Paul Gray was also a very big part of Slipknot’s writing team. Joey Jordison and Paul were a huge part of what made those early albums so good as both played guitar.

@justinalexanderson

2 ай бұрын

Also, if you want to hear Paul open up more. Check out Bitch Slap on their Mate.Feed.Kill.Repeat EP! He makes that track worthwhile

@IanRose-mp1sq

2 ай бұрын

First of all funny your image is from f for family. I didn't know paul also played guitar but it kinda makes sense now.

@mattygainesville

2 ай бұрын

It is my understanding that Paul and Joey pretty much wrote the lions share of the self titled album and Iowa… they were a dynamic duo…

@codigoceropokemmo

2 ай бұрын

Yes and can hear that absence

@skeptischism1324

2 ай бұрын

@@mattygainesville Josh Brainard wrote a lot too, Jim Root had no hand in any guitar parts on their self titled, he got added to the band right before they recorded the album, so he played all Brainards parts during the recording.

Paul is one of my favorite bassists to watch play. I saw them live with him on bass 4 or 5 times. He is so smooth. His tone is great... I was truly sad when he died.

@Frankenstein0777

2 ай бұрын

The way he head banged to on the basss looked so cool.

@eaturmeatornopuddin

2 ай бұрын

​@@Frankenstein0777 haha riiight dude went all out headbanging 😂😂😂❤ kzread.info/dash/bejne/p3ttl7ltY7bdls4.htmlsi=P16Yc5ueCt07KleU

@eaturmeatornopuddin

2 ай бұрын

@david slipknot hasn't been the same after he died rip Paul ❤❤❤❤

@terrymartin5839

Ай бұрын

The one time I saw them was the tour for Subliminal Verses, that they used for the 9.0 live album. Paul was and still is such an underrated member of the Band. RIP #2

The bass is an Ibanez ATK, it has a single triple coil pickup. it has some clever pickups switching options.

@LowEndUniversity

2 ай бұрын

Man, I’ve never seen one like that. Very cool. The ATK part…maybe I remember someone saying Fieldy played a similar model?

@krms2504

2 ай бұрын

​@@LowEndUniversityFieldy used soundgear Basses With 2 humbuckers. The atks were Intentioned to be the "stingray Killer" didnt really Work Out... Still they are nice basses

@smokymountainlegends7797

2 ай бұрын

Greg K. of the Offspring and Kevin Baldes of Lit were both ATK players at one time or another. I had one years back and of all the basses I’ve owned, I miss her the most. Thing was an absolute monster, big heavy body, massive bridge, wide neck. The pickup was an active triple coil with a three-way toggle that turned individual coils on and off in different combinations and a 3-band EQ. Really versatile bass and solid enough to be handy in any standard zombie apocalypse scenario.

@kharybaker868

2 ай бұрын

I have a small collection of ATKs(4 so far) and I'm on the hunt for his signature. Pretty much my favorite model ever released by Ibanez.

@rabidwallaby84

2 ай бұрын

killer basses...if only they didn't weigh more than an aircraft carrier!

Iowa will show you how creative he truly was, and demonstrates how vitally important he was for the bands sound and feel. Give that song a go, maybe make a reaction video about it.

Paul playing that, while jumping around like a maniac must of been awesome to experience at a live show! RIP Paul

@Professor_Smoak

2 ай бұрын

Paul was always more controlled. Sid, Shawn, Chris were the most "lively" on stage.

@Tritonianyeti3

2 ай бұрын

@@Professor_Smoakhe had his signature bent over bodybang while everyone else was going insane around him lol

@krms2504

2 ай бұрын

​@@Tritonianyeti3i Always thought : Doesnt this hurt him at all?

@vlazurah789

2 ай бұрын

@@krms2504it’s what probably killed him, he took pills for his back pains afterall…

@Toastaku

2 ай бұрын

Paul never jumped around

Paul grabbing his pick be like👌RIP

Love how you mention his picking technique, as imo its very slept on and i wish more people pointed out his technique. RIP #2

@LowEndUniversity

2 ай бұрын

It’s beautiful to watch!

@RolandDeschain1

2 ай бұрын

I really noticed it watching the ROADRUNNER UNITED concert. His picking is almost light. He's not clobbering the bass the way a lot of metal bassists would. It was very eye-opening to really notice that.

@Darraghs1

2 ай бұрын

Ripppppp😢

Paul is a self taught guitarist and bassist, plus he wrote the majority of self titled and Iowa with Joey.

