i love it when a great bass player still plays a four string bass. for some reason it makes me feel that they are still human. billy in person, is a real nice guy as well.
Agreed, I got to see The Ox a couple of times. The '82 tour was unbelievable. Kenny Jones did a helluva job taking over for Moon. Their sound was incredible. When John did his pulls on Eminence Front I thought the rafters were going to come down in the Astrodome!! I used to play thru a huge SUNN rig. I've down-sized. I've had many basses over the yrs, but still play my old P bass I've had for over 35 yrs. It sounds amazing. Wife sez she'll bury it with me. I hope so. The stories it could tell.
Without a doubt, the BEST thing about Billy is that he doesn't mind admitting that he doesn't know what on earth he's doing from one minute to the next. It's ALL about being musical.
is it me, or does it seem the interviewer takes some sort of satisfaction that he knows more theory than Billy? Like, "You're the great Billy Sheehan, but I know more about music theory than you"
sdrury01 He's got 'muso' syndrome coming out of his ears. It's that whole competitive musician thing that some people still go in for, where it's more about showing off how many different chord inversions and scales you can recite from memory than being able to actually play anything worth listening to. It drives me nuts, and I think he's rather annoying Billy at some points as well.
OK, Pause at 5:02. "So the idea here, is that I first hold the guitar, and grace it with a lock of my hair. Once it has been blessed with the spirit of the 80's, AWESOME explodes right out of it."
Just wanna say that " not knowing much about music theory" for musicians of the magnitude of Sheehan probably means that he knows a hell of a lot, but compared to qualities such as his finger dexterity, knowledge of music theory is not his strongest point. He still knows A LOT about it. Music theory is important but the ultimate goal for every instrument player is to be able to play whatever they want, jamming without having rehearsed e.t.c and he has achieved that. He is amazing!
When he says the lower f sharp is not part of the scale at 1:30 he is incorrect. It is part of the scale only an octave lower than the major seventh of the scale he is playing. Sheehan freely admits he doesn't know much about music theory but it certainly doesn't hold him back. He's definitely one of the best hard rock/metal bassist.
But you see, people aren't worshipping him for his hair. They're worshipping him for his bass playing. Most people I've seen that like Billy Sheehan actually think that he has bad hair.
This was hair was a common look in the Glam rock era (early-mid 80's). As for the scales, he shouldn't refer to major and minor as the "same." I realize that he's referring to relative finger positioning, but this can confuse a beginner. Modes are not directly associated with minor scales, they are taken off the major scales, (Ionian, Dorian, Phrygian, Lydian, Mixolydian, Aeolian, Locrian...C-B). The modes are a designation for the degree of resolve in diatonic scale played legetto, note by note
Thanks for chiming in. Good point; even a beginner can learn advanced lines by taking enough time with pause and rewind; it's a matter of patience which is apparently in short supply. I'm just waiting for someone to demand that the person giving them free lessons come to their house and show it to them in person.
Yeah, you are right. I think all that he was trying to say is that this F# is just not a part of that major scale octave, if you will, between the low G and high G.
It's the same note... f# anywhere in the scale means you can play an F#1 or an f#2, it doesn't matter. While the regular scale formation may not include it, That's because it only goes through the notes once. Think of it not as with a starting note and a finishing note, but as a sequence of notes that can be started or finished on any of the notes contained.
@CapnJim09 That's because when you don't know the names of the notes you know their sounds...which is more important because you play music....that's why some people know C and D and G and others know sounds...
@TheSavfil Intuitive learning has a million limitations, but the most serious is that you still have the same learning processes to cover, but you cover them subliminally. That means that very often you'd get stuck, develop bad habits and/or not focus on what's most important for your progress. Studying theory prevents you from rediscovering the wheel all the time and allows you to expand your scope effortlessly. It's a MUST for everyone who wants to progress efficiently and completely.
Major and Minor are the same, in a sense. They both use the same notes, the relative minors, for example. The relative minor of a major scale contains all the notes of the major scale does; 'they are basically the same' is a somewhat justified statement given how he plays his scales, ala, with all possible notes it can have, he's got more freedom there.
i like almost all music, but i love the red hot chili peppers. they're my favorite, but i also like the beatles, hendrix, foo fighters, i like lots of classical music and jazz music too though. how old are you?
