Who should I feature in the next player profile? 🎸 Timestamps for this lesson: 0:00 - “Do You All Know Cliff Burton?” 0:40 - #1: Shredder 1:47 - Cliff’s Guitar Tricks 4:33 - #2: Next Level Metal 7:25 - #3: Baroque Fiend 10:48 - #4: Creative 12:27 - #5: Evolving Tone (+tone comparisons) 15:00 - #6: Speed Demon 16:38 - #7: Massive Legacy
I bet you somewhere Bach is writing the 7th Cello Suite fully expecting Cliff to adapt it on bass guitar. As of this year, it's been 300 year since the original Six Suites were written. Perfect time for a sequel.
@@concernedliberal4453 I can only imagine the majesty of a piece conducted by both Bach and Cliff working together; that would be something to behold!!
I still cry when im reminded of cliff period... Itll always hurt... Like chuck schuldiner, another great who died before he could taste the fruits of his labor
When Cliff died, my teenager Dad heard about it from a Radio. He just simply walked into his room, locked the door and rest of the day you could hear only Orion playing on repeat. When I came to the picture my dad's first priority was for me to understand what an genius Cliff was and by the age of 3 I was able to use our LP player so, that the needle went straight to Orion or Call of Ktulu. That year I got my first Metallica T-shirt and after 24 years since it was bought, I still have it. In the last decade the thing we've spoken most is Cliff (we rarely call each other). We accidentally bought "To live is to Die"-book for each other the christmas the year it came out too. Next year when he turns 50, my present for him will be simply to play Orion.
Cliff's bass playing was just the icing on the cake. His main strength was his compositional skills. Took thrash metal from a niche to a juggernaut. Totally irreplaceable after all these years.
Exactly. I think James' riffs were powerful, but Mustaine was equally as talented, if not more. The difference that took Metallica to the next level above Megadeth, slayer and anthrax was Cliff's musicality (and to some extent, Lars' ability to structure a song).
I don't know, he has very few writing credits. He may have influenced Hetfield's knowledge on music theory, but he wrote very little relatively for the band.
@@ReekeMoyel I suspect the band simply failed to give him the proper writing credits. For example, James or Lars might have wrote the tune or the lyrics to a song, but Cliff beefed up the chord progression and rhythms with something much more interesting. Something huge has definitely been missing from the band's material since Cliff's death (even the good material) and it's not just good bass playing.
@@concernedliberal4453 I love Cliff but I think you're overthinking his influence way too much. Metallica's chord progression aren't that much special than what was done in that era. It's just basic Em chord progressions dude. They are amazing, but they're very basic musically. There isn't any evidence that can back your claims that Cliff beefed up the progressions, sorry buddy.
@@ReekeMoyel I beg to differ, listen to Kea then listen to rtl and mop and it's clear that cliff was the musical backbone of the band plus he had 4 credits on rtl and no other band members have that many so if he never joined the group they wouldn't be anywhere near what they are
@@rockapartiedude has written countless famous and influential riffs, along with lots of great solos earlier on. Will say his later solos have been pretty mediocre
Hear hear! I first heard Metallica and "Orion" back in '94 when i was only 7 years old. From a cassette through a shitty "sound system" in my moms car. She told me what the sound was since i obviously thought it was a guitar and she also told me who the player was. Got my first bass when i was 10 and after that it was all about Metallica and Cliff.
Cliff died when I was 11. I had been playing bass about 3 years at that point. I was obsessed with trying to learn his basslines. It took me a good 6 months to fully realize I was never going to hear him make new music again. I was as gutted as I've ever been about anyone passing away. Fantastic player. Hugely inspirational.
To this very day I choke up when I think of such a brilliant young man having his life cut short by tragedy that wasn't of his doing. I am no musician at all, just a fan. I was 2 days short of my 15th birthday when Cliff passed and 36 years later it still affects me emotionally to just wonder how much more he would've accomplished if nothing had happened on that tragic night. I own a bootleg concert recording of his last concert. It cost me $65 in 1992 to buy the CD's, but, I have them. Long Live Cliff! Heaven is a much better place with him there!
I too am a huge Cliff fan and love finding new videos of Cliff. speaking of new Cliff videos, this just came out yesterday and I found it pretty interesting. they literally talk about everything from band mates, studio vs touring and even his parents. ua-cam.com/video/xZWAAAzJ1t8/v-deo.html
Yeah that would be a much different band. The first four Metallica albums are the way they are largely because of Cliff (Justice had a lot of stuff he had already written but hadn't recorded yet). There is a stark difference in composition starting with the black album. This is often blamed on Bob Rock's influence as a producer, which is partly true, but I think more importantly it's a product of Cliff's absence.
Yes. He was peaking but still had room to evolve and he would’ve had major evolutions especially as he matured in his career! Shame 24 years is all we got. ❤️❤️❤️
Cliff's loss is still felt today. Those of us who were among those original Metallica fans witnessed the change in the band musically and attitude-wise when they lost Cliff. He was, in my humble opinion, the greatest bass player ever. Such a brilliant technician.
@@scftfur3884 well, it depends on the time you dedicate it. Josh have 3 possible schedules: 1 month, 3 months and 6 month. Try to pick the best for you and stick to it
@@scftfur3884 There are a few options he gives you upon buying it - i did the 6month course - but i broke my hand a month and a half ago - i prematurely took the cast off, so that i can slowly start up...im on target still though. Worth every cent - plus he has his own forum to chat with others in the same course - good bunch of non-judgemental people. :)
Cliff was the MAN!!!! Metallica put out 3 classic albums w/ him. They’ve been able to put out some good albums since then but nothing that can still touch the Cliff era.
That beginner to badass course is really good. Like, really, incredibly good. I've taken a lot of online courses in many subjects and I think this bass course is the best designed and best taught course I've ever seen. This guy knows how to teach. If you're a beginner at bass just buy his course, you won't regret it.
@@onutube6392 You aren't a moron, questions are a good thing. Cliff notes are the name for study notes. There was a US company called Cliff that published school study books and the name has now been used to describe all study notes. Like Hoover for Vacuum cleaners. Or Kleenex. Great question!
Cliff is my hero! Without him, I probably wouldn't be here and he influences me greatly! He truly was a genius and it really was a great tragedy when he died. Thank you for making this video and being a great bass teacher. Thanks to Cliff for being and awesome bassist and an inspiration.
