5 Tips That Will Make You a Better Bass Player

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0:00 Introduction
0:29 Tip #1: Avoid open strings
1:46 Tip #2: Never sacrifice the beat for a fill
3:19 Tip #3: Keep it simple and consistent
5:13 Tip #4: Start on the root note
6:38 Tip #5: Keep it "down"
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[@LessonFace]

Find your ideal online bass guitar teacher: www.lessonface.com/music-lessons/bass-guitar

[@joecaner]

“Learn the rules like a pro, so you can break them like an artist.” ― Pablo Picasso

[@Delta225]

Tip #1 should be "mute any strings you aren't currently playing," that's what fixes the issue of strings ringing out as you play.

[@Thorgue]

Exactly. Play frets when you need that sound or control.

[@Dicko1]

I'm a beginner d'you do that by using your thumb?

[@secallen]

@@Dicko1 Use any part of either hand you have free

[@Demosthenes84]

@@Dicko1 both hands. Eventually it comes naturally

[@davidcarey1206]

Open strings are a necessity, both as passing tones and transition notes. Learning to mute strings is also a necessity. Example….. play Lynard Skynard, simple man in “ the money area” . Even your fills utilize open strings.

[@veladurpui7421]

Do U only teach wt not to play ? Cn u teach what to play n how to play,all u teach is dnt play like this.. nobody 1 to learn how not to play, everybody 1 to learn how to play not how not to play , better teach us saw us how to play,

[@stubmandrel]

The thing about rules is knowing when to break them.

[@Rollin_7s]

stub mandrel #GoldenChild

[@Homanjer]

Just doesn't make much sense when the rules are ways to avoid learning your instrument. When the reason you don't play open strings is because you can't mute then YOU SHOULD LEARN HOW TO MUTE STRINGS...

[@mloftin6472]

That really is next-level life advice. Seriously.

[@jasonhearn5818]

yeah but only when you have a solid foundation..in the beginning as your learning its best to keep it simple...experience helps ...exposing yourself to all genres of music so your put in various situations

[@matthewehritz3544]

Amen

[@JakesGuitarThing]

Playing open strings is great. Lets you itch your nose, mid song, while you're playing a gig.

[@blairjones8231]

And have a beer!

[@MR-um9ck]

Scratch, not itch.

[@mauricelaidler4789]

Jakey C Been there, done that!

[@dlawlis]

Still kinda hard to snort coke tho.

[@IsaacBCh]

You can smoke!

[@mariovomhof2775]

I know so many bass players who break the rules. And guess what? they are my favourites.

[@guitar300k]

We need rules so we can break them

[@lovelost28]

"With great power come great responsibility" never thought I would hear this quote in a bass tutorial

[@lovelost28]

@VnM a4acre haha nice! I think now I know who her friendly neighbourhood is

[@jazz4asahel]

She's trying to help the beginning bassist. As someone trying to get it right for over 50 years and still pretty much a beginner, I appreciate her suggestions.

[@azielrangeljr6046]

1.Keep It simple 2.Don't miss the beat 3.Count your money

[@AlejandroKearne]

"count your fills" HA Billy fans in here omg

[@eiichiyakamoto840]

4.Brag like a Girl xP

[@PRODUCEDBYKEV]

That's how I like to play.

[@yunggrandma666]

I love the face this instructor makes when doing the "don't do this" segments. GOLD.

[@The2145090]

It sounds like those rules are coming from lead guitarist or singers)

[@itsnotraunaq]

couldn’t have said it better

[@stanwray5663]

Signers or singers ?

