A 30-minute Master Class bass lesson with Jeff Berlin. Student is Alex Talarico from Frankfort, NY. Recorded at SubCat Recording Studios in Syracuse, NY on July 17, 2014.
My dad knew how to play bass so I asked him if he could teach me how to play bass, he said no. Now I'm teaching him techniques that eventually found out by myself after 12 years of playing. He is now mad at me.😂
I wish I had seen this video 10 years ago. Jeff is a great teacher and should not receive the flak that he gets from the bass and academic community. He's a great teacher
Fascinating, Jeff gets such a lot of flak in the bass press for his opinions on music education. However, his detractors should watch this lesson which is a text book example of how to teach, delivered with great generosity and sensitivity.
Those were the words I was looking for - I would be nervous just going INTO a lesson with Jeff Berlin, and that's not exactly the best way to pay attention and learn. Watching this though, he has a very warm and engaging demeanor and you'd forget youre sitting with a legend and just dive right in.
Totally agree. Sometimes the establishment doesn't like to be challenged, but Jeff is independently minded and brave enough to challenge the status quo.
I'm 41, didn't understand what he meant for years, but in the past few months the academic vs performance is making a lot of sense. I realize that I don't know my basics well and just learning to play chord tones is a challenge but also making a difference. He would always speak out against metronomes, but look at what he's saying here- if you're trying to play through chord tones and not sure yet, leave "playing in time" out to get the right notes and absorb, then when you go to play in time you'll be able to do it because you're not hunting for notes. As for any personality stuff with Jeff, I know from recent interviews that he has gone through a lot of therapy in the past few years to work some things out that were driving the way he viewed things and then interacted with others. He's obviously made some changes to his life and the lessons he's been posting are incredible. I would love to study with him.
Jeff Has the patient of a saint, a colossal musician and an outstanding human being. I could go on with the hyperbole but I'll end with this. After many attempts at attempting to read music, I can now successfully read Bass clef at an acceptable pace and i now understand music more than I ever did because of this man. I Thank you, Mr. Berlin.
I happen to stumble on this video and it turns out I know this kid. His dad was in my band for a while as my drummer. Alex is a great kid and turning into one hell of musician. Sammy must be proud
I really love how Mr Berlin makes a point about dividing the concept of artistic performance vs perfect academical performance. You can't be artistic about something you are just learning. You shouldn't even try until you master the basics of what you are learning.. Wish I had heard it simple and plain like that long ago!!
hi greetings from rio de janeiro. thank you do much for the video. i'm a professional drummer and stated bass lessons few months ago and your videos are a big help💚👏👏👏👏
Excellent Jeff! (and Alex) Such superb a bassist; you are even so the educator! Loved your music since I met you in '81 at CU Denver! Wish I lived where I could see you again! Cheers!
I'm glad I watched this. Once I understood what Jeff means by "Perfect" (academically correct) as opposed to artistic I saw his point. His desire for the student to learn all the chord tones first and then every single note is right on target. I was surprised to see him be so lighthearted and humorous. Good job, Mr. Berlin.
I wish I knew this stuff when I was much younger. Im a couple of years younger than Jeff and Read about him in Rolling Stone as a great player but never really heard him until a few years ago out of curiosity. I love how he teaches music and not simply how to pluck the bass. When I started out it was playing the blues scale and mostly sticking to the root and 5th and octave and playing some approach notes. Playing chord tones or arpeggios was something I was not familiar with. Understanding harmony opens up a whole new vista for bass players.
Amazing! Great ... this is fantastic! The arpeggios are big musical tool for improvise. Thanks Mister Jeff. Congratulations for this master class FREE!
After watching the Adam Neely chat and this, I get an idea of where Jeff is coming from, I'm an ignorant rock player who wants to be a rounded musician and Jeff's approach is really speaking to me now, where I had doubts through my own lack of knowledge and media noise. I also like how he says at one pont that the lesson is all things we all ready know of. Great video, a privilege to see a great teacher and a great student hard at work.
What is incredible is that 2500 years after Pythagoras people still use that faulty method of tuning their instruments. Google "Pythagorean comma" and "Equal temperament"!
The thing about tuning with harmonics is that if you intonation is off then it won't work. Most people do not know how to intonate their Bass or Guitar.
