I didn't even come here because I wanted to know how to play a bass, just wanting to know how bass ties into music and how to employ it. Learned a lot. Thanks.
+Macho Bravado Awesome! Thanks. It's the same role for other low-pitched instruments, too--synthesizers, tuba, etc. And, hey, a cheap bass guitar setup will run you $200. Recommended! :)
***** I'm actually producing electronic music and have no idea/no real interest in playing a guitar. For some reason everyone in electronic music assumes you should know how to employ bass and what it's used for.
+Macho Bravado I started out making electronic music back in the 80s. After a while I became fascinated with the low-end of the keyboard and I switched to bass. A lot of electronic musicians have found my lessons on www.studybass.com useful. Work on your skills, find mentors, never stop learning...
Sinimory teaching is an art in lots of cultures. Teaching is hard! Have u seen guys that mastered something but can’t really explain it to you? I’m sure u have.
When I started playing bass in rock bands back in the 90s I was so motivated that I never missed a rehearsal. Then one day I injured my finger at work and had to sit out until the next rehearsal. When I showed up the next week for rehearsal the leader of the band came up to me and said "I will never take you for granted again". Yeah!
Yep, had a similar experience…I wasn’t cutting it as a lead guitarist…thought I got demoted….but I studied bass intensely and, while not indispensable, was missed if I wasn’t able to make rehearsal!😊
That was the most honest and direct explanation of “what the hell should this instrument do to mesh with the other instrument”. I look for videos that give the outline of “what each instrument should focus on” yet every video just ends up being a tutorial on scales. Never an explanation of when should this instrument do to stay in the pocket and compliment the progression and Rhythm. Thank you
You did an absolutely superb job of defining and explaining the importance of this instrument. It was always a mystery to me. You are a fabulous teacher and should be charging money somewhere down the line. Thank you again
What a great reply, Andrew! I'm just starting to learn the bass. I've been watching YT videos for 2 months, found you only just now and already learned something new! Thank you for your generosity. You're an excellent teacher. God bless you!
As a new bass player I found this video very enlightening. The harmonic power demonstration is just perfect Thanks for all the work you have put into your website, it's invaluable to me.
@@kobbystiqx4234 Welcome! Everything is laid out step-by-step on studybass.com for free. To get the most out of the lessons, be sure to read this page: www.studybass.com/using-the-site/ Good luck and don't stop practicing. The beginning is the hardest part.
My friend just said, "I never know what bass sounds like. Can you hear that?" and here i am at 1 a.m. want to know about bass sounds like. I've got the good video. Thanks for the explanation, i'll tell this video to my friend.
I have been listening to music for many years but I have never really understood the importance of the bass in music until watching this video. Thank you so much. Your teaching style is truly incredible.
i want to be a music producer so i was kinda investigating some of the most common words of this new world and i didnt know what bass was till now, thanks! this vid was amazing and i understood everything you explained
Excellent! Keep learning. Learn an instrument, play in bands, learn about recording, be dependable, learn to network, meet as many music people as you can, find mentors and don't stop when people tell you no. Good luck!
Thanks, Douter! I'm happy it helped. You could really apply it to all low-pitched instruments, not just bass guitar. Tubas, the low-end of a piano, etc. As I say, don't just learn an instrument, learn **music** through an instrument. That is, don't be a bass player, be a musician who plays bass. More soon...
I can't play any instruments much less the Bass...But I've always been mesmerized by it having listened to R&B, Rock, Reggae, Pop, Funk, Jazz and even Country music thru out my entire 50+ years.. Thanks for broadening my knowledge a little bit more...You make this vid very interesting indeed...
Thank you! I encourage you to get a bass and start learning. I've had students start in their 80s and do well. It's good for you and the world. And, there are plenty of free lessons on studybass.com.
A very well made lesson. Insightful,, on point and no nonsense. Thank you very much for this video. I recently became interested in Bass, and I couldn't have asked for a better insight.
This is literally the best bass video I've ever seen regarding the actual role of the bass! I've been playing the bass for 3 or 4 years... I've just opened my eyes! Thank you so much
Thanks! I'm glad it helped. The more you understand the function of the bass, the more you'll stay on track learning the right things. It's easy to waste precious practice, learning and listening time. Use it wisely.
Omg. I am a completely noob to music. I just want to understand a joke about bass and ran into this video. This video taught me more than I expected and somehow help me understand how instrumental music works, different roles in a band, how bass plays its role in it. Thank you!
I'm am not a musical person and someone pointing out the importance of a bass vocalist in an A Capella song made me come here to learn what bass does for the music. Let's just say, you've helped me to grow in respect for the power bass has in music! Thank you!
Great! I love hearing this. Keep listening to the bass parts in everything. People overlook the bass in a lot of music. Chopin, Motown, Cachao. There's so much good music, and the bass is always there helping.
Perfect! ı've been playing guitar for a while and know these by heart but never put it into words cleanly. Someone recently asked me the difference between bass and the guitar. I think I gave a mediocre answer. Now I will send them this video instead of talking cause you've already explained it so clearly
Whenever I am watching some live bands in the bar, I thought the guy playing bass guitar was just touching his guitar for exposure. The hell am I thinking... it was freaking beautiful to hear a music with bass!!!!
