Open strings are a necessity, both as passing tones and transition notes. Learning to mute strings is also a necessity. Example….. play Lynard Skynard, simple man in “ the money area” . Even your fills utilize open strings.
Just doesn't make much sense when the rules are ways to avoid learning your instrument. When the reason you don't play open strings is because you can't mute then YOU SHOULD LEARN HOW TO MUTE STRINGS...
yeah but only when you have a solid foundation..in the beginning as your learning its best to keep it simple...experience helps ...exposing yourself to all genres of music so your put in various situations
She's trying to help the beginning bassist. As someone trying to get it right for over 50 years and still pretty much a beginner, I appreciate her suggestions.
Obviously, practice is critical. But, as my grandfather once wisely advised me about golf, "you gotta make sure you're not practicing your mistakes". THAT'S what this video is about. Practice for practice's sake, is just bullshit.
IKR? And i also think that “ don’t sacrifice a beat for a fill” is BS. You do that to make the beat sound better. But only do fill when you know it’s then right spot
@@thebassguy0513 I guess the operational word that you may have missed here is "sacrifice". There is nothing worse than a drummer or bassplayer playing a frantic out of time fill.
@flmvdvsrg go listen to JPJ from Led Zeppelin and come back. One can totally do many fills in a song and make it sound good. Particularly, go look at the bass tab for "Good Times Bad Times".
I guess as Bass is considered by many as a "simple instrument" (4 strings, not really determined for solo etc...) we, bassists, tend to overdo it a little and losing ourselves with complex fills / inappropriate solos... Keep in mind the basics and your role of timekeeper for your band : You will overhaul the sound of everyone ! Like batman, bassists are "not the hero we deserve, but the hero we need"
It’s not bad to jazz it up a bit. There’s a little known song by Sister Sledge ‘BYOB’. Listen to the bass on certain breaks and verses of that song, jazzy and complimentary if you ask me.
Never in my life have I heard a guitarist being told that they’re way too busy in a band context and tbh many could learn a thing or two about restrain and it shouldn’t just be a bassist only thing. Riding the root Can be boring as f as a listener/player too 🤷🏻♂️ furthermore there’s plenty of people that look at the bass as a compositional instrument instead of a support machine, take a look at Gustavo Santaolalla and the thing he did with his bass vi for the last of us (the choice)
"Don't use open strings" and then the reason showed is that, if you don't mute them, they continue ringing. So, how about, instead of never playing open strings anymore, you learn to mute your damn strings? That's something every bass player should eventually learn to do. So do that, instead of giving up open strings. They have a unique sound. They can be used in many creative ways to improve your playing, or just to make some parts a bit easier to play.
I don't know if that happens to everyone, but I am self learned and probably pretty bad in general, but muting open strings was something that happened naturally and pretty quickly. I didn't even think about it until I could suddenly do that
you can also mute with your picking fingers, it's been so long I don't even recall how I came upon doing this other than likely from mimicking recorded sounds, kind of like figuring out how to get the sound of bass played with a pick while using your fingers
she meant when u play in a gig u need to listen to others for the right timings to merge into the whole presentation. u can still hv life playing urself, then u need jst to enjoy whatever ure doin
Guys look at it like this, you train to do all these fills and extra's and you store that awesomeness somewhere. Those skills are now part of you. Now follow her advise. Keep it tight, clean, and groovy. Find enjoyment in keeping it simple. And when you feel it fits, release some of that awesomeness you have stored within yourself. Do it like this, and you will find you can still rock out but also play in a way that fully fits the song.
I kind of disagree with #1. Open strings have their place, and can be used for great effect. You can control that sustain, it just takes a certain type of technique. I use them fairly often, but I would agree that they should only be used with care, and if you can control the sustain and ringing.
3:56 "And when was the last time you heard a bass solo in a rock or pop tune?" Rancid - Maxwell Murder Deep Purple - Fireball The Allman Brothers - Mountain Jam Dream Theater - Dance of Eternity Cactus - Oleo Yes - The Fish Motorhead - Stay Clean The Winery Dogs - Time Machine Black Sabbath - NIB Primus - Tommy The Cat Cream - Crossroads Rush - YYZ Led Zeppelin - The Lemon Song Metallica - Anesthetisia The Who - My Generation Red Hot Chili Peppers - Can't Stop Red Hot Chili Peppers - Dark Necessities Anything Flea writes... Do I gotta keep going?
The point she is trying to make is that the bass solo in rock or pop music is extremely rare....whereas almost every rock song seems to have a guitar solo.
I agree with your philosophy. Simple bass isn't boring, it's the foundation of the song. That doesn't mean just plucking the root note, but the bassist has a job: you're the rock that holds it all together. It might not be flashy, but that's it. Also keep it low! Up an octave is the 6 string's land, you don't stand out there. Nobody else can play in that octave under that guitar, that's your land. Own it!
Solid information. I'm a self taught bass player and I innately knew not to use open strings (when no necessary) and not to solo but add accents here and there.
I realize these tips are aimed at begginer bass players and that even more experienced ones should always remember to not stray too far from these points. But the emphasis given to these, as if they're hard and fast rules (DON'T DO THIS!!!), just helps to perpetuate the idea that bass is boring. Worse yet, we're there exclusively to perform a function. Might as well use a bass synthesizer on loop for that. I believe the Picasso quote mentioned in another comment is spot on. Use these directions to avoid the common mistakes and being afflicted by the "4-stringed guitarist syndrome", but don't be afraid to break each one of them once you know better. Music is expression. Some is more popular as with everything, but it can never be "wrong".
You can control the sustain even with open strings Edit: before anyone complains, I play the bass. When you play, you lightly rest your fingers on the strings to stop the vibration.
Some of this is good advice for beginners... sometimes. I'm an amateur at bass but have been arranging and composing for ages, and and even at this level I know that a lot of this is very simplistic and often overstates the case. I feel like all of this could be rephrased as "listen to this, think about this, try that" rather than "don't do this". Arbitrary rules are annoying. Guidelines for what to pay attention to are awesome. 1 - Open strings have a unique sound and can be awesome. Be aware not to overuse them. Probably avoid them in a melodic line, because they can't have vibrato. They only wash out like that if you FAIL TO MUTE, which is independent of the use of open strings. Use open strings if they serve the music. Mute well always. 2 - Heavy syncopation can be cool and super groovy, just be sure not to do it more than the music calls for. 3- A lot of famous songs have bass solos and very non-simple basslines. It's good to learn how to groove out with very simple lines first, though. 4- Usually focus on the root, but not ALWAYS ALWAYS. Certainly always know what the root is, and know when you're the only one playing it. (Sometimes the chart specifically has a non-root note for the bass player, even! How exciting!) 5- Up on the fretboard sounds different. Not better, just different. Just be aware of how different passages sound on different strings and choose the strings that ... guess what... SERVE THE MUSIC. My number 6 in this vein for most bassists is TURN YOUR AMP DOWN GODDAMMIT.
I taught Bass Guitar many years ago (1970s/80s) and I swear these were almost the exact same lessons I tried to teach my students. The bass is not a solo instrument (rock blues etc), it's job is to 'hold down the bottom'. Fills are primarily for other instruments. The open string occasionally has it's moment but only rarely, if ever. I remember working with a brilliant young drummer (16) like many Bass players he tried to fill every open spot, it hurt, but like most smart musicians he learned that lesson early on, air...space...less is more. Thanks for the reminders.
@@Zepp710 Yeah, I think it's best to record yourself playing and listen to it because it could be hard to notice how crappy a fill sounds while you're in the moment
Note from Yonit: Hey everyone! Thanks for watching the video :) Just wanted to make a few clarifications! * This video is for beginner / intermediate bass players * Obviously, there’s exception to all my tips (which are not rules!) but these tips should help you when playing with your band. Of course you can play open strings if you can mute them (which is a difficult technique to master if you’re a beginner), of course you can play fills that are well practiced, on time, from the bottom to the very top of your neck and so on. * Always play the root - in the beginning of the bar - you can obviously play any chord tone / mode tone you want after. But not straight at the top. We establish the root and then venture out. Of course you can play inversions but that changes the chord, and you probably should make that decision with your band-members. * I may have said ‘never’ and ‘always’ but this is really me just trying to make a point, don’t take it too literally fellas * This can be applied in many genres, but mostly for mainstream genres such as pop, folk, rock, funk etc. Yes, if you’re playing a progressive-jazz-fusion-hardcore-metal song this might not be the video for you. * Here’s a 6 tip for the brave ones who read all of this - make music to be happier and have fun with other human beings. That’s the point of everything, including this video ;) Peace, love and many low frequencies, Yonit
Hi Yonit. Thanks for reading and responding to the comments your vid has prompted. I appreciate your clarification, it shows you genuinely value feedback and respect the other bassists who took time to comment. Apologies for "jumping the gun", you know what bass players can be like!
Lessonface it’s sad so many people can’t just think a little and realize who the intended audience of the video is. Your video was very clear from the beginning but hopefully those hell bent on arguing will get some clarification here. Great work. Thanks.
Everything here is SPOT ON. I compose and play for a living, all over the world (well, I used to until Covid) and I cannot tell you the number of times we have hired a 'session' player from the local talent pool, and then had to go back in later and re-record the bass line with nearly all the tips you are seeing here. No one here is Jaco, no one here is Geddy, and no one ever will be. If you are a gigging player, and let's face it, bassists can ALWAYS find gigs, then listen and learn.
I Don't master open strings, can't make a neat fill, Don't know my neck although I play for 25 years. Happy to discover I'm a good bass player after all. Thank you.
Geezer Butler played most of his notes above the seventh fret. While Tony Iommi player the lower notes on guitar. It worked quite well for Black Sabbath
This video is not about "How to become Geddy, Flea or any other genius playing in his own band". It's about getting gigs and not being fired if you just want to work as a simple bass player. And it's a good video.
@@Powwer69 what the hell does that have to do with it? He’s saying this because there are tons of comments complaining about how “these aren’t good tips”
She's not teaching anyone to be Victor Wooten. If you are that good you can skip this lesson. She's teaching common sense bass concepts! And she is not wrong in anything that she said. I wish all bass players would know these basic rules. But boy oh boy you should hear some of them playing...songwreck
She is, she's teaching them to be a guitarists background beat not being a bassist. But only standing behind and give the background beat instead of expressing your emotions no your instrument
@@dlawlis its not about it would be a problem to play in the pocket from time to time, but she is telling mostly beginners or intermediates here to step back all the time and not to improve their abilities anymore. You can show this to a guitarists play bass tutorial, but not ti bassists
Although I get what she is trying to teach beginners I do not agree with most of this lesson Everything she said you cannot do , you actually do on bass as long as you do it tastefully , think more in colouring the song than playing parts hold down a great groove it colour when it’s appropriate , I get the whole slap happy tap happy thing and that is a take it or leave it thing for me , but if you explore the instrument as a beginner and you take in all different kinds of music then you will see there are places where these things can be used As far as always playing the root I would disagree with that as well , it does not hurt especially in some intros of songs to play up the neck and play melodic ! Holding the root on a blues shuffle over the 4 creates a great tension in the song waking in those blues changes also is a great groove and colour I don’t know about you guys but the money part of my bass is the whole bass , if you don’t know how to pick and choose right then you get into trouble but that like everything else practice. And practice as much as you can I’m heading into my 46 years of playing professionally and I practice everyday If you stop learning then it’s over
@@antianti328 what are you talking about she says "dont use open strings" and goes out of her way to avoid muting them, even people who have never touched an instrument before figure that out after a few seconds
I didn't get that far in, but I think it means that if you can't stay on beat, don't play the fill. Not that you can't play fills, but don't play fills if you can't play fills on beat. If you can stay in the pocket, then play them to your heart's content.