Cliff is simply Bass God, he inspired almos all bassist after him, including me and was one of the most, if not the most creative bassist, R. I. P. Cliff
Very true, Cliff was very influenced by Phil Lynott. He and the rest of Metallica said so on many occasions. Apparently Orion was very Thin Lizzy influenced!
Nearly 35 years later, now I am 52, and it bums me out almost more than ever that we lost Cliff so early. Great video to highlight just a few of the things that made this guy a top bass legend even though he only made it to age 24.
It still tears me up to see photos of that bus. Cliff and his music got me through some difficult times and is the soundtrack to some of the best times. Love and respect, RIP Cliff
@@SirZanZa ah but you see, John Entwistle didn't die before 30, and he was active for more than 7 years, unlike Cliff and Hendrix. Although John was definitely an incredible bass player, and more influencial than Cliff in almost every way, and his death was also a very tragic one, I don't think the comparison between them works because he had a long career to work with, which Cliff and Hendrix didn't, but Cliff and Hendrix still managed to influence the music scene and a lot of musicians worldwide in spite of their shortlived careers. Cliff is still *the* definitive Metal bassist tho, even if he isn't really the "Hendrix of bass," to me at least, and to a lot of others aswell.
Cliff's style and humbleness was the reason not to mention the inspiration which drove me to purchase my first Fender p bass and Dean Markley amp over 30 years, 4 bands and 5 studio recordings later there's not a moment when I don't think about Cliff and silently thank him for his contribution and inspiration to my playing not to mention we share many of the same influences. Thank you so much for sharing his story and the many others you also share.
I loved this video not only because I'm a huge Metallica fan but the way you presented it and broke it down. Your knowledge is clearly evident and they way you explain things is very clear and concise. Excellent work. I'd love to see more vids on Lemmy, Geezer and Les Claypool.
Born in 88, I never got to experience Cliff as he was in the moment. But being a massive Metallica fan, I tear up every time I think about him. Gone but not forgotten.
I remember first time I heard the orion bass solo and I thought to myself man Kirk really killed that. Then I found out that it was actually Cliff playing it fingerstyle and I was to say the least blown away
Cliff was one of the first guys that made me realize the kind of stuff you can do on bass and he's still one of my biggest heroes and biggest influences
In an interview, Cliff stated that Steve Harris was NOT an influence on his playing. While he admitted he was a fan of Steve Harris, he had not heard his playing until after he (Cliff) had already developed his playing style. Geddy Lee, Cliff said, was more of an influence and inspiration to him.
Little tip on bending strings: Black Beauties have a coating that is lower friction on the frets than uncoated strings, and that means easier to bend. Other coated strings may also, but I'm only familiar with these. Of course, a lower tension set of strings helps. Cliff was one of the reasons I stayed with playing bass. He made metal bass cool and interesting for me. And Josh, thanks for all the humor in your videos. In these dark times of isolation, it's good to get some silly laughter in wherever we can. Keep up the good work!
@@mariuskozokar4341 Steve Harris uses Roto's. He has a signature set now. I've played Rotosound Swing and flatwound strings. They are pretty nice. I've found that I really like DR's. 3 of my basses have them. (Fretless) Black Beauties, (5string E-C) Highbeams, and (4string) Bootzilla's. They feel great, play great.
Cliff is the person who made me wanna pick up bass. Thank you for this video. Not a lot of people outside of real metalheads give the attention Cliff deserves.
I have been playing Bass for almost 25 years, it's so awesome to see him get his due as a legend after all these years. I can watch videos over and over and over and it never ever gets to be to much, he was and will always be # 1 in my books.
Cliff is such an inspiration for any bassist, I started playing bass because I love it but Cliff taught me that bass is such a powerhouse for solos so I do play solos the Cliff way ;) Also studied his unique way of plucking but took esentially his one-finger and two-finger plucking to match guitar picking. Love your videos and really enjoyed this one :D
Everytime I hear Cliffs solo in Orion it brings tears to my eyes over 30 yrs later. When Cliff died I was so shook up I couldn't go to school for 2 days. My mom couldn't understand why I was crying my eyes out over some bass player I didn't even know. She just couldn't understand.
I play bass and Cliff Burton is one of my favorite bass players. Aside from his time as the bassist of the San Francisco heavy metal band known as Trauma🤘🏾🔥, his time as the bassist of Metallica🤘🏾🔥 was awesome. Cliff got the rest of Metallica into bands formed and fronted by Glenn Danzig by wearing t-shirts. The Misfits, Samhain and Danzig are awesome. Glenn Danzig is the man🤘🏾🔥. Anyways, Cliff was cool. The Trauma 1982 demos are pretty dope. Such a Shame is an amazing song from Trauma. Kill Em All, Ride the Lightning and Master of Puppets are great Metallica albums. I think Cliff’s way of songwriting influenced the direction that Metallica was heading to when they wrote, recorded and released And Justice For All. Music genres such as Classical music, blues, jazz, funk, blues rock, soft rock, psychedelic rock, hard rock, heavy metal, punk rock, hardcore punk, speed metal, thrash metal, crossover thrash, death metal, funk metal and blues metal are awesome genres. Cliff may be gone, but never will he be forgotten. Cliff Burton was an awesome and amazing bass player. Metallica’s awesome. Other than that, cool:).
This is not only a very informative, and awesome presentation of the style and legacy of one of metal's best and most influential bass players ever but also a great tribute video that we as fans and bass players do appreciate. Thank you very much!
Thanks for keeping Cliff Alive. I think that if he would lived he would have become a bass virtuoso. He is the reason I picked up bass way back in 1984
This is an amazing, beautiful tribute to Cliff. I started playing bass after getting Cliff “em All for Christmas when I was 14 or 15. No single musician has ever influenced my life as much as Cliff did. It’s so profound how much he carved a path for metal bass players in only 3 albums in 3 years. He was/is the standard for metal bass playing, no disrespect to Steve or Lemmy, but my god, Cliff was a gift to music and metal. He’s the ultimate of the genre and will never be matched. I love your tribute to him here, it’s beautiful and you have paid great tribute to him. Thank you so much!!!!
