Bass Lines Played WRONG!
Музыка
►► FREE: Get the tabs and notation for all three bass lines in this lesson and make sure you NEVER make these same mistakes again → becomeabassist.com/bass-lines...
Years ago, when I was in a cover band in my very small hometown, I went to see a ‘rival’ band. This other band did a lot of the same songs we did and basically played all the same venues we did.
They were basically our direct competition and being an undeservedly cocky 18 or 19 year old, I was convinced that I’d see this band and know that my own band was far superior.
Much to my dismay, this rival band actually sounded great and I couldn’t really fault them on anything. They played well together, had really good energy, and put on a great show.
BUT…
The whole time, I was paying close attention to the bass player. I played a lot of the same songs in my own band, so I wanted to see how he played them and if there was any difference.
Song after song, this bass player played what was on the original recordings - much like I did - with the occasional fill - much like I did.
However, there was one song where he played the absolute WRONG thing. Sure - it didn’t sound bad or anything, but it wasn’t what was on the original recording.
Ha! Finally - I had something my fragile ego could feel superior about!
“Pfft...what an idiot” I thought. “Can’t even learn that song properly”
(Did I mention I was undeservedly cocky?)
But I had this strange feeling… It had been a while since I listened to that song.
He had been playing exactly what was on the original songs the entire gig, but that one song he went ‘off-book’? It didn’t seem right…
What if he WAS playing the right bass line?
Could I be wrong? Surely not, but I had to check - just to make sure.
So when I got home from the gig, I went straight to the family computer, opened it up, found the .mp3 of the song, plugged my headphones in and pressed play.
That familiar guitar riff started up. I waited with peeled ears for the bass to come in, just like how I heard it in my mind.
However, when the bass came in, it didn’t sound like I remember it sounding. To my horror, it sounded exactly like what the bass player in the ‘rival’ band had played.
He wasn’t the idiot who didn’t know the bass line properly…
The idiot was me!
I had been playing this song the wrong way for a few years. The other bass player had been totally right and I was 100% wrong because I hadn’t taken enough care to learn the song properly.
Cue the waves of embarrassment washing over me.
But this isn’t that uncommon!
After playing for years and years, I found I was playing other songs incorrectly as well - completely differently than what was on the recordings.
I’d either learned the bass lines from other people (who just showed me the guitar part and I just copied it on bass) or I’d just been lazy and hadn’t properly listened when I learned the songs.
And it’s not just me - I’ve seen tons of other bass players fall into the exact same traps that I fell into. Some of them even give out the incorrect bass lines in the comments of my videos!
Today though, I’m going to show you the top 3 bass lines played wrong; exactly how they’re played wrong and how it’s different from what’s actually on the recording.
Here's the isolated bass track I talk about in the lesson:
• Isolated Bass Stevie W...
And remember, if you want to make sure you don't make the same mistakes I made when I learned these bass lines, be sure to download the tabs for free right here:
becomeabassist.com/bass-lines...
By the way, if you are making the same mistakes in these songs or similar mistakes in other songs, it’s not the end of the world.
In fact, it’s kind of expected.
Nobody is born knowing how to play any song, and if you haven’t learned to play by ear then a lot of the time, all you have to work with is questionable tab sites or other people to teach you (who may just be using questionable tab sites).
It’s no wonder bass lines get played wrong all the time. When you realize it though, all you have to do is correct the mistake and move on.
![How To Use Ghost Notes On Bass [6 'Levels']](/img/d.gif)
Пікірлер: 49
"Billie Jean" - most people forget to double the root note of the riff. There is a bass synth playing low F#s and Bs on the accents, but Louis Johnson also played them on the bass guitar.
Thank you for the video and your honest explanation.
One of my favorite bass lines is Sir Duke. Any chance you can cover this at some point Luke?
I was surprised you didn't include All Right Now. So many players miss the rhythm part on the open A which is played simultaneously with the high notes in the solo section. It's not hard and it's essential to the part.
Can't get better than this.
@BecomeABassist
4 жыл бұрын
Thanks for watching @ Johnson Mascarenhas!
Another bass line often played wrong is Cissy Strut
Thanks Luke 👍
Thanks Luke! Keep these coming. We are all shut in and have plenty of practice time.
hey ! nice ;) What model of spector bass do u have ? :) Cheers
@glenfair5272
4 жыл бұрын
It’s a Spector Euro.
Thank you.
I'm happy if I can play something that is in tune. But, I'm left-handed & played a right-handed guitar upside down for 50 years (still do). However, I did buy a left-handed ubass a year ago, so I guess at 75 you would call me a beginner.