[@unfunnydave5485]

more like it's coming from producers

[@t0rna.s0l]

THIS

[@troywest]

EXACTLY

[@marklarsontube556]

1) Practice 2) Practice 3) Practice 4) Practice 5) Have abnormally long fingers

[@t-wrecks6060]

MarklarsonTube Lmao im so lucky with the fingers I've got. Perfect for my guitar and bass playing

[@t-wrecks6060]

MarklarsonTube Lmao im so lucky with the fingers I've got. Perfect for my guitar and bass playing

[@j.b5722]

@@t-wrecks6060 same

[@markrodgers2976]

Obviously, practice is critical. But, as my grandfather once wisely advised me about golf, "you gotta make sure you're not practicing your mistakes". THAT'S what this video is about. Practice for practice's sake, is just bullshit.

[@simonthewisewise8038]

True

[@TomTobin67]

#1- Learn the notes of the fretboard. #2- Ear training

[@nathanmantle377]

That's a little simplistic, considering it ignores technique, which is arguably more important on the bass than on the chording instruments.

[@elpeluca7780]

Tom Tobin #3 have fun

[@TheDrewSmyther]

#4 get on KZbin and crap on other bass players.

[@TomTobin67]

Simplistic? What you're describing is what guitar playing weenies do. Players who are all technique and no personality.

[@futureoutfit]

#5 be a typical youtube rock musician "know it all" and have your 2 sense worth

[@faroshscale]

"The band members are giving you nasty faces" Me, alone sitting on my bed in a hoodie playing bass: 👁👄👁

[@Jk-yh3ls]

Felt

[@sandrabecht4489]

👍😄🇩🇪

[@ishmael_03]

Solid information. I'm a self taught bass player and I innately knew not to use open strings (when no necessary) and not to solo but add accents here and there.

[@julian_ossuna]

Tip 6: Break the rules

[@anthemlog]

"Don't do this" *Outshines guitar*

[@geldeddonkey7320]

Thankyou , as a guitarist who wants to take on bass to get a more complete appreciation of songs , your tips are “great” 🇦🇺

[@leobass8259]

Using open notes like that is fine as long as have good muting technique.

[@thewomble1509]

Just what i was thinking Leo. In fact you could argue against ALL the points in this vid tbh.

[@Pellefication]

I play open strings a lot and...off course...have a great muting technique :o) So...it works if you know how to do it.

[@mrottomaddox]

Well then, I wonder how she plays an open E elsewhere on the fretboard. 🙄

[@The_Hylian_Likely]

mrottomaddox mute with your thumb if its resting at the top of the pickup? :/

[@hlokomani]

Facts

[@Vivi-sama]

I guess as Bass is considered by many as a "simple instrument" (4 strings, not really determined for solo etc...) we, bassists, tend to overdo it a little and losing ourselves with complex fills / inappropriate solos... Keep in mind the basics and your role of timekeeper for your band : You will overhaul the sound of everyone ! Like batman, bassists are "not the hero we deserve, but the hero we need"

[@jogmas12]

It’s not bad to jazz it up a bit. There’s a little known song by Sister Sledge ‘BYOB’. Listen to the bass on certain breaks and verses of that song, jazzy and complimentary if you ask me.

[@reservoirdog1]

Never in my life have I heard a guitarist being told that they’re way too busy in a band context and tbh many could learn a thing or two about restrain and it shouldn’t just be a bassist only thing. Riding the root Can be boring as f as a listener/player too 🤷🏻‍♂️ furthermore there’s plenty of people that look at the bass as a compositional instrument instead of a support machine, take a look at Gustavo Santaolalla and the thing he did with his bass vi for the last of us (the choice)

[@vsauce_johnny2516]

"never use open strings" Metal songs in E standard: Am I a joke to you?

[@thebassguy0513]

IKR? And i also think that “ don’t sacrifice a beat for a fill” is BS. You do that to make the beat sound better. But only do fill when you know it’s then right spot

[@iochisono97]

she's just afraid of things she cant play

[@mattbermo1958]

flmvdvsrg she isn't muting the strings when she plays the open notes, of course it's gonna sound muddy

[@markusm108]

@@thebassguy0513 I guess the operational word that you may have missed here is "sacrifice". There is nothing worse than a drummer or bassplayer playing a frantic out of time fill.