For what it's worth, I think these are great tips. I'm not a bassist, I'm a drummer, but one of the best bassists I ever played with said, “The only time you notice a bassist is when they make a mistake.”! I think he was exaggerating for effect, but playing flashy rarely serves the song. Same goes for the drums. Our roles are too serve the music, not to impress everyone with our licks, fills and technique. One final comment, there aren't really any rules in music, they're guidelines, and there will always be exceptions. In my fairly extensive experience (over 40 years) good bassists are the rarest of musicians. Too many people treat the bass as either a poor substitute for a guitar or, at the opposite extreme, as a solo instrument. It is neither, it is the heart and soul of a band. Making music is a joyous, communal and social enterprise, it isn't about ego. For me at any rate, the most enjoyable aspect of playing is locking in a groove. The rest is icing on the cake. I'm exaggerating, but if you get the groove you're more than halfway there. Thank you Yonit
Suburban bass players who don't yet have the fundamentals down and watching how-to vids on UA-cam are neither Geddy Lee nor Les Claypool. They had to learn the rules, too, before they learned how far to bend them without breaking them. Learn to play foundational bass before branching off into "lead bass" territory. Even Cliff Burton knew when to scale it back and establish depth and punch before playing "Anesthesia."
@@ttv_mister_vic467 Seriously anyone who picks up a bass for the first time and spends 5 minutes fucking with it will learn this...not a tip, just common sense...you should always ask yourself, does it sound good? If it does then go with it, if it sounds like shit, or not where you like it, of course change it.
@@kimbaptempura4073 well not everyone is a genius like you. Go find someone who has never touched an intrument. Give them a bass and tell them to mess with it for 5 minutes. 90% of the time THEY WILL NOT FIGURE IT OUT. Edit: That's like saying singing in tune is common sense and everyone should know it but we all know not everyone does.
As a piano player, #4 is VERY important. In jazz, the piano player often uses rootless voicings. This means that when there is, say, a C major 7 chord on the chord sheet, the piano player actually plays an E minor 7 chord and allows the bass player to pick up the low C note. This turns the C major 7 into a C major 9 chord, giving it a jazzier feel. If the bass player screws around and doesn't play the root note, the band isn't even playing true to the chord sheet anymore.
But all music isn't jazz...... So stating this a a generic 'law' is bad advice. If you're in a three-piece powertrio, doing something other than chugging root notes is needed to make the composition and sound of your songs interesting. In that case, the bass player can create an inversion on his own as a set up to the next chord in the progression. Better advice would have been to learn WHEN to do this or not and to hold back unless you know it has a desired effect. Your example being a situation where sticking to the root note is essential for the whole band to sound good
@@oilslick7010 The advice still holds for other types of music. No one said that the bass player only should chug root notes, just that they really need to play the root note on the first beat of the chord change.
@@joslinnick No they don't.... ua-cam.com/video/9Vhl5HBS8Nc/v-deo.html Rick Beato shows this very clearly. Starting at 1:26 He's playing the 3rd and 5th through the entire bar and it sounds great. Then coming back to the root at the end of the progression creates a powerful resolution. This is something the Bass player can and should do in power trio's or four-piece bands. This is even more fundamental than some frivolous fill at the end of a bar. If anything, I would sooner advise bass players to skip fills altogether in favour of looking to add more to the harmony side of things... 'Tips' like these don't educate, they merely deny any sort of overall musicianship to the bass player: "Creating and arranging music is for other instrumentalists son, you're just here to provide audible wallpaper. Now go sit in your corner"
@@oilslick7010 this only works because Rick is already playing the chord on guitar. If Rick was soloing through a chord change, would it really be wise for the bass player to be playing thirds and fifths?
@@joslinnick No of course not, but Yonit doesn't mention solo's specifically, she says to never EVER play anything other than root notes Yes, Rick plays a regular chord progression. This is a pretty common phenomenon in various musical styles and during the writing and arranging of songs like these using 3rds and 5ths is a great way to make it interesting and to create inversions in conjunction with the rhythm-guitar player or a keyboard player. Yonit's own demonstration even proves it, because her inversions immediately add tension to an otherwise tepid progression. It only goes 'wrong' when she deliberately plays notes out of the triad and starts noodling excessively.
I totally agree with #2 and #3. The others are good if you don't know the song well. Avoiding open strings is mostly if you can't mute (or end the note quickly). Keeping it Low? That's not possible on Californication by RHCP, and many other songs for that matter.
More like tips for gigging in a pop rock radio friendly band. The tips really apply to most drummers too. Too many fills, extra notes, off beat accents, clashing with the vocals. The bass note colour changes as you play same pitch in the higher frets, use it as a variation to add a fatter tone. I totally agree with the tips if you're playing in my production. Just play smoothly in good time, follow the groove and stick to standard tones and don't stick out unless it's your turn to solo. If you can do that first, good band leaders or producers will consider engaging you.
Fred Google I can't say much about a perceived resistance to instruction based on gender of the instructor. She looks and sounds pleasant, an advantage surely. I feel it's topic encourages discussion and sharing, it's what a teacher would think of bringing up and possibly leave open to debate. Generally, if some one says you "should and should not do this" in the creative arts, they will receive many other viewpoints from everyone. I think the instructor was giving tips on how to get job in working band. That makes sense must if the time. In reality, if we get invited to play, we need to know what and how to play. I was asked to play the bass along with the pipe organ, choir and guitar ensemble, piano in a cathedral, there was no score parts electric bass. I ran through all the scores and created a bass part. It was rather strange sounding on its own. It broke every rule mentioned in the above video, probably because it had to be like a cello part and the tone of the bass playing had to blend with that of the choir. About gender and sexuality? I think not. Women have been professional musicians since pre-classical period. The only thing I can't stand is an uptight female piano teacher who thinks rapping your knuckles with a ruler is going to improve your playing, along with those who frown upon "excessive" vibrato on the violin. :-p Why because most of us guys just want to chill out when we play music.
Yeap, pretty much bad advice on this one, and more so because most are not completely false, but half-truths that create all kinds of misconceptions. Either you will be a beginner and spend years being distracted by such tips before you see the problems behind them, or you may have be just picking up the bass but already have a musical background and it will be immediately obvious how unhelpful they may be. I will elaborate: 1. Possibly the most problematic of the lot. There are tons of bass lines that are written on the assumption that they are playable because the root note lies on the open string, freeing yourself to fret other notes at a different part of the neck. A metal player would probably say "this is like telling me I cannot play the song". Also, this could stifle your creativity: James Jamerson would choose to play on the open string in every available occasion, even if that was mentally harder because his fingers were already in a position to fret the same note elsewhere. In jazzy settings, where you're playing walking bass and don't want to be repetitive, it's a great idea to use open strings as an anchor that provides you with free time to move your hand elsewhere. The worst thing with this tip though is that it is presented as a substitute for learning how to mute strings, which should definitely be one of the first things to practice, if not the very first. There are so many occasions where each note you play should be coordinated with muting the previous one, otherwise you might be playing the "right" notes, but getting a completely wrong vibe, whether you're hitting open strings or not. Other times you may need to fill spaces with ghost notes - even worse, you might have to play them on open strings. I don't see how thinking "I can't mute notes, so I'll just avoid hitting open strings" is going to help you improve. Quite the contrary. 2. As a general rule, this is the most correct one mentioned. It would have been more constructive if it said something like "if and when you decide to do a fill, it's imperative to make sure it matches to the beat of the song". It shouldn't sound like a haphazard set of notes thrown around to prove you can play flashy stuff. Or she could have said "do not throw fills all around a song, find the right place for this". For example, do it when the arrangement leaves open space for that. Her example of doing it wrong was a good one. Drummers need to pay much more attention to this one. 3. This is not completely wrong, but presented in a way that might limit you creativity again. Keeping it simple is a good principle and goes a long way, but great bass lines still tend to deviate from the principle of just following the root note all the time. So sometimes you may be searching for a "better" bass line, whether flashier, or less obvious. Problem is that the more notes you "add", the likelier it becomes to end up with something that sounds busy in a messy and distracting kind of way - yeap, even in funk you need a sense of what is excessive. What seems to work for me is rehearsing the song and playing all the busy stuff you can come up with in order to realize when it becomes excessive and then develop these into simpler, but inventive ideas. Take a busy, but solid line of yours, pick the non-essential notes, simply discard them and maybe use the remaining ones as an arpeggio that forms a creative and surprising bass line. It can carry the song further without making it sound like you're in a bass soloing project. 4. Too much conviction, again: Bassists do have the power to play a note and make it sound like the chord is in a different key. It would kill creativity though if you took it as a rule that you should not do this. Listen to the first bass line in Strawberry Fields Forever when the drums come in, to name only one case. More so, if you follow this tip and don't just stick to the root note on the first beat of a bar, but everywhere, it's almost as if your bass lines are on autopilot. Or if you're trying to play walking bass - even if not in a jazz setting - a frequent tip is the exact opposite: to save your lines from being repetitive and boring, try not to start with the root note in every chord change. Miraculously, it doesn't make it seem like you're playing in a wrong key. Her example of doing it wrong sounds bad mostly because it's not a well-thought-through deviation from the root notes. She could be going up in the chromatic minor scale alright, but playing the root note on the chord change, for example, bringing some life into that dreary backing track. Or she could decide the song needs some ambiguity and start with the fifth note and follow with others in the pentatonic scale, in which case, every next note would slowly clarify the key. It's all about creative choice. Not everyone plays bad renditions of generic pop and rock in their local bar to consider this an imperative. 5. Woah, wait. First tip was not to use open strings, now we have to avoid playing in the upper part of the neck as well? Yeap, there's a difference when playing the same notes higher up the neck. It's completely detrimental though to suggest not to play there instead of saying "you need to understand the difference and play where it seems more appropriate tone-wise". Playing higher up the neck sounds sweeter, less trebly and with looser bass, so it may be ideal in a really soft part of a song, for example. Then, she conflates the issue of playing in a higher octave. Yeah, having the same note in different octaves doesn't mean you have to play all of them, but implying that you should play only in the lowest register is absurd. "You don't want to drop the bass as a bass player" is a completely useless statement without context of what you want to achieve and what the rest of the band is doing. Deviations from this fictitious rule are countless, even in the most pop music out there, but let's suppose that your line happens to be the most melodic thing going on during that part of the song: most bassists would elect to bring this forward to the listener by playing it at a higher register than in the "money making zone". I guess a pretty good tip might be "don't follow tips that you only need to listen to a couple of your favorite songs to see how absurd they are".
As a budding bass player I fully appreciate this video as it provides an elementary baseline for me to learn from. But, more so, I appreciate that you took the time and effort to refute different elements of Ms. Spiegelman's notions set forth in this vid. You provide a wonderful flourish from which to learn and I thank you for that. Rhonda
Technically you have a point but most bands support the advice posted here. Otherwise they will let the keyboard play the baselines. They are tired of guitarists and bass players that only support their own egos and don't care about the songs.
@@fuglbird I guess your comment mainly refers to my point regarding simplicity. I did concede that opting for simpler bass lines often goes a long way. But still, this involves not conflating "simpler" with permanently doing the obvious thing of looking at the base note and religiously sticking to it, as she suggests in this video, dismissing any unexpected choices regarding harmony. Her tips make it seem as if no creative choices should be made at all while playing the bass. Of course I did not delve into what the role of a bass player is in the context of the rhythm section, or the idea of locking in with the drummer, but obviously, answers regarding what degree of complexity is most appropriate lie mostly there and far less into blanket statements creating the impression that you should be playing as uncomplicated stuff as possible. Also, depending on your preferred genres or instrument of choice, there's a lot of bias regarding which players of which instruments support the song and which are all about their egos. You're talking as if you've never heard of a keyboard player overplaying everyone else to sleep. Cheers.
I am a guitar (advanced) player now expanding my horizons to bass....This video is awesome....Keep it simple!!!....No band wants a bass player that sounds like a guitar player...
What if the rhythm guitars are too simple? I think that the busier style of bass fixes that problem. Of course it depends on the song. But I do love counter point. Paul McCartney did well with independent bass melodies. It depends on how much you want to avoid stealing the show from a guitar riff that needs bass presence but room to be the main thing showcased. Open string issues are tied to bad eq issues. By the way, I was enjoying Yonit's busier playing very much, each every time, when suddenly that don't do it sign flashes, then she looks up shaking her head in disapproval of her own awesome playing.
I've been playing for about 30 years, but I'm always looking for tips. IMO, you have to stay humble as a musician. I understand where she's coming from with this info. I have found over the years, that some of these things make sense in certain situations, but I have to respectfully disagree with all of it. Steadfast rules for playing are how boring musicians are created. The fact is, you should do whatever you want. If it ends up sounding bad, do something else, but don't ever say "I cant play these particular things because reasons". The only rules you should truly abide by are use correct, healthy, playing posture and ergonomics that work for YOUR body, and don't play through pain. If you want to play an open G for an entire song for whatever reason, do it. Example: the bass line in Faith No More's Midlife Crisis is almost all just an open E. It was a huge hit, and it sounds amazing. Look it up on youtube.
