Top 5 ABBA Bass Lines | Julia Hofer | Rutger Gunnarsson, Mike Watson | Thomann
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- Опубліковано 7 чер 2024
- Today Julia grooves to her Top 5 ABBA Bass Lines!
What are your favourite ABBA songs or bass parts? Let us know in the comments!
Gear used: bit.ly/3IjmNRV
Mixed with Universal Audio: tho.mn/uadx1
Monitors optimised through Sonarworks: tho.mn/sonar
Interesting bits and pieces:
0:00 Intro
0:58 Song 1: Waterloo
2:18 Song 2: Gimme! Gimme! Gimme!
3:55 Song 3: Dancing Queen
4:53 Song 4: Knowing Me, Knowing You
5:42 Song 5: Voulez-Vous
6:28 Thank You for watching!
6:44 Outro Playing: No Doubt About It
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I never realized Abba had such Monster bass parts. Theey really had strong bass parts that were the foundation of the melodys
The best melodies often have a counter melody in the bass. The common practice period composers had that figured out.
thats why they are so good in the club!
Also found that a lot of Cyndi Lauper songs have some cool lines two.
Mind you I recently got into bass playing. So I hear the bass everywhere.
Next level stuff. I've started listening to Chai because of the bass riffs. Yuuki is a bass-ace.
for real, after i saw this video it gave me a whoooole new appreciation for the band!
Most people wouldn't know Rutger gunnarsson but he made ABBA songs tick he was actually one of the great bass players thanks Julia
Who else wants to see her cover ALL of ABBAs songs! Julia does a fantastic job!
Ahhh, seldom that I hear bass players that can imitate Rutger's sound. LOVELY! Respect from a ABBA-loving Swede
When you bring bass to the front, it shows how much it drives songs and how unnoticed it goes. Thinking of getting a bass for the first time at age 42.
I’m a year older and recently did the same
Go for it Adrian. As a "regular" guitar player I played bass guitar in a band and it was really fun. You will have a great time. Start inexpensive with a bundle package from Sweetwater or even Amazon. Dean makes a great setup for beginners .
I always wanted a bass , and i was 45 when i got my first one. Go get one Adrian , you only live once !
Do it! I picked up bass at 45 and it was one of the best things I ever did (I am 58 now).
Probably Mark King from Level 42 would be a perfect match, try out "43" from Level 42, there are great Slap Bass Introductions.
Rutger Gunnarsson is one of the most underrated bassplayers ever!
yes so true!
underrated bass player sells millions of albums
One of the forgotten facts about Abba is that they were a 7 piece band. Just watch a UA-cam gig of theirs in Japan, it was the 5 guys and the 2 girls but they were very much a band. Rutger put so much into their fantastic sound. He was a trained musician, so would have kept them on track. George Martin played a similar role with the beatles. I have heard the individual members of ABBA play huge tribute to the backroom boys, but for image and commercial reasons they probably could not have been included in the band.
@@RayEttler How many albums did Rutger Gunnarsson sell? Your comment was kind of silly.
@@toby9999 He played bass in one of the most successful bands, ever. Obviously he contributed to their success.
@@toby9999 Nowhere near as silly as yours Toby. You obviously know nothing about how a song is produced. None of the Motown artists would have a record without James Jamerson playing bass on their records. You obviously listen with your eyes.
Wonderful! Another bass player that understands that bass underpins the GROOVE of a song, NOT the sound. Absolutely fantastic tone!
As an old hippie, from 70;s era ;; '' Groovy, man ! ""
Its the era that bass is the sound of the song. Its all they got. The era and sound that puts the bass on the map. Besides the 90s
Voulez Vouz has an absolute monster of a bassline
a sort of remake of Gimme Gimme Gimme, but faster
Finally the instrumentalists in ABBA get the the recognition they deserve thanks to video's like this. ABBA songs are such a perfect machinery. Everythings falls into place.
I agree 1,000% my friend, shame it’s took this long to surface 🫡👌
Julia's bass face always melts me 💛
I was thinking the same thing.
I love how bass guitar is the perfect bridge between drums and guitar, sometimes more melodic and at times completely driving the rhythm.
Well said!
That intro to Gimme Gimme is just so inventive. Hats off to Rutger Gunnarsson. Wow.
I love this!!