[@rudolphdrasler2697]

@flmvdvsrg go listen to JPJ from Led Zeppelin and come back. One can totally do many fills in a song and make it sound good. Particularly, go look at the bass tab for "Good Times Bad Times".

[@taken5533]

"And when was the last time you heard a bass solo in a rock or pop tune?" cliff burton: HOLD MY BEER

[@lordmordo]

So a long time ago?

[@timhenderson6473]

40 yrs ago

[@andysmusikwelt1562]

Great tutorial, thanks 🙂 Presenting the DOs, and the DON'Ts with a touch of comedy, really gets them to the point 😀

[@pleoh4101]

I Don't master open strings, can't make a neat fill, Don't know my neck although I play for 25 years. Happy to discover I'm a good bass player after all. Thank you.

[@arthurindenbaum4329]

I taught Bass Guitar many years ago (1970s/80s) and I swear these were almost the exact same lessons I tried to teach my students. The bass is not a solo instrument (rock blues etc), it's job is to 'hold down the bottom'. Fills are primarily for other instruments. The open string occasionally has it's moment but only rarely, if ever. I remember working with a brilliant young drummer (16) like many Bass players he tried to fill every open spot, it hurt, but like most smart musicians he learned that lesson early on, air...space...less is more. Thanks for the reminders.

[@TatersUnited]

"Don't do this" *purposely plays sloppy and out of time*

[@tangogrrl]

With the faces added really enjoyed that

[@kedduff1814]

Yeh the purposely bad faces lol

[@lukerensburg8828]

Much agreed

[@MrDkmin]

Doesn't even discuss muting the strings, lmao.

[@gabrieldamian9074]

It is like a informercial

[@michaelsanchez8519]

No doubt you have skill, but I feel like everything you told me not to do, is exactly the reason why I play bass.. life has no meaning now.

[@raccuia1]

I think the odd fill is good because it takes the mundane feeling out of the bass.

[@shredman]

she meant when u play in a gig u need to listen to others for the right timings to merge into the whole presentation. u can still hv life playing urself, then u need jst to enjoy whatever ure doin

[@Gallienkrueger1]

Guys look at it like this, you train to do all these fills and extra's and you store that awesomeness somewhere. Those skills are now part of you. Now follow her advise. Keep it tight, clean, and groovy. Find enjoyment in keeping it simple. And when you feel it fits, release some of that awesomeness you have stored within yourself. Do it like this, and you will find you can still rock out but also play in a way that fully fits the song.

[@t0rna.s0l]

literally

[@berringaboy]

These are all very good tips. The longer I play, the moved I have moved to this type of thinking.

[@johnl6944]

Even the "Don't do This" stuff sounds good when you do it!

[@zerobatsu]

Yeah 🤣

[@luke342w]

"Don't use open strings" and then the reason showed is that, if you don't mute them, they continue ringing. So, how about, instead of never playing open strings anymore, you learn to mute your damn strings? That's something every bass player should eventually learn to do. So do that, instead of giving up open strings. They have a unique sound. They can be used in many creative ways to improve your playing, or just to make some parts a bit easier to play.

[@tomaszurbanowicz1559]

I don't know if that happens to everyone, but I am self learned and probably pretty bad in general, but muting open strings was something that happened naturally and pretty quickly. I didn't even think about it until I could suddenly do that

[@doca9357]

you can also mute with your picking fingers, it's been so long I don't even recall how I came upon doing this other than likely from mimicking recorded sounds, kind of like figuring out how to get the sound of bass played with a pick while using your fingers

[@doca9357]

milou80 damn, nice dissertation, that would have taken me hours to put all that into words.

[@HeadsetHistorian]

Not even "eventually" it should be one of the fundamental early techniques to learn.

[@bwolohan18]

Exactly!