Thank you for this short video on the role of bass in music. As a lifetime bass player, I have frequently been frustrated when listening to other "bass players". It has been said that bass players are just frustrated guitar players. There might be some truth in that, however, the converse is also true. I hear lead guitar players, who think that they can play bass, and ruin a song by shredding on bass. Most of the time, they are too focused on themselves to actually hear what they are doing to the song. Being "the bass player" is not about being flashy, it's about setting the stage for the other musicians. It requires a great deal of humility. The bass provides the rhythmic foundation of the song (the beat and the tempo), and it provides the musical reference point, so the listener intuitively knows the chord progression of the song. I played bass professionally for seven years in a two piece group, and if bass is done right, that's all the accompaniment you really need.
You're welcome. Ultimately, everyone must serve the music. How bass notes work and bass instruments are a mystery to most people--even musicians and even some bass players! The low end carries a lot of musical responsibility--it can't be out-of-time or out-of-tune. Keep laying that foundation, my friend!
@@StudyBass - You have laid out the function of the bass very nicely. I guess my point was that bass should be solid and simple, otherwise it just clutters up the song. The same holds true for drums. That's not to say that the bass (or drums) need to be boring, but they both need to know their place in the music, and should only step out of the groove when called upon. I like what you said, that "ultimately, everyone must serve the music", and presumably, not their own egos.
I also love the fact that all of your lessons are free mate, shows a passion for playing the bass guitar and music in general and wanting to teach others :)
Thanks! Access to good lessons for everyone is critical. There are other ways to measure wealth in the world than money. With that said, the supporters help me make it happen, and it couldn't exist without them. Keep making music!
You just helped me a lot with one of my guitar students! He‘s a 33 year old engineer. He wants to know how to make music. He‘s ready to invest a lot of time into it. But he‘s also an engineer that wants to understand everything down to the last detail. Before starting an excercise of any kind he wants to know the background of what he‘s about to do and why he should do this in the first place. The concept of harmony was already hard to explain, but I somehow managed, because I could explain it with some physics. The concept of rhythm was much harder for me to explain and for him to understand. But again physics (and some chemistry and biology) helped me to get something across. But now, how do you explain why a guitar has 6 strings when we only have 5 fingers and why you should think of your thumb most of the time as playing a different instrument than the rest of your fingers? Right, you have to dive into the role the bass plays in music. And you just did that for my eager-to-learn student. 😊
I have been playing guitar for 18 years and have filled in as the bass player for several bands. But it wasn’t until a couple days ago that I realized I didn’t really understand the theory behind writing bass lines- I just understood that it filled in a specific spectrum so I would just replicate the rhythm guitar. I’m striving to write distinct bass lines for songs I’m writing, this video provided some great context.
Great! I always advise my students coming from guitar to try to view bass as a completely different instrument. Think of it like a tuned drum more than the guitar you're already familiar with. What's fun is the bass has a range of acting as a drum and acting melodically. You might get a lot out of my lessons on www.studybass.com/ (free) Keep making music!
@@StudyBass I think of it as a bridge between the guitar and the drums, carrying the melody of the rhythm guitar and the beat of the drums simultaneously, giving the music a solid tone and a groove you can feel.
As a drummer, I enjoy it when bass and drums are closely connected as a unit. It's great when the rhythm section is cooking and there's a wave of energy that the other musicians can ride.
You have made the subject so informative giving clear examples, and there is no clutter to get confused. And you didn't waste any time, that's like you are explaining the lesson with a perfect rythm.
I’m back! I found this video years ago and even though I’ve grown as a bass player, I still come back to watch it from time to time. I love it so much! So much information in such a short video. I learn something new every time. Thank you!!!
Welcome back! When you know why you're playing bass, you will always be led to practicing the right things. I hope you're checking out the rest of the lessons on www.studybass.com. Keep learning!
Thanks for this video. I let my ten year old son watch it to decide if he wants to play bass in band. They don’t offer guitar, only bass. He really wanted to play guitar. But now he is leaning towards bass since it looks cool, is important to most bands, and is fun.
When you introduced the bass into that little tune I may have not exactly heard the difference but I certainly felt it. It wasn't in my face obvious but I appreciate what it adds. I think more bands should crank up the volume on their bass playing because when it's audible I enjoy all the much more. When there's a bass solo blended with drum playing in a song, there's nothing like it. Best example I can think of is the bass solo in Loud N' Clear by Stryper done by Timothy Gaines.
Great! This is what I hope everyone gets out of it. In my teaching experience, understanding this sets you on a great learning path. Keep learning and making music!
Back when I was obsessed with drums (as a sound), I always said they were the heartbeat of music. I think maybe bass is the heart. Can't get enough of bass now (specifically vocal bass).
@@StudyBass Thanks! I'm glad I'm on the right track! The bass is honestly what I live for now, thanks to Avi Kaplan. It's funny because it almost feels... healing, in a weird way. 😌
Just picked up my very first bass and after watching and learning from your videos, I must say I feel very inspired and hopeful about my progress in understanding music. Thank you so much sensei!
Great! The beginning is the worst part. Daily practice is the key. Stay with it and let me know of your progress. There's a lot more on studybass.com than here on YT.
