I like the old school videos in the shed, its simple, the content of the lesson comes across very well every time. There is a place for high production videos, but sometimes the best lessons are in this format for sure, no distractions.
I really like the old school videos also, I find myself steering away from sbl because there’s way to much talk and there also very annoying. Please go back to your roots and what you started with. The new videos come off very vey pretentious, I don’t want to hear all the yapping.
@@jemwand2530 minimalistic doesn’t mean simple or easy. It’s just sometimes caring more about timing, and letting the music breath instead of making everything sound crammed.
He recorded ALL of fhe bass lines on his music except when Sonny T. came along with NPG and even THEN Sonny was used as the convenience not the need and Sonny Thompson is that deal!!!
Prince was such a great bass player! I saw him twice in '97. He had Rhonda Smith in his band. During the song "Face Down" they did a wicked head cutting duel. So good!
Fantastic idea for a future episode - How to play bass slightly tipsy lol j/k. Great video, I miss Prince and his music everyday still. He was a great all around musician including bass guitar ;)
Back in the day...I was there. I started going to clubs in '74. Before Prince and even before disco Minneapolis had a large community of fantastic funk musicians playing in clubs. They were my main influence. The rock bands were also very VERY good. The "Minneapolis Sound" had roots years before Prince arrived on the scene. He took it to the next (still current) phase and the title was born. I once had a brief chance to play one of his Fender basses. It had super slinky light gauge strings and very low action. It was so fun to play.
To answer your question in the beginning, I like the one-off videos that explain a single concept, but I also love the variety of Ian's bits and the work you do with other artists around the globe. In short, I dig it.
I really like the old-school players that you showed and their styles .That was awesome you learn from the past and you learn from the best and that’s how you get better.
*Hey, Scott! Here is a suggestion: Please make a comparison video focusing on the diverse bass playing techniques of Carol Kaye, Paul McCartney, Leland Sklar, John Paul Jones, and… James Jamerson.* *Some bass players use a pick (or a plectrum). Some use one or more fingers. Some pluck. Some slap.* *Heavy metal bass player Duff McKagen uses “a .73 guitar pick,” not a bass pick. James Jamerson is famous for the hook… his index finger.* *How many playing techniques should a new bass player/student be proficient in?* *Let’s set YT and G’s “algos” on fire.*
funny that Sting uses his thumb to thump strings in a "thru strings" way, but at the same time usually mutes the strings at the bridge to give the sound even more low end and oomph. He won't slap, though. He's a gent
I always enjoy going back to my roots here as well. Getting to sit here with my bass and listen to your youtube videos like when I first discovered you. This week has been a real pleasure just before logging into my daily practice on the SBL academy online. I enjoy all these great teachers but you're my main man, always. Love Ian's passion as well, I connect to your enthusiasm so much. Thanks for this much needed motivation. Keep it up. PS: love the podcasts
This format makes your teaching very easy to digest and more accessible. Feels less like I'm taking lessons so I can keep telling myself that I'm self taught.
Monk. Monk Montgomery, brother of Jazz Guitar LEGEND Wes Montgomery aka "The Thumb". The History of the Electric Bass on Recordings begins with Monk, who used The Thumb (parallel) exclusively.
I think these videos do the best job of providing useful information AND subtly directing people to your courses. Of course you could teach an entire course on Prince... because he’s amazing
Scott I've been playing over 40 years on Bass and it's all about self expression on The Thumbing thing there is no one example its all about the soul of the person.
Yes more old school Scott chats please. They’re very cool and add a personal touch to your channel that is much the reason why I became an sbl member in the first place
A friend of mine and great musician was playing in San Francisco in the late sixties and down the street Sly's band was playing. He used to go hang out with them on breaks. He said that was the first time he saw anyone doing the slap thing.
I love this deep dive! Watching the video where you felt the thumb technique originated from reminded me of a player I once saw. He wasn’t thumping, but he used only his thumb to play the notes, like a pick, mainly downstrokes. The rest of his fingers were anchored on the body of the bass. Was this a technique from the late 60’s/70’s? Maybe this slapping through the string was an extension of this right hand (thumb only) technique?