The only reason I know about Jeff at all is because a fellow Frank Zappa fan mentioned that he auditioned for Frank. No offense to Zappa's final bass player from 1981 to 1988, but I really think that Jeff would have done a much better job. Incidentally, too, I prefer the 1980s sort of tone Jeff has before as in that 50 minute or so VHS 📼 rip here in UA-cam to this tone. At any rate fascinating and I feel I'm actually learning and not just watching someone show off when Jeff teaches.
Just a curious observation about cultural differences. The last name Talarico in my country have a curious and dangerous meaning. Talarico in Brazil means the man who covets other men's women. rs
He reminds me of a musician friend of mine who has a similar intensity in his speech. My friend has Asperger's and is Bi Polar, not "nuts" btw, I often wonder if JB has the same conditions.
It's a six string Galveston...a nothing fancy low-end bass that I bought when Alex was around ten. It served its purpose for the time. He has since upgraded and moved on as all aspiring musicians do....never stop learning. Thanks for viewing.
It seems like the instruments are so different. 4 vs 6 string. I'm a fiver. Idk what it all means or what really works for what. But it seems goofy. Also, get outta first position unless you're...reading, ok they're reading, but I think his fluidity would be improved up the neck a bit.
Jeff is one of my favorite bass players of all time. I have to say I disagree with how he was directing this kid to adhere to letting the notes ring longer and avoiding the more percussive staccato sound (yes it's a more traditional jazz style). That should be a matter of preference for any musician based on what hey feel they are trying to convey with their instrument.
That has most to do with the fact that double basses are made to be played with a bow, not fingers, which forces that staccato sound. Electric bass can sustain notes.
Jeff Berlin is the daddest of all the bassists.
Yes he is!!
Broest should be my bro Vic Wooten
My dad knew how to play bass so I asked him if he could teach me how to play bass, he said no. Now I'm teaching him techniques that eventually found out by myself after 12 years of playing. He is now mad at me.😂
That's brave of Alex to expose his learning process to us and make it our learning process, too. Jeff Berlin is phenomenal, as always.
I wish I had seen this video 10 years ago. Jeff is a great teacher and should not receive the flak that he gets from the bass and academic community. He's a great teacher
Jeffs like that dearest uncle that gave u your first baseball!
Fascinating, Jeff gets such a lot of flak in the bass press for his opinions on music education. However, his detractors should watch this lesson which is a text book example of how to teach, delivered with great generosity and sensitivity.
Those were the words I was looking for - I would be nervous just going INTO a lesson with Jeff Berlin, and that's not exactly the best way to pay attention and learn. Watching this though, he has a very warm and engaging demeanor and you'd forget youre sitting with a legend and just dive right in.
.
Totally agree. Sometimes the establishment doesn't like to be challenged, but Jeff is independently minded and brave enough to challenge the status quo.
I'm 41, didn't understand what he meant for years, but in the past few months the academic vs performance is making a lot of sense. I realize that I don't know my basics well and just learning to play chord tones is a challenge but also making a difference. He would always speak out against metronomes, but look at what he's saying here- if you're trying to play through chord tones and not sure yet, leave "playing in time" out to get the right notes and absorb, then when you go to play in time you'll be able to do it because you're not hunting for notes.
As for any personality stuff with Jeff, I know from recent interviews that he has gone through a lot of therapy in the past few years to work some things out that were driving the way he viewed things and then interacted with others. He's obviously made some changes to his life and the lessons he's been posting are incredible. I would love to study with him.
Nice! I'll be Alex is killing it now! Thanks for sharing!
Jeff is a great teacher he was building that boy without cutting him down very clear in his teaching master at work
I can't say enough good things about Jeff Berlin- great musician, great bassist, and great music educator.
Jeff Has the patient of a saint, a colossal musician and an outstanding human being. I could go on with the hyperbole but I'll end with this. After many attempts at attempting to read music, I can now successfully read Bass clef at an acceptable pace and i now understand music more than I ever did because of this man. I Thank you, Mr. Berlin.
That was like a year's worth of good musical stuff in an hour. Brilliant!
I happen to stumble on this video and it turns out I know this kid. His dad was in my band for a while as my drummer. Alex is a great kid and turning into one hell of musician. Sammy must be proud
Thanks Dean, I am. I was in the studio that day. It was informative and a great time had by all. To this day, Alex's FB photo is of he and Jeff.