Most of you are getting the valuable musical lesson I want you to get here. You now understand what the "bass" does. Unfortunately, some of you are missing it. People are quick to think of bands they know without bass players. We know, the internet loves to spit out a "gOTcHa" zinger comment! Well, let me make the lesson more clear: "Bass" is a frequency range, not an instrument. "Bass" is not a bass guitar. "Bass" is not a bass player. "Bass" is the low part of the music--even if it is higher up than your preconceived notion of "bass." If there are two different notes, one is lower than the other and acts as a bass note. Someone might instruct a guitarist to "play a G chord with a B in the bass." Guitar players might tune down well into 'bass player range.' Bass is a *sound*, NOT an instrument or person. Low bass notes can and are created by all sorts of instruments: electric bass, double bass, tuba, trombone, cello, harp, piano, synthesizers, organ foot pedals, timpani, singers, the low strings of a guitar, an octave effects pedal and many others. All of these instruments fulfill the role of the bass which I describe. These examples all have bass without a bass guitar: - Stevie Wonder - Higher Ground (Moog synth bass) [ th-cam.com/video/SoPMJNqyExA/w-d-xo.html ] (Covered by RHCP.) - A barbershop quartet (four singers see en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barbershop_quartet ) [ th-cam.com/video/Qok2o3gYLOw/w-d-xo.html ] - Bobby McFerrin singing a bassline on Don't Worry, Be Happy [ th-cam.com/video/d-diB65scQU/w-d-xo.html ] - The White Stripes - Seven Nation Army (guitar) [ th-cam.com/video/0J2QdDbelmY/w-d-xo.html ] - A New Orleans Second Line Parade (tuba) [ th-cam.com/video/XT-CZGgU6fY/w-d-xo.html ] - Beethoven - Sonata for Cello and Piano No. 1 (cello and piano) [ th-cam.com/video/3xFG12NCobU/w-d-xo.html ] - Boogie Woogie (piano) [ th-cam.com/video/PDl5ZHu35q8/w-d-xo.html ] If you can broaden your understanding of "bass," it will transform your understanding of music on the whole. Even better, if you can mentally separate music from musical instruments (devices used to play *music*), your connection to music will be so much greater. I hope this clarifies things for you and elevates your musicianship. That's the reason why I am here. Keep making music! Andrew / StudyBass
Thank you studybass. Just starting to learn to play the bass, an instrument I love. I know understand the fundamental truths of the bass. So much appreciate this. I've subscribed and look forward to following you. Pump up the jam my Tutor. X Factor.
Thanks! Be sure to check out studybass.com. Most of the lessons are there (open to all), not here. Practice daily and keep me updated on your progress!
awesome video thanks mate :), love that the bass notes played with the same guitar chord can create such different feelings, learned alot from this video :) thanks
I just discovered your channel. I'm a guitarist and we're in the process of recording our songs. Our bassist just left us due to family reasons, and that puts me to recording bass. I guess I'll be taking your lessons. A very timely arrival I discover your channel. Thanks sir!
Great! Most of the lessons are on studybass.com ordered and available to all. As a guitarist I encourage you to think of the bass as a tuned drum. It might make you approach it differently than thinking of it as a low-pitched guitar. You can also think of it as a one-note-at-a-time rhythm guitar. Picture barre chords you already know, focus on those notes and rhythmically outline the chords. Connect with the bass drum. All of that will take you a long way. Good luck and have fun!
!!!! So I've been a musician for 27 years. Play a bunch of instruments and am the lead vocalist for a rock band. Been experimenting with a harder sound for a metal album I'm making by myself. (An endeavor that's new to me) just came up with a riff I really dig. While playing, my mind was wondering how do I preserve the essence of the riff when I add a bass track (while avoiding just shadowing the root notes of the guitar riff) I was at a loss and I had some other questions i couldn't articulate. So I searched "what's the bass supposed to do". At the time this seemed a silly question and a search unlikely to yield helpful results. Then I watched your video. Lol. I'm stunned! Your explanation was simple and obvious, but I had never thought to consider precisely what role the bass played. I'm dumbfounded at my ignorance, complacency, and arrogance! And Grateful for your eloquent lesson! Oh man! Seriously though, thanks. You provided the answers to the questions that I couldn't articulate. I'ma go make this bass riff now. (Still laughing with excitement and gratitude).
Great! How the low end works is not so obvious to lots of people. I'm happy to hear the lesson resonated with you. Having the right perspective can make a big difference on music-making. Keep making music!
I am not a musician though I was looking for a leadership metaphor and instinctively thought the bass might be the instrument to talk about. After watching your video I then understood why I love the bass for my leadership metaphor. Thanks for your great and informative video. As a non-musician I both understood and was enlightened. Thanks for your leadership!
Very effective lesson! Thank you so much for sharing. I've always wanted to understand the instruments behind some of my favorite songs and this video helped me FINALLY understand!
I know nothing about bass, I'm starting here. I found the channel from a plucking video. I intend to watch the full course. Thanks, this content is well produced.
Welcome to the bass! Be sure to check out the site (www.studybass.com). The lessons build from one to the next, and not all have videos. The beginning is the worst part. Stick to it and keep me informed of your progress.
Thank you so much for sharing this. I was trying to figure out why I wasn't connecting with a song I just heard, having a sense it was because of no (clear) base line, and this just confirmed it. 👍
Nice intro to your site! Very informative for just over 7 min. Clears up a lot of the mysteriousness of the instrument and will likely spark interest in learning more. Look forward to more videos on your site. Plan on becoming a full fledged member, but need to rearrange my study area to take full advantage of the study material on the PC first. Wish I could have had the kind of information on your site 20 years ago.
A real treat, go on clearing the mist around the probably most neglected instrument in a rockband, except for the Led Zepppelin ´John paul Jones or clasical jass bands. Best regards. Paul,68
I came across this video by accident. It is good for me to know that I was incorporating your tips to rhythm and harmony without being aware of it. Thanks to your video, I can now approach my bass playing with more awareness of what I am doing rather than an intuitive approach. I knew I was locking into the drummer for rhythm and hitting the roots, 4th, 5th and 7th of chords, but I did not understand how I was providing a foundational tie between the drummer and the vocalists and other instruments. Thanks for clarifying where I fit in between the drummer and the rest of the band.