Does anyone really know from first-hand use the pros of scalloped fretboard on bass? I would love to try and play on a bass with a scalloped neck but I don't really know how it feels or the way it makes the bass "better"...your thought on this? Billy kicks ass
@Hubbel2010 he said that this G major scale is a form of an E minor scale, and that is true in this case. what he talked about the pentatonic scale is not really true, (that pentatonic scale that he played is an E-minor pentatonic scale, or a G major pentatonic scale (I'm not really sure about it). But you can learn his patterns and tricks and chords from this video, and it's very useful, I like this video, because I can see, what he plays in those solos.
There is absolutely nothing wrong with the interviewer or the lesson. Everything is perfectly clear, but this was not intended for people who need to be shown fingerings for all the modes. There are plenty of places to learn that, the best being to map it out for yourself and then memorize the patterns, and practice moving between them in all keys. Once you do, you won't feel inclined to complain that Billy didn't slow things down enough, and this lesson will make perfect sense.
@JBeeDubstep... I thought so too for a while, but when I came back to the video I saw that he is just being very supportive and informative (and technical) to Billy's pure natural expression. At least that's what i like to think ;)
The major scale is foundation of all music. Once you learn this simple scale, EVERYTHING will be alot clearer to you. I promise you that once you learn about the major scale, you WILL understand everything Billy is saying here. I can't stress this enough. Type into google or youtube, "The importance of the major scale". Ever since I discovered this simple piece of information I understand the concepts in this types of instructional videos. Don't delay. Learn about the major scale today!
he was actually playing in e minor ... that pentatonic he was calling G was the second form of the e minor pentatonic , I think , thats how it is at least ... its still virtually the same thing . not trying to be rude or something
Most of the greatest musicians of all time had little or no musical knowledge (or knowlage, as you might put it). Hendrix and Dimebag Darrell both had a lack of musical knowledge, and they were some of the greatest guitarists in the history of rock.
@CapnJim09 hey hey. it all depends on wahts the greatest musician here. i like pantera and hendrix, but ive also heard alot other. and there are other i can say are BETTER musicians. Have you?? Or do you put hendrix and dimebang on the top?
@CapnJim09 Guthrie Govan, who is arguably the best guitarist living, didn't know any theory until he looked up chords at the public library after he discovered them on the guitar.
Did he say the pentatonic scale was major and minor free? That didn't make sense at all. You can apply major and minor tonalities to the scale. Maybe he didn't mean to word it that way.
ok guys let me explain bflat major is the same as g minor because of this....b-flat major=bflat c d e-flat f g a b-flat octave! g minor= g a b-flat c d e-flat f then g octave it is the note of the scale u start on inside the key so it would be...b-flat major,c dorian,d phrygian,e-flat lydian,f mixolydian,G MINOR,a locrian....thus making the degree of the scale the pattern u will use sorry i am a music geek and figure i would share some knowlage
It's Merciless by Mr. Big. It's performed in its entirety later in the original video. I wonder if you'll get a notification of this reply after 11 years.
Not to mention the fact that I never intended to say anything about Billy Sheehan other than his hair and your disrespect. But if you haven't noticed, your persistence hasn't really done anything other than keep me entertained.
The thing that sets myung and sheehan apart are knowledge and feel. Myung knows every scale on the planet and can play them at warp speed and knows a ton about theory (You have to coming from berkly) where as sheehan can hear something and play along and make aweosme basslines but really has no idea what he's doing. And all music is based around scales and if you dont realize that you will never be a great musician shalozitchhadlab
I wish i would have taken the time to learn my chords & learned how to read music.Their are SO MANY so called Professionals in the music business that can't read music or know chord patterns etc.I just play what sounds good when i'm writing songs & i wonder if that's what makes the pros good? Is that they don't know any better? Where as a person that knows might say oh that doesn't go together? Like a band like Voivod,theirs no rules in that band.
@NIKKGAGE1994 I think the philosophy behind it, of self-improvement, is a good one. However, teaching people that they need to rid themselves of ghostly space aliens that are clinging to them in order to do that isnt. And if your dad does deny that Xenu is part of Scientology, direct him to Wikileaks, and you can hear L.Ron Hubbard talking about it himself....
How many rock songs do you know that use whole tone scales? Almost every single rock song uses the major and minor pentatonic scales. That's all he needs to know. That's why he knows it. and he might not "bother" to learn those scales, but he's obviously spent a lot of time working with the scales he does know to play like that, so obviously he does "bother" to spend his time doing something.
i love it when a great bass player still plays a four string bass. for some reason it makes me feel that they are still human. billy in person, is a real nice guy as well.
billy sheehan is bringin back the 80's look
I love Billy Sheehan purely because he is living proof that good playing isn't all about being a theory head.