I agree completely with your respectful disagreement and I'd like to add another tip to bass players (and musicians in general): Hear what you are playing. By saying this I mean if you want to go creative, try to do something that you would like to hear in the song, make it better, make it insteresting, make it get along with the other instruments. And the best way to achieve that is hearing a lot of music and get good taste. Don't play something just because is complicated or because your fingers are used to do it. The goal is to make a song sound the best you can imagine. It takes time and effort but it's worth it.
Jaysson B. This lesson isn't for you. This is a lesson for a beginner. She's totally on the money when it comes to rules of thumb for a beginning bass player. When they get more hours under their belt they can break all the rules and make it nice and spicy. Time and experience tells a good player how and when they can break the rules and not sound like dogshit. Noobs, not so much.
I guess you like melody more. Of course you can do melody with a bass, just lower. But then your role is kind of compromised isn't it? Since you are not outlining the chords. I guess it could really mess up the rest of the band members.
myomai lol same. Was watching on my fire stick and and came to the app just to see if anyone commented this. A good fusion of melody and rhythm are important to me on the bass
the most important thing I first learned about music..it's not what you play...it's what you DONT play. A good lesson in self-discipline. Nice vid Yonit.
Thank you! I’m not a pro nor have I had any training by one. In fact I’m mostly self taught and can’t read a note of music. I play by ear, memory, heart and feel. But I’ve been a firm believer in #5 for decades. My view on playing bass is that I’m a bass player so I should spend 99% of my time where the tones are low. That’s where the real meat of the music is to my ears. So the first 5 frets are where I live so to speak. I call it living in the “bass-ment”. I just make the foundation of low end groove and leave the excess noodling and showing off to guitars. You just got a new subscriber 👍🤘
Great tutorial. I’ll mention the obvious point, there’s exceptions to every rule. Don’t Disturb This Groove, What is Hip, and other classics are examples of bass lines that are beyond simple. Play the root always? Paul McCartney is a master of not playing the root. It’s called an inversion.
So what?" ALWAYS start on the root" will limit a beginner to thinking that is the only correct way to write a bass line. How will they develop the skill and creativity to do otherwise if they think deviating from the root is wrong? This lady has a bad way of explaining what is needed to become a bassist. You never speak in absolutes to a beginner ,you help them see it a continuum ( as a certain rather good bass player once attested to!)
Solid advice for beginners. Many people consider themselves advanced but lack in the fundamentals, so I appreciate her tips. It's always good to be reminded of the fundamentals of bass playing. Sure, once you have the foundations end to end you can start find your expression by breaking the rules, but no great bass player has ever advanced without learning the fundamentals first.
Redding, Simonon, Cupin, Hook, Weymouth, Gordon, James, Pege and many other innovative players would strongly disagree 😉Some people might benefit from gaining a scholastic foundation first, but it's just as likely holding back creative vision.
Well as a person who also studied bass and theory, we've learnt quite the opposite. Music is expressive never try to limit yourself. You don't have to always start on the root note... Inversions, etc are beautiful. You play what the song needs and don't just stifle yourself with all these do's and don'ts...stop making bass seem so boring, it really is quite the opposite. I felt so stifled watching this as a bass teacher.
Show me a "six string" stratocaster(could've swore they all had six strings) that can play the notes of a 4 string bass. It's not just about more notes but the pitch of them also. I mean the only reason most lead guitar isnt "boring" is because they play fast and loud. Other then that it's just flying scales while some guy bops around thinking how cool he is making a racket.
Take it all with a pinch of salt and it's great advice. The morale is play to the song, leave place for the other instruments and enjoy what you do. Good video :)
If all you guys know it????? What are you doing on her page! You think you know. However; you know nothing. Most of the negative ones talk like a bunch of soap opera stars! lmao
allen oertell On her page to see if her tips will make me a better bass player. For some people they may discover they already stick to those ‘rules’. Others may disagree. We all want to improve though so that title draws us in.
You just don't want to admit she is good. Until all of you are successful playing out. I don't believe any of you. A lot of you like to hear yourself talk on here. If, you were that good. You would shut up and take input on any person you can. That is how you be the best. Take your brain and wash it yourself
Glad I found this, I am a typical Root and fifth orientated bass player. I always look for the simplistic way of playing but trying my best to keep it correct. I have on occasion thought of going back to acoustic, often when seeing how complex bass can be played. This guy re enforces my simplistic approach to the bass. Like he says never be afraid to play the root note. Also I find that being a simplistic player I can play far more songs and jam with others on songs I do not know
Responses: Tip 1: "Don't play open strings." Are you kidding me? You've never heard of muting? Or are you into punk? What if you need an open string for a line? What if you need to slap open E? Are you kidding? Tip 2: "Never sacrifice the beat for a fill." The tag of that sentence is "if you've never practiced filling". Yeah, don't try to make up a fill on the fly if you've never practiced filling or are bad at improving. But, that's for, like, ultra beginners. Also, she tries to make a point about possibly playing a fill out of time, which is a fair point, but then demonstrates that and why that's bad by playing a fill in time. This is like talking about not doing three-pointers all the time, trying to flub a three-pointer, and making it anyway. That's less physically possible, but my point still stands. Tip 3: "Keep it simple and consistent." Yeah, if the music you're playing is basic af. I wouldn't try and open up a slapping line on something like "In a Sentimental Mood" or "Livin' La Vida Loca" or "Holy Wars" or some shit. But, come the fuck on, what's the probability someone is going to do that? We're bass players, not gui- I mean, assholes. Come on. Also, "When was the last time you heard a bass solo in a pop or rock tune?" Ok, so fuck "You Can Call Me Al", "Got the Time", "Welcome to Dying", "Eagle Fly Free", "NIB"- you know what, screw this. Also, maybe pop could be innovative for once and welcome bass solos. I mean, "oh no, songs will be longer than two and a half minutes! Whatever shall the music industry do?" Tip 4: "Start on the root note." Fuck bass slides to start songs, amirite? Also, to demonstrate her point, she does the exact opposite, again! Not to mention, since bass players have all the power in this relationship, you can play lead ups to roots or leave the root to play another note in the chord and no one will die, especially if said note leads to the next chord. Like, if one chord is Dm and the next chord is BbM, it is perfectly okay to play A as a lead-up to Bb. This is "how to write an interesting bass line 101". Tip 5: Keep it "down" NO! Yes, we all know notes all sound different depending on where you play them. Sometimes we need to play higher on the neck in order to get a more fluid motion in the left hand. Sometimes, no matter how clear the lower position is, it might not be good for your wrist to play a certain line because of the spread. Maybe you have smaller hands or not very flexible hands and just need to play a bit higher on the neck sometimes. MAYBE YOU WANT TO PLAY A FILL THAT WILL SOUND GOOD HIGHER ON THE BASS, WHICH IS WHY THE RANGE IS SO VAST. I'm pretty sure this chick has issues with bass player that don't play pop or pop rock. Take away: Don't be innovative with your bass playing. Don't do cool shit. Don't try to contribute to the art of playing the instrument or develop yourself as a player. Don't play jazz or fusion, don't play metal, don't play art rock, don't play prog. Go find a bass, play C and G only on the downbeats, and go make a million dollars.
The one and only possible way to answer this is to proclaim you a misogynistic pig. So, you're basically wrong, 'cause you didn't totally agree with one's opinion. Even more, you can't have it at all, if you're a man.
No matter how skillful u are at muting your string, you're never going to have as much control of the note compared to if u play it closed. Its just not physically possible. Especially if youre in a studio. The open note will not sound as clean as a closed note.
But that's kind of the point of these videos, I guess... Even at the beginning you know she's addressing beginning bassists. I know I did too many of these things, badly, when I was in bands. It's important to keep the sights on what is important and what's important is the song and the bass.
"The fact that you've got the information doesn't mean you have to use it all the time"... taking that home after so many years...BRAVO! simple and straight to the point.
Hi funny people, where did she say for pro, Paul from Beatles was amazingly gifted and Professional. This girl is right on! The only thing she might of said which is obvious by the music played, it was not jazz or Fushion it was middle of road playing tips and Root note with most runs under B on E string and across and down, yes the money area of the bass.This Video is obviously for people who want Gigs that pay. And not play like Jaco at day at jam! and kitchenhand at night.
@@derpmancini4269 How so, I know so many musicians who say I have sold out because they would rather wash dishes than play covers, at home I play what I want but for a Gig I will play what the band want. It's like having a problem with the singer(not hard) but they rule the show. So I shut up or leave. Besides she's right and got way too much negativity for saying what she has found in keeping a job, I found the same.
Evracer : Exactly ! I don't know that woman and I suppose she has good intentions, but her arguments are bad. She should say her "don't do that" in front of dozens of famous bassists doing just what she says not to do.
Thanks for the vid. I've been playing for 40 years and I re-learned somethings. I'll be rethinking the length of some of my solos due to what you taught.
I would argue there is a happy medium on your tip #3. First, the electric bass is so much more than just a whole or half note driven percussive chord highlighter for the band. That said, there is room in virtually any musical arrangement for bass infused lead and rhythmic statements in the higher registers of the fretboard. It has absolutely nothing to do with guitar vis a vis bass, or any other instrument normally thought of as the melodic lead voice in a piece. The bass is its own multi-faceted voice, and can very easily transcend from its traditional role as a deep, in-the-pocket, harmonic outline, to a warm and mellow melody maker in any genre of music. As an instructor, I would never stifle the creative, improvisational possibilities of any student. In my opinion, it's more a matter of stressing judgement than laying down an absolute, (which is what I get from your assessment), especially given the immense talent of so many bass players these days. Incidentally, in jazz, the bass has always been a triplet-laden, statement-making, high-octave, soloing beast for decades. I think there is plenty of room in other forms of music as well. In popular music, Bernard Edwards' bass solo in "Good Times" started a musical revolution by lifting just the right amount of arpeggiated bass magic to the front of the stage! Many have followed (very tastefully too, I might add) since then.👑🎸🎵
Busta Bass This lesson is clearly for beginners to intermediate players to help them be HIRABLE, and not firable, working musicians. The type that have no business doing any of the things you’re talking about. As an instructor I am more than happy to stifle “creative” instincts when the player is pooping all over the tune. I doubt she would argue with you when it comes to players who already know and can execute everything she’s saying already.
Tyrion Lannister Absolutely right- so as soon as a bass player is Chris Squire John Entwhistle, they can do whatever the hell they want! This is not an instructional video on how to become a groundbreaking prog bassist in 1973. It’s for aspiring bassists who need to be told not to do stupid things relative to their ability. This reminds me of being 18 in jazz ensemble and some classmate of mine saying “but Miles Davis played whatever he wanted!” when told to contain his playing. #1, What Miles Davis WANTED to play was informed by what he knew better than to play, and more importantly #2, he was Miles f_____g Davis!
Guitars Ruin Lives Nowhere in her tutorial does she specify the content as "for beginners only". Neither does she say if you want work, never extend beyond a basic bassline you beginning bass player you...If I read the title correctly it is designed to make someone, anyone, regardless of skill level or years of playing a better bass player. I totally disagree that someone has to be capable to the level of Miles Davis or, just for the sake of discussion, Jaco Pastorius in order to step out and make a solo statement on this remarkable instrument. Moreover, musical creativity should be encoraged, and admonished with the proper amount of judgment exercised, no matter how long or how well you've been playing. Every musician, teacher or student should recognize that. 👑🎸🎵
Busta Bass I do understand what you mean about creativity and I’m not suggesting you need to be Satch before you can play a solo. I’m saying it would be wise to at least learn “the rules” before you break them. As far as instrument roles, I think at my next band rehearsal I’ll tune my guitar down an octave and see how the bassist likes it. I mean the guitar is an amazing instrument and shouldn’t be limited to just its intended range. Just because I’m a guitarist doesn’t mean I shouldn’t be playing bass lines in he bass register. See how ridiculous that sounds? As far as the “beginner” bit, you’re right it’s not for beginners necessarily. It’s for anyone who doesn’t already know what she’s saying. Let’s be real we ALL know at least one bass player who, despite playing for years, does every single one of the things she cautions you not to do. THOSE are the bassists who need this video!