Great video, Scott! AWESOME interlude of YEBBA! Ya'll listen up on this queen! Awwlawd! Those Electric Lady sessions with Pino and Questlove got vibe for lifetimes.
I'm really enjoying the more old school video format (especially as somebody who's been watching since 2014) The fancy editing can certainly be nice for a visual aid, but I feel that I can absorb more knowledge when it's more direct like this. Either way, great videos!
When you were thumping away on the G I just couldn't help but starting singing "The butcher, the banker, the drummer and then, makes no difference what group I'm in...I, I, I...am everyday people".
Love all the content especially deep dives! Im a guitar player and took up bass about a year or two ago. It's awesome to get turned onto some musicians and music I never would've heard!
I find the follow-through often sounds less like a slap, than like a hard strum. When you showed down-thumb on the G and D strings, you got further from the fretboard, towards the pickups, where there is nothing to slap against. I agree though... I had to learn to follow through on the G string when slapping down-thumb.
I agree with the G string, but I routinely slap the D and it sounds good. I do however need my thumb parallel to the string, if it's angled too high up or down it muffles things. Often I'll also pop up and then slap down on the same string, with a holding a pick-like shape with my fingers, and that helps make the D sound better. That said I'm slowly trying to learn the thump through technique for the those G-string fills that so many funky players do.
Hey Scott! Heres a question/video suggestion. Trained classical musicians starting to play bass and jazz.. So new instrument and new genre. Differences in thinking, how to make use of an already developed technical affinity and skillset in mastering the bass and improvisation in particular. I started a bit more then 2 years ago. Finding the answers is not so difficult, but finding the right questions is what takes long. I would be really interested in your approach to this topic.
*The perfect simple example and exercise of this technique is Sly & the Family Stone's classic, **_Everyday People,_** as it's ONLY Larry Graham doing straight up & down Gs with his thumb, the ENTIRE song, (other than the sustained last G.)* 👍🎸
Have you ever done one on the late great Paul Jackson? That would be fun if haven’t yet. He was so amazing. Btw yes dig the retro dives. Maybe pair a different type of wine each time as well. And interludes are cool.
Doug(las) Rauch of Santana has been forgotten completely. Please listen his playing on Santana album Caravanserai, e.g the song "Just In Time To See The Sun". The way he connects with the percussions is spot on. The bassist Jonas Hellborg even went as far in an interview that he stated Stanley Clarke being a copy of Rauch in playing style.
Really interesting lesson Scott, something I will be trying to practice from now on, as i have always used the thumb up approach, thanks to Jonas Hellbourg. I think the neckerchief, as a fashion accessory, isn't so bad when compared to the Orange Beanie and T-shirt combo some bass teachers on YT are currently sporting. 🤩 " I come from planet Bean to liven up your tea time toast... and teach you bass".
Yeah, this content is really, really helpful - insights are often as crucial as lessons. One question though - how are you muting? I can't quite make it out from the video, but when I'm trying to learn the thumb-through on the higher strings the muting's a bit impenetrable.
I agree - I do a bit of a hybrid where I "down thumb" E and A then "through thumb" the lower strings.... Muting does feel a bit odd/unnatural when through thumbing the top strings...
Loving these old school series of vids and loving the shirts too! Great info on fundamental areas that possibly get overlooked but are damn important. Batman movie soundtrack reference - whooo!
we like you buzzed, Scott yeah, thumbing through the string is the same as finger plucking - through.. when you're high, do you still play as many notes - to get the groove across?
I'm LOVING the old school vibe, Ivan :) ... if you do decide to do the 6 month program, you actually get lifetime access - so you can make it work around your schedule if that'd work better for ya.
Larry does not get credit for double thumping, but he was killing that technique as well, before everyone else. Listen carefully to Release Yourself and You Got to Go through it to get to it.