Music is from the heart.
His name is Wolf Marshall, he worked in magazines in the 80's, and did all the transcriptions of the music, he is basically a music theory genius.
Agreed, I got to see The Ox a couple of times. The '82 tour was unbelievable.
Kenny Jones did a helluva job taking over for Moon. Their sound was incredible.
When John did his pulls on Eminence Front I thought the rafters were going to come down in the Astrodome!! I used to play thru a huge SUNN rig. I've down-sized. I've had many basses over the yrs, but still play my old P bass I've had for over 35 yrs. It sounds amazing. Wife sez she'll bury it with me. I hope so.
The stories it could tell.
I usually only listen to Jazz-bassists but this guy... Oh my GOD he's awesome!
Playing every note that falls in a scale shape seems so simple, but it sounds amazing.
Without a doubt, the BEST thing about Billy is that he doesn't mind admitting that he doesn't know what on earth he's doing from one minute to the next. It's ALL about being musical.
is it me, or does it seem the interviewer takes some sort of satisfaction that he knows more theory than Billy?
Like, "You're the great Billy Sheehan, but I know more about music theory than you"
sdrury01 He's got 'muso' syndrome coming out of his ears. It's that whole competitive musician thing that some people still go in for, where it's more about showing off how many different chord inversions and scales you can recite from memory than being able to actually play anything worth listening to. It drives me nuts, and I think he's rather annoying Billy at some points as well.
Jim Gardner It's like the movie "Amadeus" and the interviewer is Salieri :-)
Billy is amazing, dude. One of the best ever.
OK, Pause at 5:02. "So the idea here, is that I first hold the guitar, and grace it with a lock of my hair. Once it has been blessed with the spirit of the 80's, AWESOME explodes right out of it."
Just wanna say that " not knowing much about music theory" for musicians of the magnitude of Sheehan probably means that he knows a hell of a lot, but compared to qualities such as his finger dexterity, knowledge of music theory is not his strongest point. He still knows A LOT about it. Music theory is important but the ultimate goal for every instrument player is to be able to play whatever they want, jamming without having rehearsed e.t.c and he has achieved that. He is amazing!
Billy is the King of the groove !
I keep on watching this obviously because of Sheehan, but also because I love looking at the color of his fingerboard. Really unique color.
When he says the lower f sharp is not part of the scale at 1:30 he is incorrect. It is part of the scale only an octave lower than the major seventh of the scale he is playing. Sheehan freely admits he doesn't know much about music theory but it certainly doesn't hold him back. He's definitely one of the best hard rock/metal bassist.
Genius lesson by a music legend!
But you see, people aren't worshipping him for his hair. They're worshipping him for his bass playing.
Most people I've seen that like Billy Sheehan actually think that he has bad hair.
It's really cool how he talks about and explains methods to use really sophisticated techniques in a clear and unpretentious way.
That joint in the opening is funkeeee!!!!!!!!!! My kind of stuff! I love it!
TOTAL NATURAL PLAYER.
NICE DUDE
This was hair was a common look in the Glam rock era (early-mid 80's). As for the scales, he shouldn't refer to major and minor as the "same." I realize that he's referring to relative finger positioning, but this can confuse a beginner. Modes are not directly associated with minor scales, they are taken off the major scales, (Ionian, Dorian, Phrygian, Lydian, Mixolydian, Aeolian, Locrian...C-B). The modes are a designation for the degree of resolve in diatonic scale played legetto, note by note
hahahhaa when 0:45 first came up, I cracked up. Such a beautiful era.
Thanks for chiming in. Good point; even a beginner can learn advanced lines by taking enough time with pause and rewind; it's a matter of patience which is apparently in short supply. I'm just waiting for someone to demand that the person giving them free lessons come to their house and show it to them in person.
i love when bassists say "BASICALLY"!!
True plus there are "Pause" and "rewind" buttons, so you can review what he's playing.
Yeah, you are right. I think all that he was trying to say is that this F# is just not a part of that major scale octave, if you will, between the low G and high G.
It's the same note...
f# anywhere in the scale means you can play an F#1 or an f#2, it doesn't matter. While the regular scale formation may not include it, That's because it only goes through the notes once. Think of it not as with a starting note and a finishing note, but as a sequence of notes that can be started or finished on any of the notes contained.