Guitars Ruin Lives There's nothing profound here. Nor is there a superior inferior dichotomy relative to guitar vis a vis electric bass in playing any form of music. Not sure what your point is relative to tuning, but there is nothing sacrosanct about the various parts in a musical composition. Further, I'm not convinced that bass players need to be schooled on how to play, what to play and when to play it...any more than guitar, keyboard board, or drummers need it. As for the "begiiners bit", it was the flawed attempt at argument in response to my take on the tutorial. It won't win you any support from those of us who greatly appreciate, and will always express the true versatility of the electric bass.
Thanks, good tip about not playing open strings. I was confused about this. I just started learning and I have two tabs for When I Come Around by Green Day. One has open strings in the tab, but the other tab version shows the same notes as fretted. I wasn't sure which one would be best (but I started learning the tab version any way because its a Guitar Pro file as opposed to Ultimate Guitar Tabs.
Tip #5...see, I prefer to stay on the E and A strings primarily because I think it sounds fuller and more consistent, e.g. I'll play the E on the A string rather than on the D string.
Why would a song ever require "only" open strings? I have some spacey and slap riffs that constantly use one or two open strings in them, but the majority of the notes are almost always going to be fretted. That said, her tip needed to be explained better. I think she was just referring to what newbs should do in order to avoid excessive sustain and the poor tone that open strings often give.
Bruce Bass do you have any examples of a song that requires only open strings? Cause it seems like a sound tip to me that offers way more control of the feel of the note. That said there's nothing wrong with open string notes so long as proper muting technique is involved on that string when moving to a note on a different string
Sean Bent : If you read my reply, I started it with FOR EXAMPLE. It wasn’t to be taken literally. She said to use open string(s) in the scenario she presented. This isn’t true. A good bassist will play what the song requires. If it’s open strings, so be it.
Excellent !!! One of the best bass clinics I have ever seen. Bass is a different instrument than a guitar. Thank for showing this. You are an amazing player.
@@sylar0123456 depends on the song and genre really, but when a funky bass line ruins a song it's not that the bass line is bad but that the guitar (and the piano) line don't sound well with the bassline, if the guitarist (and the pianist) adjust their lines to the bass line it'll modt likely sound bombing
I'm a long time guitar player who recently got into bass. I learned pretty quickly how using notes sparingly can be a powerful thing. Also about open strings (not as much control). These are all great tips, thanks.
Muting for controlling ringing? Not only for open strings but even fretted strings. How can you omit something so obvious? Other than that, she is obviously a competent player. To be able to demonstrate things not to do is a great skill in itself.
Open strings are perfectly fine. Upright bass players use them all the time cause they sound good and because of limits that instrument has. Why wouldn t I as electric bass player use open strings ? I have a 5 string bass, so I have the option not to play open strings and some lower notes are also at my disposal.
You are 100% on point. On electric bass we have frets that enable us to play in tune. :) Tone color is somewhat different on open string vs fretted lower string. On low B string 10th fret is the same A that is on 5 fret of E string or open A, but timbre changes.
Upright bass has a shorter sustain when you play pizzicato on an open string, while an open string on bass guitar a plucked open string can last up to +1/2 minute being sustained.. switching between an open-string note and a fretted note during a relatively fast riff would require you to mute that open-string note, which would in turn not be possible without muting with your left hand fingers (which would not be possible if you were playing a fast riff) or muting it with either your unused right hand finger or palm (if you are fast enough to not screw up your alternate plucking or whatever). Open strings are fine when the situation is favourable in terms of tempo or if the range you are playing in does not clash with the tone sound of the overall part.
I have only been playing bass for a short time and already I know this is realllllly not the video for teaching. Mainly because A) Open string is good with muting technique and Les Claypool and half of the 70s and 80s will agree with me on that. B) The Fills thing.......one band.......Metallica. End of story. C) Keep it simple? Do jazz musicians keep it simple? Did the band for Outkast keep it simple? Did Daft Punk keep it simple? Did Les Claypool keep it simple? KoRn and nu-metal DEFINATELY dont keep it simple. Be creative.
I’ve been playing bass for 10 years and I still look for new tips and tricks to learn because you can never stop learning. But I felt like this video is telling you to keep your playing pretty restrictive and kinda sucks the fun out of it. From what it looks like, she’s a very skilled bassist but I gotta say it doesn’t seem like it’s very fun for her. I’d say tip #6 is to have fun when you’re playing and always strive to learn something new about how you play regardless how long you’ve been playing
She is definitely not self taught. You can get this stuff from a college course. That's where all the hard line do's and don'ts come from. She is good but, she is just repeating .All the greats were self taught... that is where artistry is born.
It depends. She's in the "play it safe" area. If you try to do the awesome don'ts you might eventually fail and not be doing really anything awesome. When you are advanced and experienced, then your chances increase, because you're playing your notes on time.
Maybe this would be useful for an absolute beginner. But if I had her as a teacher I'd have never stuck to bass. I don't advise anyone to follow this advice. Any of it really. (No open strings? Really? Play open strings people, just mute em when you're done with em.) Scott's Bass Lessons is what I'd be YouTubing for some good bass tips. Inspiration is the important bit. Do what you love while you learn. Then when you join a band do what the music and situation calls for. Do what will pull the band together best and strengthen the overall sound and groove. Don't be afraid to venture round the fretboard and don't feel bad for playing roots. No one's going to care how you do it, they just want you to groove good.
+Brock :LOL Scott's Bass Lessons...for some good bass tips. Yeah. like wearing gloves while you're playing. [Don't do this at the gig.] And make sure you own about eight Fender Precision Basses. Yeah. They're great bass tips. After reading wour posting, I'd say you've never ever played in a band before. I suggest you give up the bass and become a comedian instead. You certainly made me laugh. Hahahahahahaha!!!!
That's why I love playing bass. I can bully other musician on stage. Like say if the piano or guitar plays Am there they goes with A C E but I as the bass player play F instead there goes their Am changed into Fmaj7. Is it practical? Weirdly sometime it is. We just have to find the appropriate time and situation for it. Just don't overuse it so that we'll not get fired from that Saturday night cafe gig. Lol
Want to learn more? Check out Yonit's booking page at www.lessonface.com/instructor/yonit-spiegelman
“Learn the rules like a pro, so you can break them like an artist.”
― Pablo Picasso
Tip #1 should be "mute any strings you aren't currently playing," that's what fixes the issue of strings ringing out as you play.
Exactly. Play frets when you need that sound or control.
I'm a beginner d'you do that by using your thumb?
@@Dicko1 Use any part of either hand you have free
@@Dicko1 both hands. Eventually it comes naturally
Open strings are a necessity, both as passing tones and transition notes. Learning to mute strings is also a necessity. Example….. play Lynard Skynard, simple man in “ the money area” . Even your fills utilize open strings.
The thing about rules is knowing when to break them.
stub mandrel #GoldenChild
Just doesn't make much sense when the rules are ways to avoid learning your instrument. When the reason you don't play open strings is because you can't mute then YOU SHOULD LEARN HOW TO MUTE STRINGS...
That really is next-level life advice. Seriously.
yeah but only when you have a solid foundation..in the beginning as your learning its best to keep it simple...experience helps ...exposing yourself to all genres of music so your put in various situations
Amen
She's trying to help the beginning bassist. As someone trying to get it right for over 50 years and still pretty much a beginner, I appreciate her suggestions.
Playing open strings is great. Lets you itch your nose, mid song, while you're playing a gig.
And have a beer!
Scratch, not itch.
Jakey C Been there, done that!
Still kinda hard to snort coke tho.
You can smoke!
"The band members are giving you nasty faces"
Me, alone sitting on my bed in a hoodie playing bass: 👁👄👁
Felt
👍😄🇩🇪
1) Practice
2) Practice
3) Practice
4) Practice
5) Have abnormally long fingers
MarklarsonTube Lmao im so lucky with the fingers I've got. Perfect for my guitar and bass playing
MarklarsonTube Lmao im so lucky with the fingers I've got. Perfect for my guitar and bass playing
@@t-wrecks6060 same
Obviously, practice is critical. But, as my grandfather once wisely advised me about golf, "you gotta make sure you're not practicing your mistakes".
THAT'S what this video is about. Practice for practice's sake, is just bullshit.
True
1.Keep It simple
2.Don't miss the beat
3.Count your money
"count your fills" HA
Billy fans in here omg
4.Brag like a Girl xP
That's how I like to play.
"never use open strings"
Metal songs in E standard: Am I a joke to you?
IKR? And i also think that “ don’t sacrifice a beat for a fill” is BS. You do that to make the beat sound better. But only do fill when you know it’s then right spot
she's just afraid of things she cant play
flmvdvsrg she isn't muting the strings when she plays the open notes, of course it's gonna sound muddy
@@thebassguy0513 I guess the operational word that you may have missed here is "sacrifice". There is nothing worse than a drummer or bassplayer playing a frantic out of time fill.
@flmvdvsrg go listen to JPJ from Led Zeppelin and come back. One can totally do many fills in a song and make it sound good. Particularly, go look at the bass tab for "Good Times Bad Times".
"With great power come great responsibility" never thought I would hear this quote in a bass tutorial
@VnM a4acre haha nice! I think now I know who her friendly neighbourhood is
I know so many bass players who break the rules. And guess what? they are my favourites.
We need rules so we can break them
“when was the last time you heard a bass solo in a rock or pop tune?”
**rancid, the violent femmes, and red hot chili peppers have entered the chat**
primus
I dont know if count but the bass line of "the chain" could be a great solo
Tool?
They have specific sections for that though. If you so that anythime it sounds awful.
@@richardroberson2564 yeah. If you just slam it into another section it will sound garbage
I guess as Bass is considered by many as a "simple instrument" (4 strings, not really determined for solo etc...) we, bassists, tend to overdo it a little and losing ourselves with complex fills / inappropriate solos... Keep in mind the basics and your role of timekeeper for your band : You will overhaul the sound of everyone ! Like batman, bassists are "not the hero we deserve, but the hero we need"
It’s not bad to jazz it up a bit. There’s a little known song by Sister Sledge ‘BYOB’. Listen to the bass on certain breaks and verses of that song, jazzy and complimentary if you ask me.
Never in my life have I heard a guitarist being told that they’re way too busy in a band context and tbh many could learn a thing or two about restrain and it shouldn’t just be a bassist only thing. Riding the root Can be boring as f as a listener/player too 🤷🏻♂️ furthermore there’s plenty of people that look at the bass as a compositional instrument instead of a support machine, take a look at Gustavo Santaolalla and the thing he did with his bass vi for the last of us (the choice)
Using open notes like that is fine as long as have good muting technique.
Just what i was thinking Leo. In fact you could argue against ALL the points in this vid tbh.
I play open strings a lot and...off course...have a great muting technique :o) So...it works if you know how to do it.
Well then, I wonder how she plays an open E elsewhere on the fretboard. 🙄
mrottomaddox mute with your thumb if its resting at the top of the pickup? :/
Facts
"Don't use open strings" and then the reason showed is that, if you don't mute them, they continue ringing. So, how about, instead of never playing open strings anymore, you learn to mute your damn strings? That's something every bass player should eventually learn to do. So do that, instead of giving up open strings. They have a unique sound. They can be used in many creative ways to improve your playing, or just to make some parts a bit easier to play.
I don't know if that happens to everyone, but I am self learned and probably pretty bad in general, but muting open strings was something that happened naturally and pretty quickly. I didn't even think about it until I could suddenly do that
you can also mute with your picking fingers, it's been so long I don't even recall how I came upon doing this other than likely from mimicking recorded sounds, kind of like figuring out how to get the sound of bass played with a pick while using your fingers
milou80 damn, nice dissertation, that would have taken me hours to put all that into words.
Not even "eventually" it should be one of the fundamental early techniques to learn.
Exactly!
It sounds like those rules are coming from lead guitarist or singers)
couldn’t have said it better
Signers or singers ?
more like it's coming from producers
THIS
EXACTLY
#1- Learn the notes of the fretboard. #2- Ear training
That's a little simplistic, considering it ignores technique, which is arguably more important on the bass than on the chording instruments.
Tom Tobin #3 have fun
#4 get on UA-cam and crap on other bass players.
Simplistic? What you're describing is what guitar playing weenies do. Players who are all technique and no personality.