Great! Welcome. This lesson is among the first of a long string of free bass lessons on www.studybass.com. I think you'll find many more insights like this. When you understand how things work, it forever gives you direction and focus on what to work on. You'll recognize what's worth learning and what is a waste of time. Then, learning goes faster and you become more creative and confident. Keep making music!
Excellent! The kick-bass relationship is key. Check out the James Brown rhythm section book and other books which contain the drum and bass part. Look at what rhythms connect.
I didn't even come here because I wanted to know how to play a bass, just wanting to know how bass ties into music and how to employ it. Learned a lot. Thanks.
+Macho Bravado Awesome! Thanks. It's the same role for other low-pitched instruments, too--synthesizers, tuba, etc. And, hey, a cheap bass guitar setup will run you $200. Recommended! :)
***** I'm actually producing electronic music and have no idea/no real interest in playing a guitar.
For some reason everyone in electronic music assumes you should know how to employ bass and what it's used for.
+Macho Bravado I started out making electronic music back in the 80s. After a while I became fascinated with the low-end of the keyboard and I switched to bass. A lot of electronic musicians have found my lessons on www.studybass.com useful. Work on your skills, find mentors, never stop learning...
That's the goal. Thanks.
I've never known it was that important
If teaching is an art, let me tell you something Sir: you've mastered it.
That's very kind. Thank you.
Sinimory teaching is an art in lots of cultures.
Teaching is hard! Have u seen guys that mastered something but can’t really explain it to you? I’m sure u have.
You can never master art therefore you are insulting this man
NO WAY SOMETHING POSOTIVE ON THE INTERNET
@@bananaman8206This was before things started to get REALLY bad
When I started playing bass in rock bands back in the 90s I was so motivated that I never missed a rehearsal. Then one day I injured my finger at work and had to sit out until the next rehearsal. When I showed up the next week for rehearsal the leader of the band came up to me and said "I will never take you for granted again". Yeah!
Yep, had a similar experience…I wasn’t cutting it as a lead guitarist…thought I got demoted….but I studied bass intensely and, while not indispensable, was missed if I wasn’t able to make rehearsal!😊
I will be creating many more videos. I'll be experimenting with the format, so let me know what you think!
if you don't agree then you are a big fan of White Stripes ;)
Excellent video, thank you.
Wow. Learned the answer to a few questions I didn’t even know I had. Makes me want to learn the bass. Thanks for the inspiration/information!
"So the bass really acts like a giant drum", couldn't have explained it better myself there.
If it looked more like a drumset than a guitar, people might play it differently.
That was the most honest and direct explanation of “what the hell should this instrument do to mesh with the other instrument”. I look for videos that give the outline of “what each instrument should focus on” yet every video just ends up being a tutorial on scales. Never an explanation of when should this instrument do to stay in the pocket and compliment the progression and Rhythm. Thank you
Thanks! This really applies to all bass instruments (tuba, synth bass, etc.). Keep making music!
i don't play anything but it was still fascinating!
Thank you!
This is fantastic. I learned more in 5 minutes here about bass than in 50 other videos. Good work. Thanks
Thank you. Go make music!
THIS DEMONSTRATION AT 3:20 IS CRAZY I LITERALLY NEVER WOULD HAVE KNOWN THAT LOL
Ya my search is over.. This video explains everything perfectly
Great!
You did an absolutely superb job of defining and explaining the importance of this instrument. It was always a mystery to me. You are a fabulous teacher and should be charging money somewhere down the line. Thank you again
I want to make millions (of musicians)!
@@StudyBass As someone who just signed up for your site, this comment really made me smile. :)
What a great reply, Andrew! I'm just starting to learn the bass. I've been watching YT videos for 2 months, found you only just now and already learned something new! Thank you for your generosity. You're an excellent teacher. God bless you!
As a new bass player I found this video very enlightening. The harmonic power demonstration is just perfect Thanks for all the work you have put into your website, it's invaluable to me.
o0FreeRunner0o Awesome! Thanks for watching. The beginning is the hardest part. Keep practicing the right stuff!
@@StudyBass please am a beginner but I don't know how to practice the right things
@@kobbystiqx4234 Welcome! Everything is laid out step-by-step on studybass.com for free. To get the most out of the lessons, be sure to read this page: www.studybass.com/using-the-site/ Good luck and don't stop practicing. The beginning is the hardest part.
@@StudyBass thank you sir🤝🤝🤝
Wanted to know the importance of bass
Learnt a lot
The last example with and without bass was amazing
Thanks a lot for this video
Thanks, Nikhil! Sorry for the delay...I've been missing comment alerts. I'm working on more videos in the coming weeks.
Man, his choice in words is so on point!!!
Very well explained!!!!!
Thanks! I try to choose my words carefully. It's easy to confuse beginners.
Keep playing and creating music!
for the first few minutes, i thought the guitar strap was the guys hair...
TuneTycoon same
Lol I didn't realize it until I read your comment.
Bass strap
Gay
hahahahaha
My friend just said, "I never know what bass sounds like. Can you hear that?" and here i am at 1 a.m. want to know about bass sounds like. I've got the good video. Thanks for the explanation, i'll tell this video to my friend.