[@ybaranuslu]

This is not "how to be a good bass player" this is "how to be populer music basser"

[@WolfTwister]

I feel like a lot of these things can be well executed, but definitely still amazing tips

[@nicolastambuyser3822]

be a servant of the song, not a showcase of your skills basically

[@1181darkfire]

ThatOne Ginger what’s so wrong with that? Paul McCartney was an incredible bassist and he never was doing bass solos.

[@kleinkaufman8940]

Exactly , just do your job...

[@erichimes3062]

The song first!

[@neile2001]

All of good bass players know the virtue of self discipline. If you dont think so you will be just another bedroom playing hero

[@sourcandyxxx]

Jpkrao have you even heard Hey Bulldog or Something?

[@azaleajanemusic]

Some of this is good advice for beginners... sometimes. I'm an amateur at bass but have been arranging and composing for ages, and and even at this level I know that a lot of this is very simplistic and often overstates the case. I feel like all of this could be rephrased as "listen to this, think about this, try that" rather than "don't do this". Arbitrary rules are annoying. Guidelines for what to pay attention to are awesome. 1 - Open strings have a unique sound and can be awesome. Be aware not to overuse them. Probably avoid them in a melodic line, because they can't have vibrato. They only wash out like that if you FAIL TO MUTE, which is independent of the use of open strings. Use open strings if they serve the music. Mute well always. 2 - Heavy syncopation can be cool and super groovy, just be sure not to do it more than the music calls for. 3- A lot of famous songs have bass solos and very non-simple basslines. It's good to learn how to groove out with very simple lines first, though. 4- Usually focus on the root, but not ALWAYS ALWAYS. Certainly always know what the root is, and know when you're the only one playing it. (Sometimes the chart specifically has a non-root note for the bass player, even! How exciting!) 5- Up on the fretboard sounds different. Not better, just different. Just be aware of how different passages sound on different strings and choose the strings that ... guess what... SERVE THE MUSIC. My number 6 in this vein for most bassists is TURN YOUR AMP DOWN GODDAMMIT.

[@guitarmusic6716]

u add me on Facebook dear

[@miguele.antonetti9999]

🤟🏼

[@evracer]

This is great advice if you always want to be invisible and just tell yourself you're great.

[@mv9787]

This is my approach. On gigs, I stay on back stage

[@ultimatefab]

Evracer : Exactly ! I don't know that woman and I suppose she has good intentions, but her arguments are bad. She should say her "don't do that" in front of dozens of famous bassists doing just what she says not to do.

[@itsallimportant4795]

When was the last time you heard a bass playing like a lead? New Order's entire catalogue, basically.

[@AlmightyRavioli]

Or half of Rush career

[@stephen5601]

Literally primus

[@romeo.9063]

Suburban bass players who don't yet have the fundamentals down and watching how-to vids on KZbin are neither Geddy Lee nor Les Claypool. They had to learn the rules, too, before they learned how far to bend them without breaking them. Learn to play foundational bass before branching off into "lead bass" territory. Even Cliff Burton knew when to scale it back and establish depth and punch before playing "Anesthesia."

[@tuskedbeast]

James Jamerson, Carol Kaye and their inspired imitators. Jack Cassidy. Whoever played on many of Serge Gainsbourg's pop hits.

[@igiveuponhumanity9238]

There once was a guy named Lemmy... and there never will be again.

[@grantkoeller8911]

If you are playing swing bass, bebop bass, big band bass, or modern jazz bass lines, the entire neck is yours to use tastefully.

[@LexStarwalker]

Great tips! I've watched a LOT of bass videos, and some of these were completely new to me (like not using open strings). Thanks so much for making this video!

[@haydenmcdaniel1155]

Lex Starwalker it's new because it's wrong

[@delenns.7674]

You can use open strings, if you have a good muting technique.