#5 be a typical youtube rock musician "know it all" and have your 2 sense worth
I love the face this instructor makes when doing the "don't do this" segments. GOLD.
No doubt you have skill, but I feel like everything you told me not to do, is exactly the reason why I play bass.. life has no meaning now.
I think the odd fill is good because it takes the mundane feeling out of the bass.
she meant when u play in a gig u need to listen to others for the right timings to merge into the whole presentation. u can still hv life playing urself, then u need jst to enjoy whatever ure doin
Guys look at it like this, you train to do all these fills and extra's and you store that awesomeness somewhere. Those skills are now part of you. Now follow her advise. Keep it tight, clean, and groovy. Find enjoyment in keeping it simple. And when you feel it fits, release some of that awesomeness you have stored within yourself. Do it like this, and you will find you can still rock out but also play in a way that fully fits the song.
literally
I kind of disagree with #1. Open strings have their place, and can be used for great effect. You can control that sustain, it just takes a certain type of technique. I use them fairly often, but I would agree that they should only be used with care, and if you can control the sustain and ringing.
might be different styles, and preferences. i was tripping over it too
@@johnathansaenz672 totally preference... Presented as fact, so I had to disagree... Lol
I disagree with all of them
Pearl jam alot of open strings.you listen and u can hear them.brighter sound but they gotta be tempered.
3:56 "And when was the last time you heard a bass solo in a rock or pop tune?"
Rancid - Maxwell Murder
Deep Purple - Fireball
The Allman Brothers - Mountain Jam
Dream Theater - Dance of Eternity
Cactus - Oleo
Yes - The Fish
Motorhead - Stay Clean
The Winery Dogs - Time Machine
Black Sabbath - NIB
Primus - Tommy The Cat
Cream - Crossroads
Rush - YYZ
Led Zeppelin - The Lemon Song
Metallica - Anesthetisia
The Who - My Generation
Red Hot Chili Peppers - Can't Stop
Red Hot Chili Peppers - Dark Necessities
Anything Flea writes...
Do I gotta keep going?
I love the bass solo in GOAT from polyphia
Blink 182 - Don’t leave me
How many of those were top 10 hits??
The point she is trying to make is that the bass solo in rock or pop music is extremely rare....whereas almost every rock song seems to have a guitar solo.
@@matthewd6306 who cares about hits? I only care about whether I like the music or not
I agree with your philosophy. Simple bass isn't boring, it's the foundation of the song. That doesn't mean just plucking the root note, but the bassist has a job: you're the rock that holds it all together. It might not be flashy, but that's it.
Also keep it low! Up an octave is the 6 string's land, you don't stand out there. Nobody else can play in that octave under that guitar, that's your land. Own it!
Solid information. I'm a self taught bass player and I innately knew not to use open strings (when no necessary) and not to solo but add accents here and there.
I realize these tips are aimed at begginer bass players and that even more experienced ones should always remember to not stray too far from these points.
But the emphasis given to these, as if they're hard and fast rules (DON'T DO THIS!!!), just helps to perpetuate the idea that bass is boring. Worse yet, we're there exclusively to perform a function. Might as well use a bass synthesizer on loop for that.
I believe the Picasso quote mentioned in another comment is spot on. Use these directions to avoid the common mistakes and being afflicted by the "4-stringed guitarist syndrome", but don't be afraid to break each one of them once you know better.
Music is expression. Some is more popular as with everything, but it can never be "wrong".
You can control the sustain even with open strings
Edit: before anyone complains, I play the bass. When you play, you lightly rest your fingers on the strings to stop the vibration.
True, you can do a lot of thing.
This is aimed for beginners, tho.
For beginners i would recommend to not play open strings as well.
Even the "Don't do This" stuff sounds good when you do it!
Yeah 🤣
Some of this is good advice for beginners... sometimes. I'm an amateur at bass but have been arranging and composing for ages, and and even at this level I know that a lot of this is very simplistic and often overstates the case. I feel like all of this could be rephrased as "listen to this, think about this, try that" rather than "don't do this". Arbitrary rules are annoying. Guidelines for what to pay attention to are awesome.
1 - Open strings have a unique sound and can be awesome. Be aware not to overuse them. Probably avoid them in a melodic line, because they can't have vibrato. They only wash out like that if you FAIL TO MUTE, which is independent of the use of open strings. Use open strings if they serve the music. Mute well always.
2 - Heavy syncopation can be cool and super groovy, just be sure not to do it more than the music calls for.
3- A lot of famous songs have bass solos and very non-simple basslines. It's good to learn how to groove out with very simple lines first, though.
4- Usually focus on the root, but not ALWAYS ALWAYS. Certainly always know what the root is, and know when you're the only one playing it. (Sometimes the chart specifically has a non-root note for the bass player, even! How exciting!)
5- Up on the fretboard sounds different. Not better, just different. Just be aware of how different passages sound on different strings and choose the strings that ... guess what... SERVE THE MUSIC.
My number 6 in this vein for most bassists is TURN YOUR AMP DOWN GODDAMMIT.
u add me on Facebook dear
🤟🏼
I taught Bass Guitar many years ago (1970s/80s) and I swear these were almost the exact same lessons I tried to teach my students. The bass is not a solo instrument (rock blues etc), it's job is to 'hold down the bottom'. Fills are primarily for other instruments. The open string occasionally has it's moment but only rarely, if ever. I remember working with a brilliant young drummer (16) like many Bass players he tried to fill every open spot, it hurt, but like most smart musicians he learned that lesson early on, air...space...less is more. Thanks for the reminders.
Some of the best bass in songs I listen to use the techniques she is teaching against.
you missed the point. Fills are fine if you hit the beat
@@Zepp710 Yeah, I think it's best to record yourself playing and listen to it because it could be hard to notice how crappy a fill sounds while you're in the moment
@@sunnym1821 this is also true... Record... Record... Record.... And playback....
You need to know what the rules are before you can break them
@@Zepp710 it can sound badass too if you miss the "one" but quickly get back in line....it's called playing "over the barline".
Note from Yonit:
Hey everyone! Thanks for watching the video :) Just wanted to make a few clarifications!
* This video is for beginner / intermediate bass players
* Obviously, there’s exception to all my tips (which are not rules!) but these tips should help you when playing with your band. Of course you can play open strings if you can mute them (which is a difficult technique to master if you’re a beginner), of course you can play fills that are well practiced, on time, from the bottom to the very top of your neck and so on.
* Always play the root - in the beginning of the bar - you can obviously play any chord tone / mode tone you want after. But not straight at the top. We establish the root and then venture out. Of course you can play inversions but that changes the chord, and you probably should make that decision with your band-members.
* I may have said ‘never’ and ‘always’ but this is really me just trying to make a point, don’t take it too literally fellas
* This can be applied in many genres, but mostly for mainstream genres such as pop, folk, rock, funk etc. Yes, if you’re playing a progressive-jazz-fusion-hardcore-metal song this might not be the video for you.
* Here’s a 6 tip for the brave ones who read all of this - make music to be happier and have fun with other human beings. That’s the point of everything, including this video ;)
Peace, love and many low frequencies,
Yonit
Hi Yonit. Thanks for reading and responding to the comments your vid has prompted. I appreciate your clarification, it shows you genuinely value feedback and respect the other bassists who took time to comment.
Apologies for "jumping the gun", you know what bass players can be like!
Lessonface it’s sad so many people can’t just think a little and realize who the intended audience of the video is. Your video was very clear from the beginning but hopefully those hell bent on arguing will get some clarification here. Great work. Thanks.
Omg i love so much your video, thanks, this will really help me. Kisses from Brasil ;)
i may have said never and always...i also may have meant would instead of wouldn't
Elieser Cedano exactly. The bottom line is that people either are determined to understand or determined to misunderstand.
This is not "how to be a good bass player" this is "how to be populer music basser"
Thankyou , as a guitarist who wants to take on bass to get a more complete appreciation of songs , your tips are “great” 🇦🇺
"Don't do this"
*purposely plays sloppy and out of time*
With the faces added really enjoyed that
Yeh the purposely bad faces lol
Much agreed
Doesn't even discuss muting the strings, lmao.
It is like a informercial
be a servant of the song, not a showcase of your skills basically
ThatOne Ginger what’s so wrong with that? Paul McCartney was an incredible bassist and he never was doing bass solos.
Exactly , just do your job...
The song first!
All of good bass players know the virtue of self discipline. If you dont think so you will be just another bedroom playing hero
Jpkrao have you even heard Hey Bulldog or Something?
"Don't do this"
*Outshines guitar*
Everything here is SPOT ON. I compose and play for a living, all over the world (well, I used to until Covid) and I cannot tell you the number of times we have hired a 'session' player from the local talent pool, and then had to go back in later and re-record the bass line with nearly all the tips you are seeing here. No one here is Jaco, no one here is Geddy, and no one ever will be. If you are a gigging player, and let's face it, bassists can ALWAYS find gigs, then listen and learn.
Open strings are OK, just need muting when going to tne next position
@Zarozapa CnJ but if you want to be a better bass player you can not avoid to do something just because is less easy
I Don't master open strings, can't make a neat fill, Don't know my neck although I play for 25 years. Happy to discover I'm a good bass player after all. Thank you.
Geezer Butler played most of his notes above the seventh fret. While Tony Iommi player the lower notes on guitar. It worked quite well for Black Sabbath
Yeah and it's essential for a guitarist and a bass player to lock in to be able to play while giving each other room
Geezer would thank her for the video . But if you are apart a band sold over 20 million ablum's your doing some fucking thing right
He sure stayed below the 7th fret for 'Symptom of the Universe' one of the heaviest riffs around.
This video is not about "How to become Geddy, Flea or any other genius playing in his own band". It's about getting gigs and not being fired if you just want to work as a simple bass player. And it's a good video.
And the white knight has entered the chat
@@Powwer69 what the hell does that have to do with it? He’s saying this because there are tons of comments complaining about how “these aren’t good tips”
5:30 you can go to any other instrument, literally any other instrument.
*Plays double bass*
She's not teaching anyone to be Victor Wooten. If you are that good you can skip this lesson. She's teaching common sense bass concepts! And she is not wrong in anything that she said.
I wish all bass players would know these basic rules. But boy oh boy you should hear some of them playing...songwreck
She is, she's teaching them to be a guitarists background beat not being a bassist. But only standing behind and give the background beat instead of expressing your emotions no your instrument
@@DeeepBeeep Heaven forbid that a bassist play in the pocket.
@@dlawlis its not about it would be a problem to play in the pocket from time to time, but she is telling mostly beginners or intermediates here to step back all the time and not to improve their abilities anymore.
You can show this to a guitarists play bass tutorial, but not ti bassists
@@DeeepBeeep exactly. Which is strange, since she shows a very good knowledge of her instrument
Although I get what she is trying to teach beginners I do not agree with most of this lesson
Everything she said you cannot do , you actually do on bass as long as you do it tastefully , think more in colouring the song than playing parts hold down a great groove it colour when it’s appropriate , I get the whole slap happy tap happy thing and that is a take it or leave it thing for me , but if you explore the instrument as a beginner and you take in all different kinds of music then you will see there are places where these things can be used
As far as always playing the root I would disagree with that as well , it does not hurt especially in some intros of songs to play up the neck and play melodic ! Holding the root on a blues shuffle over the 4 creates a great tension in the song waking in those blues changes also is a great groove and colour
I don’t know about you guys but the money part of my bass is the whole bass , if you don’t know how to pick and choose right then you get into trouble but that like everything else practice. And practice as much as you can
I’m heading into my 46 years of playing professionally and I practice everyday
If you stop learning then it’s over
"never play open strings, I'll show you why..."
...doesn't mute the notes 🤦🏻♂️
riGHT ??!
That's the point
title - be dont do these things and you'll be a better bass player lol.
@@antianti328 what are you talking about
she says "dont use open strings" and goes out of her way to avoid muting them, even people who have never touched an instrument before figure that out after a few seconds
You do realize that not muting is a very very common mistake among beginners, right??? Not everyone starts out as an expert like you
Brand new base player here. I can't emphasize how down to earth and straight your points and teaching style are. Thank you so much!
Never sacrifice the beat for the fill - there goes jazz LOL 😂
She said Rock or Pop! Pay Attention. Jazz is either.
My guitarist can keep the beat with his lower tone rythm while I'm doing my bass-off fill on my higher fret.