Your channel, your teaching, commentary and playing is one of the best I’ve ever seen. You are tremendously talented in all aspects of having an educational channel dedicated to bass playing.
You really did a great job on making this video. Yea he really was a very unique, and unusual musician. I haven’t liked a whole lot of music that they made after he died. We won’t see another phenomenon like him again. It took me years to understand that he was the INTENSE influence on their music at that time. I was truly blessed to be a part of it. Thank You.
My favorite bassists are Peter Hook, Justin Chancellor, Kim Deal, and Cliff Burton of course : ) you should make these vids for more bassists regularly that'd be sweet!
@dread true OP didn't say that was a list of the best bassists ever. That was just a list of his favorites. So you don't know if Paul is one of his favorites
bought a new bass recently. loved cliff since age 16. I'm 48 now and decided to jam along with Kill em All using my fingers ... new obsession! Thank you Cliff! much love!
Funny this video came out... I just finished learning all of Cliff's songs while also finishing his biography by Joel Mciver. These weeks have been quite a musical and emotional ride for me. Amazing what Cliff accomplished by 24, his early death is definitely one of music's biggest tragedies.
One of the Cool things I like about your channel is the information doesn't necessarily require I be holding my Bass at the time to benefit. I had packed it up for the night and watched this great episode about a Great Bassist and learned volumes. Long Live Cliff
I met Cliff at the Kabuki theater in San Fran when Mercyful Fate was playing in 84, five of us young bangers massively ready to thrash. Ride The Lightning had just came out and we were all on fire for the new music. Outside the theater doors where Fate was getting ready to go live, a high, long wide hallway. People were moving around, food, concessions. He was there. Hangin out up against the wall, no one around him. Alone just soakin in the vibe. He knew who he was. We knew who he was, we ran up excited. 'You are Cliff Burton!!' He totally denied it! You are 'Cliff'. He asked some girls walking by, 'Am I Cliff Burton?'. The girls ignored us all. We grabbed his hand and shook it, then ran off to watch Fate. We all loved his bass playing. He was the new underground Steve Harris. I got to meet him. Thx for keepin Bass alive!!
I continued to play bass because of Cliff, but I started because of Geezer Butler, going to sleep listening to black sabbath as a kid. Please do one on him! I want to see your take on how he plays very simple blues scales but then in the breakdowns plays offset to the guitar to make it sound so complex
I listened MOP for more than 25 years repeatedly, I know every note and every word by heart, had no idea this little solo was bass. Cliff was a genius no doubt about it.
He was my hero....scratch that, he still is! My parents bought me a Rickenbacker 4003 for my 13th birthday in '88 and it's my most favorite thing in the whole wide world! RIP Cliff....
surprised you didn't talk about how he strums chords. Most bass players who do play chords, like les claypool, justin chancellor, and lemmy only play power chords. Cliff did a lot of that but in Orion he played spread voicing chords with the root on the e string and the 3rd on the g string. They are like sonic punches in the face but he never played them too low so it was never distractingly muddy.
Cliff was the musicians musician. 32 years ago when I started on bass, Cliff was one of the biggest reasons why I picked up the 4 string motherf***er! Unique to Cliff is that he used light gauged stings (typical bass are mediums at 105, 85, 65, 45) which made his bends so extreme. He also modified his Rickenbacher 1004 by adding a lead guitar humbucker in the bridge and he did something to the neck pickup (which I can't remember). I'm not sure what is setup was on the custom Aria he played, but it had to be epic. It was not what Cliff played but how he played. There's a saying in the motorcycle would about a particular rider (I forget the mans name) "while alive, he lived." For Cliff the quote would be "when he played, he lived." Cliff is a bassists Mozart and Beethoven. Long live Cliff!!!
Cliff is the only reason why I started learning bass. That man was something else. Such a genius fucking man, he had a musical sense which was way ahead of his time. May your legacy live on Cliff🤘🤘
I'm a guitarist, but listening to a tune with Cliff or watching Cliff himself always makes my urge to buy a bass and go crazy on it go off the roof. And I feel like I'll be giving in in a very short time. EDIT over 2 years later: been playing bass for a year now :)
I'd love to see a video on Geddy Lee! A lot of people know him and are inspired by him but I feel like he gets left out a lot on these player breakdown videos. Awesome video! Been following you since your YYZ cover all those years ago.
Bloody brilliant, thank you for this one ,Cliff was a mastermind of metal bass players and a great inspiration, I could only dream of playing at the level he was at. Slainte
I really enjoyed this vid and tribute Josh. My 8th grade graduation gift was a little Kay brand bass guitar in ‘88 and it was full on Cliff-speed ahead. While my styles and tastes on my four-string have broadened considerable since then (I was all metal Metal METAL!!), Cliff is still my go-to when I’m feeling uninspired or just bored and want to break the monotony. Thanks for sharing his talents and legacy. He’ll always be my biggest influence.
Exceptional video bassbuzz. As a young bassist in 1990, Cliff was the first player i was enamored with. For whom the bell tolls was the first track i tried learning how to play :) Thank you for this video, when i was young i didnt know what hooked me to his playing, but as i grew in experience, it was all this stuff. The solos, the melodic playing, the interesting non-standard lines and the speed. Good stuff
Nací muy tarde para vivir en su época, apenas tengo 16 años, pero soy muy fan de Cliff. Es increíble lo que ese hombre logró hacer a su edad, una leyenda indiscutible. Me hubiese encantado conocerlo, ¡lo extraño como si hubiésemos sido familiares! Rock in paradise, rest in peace.
Cliff is the reason I started playing bass guitar. That was 1985 at age 13! I did Anesthesia at the senior talent show haha I still play actively and of all my influences (Lee, Sheehan, Vega, Pinnick, Willis, etc.) Cliff still stands in class of his own. Fantastic job of breaking it down and explaining the elements involved. Seriously I'm anal retentive when it comes to accuracy and playing things correctly & you've got a fantasic ear. Love seeing other bass players as inspired today as I was 30 years ago, respect! 🇺🇲
Great video! Cliff is the reason I started playing, and still love guitar but understand the way he meshed the two, he will always be revered as the world's best bassist.
Best bass player ever. I back this up by providing these facts: Wrote a lot of Anesthesia in his teens....true story Because of his musical education, he changed metal Everything he is famous for he accomplished by the age of 24 Had he lived, his place at the top would be undisputed.