I like that he gives a respectful shout-out to jazz compers!
@CapnJim09 That's because when you don't know the names of the notes you know their sounds...which is more important because you play music....that's why some people know C and D and G and others know sounds...
@Mukopo I'm pretty sure it's his signature Yamaha bass. He mainly only plays Yamaha basss
@TheSavfil
Intuitive learning has a million limitations, but the most serious is that you still have the same learning processes to cover, but you cover them subliminally. That means that very often you'd get stuck, develop bad habits and/or not focus on what's most important for your progress.
Studying theory prevents you from rediscovering the wheel all the time and allows you to expand your scope effortlessly. It's a MUST for everyone who wants to progress efficiently and completely.
yo soy guitarrista pero me encanta como toca este tipo....
I love wolf's enthusiasm throughout the whole thing
Major and Minor are the same, in a sense. They both use the same notes, the relative minors, for example.
The relative minor of a major scale contains all the notes of the major scale does; 'they are basically the same' is a somewhat justified statement given how he plays his scales, ala, with all possible notes it can have, he's got more freedom there.
The riff he is playing is "Merciless" by Mr. Big.
i like almost all music, but i love the red hot chili peppers. they're my favorite, but i also like the beatles, hendrix, foo fighters, i like lots of classical music and jazz music too though.
how old are you?
Can't wait to see him either
muy bueno gente ...soy de argentina y esta muy buena tu clinica men
Does anyone really know from first-hand use the pros of scalloped fretboard on bass? I would love to try and play on a bass with a scalloped neck but I don't really know how it feels or the way it makes the bass "better"...your thought on this? Billy kicks ass
@Hubbel2010 he said that this G major scale is a form of an E minor scale, and that is true in this case. what he talked about the pentatonic scale is not really true, (that pentatonic scale that he played is an E-minor pentatonic scale, or a G major pentatonic scale (I'm not really sure about it). But you can learn his patterns and tricks and chords from this video, and it's very useful, I like this video, because I can see, what he plays in those solos.
wow i know more music theory then bill yet he could totally tear my face off with his playing/song writing.
There is absolutely nothing wrong with the interviewer or the lesson. Everything is perfectly clear, but this was not intended for people who need to be shown fingerings for all the modes. There are plenty of places to learn that, the best being to map it out for yourself and then memorize the patterns, and practice moving between them in all keys. Once you do, you won't feel inclined to complain that Billy didn't slow things down enough, and this lesson will make perfect sense.
@CapnJim09
Incorrect, sir. They both grew up on the blues. And the blues grew on him.
what's with those carvings in the highest frets? What do you do with them?
yeah, they are both good punk bass players even the early op ivy playing was great. i love all 3 players but billy is on a different level.
i like the way you think :P
i'm guessing you play bass, what kind of music are you in to?
Lol, the hair makes this interview a thousand times better.
@JBeeDubstep... I thought so too for a while, but when I came back to the video I saw that he is just being very supportive and informative (and technical) to Billy's pure natural expression. At least that's what i like to think ;)
The major scale is foundation of all music.
Once you learn this simple scale, EVERYTHING will be alot clearer to you.
I promise you that once you learn about the major scale, you WILL understand everything Billy is saying here.
I can't stress this enough.
Type into google or youtube, "The importance of the major scale".
Ever since I discovered this simple piece of information I understand the concepts in this types of instructional videos.
Don't delay.
Learn about the major scale today!
ohhh and u just came watch (or should I say "withstand") his video to tell us? U're sooo nice 2 us
he was actually playing in e minor ... that pentatonic he was calling G was the second form of the e minor pentatonic , I think , thats how it is at least ... its still virtually the same thing . not trying to be rude or something
Most of the greatest musicians of all time had little or no musical knowledge (or knowlage, as you might put it). Hendrix and Dimebag Darrell both had a lack of musical knowledge, and they were some of the greatest guitarists in the history of rock.
@CapnJim09 hey hey. it all depends on wahts the greatest musician here. i like pantera and hendrix, but ive also heard alot other. and there are other i can say are BETTER musicians. Have you?? Or do you put hendrix and dimebang on the top?
@CapnJim09 they knew what they were doing
and Hendrix did know quite a bit of theory, jazz harmony and such
did he put the same jack to the guitar and bass?
