Not a bassist, I'm a drummer but the reason this bass line was allowed so much room to breathe and to explore its own path throughout the song is because of the simplicity of that drum beat and the rest of the band. This song is essentially a bassist's dream, and it's an incredible hook Rutger laid down here.
Exactly what I experienced when I got my bass. This is a whole new perspective to experience the music I have loved and appreciated my whole life. It’s jaw-dropping.
From the time when sweden was a really outstanding country. I wish ai could turn time back and also to recall my dreams and hopes being a young man back then. Now I am just being accused of being too negative and bitter by the ladies I sometimes get a chance to date, if I pay everything.
It's just a few weeks now that I've been discovering some ABBA basslines on YT and I feel exactly the same. Fortunately, I've got an ABBA "best of" CD which I immediately put in my car. Now people wonder what strange sound this dude is listening to when driving ....
It's an absolute travesty and incredibly unfair, in my opinion, that Rutger Gunnarsson is not MUCH more known all over the world for his incredible bass playing and basslines. He is only known as the "Abba bassist". It's kind of sad!!!
I am sure he's crying all the way to the bank (he worked on Mama Mia! for crying out loud). He also plays for Celine Dion and Elton John. Not exactly a sad story. The fact that Celine Dion and Elton John call him up, shows that he is *extremely* well known and respected in the business (if you're Ms Dion or Mr John, you hire only the very best). I'd say he is *way* past the point of trying to make a name for himself.
I don't think bass gets much better than this . ABBAs rhythm section was the " Wrecking Crew " and the ' Funk Brothers " of Sweden rolled into one. Beautiful bass playing maestro ( and you made it sound and look so easy ) !!
Funk Brothers is insightful. Rutger's chordal approach playing shares more in common with Jamerson than McCartney. It's covering so many places and shaping things in a way that's not immediate apparent on first listen.
I wish I could turn the time back to the periode when I was young and enjoyed the music from ABBA with my friends. Now I just sit alone and wonder where all the years, all the dreams and the sweet girls have gone.
I've seen countless Dancing Queen bass covers, and I can easily say that yours tops them all by a huge margin. This is my 3rd time playing it in a row and I'm now going to just lay back with my eyes closed and enjoy that rich, warm tone. The bass itself looks beautiful, too. Thank you so much for this.
Man, you really nailed this. I'm doing the Mama Mia show and although I played DQ in countelees bands, until I got the bass book with the exact transcription, I never realized all the intricacies that went into it -- though I'd say it's more Jamerson than McCartney : ) -- Anyway, you got 'em all down. By ear? I have hundreds of UA-cam clips where I do full band arrangements of classic songs featuring the bass. Most are interpretations with a few "exact" copies. But no doubt, you do your homework. Great feel and tone also. Nice job!
oh wow ! i never paid any attention to the bassline on this song but now i realize how it glues everything together keeping the groovy going ! Perfect sound, well done !
Wow, beautifully played, that's a hard one to play right and you really do it well, groovy, fluid and in the song's pocket. Only Gunnarsson (and as you all well point Jamerson & McCartney) could have written and perform such a busy bass line and make it feel as the heart of the song, pure genius. This song without that bass line would have gone inadvertently and ultimately forgotten.
Its obvious that it is the bass progression at the end of the chorus gradually descending and adding harmonics to the chords on top that gives the chorus its suspense and very satisfying resolution into the chord that starts the verse. Really good arrangements
absolutely the best bass cover on youtube of dancing queen, i came here after sarah jones paid her tributes to you on her cover inspiring her to try this.
Hey man. Came across your channel while searching for the great Rutgar Gunnarson. I'm so enjoying your interpretation of his work. I was thrilled to see ABBA finally recognized this week by the Rock Hall of Fame but disappointed that Benny Andersson did not find time to name Rutgar, Ola Brunkert and the other fine ABBA session musicians who contributed so much to the band's distinctive sound.
Excellent cover of this song, GREAT feel. I was planning on recording one for youtube too, but after seeing your video, no one can top it! You owned it!! Well done mate.
Ooh La La this some good heartbeat bass guitar, I've seen for a long time. If 100% is the tally, then just about 95% is to be earmarked for this Bassist....very skilful, very methodical, very rhythmically in Sync with the flow and the careful meticulous musical note listening skills which emanates from hard-core practice...thanks I am sure you have the blessing of Sir Paul McCarteney
Thanks for that. I had to learn this song for a gig & your video was a great help. Rutger Gunnarsson was a fantastic bass player. He was a huge part of the ABBA sound.