I'm happy you're unraveling the mystery! Thanks for watching.
@@StudyBass you're welcome :))
I have been listening to music for many years but I have never really understood the importance of the bass in music until watching this video. Thank you so much. Your teaching style is truly incredible.
Thanks! I'm happy to hear that. Your next step is to acquire your first bass...
i want to be a music producer so i was kinda investigating some of the most common words of this new world and i didnt know what bass was till now, thanks! this vid was amazing and i understood everything you explained
Excellent! Keep learning. Learn an instrument, play in bands, learn about recording, be dependable, learn to network, meet as many music people as you can, find mentors and don't stop when people tell you no. Good luck!
Excellent video! I have little knowledge on music theory, and always wondered what the real role of the Bass Guitar was. Now I get it.
Thanks, Douter! I'm happy it helped. You could really apply it to all low-pitched instruments, not just bass guitar. Tubas, the low-end of a piano, etc. As I say, don't just learn an instrument, learn **music** through an instrument. That is, don't be a bass player, be a musician who plays bass. More soon...
@@StudyBass thankyou Sir!
I like how your calm voice just made my head explode. Thank you for this knowledge
Ha! Thanks. Keep making music and happy new year!
I can't play any instruments much less the Bass...But I've always been mesmerized by it having listened to R&B, Rock, Reggae, Pop, Funk, Jazz and even Country music thru out my entire 50+ years.. Thanks for broadening my knowledge a little bit more...You make this vid very interesting indeed...
Thank you! I encourage you to get a bass and start learning. I've had students start in their 80s and do well. It's good for you and the world. And, there are plenty of free lessons on studybass.com.
@@StudyBass Thank you
I guess the Bass tells the story of the music.
A very well made lesson. Insightful,, on point and no nonsense. Thank you very much for this video. I recently became interested in Bass, and I couldn't have asked for a better insight.
I hope you get your bass soon!
This is literally the best bass video I've ever seen regarding the actual role of the bass! I've been playing the bass for 3 or 4 years... I've just opened my eyes! Thank you so much
Thanks! I'm glad it helped. The more you understand the function of the bass, the more you'll stay on track learning the right things. It's easy to waste precious practice, learning and listening time. Use it wisely.
thanks for explaining the roles of the bass player and all your examples, best explanation ever :)
Thanks, Raven!
AWESOME description of what the bass adds to music. Thank you!
Thank you! Make some music!
Omg. I am a completely noob to music. I just want to understand a joke about bass and ran into this video. This video taught me more than I expected and somehow help me understand how instrumental music works, different roles in a band, how bass plays its role in it. Thank you!
Great! It's now time to get a bass and make some music!
Role of bass is crucial in music. It gives the feel of the music and the harmony foundation. With bass everything sounds "right".
I'm am not a musical person and someone pointing out the importance of a bass vocalist in an A Capella song made me come here to learn what bass does for the music. Let's just say, you've helped me to grow in respect for the power bass has in music! Thank you!
Great! I love hearing this. Keep listening to the bass parts in everything. People overlook the bass in a lot of music. Chopin, Motown, Cachao. There's so much good music, and the bass is always there helping.
I have never touched a bass in my life, but as avid fan of Jazz-Funk and Jaco Pastorius, I love listening to bass lines!
It's never too late to get a bass. It's a blast!
Perfect! ı've been playing guitar for a while and know these by heart but never put it into words cleanly. Someone recently asked me the difference between bass and the guitar. I think I gave a mediocre answer. Now I will send them this video instead of talking cause you've already explained it so clearly
Great! It can be hard to put into words for non-musicians. Many can't discern the bass sound from the other instruments. Keep making music!
I always thought it just filled out the sound of a band , but now I see how it also influences the way a piece of music is heard. Good video.
Whenever I am watching some live bands in the bar, I thought the guy playing bass guitar was just touching his guitar for exposure. The hell am I thinking... it was freaking beautiful to hear a music with bass!!!!
Been writing and recording music for decades, but I learned something really useful here today. Thank you 🌹
That's great to hear! Keep writing and making great music!
Thank you for this short video on the role of bass in music. As a lifetime bass player, I have frequently been frustrated when listening to other "bass players". It has been said that bass players are just frustrated guitar players. There might be some truth in that, however, the converse is also true. I hear lead guitar players, who think that they can play bass, and ruin a song by shredding on bass. Most of the time, they are too focused on themselves to actually hear what they are doing to the song. Being "the bass player" is not about being flashy, it's about setting the stage for the other musicians. It requires a great deal of humility. The bass provides the rhythmic foundation of the song (the beat and the tempo), and it provides the musical reference point, so the listener intuitively knows the chord progression of the song. I played bass professionally for seven years in a two piece group, and if bass is done right, that's all the accompaniment you really need.
You're welcome. Ultimately, everyone must serve the music. How bass notes work and bass instruments are a mystery to most people--even musicians and even some bass players! The low end carries a lot of musical responsibility--it can't be out-of-time or out-of-tune. Keep laying that foundation, my friend!
@@StudyBass - You have laid out the function of the bass very nicely. I guess my point was that bass should be solid and simple, otherwise it just clutters up the song. The same holds true for drums. That's not to say that the bass (or drums) need to be boring, but they both need to know their place in the music, and should only step out of the groove when called upon. I like what you said, that "ultimately, everyone must serve the music", and presumably, not their own egos.