Jeff Berlin is an incredible Bass Professor
I don't even play bass (drummer) and I could sit in on Jeff's lessons all day.
I really love how Mr Berlin makes a point about dividing the concept of artistic performance vs perfect academical performance.
You can't be artistic about something you are just learning. You shouldn't even try until you master the basics of what you are learning.. Wish I had heard it simple and plain like that long ago!!
Phenomenal lesson!
hi greetings from rio de janeiro. thank you do much for the video. i'm a professional drummer and stated bass lessons few months ago and your videos are a big help💚👏👏👏👏
What a teacher, he totally improved his playing in ten minutes
Jeff Berlin is Composer !!! Pros Bass player!!! and Teacher!!! i Loved his album Bill Bruford!!!
14:09 - "You notice when we talk, I rarely, or you rarely or any of us all day long have said anything that we didn't know already?"
What a great teacher Jeff is. I learned a lot from this video for sure.
I LOVE that sound of two harmonics just slightly offset from each other! Something about it is just beautiful and expressive, to me.
Excellent Jeff! (and Alex) Such superb a bassist; you are even so the educator! Loved your music since I met you in '81 at CU Denver! Wish I lived where I could see you again! Cheers!
I'm glad I watched this. Once I understood what Jeff means by "Perfect" (academically correct) as opposed to artistic I saw his point. His desire for the student to learn all the chord tones first and then every single note is right on target. I was surprised to see him be so lighthearted and humorous. Good job, Mr. Berlin.
I wish I knew this stuff when I was much younger. Im a couple of years younger than Jeff and Read about him in Rolling Stone as a great player but never really heard him until a few years ago out of curiosity. I love how he teaches music and not simply how to pluck the bass. When I started out it was playing the blues scale and mostly sticking to the root and 5th and octave and playing some approach notes. Playing chord tones or arpeggios was something I was not familiar with. Understanding harmony opens up a whole new vista for bass players.
JEFF BERLIN IS A COMPLETE BOSS!! PHENOM!!
wow, i watched it as a saxophone player. I really like the way he teaches. It is really good for all instrument players
What a fantastic teacher.
This is how music education should be.👍
Wow, I'm a guitarist but I just learned some interesting stuff I can apply to my guitar playing. Jeff is amazing.
Brilliant Teacher, and seems like an amazing person as well...
Amazing! Great ... this is fantastic! The arpeggios are big musical tool for improvise. Thanks Mister Jeff. Congratulations for this master class FREE!
Haha Mr Berlin is a great teacher, such a passion. And a superb bass player. I wonder why my bass teacher didn't like him ^^
love jeff berlin's teaching style. great lesson--student did a great job.
Jeff berlin is so inspiring
Great lesson!! I'd love to attend his Player's School of Music. One day One day.....
I watch his vids all damn day
Fascinating!
Great lesson. Would love to study with him one day.
Jeff is a very fine teacher👏🏾
After watching the Adam Neely chat and this, I get an idea of where Jeff is coming from, I'm an ignorant rock player who wants to be a rounded musician and Jeff's approach is really speaking to me now, where I had doubts through my own lack of knowledge and media noise.
I also like how he says at one pont that the lesson is all things we all ready know of.
Great video, a privilege to see a great teacher and a great student hard at work.
Jeff comes across as very accessible. Chill dude.
Thanks for such a rich and instructive music lesson.
Jeff, you are an incredible teacher.
What is incredible is that 2500 years after Pythagoras people still use that faulty method of tuning their instruments.
Google "Pythagorean comma" and "Equal temperament"!
I learned a lot with jeff berlin's book on arpeggios and chords
JEFF THE MAN!!!!
Thank you Jeff
Thank you Jeff and Alex! It's a interesting video! Studio jams are great! Good job! Bye from Italy!
Actually a great bass lesson!!!
what a cool teacher. Very helpful and so much knowledge!
thank you for this great lesson!
Excellent lesson! I think I finally got his point about education
Jeffs bass sounds great!!!
Fantastic mentor and student! Great video.
great lesson, incredible difference in the chord tone solo! thank you for sharing.
