I'm a huge duff fan for more than thirty years now. Although I became a guitarist he is one of my favorite musicians of all time. Best bass sound in rock.
Great video !!! Absolutely agree this guy is sooo underrated... but then, being a bassist and in a band with such a guitarist as Slash and an ego as Axel didn't gave much room to shine... but then again that's the essence of a bassist and he's done it perfectly... I've been an amateur bassist myself for over 20 years (ouch, that hurts) and very fun to see I've been instinctively using those same tricks without being conscious. Thanks and keep on it !!!
When i was a kid I could not identify bass on metal and rock songs or any kind of music I was listening untill I got Appetite and heard Duff playing. Even worst a kid told me Duff just standed there doing noting. 😂. I sugested to play GNR with no bass and tell me what he think. Great video 👍
You've just blown my mind that counter melody at the start of sweet child of mine is bass I thought it was slash on the overdub. How many years have I heard that and not noticed, I think you may have a point with this video and the overlooked aspect
Nah, Led Zeppelins Communication Breakdown was recorded just a month later and that was far more influential. The Ramones were heavily influenced by Page's strumming there on that song. Helter Skelter was obsolete a couple of months after it came out because Zeppelin were the new direction rock moved in.
James Jamerson Style Welcome To The Jungle!!!! Mix it with the original Baseline!!! straight fire!🔥! LUKE You're a bad man a bad bad man you are!! Thanks.
You are giving away all my secrets !!!!!!! Please stop !!! Haha Just kidding . Everything you showed is something that I started to figure out on my own ( my new band is doing a bunch of GNR covers ). The more I was learning the more I love Duffs style . My big question is : Do you think Slash / Izzy showed Duff how to play these bass lines or do you think Duff created all on his own ?? I’m only curious about that because when I was in an original band , the Main songwriter/ guitar player had told me how he wanted me to play them . The only thing I made my own was my sound and style . But the notes were all his creation. So I just wonder did that same thing apply to Duff and GNR songs .
Well i dont know but i really thought the commercial was really funny before the video. " We use our index finger for everything..." maybe i am different because i sure pimp my middle finger for everthing. Mostly telling others how i feel about them.
Ngl, Duff's basslines helped me understand the bass... well I tried to pick up the bass but didn't get very far at least technique, knowledge, feel, etc... and then I started learning a few songs off of Appetite for Destruction and that somehow helped me learn to play a lot better. He's a very underrated bassist, and I honestly recommend to anyone starting out to learn how to play Welcome to the Jungle. You'll learn a few tricks in learning the song :D
Steven said him Duff practiced alot to Camo. Steven said if you listen to Rocket Queen then listen to Word Up you can hear how much Camo's back line influenced them.
I have been a GNR fan since 87 . I always considered Duff to be a decent player . I think that is because Axl’s voice and Slash’s guitar playing stole every song . They were very dominant and prominent. So here I am 37 years later , playing bass in a new band that does GNR covers . I thought it would be easy . So now I’m focusing solely on the bass parts . It’s not so easy . My respect for Duff has changed dramatically!!!! I now consider him to be one of the greatest rock bassists of all time . And yes - he is up there with Squire , Lee , Entwistle . Totally different styles !! But since GNR are more Rock and Roll then any of those bands like Yes , Rush and The Who , we’ll that makes Duff my all time favorite bass player now . I’m only speaking from experience of the ones I’ve seen play . I’m sure there are others out there just as great . Like Flea . I have never seen RHCP . Flea is just on another level . I don’t think that’s a bass he’s playing . Haha On my bucket list - seeing the RHCP .
I just love with how much admiration is your dog looking at you.... I am sure you're his or her hero. :) Also. Duff also likes to include the perfect 4th when a 4 chord is being played (which normally would ask for a lydian sound) and that way he is kinda implying a mixolydian element, which btw is a key element of rock music. Example: Including an F over a C major chord in a song in the key of G major (Or D mixolydian) which is what he does in Sweet Child. :) I also don't think Duff gets enough credit for how FUNKY he is... He sometimes plays a note that jumps out in volume, which I think he is playing by doing a pop with his finger but may be wrong with that technique.. I wonder how he does that..