I also love the fact that all of your lessons are free mate, shows a passion for playing the bass guitar and music in general and wanting to teach others :)
Thanks! Access to good lessons for everyone is critical. There are other ways to measure wealth in the world than money. With that said, the supporters help me make it happen, and it couldn't exist without them.
Keep making music!
Woww the sound of the bass is so subtle in a music that i dont realize how important it is but you sir explain it with crystal clear✨
Thank you! You will start to hear it more and more.
You just helped me a lot with one of my guitar students!
He‘s a 33 year old engineer. He wants to know how to make music. He‘s ready to invest a lot of time into it. But he‘s also an engineer that wants to understand everything down to the last detail. Before starting an excercise of any kind he wants to know the background of what he‘s about to do and why he should do this in the first place. The concept of harmony was already hard to explain, but I somehow managed, because I could explain it with some physics.
The concept of rhythm was much harder for me to explain and for him to understand. But again physics (and some chemistry and biology) helped me to get something across.
But now, how do you explain why a guitar has 6 strings when we only have 5 fingers and why you should think of your thumb most of the time as playing a different instrument than the rest of your fingers?
Right, you have to dive into the role the bass plays in music. And you just did that for my eager-to-learn student. 😊
I think this is the very first "music theory" video that I can understand, thank you so much sir!
Great! I'm really happy to hear that. Keep learning. The fog keeps lifting.
Very simple but profound
I have been playing guitar for 18 years and have filled in as the bass player for several bands. But it wasn’t until a couple days ago that I realized I didn’t really understand the theory behind writing bass lines- I just understood that it filled in a specific spectrum so I would just replicate the rhythm guitar.
I’m striving to write distinct bass lines for songs I’m writing, this video provided some great context.
Great! I always advise my students coming from guitar to try to view bass as a completely different instrument. Think of it like a tuned drum more than the guitar you're already familiar with. What's fun is the bass has a range of acting as a drum and acting melodically.
You might get a lot out of my lessons on www.studybass.com/ (free)
Keep making music!
@@StudyBass I think of it as a bridge between the guitar and the drums, carrying the melody of the rhythm guitar and the beat of the drums simultaneously, giving the music a solid tone and a groove you can feel.
As a drummer, I enjoy it when bass and drums are closely connected as a unit. It's great when the rhythm section is cooking and there's a wave of energy that the other musicians can ride.
If the drums and bass aren't working, nothing is working!
this video pretty much explained what I always wondered about bass guitar
Great! And, it's not just the bass guitar. All bass instruments--tuba, synthesizer, etc.--play this musical role. Make some music!
You have made the subject so informative giving clear examples, and there is no clutter to get confused.
And you didn't waste any time, that's like you are explaining the lesson with a perfect rythm.
Ha! Thank you. I'm happy it helped. Go make music!
I’m back! I found this video years ago and even though I’ve grown as a bass player, I still come back to watch it from time to time. I love it so much! So much information in such a short video. I learn something new every time. Thank you!!!
Welcome back! When you know why you're playing bass, you will always be led to practicing the right things. I hope you're checking out the rest of the lessons on www.studybass.com. Keep learning!
I like the theory where the drum and guitar needs another instrument to complement each other.
Sunscribed
Thanks! Keep making music!
You're a gentleman and a scholar. Thank you.
Thanks! Keep making music!
Thanks for this video. I let my ten year old son watch it to decide if he wants to play bass in band. They don’t offer guitar, only bass. He really wanted to play guitar. But now he is leaning towards bass since it looks cool, is important to most bands, and is fun.
Sorry for my slow reply. That is great! I hope he chose bass. It's a great instrument. He can't go wrong.
You speak very clearly and directly, and still keep the rhythm of the video going! Made me want to learn more, well done!
That's a relief. Thank you. I know some people's voices can get irritating. Keep on learning!
When you introduced the bass into that little tune I may have not exactly heard the difference but I certainly felt it. It wasn't in my face obvious but I appreciate what it adds. I think more bands should crank up the volume on their bass playing because when it's audible I enjoy all the much more. When there's a bass solo blended with drum playing in a song, there's nothing like it. Best example I can think of is the bass solo in Loud N' Clear by Stryper done by Timothy Gaines.
Cool.....I've been playing bass for 27 years and just noticed this that you said in your video....Thanks for sharing thjs
That's great! Keep making music!
Extremely educative. It's a whole lesson on music itself. You've helped to raise my music consciousness to a much higher clarity. Many many thanks.
Great! This is what I hope everyone gets out of it. In my teaching experience, understanding this sets you on a great learning path. Keep learning and making music!
You are a great teacher. You explain everything so succinctly, so well. You make it easy to understand, unlike so many others
Ha! You can thank my students for teaching me how to explain things. Keep learning!
Back when I was obsessed with drums (as a sound), I always said they were the heartbeat of music. I think maybe bass is the heart. Can't get enough of bass now (specifically vocal bass).
I think you're on to something. And, good for you appreciating the bass frequency range, not just one instrument that plays there.
@@StudyBass Thanks! I'm glad I'm on the right track!
The bass is honestly what I live for now, thanks to Avi Kaplan. It's funny because it almost feels... healing, in a weird way. 😌
That doesn't sound weird at all. That's why I love to teach music--it helps people in lots of ways.
@@StudyBass It isn't 😲 So that must mean bass has some kind of healing properties!
Music is amazing
Just picked up my very first bass and after watching and learning from your videos, I must say I feel very inspired and hopeful about my progress in understanding music. Thank you so much sensei!