Thank you Sina! :-) // Cheers, Julia
Hey Sina.. Hows it going? What do you think of young Beckett ( colt clark and the quarantine kids) ua-cam.com/video/fOrE2ZewqAE/v-deo.html
Nice of Ludwig to send him a new drum kit for Xmas.
Sina and Julia collab!!! Pleeeaase!!
Rythm section gang
How about an ABBA cover, Sina???!
Rutgar Gunnarsun was one of the best bass players ever. He and John Deacon of Queen are two of the greatest understated bassmen in the history of the instrument!
Mamma Mia and SOS are my favourites 👍
@@DrRock2009 I like them all. The Voulez Vous to The Visitors era being the best!
@@KRAZEEIZATION and I prefer Ring Ring to Arrival 🤷♂️
@@DrRock2009 Mike Watson played bass on both of them.
I would add Geezer Butler from Black Sabbath to that list.
I can only say one thing Julia. Wow.
As an old new bassist (I'll turn 60 and I've been playing bass for 3 or 4 years), you're really a great source of inspiration. Wish I had 1/4 of your talent. Thanks!
best part of this comment is "I'll turn 60 and I've been playing bass for 3 or 4 years". this is really inspiring for me. thanks man
I’m an old bassist too! Been learning for a year or so (I’m 51). It took me a lot of years to find my instrument, bass is the best! I hope to be able to play bass lines like this one day.
@@yvonnemartin8134 I'm 40 and just started to get addicted to bass. Will buy soon and hopefully, I could learn even the basics 🤘
I'm 68 and a non-musician music lover. Today I have just learned what bass line is. I have improved my knowledge base because of you. My knowledge baseline has now shifted up. Thank you for your video!😘
I'm also a non-musician and an ABBA fan. It continues to blow my mind how people can play these instruments. It's completely beyond me. I tried to learn way back when I was young but it was completely hopeless :)
@@toby9999 No one is hopeless. That's just the starting point for most of us.
I was one for a year, too. Until I broke through and got the feel of the instrument.
It's only a matter of practice!
Julia your playing is sensational. Rutger was one of the greatest Bass players in the history of music. Bjorn and Benny knew exactly what they were doing having Rutger on ABBAs recordings. Rutger literally makes the Bass sing - like an extra vocalist! Much love from the Land Down Under, a country somewhat familiar to the great ABBA.
Спасибо🙏💕🙏💕🙏💕
Привет из Улан-Удэ, Сибири🙏💕
At last, somebody super appreciates the true genius of the ABBA bass players. Thankyou
You killed it on Waterloo! What a kickass bass line that song has! Thanks for sharing your information and TALENT!
Dancing queen's bassilne is the definition of groove and feel.
I absolutely love Gimme’s bass. Can’t explain it but sends me to “that place!”
It feels like maiden somehow.
@@saabnico Power metal is just heavy disco.
@@Kylora2112 😂 Genius
I've always liked the way the chords change in a slightly unexpected place during the orchestral bit.
ABBA sound so easy and is so complex and difficult to play. Thank you for the music, Julia!
mammia mia is the only song i can play, the rest its just way to funky xd
I never considered ABBA songs to be very difficult until we decided to cover Mamma Mia and Gimme with our band. Suddenly we had to pick out all the little details and complexities and actually play them. Turned out it wasn't so easy after all but we had a blast and Mamma Mia is still a favourite of both us and every dancefloor we played it for.
The greatest bass lines of all time :) he is the most underrated bass player in rock n roll history. Rest in peace and arise Sir Rutger :) x
Gimme Gimme is such an amazing bass line. Thanks for reviving this as well as other classics.
Wow..This gives me the chills...45 yrs later and I've never grasped, or was truly even conscious of, the genius bass lines driving their music. Thank you, Julia, for using your wonderful talent to bring this to us.
I agree - they're so perfect, you don't notice how good they are buried in amongst all the other great instruments.
the thing is, that I never was a big fan of ABBA, but seing and hearing these bass lines, ... how groovy is that! Danke Julia!!!
No matter what my mood is, Julia's face while playing always brings a smile on my face. Thank you, talented lady!
I grew up with AᗺBA in the 70s and 80s and their music was way ahead of its time. So far ahead that even today it's still as relevant and modern as it was back then. The songs are complex and intricate. I'm just amazed at your renditions of the bass lines, absolutely 100 %. Thank you and greetings from New Zealand.