Great lesson, Josh! Really nice tribute as well, and I'm looking forward to the next bass player you highlight. I agree with Bassbrain: Beginner to Badass is an excellent online course that provides a solid foundation and springboard for accelerated learning. Whom should you feature next? My vote would be Geddy Lee, but there are tons of Geddy lessons out there already.
This is a wonderful tribute to a genuinely significant musician: Cliff Burton. The reading from his biography at the end was really nice, too. Great work! My vote for your next study would have to be Rollins Band era Melvin Gibbs. A jazz session player, his work on the albums "Weight" and "Come in and Burn" are genuine fusions of melody and mayhem. In terms of a musician whose playing was often a song within a song, he reminds me a lot of Cliff.
a thought on bass as a lead instrument; bass, especially with distortion has such a thick rich harmonic filled tone. It is actually very much like an analog synthesizer before the filters. So perhaps a gold strategy is to go heavy with gains AND sub octave too. But then filtering it , this would allow shaping a tone in which you can play lower register without getting too rumbly and dark.
Wonderful & spot on analysis of a genius who brought the biggest band on Earth to their artistic peak before finishing his terrestrial mission and move on, as their popularity was skyrocketed and their artistic drive was changed forever making them a totally different band.
Great video about Cliff and his phenomenal musicianship. A tragic incident took a great person/ artist from us way too soon. I think more videos like this should be made to show how great he made Metallica and how much of an influence he was to so many other bass players. 🤘🎸
Who should I feature in the next player profile? 🎸
Timestamps for this lesson:
0:00 - “Do You All Know Cliff Burton?”
0:40 - #1: Shredder
1:47 - Cliff’s Guitar Tricks
4:33 - #2: Next Level Metal
7:25 - #3: Baroque Fiend
10:48 - #4: Creative
12:27 - #5: Evolving Tone (+tone comparisons)
15:00 - #6: Speed Demon
16:38 - #7: Massive Legacy
Davie504
John Paul Jones next
John myung next
@bobo i was joking, but it's good to know that you have an opinion
@bobo smh
Bach: “Cliff’s going to love this.”
I bet you somewhere Bach is writing the 7th Cello Suite fully expecting Cliff to adapt it on bass guitar. As of this year, it's been 300 year since the original Six Suites were written. Perfect time for a sequel.
@dread true he's just decomposing now.
I guess you guys aren't ready for that yet, but Cliff is gonna love it.
@Foofy Foofer
What are you even on about, lmao.
@@concernedliberal4453 I can only imagine the majesty of a piece conducted by both Bach and Cliff working together; that would be something to behold!!
"Cliff never got to play orion live"
I'm crying 😥
That was a dark realization. Master of Puppets was a huge album of my childhood
I still cry when im reminded of cliff period... Itll always hurt... Like chuck schuldiner, another great who died before he could taste the fruits of his labor
Yep, such a sad thing, how good would he be today 🥺
@@deanworsley5208 probably the number one or two best bassist ever right now he’s like number 5
Didn't he play it live or is there just no record? When he died they were on tour, hadn't they played a gig, maybe with the song Orion, already?
When Cliff died, my teenager Dad heard about it from a Radio. He just simply walked into his room, locked the door and rest of the day you could hear only Orion playing on repeat.
When I came to the picture my dad's first priority was for me to understand what an genius Cliff was and by the age of 3 I was able to use our LP player so, that the needle went straight to Orion or Call of Ktulu. That year I got my first Metallica T-shirt and after 24 years since it was bought, I still have it.
In the last decade the thing we've spoken most is Cliff (we rarely call each other). We accidentally bought "To live is to Die"-book for each other the christmas the year it came out too.
Next year when he turns 50, my present for him will be simply to play Orion.
That made me tear up, beautifully spoken and well said
@@dragonslayer_yt8312 DAMN ME TOO...
Call him. Peace ✌
That’s so sweet, btw nice pfp
Why it take so long for young man to play old riff. Auwf uhk
Cliff's bass playing was just the icing on the cake. His main strength was his compositional skills. Took thrash metal from a niche to a juggernaut. Totally irreplaceable after all these years.
Exactly. I think James' riffs were powerful, but Mustaine was equally as talented, if not more. The difference that took Metallica to the next level above Megadeth, slayer and anthrax was Cliff's musicality (and to some extent, Lars' ability to structure a song).
I don't know, he has very few writing credits. He may have influenced Hetfield's knowledge on music theory, but he wrote very little relatively for the band.
@@ReekeMoyel I suspect the band simply failed to give him the proper writing credits. For example, James or Lars might have wrote the tune or the lyrics to a song, but Cliff beefed up the chord progression and rhythms with something much more interesting. Something huge has definitely been missing from the band's material since Cliff's death (even the good material) and it's not just good bass playing.
@@concernedliberal4453 I love Cliff but I think you're overthinking his influence way too much. Metallica's chord progression aren't that much special than what was done in that era. It's just basic Em chord progressions dude. They are amazing, but they're very basic musically. There isn't any evidence that can back your claims that Cliff beefed up the progressions, sorry buddy.
@@ReekeMoyel I beg to differ, listen to Kea then listen to rtl and mop and it's clear that cliff was the musical backbone of the band plus he had 4 credits on rtl and no other band members have that many so if he never joined the group they wouldn't be anywhere near what they are
Can you imagine how music would sound right now if Cliff and Randy Rhoads were still with us? Both pioneers, both still inspiring.
Imagine Rhoads in metallica instead of Hammett!
He pretty much is the Rhoads of metal bass when you think of it. Very classical influenced but also great at improving and super unique
@@rockapartiedude has written countless famous and influential riffs, along with lots of great solos earlier on. Will say his later solos have been pretty mediocre
dimebag aswell
Cliff was the reason I play bass. May he live always in music
Same here
same buddy ! Orion helped me improve my bass play a lot !
Hear hear! I first heard Metallica and "Orion" back in '94 when i was only 7 years old. From a cassette through a shitty "sound system" in my moms car. She told me what the sound was since i obviously thought it was a guitar and she also told me who the player was. Got my first bass when i was 10 and after that it was all about Metallica and Cliff.
Geddy Lee, Cliff Burton, Les Claypool and Flea were my Jedi Masters.