@absurddive

2 ай бұрын

I think he originally wanted to play guitar for Knot So he lied about being a bass player or something among those lines I remember the story of how he picked up bass was kinda funny haha

@CodeNameV13

2 ай бұрын

@absurddive there is footage of Paul and Craig writing guitar riffs in the studio between self titled and Iowa so he definitely knew how to play guitar, plus his picking style on bass suggests he played guitar first

@mmmmmmmmdaaaamnnnnbabyyyy

2 ай бұрын

​@@CodeNameV13yeah he went from guitar to bass

The perfect way describe his playing is like digging an underground tunnel. You have all those guitars, drums and percussion on top but below all that there's this massive round tone. "Left Behind" is the perfect example of that in my opinion.

The bass really is what gives these songs the grove they have. My dad always taught me and my brother dummer, that all songs are held together by the Drums and Bass. If a song is a burger or sandwich. The drums are the bread, or buns. and the bass is the butter that makes the bread golden and toasty. You Don't really raste the butter and bread over the rest of the stronger flavors, but it's the toasty bread that holds it all together. That is how my dad taught us what bass and rhythm is really all about. The singer and lead guitarist need to shine. We support them. My brother and I would get bored, and shred too much in a song because it was more fun to play. So my dad had to reel us back in. Letting us know that nobody wants to listen to a mess of notes. Know when it's your time, if the song even calls for it. KISS was our heroes growing up, to us KISS meant. "Keep It Simple Stupid" And it's a winning rule for music writers and performers.

@LowEndUniversity

2 ай бұрын

Poignant stuff. Thanks for sharing, great read!

Yea paul gray was great he filled the sound perfectly never overplayed but was perfect with joey jordinson. I believe the typical slipknot tuning was (Low B,F#,B,E) Paul also wrote the majority of the music which is why the first 4 albums are soooo freakin good lol

@LowEndUniversity

2 ай бұрын

Isn’t that a similar tuning to what Ryan Martinie did?

@krms2504

2 ай бұрын

​@@LowEndUniversityyes ITS a similar Tuning what , martnie uses 5 String and Paul Gray Most of the time used a 4 String . He used Music man on the First Album , on Iowa and vol 3 a Warwick Thumb and Corvette . And on all Hope is gone His Signature Ibanez Atk 300

the songs "Confessions" and "Part of Me" are hands down some of Pauls best work in Slipknot. Full of slap and two hand tapping

this is taken from a video where he actually breaks down and explains each segment and how he plays it, and thanks to that teaching this song (and original video in particular) made this the first song i learned when i picked up a bass

Slipknot almost always play in drop B. Some of their songs are in drop A, but none of their songs are in a standard tuning.

@purplenurple1801

2 ай бұрын

Snuff

Paul Gray was a great writer and player RIP

@sebg2086

2 ай бұрын

player....i dont know

I loved Paul's scooped tone. Made sense with his pick style so there's actually some balls to it.

Your passion for music and bass is so awesome. So fun to watch.

@LowEndUniversity

2 ай бұрын

I appreciate that! Means a lot! 🙏🏼

Love your sincerity ❤ So cool to see someone not only reviewing the musician, but jammin during the process 😊

@LowEndUniversity

2 ай бұрын

Glad you enjoyed it!

Yes! So glad you did this one. The first time I saw this, my jaw dropped. Paul's work was insane.

@LowEndUniversity

2 ай бұрын

Glad you enjoyed it! Appreciate you!

Paul was a guitar player first so i imagine his understanding of where he fit with the guitars as the bassist was pretty wide. hence why he was always one of my favorites, he never really broke the mold but he did what he did almost impeccably. easily one of, if not, the most technically talented person in the original lineup.

I still vividly remember seeing Slipknot during their Subliminal Verses tour w. Lamb of God & Shadow's Fall.

@tmcwilliam01

2 ай бұрын

That was an amazing show!

@buck45osu

2 ай бұрын

Saw slipknot in 08 and only had to wait another 16 years to see lamb of god later this year 😂

@R-Dub241

2 ай бұрын

I remember that tour. Phenomenal.

rip paul

Hell yeah been waiting for this. Yeah that's his signature Ibanez PGTK1 and he tunes to B F# B E but he's the reason I started playing. Oh and his Ibanez has 3 single coils kinda bridge placement

@user-rs7tv5lq5v

2 ай бұрын

fun fact: he is tuned C# G c# f and pitch shifter down a full step

@LowEndUniversity

2 ай бұрын

Rad, glad to finally get to it!

Paul grey, what an icon he was, a huge influence to me and many others. Another brilliant breakdown brother!