I just listen to Guns 'n Roses Songs because of Duff McKagan's Bass lines. He is one of the reasons I pick and play the bass guitar myself. Thank you so much for this video ❤
Duff is the perfect example of straight forward and powerful bass lines...without any fluff. Duff never went crazy with his bass lines..yet they were the icing on the cake of every song he played. One of my all time favorite bassists! Killer bass lines and I agree...criminally underrated!
@@DiscreetHobo I really haven't found a Duff bass line that wasn't fun. Sweet Child O' Mine is really fun to play. You Could Be Mine is another good one.
If you guys like Duff McKagan you should check out his first book. He's not also a great bassist (the reason I started playing bass) but also an amazing storyteller.
Such a kick ass vid !! I have been a GNR fan since I heard Axl scream out “ you’re in the jungle baby …. Your gonna die “!! Haha Yup - ever since 1987 actually while I was in the US Navy sailing in the Gulf . I’m a rock bass player too . Been trying to play since 1980 . I’m ok . Not the best . But I hold my own . I always thought of Duff as a decent bass player . All these years that is what I thought . I’m currently in a new band and we do GNR covers . Holy crap !! Now I think that Duff is hands down one of the greatest Rock bassists Ever !!! Side note : I used to wear my bass slung low but these days it’s Tuff on my fretting hand , and my shoulder . I don’t look as cool as I used to . Damn I’m sad . As I always say : “ getting old sucks ….. But Not getting older can suck even worse “. Rock on everyone 🤠🙏♥️
It is major pentatonic R 2 3 5 6. The color tones are the 2 (9) and 6. It is how they lead into chord functionality. Cord functionality is a whole thing for bassists.
Come on,you cant claim new Rose.Captain sensible giving us a peek at his talents before moving on to guitar.One of the most underrated guitarists on rock
He also played with Jane's Addiction, Hollywood Vampires and The Living, ECT. You are absolutely correct, he is one of the top hard rock bassist. Thank you so much for making this video.
Such a great video. A lot of what is discussed in this video is what made the original GNR lineup the greatest band in the world. Everyone understood their part and played within the music. Guys like Duff and Steven will never make the “top whatever” lists because they didn’t compromise the integrity of the GNR sound or a particular song to showcase their personal skills and talent. Conversely you have guys like Travis Barker who may as well be in a different room playing a different song than the rest of Blink182. Number one rule in making music is harmony.
Came here from the Joe Dart video and absolutely love your breakdowns. Way beyond just how to replicate the greats, which there are 100x examples of. Actually gives me some ways to write and inject some essence of the masters into my amateur playing!
Awesome video. Duff is the genuinely underrated part of GnR. Izzy is overrated at this point, even Steven gets lots of credit for his swing, but no-one mentions that of all the solo albums (inc.CD) the one that sounded most like GnR was Believe in Me
I’ve always said of my favourite bands. Guns n roses is what happens when hard rock is melody focused. From bass to lead vocals and every guitar the focus is on melody. Acdc is what happens when hard rock is focused on rhythm and timing. Not one single note out of place to long to slow anywhere.
Well...unsurprisingly, Fender capitalized on Duff by recreating his traditional model with the actual Fender Precision Duff Signature Bass, now made in Mexico (his original was called Jazz Bass Special - even though it was in fact a PJ pickup bass, and made in Japan). This recreation is not bad. But as you said, many different PJ basses can do the Duff, more so with fresh roundwound strings. I personally recommend Yamaha PJ basses, which have some personality and can be quite trebly and Duff-like, or if you are really crazy about his tone plus you can afford Fenders, go with the Duff Signature recreation, or the American Performer PJ or similar. Now, Jazz Basses could potentially do Duff but I can't compare JB models. Potentially a Jazz Bass could do it because it is also trebly and covers a lot of Duff's tone, can sound very similar.
Luke, this was really great! I was going to skip this one because I am not really a GNR fan, but I did grow up on punk. It goes to show that there is something to learn from every bass player. You did a really great job breaking down Duff's style, tone and common themes in his playing, and with some really good examples that were fun to play along to. I hope you continue this and explore other bassists. This would make a great series. And, as I was playing along to the intro to Sweet Child O' Mine, I realized what I had learned from your previous lessons - that whole line is built around the root, 3rd and 5th. I like that you also included the chords with the tabs, so players can see how the chords and notes relate to each other. And I loved the Jameson riff! It really showed how different styles can change a song. Also, loved your Axl voice, and of course, Arnie! My dog does the same to me while I'm playing. And I liked your analogy of "the rug" that ties the whole room together. All in all, a really great video and lesson. A lot to unpack and a lot to learn from Duff. Thanks!