You should do a review of the Mark King solo album Influences. He is playing almost every instrument including the drums. In the end of the track The Essential he does a slap solo that even today no one has been near. Also his finger playing is outstanding and the sound overall of his bass including the drums is hot. 🔥🔥🔥
Please make a comparison video comparing professional musicians and their doppelgänger actors. Chad smith vs Will Ferrell; Larry Graham vs Damon Wayans; Hugh Laurie the pianist vs that doctor guy from House.
"I've always played just like that" because Larry Graham was who I copied since first seeing him in 1974... I push thru the strings & I always play between bottom of neck and above the bridge P/U because I hate the sound of hitting the neck with my thumb.... wow, "I done something right" 😁
I like the old school videos in the shed, its simple, the content of the lesson comes across very well every time. There is a place for high production videos, but sometimes the best lessons are in this format for sure, no distractions.
I really like the old school videos also, I find myself steering away from sbl because there’s way to much talk and there also very annoying. Please go back to your roots and what you started with. The new videos come off very vey pretentious, I don’t want to hear all the yapping.
Prince is a super underrated bassist. It's often very minimalistic basslines, but very effective.
Maybe minimalistic, but not easy.
I don't think anybody who has a normal mind would underrate prince on bass.
Minimalist in terms of notes, but his hammer ons, trills, thumbing up and down and dead notes will keep you very busy!
Minimalistic! ....Really? Prince was a monster on bass and could scare the crap out of most bass players.
@@jemwand2530 minimalistic doesn’t mean simple or easy. It’s just sometimes caring more about timing, and letting the music breath instead of making everything sound crammed.
Of all the instruments he played, I always loved Prince's bass playing the best
2:52 The bassist who was said to have pioneered the double thump was Doug Rauch. He was on Santana's "Caravanserai" album.
Prince recorded most of the bass lines on his records. 💜
He recorded ALL of fhe bass lines on his music except when Sonny T. came along with NPG and even THEN Sonny was used as the convenience not the need and Sonny Thompson is that deal!!!
@@apostlej.k.diamond4119 Not all of them, but 99%.
@@apostlej.k.diamond4119 Oh yes, Sonny T was one of Prince's heroes and influences because he was such a masterful musician.
In the beginning he played all the instruments on his recordings as well. Dude was too sick
Prince was such a great bass player! I saw him twice in '97. He had Rhonda Smith in his band. During the song "Face Down" they did a wicked head cutting duel. So good!
Wow! Is there any footage of it?
I’m loving the old school Scott’s Bass Lessons Renaissance 🫡
Cheers, Mark :)
Fantastic idea for a future episode - How to play bass slightly tipsy lol j/k. Great video, I miss Prince and his music everyday still. He was a great all around musician including bass guitar ;)
Back in the day...I was there. I started going to clubs in '74. Before Prince and even before disco Minneapolis had a large community of fantastic funk musicians playing in clubs. They were my main influence. The rock bands were also very VERY good. The "Minneapolis Sound" had roots years before Prince arrived on the scene. He took it to the next (still current) phase and the title was born.
I once had a brief chance to play one of his Fender basses. It had super slinky light gauge strings and very low action. It was so fun to play.
I've been listening to Yebba on repeat recently. Great music, amazing vocals. Managed to see her at a show where she opened for John Mayer.
To answer your question in the beginning, I like the one-off videos that explain a single concept, but I also love the variety of Ian's bits and the work you do with other artists around the globe. In short, I dig it.
Prince forever 💜
I really like the old-school players that you showed and their styles .That was awesome you learn from the past and you learn from the best and that’s how you get better.
*Hey, Scott! Here is a suggestion: Please make a comparison video focusing on the diverse bass playing techniques of Carol Kaye, Paul McCartney, Leland Sklar, John Paul Jones, and… James Jamerson.*
*Some bass players use a pick (or a plectrum). Some use one or more fingers. Some pluck. Some slap.*
*Heavy metal bass player Duff McKagen uses “a .73 guitar pick,” not a bass pick. James Jamerson is famous for the hook… his index finger.*
*How many playing techniques should a new bass player/student be proficient in?*
*Let’s set YT and G’s “algos” on fire.*
LOVE this idea :)
Add Tina W to the list since she mostly used shorties. Awesome idea dude.