While I am a lifelong fan of ABBA music, I’ve never really paid particular attention to the bass lines. I am impressed as hell at your ability to replicate the bass work
Rutger Gunnarsson forever! If you listen to the ABBA catalogue, his genius becomes more evident. Oh, and your bass work is awesome!
Other ABBA songs that have amazing bass lines: “The Winner Takes It All”, “One of Us”, and “Lay All Your Love on Me”.
Listen to bass in "When I kissed the teacher" 👌👌👌
The 70's seemed to really understand what a good bass track meant and showcased bass players.
MAN I GET INFURIATED SEEING WHAT HAS BECOME OF MUSIC!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Please listen to "if it wasnt for the nights". =)
Andante Andante for me has most lovely base
First time in 45 years I listened only to the bass in ABBA songs, amazing! Thanks for showing!
WOW - I never really heard the complex changes in Abba's music! My wife is from Germany - she has ALL the ABBA albums from the 70's. She is going to love seeing your bass take on each one. Thank you!!👍
Same here! Although my musical ability is low, l find these videos and those of Rick Beato really helpful to give more appreciation to those who DO have talent!👍
Your smirks, smiles, grins perfectly illustrate what you are feeling as you play. Your playing just puts a smile on my face and that's very important these days. Thanks for the video.
could have been my words as well 🤣
It's called ABBA joy! :-)
This is how a genuine bass face should be
Same here ❤️
I’m your 99th like
Omg!! I really love your groove!!! You are an amazing Bass Player!!! 🎸God Bless you!!
What a great musician this young Lady is. Spot on.
Amazing timing!
Nice to hear huh, playing with the ears and not the eyes.
How dare you - I should be in skjuul!!
Agreed!
I hope this was a joke?
Those chord changes in Dancing Queen are so underrated. Just awesome.
And you’re a fantastic player! 🔥
always happy to learn about underrated things on yt!
So pleased more people notices Dancing Queen chord changes and progression. They are a truly matter of study.
Totaly agree, what a progression !
Julia, you had me when you played my all time favorite ABBA song, “Knowing Me, Knowing You”! One of the most underrated ABBA hits of all time!!
ABBA's music is still loved around the world and righty so. They gave us Dancing Queen the best pop record ever produced.
Amazing ! Never paid attention so much on ABBA's Bass line, and it was an horrible mistake ! That's awesome ! Thanks a lot for this video !!
Kilou - Same here. There's alot more going on than i first realized.
'One of us' is missing in this top 5. That one is so groovy and not one measure is played twice!
Same for me but these lines are really great
I think "gimme gimme gimme" in particular is one of the great bass hooks in pop music history, and it never ends up on creators lists when they do "great bass hook' videos. I mean, its one line that had 2 hit songs with it, as Madonna ripped it off wholesale as well.
Same here!
Finally, long awaited Abba bass lines! Very cool! 👍
Great playing as always, Julia. I grew up with ABBA and always loved their arrangements and melodies. Say what you want about disco, but, you can't deny the awesome bass lines and rhythmic phrasings.
There is great "disco" and also really boring, just like with almost every other (perceived) music category.
Knowing Me Knowing You is my favorite song ever, and you just made it more so showing the bass line for that song. Woah. +1 for your amazing chops, lady.
I really like the Dancing Queen bass line. The expectation is for the bass to play the root of the chord, so the non-root notes are the ones that make the line interesting and surprising.
... and then there's "Knowing Me Knowing You" where Rutger really leaves root notes behind, particularly in the verses.
Amazing post, and amazing playing! 🙌🔥😀
For the gear nerds: Rutger Gunnarsson used a Hagström Super Swede Bass for some years (he was involved in the design). 364 of these instruments were made before Hagström went bankrupt around 1983. Nowadays you can buy a reissue of this bass guitar, made in China. I am fortunate to have one vintage and one new, but pity I don't play as well as Rutger did; may he RIP 🎸🎵🧡
Rutgers Super Swede is in the ABBA museum in Stockholm. That is one sweet looking bass indeed.
@@MrTeijo Cool indeed. I better visit the ABBA museum, when the time is right!
Absolutely worth a visit that place, I was there just before covid.
Bor du långt ifrån Gbg?😅
@@maxmaxgustavsson cirka 190 km
A very impressive display of the quality of ABBA's music. At first my favorite was the bass line from "Waterloo" but in the end they are all beautiful in the same way. Very confidently presented and played. A real treat - thank you!