That's sounds great....
Now and then I believe it sounds good. So he is doing your primary job for a good fill.
But you are not really a beginner, or?
I didn't get that far in, but I think it means that if you can't stay on beat, don't play the fill. Not that you can't play fills, but don't play fills if you can't play fills on beat. If you can stay in the pocket, then play them to your heart's content.
For what it's worth, I think these are great tips. I'm not a bassist, I'm a drummer, but one of the best bassists I ever played with said, “The only time you notice a bassist is when they make a mistake.”! I think he was exaggerating for effect, but playing flashy rarely serves the song. Same goes for the drums. Our roles are too serve the music, not to impress everyone with our licks, fills and technique. One final comment, there aren't really any rules in music, they're guidelines, and there will always be exceptions. In my fairly extensive experience (over 40 years) good bassists are the rarest of musicians. Too many people treat the bass as either a poor substitute for a guitar or, at the opposite extreme, as a solo instrument. It is neither, it is the heart and soul of a band. Making music is a joyous, communal and social enterprise, it isn't about ego. For me at any rate, the most enjoyable aspect of playing is locking in a groove. The rest is icing on the cake. I'm exaggerating, but if you get the groove you're more than halfway there. Thank you Yonit
How very true. These youtube videos rarely talk about serving the song. I've rarely learned anything from someone else's parlor tricks.
When was the last time you heard a bass playing like a lead?
New Order's entire catalogue, basically.
Or half of Rush career
Literally primus
Suburban bass players who don't yet have the fundamentals down and watching how-to vids on UA-cam are neither Geddy Lee nor Les Claypool. They had to learn the rules, too, before they learned how far to bend them without breaking them.
Learn to play foundational bass before branching off into "lead bass" territory. Even Cliff Burton knew when to scale it back and establish depth and punch before playing "Anesthesia."
James Jamerson, Carol Kaye and their inspired imitators. Jack Cassidy. Whoever played on many of Serge Gainsbourg's pop hits.
There once was a guy named Lemmy...
and there never will be again.
Great tips . I keep
Listening basically “ I know you are good but stop showing off and keep the bit, that’s what we want “ . Makes a lot of sense
You can play with open strings just mute them when you’re done 😂 it’s called don’t be dumb
Exactly!
@@ttv_mister_vic467 Seriously anyone who picks up a bass for the first time and spends 5 minutes fucking with it will learn this...not a tip, just common sense...you should always ask yourself, does it sound good? If it does then go with it, if it sounds like shit, or not where you like it, of course change it.
@@kimbaptempura4073 well not everyone is a genius like you. Go find someone who has never touched an intrument. Give them a bass and tell them to mess with it for 5 minutes. 90% of the time THEY WILL NOT FIGURE IT OUT.
Edit: That's like saying singing in tune is common sense and everyone should know it but we all know not everyone does.
"And when was the last time you heard a bass solo in a rock or pop tune?"
cliff burton: HOLD MY BEER
So a long time ago?
40 yrs ago
As a piano player, #4 is VERY important. In jazz, the piano player often uses rootless voicings. This means that when there is, say, a C major 7 chord on the chord sheet, the piano player actually plays an E minor 7 chord and allows the bass player to pick up the low C note. This turns the C major 7 into a C major 9 chord, giving it a jazzier feel. If the bass player screws around and doesn't play the root note, the band isn't even playing true to the chord sheet anymore.
But all music isn't jazz...... So stating this a a generic 'law' is bad advice. If you're in a three-piece powertrio, doing something other than chugging root notes is needed to make the composition and sound of your songs interesting. In that case, the bass player can create an inversion on his own as a set up to the next chord in the progression. Better advice would have been to learn WHEN to do this or not and to hold back unless you know it has a desired effect. Your example being a situation where sticking to the root note is essential for the whole band to sound good
@@oilslick7010 The advice still holds for other types of music. No one said that the bass player only should chug root notes, just that they really need to play the root note on the first beat of the chord change.
@@joslinnick No they don't....
ua-cam.com/video/9Vhl5HBS8Nc/v-deo.html
Rick Beato shows this very clearly. Starting at 1:26 He's playing the 3rd and 5th through the entire bar and it sounds great. Then coming back to the root at the end of the progression creates a powerful resolution.
This is something the Bass player can and should do in power trio's or four-piece bands. This is even more fundamental than some frivolous fill at the end of a bar. If anything, I would sooner advise bass players to skip fills altogether in favour of looking to add more to the harmony side of things... 'Tips' like these don't educate, they merely deny any sort of overall musicianship to the bass player: "Creating and arranging music is for other instrumentalists son, you're just here to provide audible wallpaper. Now go sit in your corner"
@@oilslick7010 this only works because Rick is already playing the chord on guitar. If Rick was soloing through a chord change, would it really be wise for the bass player to be playing thirds and fifths?
@@joslinnick No of course not, but Yonit doesn't mention solo's specifically, she says to never EVER play anything other than root notes
Yes, Rick plays a regular chord progression. This is a pretty common phenomenon in various musical styles and during the writing and arranging of songs like these using 3rds and 5ths is a great way to make it interesting and to create inversions in conjunction with the rhythm-guitar player or a keyboard player.
Yonit's own demonstration even proves it, because her inversions immediately add tension to an otherwise tepid progression. It only goes 'wrong' when she deliberately plays notes out of the triad and starts noodling excessively.
I totally agree with #2 and #3. The others are good if you don't know the song well. Avoiding open strings is mostly if you can't mute (or end the note quickly). Keeping it Low? That's not possible on Californication by RHCP, and many other songs for that matter.
More like tips for gigging in a pop rock radio friendly band. The tips really apply to most drummers too. Too many fills, extra notes, off beat accents, clashing with the vocals. The bass note colour changes as you play same pitch in the higher frets, use it as a variation to add a fatter tone. I totally agree with the tips if you're playing in my production. Just play smoothly in good time, follow the groove and stick to standard tones and don't stick out unless it's your turn to solo. If you can do that first, good band leaders or producers will consider engaging you.
Fred Google I can't say much about a perceived resistance to instruction based on gender of the instructor. She looks and sounds pleasant, an advantage surely. I feel it's topic encourages discussion and sharing, it's what a teacher would think of bringing up and possibly leave open to debate. Generally, if some one says you "should and should not do this" in the creative arts, they will receive many other viewpoints from everyone. I think the instructor was giving tips on how to get job in working band. That makes sense must if the time. In reality, if we get invited to play, we need to know what and how to play. I was asked to play the bass along with the pipe organ, choir and guitar ensemble, piano in a cathedral, there was no score parts electric bass. I ran through all the scores and created a bass part. It was rather strange sounding on its own. It broke every rule mentioned in the above video, probably because it had to be like a cello part and the tone of the bass playing had to blend with that of the choir. About gender and sexuality? I think not. Women have been professional musicians since pre-classical period. The only thing I can't stand is an uptight female piano teacher who thinks rapping your knuckles with a ruler is going to improve your playing, along with those who frown upon "excessive" vibrato on the violin. :-p Why because most of us guys just want to chill out when we play music.
Yeap, pretty much bad advice on this one, and more so because most are not completely false, but half-truths that create all kinds of misconceptions. Either you will be a beginner and spend years being distracted by such tips before you see the problems behind them, or you may have be just picking up the bass but already have a musical background and it will be immediately obvious how unhelpful they may be. I will elaborate:
1. Possibly the most problematic of the lot. There are tons of bass lines that are written on the assumption that they are playable because the root note lies on the open string, freeing yourself to fret other notes at a different part of the neck. A metal player would probably say "this is like telling me I cannot play the song". Also, this could stifle your creativity: James Jamerson would choose to play on the open string in every available occasion, even if that was mentally harder because his fingers were already in a position to fret the same note elsewhere. In jazzy settings, where you're playing walking bass and don't want to be repetitive, it's a great idea to use open strings as an anchor that provides you with free time to move your hand elsewhere.
The worst thing with this tip though is that it is presented as a substitute for learning how to mute strings, which should definitely be one of the first things to practice, if not the very first. There are so many occasions where each note you play should be coordinated with muting the previous one, otherwise you might be playing the "right" notes, but getting a completely wrong vibe, whether you're hitting open strings or not. Other times you may need to fill spaces with ghost notes - even worse, you might have to play them on open strings. I don't see how thinking "I can't mute notes, so I'll just avoid hitting open strings" is going to help you improve. Quite the contrary.
2. As a general rule, this is the most correct one mentioned. It would have been more constructive if it said something like "if and when you decide to do a fill, it's imperative to make sure it matches to the beat of the song". It shouldn't sound like a haphazard set of notes thrown around to prove you can play flashy stuff. Or she could have said "do not throw fills all around a song, find the right place for this". For example, do it when the arrangement leaves open space for that. Her example of doing it wrong was a good one. Drummers need to pay much more attention to this one.
3. This is not completely wrong, but presented in a way that might limit you creativity again. Keeping it simple is a good principle and goes a long way, but great bass lines still tend to deviate from the principle of just following the root note all the time. So sometimes you may be searching for a "better" bass line, whether flashier, or less obvious. Problem is that the more notes you "add", the likelier it becomes to end up with something that sounds busy in a messy and distracting kind of way - yeap, even in funk you need a sense of what is excessive. What seems to work for me is rehearsing the song and playing all the busy stuff you can come up with in order to realize when it becomes excessive and then develop these into simpler, but inventive ideas. Take a busy, but solid line of yours, pick the non-essential notes, simply discard them and maybe use the remaining ones as an arpeggio that forms a creative and surprising bass line. It can carry the song further without making it sound like you're in a bass soloing project.
4. Too much conviction, again: Bassists do have the power to play a note and make it sound like the chord is in a different key. It would kill creativity though if you took it as a rule that you should not do this. Listen to the first bass line in Strawberry Fields Forever when the drums come in, to name only one case. More so, if you follow this tip and don't just stick to the root note on the first beat of a bar, but everywhere, it's almost as if your bass lines are on autopilot. Or if you're trying to play walking bass - even if not in a jazz setting - a frequent tip is the exact opposite: to save your lines from being repetitive and boring, try not to start with the root note in every chord change. Miraculously, it doesn't make it seem like you're playing in a wrong key. Her example of doing it wrong sounds bad mostly because it's not a well-thought-through deviation from the root notes. She could be going up in the chromatic minor scale alright, but playing the root note on the chord change, for example, bringing some life into that dreary backing track. Or she could decide the song needs some ambiguity and start with the fifth note and follow with others in the pentatonic scale, in which case, every next note would slowly clarify the key. It's all about creative choice. Not everyone plays bad renditions of generic pop and rock in their local bar to consider this an imperative.
5. Woah, wait. First tip was not to use open strings, now we have to avoid playing in the upper part of the neck as well? Yeap, there's a difference when playing the same notes higher up the neck. It's completely detrimental though to suggest not to play there instead of saying "you need to understand the difference and play where it seems more appropriate tone-wise". Playing higher up the neck sounds sweeter, less trebly and with looser bass, so it may be ideal in a really soft part of a song, for example.
Then, she conflates the issue of playing in a higher octave. Yeah, having the same note in different octaves doesn't mean you have to play all of them, but implying that you should play only in the lowest register is absurd. "You don't want to drop the bass as a bass player" is a completely useless statement without context of what you want to achieve and what the rest of the band is doing. Deviations from this fictitious rule are countless, even in the most pop music out there, but let's suppose that your line happens to be the most melodic thing going on during that part of the song: most bassists would elect to bring this forward to the listener by playing it at a higher register than in the "money making zone".
I guess a pretty good tip might be "don't follow tips that you only need to listen to a couple of your favorite songs to see how absurd they are".
As a budding bass player I fully appreciate this video as it provides an elementary baseline for me to learn from. But, more so, I appreciate that you took the time and effort to refute different elements of Ms. Spiegelman's notions set forth in this vid. You provide a wonderful flourish from which to learn and I thank you for that. Rhonda
@@rhondalyn100 Really glad to see that you found it somewhat helpful. I wish you all the fun in the world playing the music that you love.
@@PinkAsAPistol Thanks. Trying to branch out from my ukulele. :-)
Technically you have a point but most bands support the advice posted here. Otherwise they will let the keyboard play the baselines. They are tired of guitarists and bass players that only support their own egos and don't care about the songs.