[@Hadokane]

Take it all with a pinch of salt and it's great advice. The morale is play to the song, leave place for the other instruments and enjoy what you do. Good video :)

[@czechmix221]

You can control the sustain even with open strings Edit: before anyone complains, I play the bass. When you play, you lightly rest your fingers on the strings to stop the vibration.

[@JOhnDoe-nl4wj]

True, you can do a lot of thing. This is aimed for beginners, tho. For beginners i would recommend to not play open strings as well.

[@horsemeat1516]

“when was the last time you heard a bass solo in a rock or pop tune?” **rancid, the violent femmes, and red hot chili peppers have entered the chat**

[@james-yi2xx]

primus

[@gabrieldamian9074]

I dont know if count but the bass line of "the chain" could be a great solo

[@malcolm_mal2055]

Tool?

[@richardroberson2564]

They have specific sections for that though. If you so that anythime it sounds awful.

[@malcolm_mal2055]

@@richardroberson2564 yeah. If you just slam it into another section it will sound garbage

[@guinea4594]

Some of the best bass in songs I listen to use the techniques she is teaching against.

[@bflo1000]

Like Geddy Lee or Billy Sheehan.

[@Zepp710]

you missed the point. Fills are fine if you hit the beat

[@sunnym1821]

@@Zepp710 Yeah, I think it's best to record yourself playing and listen to it because it could be hard to notice how crappy a fill sounds while you're in the moment

[@varsington]

@@sunnym1821 this is also true... Record... Record... Record.... And playback....

[@MirMarksman]

You need to know what the rules are before you can break them

[@Soothingworship]

I live the 8:45 i literally want to listen a bass /gutar player pulling this in a live concert :)

[@mikebreaux2491]

One word..... Primus

[@brandonbrandon2822]

It doesn't always need to be the root note. Cliff Burton started his bass solo in in Orion on the seventh I believe.

[@commandolemon6340]

5:30 you can go to any other instrument, literally any other instrument. *Plays double bass*

[@4EverLearning757]

Great tips. Thanks for the video. Some of her no-go’s sounded good! But overall, great advice.

[@immatureradical]