@CapnJim09
very true. but there are also as many great musicians who know tons about music theory, so it doesn't hurt to learn... or not learn.
this man is the man!
chris squire from yes does that too. he has awesome tone.
The real star of this instructional video is the interviewer's hair.
Nice lesson Billy. it took me a few minutes to figure out the scallops on the fretboard weren't notes.
it says in the beginning "hosted by wolf marshall"
what bass is that, its a monster, i want one
@CapnJim09 Guthrie Govan, who is arguably the best guitarist living, didn't know any theory until he looked up chords at the public library after he discovered them on the guitar.
it's called Yamaha Attitude!
You can get one in any dealer.
can anyone tell me the signature bass model for b s?
Did he say the pentatonic scale was major and minor free? That didn't make sense at all. You can apply major and minor tonalities to the scale. Maybe he didn't mean to word it that way.
Peace, love, and good happiness stuff.
wheres part 2?
didn't know that, but props to him for admitting it.
ok guys let me explain bflat major is the same as g minor because of this....b-flat major=bflat c d e-flat f g a b-flat octave! g minor= g a b-flat c d e-flat f then g octave it is the note of the scale u start on inside the key so it would be...b-flat major,c dorian,d phrygian,e-flat lydian,f mixolydian,G MINOR,a locrian....thus making the degree of the scale the pattern u will use sorry i am a music geek and figure i would share some knowlage
great lessons
LooooooooL!!! the hair !! hahaha 80s Rules!!
0:45 Which one is Billy??? ;D
how to make this hair style?
nice purple spandex billy, if I could play the bass half as well as you then I would feel comfortable rocking them too
The first part here, is that a song or just a random jamming thing?
It's Merciless by Mr. Big. It's performed in its entirety later in the original video. I wonder if you'll get a notification of this reply after 11 years.
hes so good
that notebook really makes this video
Not to mention the fact that I never intended to say anything about Billy Sheehan other than his hair and your disrespect.
But if you haven't noticed, your persistence hasn't really done anything other than keep me entertained.
hahaha go watch some of his playin live ... the man is awesome
@biggigjohnson I'm sure by now he knows a lot more now. Judging by the hair this video came out in the late 80's or early 90's.
@Ihatemyusernamemore What´s the song´s name please!!!!!
@EddieG1888 he pretty much likes the philosophy behind it
but for the most part, hes agnostic
drummer is jesse from full house
0:55-0:57
I said that I AGREED THAT THEY HAVE RIDICULOUS HAIR.
Did that part of the message get across to you, at all?
The thing that sets myung and sheehan apart are knowledge and feel. Myung knows every scale on the planet and can play them at warp speed and knows a ton about theory (You have to coming from berkly) where as sheehan can hear something and play along and make aweosme basslines but really has no idea what he's doing. And all music is based around scales and if you dont realize that you will never be a great musician
shalozitchhadlab
RIP Pat Torpey 1953-2018
I wish i would have taken the time to learn my chords & learned how to read music.Their are SO MANY so called Professionals in the music business that can't read music or know chord patterns etc.I just play what sounds good when i'm writing songs & i wonder if that's what makes the pros good? Is that they don't know any better? Where as a person that knows might say oh that doesn't go together? Like a band like Voivod,theirs no rules in that band.
You're confused.
I never once said that people on this video aren't worshiping Billy Sheehan.
I wonder how he gets that godly bass tone
@NIKKGAGE1994 I think the philosophy behind it, of self-improvement, is a good one. However, teaching people that they need to rid themselves of ghostly space aliens that are clinging to them in order to do that isnt. And if your dad does deny that Xenu is part of Scientology, direct him to Wikileaks, and you can hear L.Ron Hubbard talking about it himself....
I'm Brasilian bassist! I thinck Billy Sheehan very speed with yours 3 fingers.
What make of bass is he playing in this video? It dose not look like his Yamaha model that he is famous for.
How many rock songs do you know that use whole tone scales?
Almost every single rock song uses the major and minor pentatonic scales.
That's all he needs to know.
That's why he knows it.
and he might not "bother" to learn those scales, but he's obviously spent a lot of time working with the scales he does know to play like that, so obviously he does "bother" to spend his time doing something.
3:26 New Years resolution, lmao.
his tone is sick
Exactly!!
HE WENT SO FAST I LAGGED IN MY PAMTS.
it is just an interview about billy's bass playing and scales,so where is my money? :D
I don't have a clue what's going on in this video. What's he explaining when he goes up the neck?