While we're at it...Joe Osborn, Bob Babbitt and one of the greatest singing bass players Peter Cetera.
I used dunlop .73 or .88 for ages, but kept dropping them during gigs, so went pickless about twenty years ago. no going back.
McCartney was not a session player neither was John Paul Jones. Jamerson and Carol Kaye are in a class by themselves...
funny that Sting uses his thumb to thump strings in a "thru strings" way, but at the same time usually mutes the strings at the bridge to give the sound even more low end and oomph. He won't slap, though. He's a gent
Love the old school videos. Your bass is everything.
Cheers!
I always enjoy going back to my roots here as well. Getting to sit here with my bass and listen to your youtube videos like when I first discovered you. This week has been a real pleasure just before logging into my daily practice on the SBL academy online. I enjoy all these great teachers but you're my main man, always. Love Ian's passion as well, I connect to your enthusiasm so much. Thanks for this much needed motivation. Keep it up. PS: love the podcasts
This format makes your teaching very easy to digest and more accessible. Feels less like I'm taking lessons so I can keep telling myself that I'm self taught.
I really enjoy these mini lessons. Thanks for all the hard work you and your crew do for the bass community. Easily my favorite bass related channel.
Monk. Monk Montgomery, brother of Jazz Guitar LEGEND Wes Montgomery aka "The Thumb". The History of the Electric Bass on Recordings begins with Monk, who used The Thumb (parallel) exclusively.
He did, Rob!
Scott... I prefer this format, of the way you impart your extensive knowledge of our favourite instrument... learning all the time mate!
I think these videos do the best job of providing useful information AND subtly directing people to your courses. Of course you could teach an entire course on Prince... because he’s amazing
Scott I've been playing over 40 years on Bass and it's all about self expression on The Thumbing thing there is no one example its all about the soul of the person.
Yay! New SBL video!
These lessons are phenomenal and the foundation for everything people are doing now. I’m so thankful you’re spending time and space 🙏🏾🙏🏾🙏🏾.
Yes more old school Scott chats please. They’re very cool and add a personal touch to your channel that is much the reason why I became an sbl member in the first place
Thank You Scott, your steadfastness and steady progress are admirable qualities that are necessary and benefit society on a whole at a large level!
Going back to the roots, is generally a good thing. This is no exception.
A friend of mine and great musician was playing in San Francisco in the late sixties and down the street Sly's band was playing. He used to go hang out with them on breaks. He said that was the first time he saw anyone doing the slap thing.
I love this deep dive! Watching the video where you felt the thumb technique originated from reminded me of a player I once saw. He wasn’t thumping, but he used only his thumb to play the notes, like a pick, mainly downstrokes. The rest of his fingers were anchored on the body of the bass. Was this a technique from the late 60’s/70’s? Maybe this slapping through the string was an extension of this right hand (thumb only) technique?
Thank you. That was really informative. That has really made me look at thumping again. I hope you do some more like this mate!
Awesome mate, cheers!
Great video, Scott! AWESOME interlude of YEBBA!
Ya'll listen up on this queen! Awwlawd! Those Electric Lady sessions with Pino and Questlove got vibe for lifetimes.
I got hooked up to Scott's lesson right when he started posting videos in the very early days. Love the old school vibe.
I'm really enjoying the more old school video format (especially as somebody who's been watching since 2014) The fancy editing can certainly be nice for a visual aid, but I feel that I can absorb more knowledge when it's more direct like this. Either way, great videos!
wife: "what are you watching?"
me: "bass lessons... this one's about slap bass..."
wife: "stop it. right now."
😂
When you were thumping away on the G I just couldn't help but starting singing "The butcher, the banker, the drummer and then, makes no difference what group I'm in...I, I, I...am everyday people".