Yeap, pretty much bad advice on this one, and more so because most are not completely false, but half-truths that create all kinds of misconceptions. Either you will be a beginner and spend years being distracted by such tips before you see the problems behind them, or you may have be just picking up the bass but already have a musical background and it will be immediately obvious how unhelpful they may be. I will elaborate: 1. Possibly the most problematic of the lot. There are tons of bass lines that are written on the assumption that they are playable because the root note lies on the open string, freeing yourself to fret other notes at a different part of the neck. A metal player would probably say "this is like telling me I cannot play the song". Also, this could stifle your creativity: James Jamerson would choose to play on the open string in every available occasion, even if that was mentally harder because his fingers were already in a position to fret the same note elsewhere. In jazzy settings, where you're playing walking bass and don't want to be repetitive, it's a great idea to use open strings as an anchor that provides you with free time to move your hand elsewhere. The worst thing with this tip though is that it is presented as a substitute for learning how to mute strings, which should definitely be one of the first things to practice, if not the very first. There are so many occasions where each note you play should be coordinated with muting the previous one, otherwise you might be playing the "right" notes, but getting a completely wrong vibe, whether you're hitting open strings or not. Other times you may need to fill spaces with ghost notes - even worse, you might have to play them on open strings. I don't see how thinking "I can't mute notes, so I'll just avoid hitting open strings" is going to help you improve. Quite the contrary. 2. As a general rule, this is the most correct one mentioned. It would have been more constructive if it said something like "if and when you decide to do a fill, it's imperative to make sure it matches to the beat of the song". It shouldn't sound like a haphazard set of notes thrown around to prove you can play flashy stuff. Or she could have said "do not throw fills all around a song, find the right place for this". For example, do it when the arrangement leaves open space for that. Her example of doing it wrong was a good one. Drummers need to pay much more attention to this one. 3. This is not completely wrong, but presented in a way that might limit you creativity again. Keeping it simple is a good principle and goes a long way, but great bass lines still tend to deviate from the principle of just following the root note all the time. So sometimes you may be searching for a "better" bass line, whether flashier, or less obvious. Problem is that the more notes you "add", the likelier it becomes to end up with something that sounds busy in a messy and distracting kind of way - yeap, even in funk you need a sense of what is excessive. What seems to work for me is rehearsing the song and playing all the busy stuff you can come up with in order to realize when it becomes excessive and then develop these into simpler, but inventive ideas. Take a busy, but solid line of yours, pick the non-essential notes, simply discard them and maybe use the remaining ones as an arpeggio that forms a creative and surprising bass line. It can carry the song further without making it sound like you're in a bass soloing project. 4. Too much conviction, again: Bassists do have the power to play a note and make it sound like the chord is in a different key. It would kill creativity though if you took it as a rule that you should not do this. Listen to the first bass line in Strawberry Fields Forever when the drums come in, to name only one case. More so, if you follow this tip and don't just stick to the root note on the first beat of a bar, but everywhere, it's almost as if your bass lines are on autopilot. Or if you're trying to play walking bass - even if not in a jazz setting - a frequent tip is the exact opposite: to save your lines from being repetitive and boring, try not to start with the root note in every chord change. Miraculously, it doesn't make it seem like you're playing in a wrong key. Her example of doing it wrong sounds bad mostly because it's not a well-thought-through deviation from the root notes. She could be going up in the chromatic minor scale alright, but playing the root note on the chord change, for example, bringing some life into that dreary backing track. Or she could decide the song needs some ambiguity and start with the fifth note and follow with others in the pentatonic scale, in which case, every next note would slowly clarify the key. It's all about creative choice. Not everyone plays bad renditions of generic pop and rock in their local bar to consider this an imperative. 5. Woah, wait. First tip was not to use open strings, now we have to avoid playing in the upper part of the neck as well? Yeap, there's a difference when playing the same notes higher up the neck. It's completely detrimental though to suggest not to play there instead of saying "you need to understand the difference and play where it seems more appropriate tone-wise". Playing higher up the neck sounds sweeter, less trebly and with looser bass, so it may be ideal in a really soft part of a song, for example. Then, she conflates the issue of playing in a higher octave. Yeah, having the same note in different octaves doesn't mean you have to play all of them, but implying that you should play only in the lowest register is absurd. "You don't want to drop the bass as a bass player" is a completely useless statement without context of what you want to achieve and what the rest of the band is doing. Deviations from this fictitious rule are countless, even in the most pop music out there, but let's suppose that your line happens to be the most melodic thing going on during that part of the song: most bassists would elect to bring this forward to the listener by playing it at a higher register than in the "money making zone". I guess a pretty good tip might be "don't follow tips that you only need to listen to a couple of your favorite songs to see how absurd they are".

[@rhondalyn100]

As a budding bass player I fully appreciate this video as it provides an elementary baseline for me to learn from. But, more so, I appreciate that you took the time and effort to refute different elements of Ms. Spiegelman's notions set forth in this vid. You provide a wonderful flourish from which to learn and I thank you for that. Rhonda

[@immatureradical]

@@rhondalyn100 Really glad to see that you found it somewhat helpful. I wish you all the fun in the world playing the music that you love.

[@rhondalyn100]

@@immatureradical Thanks. Trying to branch out from my ukulele. :-)

[@fuglbird]

Technically you have a point but most bands support the advice posted here. Otherwise they will let the keyboard play the baselines. They are tired of guitarists and bass players that only support their own egos and don't care about the songs.