Thank you ! So much fun to "see" the Abba bass lines in all their glory, and you are a brilliant player!
Rutger Gunnarsson is an absolute legend. Love your playing. I have so much trouble with the timing on my right hand for Gimme, Gimme, Gimme. You make it look effortless.
This video has changed the way I listen to Abba songs❤️😍😍
I love your "Groovin'" face!😍
I have loved ABBA since childhood. I've always heard bass lines, but never so emphatically. Thanks a lot!
I often cite Abba bass lines as an inspiration, and people tend to look at me funny. But these lines speak for themselves…
Fantastic covers by the way - you nail even the minute details and it sounds incredible. Hope I can play these this well one day.
OMG you are just the greatest. I love Julia. Austrian Bass Goddess. ❤
I was born in the 70's, grew up listening to LP's of ABBA as a kid. Always loved ABBA! Learning Bass and came across this. Seriously, Julia is one of my absolute favourite bassists, and she could play "Hot Cross Buns", and I'd still listen and try to learn from her. ABBA's bass line on "Voulez-Vous" is a beast! LOVE IT!
Thanks dear, I loved your video and bass guitar skills, and ABBA is something that I grew up with. Cheers to life.
"Knowing Me, Knowing You" was the coolest one. Thank you! Bass Goddiess! Have a fantastic weekend!
OMG , my favorite bass covers from you , it's from ABBA !
I grew up on ABBA as a kid in the late 70's in Australia .
I was maddly in love with Agnetha.
She was my angel !
I live in Europe now.
Now I'm 48 years old , still in love with her !!
My favorite of your bass covers?
Well, it's got to be Knowing Me , Knowing You .
Brings back so many memories from my childhood years.
Byyyyyyyyyyye !!
Your one of very few women that can really play a bass,the70's were big for me.earth,wind and fire,abba.please keep it up.mike
At last! No glitter, no glam, no sexi outfit - just great talent, great competence and knowledge of music! Thank you so much for this video!
ABBA fan for 15 years❤ I love this! Gimme gimme bass line gives me goosebumps
The bass is the best part of any song. It’s the driving force that gives the song its primordial life force. It is the structural skeleton that the rest of song is built around.
It depends on what kind of music it is of course. Prince had several hits with no bassline. Kiss and When Doves Cry are both examples of songs with absolutely no bass guitar. It is to be said though, that he always wrote songs with bass guitar. He just removed it afterwards if he thought it sounded better without it. That's the nice thing about multitrack recording. Involving a bass in the song writing process, makes the musicians play differently. So the bass had a role in how they were composed, even though it was removed afterwards. Leading your statement to be true, even in the examples I provided. They were a driving force for how it was composed, but removed later.
@@Ytterdahls
Excellent insight and analysis. I deleted my previous reply, as it was obnoxious (I must have been drunk or something). Your thoughts on the bass driving the song, by influencing the other band members, yet ultimately not necessarily being required is quite unique, as was Prince. Thank you for taking the time to reply.
That Voulez-Vous bassline gave me chills. Wow.
I play guitar my whole life but last week a friend gave me a bass, I love it thanks to your lessons that makes it so much more fun, thank you.
ABBA has a lot of tasty bass parts in their songs. 🎸
So glad to see people talking about these amazing basslines! They're so rich in their rhythm and complexity
Bloody brilliant!! You're accuracy is outstanding - I've played for years and playing those quick octaves seems easy in theory, but to do it accurately all the time is another matter!! Really enjoyed this 🙂
Gimme, Gimme. Gimme has such a strong and easily recognized bass line. ABBA had many songs with great bass lines, these 5 only scratch the surface.
As a drummer I always appreciated the superb bass playing on ABBAs tracks, but thanks for showcasing them in such a great way. 👍🎸
This drummer agrees with you. :)
Rutger Gunnarsson is absolutely awsome! my all time favorite would be the bassline on the song "One of Us"
That song is so sad
daaamn girl got SERIOUS groove
That was simply fantastic Julia! This is the first video I have seen featuring you. They are all amazing but listening to you play Dancing Queen was my favourite. People may not notice the bass line in a song but they certainly notice it when it is missing or played incorrectly. Thank you for sharing your talent!!
I've always loved ABBA basslines, but coming from you they sound even more groovy! Julia, du rockst!
Julia, thank you. To be honest, I never paid attention to the bass lines in ABBA songs, and I've been a fan since the 70s (yes, I'm old). And it has been a big mistake.