@LowEndUniversity

2 ай бұрын

Awesome dude, thanks for that!! Cheers friend!

Hell yeah man I love this episode Paul Gray was awesome and a huge contribution to their sound..

R.I.P Pig

I don’t know their catalogue a lot but this is the favorite song of what I heard of them. Came out senior year for me

From punk to the most metal of metal... With some prog etc thrown in. It's like relieving my music development with you

@LowEndUniversity

2 ай бұрын

Low End University is always here for you!

I’m the same way, as in bass first. I actually learned the bass against my will! Mom was a touring country bassist in the 60s & 70s and made me. (Always kicked myself for not paying closer attention)

I have an Ibanez ATK which was the model that Paul’s signature bass was based on. I set it up for the same drop B tuning that Slipknot uses (B, F#, B, E). Duality is one of my favorite Slipknot songs to play on bass. The reason his picking technique was so intricate and clean and smooth was because he used a Dunlop Jazz III, normally used for guitars. I use those as well, I love them for that tight trem picking. This song really is a like a physical workout for my fingers, hands, and wrists. But it feels great when I play it right.

The one song I would recommend for listening go a slipknot song that kinda showcases paul, is gently. Something about the atmosphere that song creates I just love

Hello. I seen slipknot play at a small bar in London, Ontario, Canada when they 1st started out at "the drink". It was a great show, the small stage barely held all the guys & equipment. Few months later more and more people took notice of them, and eventually in a short period of time, they became known in pretty much every household on the globe. Thanks for doing a bass video review on Paul. Have a good day.

RIP Paul! He was a major part to the knot writing especially as a guitar player to me Vol 3 was their best work, it was a great mixture of everything, I had a ATK 305 which his bass is based of off Ibanez called it “ the stingray killer” and it was such an amazing bsss! Especially with the string through body option! Thank for this Mark! And such an amazing tone!!!

If you really want to see what Paul gray could do , look up "Do Nothing/Bitchslap" on their first demo called MFKR. It is ironically the most technical and interesting they've ever played, and not many slipknot fans even know about it. It's really fun because they switch between like 3 distinct genres on the song, it's super experimental.

@bradkneale7580

2 ай бұрын

confessions also has great bass parts

@pR0ManiacS

2 ай бұрын

Mdfkr album was so good and the fact that they kept the sound even after they swapped almost the entire bandmembers. Heretic anthem for example îs another great example of funk influenced song that slipknot produced. I feel like rhcp influence was huge on these songs. Im talking about end of 70' and 80' rhcp.

surfacing will forever be my favourite slipknot song and it has such a great bass solo/bridge/part thingy

On Paul's birthday today, he was such a fantastic writer. For someone who wasn't a schooled musician, he made writing seem so easy. Writing heavy, melodic & catchy. Slipknot has never been the same since his passing. He was the team captain of the true 9.

Man, you just nailed it mentioning Duff and Newsted with the pick. Amazing technique!

@LowEndUniversity

Ай бұрын

Two of my rockstar idols when I was a kid! 😌

I love the tone!

@LowEndUniversity

2 ай бұрын

It’s so dark and throaty!

Thats awesome that you covered Slipknot. If you want to cover a song from where Paul Gray Played, i recommend: Vermillion Terry date mix ( the bass is much louder there), gehenna , child of burning time and no life He also has bass lesson from the Song surfacing which is really cool. You should also watch mfkr the demo album Slipknot. He Plays some funky stuff on do nothing/Bitchslap and some tapping in the bass intro of confession

@LowEndUniversity

2 ай бұрын

Didn’t know they worked with Terry. Interesting! Now I gotta get some Pantera on the channel… 🤤

@krms2504

2 ай бұрын

​@@LowEndUniversityalso the Studio Version has the Bass really buried. You should listen to the Isolated Bass Tracks. Paul Plays Something completly different then in the lesson and Its really fun to Play

@jackglenn9314

2 ай бұрын

I second listening to MFKR album. His playing was at the forefront of their sound. Guitar work was also good, I recommend “Confessions”. Any song from self titled or Iowa you will here is tone more. Tone was a little more hidden in vol3 and dang near gone in All hope is gone. Side note, Paul played Warwick thumb from Self titled to Vol 3.

Another stellar video! I finished listening to The Migration and The Collective this week, so freaking good! My favourites from each so far are Odyssey and Levitated!!!

@LowEndUniversity

2 ай бұрын

Shucks, thanks! Odyssey was such a great song, and I loved Jordan’s parts on The Levitated. That was always a highlight to play each night.

there is just something else with someone who mastered the basics to perfection. its like it becomes an extension of their expression

also the song Gently from Iowa has a great bass intro that is very audible before the guitars come in fully.