If you’re a punk rock fan, then Guns ‘n Roses still has something for you. Not just obvious punk tracks like Get in the Ring, but punk is just such a prevalent force in their music. Guns really were the perfect amalgamation of every genre adjacent to rock, from punk to to glam to metal, all in one package.
Thanks so much @Thomas Fioriglio - I really appreciate it and I'm so glad you got something out of this one! And of course Arnie is always the *real* star of the show. Lol
Totally @TheTribalist - GNR had a real punk streak. Their album The Spaghetti Incident (which Duff had a heavy hand in crafting and sings lead on a few songs) is basically all punk covers. It's definitely not as well-known as Appetite for Destruction or the Illusion albums, but there's some cool stuff on them for sure.
@@thetribalist6923 For me the only band that is the bearer of inheritance of Sex Pistols' essence, point and energy was Guns n' Roses. Not just that. Compare intro from It's So Easy and intro of Liar (Sex Pistols) and you can hear the influences too.
@@ivanbajovic3476 awesome point and I think they were a direct line to old school punk instead of the hardcore and emocore that punk became in the 80s.
Duff has always been one of my favorite bass players. I’ve always loved his tone it works and cuts through the mix and love it when he takes the melody part of the songs, he ain’t flashy but gets it done and looks cool doing it. The first Velvet Revolver album is as good of a hard rock album as there is. It’d be cool if GNR actually did some of the VR songs live they would probably work better with Axl’s voice since his lower register is still there. Yeah Duff is a great bass player, he and David Elefson are two of my favorite bassist. I play guitar and I love how they found a unique tone that’s always audible with heavy guitars .
@@Woozy.0 that’s cool man, I saw Velvet Revolver on the tour for Contraband and they were awesome, I think they played the whole debut album a couple STP songs and then they did an encore the house lights were off and then you heard Duff’s into to Its So Easy and when the rest of the band kicked in the lights came back on and I thought the roof was going to come off the place. It was a smaller auditorium in Birmingham Alabama and early in the tour before they all relapsed. Scott was incredibly thin but sounded amazing. That was a great concert they did a couple other GNR tunes but the crowd reaction to its so easy we thought it would be the closest thing we’d ever see to GNR at the time. They were loud too so loud we were on the barricade in front of Dave Kushner (spelling?)
@@Woozy.0 yeah it was an awesome concert and overall my favorite of the few I’ve attended. I think I bought 7 tickets for around 300 we bought seats because there was an older couple that we hung out with. I saw half the floor wide open in the intermission after the opening band I think there was only one smaller local ish band that opened. Anyway we were in the seats and I saw a beer stand in the corner of the floor and said I’m going to get a beer if anyone wants one ? Someone said yeah bring me one back I said I won’t be back I’m buying my beer down there on the floor GA so 5 of us went down and made our way to the barricade. I would’ve tried to get to Slash’s side of the stage but I was just thinking get as close as we could before it starts. I saw Avenged Sevenfold on the Hail To the King tour with Adrenaline Mob and Hellyeah. It was a Wednesday night in Huntsville and the floor was half empty the whole show . Hellyeah brought it like the place was packed and were the better band on that night at least. AX7 sounded great but they didn’t really have much energy it was almost like watching a sound check but with Pyro just not as much energy as I was expecting. The crowd participated in Bat County, Nightmare . They played Little Piece of Heaven and that was rare at the time. Probably the best sounding concert I’ve ever been to was Nickelback in early 2006 . I know it’s not cool to like them and I’m not into them, but Chevelle was with them. If you ever get a chance to see Nickelback and enjoy a great hard rock show. Go I promise you’ll have fun and get your money’s worth.
I started playing bass in a band a few years ago after decades playing guitar and fronting bands and I became a huge fan of Duff. I was never a huge G&R fan. I liked them on the radio but that's about it. But since I've been playing bass, he's become a huge influence on me. I don't ape his tone at all. I actually don't like that kind of grindy pick-on-round wounds attack. But every time I'm working on a new song, I think about his aggressive approach and the way he coaxes a kind of melodic rationality out of very simple ingredients. And I play a PJ bass in honor of Duff, even if I don't use it to sound like him.
New to your channel. Great video I’ve always loved Duff’s basslines he’s not on my top bass player list but he’s definitely a great bassist and has inspired so many!!