Great! The beginning is the worst part. Daily practice is the key. Stay with it and let me know of your progress. There's a lot more on studybass.com than here on YT.
The 7 and half, most well spent minutes of my year watching this.
Wow! That's some high praise. Thank you. Keep making music!
Wow... this.. was great.. only came to learn a ljttle bit abt why bass guitars are always there in bands.. and learned a WHOLE LOT more!
Great! It's time to get yourself a bass!
3:55 Ha-ha, love the expression. Always get the same feeling when I hear/play the note out of key.
I play bass, and have always thought of it as the glue that puts the drums and harmony together.
Exactly!
Most of you are getting the valuable musical lesson I want you to get here. You now understand what the "bass" does. Unfortunately, some of you are missing it. People are quick to think of bands they know without bass players. We know, the internet loves to spit out a "gOTcHa" zinger comment! Well, let me make the lesson more clear: "Bass" is a frequency range, not an instrument. "Bass" is not a bass guitar. "Bass" is not a bass player. "Bass" is the low part of the music--even if it is higher up than your preconceived notion of "bass."
If there are two different notes, one is lower than the other and acts as a bass note. Someone might instruct a guitarist to "play a G chord with a B in the bass." Guitar players might tune down well into 'bass player range.'
Bass is a *sound*, NOT an instrument or person.
Low bass notes can and are created by all sorts of instruments: electric bass, double bass, tuba, trombone, cello, harp, piano, synthesizers, organ foot pedals, timpani, singers, the low strings of a guitar, an octave effects pedal and many others. All of these instruments fulfill the role of the bass which I describe.
These examples all have bass without a bass guitar:
- Stevie Wonder - Higher Ground (Moog synth bass) [ th-cam.com/video/SoPMJNqyExA/w-d-xo.html ] (Covered by RHCP.)
- A barbershop quartet (four singers see en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barbershop_quartet ) [ th-cam.com/video/Qok2o3gYLOw/w-d-xo.html ]
- Bobby McFerrin singing a bassline on Don't Worry, Be Happy [ th-cam.com/video/d-diB65scQU/w-d-xo.html ]
- The White Stripes - Seven Nation Army (guitar) [ th-cam.com/video/0J2QdDbelmY/w-d-xo.html ]
- A New Orleans Second Line Parade (tuba) [ th-cam.com/video/XT-CZGgU6fY/w-d-xo.html ]
- Beethoven - Sonata for Cello and Piano No. 1 (cello and piano) [ th-cam.com/video/3xFG12NCobU/w-d-xo.html ]
- Boogie Woogie (piano) [ th-cam.com/video/PDl5ZHu35q8/w-d-xo.html ]
If you can broaden your understanding of "bass," it will transform your understanding of music on the whole. Even better, if you can mentally separate music from musical instruments (devices used to play *music*), your connection to music will be so much greater. I hope this clarifies things for you and elevates your musicianship. That's the reason why I am here.
Keep making music!
Andrew / StudyBass
Thank you studybass. Just starting to learn to play the bass, an instrument I love. I know understand the fundamental truths of the bass. So much appreciate this. I've subscribed and look forward to following you. Pump up the jam my Tutor. X Factor.
Thanks! Be sure to check out studybass.com. Most of the lessons are there (open to all), not here. Practice daily and keep me updated on your progress!
This guy’s good! It’s always the quiet ones!!
Ha! Thanks. Keep making music!
ooo you are right, i wasn't very aware of the harmonic role that the bass has. and wow !! it's so cool
When you understand the rhythmic and harmonic roles, you really know what to practice. Keep learning and making music!
awesome video thanks mate :), love that the bass notes played with the same guitar chord can create such different feelings, learned alot from this video :) thanks
Can you play bass?
Me: sure :)
3:54 ...
When he smiled while playing, you can tell this man loves music!!!
Yes...yes I do.
I just discovered your channel. I'm a guitarist and we're in the process of recording our songs. Our bassist just left us due to family reasons, and that puts me to recording bass. I guess I'll be taking your lessons. A very timely arrival I discover your channel. Thanks sir!
Great! Most of the lessons are on studybass.com ordered and available to all. As a guitarist I encourage you to think of the bass as a tuned drum. It might make you approach it differently than thinking of it as a low-pitched guitar. You can also think of it as a one-note-at-a-time rhythm guitar. Picture barre chords you already know, focus on those notes and rhythmically outline the chords. Connect with the bass drum. All of that will take you a long way. Good luck and have fun!
@@StudyBass Thanks for your words of wisdom sir! I'll definitely be visiting your website.
Looking good and professional!
Boaz Rymland Thanks! It's with your generous support I can do more.
This video is just awesome. All of my confusions about this instrument just got cleared.
I'm happy to hear that. Now that the mystery is solved, go get a bass!
!!!! So I've been a musician for 27 years. Play a bunch of instruments and am the lead vocalist for a rock band. Been experimenting with a harder sound for a metal album I'm making by myself. (An endeavor that's new to me) just came up with a riff I really dig. While playing, my mind was wondering how do I preserve the essence of the riff when I add a bass track (while avoiding just shadowing the root notes of the guitar riff) I was at a loss and I had some other questions i couldn't articulate. So I searched "what's the bass supposed to do". At the time this seemed a silly question and a search unlikely to yield helpful results. Then I watched your video. Lol. I'm stunned! Your explanation was simple and obvious, but I had never thought to consider precisely what role the bass played. I'm dumbfounded at my ignorance, complacency, and arrogance! And Grateful for your eloquent lesson! Oh man! Seriously though, thanks. You provided the answers to the questions that I couldn't articulate. I'ma go make this bass riff now. (Still laughing with excitement and gratitude).