@@fuglbird I guess your comment mainly refers to my point regarding simplicity. I did concede that opting for simpler bass lines often goes a long way. But still, this involves not conflating "simpler" with permanently doing the obvious thing of looking at the base note and religiously sticking to it, as she suggests in this video, dismissing any unexpected choices regarding harmony. Her tips make it seem as if no creative choices should be made at all while playing the bass.
Of course I did not delve into what the role of a bass player is in the context of the rhythm section, or the idea of locking in with the drummer, but obviously, answers regarding what degree of complexity is most appropriate lie mostly there and far less into blanket statements creating the impression that you should be playing as uncomplicated stuff as possible.
Also, depending on your preferred genres or instrument of choice, there's a lot of bias regarding which players of which instruments support the song and which are all about their egos. You're talking as if you've never heard of a keyboard player overplaying everyone else to sleep. Cheers.
Thanks for all of the tips for becoming an average house bassist.
*
The world doesn't need any more lead bassists
@@RideAcrossTheRiver I respectfully disagree.
@@DoggyEffect I mean in bands trying to do actual songs with melody and a singer.
I am a guitar (advanced) player now expanding my horizons to bass....This video is awesome....Keep it simple!!!....No band wants a bass player that sounds like a guitar player...
Lmao, there’s ton of band with very complex bass, bass solos and the like, ever heard of squarepusher? How about thundercat ?
What if the rhythm guitars are too simple? I think that the busier style of bass fixes that problem.
Of course it depends on the song. But I do love counter point.
Paul McCartney did well with independent bass melodies. It depends on how much you want to avoid stealing the show from a guitar riff that needs bass presence but room to be the main thing showcased.
Open string issues are tied to bad eq issues.
By the way, I was enjoying Yonit's busier playing very much, each every time, when suddenly that don't do it sign flashes, then she looks up shaking her head in disapproval of her own awesome playing.
Anti-Flag kinda does that. Like reversed rock band formula, where guitars play simple rhytms and bass goes for melodies on upper registers
Everything she played sounded good to me.
I've been playing for about 30 years, but I'm always looking for tips. IMO, you have to stay humble as a musician. I understand where she's coming from with this info. I have found over the years, that some of these things make sense in certain situations, but I have to respectfully disagree with all of it. Steadfast rules for playing are how boring musicians are created. The fact is, you should do whatever you want. If it ends up sounding bad, do something else, but don't ever say "I cant play these particular things because reasons". The only rules you should truly abide by are use correct, healthy, playing posture and ergonomics that work for YOUR body, and don't play through pain. If you want to play an open G for an entire song for whatever reason, do it. Example: the bass line in Faith No More's Midlife Crisis is almost all just an open E. It was a huge hit, and it sounds amazing. Look it up on youtube.
Not to mention Epic.
I agree completely with your respectful disagreement and I'd like to add another tip to bass players (and musicians in general): Hear what you are playing.
By saying this I mean if you want to go creative, try to do something that you would like to hear in the song, make it better, make it insteresting, make it get along with the other instruments. And the best way to achieve that is hearing a lot of music and get good taste.
Don't play something just because is complicated or because your fingers are used to do it. The goal is to make a song sound the best you can imagine. It takes time and effort but it's worth it.
Jaysson B. This lesson isn't for you. This is a lesson for a beginner. She's totally on the money when it comes to rules of thumb for a beginning bass player. When they get more hours under their belt they can break all the rules and make it nice and spicy. Time and experience tells a good player how and when they can break the rules and not sound like dogshit. Noobs, not so much.
Pretty much every time she had the tag "Don't do this" was when I liked it.
myomai ME TOO
@flmvdvsrg yeah... And?... Sounds like an improvement if you ask me...
I guess you like melody more. Of course you can do melody with a bass, just lower. But then your role is kind of compromised isn't it? Since you are not outlining the chords. I guess it could really mess up the rest of the band members.
myomai lol same. Was watching on my fire stick and and came to the app just to see if anyone commented this. A good fusion of melody and rhythm are important to me on the bass
@flmvdvsrg Just like guitarists always do. That's why we fired our guitarist.
the most important thing I first learned about music..it's not what you play...it's what you DONT play. A good lesson in self-discipline. Nice vid Yonit.
Thank you! I’m not a pro nor have I had any training by one. In fact I’m mostly self taught and can’t read a note of music. I play by ear, memory, heart and feel. But I’ve been a firm believer in #5 for decades. My view on playing bass is that I’m a bass player so I should spend 99% of my time where the tones are low. That’s where the real meat of the music is to my ears. So the first 5 frets are where I live so to speak. I call it living in the “bass-ment”. I just make the foundation of low end groove and leave the excess noodling and showing off to guitars. You just got a new subscriber 👍🤘
Great tutorial. I’ll mention the obvious point, there’s exceptions to every rule.
Don’t Disturb This Groove, What is Hip, and other classics are examples of bass lines that are beyond simple.
Play the root always?
Paul McCartney is a master of not playing the root. It’s called an inversion.
I agree wholeheartedly!
This seems aimed towards someone who's maybe been playing a few months.
So what?" ALWAYS start on the root" will limit a beginner to thinking that is the only correct way to write a bass line. How will they develop the skill and creativity to do otherwise if they think deviating from the root is wrong? This lady has a bad way of explaining what is needed to become a bassist. You never speak in absolutes to a beginner ,you help them see it a continuum ( as a certain rather good bass player once attested to!)
I feel like this is a "learn these rules and break them later, once you understand why you are breaking them," lesson.
Now listen to the bass line on "Darling Dear" (by the Jackson 5 :)
Solid advice for beginners. Many people consider themselves advanced but lack in the fundamentals, so I appreciate her tips. It's always good to be reminded of the fundamentals of bass playing. Sure, once you have the foundations end to end you can start find your expression by breaking the rules, but no great bass player has ever advanced without learning the fundamentals first.
Redding, Simonon, Cupin, Hook, Weymouth, Gordon, James, Pege and many other innovative players would strongly disagree 😉Some people might benefit from gaining a scholastic foundation first, but it's just as likely holding back creative vision.
Great teacher, competent, clear, direct and with a sense of humor.
Well as a person who also studied bass and theory, we've learnt quite the opposite. Music is expressive never try to limit yourself. You don't have to always start on the root note... Inversions, etc are beautiful. You play what the song needs and don't just stifle yourself with all these do's and don'ts...stop making bass seem so boring, it really is quite the opposite. I felt so stifled watching this as a bass teacher.
:*
@Sam Mahelona thank you :) really appreciate that and wish you all the best in your playing.
DarcelleA1544 ikr! Her “bad” examples sound better than what she is telling us
Watching people play lead on a bass is seriously boring! Why don't they just buy a 6 string stratocaster and get on with it!
Show me a "six string" stratocaster(could've swore they all had six strings) that can play the notes of a 4 string bass. It's not just about more notes but the pitch of them also. I mean the only reason most lead guitar isnt "boring" is because they play fast and loud. Other then that it's just flying scales while some guy bops around thinking how cool he is making a racket.
Take it all with a pinch of salt and it's great advice.
The morale is play to the song, leave place for the other instruments and enjoy what you do. Good video :)
It doesn't always need to be the root note. Cliff Burton started his bass solo in in Orion on the seventh I believe.
i, for one, find it a relief to know that simple is better.
that's right up my alley.
All of those tips are pretty subjective. Many of the more creative bass players people admire don't abide by them.
If all you guys know it????? What are you doing on her page! You think you know. However; you know nothing. Most of the negative ones talk like a bunch of soap opera stars! lmao
This are tips for live session bassist, hired for this kind of stuff.
allen oertell On her page to see if her tips will make me a better bass player. For some people they may discover they already stick to those ‘rules’. Others may disagree. We all want to improve though so that title draws us in.
You just don't want to admit she is good. Until all of you are successful playing out. I don't believe any of you. A lot of you like to hear yourself talk on here. If, you were that good. You would shut up and take input on any person you can. That is how you be the best. Take your brain and wash it yourself
jealous of a young girl who plays circles around ur old fart self..... mr. salvan.... so insightful ja ja ja ja ja ja
If you are playing swing bass, bebop bass, big band bass, or modern jazz bass lines, the entire neck is yours to use tastefully.
That’s a gorgeous bass you got there
Tim. bass
Thatsagor geous bass you
What brand or who makes this bass
Glad I found this, I am a typical Root and fifth orientated bass player. I always look for the simplistic way of playing but trying my best to keep it correct. I have on occasion thought of going back to acoustic, often when seeing how complex bass can be played. This guy re enforces my simplistic approach to the bass. Like he says never be afraid to play the root note. Also I find that being a simplistic player I can play far more songs and jam with others on songs I do not know
Responses:
Tip 1: "Don't play open strings."
Are you kidding me? You've never heard of muting? Or are you into punk? What if you need an open string for a line? What if you need to slap open E? Are you kidding?
Tip 2: "Never sacrifice the beat for a fill."
The tag of that sentence is "if you've never practiced filling". Yeah, don't try to make up a fill on the fly if you've never practiced filling or are bad at improving. But, that's for, like, ultra beginners. Also, she tries to make a point about possibly playing a fill out of time, which is a fair point, but then demonstrates that and why that's bad by playing a fill in time. This is like talking about not doing three-pointers all the time, trying to flub a three-pointer, and making it anyway. That's less physically possible, but my point still stands.
Tip 3: "Keep it simple and consistent."
Yeah, if the music you're playing is basic af. I wouldn't try and open up a slapping line on something like "In a Sentimental Mood" or "Livin' La Vida Loca" or "Holy Wars" or some shit. But, come the fuck on, what's the probability someone is going to do that? We're bass players, not gui- I mean, assholes. Come on. Also, "When was the last time you heard a bass solo in a pop or rock tune?" Ok, so fuck "You Can Call Me Al", "Got the Time", "Welcome to Dying", "Eagle Fly Free", "NIB"- you know what, screw this. Also, maybe pop could be innovative for once and welcome bass solos. I mean, "oh no, songs will be longer than two and a half minutes! Whatever shall the music industry do?"
Tip 4: "Start on the root note."
Fuck bass slides to start songs, amirite? Also, to demonstrate her point, she does the exact opposite, again! Not to mention, since bass players have all the power in this relationship, you can play lead ups to roots or leave the root to play another note in the chord and no one will die, especially if said note leads to the next chord. Like, if one chord is Dm and the next chord is BbM, it is perfectly okay to play A as a lead-up to Bb. This is "how to write an interesting bass line 101".
Tip 5: Keep it "down"
NO! Yes, we all know notes all sound different depending on where you play them. Sometimes we need to play higher on the neck in order to get a more fluid motion in the left hand. Sometimes, no matter how clear the lower position is, it might not be good for your wrist to play a certain line because of the spread. Maybe you have smaller hands or not very flexible hands and just need to play a bit higher on the neck sometimes. MAYBE YOU WANT TO PLAY A FILL THAT WILL SOUND GOOD HIGHER ON THE BASS, WHICH IS WHY THE RANGE IS SO VAST.
I'm pretty sure this chick has issues with bass player that don't play pop or pop rock.
Take away: Don't be innovative with your bass playing. Don't do cool shit. Don't try to contribute to the art of playing the instrument or develop yourself as a player. Don't play jazz or fusion, don't play metal, don't play art rock, don't play prog. Go find a bass, play C and G only on the downbeats, and go make a million dollars.
Very well said.
The one and only possible way to answer this is to proclaim you a misogynistic pig. So, you're basically wrong, 'cause you didn't totally agree with one's opinion. Even more, you can't have it at all, if you're a man.
No matter how skillful u are at muting your string, you're never going to have as much control of the note compared to if u play it closed. Its just not physically possible.
Especially if youre in a studio. The open note will not sound as clean as a closed note.
Her : "Never sacrifice the beat for the feel"
Tetsuya (l'arc en ciel) : hold my beer
Edited Caption: 5 TIPS THAT WILL MAKE YOU A BETTER BEGINNER BASS PLAYER!!
That's not what your band would say!
5 tips to not annoy the guitar player and literally stand behind them
But that's kind of the point of these videos, I guess... Even at the beginning you know she's addressing beginning bassists. I know I did too many of these things, badly, when I was in bands. It's important to keep the sights on what is important and what's important is the song and the bass.
or could be 5 tips for advanced bass players to help get and keep gigs
"The fact that you've got the information doesn't mean you have to use it all the time"... taking that home after so many years...BRAVO! simple and straight to the point.