Thnx a LOT Luke! Duff is one of my pick-playing heroes. Multi-instrumental talented as well and that shows clearly in his melodic lines. Really creative musician and still keeping track of his doings! Great video! Oh, and I’m gonna steal your “Duff-in-a-Box” ‘cause it cracked me up so hard hahaha!
Who else do you think would be in the running for the title of ‘Most Melodic Rock Bassist’?
Trevor Bolder 💪🏻
Billy Gould from Faith No More??
Robert DeLeo
Justin bivona
Phil lesh - in a way and amongst other things
Izzy, Steven, and Duff made up one of the best rhythm sections on rock history
I can't imagine how good GNR could have been if Izzy was able to stay with the band
As much as I love Izzy, I truly believe Fortus is better.
Wow. Thanks Luke. I love this lesson. Three generations of my family love this band. Can’t wait to play these bass lines with my son and grandsons.
So glad you're into this one @Ruth Kearin! Rock on with the whole family!
His biography is awesome too.
Great video, I have always liked Duff McKagan and I think he's an underrated bass player, one of the great rock bass players
Totally agree @Martin Wilhelmsson
He’s okay. Rex Brown is a far superior bass player imo.
I'm a huge duff fan for more than thirty years now. Although I became a guitarist he is one of my favorite musicians of all time. Best bass sound in rock.
Agreed @The666horg. His tone is truly epic!
He’s the reason I started playing bass and I had the pleasure of meeting him to tell him that really chill guy nice guy gave me some useful advice
That's so cool @Ant c! What advice did he give you? And did you act on it somehow?
Great video !!! Absolutely agree this guy is sooo underrated... but then, being a bassist and in a band with such a guitarist as Slash and an ego as Axel didn't gave much room to shine... but then again that's the essence of a bassist and he's done it perfectly... I've been an amateur bassist myself for over 20 years (ouch, that hurts) and very fun to see I've been instinctively using those same tricks without being conscious. Thanks and keep on it !!!
Duffs basslines are always fun to play 🤙 and always sound awesome
Wow! What a great video and a great homage to a great bassist. Thank you. Subbed.
Truly underrated bassist and a very smart guy
You’ve earned a subscriber! Great video. Duff didn’t write new rose though. That’s a Damned song they covered
When i was a kid I could not identify bass on metal and rock songs or any kind of music I was listening untill I got Appetite and heard Duff playing. Even worst a kid told me Duff just standed there doing noting. 😂. I sugested to play GNR with no bass and tell me what he think. Great video 👍
the cover of the tha damneds new rose . Is probably a tribute to Duffs punk roots
You've just blown my mind that counter melody at the start of sweet child of mine is bass I thought it was slash on the overdub. How many years have I heard that and not noticed, I think you may have a point with this video and the overlooked aspect
For sure @Reprobate Mind - I'm sure a lot of people don't realize that's a bass because they generally don't hear bass playing melodically like that.
Please make the analysis of John Deacon bass lines from Queen.
That Jamerson version is Tight, Tight, Tight!
I'm my opinion Duffs bass tone is the best ever!
As long as we’re on it HELTER SKELTER is probably one of the most influential proto-Punk recordings of the Sixties
Nah, Led Zeppelins Communication Breakdown was recorded just a month later and that was far more influential. The Ramones were heavily influenced by Page's strumming there on that song.
Helter Skelter was obsolete a couple of months after it came out because Zeppelin were the new direction rock moved in.
The most influential protopunk song of the sixties in my opinion is I wanna be your dog by the stooges
James Jamerson Style Welcome To The Jungle!!!! Mix it with the original Baseline!!! straight fire!🔥! LUKE You're a bad man a bad bad man you are!! Thanks.
Lol - that part was kind of my favorite.
When I play bass I think of his bass lines and groove
Yes I usually think I only admires him buy everyone does thanks everyone lol from nepal🇳🇵🇳🇵🇳🇵
Tanks for that video! Now please Mike Dirnt up next! 🙏✌️
GnR would not be the band they were if not for Duff. Solid as fvck, and the perfect backing for Slash's guitar.
You are giving away all my secrets !!!!!!!
Please stop !!!
Haha
Just kidding .
Everything you showed is something that I started to figure out on my own ( my new band is doing a bunch of GNR covers ).
