always admired Duff's melodic basslines and his sense of style and sound - and over the years I've learned to appreciate his role on those albums more and more. Guns n' Roses would definitely not sound the same without Duff's invaluable contribution. Since I do quite a bit of studio work and at times get to play some bass as well, I have acquired a couple of "workhorse" basses that can take me through pretty much all of my low end needs: a Japanese ESP Vintage Four (a very stable, reliable and lightweight PJ bass that I use 99% of the time as a P bass) and an original Höfner 500/1 Violin bass from 1967, because ... you guessed it, Paul McCartney.
Thank you Scott for this excellent channel and have yourself a good one - all the best from Finland!
I learned most of my bass fundamentals from Appetite. Learning by ear all of Duff's parts was what helped me most back when I started. I love that you guys gave him proper kudos.
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Totally cool!! Thank you guys!!
So glad you covered Duff - the guy whose tone and bad ass fills got me into bass to begin with. Awesome vid on an awesome, underrated player.
Duff was the guy who first got me interested in playing bass. It was his 'solo' on the "Live in Tokyo 1992" VHS that I got hooked.
Listened Duff live last year during their Guns N' Roses - Europe 2023 tour, and man, we is still rocking. The riffs, the melodies, the attitude. He's a great bassist, musician and showman.
Wow, this is awesome! And yes, Appetite and both Use Your Illusion albums are album you definitely should own.
This was so much fun to watch :)
Ian giving up that 85 is nuts. That’s been on the screen since he started at SBL, sad day for us great day for 1 lucky winner.
Amazing Amazing Amazing review. GnR was such a part of my upbringing. Great 👍 job!
I had a Yamaha BB that had a PJ setup and I also ran a GK 800RB. I loved the tone of that bass. I never really explored the sound of Duff, this was great. Makes me want to listen to Appetite for Destruction from start to finish.
Thank you. It's about time someone paid tribute to those genius basslines that made Appetite the album great. Absolutely funky, simple yet so crisp and rocking. It takes one to know one 👏👏👏👏👏
Always loved Duff’s tone and bass lines
Duff definitely was an inspiration to me growing up great choice guys. You amaze me daily with being your same age feel like we experienced the same life....CRAZY...
This was wonderful, through and through.
You guys nailed it. Great video. Thank you.
Cheers!
Double Talkin Jive is another jewel from Duff. Such a great video and so deserved by an amazing artist!
So good, thanks for another great video SBL! When I was a young kid, II bought Appetite For Destruction and also felt like I shouldn't be listening. I remember listening to the whole album in one sitting on my walkman headphones and loving it. I was always drawn to Duff and his vibe, where all my buddies liked Slash, and the girls like Axl,. I had a poster of the band and I thought Duff was the coolest. Now decades later as I'm learning the bass, my 12 year old self is validated. Duff was such a monstrous driving force in the band. I still look up to him.
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I love that you you give props to bassists from all genres. Duff is soooooo underrated. I never saw GnR, but I learned how good he is when I saw Velvet Revolver. People would never put words like "sneaky" (yours) or "subtle (mine) on a player like Duff, but it's there, isn't it?
Hey I've still got my Ibanez CS09. Great vid. Always loved Duff's groove within the two guitar blast.
Yessss, finally some recognition for Duff!
In my mind Duff's sound is the paradigm of what rock bass with a pick should sound like. Thanks for the video!
Cheers, glad you've enjoyed it!
I always loved the intro to it's so easy
Still trying to get the hang of the pick. Good stuff as always.
Did a Dark Side of the Moon cover gig and afterwards Duff came up to me to say we rocked it! Awesome and humble guy!
Love the videos you do that focus on artists. PLEASE do one on Phil Lesh!
Duff McKagen and Mike Roche (T.S.O.L) were two of my earliest influences on bass. The tone, the riffs, everything sounded so mean and full of attitude.
Thank you for this video 🙏🏻🤍
Thx for this episode!!!
Im the luckiest dude on the block. I get to play all the epic lines most weekends, for all the fans of GNR❤️❤️
Nice video...I had looked up and saved a bunch of older GNR isolated bass tracks when I was first learning. Back in the day, I was really taken by this album. My brother had purchased it, but I was hearing it all the time, so I copied it (poor teen kids) and listened to it constantly. It took time, and learning bass myself in recent years, to realize that bass lines make much of the music for me. I'd been doing this for a lot of the music of my youth, paying more attention to the bassists and their base lines, and realizing that had often made the music for me.
Love the video!!! I remember slash said he used to play sweet child of mine as a joke!
Huge Duff fan here speaking! Amazing stuff, guys! Rock on! ⚡️
Thanks for this. “Appetite” really opened my ears to great bass and drum fills. For a good 6-7 months, I’d get home from school, played along to “Appetite” almost EVERYDAY. Great memories. Finally bought a ‘87 Jazz Bass Special a few years ago. Killer bass.
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you guys are amazing in every video . All cool
AMAZING!!!!!! Duff's Rock bass genius is sooooooooooooooooooooo underrated !!! Thx for educating the masses \m/ \m/
i am so glad to watch this video! rocket queen is of my favortie song, the live version is the best one! duff is such a great bass player, his work with velvet revolver was awesome too
🤘🏻🤘🏻🤘🏻
Can't get enough of that wonderful Duff!!!
That 1985 fender jazz is sweet!!! Im sure that In a old interview Duff talked about his original fender having a had a misshaped neck. Style wise Duff brought the Punk attitude bang into the rock with his playing, It's so much more thought out than you first realise and his ghost noting is essential to that duff sound 'Mr Brownstone" is a very good example of that. Additionally he used to play drums and this has led his bass fills to be like that of drum fills, Sweet child is a good example of this. Overall it's the attitude that duff brings to GnR and he deserves way much more credit than he got!