Mi five stars of today, because of the tone, the accuracy and the neatness shown in your video. Great gear also; I really love the (quite unusual) Hagströms.
This was really nice played. Thank you so much. But - have any of you listened to the bass line that Rutger played on the movie sound track of Mamma Mia? There you can listen to the evolution of a highly skilled, wonderful musician through more than 30 years. I miss you so much Rutger. You were most definitely part of my youth - and to my great surprise of my old days, too. Best wishes to all of you with funky thumbs from Denmark, Klaus
Thanks! That was fun to watch. I feel cheered up watching this. I think Dancing Queen by ABBA is a perfect song by B and B and Michael B. Tretow.. Definately an uplifting bass line. Nice to see people like yourself with real talent.
Awsome. You have a great playing style. I like the Hagstrom!!! Play a Rickenbacker 4001c64s with T & I flats myself, and get a lot of advice watching you play!!! Thanks for the great videos.
The little walkdown at 1:59 is just fine. Rutger G's famous little "mishap" occurs at 3:12 (3:08 on the CD), but... the poster (bassowman) glosses over that detail with a slide. :S I guess that the original bass track was recorded at an early stage with a harmonically limited backing track, if any, and that Rutger thought that taking a somewhat more "jazzy" way down to the subdominant parallel would fit in nicely. :)
Ha! I like the way you gliss over the mistake in the outro, where he plays a C-natural instead of C-sharp. I always wondered if anyone else noticed that... ;-) Nice.
Dude! I need to learn this for a cheesy covers band Christmas gig & you've just saved me a load of sweat working it out. Beautifully played by the way.
Not a bassist, I'm a drummer but the reason this bass line was allowed so much room to breathe and to explore its own path throughout the song is because of the simplicity of that drum beat and the rest of the band. This song is essentially a bassist's dream, and it's an incredible hook Rutger laid down here.
I'm a bass player and agree 💯
I never realized that ABBA had such killer bass parts in their music.
I will listen to their songs with a different viewpoint from here on out.
Exactly what I experienced when I got my bass. This is a whole new perspective to experience the music I have loved and appreciated my whole life.
It’s jaw-dropping.
Same here
SAME!
From the time when sweden was a really outstanding country. I wish ai could turn time back and also to recall my dreams and hopes being a young man back then. Now I am just being accused of being too negative and bitter by the ladies I sometimes get a chance to date, if I pay everything.
It's just a few weeks now that I've been discovering some ABBA basslines on YT and I feel exactly the same. Fortunately, I've got an ABBA "best of" CD which I immediately put in my car. Now people wonder what strange sound this dude is listening to when driving ....
It's an absolute travesty and incredibly unfair, in my opinion, that Rutger Gunnarsson is not MUCH more known all over the world for his incredible bass playing and basslines. He is only known as the "Abba bassist". It's kind of sad!!!
I am sure he's crying all the way to the bank (he worked on Mama Mia! for crying out loud). He also plays for Celine Dion and Elton John. Not exactly a sad story. The fact that Celine Dion and Elton John call him up, shows that he is *extremely* well known and respected in the business (if you're Ms Dion or Mr John, you hire only the very best). I'd say he is *way* past the point of trying to make a name for himself.
Every time they play the original he is immortalised. He was such a nice, modest man that I'm sure he'd be happy with that. RIP Rutger.
I'd take it being the bassist of one of the most popular acts in music history.
That’s literally an amazing legacy
Yes it’s not right he should be one of the names in the bass world by now
Rutger Gunnarsson has past away. One of the greats. Rest in joy.
I don't think bass gets much better than this . ABBAs rhythm section was the " Wrecking Crew " and the ' Funk Brothers " of Sweden rolled into one. Beautiful bass playing maestro ( and you made it sound and look so easy ) !!
Funk Brothers is insightful. Rutger's chordal approach playing shares more in common with Jamerson than McCartney. It's covering so many places and shaping things in a way that's not immediate apparent on first listen.
I wish I could turn the time back to the periode when I was young and enjoyed the music from ABBA with my friends. Now I just sit alone and wonder where all the years, all the dreams and the sweet girls have gone.
I've seen countless Dancing Queen bass covers, and I can easily say that yours tops them all by a huge margin. This is my 3rd time playing it in a row and I'm now going to just lay back with my eyes closed and enjoy that rich, warm tone. The bass itself looks beautiful, too. Thank you so much for this.