I started playing bass because of Paul. He is a legend and will never be forgotten. RIP Paul

I knew he was a talented player but hearing him more on the front end now man he has mastered the instrument and has a very good understanding of music. Very impressed

Really love his sound in this vid and the behind the player tab vids. The grit sounds sandblasted or something but still has body.

@LowEndUniversity

2 ай бұрын

Exactly! Really balanced tone that still sounds natural.

Pretty positive Paul played 4 strings - Warwicks early on - strung BEAD.

@krms2504

2 ай бұрын

Its actually drop b tuning BF#BE. On Iowa they also used drop A AEAD

Amazing how many teachers, coaches vocal experts etc, can learn from Slipknot. There's a reason we love them. Put all elements together for the perfect Cocktail.

@LowEndUniversity

Ай бұрын

Well said!

Always thought Paul Gray was very underrated. Like, you can always hear him, but you rarely hear what he's actually playing, it's so thick and low in the mix. But when you can pick him out, he had some real smooth, almost 70s rock style grooves just kinda hidden in there. I've always thought the biggest reason Slipknot stand out so much compared to similarly heavy bands is the way each individual member understands flow, and how to flow together. That's literally the reason I was disappointed when I listened to death metal for the first time, I was 14 and just got internet and I was excited to finally hear "the *really* heavy sht"... Ended up listening to Deicide or something, like "I can't even headbang to this, it's a fkn mess" 🤣 Course I learned to appreciate it in time, but Slipknot's first 2 albums are still the most consistently, satisfyingly heavy music I've ever heard.

He also did a video on Surfacing, and it's amazing

I love Paul Gray's tone it made me start playing bass. I always use his strings and tuning. His string go 55 75 90 110 with the tuning being B F# B E. Also mfkr is perfect to hear more of Paul's playing.

VOL 3 hands down there best work

@jonahc2807

2 ай бұрын

Absolutely. Slipknot found their personality with Vol 3, and they still had the ST/Iowa stage energy.

R.I.P Paul Gray!! [Edit] Also his picking hand is basically James Hetfield. That is how a guitar player first bass player learned rhythm picking. lol

I always liked how his basslines were actual unique lines and didn’t always just mirror the guitar. The verses of this are a great example, with the guitars playing extremely fast riffs, but Paul just laying down a slower groove that outlines the tonality and gives space for the guitars.

Paul Gray was amazing!!! Slipknot was never the same after his passing. RIP

Look into Iowa for sure again. But dang Paul is so freaking good. The kinda tone, and style I'd love to have one day!

The pickup in Gray's Ibanez ATK is a triplebucker with coil select. Really trippy setup but killer sounds! I wish it was available in a 35" scale Ibanez that didn't weigh as much as a boat anchor.

"" I just love how relaxed he is!! "" With all due respect, sorta had to chuckle at that.. RIP good sir!!!!!!!

Man, I've listened to the first two Slipknot albums a million times but always focused on the drums (I'm a drummer). I MUST now go back and key in on Paul's bass because this ish is really freaking cool. RIP

Paul was and is still is my inspiration to play bass and he is my favorite bassist and because of him I opened my KZread channel where I am covering his amazing bass lines so rest in peace 🙏🏻 Paul GONE BUT NEVER FORGOTTEN ❤️

you should check out the bass in vermilion, truly a masterpiece

We lost a real one all those years ago thanks for giving him some shine

Jeez that’s a great sounding bass

I believe he is playing his signature Ibanez PGB1L in this video. Prior to becoming one of their artists, he mostly played Warwicks.

If i recall, there is a cool drawn out bass opening on the song "Iowa" from the album.

Paul was a great example of what a bassist SHOULD be. The humble, consistent engine that drives the rhythm of a song. My instructor way back when I was a kid always told me "as a bassist, you should strive to a place where almost no one knows you're there in a song, BUT they will definitely notice if you're not there." That was always my approach in the writing process, and Paul was a perfect example of that. He also introduced me to the scooped, picking sound that compliments metal guitars very well. RIP

that track is from their third album which was their MAGNUM OPUS. its really outstanding.

Been loving the punk bass reviews but hearing you comment on his style and technique I would love a critique on my method or lack there of to learn how to progress.

@LowEndUniversity

2 ай бұрын

Thanks! I have hours and hours of lesson material on Patreon, and I’m confident it’ll help you with technique.