Thanks for sharing this insightful educational experience with Jeff Berlin and the young bass guitarist Alex Talarico.
best spent 30 minutes since i remember... THANKS!!!
Great lesson and content!
just marvellous
The relation tips are invaluable!
Amazing!!
awesome lesson
Brilliant!
Daddy Jeff's right foot is a built in Metronome. Please lemme have it.
The thing about tuning with harmonics is that if you intonation is off then it won't work. Most people do not know how to intonate their Bass or Guitar.
Great lesson
Great Bass Player
Sweet!
That Rithmic bass sounds like cream running down polished glass, beautiful.
The only reason I know about Jeff at all is because a fellow Frank Zappa fan mentioned that he auditioned for Frank. No offense to Zappa's final bass player from 1981 to 1988, but I really think that Jeff would have done a much better job. Incidentally, too, I prefer the 1980s sort of tone Jeff has before as in that 50 minute or so VHS 📼 rip here in UA-cam to this tone. At any rate fascinating and I feel I'm actually learning and not just watching someone show off when Jeff teaches.
I live 5 miles from Frankfort. How is it I don't know this guy?
Jeff I want Lessons...I live in Clearwater, Fl....do you give lessons there?
15:53 Over and over.
Just a curious observation about cultural differences. The last name Talarico in my country have a curious and dangerous meaning. Talarico in Brazil means the man who covets other men's women. rs
can i learn bass with Jeff Berlin as teacher?
5:39
great. post the chords!
Bb7 / Eb7 / Bb7 / F-7 Bb7 / Eb7 / Edim / Bb7 / D-7(b5) G7 / C7 / F7 / Bb7 G7 / C7 F7
Can you please provide that walking bass clef? Please....
+electorize
key is Bb. I think they said it earlier- w/a i-vi-ii-V turnaround
what? could you explain more
Is he related to Stephen Talarico ?
16:15 Please tell us the chords he's writing down.
Bb7 / Eb7 / Bb7 / F-7 Bb7 / Eb7 / Edim / Bb7 / D-7(b5) G7 / C7 / F7 / Bb7 G7 / C7 F7
Jeff is nuts but he is awesome
He reminds me of a musician friend of mine who has a similar intensity in his speech. My friend has Asperger's and is Bi Polar, not "nuts" btw, I often wonder if JB has the same conditions.
Jeff doesn't believe in the use of a metronome because he is one!! Monster time.
Can anyone identify the students bass?
It's a six string Galveston...a nothing fancy low-end bass that I bought when Alex was around ten. It served its purpose for the time. He has since upgraded and moved on as all aspiring musicians do....never stop learning. Thanks for viewing.
I thoght the student was playing through a Chorus pedal at first.
God, only bass nerds assembled here 😅
16:51 lol
is her related to Steven Talarico
It seems like the instruments are so different. 4 vs 6 string. I'm a fiver. Idk what it all means or what really works for what. But it seems goofy. Also, get outta first position unless you're...reading, ok they're reading, but I think his fluidity would be improved up the neck a bit.
this is a little tim n eric-ish lol
Holy crap I had to fast forward through all of the tuning!!
And after watching the rest of it I can say that this is a great lesson, after the tuning, that is!
I think that only comete mistakes, who tries something New.
Cambiar las cuerdas una vez por semana como Jeff puede dañar vuestro bolsillo. No lo hagáis en casa.
Jeff is one of my favorite bass players of all time. I have to say I disagree with how he was directing this kid to adhere to letting the notes ring longer and avoiding the more percussive staccato sound (yes it's a more traditional jazz style). That should be a matter of preference for any musician based on what hey feel they are trying to convey with their instrument.
That has most to do with the fact that double basses are made to be played with a bow, not fingers, which forces that staccato sound. Electric bass can sustain notes.
Buy a tuner!
Stefano Sxdryv Yeah. Get a tuner and keep it handy. On the gig it's not always so easy to hear with noise and distractions around you.
God, I hate the sound of finger style bass soloing...
Haha Mr Berlin is a great teacher, such a passion. And a superb bass player. I wonder why my bass teacher didn't like him ^^
dudonaut - Because he is a pompous windbag
@@Fretfeeler J.B. or dudonaut's bass teacher?
Thank you Jeff and Alex! It's a interesting video! Studio jams are great! Good job! Bye from Italy!