Same here!
That solo from "Orion" gives me chills every single time. What an amazing piece of music!
I can play it
@@aodhanodonnell2148 you have talent
@@urmomhahaha7813 I don't know if that's sarcasm but thanks for the vote of confidence✌
@@aodhanodonnell2148 it's not sarcasm I don't even know how to play but I love rock
Agreed.
Cliff died when I was 11. I had been playing bass about 3 years at that point. I was obsessed with trying to learn his basslines. It took me a good 6 months to fully realize I was never going to hear him make new music again. I was as gutted as I've ever been about anyone passing away.
Fantastic player. Hugely inspirational.
Cliff Burton is literally the reason I picked up a bass. I'll never forget the first time I heard Pulling Teeth, my jaw literally DROPPED.
Literally? Really?
Y’all are ruining that word.
To this very day I choke up when I think of such a brilliant young man having his life cut short by tragedy that wasn't of his doing. I am no musician at all, just a fan. I was 2 days short of my 15th birthday when Cliff passed and 36 years later it still affects me emotionally to just wonder how much more he would've accomplished if nothing had happened on that tragic night. I own a bootleg concert recording of his last concert. It cost me $65 in 1992 to buy the CD's, but, I have them. Long Live Cliff! Heaven is a much better place with him there!
Bach: "I guess you guys aren't ready for that, yet. But your kids are gonna love it."
Best comment ever 🤘🏻 Rock the BTF Marty forever! The reason I started lovin Rock & Roll.
Back to the Future
Literally
Michael J Fox?
Johan! Johan, es ist Frederik. Dein Cousin Frederik Bach. Du kennst den neuen Sound, den du suchst? Nun, hör dir das an!
Im a simple man. I see a Cliff video, I click a Cliff video.
More like cliff the video
I too am a huge Cliff fan and love finding new videos of Cliff.
speaking of new Cliff videos, this just came out yesterday and I found it pretty interesting.
they literally talk about everything from band mates, studio vs touring and even his parents.
ua-cam.com/video/xZWAAAzJ1t8/v-deo.html
Amen to that
Cringe
Same lol and im a Megadeth fan. I love metallica from kill em all to the black album. Orion is everything that was Metallica.
So sad that we never got to see Cliff's further evolution. Would also be interesting to see where Metallica would be now if he was still alive
I know right he was already an absolute legend in his twenties so who knows how badass he would’ve been in his 50s
Forget it. He might of got Lars off the throne too.
Yep, if the guy with the full knowledge of harmonies would've lived, who knows how Metallica's further records would've sounded like..
Yeah that would be a much different band. The first four Metallica albums are the way they are largely because of Cliff (Justice had a lot of stuff he had already written but hadn't recorded yet). There is a stark difference in composition starting with the black album. This is often blamed on Bob Rock's influence as a producer, which is partly true, but I think more importantly it's a product of Cliff's absence.
Yes. He was peaking but still had room to evolve and he would’ve had major evolutions especially as he matured in his career! Shame 24 years is all we got.
❤️❤️❤️
Cliff was one of if not the best musician in music and life in general. RIP Cliff. We will remember you.
no
Cliff's loss is still felt today. Those of us who were among those original Metallica fans witnessed the change in the band musically and attitude-wise when they lost Cliff. He was, in my humble opinion, the greatest bass player ever. Such a brilliant technician.
En
@@michaelgorman6443 I agree.
Ever scared of thunder?
Don't worry, that's just Mr Burton and Mr Kilmister jamming together.
Rest in peace, Legends
That's pretty cool.
Lemmy: Rhythm Bass
Cliff: Lead Bass
Lemmy sucked ass and is massively overrated
@@clark.949
I am actually in the process of trying to make a musical project with both lead and rhythm bass.
And they have Layne staley singing along
THE best bass instructor - if anyone is considering lessons, Josh's Beginner to badass is da best one ive ever done. Great vid too. Cheers
I'm half way of the course and i cannot agree more
+1. Definitely
I’m almost sure I’ll buy it too! just one question, how long did it take you to finish it?
@@scftfur3884 well, it depends on the time you dedicate it. Josh have 3 possible schedules: 1 month, 3 months and 6 month. Try to pick the best for you and stick to it
@@scftfur3884 There are a few options he gives you upon buying it - i did the 6month course - but i broke my hand a month and a half ago - i prematurely took the cast off, so that i can slowly start up...im on target still though. Worth every cent - plus he has his own forum to chat with others in the same course - good bunch of non-judgemental people. :)
My favourite bass teacher talking about my favourite bassist! \m/
One of my favourite bass teacher talking about my bass teacher bassist
Censoring profanity with young Hetfield’s ‘WOW!’ genuinely cracked me up 😂
@Meme_lord101 YT Sure, 0:25 🙂
Cliff was the MAN!!!! Metallica put out 3 classic albums w/ him. They’ve been able to put out some good albums since then but nothing that can still touch the Cliff era.
Trueeeeeeee
That beginner to badass course is really good. Like, really, incredibly good. I've taken a lot of online courses in many subjects and I think this bass course is the best designed and best taught course I've ever seen.
This guy knows how to teach. If you're a beginner at bass just buy his course, you won't regret it.
Thanks. I will give it a go. I've got plenty of times.
If I could only afford it...
@@russjohnson1715yeah, it isn't cheap. However, compared to in-person bass lessons it's very affordable.
Cliff was a monster of a bass player. Not many can stand up to the sheer power of his tones and the elegance of his writing. Rest in peace, brother.
Would tabs for his riffs be called " Cliff Notes" ?
You're winning at life my friend.
Hey I'm a moron, what does this mean?
@@onutube6392 You aren't a moron, questions are a good thing. Cliff notes are the name for study notes. There was a US company called Cliff that published school study books and the name has now been used to describe all study notes. Like Hoover for Vacuum cleaners. Or Kleenex. Great question!
Now your just cheating with the puns.
35 years ago today your light went out....but we all still carry your flame CLB.
Hero's die, LEGENDS ARE IMMORTAL!!!!
Rest In Power brother 🤘🏾🎸💔
Cliff is my hero! Without him, I probably wouldn't be here and he influences me greatly! He truly was a genius and it really was a great tragedy when he died. Thank you for making this video and being a great bass teacher. Thanks to Cliff for being and awesome bassist and an inspiration.