The more I was learning the more I love Duffs style .
My big question is :
Do you think Slash / Izzy showed Duff how to play these bass lines or do you think Duff created all on his own ??
I’m only curious about that because when I was in an original band , the Main songwriter/ guitar player had told me how he wanted me to play them .
The only thing I made my own was my sound and style .
But the notes were all his creation.
So I just wonder did that same thing apply to Duff and GNR songs .
He is the best.
🎶Better than all the rest🎶
Sweet doggoo...
Gotta do Eric Avery.
Well i dont know but i really thought the commercial was really funny before the video. " We use our index finger for everything..." maybe i am different because i sure pimp my middle finger for everthing. Mostly telling others how i feel about them.
I started playing bass because of Duff. One of the most underated bassists in rock history along with Robert De Leo.
Ngl, Duff's basslines helped me understand the bass... well I tried to pick up the bass but didn't get very far at least technique, knowledge, feel, etc... and then I started learning a few songs off of Appetite for Destruction and that somehow helped me learn to play a lot better.
He's a very underrated bassist, and I honestly recommend to anyone starting out to learn how to play Welcome to the Jungle. You'll learn a few tricks in learning the song :D
I wonder... Can you mix Duff with Lemmy and come up with a super cool melodic hybrid??
Sure - go for it!
The dog ,lol
He's the greatest!
I kept looking and dog was like , what about me😀
Is Hooky.
dug Pinnick and Mark Sandman come to mind, but Duff never does. History is kind to GnR
4:42 that Jamerson-ish line actually sounds pretty good 😂 but, I agree that style doesn’t resonate with GnR
Geddy, Flea, and Mike Watt are the most melodic rock players.
John taylor of duran duran is the kind of bassist to be called king of pop...
Please tell me the dog's name is "Duff"
I'm afraid not...his name is Arnie. Maybe the next pet (or child) can be called Duff. lol
New rose is a punk song.
OK, so you have a dog and use Big Lebowski references. My full commendations!
Peter Hook, Bruce Thomas, Flea, Les Claypool are way better melody players.
All great players @stu8506
Underrated? Really? By who?
Duff is a punk because he wears CBGB shirts.... 😂
Haha yep
Dirnt’s tons better. Not close.
Duff is a "Mehhh" bassplayer
Nothing against Duff, but he ain't it. He ain't even top 20.
The bass on Rocket Queen is incredible. Duff is so incredibly talented.
I agree...Rocket Queen is great! 🚀
Steven said him Duff practiced alot to Camo. Steven said if you listen to Rocket Queen then listen to Word Up you can hear how much Camo's back line influenced them.
Thank you very much for this. He has created some of the most influential bass lines I've ever heard... Criminally underrated is correct! Spot-on
Glad you agree @CharlieMortan!
I have been a GNR fan since 87 .
I always considered Duff to be a decent player .
I think that is because Axl’s voice and Slash’s guitar playing stole every song .
They were very dominant and prominent.
So here I am 37 years later , playing bass in a new band that does GNR covers .
I thought it would be easy .
So now I’m focusing solely on the bass parts .
It’s not so easy .
My respect for Duff has changed dramatically!!!!
I now consider him to be one of the greatest rock bassists of all time .
And yes - he is up there with Squire , Lee , Entwistle .
Totally different styles !!
But since GNR are more Rock and Roll then any of those bands like Yes , Rush and The Who , we’ll that makes Duff my all time favorite bass player now .
I’m only speaking from experience of the ones I’ve seen play .
I’m sure there are others out there just as great .
Like Flea .
I have never seen RHCP .
Flea is just on another level .
I don’t think that’s a bass he’s playing .
Haha
On my bucket list - seeing the RHCP .
Yeah man that Sweet Child bass line is outstanding. Duff is a talented musician in general.
Woah-oo--oh, sweet child bass-liieine!
Curtis Smith of tears for fears, perhaps the most underrated bassist. His songs are brilliant and his bass lines are so much fun to play.
I just love with how much admiration is your dog looking at you.... I am sure you're his or her hero. :)
Also.
Duff also likes to include the perfect 4th when a 4 chord is being played (which normally would ask for a lydian sound) and that way he is kinda implying a mixolydian element, which btw is a key element of rock music.