Great! How the low end works is not so obvious to lots of people. I'm happy to hear the lesson resonated with you. Having the right perspective can make a big difference on music-making. Keep making music!
I play guitar but this is key knowledge you just gave here brother. Thanks
We're all connected. Keep making music!
I'm always focused on the sound of the bass so i search to learn more about it and damn Now i knew the importance of it.
I am not a musician though I was looking for a leadership metaphor and instinctively thought the bass might be the instrument to talk about. After watching your video I then understood why I love the bass for my leadership metaphor. Thanks for your great and informative video. As a non-musician I both understood and was enlightened. Thanks for your leadership!
Thanks! I'm happy to hear it was enlightening for a "non-musician." (I just think you haven't ordered your bass yet!)
Excellent presentation. Great job!! Thank you.
Thank you! There's more on studybass.com. Keep playing and learning!
Very effective lesson! Thank you so much for sharing. I've always wanted to understand the instruments behind some of my favorite songs and this video helped me FINALLY understand!
Great! Thank you!
Gee... thank you so much. Bass was always mysterious to me, and now I know. Thank you...
Another GREAT lesson!
Thanks so much for your time and effort.
Thanks for your support!
I know nothing about bass, I'm starting here. I found the channel from a plucking video. I intend to watch the full course. Thanks, this content is well produced.
Welcome to the bass! Be sure to check out the site (www.studybass.com). The lessons build from one to the next, and not all have videos.
The beginning is the worst part. Stick to it and keep me informed of your progress.
Learned a lot in this 7 minutes of video. Thqnk you for sharing your knowledge with the rest of the world
Thanks! There are many more free lessons on studybass.com. Keep making music!
Wow this explanation was perfect. It gave me a piece I had not yet visualized.
Great! Keep making music!
You explained well the harmonic theory... thanks.
Thank you! Make music!
Thank you so much for sharing this. I was trying to figure out why I wasn't connecting with a song I just heard, having a sense it was because of no (clear) base line, and this just confirmed it. 👍
Thanks! I'm glad you learned more about the bass. You should get one and start playing!
Excellent presentation of the fundamentals in being a better player.Thanks
Thank you so much! There's a lot more on studybass.com. Keep making music!
Nice intro to your site! Very informative for just over 7 min. Clears up a lot of the mysteriousness of the instrument and will likely spark interest in learning more. Look forward to more videos on your site. Plan on becoming a full fledged member, but need to rearrange my study area to take full advantage of the study material on the PC first. Wish I could have had the kind of information on your site 20 years ago.
+JohnSC Thanks, John! I'm working on more videos plus a lot of other stuff. I appreciate your support.
3:55 I love thats smile !! :)
Thanks. Music will do that.
Thank u! I never understood the difference between the bass & guitar!
Most people don't. I'm happy you now know.
Thanks for clearing it all up understand music much better now 😊 👍
This is the best explanation that I have ever seen for my favorite instrument!
I'm glad it was helpful. Thanks!
I've learnt from this video. Thanks.
Glad to hear it! There's a lot more to learn on studybass.com and the lessons are all free. Keep learning!
A real treat, go on clearing the mist around the probably most neglected instrument in a rockband, except for the Led Zepppelin ´John paul Jones or clasical jass bands. Best regards. Paul,68
Yes! JPJ is a genius.
Thank you so much for the video, learnt so much!
Glad it was helpful! Keep making music!
You are a heck of a teacher, Thank You.
Thanks! Keep on learning and making music!
Very good. No bs or showing off. Perfect. Thank you.
Thanks! The golden rule: Do unto others...
Wow this is a very educational video taught me a lot I learned so much
Thanks! Keep making music!
I came across this video by accident. It is good for me to know that I was incorporating your tips to rhythm and harmony without being aware of it. Thanks to your video, I can now approach my bass playing with more awareness of what I am doing rather than an intuitive approach. I knew I was locking into the drummer for rhythm and hitting the roots, 4th, 5th and 7th of chords, but I did not understand how I was providing a foundational tie between the drummer and the vocalists and other instruments. Thanks for clarifying where I fit in between the drummer and the rest of the band.
Great! Welcome. This lesson is among the first of a long string of free bass lessons on www.studybass.com. I think you'll find many more insights like this. When you understand how things work, it forever gives you direction and focus on what to work on. You'll recognize what's worth learning and what is a waste of time. Then, learning goes faster and you become more creative and confident. Keep making music!
Fantastic video. This was a question in the back of my mind. Didn't know how to search for it. And you just appeared on my feed.
Great! It's the universe telling you it's time to get a bass! There's a lot to learn on studybass.com...
@@StudyBass I play the drums. This video is going to help me with how it's connected :)
Excellent! The kick-bass relationship is key. Check out the James Brown rhythm section book and other books which contain the drum and bass part. Look at what rhythms connect.
WOW thank you for explaining it so well. couldn't put words to understand the bass before. thanks!
I'm happy to hear that. Keep making music!
Excellent explanation.
Thanks! There's a lot more to learn on studybass.com. Keep making music!
I just picked up a bass and was recommended to your channel. SO MUCH INFO! I think it will help me learn to be a better guitar player too!
That's great! Welcome. Let me know how you're progressing. Daily practice is the key.
Perfectly explained!
Thanks! There's a lot more on studybass.com. Keep playing, learning and making music!