Cliff is simply Bass God, he inspired almos all bassist after him, including me and was one of the most, if not the most creative bassist, R. I. P. Cliff
Cliff has also said he gets all his stuff from Phil Lynott of Thin Lizzy.
Phil Lynott played bass, but wasn't a bass player. There was no bass on "Whiskey in the Jar" until Jason played it.
Very true, Cliff was very influenced by Phil Lynott. He and the rest of Metallica said so on many occasions. Apparently Orion was very Thin Lizzy influenced!
I love it that you guys are remembering Cliff. He's always been my favorite bass player. And, I'm 43 years old. Metal rules
Nearly 35 years later, now I am 52, and it bums me out almost more than ever that we lost Cliff so early. Great video to highlight just a few of the things that made this guy a top bass legend even though he only made it to age 24.
It still tears me up to see photos of that bus. Cliff and his music got me through some difficult times and is the soundtrack to some of the best times. Love and respect, RIP Cliff
Cliff's mortality may have ended too soon, but his musical legacy makes him immortal!
Cliff Burton: the Jimi Hendrix of bass
Jimi Hendrix: the Cliff Burton of guitar?
that'd be John Entwhistle
@@SirZanZa ah but you see, John Entwistle didn't die before 30, and he was active for more than 7 years, unlike Cliff and Hendrix. Although John was definitely an incredible bass player, and more influencial than Cliff in almost every way, and his death was also a very tragic one, I don't think the comparison between them works because he had a long career to work with, which Cliff and Hendrix didn't, but Cliff and Hendrix still managed to influence the music scene and a lot of musicians worldwide in spite of their shortlived careers. Cliff is still *the* definitive Metal bassist tho, even if he isn't really the "Hendrix of bass," to me at least, and to a lot of others aswell.
@@Da_Swifta i understand what you are saying, but influence isn't a factor on how good someone is^
Manga Mash'up Well influence is what makes Hendrix... Hendrix.
Cliff's style and humbleness was the reason not to mention the inspiration which drove me to purchase my first Fender p bass and Dean Markley amp over 30 years, 4 bands and 5 studio recordings later there's not a moment when I don't think about Cliff and silently thank him for his contribution and inspiration to my playing not to mention we share many of the same influences. Thank you so much for sharing his story and the many others you also share.
I loved this video not only because I'm a huge Metallica fan but the way you presented it and broke it down. Your knowledge is clearly evident and they way you explain things is very clear and concise. Excellent work. I'd love to see more vids on Lemmy, Geezer and Les Claypool.
Man his loss was such a tragedy, what an amazing bass player 😢
Born in 88, I never got to experience Cliff as he was in the moment. But being a massive Metallica fan, I tear up every time I think about him. Gone but not forgotten.
I remember first time I heard the orion bass solo and I thought to myself man Kirk really killed that.
Then I found out that it was actually Cliff playing it fingerstyle and I was to say the least blown away
Cliff was one of the first guys that made me realize the kind of stuff you can do on bass and he's still one of my biggest heroes and biggest influences
In an interview, Cliff stated that Steve Harris was NOT an influence on his playing. While he admitted he was a fan of Steve Harris, he had not heard his playing until after he (Cliff) had already developed his playing style. Geddy Lee, Cliff said, was more of an influence and inspiration to him.
Little tip on bending strings: Black Beauties have a coating that is lower friction on the frets than uncoated strings, and that means easier to bend. Other coated strings may also, but I'm only familiar with these. Of course, a lower tension set of strings helps.
Cliff was one of the reasons I stayed with playing bass. He made metal bass cool and interesting for me.
And Josh, thanks for all the humor in your videos. In these dark times of isolation, it's good to get some silly laughter in wherever we can. Keep up the good work!
Very true, I play DR Black Beauties on my fretless. They are incredible strings all around.
Apparently he used 30-90 Rotos.
@@mariuskozokar4341 Steve Harris uses Roto's. He has a signature set now. I've played Rotosound Swing and flatwound strings. They are pretty nice. I've found that I really like DR's. 3 of my basses have them. (Fretless) Black Beauties, (5string E-C) Highbeams, and (4string) Bootzilla's. They feel great, play great.
@@mariuskozokar4341 That is a super light set!
@@rodshop5897 try doing his bends on "normal" or heavier strings... You're gonna have a bad time.
Cliff is the person who made me wanna pick up bass. Thank you for this video. Not a lot of people outside of real metalheads give the attention Cliff deserves.
I have been playing Bass for almost 25 years, it's so awesome to see him get his due as a legend after all these years. I can watch videos over and over and over and it never ever gets to be to much, he was and will always be # 1 in my books.
Cliff is such an inspiration for any bassist, I started playing bass because I love it but Cliff taught me that bass is such a powerhouse for solos so I do play solos the Cliff way ;) Also studied his unique way of plucking but took esentially his one-finger and two-finger plucking to match guitar picking. Love your videos and really enjoyed this one :D
Everytime I hear Cliffs solo in Orion it brings tears to my eyes over 30 yrs later. When Cliff died I was so shook up I couldn't go to school for 2 days. My mom couldn't understand why I was crying my eyes out over some bass player I didn't even know. She just couldn't understand.
I play bass and Cliff Burton is one of my favorite bass players. Aside from his time as the bassist of the San Francisco heavy metal band known as Trauma🤘🏾🔥, his time as the bassist of Metallica🤘🏾🔥 was awesome. Cliff got the rest of Metallica into bands formed and fronted by Glenn Danzig by wearing t-shirts.
The Misfits, Samhain and Danzig are awesome. Glenn Danzig is the man🤘🏾🔥.
Anyways, Cliff was cool. The Trauma 1982 demos are pretty dope. Such a Shame is an amazing song from Trauma. Kill Em All, Ride the Lightning and Master of Puppets are great Metallica albums. I think Cliff’s way of songwriting influenced the direction that Metallica was heading to when they wrote, recorded and released And Justice For All. Music genres such as Classical music, blues, jazz, funk, blues rock, soft rock, psychedelic rock, hard rock, heavy metal, punk rock, hardcore punk, speed metal, thrash metal, crossover thrash, death metal, funk metal and blues metal are awesome genres. Cliff may be gone, but never will he be forgotten. Cliff Burton was an awesome and amazing bass player. Metallica’s awesome. Other than that, cool:).