Example: Including an F over a C major chord in a song in the key of G major (Or D mixolydian) which is what he does in Sweet Child. :)
I also don't think Duff gets enough credit for how FUNKY he is... He sometimes plays a note that jumps out in volume, which I think he is playing by doing a pop with his finger but may be wrong with that technique.. I wonder how he does that..
I just listen to Guns 'n Roses Songs because of Duff McKagan's Bass lines. He is one of the reasons I pick and play the bass guitar myself. Thank you so much for this video ❤
So glad you liked it @Kyomeimei!
Duff is the perfect example of straight forward and powerful bass lines...without any fluff. Duff never went crazy with his bass lines..yet they were the icing on the cake of every song he played. One of my all time favorite bassists! Killer bass lines and I agree...criminally underrated!
I still play through Sweet child o Mine. That Bass line is just so killer. Just full of impact but no fluff. So much fun
@@DiscreetHobo I really haven't found a Duff bass line that wasn't fun.
Sweet Child O' Mine is really fun to play. You Could Be Mine is another good one.
@@DiscreetHobo Yes! Overlooked far too often.
Geddy, Entwistle, Squire were all melodic and better players than Duff, but that was a different era/genre.
Different genre? All of them are also rock.
If you guys like Duff McKagan you should check out his first book. He's not also a great bassist (the reason I started playing bass) but also an amazing storyteller.
I'd say John Paul Jones is the most melodic rock bassist. So funky as well.
True dat
You cant even hear his bass
Truth
Ramble On.
@@danielsonlisik534 You must be deaf or something.
Agreed. He's a keyboard guy too, just like Rush's Geddy Lee... Multi-instrumentalists see and hear things differently.
Duff is musically gifted and a multi instrumentalist. He is my favorite GnR member ever since.
Such a kick ass vid !!
I have been a GNR fan since I heard Axl scream out “ you’re in the jungle baby …. Your gonna die “!!
Haha
Yup - ever since 1987 actually while I was in the US Navy sailing in the Gulf .
I’m a rock bass player too .
Been trying to play since 1980 .
I’m ok .
Not the best . But I hold my own .
I always thought of Duff as a decent bass player .
All these years that is what I thought .
I’m currently in a new band and we do GNR covers .
Holy crap !!
Now I think that Duff is hands down one of the greatest Rock bassists Ever !!!
Side note :
I used to wear my bass slung low but these days it’s Tuff on my fretting hand , and my shoulder .
I don’t look as cool as I used to .
Damn I’m sad .
As I always say :
“ getting old sucks ….. But Not getting older can suck even worse “.
Rock on everyone 🤠🙏♥️
Thanks for this! Duff was the first bassist that made me interested in bass lines at all. He's still one of my favorite to listen to.
He's an inspiration to so many @Professor Kitchen for sure.
I would say Paul McCartney is the melodic bass king.
Fact
@@cyco739z Double fact
No disrespect to Duff, but Jeff McDonald is the Punk King of melodic bass.,
It is major pentatonic R 2 3 5 6. The color tones are the 2 (9) and 6. It is how they lead into chord functionality. Cord functionality is a whole thing for bassists.
Come on,you cant claim new Rose.Captain sensible giving us a peek at his talents before moving on to guitar.One of the most underrated guitarists on rock
"Melodicism"? Making up new words now? Typical bassist! Pfft! Everyone knows it's "melodicisity"! 🤣
BTW, I'm a bassist. Shh.
He also played with Jane's Addiction, Hollywood Vampires and The Living, ECT.
You are absolutely correct, he is one of the top hard rock bassist.
Thank you so much for making this video.
I’ll take Eric Avery of Jane’s Addiction. His bass lines carry whole songs are are instantly memorable. Peter Hook is a close second
Love his playing man. He always makes the song better.
Couldn't agree more @Darvin Clement
Very well put together. If you haven’t already a similar vid on Lemmy’s playing style would be great.
Love it! Duff is the reason I started playing bass.
That's a great reason to start @gr8avocado
Duff is the reason a lot of bassists exist...
Absolutely GREAT.. Love Duff's playing..
Such a great video. A lot of what is discussed in this video is what made the original GNR lineup the greatest band in the world. Everyone understood their part and played within the music. Guys like Duff and Steven will never make the “top whatever” lists because they didn’t compromise the integrity of the GNR sound or a particular song to showcase their personal skills and talent. Conversely you have guys like Travis Barker who may as well be in a different room playing a different song than the rest of Blink182. Number one rule in making music is harmony.