This format is what made me a fan of your channel. Keep this up
Cheers, JJ
I'm loving the shirt/cap saga almost as much as the lessons!🤣
Love all the content especially deep dives! Im a guitar player and took up bass about a year or two ago. It's awesome to get turned onto some musicians and music I never would've heard!
I'm a guitarist and I've always wanted to know how to slap. I love your videos!! All of them!!
Awesome, Silvio! :)
I find the follow-through often sounds less like a slap, than like a hard strum. When you showed down-thumb on the G and D strings, you got further from the fretboard, towards the pickups, where there is nothing to slap against. I agree though... I had to learn to follow through on the G string when slapping down-thumb.
I agree with the G string, but I routinely slap the D and it sounds good. I do however need my thumb parallel to the string, if it's angled too high up or down it muffles things. Often I'll also pop up and then slap down on the same string, with a holding a pick-like shape with my fingers, and that helps make the D sound better. That said I'm slowly trying to learn the thump through technique for the those G-string fills that so many funky players do.
Pulchritudinous "BASS" you have there...Love IT🎸💯👍🏾
;)
Hey Scott! Heres a question/video suggestion. Trained classical musicians starting to play bass and jazz.. So new instrument and new genre.
Differences in thinking, how to make use of an already developed technical affinity and skillset in mastering the bass and improvisation in particular.
I started a bit more then 2 years ago. Finding the answers is not so difficult, but finding the right questions is what takes long. I would be really interested in your approach to this topic.
Great lesson! But what was the name of that woman/group singing again???? That was 🔥🔥🔥🔥
I’ve been loving these old style technique videos
Getting back to the roots is always a good idea
Cheers, Ken
Thank you for this video! I'm a huge fan of Prince, who is why I started playing bass decades ago.
awesome job Scott!!
*The perfect simple example and exercise of this technique is Sly & the Family Stone's classic, **_Everyday People,_** as it's ONLY Larry Graham doing straight up & down Gs with his thumb, the ENTIRE song, (other than the sustained last G.)* 👍🎸
This content is where its at!! Just you, the bass and throwing down some knowledge!!
Have you ever done one on the late great Paul Jackson? That would be fun if haven’t yet. He was so amazing. Btw yes dig the retro dives. Maybe pair a different type of wine each time as well. And interludes are cool.
Larry called the style he started, thumping and plucking.
You sold me on the “through the string” technique. I’ll be hitting the woodshed on that. Thanks brother!
Yebba’s bgvs were incredible on that tinydesk!!!!
Old school is always the best! Keep up the great content Scott!
Doug(las) Rauch of Santana has been forgotten completely. Please listen his playing on Santana album Caravanserai, e.g the song "Just In Time To See The Sun". The way he connects with the percussions is spot on. The bassist Jonas Hellborg even went as far in an interview that he stated Stanley Clarke being a copy of Rauch in playing style.
Love the old school video style! 👍🏼
Yes more old school...💯👍🏾❣🚦❣👍🏾🤜🏽🤛🏽
Cheers, Steph!
I've been playing parallel to the string and slapping through it the entire time I've played bass, didn't know there were three different ways
I came for Prince. I stayed for Scott. Great vid man. I will look at your channel 🎸🔊🎶
Keep the Ol Skool videos coming Scott love them
Cheers, Marc! :)
Prince is the greatest performer I've ever seen 😍 💜
🔥🔥🔥
Really interesting lesson Scott, something I will be trying to practice from now on, as i have always used the thumb up approach, thanks to Jonas Hellbourg.
I think the neckerchief, as a fashion accessory, isn't so bad when compared to the Orange Beanie and T-shirt combo some bass teachers on YT are currently sporting. 🤩
" I come from planet Bean to liven up your tea time toast... and teach you bass".
if you ever run out of video ideas, you should do a series where you build your own dream bass!! Im currently building a bass from scratch
Love the old school vids in the shed!
Yeah, this content is really, really helpful - insights are often as crucial as lessons. One question though - how are you muting? I can't quite make it out from the video, but when I'm trying to learn the thumb-through on the higher strings the muting's a bit impenetrable.