For me Iowa was one of the first CDs that I ever had and still like that album even now. After that I don't know much what happened ... but Iowa, Toxicity, Follow the leader, Significant other and few others albums sure made highschool days much more easier! Cheers! 🎸❤️👀

bro you have to watch babymetal rondo of nightmare live in youtube they have solo parts for each instrument, and the bass solo is amazing you have to watch it 😁

I respect the way he tackled this video, instead of saying "it's really basic and there's isn't much else to say" solid player but nothing more than bedroom skill.

It was EBF#B. Most all of their songs are in that tuning. The final track called "Scissors" from the self titled album was one of the only one they did drop F#..on a four string too. Tried it. It was like playing a shoe string lol.

pauls bass was usually tuned to drop b (BF#BE) or drop A (AEAD)

Surfacing is also a great Paul grey showcase!

There is a video with him and Roy Mayorga that sound SO HEAVY!!

@djabthrash

2 ай бұрын

Comes from the same session/video actually.

the perfect song that features paul would be confessions of the mate. feed. kill. repeat. album. that's a song that really show's his skill as a bassist.

I had Alien Ant Farm - Flesh and Bone pop up on my shuffle the other day and thought it could be a good one for you to review. Love your videos.

You should look up Confessions off of Slipknot's first demo Mate Feed Kill Repeat. His playing was way more up front and technical back then. Lots of tapping and slapping/popping.

i subbed for the bass, i stayed for the paul bass

@LowEndUniversity

2 ай бұрын

Cheers friend, thank you!!

I love Paul Gray! He is the reason I started playing bass. My request is for you to listen to more of PG’s hit songs. Then. Listen to the new bass player, V-Man’s hit songs. And tell me the difference in their playing style

I will say, this is also technically not what he played on the album, Rick Beato has a video showing the iso stems, on the album it’s a lot more simple at first in the verses but I think it still works really well for the track, gives room for the guitars before he switches to a countermelody. If i remember correctly this is how he tended to play this track live to add more energy. Definitely an underrated musician and songwriter in every regard, and his feel when playing with Joey was incredible.

I always loved Pauls really Chunky dirty bass tone, so damn heavy, fits the feel of Slipknot too well His famous bend over headbang/bow along with it while playing , theres a reason why he does it lol its just so damn tasty and heavy amd awesome. RIP Paul, one of the reasons i started bass , just loved how simple of his stuff was but its so damn satisfying to play with how heavy it feels. Also loved his masks lol especially the black looking Hannibal Lecter masks of his . You check out the other vids of his down the line when he played Surfacing, that ones a fun one to watch

heh, i also started as a bass player first. Playing guitar has also helped me with my bass technique, i'd say playing both has made me a more well-rounded musician

My favourite thing about Paul is that he played as if he was lead guitar, rhythm, & bass all at once. Fkn sick. RIP

i think duality is in my top 3 slipknot songs, great video! has anyone requested you to react to at the drive-in yet? one armed scissor, perhaps?

@LowEndUniversity

2 ай бұрын

Don’t think so, but would love to. Do you think that’s the best song to break down, bass wise?

@pelletized

2 ай бұрын

@@LowEndUniversity yeah, or quarantined has a good bass intro too. i hope you like it!

Still hard to believe Paul has been gone 14 years.

@LowEndUniversity

2 ай бұрын

😔

Paul & Joey are rollin’ in their graves looking at what Slipknot has become…

i recommend the unraveling - dir en drey.. the bass player name is toshiya, his play style is good too..

Rex Brown, is my favorite bassist

FYI they mostly play in drop B, but sometimes drop A

Paul Gray the BEAST

❤️ Paul Gray.

Like his tone it’s neat

Duality came out like 4 or 5 years after IOWA with Vol 3 The Subliminal Verses.

Yes he's got a VERY good technique. Both hands really. He was a guitarist to begin with. He's playing an Ibanez ATK Signature model BTW.

check the Confenssion track as well

Drop B and Drop A is what Slipknot often use 6 string guitars and 4 string bass

He was originally a guitar player but he was force to play bass by Slipknot can't really love this Bassline! You should try reacting to the shape too!

As others said, Paul's a major part of the writing team on the albums he was a part of. His mastery of songwriting can be missed when he's looked at as just the bass player of Slipknot (Not that that's what you're saying). Love the channel, dude.

@LowEndUniversity

2 ай бұрын

It’s often the case with many bands. Great point! Appreciate the kind words!

Bass follows guitar a lot of the time, you only really hear it in songs like Surfacing, Gently, Iowa or Virus Of Life for example.

I know its wayyyy off genre but as a drummer one of my fav rythm sections is from two door cinema club. Might give them a peep lol