Came here from the Joe Dart video and absolutely love your breakdowns. Way beyond just how to replicate the greats, which there are 100x examples of. Actually gives me some ways to write and inject some essence of the masters into my amateur playing!
Duff's the secret sauce in the GnR feast
Never paid attention till I got rocksmith. Hes very underrated
Awesome video. Duff is the genuinely underrated part of GnR. Izzy is overrated at this point, even Steven gets lots of credit for his swing, but no-one mentions that of all the solo albums (inc.CD) the one that sounded most like GnR was Believe in Me
I’ve always said of my favourite bands. Guns n roses is what happens when hard rock is melody focused. From bass to lead vocals and every guitar the focus is on melody. Acdc is what happens when hard rock is focused on rhythm and timing. Not one single note out of place to long to slow anywhere.
Well...unsurprisingly, Fender capitalized on Duff by recreating his traditional model with the actual Fender Precision Duff Signature Bass, now made in Mexico (his original was called Jazz Bass Special - even though it was in fact a PJ pickup bass, and made in Japan). This recreation is not bad. But as you said, many different PJ basses can do the Duff, more so with fresh roundwound strings. I personally recommend Yamaha PJ basses, which have some personality and can be quite trebly and Duff-like, or if you are really crazy about his tone plus you can afford Fenders, go with the Duff Signature recreation, or the American Performer PJ or similar. Now, Jazz Basses could potentially do Duff but I can't compare JB models. Potentially a Jazz Bass could do it because it is also trebly and covers a lot of Duff's tone, can sound very similar.
Thanks for this very interesting video ! I really love Duff !
my fave thing about duff is his ability to write a million different licks over the repetition of 3 chord songs
I love duff and your bass it looks like a papaya
Luke, this was really great! I was going to skip this one because I am not really a GNR fan, but I did grow up on punk. It goes to show that there is something to learn from every bass player. You did a really great job breaking down Duff's style, tone and common themes in his playing, and with some really good examples that were fun to play along to. I hope you continue this and explore other bassists. This would make a great series. And, as I was playing along to the intro to Sweet Child O' Mine, I realized what I had learned from your previous lessons - that whole line is built around the root, 3rd and 5th. I like that you also included the chords with the tabs, so players can see how the chords and notes relate to each other.
And I loved the Jameson riff! It really showed how different styles can change a song. Also, loved your Axl voice, and of course, Arnie! My dog does the same to me while I'm playing. And I liked your analogy of "the rug" that ties the whole room together. All in all, a really great video and lesson. A lot to unpack and a lot to learn from Duff. Thanks!
If you’re a punk rock fan, then Guns ‘n Roses still has something for you. Not just obvious punk tracks like Get in the Ring, but punk is just such a prevalent force in their music. Guns really were the perfect amalgamation of every genre adjacent to rock, from punk to to glam to metal, all in one package.
Thanks so much @Thomas Fioriglio - I really appreciate it and I'm so glad you got something out of this one! And of course Arnie is always the *real* star of the show. Lol
Totally @TheTribalist - GNR had a real punk streak. Their album The Spaghetti Incident (which Duff had a heavy hand in crafting and sings lead on a few songs) is basically all punk covers. It's definitely not as well-known as Appetite for Destruction or the Illusion albums, but there's some cool stuff on them for sure.
@@thetribalist6923 For me the only band that is the bearer of inheritance of Sex Pistols' essence, point and energy was Guns n' Roses. Not just that. Compare intro from It's So Easy and intro of Liar (Sex Pistols) and you can hear the influences too.
@@ivanbajovic3476 awesome point and I think they were a direct line to old school punk instead of the hardcore and emocore that punk became in the 80s.
Thank you for this. I am going to have a great time playing GnR! Btw, I love your bass guitar, and it sounds amazing! ! What brand is it?
In this video, I'm playing a Spector Euro @Ricardukui - glad you like the video!
Duff has always been one of my favorite bass players. I’ve always loved his tone it works and cuts through the mix and love it when he takes the melody part of the songs, he ain’t flashy but gets it done and looks cool doing it.
The first Velvet Revolver album is as good of a hard rock album as there is. It’d be cool if GNR actually did some of the VR songs live they would probably work better with Axl’s voice since his lower register is still there. Yeah Duff is a great bass player, he and David Elefson are two of my favorite bassist. I play guitar and I love how they found a unique tone that’s always audible with heavy guitars .