You, sir, are a musician.
Just killer stuff.
a trick : you can watch movies on flixzone. Me and my gf have been using it for watching lots of of movies during the lockdown.
@Myles Francisco definitely, I have been watching on flixzone} for years myself :D
Man, you really nailed this. I'm doing the Mama Mia show and although I played DQ in countelees bands, until I got the bass book with the exact transcription, I never realized all the intricacies that went into it -- though I'd say it's more Jamerson than McCartney : ) -- Anyway, you got 'em all down. By ear? I have hundreds of UA-cam clips where I do full band arrangements of classic songs featuring the bass. Most are interpretations with a few "exact" copies. But no doubt, you do your homework. Great feel and tone also. Nice job!
Gonsalo, don't be rude dude. It's enough of that in the world.
whoa, do you have the bass book, or are you not allowed to disclose it? i'd love to learn some abba bass lines
Holy crap, that was absolutely perfect. I especially enjoyed how minimal your movements were and now I feel i need to work on that part aswell...
Plus 10 for staying authentic and using the Hagstrom. Bravo!
Before the song starts it is obvious that this guy is going to kill the bass. Lovely
a bass player who can cover ABBA songs, definitely a great bass player... yes it's you.
Wow wow wow wow this is awesome. Great feel& rythm.
Nice bass!
if you close the eyes, you couldn't ever imagine that someone else that an ABBA's member was playing...great cover!!!
oh wow ! i never paid any attention to the bassline on this song but now i realize how it glues everything together keeping the groovy going !
Perfect sound, well done !
Legendary bassline, very good, fluid & effortless playing, fantastic tone from a fantastic & very rare original Super Swede. Thumbs up!
Wow, beautifully played, that's a hard one to play right and you really do it well, groovy, fluid and in the song's pocket. Only Gunnarsson (and as you all well point Jamerson & McCartney) could have written and perform such a busy bass line and make it feel as the heart of the song, pure genius. This song without that bass line would have gone inadvertently and ultimately forgotten.
I think that nobody can appreciate the bassline of this beautiful song 'til seeing this vid.
great job, here i can see the passion of playin' ABBA
Wow! I even didn't imagine that bassline of Dancing Queen was so harmonic and complicated
Its obvious that it is the bass progression at the end of the chorus gradually descending and adding harmonics to the chords on top that gives the chorus its suspense and very satisfying resolution into the chord that starts the verse. Really good arrangements
absolutely the best bass cover on youtube of dancing queen, i came here after sarah jones paid her tributes to you on her cover inspiring her to try this.
You are awesome, fantastic bass cover. WOW!!
Rutger was a great bassist. And underestimated. You absolutely nailed it. Great cover.
What a fantastic lesson in funk. Enjoying your stuff more and more Bassowman.
FANTASTIC!!!! Very well done Rutger & bassowman!!!
Hey man. Came across your channel while searching for the great Rutgar Gunnarson. I'm so enjoying your interpretation of his work. I was thrilled to see ABBA finally recognized this week by the Rock Hall of Fame but disappointed that Benny Andersson did not find time to name Rutgar, Ola Brunkert and the other fine ABBA session musicians who contributed so much to the band's distinctive sound.
One of the best bass lines in pop music.
It's great to see these cover videos, if you are a player, so that you get a close view of what's happening.
Kudos to this guy for his skills.
I had to learn this tune in a hurry for a gig I have tonight... thanks for demonstrating!!! You saved my butt. Awesome playing, man!
have a video?
Excellent cover of this song, GREAT feel. I was planning on recording one for youtube too, but after seeing your video, no one can top it! You owned it!! Well done mate.
This is a Beautyful bass!
I had never noticed (until now) that this song has such an awesome bassline .
Well played!
What a pleasure to watch your left hand slide around the neck, you make it look so effortless. Steller performance.
Great video and even greater bass playing. Thank you.
Never realized what a huge part the bass plays in this song. This is great. May have to learn this one.
Amazing! you are very talented!
Nice bass! Love the song. I've got a '75 Hagstrom Swede bass.
Ooh La La this some good heartbeat bass guitar, I've seen for a long time. If 100% is the tally, then just about 95% is to be earmarked for this Bassist....very skilful, very methodical, very rhythmically in Sync with the flow and the careful meticulous musical note listening skills which emanates from hard-core practice...thanks I am sure you have the blessing of Sir Paul McCarteney
I love the different structural layers in ABBA's music, everything just fits nicely. Great playing! Best, AM
listening to this song takes me back... and I wasn't even around 'back then'!