Really, for Superstition you either need to detune the bass Eb Ab Db Gb (like Stevie's bassist) so you can play the Eb thump an octave lower or transpose the whole song to E. Otherwise the bass line sounds weak.
@JoseMendez-ci6zq
4 жыл бұрын
There is a gadget they attach to E tuner peg to get EbE by a push and pull
What type of bass is used? Very beautiful
@pbass6811
4 жыл бұрын
Spector Euro 4LX. Great bass.
I hang my head in shame to see my comment, from another of your videos, used in your text within the link to get the PDFs where I suggested that beginners would like to learn the riff to “My Girl”. However, it was Mr/Ms Trekinvert you corrected after they jumped in with an explanation of its construction based on the pentatonic scale. I played it that way long ago as the bass line in a boy band I was in but what the hell did I know. I was fourteent years old at the time and now I’m older than dirt, lol. Maybe the guitarist switched over to playing rhythm and I played to riff on bass to keep the feel of the song going. I don’t remember. Anyway, I instigated the whole thing because I was wrong about the bass line and I apologize.
@BecomeABassist
4 жыл бұрын
There’s nothing to be ashamed of @Rich Szala. It’s the equivalent of a kid who says buh-sketty instead of spaghetti: nearly everyone goes through it and nearly everyone either changes what they’re doing when they realize or they intentionally keep doing it the way they have been. Either way, there’s nothing to be ashamed of at all!
What bass do you use I might pick it up
@pbass6811
4 жыл бұрын
He's playing a Spector Euro 4LX. Those are fantastic basses.
@jmcrae825
4 жыл бұрын
And can be yours for the low low price of only $2,500 dollars. Glad I bought mine when they were still just under two grand.
Great video Nice email btw 👍
@BecomeABassist
4 жыл бұрын
Glad you like it @Gabi 26!
Gd vid! Always searching to find and play a song I like the right way like note for note it's hard but your right people play the guitar part instead of the bass and I'm like something is wrong here! Beard on point too! Thanks
Satisfaction. Bass players play the guitar part. That's WRONG!
@BecomeABassist
4 жыл бұрын
Totally - I made that mistake for a while as well!
Is it wrong, or just individually your choice? As long as you're not in a tribute band, what's wrong with doing a cover the way you want it? And if you're not playing with the same number of band members as the original band, then there's even more reason to not quite get it exactly the same? You just need to play what's needed. Especially in a live situation?
@sarahdop4071
4 жыл бұрын
Oh, just got to the end of the video! Sorry!
@BecomeABassist
4 жыл бұрын
Haha! You’re exactly right!
@sarahdop4071
4 жыл бұрын
@@BecomeABassist At least that's how I justify my version of "Paint it, black"... ;)
@bethlehemeisenhour8352
4 жыл бұрын
IT's good to play things the way you want, CCR, heard it thru the grape vine. Robin Trower, Further on up the road, ect..
Man, you look like you lack some sleep!
You can’t really play the ‘authentic’ bass line if you don’t have the original instrumentation. So ‘wrong’ is a bit of a subjective term. Someone has to play the keyboard part in Superstition if you don’t have a keyboard to play it.
@ster2600
3 жыл бұрын
And if you're figuring it out by yourself, you're bound to end up playing what sounds "right" when played on its own
Play that funky music is much more staccato.
You should never dislike his videos there actually the best Dislike the comment though!
@conradsz
4 жыл бұрын
they’re
@bassplayer102
4 жыл бұрын
conradsz I know aye 😂
Good stuff. My Girl really surprised me.
@BecomeABassist
4 жыл бұрын
Right?!? You listen to the actual recording and it’s very different than what you expect...
@Valveus
4 жыл бұрын
If you listen to the original recording, it actually starts with the bass, but its surprising how often you can try to play something from memory on the bass or guitar and think it sounds right, until you hear the original and realise how much you've got it wrong
@blogidaho36
4 жыл бұрын
@@Valveus Yep, Luke scored big with this video. Something to tickle everyone's memory.
@JeffsBassment
4 жыл бұрын
I don't understand how people get that one wrong. The bass starts the song and is very clear throughout.
I don't think there's a right or wrong in rock and roll ,when a song has those signature licks that the listener is waiting to hear then you must play it right , otherwise I think it's okay if you or your band plays their interpretation of a specific song
Is that a schechter
Most bass players don’t play a C at the start of the chorus run down in Play that Funky music. They play an E instead.
@asherskerrett5979
4 жыл бұрын
Where did the reply go? Must have figured out I was right.
@qdaveq6597
4 жыл бұрын
@@asherskerrett5979 Yes - you are right.