They do Slither now
@@Woozy.0 that’s cool man, I saw Velvet Revolver on the tour for Contraband and they were awesome, I think they played the whole debut album a couple STP songs and then they did an encore the house lights were off and then you heard Duff’s into to Its So Easy and when the rest of the band kicked in the lights came back on and I thought the roof was going to come off the place. It was a smaller auditorium in Birmingham Alabama and early in the tour before they all relapsed. Scott was incredibly thin but sounded amazing. That was a great concert they did a couple other GNR tunes but the crowd reaction to its so easy we thought it would be the closest thing we’d ever see to GNR at the time. They were loud too so loud we were on the barricade in front of Dave Kushner (spelling?)
@@brandonjackson5865 Holy Christ, I would shell out some Hefty bills to have been at that show. I love Its so Easy and VR really deserves more love
@@Woozy.0 yeah it was an awesome concert and overall my favorite of the few I’ve attended. I think I bought 7 tickets for around 300 we bought seats because there was an older couple that we hung out with. I saw half the floor wide open in the intermission after the opening band I think there was only one smaller local ish band that opened. Anyway we were in the seats and I saw a beer stand in the corner of the floor and said I’m going to get a beer if anyone wants one ? Someone said yeah bring me one back I said I won’t be back I’m buying my beer down there on the floor GA so 5 of us went down and made our way to the barricade. I would’ve tried to get to Slash’s side of the stage but I was just thinking get as close as we could before it starts.
I saw Avenged Sevenfold on the Hail To the King tour with Adrenaline Mob and Hellyeah. It was a Wednesday night in Huntsville and the floor was half empty the whole show . Hellyeah brought it like the place was packed and were the better band on that night at least. AX7 sounded great but they didn’t really have much energy it was almost like watching a sound check but with Pyro just not as much energy as I was expecting. The crowd participated in Bat County, Nightmare . They played Little Piece of Heaven and that was rare at the time. Probably the best sounding concert I’ve ever been to was Nickelback in early 2006 . I know it’s not cool to like them and I’m not into them, but Chevelle was with them. If you ever get a chance to see Nickelback and enjoy a great hard rock show. Go I promise you’ll have fun and get your money’s worth.
Hello Luke. Maybe you want listen to Tetsuya, bassist of L'Arc~en~Ciel. Please listen to these songs: Blurry Eyes, Stay Away, Driver's High, Heaven's Drive, & Route 666.
It sounds weird...are you tuned EADG, or down a half-step? It sounds...high.
I started playing bass in a band a few years ago after decades playing guitar and fronting bands and I became a huge fan of Duff.
I was never a huge G&R fan. I liked them on the radio but that's about it. But since I've been playing bass, he's become a huge influence on me. I don't ape his tone at all. I actually don't like that kind of grindy pick-on-round wounds attack. But every time I'm working on a new song, I think about his aggressive approach and the way he coaxes a kind of melodic rationality out of very simple ingredients. And I play a PJ bass in honor of Duff, even if I don't use it to sound like him.
My only favorite member of GN'R
Duff is not punk and never was
The king of bass melody is Onda Yoshihito from Judy and Mary. Duff's great too, of course.
I thought slash had basically recorded both guitar parts and the bass before the band heard em... Maybe that's misremembering?
Its not aloud to play bass with a pick
Well lock me up and throw away the key...
Way underrated bassist and great background vocalist
Mr. Tukmol, tell that to the newly recruit marines, not to the world's music lovers..
Very mediocre player.
Also, the iconic anthem that is "Paradise City", is Duff's fault.
New to your channel. Great video I’ve always loved Duff’s basslines he’s not on my top bass player list but he’s definitely a great bassist and has inspired so many!!
Absolutely @Jeremy Piquette! Out of interest, who _would_ be on your top bass player list?
Thnx a LOT Luke! Duff is one of my pick-playing heroes. Multi-instrumental talented as well and that shows clearly in his melodic lines. Really creative musician and still keeping track of his doings! Great video! Oh, and I’m gonna steal your “Duff-in-a-Box” ‘cause it cracked me up so hard hahaha!
Haha! Steal it @Pat Netherlander - it's totally worth stealing.
it should be illegal that Axl plays again as GnR without duff (and slash btw)
for me, welcome to the jungle intro will never be epic with out duff bassline