Thanks for that. I had to learn this song for a gig & your video was a great help. Rutger Gunnarsson was a fantastic bass player. He was a huge part of the ABBA sound.
you know, until now a get to pay attention to the bass in this song and it`s absolutely a piece of art.
thanks * * * * *
nice job. I love that bass line. Gunnar was awesome
Wow.
You have the feel for their music. 👌
Such a beautiful bass line.
Nice job, man. ABBA forever! Greetings from Brazil
I love this cover! why did you stop making videos??? please come back!!!
Nice, watching it since 2011!!
Qu'il repose en paix !
Super hommage rendu !
Exquisite performance
Beautiful playing, wonderful to see as well as hear!
Mi five stars of today, because of the tone, the accuracy and the neatness shown in your video. Great gear also; I really love the (quite unusual) Hagströms.
It's one of my top base lines & it was nailed. You made it look so simple!
I really love it ! Thank you for sharing.
thanks for using our great Austrian AKG K271 Headphones!
fabulous rendition!! Rutger would be chuffed!!
This was really nice played. Thank you so much. But - have any of you listened to the bass line that Rutger played on the movie sound track of Mamma Mia? There you can listen to the evolution of a highly skilled, wonderful musician through more than 30 years. I miss you so much Rutger. You were most definitely part of my youth - and to my great surprise of my old days, too. Best wishes to all of you with funky thumbs from Denmark, Klaus
beautiful playing on such a great track! One of the truly great bass lines.
Such an underrated gem. Great job.
You make it look so easy! Really great! Nice tone on the bass too!
wow, never knew how good the bassline was to this...and a bit tough too, sweet playing, very sweet indeed thanks
Thank you maestro.....superb interpretation...
I listening this since 2011... best...
Yes Sir, this is the lines , you are a great bass player
You made it look easy. Very nice.
The bassline is an very important element of pop music. And you did it very well here :-) *****
Awesome playing..awesome bass!
Wow. What mastery. Very impressive.
Excellent! And nice tribute to Rutger G. Have you done Gimme Gimme? I would love to hear that.
Very clear style ,perfect!
nice playing man...effortless...and that is a beautiful Hagstrom...
bassvox also....are you looking at a reflection lol? i do that a lot...
The Best Cover Version!!!
Fin bas, har också en sådan!
Förmodligen en av världens bästa basar.
Absolutely brilliant !! Great feel!!!
It was the most accurate copy of the dancing queen copy I've ever seen and the groovy performance.
great stuff. Love those slides. great tone
Perfeito parabéns
Thanks! That was fun to watch. I feel cheered up watching this. I think Dancing Queen by ABBA is a perfect song by B and B and Michael B. Tretow..
Definately an uplifting bass line. Nice to see people like yourself with real talent.
i enjoy it..its great...
this is so awesome
Great sounding bass!
I couldn't hear the bass on the original: thank you for demonstrating. As you say, it's a good, funky line!
Great playing! Great tone! Excellent job.
Perfect groove!
Awsome. You have a great playing style. I like the Hagstrom!!! Play a Rickenbacker 4001c64s with T & I flats myself, and get a lot of advice watching you play!!! Thanks for the great videos.
The little walkdown at 1:59 is just fine. Rutger G's famous little "mishap" occurs at 3:12 (3:08 on the CD), but... the poster (bassowman) glosses over that detail with a slide. :S
I guess that the original bass track was recorded at an early stage with a harmonically limited backing track, if any, and that Rutger thought that taking a somewhat more "jazzy" way down to the subdominant parallel would fit in nicely. :)
Amazing!
Wow! Nailed it! Super slinky!
Really good cover. Nice feel.
Thanks for the sweet bass line!!!! pefect
good bass, man! diggin in the song :)
Beautiful my friend. You nailed it.
Ha! I like the way you gliss over the mistake in the outro, where he plays a C-natural instead of C-sharp. I always wondered if anyone else noticed that... ;-) Nice.
Dude! I need to learn this for a cheesy covers band Christmas gig & you've just saved me a load of sweat working it out. Beautifully played by the way.
best cover
Nice feel! Dig your playing!
Excellent!!!
Very well played, congrats!
Very well done!!!!