This is not only a very informative, and awesome presentation of the style and legacy of one of metal's best and most influential bass players ever but also a great tribute video that we as fans and bass players do appreciate. Thank you very much!
Thanks for keeping Cliff Alive. I think that if he would lived he would have become a bass virtuoso. He is the reason I picked up bass way back in 1984
Cliff is the reason I started playing bass back in Jr. High, his influence will outlive all of us.
This is an amazing, beautiful tribute to Cliff. I started playing bass after getting Cliff “em All for Christmas when I was 14 or 15. No single musician has ever influenced my life as much as Cliff did. It’s so profound how much he carved a path for metal bass players in only 3 albums in 3 years. He was/is the standard for metal bass playing, no disrespect to Steve or Lemmy, but my god, Cliff was a gift to music and metal. He’s the ultimate of the genre and will never be matched. I love your tribute to him here, it’s beautiful and you have paid great tribute to him. Thank you so much!!!!
Your channel, your teaching, commentary and playing is one of the best I’ve ever seen. You are tremendously talented in all aspects of having an educational channel dedicated to bass playing.
Thanks David!
You really did a great job on making this video. Yea he really was a very unique, and unusual musician. I haven’t liked a whole lot of music that they made after he died. We won’t see another phenomenon like him again. It took me years to understand that he was the INTENSE influence on their music at that time. I was truly blessed to be a part of it. Thank You.
My favorite bassists are Peter Hook, Justin Chancellor, Kim Deal, and Cliff Burton of course : ) you should make these vids for more bassists regularly that'd be sweet!
@dread true He didn't forget. he said those were his personal favorites
@dread true OP didn't say that was a list of the best bassists ever. That was just a list of his favorites. So you don't know if Paul is one of his favorites
@dread true I'm not speaking for him. He said in his comment "favorites", not best. The best ones don't have to be your favorites either
Check out some claypool my guy
@dread true the south of reality album by claypool lennon delirium
Cliff Burton was my idol growing up. I must have spent hours learning Anesthesia Pullin Teeth with the Metallica songbook in the late 80s
bought a new bass recently. loved cliff since age 16. I'm 48 now and decided to jam along with Kill em All using my fingers ... new obsession! Thank you Cliff! much love!
Funny this video came out... I just finished learning all of Cliff's songs while also finishing his biography by Joel Mciver. These weeks have been quite a musical and emotional ride for me. Amazing what Cliff accomplished by 24, his early death is definitely one of music's biggest tragedies.
Please do John Entwhistle from The Who hes awesome
The what?
The when?
The where? Lol
The Why?
The How?
By far the best footage on bass play by Cliff
One of the Cool things I like about your channel is the information doesn't necessarily require I be holding my Bass at the time to benefit. I had packed it up for the night and watched this great episode about a Great Bassist and learned volumes. Long Live Cliff
I met Cliff at the Kabuki theater in San Fran when Mercyful Fate was playing in 84, five of us young bangers massively ready to thrash. Ride The Lightning had just came out and we were all on fire for the new music. Outside the theater doors where Fate was getting ready to go live, a high, long wide hallway. People were moving around, food, concessions. He was there. Hangin out up against the wall, no one around him. Alone just soakin in the vibe. He knew who he was. We knew who he was, we ran up excited. 'You are Cliff Burton!!' He totally denied it! You are 'Cliff'. He asked some girls walking by, 'Am I Cliff Burton?'. The girls ignored us all. We grabbed his hand and shook it, then ran off to watch Fate. We all loved his bass playing. He was the new underground Steve Harris. I got to meet him.
Thx for keepin Bass alive!!
Thanks for giving such a huge respect to the legacy of Cliff.
Cliff Burton was incredible. Forever missed. Does some incredible bass guitaring in "The Call of Ktulu" as well
I continued to play bass because of Cliff, but I started because of Geezer Butler, going to sleep listening to black sabbath as a kid. Please do one on him! I want to see your take on how he plays very simple blues scales but then in the breakdowns plays offset to the guitar to make it sound so complex
I listened MOP for more than 25 years repeatedly, I know every note and every word by heart, had no idea this little solo was bass.
Cliff was a genius no doubt about it.
He was my hero....scratch that, he still is! My parents bought me a Rickenbacker 4003 for my 13th birthday in '88 and it's my most favorite thing in the whole wide world! RIP Cliff....
surprised you didn't talk about how he strums chords. Most bass players who do play chords, like les claypool, justin chancellor, and lemmy only play power chords. Cliff did a lot of that but in Orion he played spread voicing chords with the root on the e string and the 3rd on the g string. They are like sonic punches in the face but he never played them too low so it was never distractingly muddy.
He played chords like that on for whom the bell tolls.
@@williamhickey9200 yeah and orion
Cliff was the musicians musician. 32 years ago when I started on bass, Cliff was one of the biggest reasons why I picked up the 4 string motherf***er! Unique to Cliff is that he used light gauged stings (typical bass are mediums at 105, 85, 65, 45) which made his bends so extreme. He also modified his Rickenbacher 1004 by adding a lead guitar humbucker in the bridge and he did something to the neck pickup (which I can't remember). I'm not sure what is setup was on the custom Aria he played, but it had to be epic.
It was not what Cliff played but how he played. There's a saying in the motorcycle would about a particular rider (I forget the mans name) "while alive, he lived." For Cliff the quote would be "when he played, he lived." Cliff is a bassists Mozart and Beethoven.
Long live Cliff!!!
Cliff Burton is half of the reason I got into bass, the other half is Geddy Lee
For me it was Cliff Burton and, later on, Les Claypool. I never could enjoy Rush.
I'm not even a bass player and I get this completely.
if i have a bass,well i will play with style of john deacon,lemmy and cliff burton
Geddy is amazing, I know Cliff could hardly contain himself when heard Geddy was in the crowd about to watch him perform. Both legends
Cliff is the only reason why I started learning bass. That man was something else. Such a genius fucking man, he had a musical sense which was way ahead of his time. May your legacy live on Cliff🤘🤘
I am not a bass player, I am a guitar player, and this video widened my music understanding so much. Thank YOU and thanks Cliff!