I agree - I do a bit of a hybrid where I "down thumb" E and A then "through thumb" the lower strings.... Muting does feel a bit odd/unnatural when through thumbing the top strings...
Heard you got the good ole covid, Here’s to a speedy recovery man, hang tough and I look forward to seeing you soon!
Loving these old school series of vids and loving the shirts too! Great info on fundamental areas that possibly get overlooked but are damn important. Batman movie soundtrack reference - whooo!
Thanks for posting, hope you get better soon.
I know you talked about the glove at some point, but I can't find it. Could you point me to it? Thanks
Loving the old school lessons 👍👍👍
Cheers, Avi!
we like you buzzed, Scott
yeah, thumbing through the string is the same as finger plucking - through..
when you're high, do you still play as many notes - to get the groove across?
i think these videos are pretty cool. i would like to see them with somewhat regular frequency.
I’ll pass on the wine I’ll go with whisky but yes on these old school videos and showing the classic players.
Mr. Scott "Neckerchief" Devine 😄
Keep it old school scott. I’m still toying with the idea of doing the six month course. But, like everything else it’s getting the time to do it.
I'm LOVING the old school vibe, Ivan :) ... if you do decide to do the 6 month program, you actually get lifetime access - so you can make it work around your schedule if that'd work better for ya.
Love it Brother Scott... SBL for Life ❤️
Cheers, Leo! :)
Yes, I'm old school too! Keep them coming 😎
Larry does not get credit for double thumping, but he was killing that technique as well, before everyone else. Listen carefully to Release Yourself and You Got to Go through it to get to it.
I also love the old school stuff. I enjoy all of your videos.
To be honest i really like most of your vids. I like the gear videos, liked the player specials and also love videos like these.
You should do a review of the Mark King solo album Influences. He is playing almost every instrument including the drums. In the end of the track The Essential he does a slap solo that even today no one has been near. Also his finger playing is outstanding and the sound overall of his bass including the drums is hot. 🔥🔥🔥
Exercises that help visualize the chord tones on the fretboard in the context of chord changes. Pleaseeeee
On it, Andrew :)... little tip for now... TRIAD'S are golden when it comes to learning the board.
That’s a beautiful instrument!!!
Man, although I alternate between upthumb and downthumb depending on how high I wear my basses, I now want to try thumping through the strings...
Do it... it's a tonne of fun when yo finally get it down. Took me a while, but glad I dug into it.
I love these types of videos! it helps me at least so much more! :)
Scott, I love this "old school Scott" videos
And I think you shouldn't think about the algorithm... Just do the videos you want man
Yep... the algorithm is a total pain sometimes. Thanks for watching man!
I’ve seen so many of your videos but I like the buzzed persona you have. I would totally have a few drinks and jam out with you if I could x 😂
Please make a comparison video comparing professional musicians and their doppelgänger actors. Chad smith vs Will Ferrell; Larry Graham vs Damon Wayans; Hugh Laurie the pianist vs that doctor guy from House.
"I've always played just like that" because Larry Graham was who I copied since first seeing him in 1974... I push thru the strings & I always play between bottom of neck and above the bridge P/U because I hate the sound of hitting the neck with my thumb.... wow, "I done something right" 😁
Video starts at 4:40, ends at 9:50.
The clip you talked about Larry Graham playing wasn’t the clip you showed. You played “Everyday People” but the clip was of “Thank You”
I've enrolled in the course. The older I get, the more I realize that you can never learn too much.
Awesome Stuff right there and knew that one day Mr Scott will start using FIVE STRINGS!😎😎Cool Bass sir!
Yeah man. MORE prince!!!!
Thanks for the information. I'm struggling with my slap techniques and I think this helped alot.
Great to hear, Jaime :)
dude, love these old school vids.
What strikes me is that Prince's fretting hand looks like a guitarist's hand the way he frets and moves it.
your thumb has gotten so much better over the years
Definitely love these videos 👍
Thanks!