Hi funny people, where did she say for pro, Paul from Beatles was amazingly gifted and Professional. This girl is right on! The only thing she might of said which is obvious by the music played, it was not jazz or Fushion it was middle of road playing tips and Root note with most runs under B on E string and across and down, yes the money area of the bass.This Video is obviously for people who want Gigs that pay. And not play like Jaco at day at jam! and kitchenhand at night.
@@derpmancini4269 How so, I know so many musicians who say I have sold out because they would rather wash dishes than play covers, at home I play what I want but for a Gig I will play what the band want. It's like having a problem with the singer(not hard) but they rule the show. So I shut up or leave. Besides she's right and got way too much negativity for saying what she has found in keeping a job, I found the same.
If you can't play with open strings, don't play a stringed instrument.
I have always avoided open strings when I can, she never says you cannot, she is saying don,t let them ring.
This is great advice if you always want to be invisible and just tell yourself you're great.
This is my approach. On gigs, I stay on back stage
Evracer : Exactly ! I don't know that woman and I suppose she has good intentions, but her arguments are bad. She should say her "don't do that" in front of dozens of famous bassists doing just what she says not to do.
Thanks for the vid. I've been playing for 40 years and I re-learned somethings. I'll be rethinking the length of some of my solos due to what you taught.
These are all very good tips.
The longer I play, the moved I have moved to this type of thinking.
I would argue there is a happy medium on your tip #3. First, the electric bass is so much more than just a whole or half note driven percussive chord highlighter for the band. That said, there is room in virtually any musical arrangement for bass infused lead and rhythmic statements in the higher registers of the fretboard. It has absolutely nothing to do with guitar vis a vis bass, or any other instrument normally thought of as the melodic lead voice in a piece. The bass is its own multi-faceted voice, and can very easily transcend from its traditional role as a deep, in-the-pocket, harmonic outline, to a warm and mellow melody maker in any genre of music. As an instructor, I would never stifle the creative, improvisational possibilities of any student. In my opinion, it's more a matter of stressing judgement than laying down an absolute, (which is what I get from your assessment), especially given the immense talent of so many bass players these days. Incidentally, in jazz, the bass has always been a triplet-laden, statement-making, high-octave, soloing beast for decades. I think there is plenty of room in other forms of music as well. In popular music, Bernard Edwards' bass solo in "Good Times" started a musical revolution by lifting just the right amount of arpeggiated bass magic to the front of the stage! Many have followed (very tastefully too, I might add) since then.👑🎸🎵
Busta Bass This lesson is clearly for beginners to intermediate players to help them be HIRABLE, and not firable, working musicians. The type that have no business doing any of the things you’re talking about. As an instructor I am more than happy to stifle “creative” instincts when the player is pooping all over the tune. I doubt she would argue with you when it comes to players who already know and can execute everything she’s saying already.
Tyrion Lannister Absolutely right- so as soon as a bass player is Chris Squire John Entwhistle, they can do whatever the hell they want! This is not an instructional video on how to become a groundbreaking prog bassist in 1973. It’s for aspiring bassists who need to be told not to do stupid things relative to their ability.
This reminds me of being 18 in jazz ensemble and some classmate of mine saying “but Miles Davis played whatever he wanted!” when told to contain his playing. #1, What Miles Davis WANTED to play was informed by what he knew better than to play, and more importantly #2, he was Miles f_____g Davis!
Guitars Ruin Lives
Nowhere in her tutorial does she specify the content as "for beginners only". Neither does she say if you want work, never extend beyond a basic bassline you beginning bass player you...If I read the title correctly it is designed to make someone, anyone, regardless of skill level or years of playing a better bass player. I totally disagree that someone has to be capable to the level of Miles Davis or, just for the sake of discussion, Jaco Pastorius in order to step out and make a solo statement on this remarkable instrument. Moreover, musical creativity should be encoraged, and admonished with the proper amount of judgment exercised, no matter how long or how well you've been playing. Every musician, teacher or student should recognize that. 👑🎸🎵
Busta Bass I do understand what you mean about creativity and I’m not suggesting you need to be Satch before you can play a solo. I’m saying it would be wise to at least learn “the rules” before you break them.
As far as instrument roles, I think at my next band rehearsal I’ll tune my guitar down an octave and see how the bassist likes it. I mean the guitar is an amazing instrument and shouldn’t be limited to just its intended range. Just because I’m a guitarist doesn’t mean I shouldn’t be playing bass lines in he bass register.
See how ridiculous that sounds?
As far as the “beginner” bit, you’re right it’s not for beginners necessarily. It’s for anyone who doesn’t already know what she’s saying. Let’s be real we ALL know at least one bass player who, despite playing for years, does every single one of the things she cautions you not to do.
THOSE are the bassists who need this video!
Guitars Ruin Lives
There's nothing profound here. Nor is there a superior inferior dichotomy relative to guitar vis a vis electric bass in playing any form of music. Not sure what your point is relative to tuning, but there is nothing sacrosanct about the various parts in a musical composition. Further, I'm not convinced that bass players need to be schooled on how to play, what to play and when to play it...any more than guitar, keyboard board, or drummers need it. As for the "begiiners bit", it was the flawed attempt at argument in response to my take on the tutorial. It won't win you any support from those of us who greatly appreciate, and will always express the true versatility of the electric bass.
Great tutorial, thanks 🙂
Presenting the DOs, and the DON'Ts with a touch of comedy, really gets them to the point 😀
le meilleur conseil concernant le role de la basse ,jamais entendu . Bravo et merci
Thanks, good tip about not playing open strings. I was confused about this. I just started learning and I have two tabs for When I Come Around by Green Day. One has open strings in the tab, but the other tab version shows the same notes as fretted. I wasn't sure which one would be best (but I started learning the tab version any way because its a Guitar Pro file as opposed to Ultimate Guitar Tabs.
Tip #5...see, I prefer to stay on the E and A strings primarily because I think it sounds fuller and more consistent, e.g. I'll play the E on the A string rather than on the D string.
The problem with her tips is this: you play what the song requires!! If it requires the use of only open strings, that’s what you play.
Absolutely!
depend with the song actually.
Why would a song ever require "only" open strings? I have some spacey and slap riffs that constantly use one or two open strings in them, but the majority of the notes are almost always going to be fretted. That said, her tip needed to be explained better. I think she was just referring to what newbs should do in order to avoid excessive sustain and the poor tone that open strings often give.
Bruce Bass do you have any examples of a song that requires only open strings? Cause it seems like a sound tip to me that offers way more control of the feel of the note. That said there's nothing wrong with open string notes so long as proper muting technique is involved on that string when moving to a note on a different string
Sean Bent : If you read my reply, I started it with FOR EXAMPLE. It wasn’t to be taken literally. She said to use open string(s) in the scenario she presented. This isn’t true. A good bassist will play what the song requires. If it’s open strings, so be it.
Excellent !!! One of the best bass clinics I have ever seen. Bass is a different instrument than a guitar. Thank for showing this. You are an amazing player.
She’s awesome and totally right with everything she said.
I am the kinda jazzy, funky bass player and this affects my creativity
James Jamerson disapproves this
Dedas Almeida
Iamthe kindajazz yfunky
Every bass players thinks they are the funky type. But it is actually ruining the song. Dont let your ego kill a song
@@sylar0123456 depends on the song and genre really, but when a funky bass line ruins a song it's not that the bass line is bad but that the guitar (and the piano) line don't sound well with the bassline, if the guitarist (and the pianist) adjust their lines to the bass line it'll modt likely sound bombing
@@sylar0123456 I went to a blues jam session once and this guy got up before me and played SLAP to a standard 12 bar blues. Slap. I know.
Tip 6: Break the rules
I'm a long time guitar player who recently got into bass. I learned pretty quickly how using notes sparingly can be a powerful thing. Also about open strings (not as much control). These are all great tips, thanks.
So have you called all your old bass players and apologized for complaining that they are not playing enough notes?????????????? hahahaha!
Muting for controlling ringing? Not only for open strings but even fretted strings. How can you omit something so obvious?
Other than that, she is obviously a competent player. To be able to demonstrate things not to do is a great skill in itself.
I can demonstrate things not to do pretty well myself. It's demonstrating the things *to* do that I tend to struggle with...
Open strings are perfectly fine. Upright bass players use them all the time cause they sound good and because of limits that instrument has. Why wouldn t I as electric bass player use open strings ? I have a 5 string bass, so I have the option not to play open strings and some lower notes are also at my disposal.
I play open strings a lot and...off course...have a great muting technique ;o) So...it works perfectally fine if you know how to do it :o) .
Domagoj Oinky agree.. only can use open E strings especially when u using drop D.
You are 100% on point. On electric bass we have frets that enable us to play in tune. :) Tone color is somewhat different on open string vs fretted lower string. On low B string 10th fret is the same A that is on 5 fret of E string or open A, but timbre changes.
Domagoj Oinky James Jamerson used them frequently to allow him time to move between frets while letting a note ring.
Upright bass has a shorter sustain when you play pizzicato on an open string, while an open string on bass guitar a plucked open string can last up to +1/2 minute being sustained.. switching between an open-string note and a fretted note during a relatively fast riff would require you to mute that open-string note, which would in turn not be possible without muting with your left hand fingers (which would not be possible if you were playing a fast riff) or muting it with either your unused right hand finger or palm (if you are fast enough to not screw up your alternate plucking or whatever). Open strings are fine when the situation is favourable in terms of tempo or if the range you are playing in does not clash with the tone sound of the overall part.
I have only been playing bass for a short time and already I know this is realllllly not the video for teaching. Mainly because A) Open string is good with muting technique and Les Claypool and half of the 70s and 80s will agree with me on that. B) The Fills thing.......one band.......Metallica. End of story. C) Keep it simple? Do jazz musicians keep it simple? Did the band for Outkast keep it simple? Did Daft Punk keep it simple? Did Les Claypool keep it simple? KoRn and nu-metal DEFINATELY dont keep it simple. Be creative.
I’ve been playing bass for 10 years and I still look for new tips and tricks to learn because you can never stop learning. But I felt like this video is telling you to keep your playing pretty restrictive and kinda sucks the fun out of it. From what it looks like, she’s a very skilled bassist but I gotta say it doesn’t seem like it’s very fun for her. I’d say tip #6 is to have fun when you’re playing and always strive to learn something new about how you play regardless how long you’ve been playing
She is definitely not self taught. You can get this stuff from a college course. That's where all the hard line do's and don'ts come from. She is good but, she is just repeating .All the greats were self taught... that is where artistry is born.
Is it just me or everything she told us not to do (expect for the first one) actually sounds awesome?
I was thinking the exact same thing but also I am not the best musician so I can't tell if I just don't hear what is being described >
I was thinking exactly the same! Simple bass lines are boring, nothing wrong with complex if it's in time.
It depends. She's in the "play it safe" area. If you try to do the awesome don'ts you might eventually fail and not be doing really anything awesome. When you are advanced and experienced, then your chances increase, because you're playing your notes on time.
Maybe this would be useful for an absolute beginner. But if I had her as a teacher I'd have never stuck to bass. I don't advise anyone to follow this advice. Any of it really. (No open strings? Really? Play open strings people, just mute em when you're done with em.)
Scott's Bass Lessons is what I'd be YouTubing for some good bass tips.
Inspiration is the important bit. Do what you love while you learn.
Then when you join a band do what the music and situation calls for. Do what will pull the band together best and strengthen the overall sound and groove. Don't be afraid to venture round the fretboard and don't feel bad for playing roots. No one's going to care how you do it, they just want you to groove good.
+Brock :LOL Scott's Bass Lessons...for some good bass tips. Yeah. like wearing gloves while you're playing. [Don't do this at the gig.] And make sure you own about eight Fender Precision Basses. Yeah. They're great bass tips.
After reading wour posting, I'd say you've never ever played in a band before. I suggest you give up the bass and become a comedian instead. You certainly made me laugh. Hahahahahahaha!!!!
That's why I love playing bass. I can bully other musician on stage. Like say if the piano or guitar plays Am there they goes with A C E but I as the bass player play F instead there goes their Am changed into Fmaj7. Is it practical? Weirdly sometime it is. We just have to find the appropriate time and situation for it. Just don't overuse it so that we'll not get fired from that Saturday night cafe gig. Lol