Josh your videos are great! We need more than one video a month....one a week would be great! Let’s do this man!!!
Excuse me for saying this, the Orion solo sounds kind of like an Otamatone
i'll never unhear this
You are forgiven about that
Yes but a rather large one bruh.Hilarious.
Cliff's greatness needs no explanation.
I'm a guitarist, but listening to a tune with Cliff or watching Cliff himself always makes my urge to buy a bass and go crazy on it go off the roof.
And I feel like I'll be giving in in a very short time.
EDIT over 2 years later: been playing bass for a year now :)
Great job. Thank u for reminding us of cliff’s brilliance.
My oldest son's middle name is Burton, because Cliff Burton.
Burton? Who would name their kid such an ugly name? It sounds like fart.
Yikes
Like the clothing store
Ive thought alot about boy names if i did have a child and cliff is too badass to pass up
@@Mrp00p3rs I wanted to go with Cliff originally, but the wife... :shrugs:
Normie: a bassist cant be the lead guitarist
Cliff: "hold my bass" * takes bass back and starts shredding *
*shreds it while Normie holds it...👍
Lmao it's funny just imagining cliff being like Y O I N K and goes nuts
rather "hold my weed"
@@Jackel727 😂🤣🤪
I'd love to see a video on Geddy Lee! A lot of people know him and are inspired by him but I feel like he gets left out a lot on these player breakdown videos.
Awesome video! Been following you since your YYZ cover all those years ago.
Thanks Grant!
Watching this video and hearing Cliff died on September 27th, 1986.... I look down and see it's September 27th, 2020. Chills and goosebumps.... Wow.
You are a great teacher. Thanks for showing us the notes and the technics that makes bassists so special.
3:01
i love the shade you threw at guitar players right there xDD
Bloody brilliant, thank you for this one ,Cliff was a mastermind of metal bass players and a great inspiration, I could only dream of playing at the level he was at. Slainte
Slainte Chuck!
maybe some ideas for these kind of videos:
rob trujillo
lemmy
geezer butler
les claypool
dave ellefson
Finaly someone includes les claypool
@@radleymitchel8963 oooooo a man of culture as well
john myung?
Not lemmy
Rob
I really enjoyed this vid and tribute Josh. My 8th grade graduation gift was a little Kay brand bass guitar in ‘88 and it was full on Cliff-speed ahead. While my styles and tastes on my four-string have broadened considerable since then (I was all metal Metal METAL!!), Cliff is still my go-to when I’m feeling uninspired or just bored and want to break the monotony. Thanks for sharing his talents and legacy. He’ll always be my biggest influence.
Exceptional video bassbuzz. As a young bassist in 1990, Cliff was the first player i was enamored with. For whom the bell tolls was the first track i tried learning how to play :) Thank you for this video, when i was young i didnt know what hooked me to his playing, but as i grew in experience, it was all this stuff. The solos, the melodic playing, the interesting non-standard lines and the speed. Good stuff
Nací muy tarde para vivir en su época, apenas tengo 16 años, pero soy muy fan de Cliff. Es increíble lo que ese hombre logró hacer a su edad, una leyenda indiscutible. Me hubiese encantado conocerlo, ¡lo extraño como si hubiésemos sido familiares! Rock in paradise, rest in peace.
Hell yeah! I was waiting for this one 🤘🏽
i read the name of my god on the title, i came here instantly
I read the name of my god on the title, I came instantly Fixed it for you
Gabriel Andrade oh haha I was trying to make a joke. My bad
I was making a joke about cumming, as in, ejaculating. Your sentence was perfect 😂
Cliff is the reason I started playing bass guitar. That was 1985 at age 13! I did Anesthesia at the senior talent show haha I still play actively and of all my influences (Lee, Sheehan, Vega, Pinnick, Willis, etc.) Cliff still stands in class of his own. Fantastic job of breaking it down and explaining the elements involved. Seriously I'm anal retentive when it comes to accuracy and playing things correctly & you've got a fantasic ear. Love seeing other bass players as inspired today as I was 30 years ago, respect! 🇺🇲
Great video! Cliff is the reason I started playing, and still love guitar but understand the way he meshed the two, he will always be revered as the world's best bassist.
Best bass player ever. I back this up by providing these facts:
Wrote a lot of Anesthesia in his teens....true story
Because of his musical education, he changed metal
Everything he is famous for he accomplished by the age of 24
Had he lived, his place at the top would be undisputed.
nowhere near the best bass player ever. Don't be a silly boy.
@@craigcotter7476 BEST...EVER
Great lesson, Josh! Really nice tribute as well, and I'm looking forward to the next bass player you highlight. I agree with Bassbrain: Beginner to Badass is an excellent online course that provides a solid foundation and springboard for accelerated learning. Whom should you feature next? My vote would be Geddy Lee, but there are tons of Geddy lessons out there already.
I would love to see one for also David Ellefson. I think he's phenomenal as well
This is a wonderful tribute to a genuinely significant musician: Cliff Burton. The reading from his biography at the end was really nice, too. Great work! My vote for your next study would have to be Rollins Band era Melvin Gibbs. A jazz session player, his work on the albums "Weight" and "Come in and Burn" are genuine fusions of melody and mayhem. In terms of a musician whose playing was often a song within a song, he reminds me a lot of Cliff.
Cliff cleverly modified the pickups on his Rickerbacher bass to get the distortion and shredding to sound guitar like.
a thought on bass as a lead instrument; bass, especially with distortion has such a thick rich harmonic filled tone. It is actually very much like an analog synthesizer before the filters.
So perhaps a gold strategy is to go heavy with gains AND sub octave too. But then filtering it , this would allow shaping a tone in which you can play lower register without getting too rumbly and dark.
I want Geezer Butler next, especially his plucking technique
Please do Geezer Butler, he's the man who convinced me to pick up the bass...
Wonderful & spot on analysis of a genius who brought the biggest band on Earth to their artistic peak before finishing his terrestrial mission and move on, as their popularity was skyrocketed and their artistic drive was changed forever making them a totally different band.
Great video about Cliff and his phenomenal musicianship. A tragic incident took a great person/ artist from us way too soon. I think more videos like this should be made to show how great he made Metallica and how much of an influence he was to so many other bass players. 🤘🎸