From now on, thanks to you I won't be able to avoid noticing those beautiful bass accompaniments.
Great video.
Julia THANK YOU SO MUCH. Learnt new things today.
Love the job you're doing. Never thought to separate the bass like this. Have a wonderful time listening.
Respect Julia, well done. The bass part still is very much underrated in most songs, and should be highlighted more like you did in this video. Your skills are awesome and the Abba songs were a great choice here.
Wow, I never realized , how important that bass is. It's like the soul of the song!
É sim cara, impressionante como sem ele fica sem graça de ouvir.
Hey thank you for sharing. Never thought I’d stumble on a UA-camr appreciating Rutger Gunnarsson as I do. You surprised me. Thank you.
Julia, I can't thank you enough for bringing bass lines to the front! (yeah literally... to the front of mix)
This video shows that bass guitar is not just a rhythmic part... in right hands it can actually sing. I bow down to Rutger and Mike, for the wonderful bass lines they created for ABBA, and thank you again for playing them wonderfully.
Killer playing!!!
Also, love how you pointed out that they SOUND simple, but they definitely take skill to play.
Ah, finally some classic Rutger lines! Well done!
You are truely amaging. With love from war-torn Manipur, North East India. 🎉❤❤❤
Never thought ABBA bass would sound so hot after all theses decades!!!!
excellent playing by Julia who always looks so happy when she's playing bass!
Fantastic spotlight on ABBA’s amazing bass lines. They are set back in the mix and you did a great job of bringing them to the front. Great chops!
ABBA arent a band that mix their bass parts in the back of their mixes. They were a Disco band primarily. Bass is probably the most important instrument. I guess if you arent listening on proper headphones or through proper speakers the bass is hard to hear as with all music.
Excellent work Julia! You really did kill it here. Thank you for sharing your skills and knowledge with the world.
Pure perfection. Thank you. Thank you ABBA and your amazing bass players and thank you Mom for introducing me to ABBA music when growing up. I love and miss you. ❤
This video really highlights everything that ABBA stands for. Something that seems simple but actually is really technical. Grooving with a smile on your face.
Abba is brilliant... Im a 39 year old straight American male and love Abba.
@@BobbyGeneric145 Im a 39 year old male from Sweden and i love Abba too. They are awesome. But i have to say i find it sad that we have to clarify that we are straight.
Unglaublich, wie anspruchsvoll der Bass bei ABBA ist. 🎸👍
Ich dachte auch Mal: " ach ich spiele Mal schnell einen ABBA Song mit. Aber nein, da ist erstmal üben angesagt. 😀
Love Abba. Love to watch you play. Thanks from your US fan.
From a Swede, brilliant Julia!
Always love when the bass gets the respect it deserves. Add to that, you are absolutely crushing the grooves on these tunes! Looking forward to more and thanks for paying respect to the genius that was this band! Cheers! 🎸
Alrite.
As a 58 yo ABBA fan, you introduced me to a layer of their music I hadn’t noticed before. Thanks, I enjoyed that !
Ms. Hofer has such joy in her playing. Thanks.
I come back to this video constantly. It really makes me appreciate the bass. It's just amazing, every bassist should watch your videos. Keep up the good work!
I never heard ABBA this way, in an analytic fashion. Your playing is in the pocket, as it is on the originals, and the bass lines are all brilliantly composed in their own nuanced styles.. Well done, and thanks for showing/explaining ;)
40 + years later we still find new and finer details of these songs to appreciate. Love this video !!
What do you mean? It wasn't only after 40 years before people appreciated these basslines. They were appreciated as soon as these songs came out. You make it sound like shes just discovered these unknown parts of the songs and 40 years later other people will discover more unknown parts.
@@NowhereMan7 don't get me wrong. I know they were appreciated as soon as the songs came out. What I meant was sometimes we miss some details the first time we hear a song..they become more and more noticeable when we hear them again and again.Sometimes someone with good knowledge and a good ear can point out even finer stuff hidden in a song that we ( ok it's me) wouldn't even give a second thought.Even 40 years later.I could be wrong though.. but that's just how things happen to me. Or these kind of videos will become redundant. But they are not !!
Such a good example of why Abba is so great! This makes me want to practice more!
Such catchy bass lines and shows how much the bass influences the sound and feel of a song. Great playing too!