[@immatureradical]

@@fuglbird I guess your comment mainly refers to my point regarding simplicity. I did concede that opting for simpler bass lines often goes a long way. But still, this involves not conflating "simpler" with permanently doing the obvious thing of looking at the base note and religiously sticking to it, as she suggests in this video, dismissing any unexpected choices regarding harmony. Her tips make it seem as if no creative choices should be made at all while playing the bass. Of course I did not delve into what the role of a bass player is in the context of the rhythm section, or the idea of locking in with the drummer, but obviously, answers regarding what degree of complexity is most appropriate lie mostly there and far less into blanket statements creating the impression that you should be playing as uncomplicated stuff as possible. Also, depending on your preferred genres or instrument of choice, there's a lot of bias regarding which players of which instruments support the song and which are all about their egos. You're talking as if you've never heard of a keyboard player overplaying everyone else to sleep. Cheers.

[@osmincamero7706]

Thanks for the video and tips. Being a new bass player these tips are helping tremendously with overcoming some of the beginning concerns. I like the idea of muting the open strings by simply using the fretted variations. I know there may be specific occasions for open string but in general I see how just using the fret can make it easier to keep the sustain down while also muting the fretted string as well. Also, keeping the rhythm instead of going crazy with the fills helps to keep the feeling of the groove while playing lower on the neck does give it a deeper feel. All good tips. I can see that some comments on this video have been less than ideal with others expressing their opinion on creativity but I think many missed the point of what you where attempting to explain. I appreciate that you took time to record and share a video in order to help us get better and for beginners to have a grasp of a good foundation rather than learning through bad habits and experience. Thank you and you have an AWESOME day!!

[@alwaystinkering7710]

I agree with your philosophy. Simple bass isn't boring, it's the foundation of the song. That doesn't mean just plucking the root note, but the bassist has a job: you're the rock that holds it all together. It might not be flashy, but that's it. Also keep it low! Up an octave is the 6 string's land, you don't stand out there. Nobody else can play in that octave under that guitar, that's your land. Own it!

[@vetryder]

Thank you! I’m not a pro nor have I had any training by one. In fact I’m mostly self taught and can’t read a note of music. I play by ear, memory, heart and feel. But I’ve been a firm believer in #5 for decades. My view on playing bass is that I’m a bass player so I should spend 99% of my time where the tones are low. That’s where the real meat of the music is to my ears. So the first 5 frets are where I live so to speak. I call it living in the “bass-ment”. I just make the foundation of low end groove and leave the excess noodling and showing off to guitars. You just got a new subscriber 👍🤘

[@joslinnick]

As a piano player, #4 is VERY important. In jazz, the piano player often uses rootless voicings. This means that when there is, say, a C major 7 chord on the chord sheet, the piano player actually plays an E minor 7 chord and allows the bass player to pick up the low C note. This turns the C major 7 into a C major 9 chord, giving it a jazzier feel. If the bass player screws around and doesn't play the root note, the band isn't even playing true to the chord sheet anymore.

[@oilslick7010]

But all music isn't jazz...... So stating this a a generic 'law' is bad advice. If you're in a three-piece powertrio, doing something other than chugging root notes is needed to make the composition and sound of your songs interesting. In that case, the bass player can create an inversion on his own as a set up to the next chord in the progression. Better advice would have been to learn WHEN to do this or not and to hold back unless you know it has a desired effect. Your example being a situation where sticking to the root note is essential for the whole band to sound good

[@joslinnick]

@@oilslick7010 The advice still holds for other types of music. No one said that the bass player only should chug root notes, just that they really need to play the root note on the first beat of the chord change.

[@oilslick7010]

@@joslinnick No they don't.... kzbin.info/www/bejne/b4fLnWh-d7hrhMU Rick Beato shows this very clearly. Starting at 1:26 He's playing the 3rd and 5th through the entire bar and it sounds great. Then coming back to the root at the end of the progression creates a powerful resolution. This is something the Bass player can and should do in power trio's or four-piece bands. This is even more fundamental than some frivolous fill at the end of a bar. If anything, I would sooner advise bass players to skip fills altogether in favour of looking to add more to the harmony side of things... 'Tips' like these don't educate, they merely deny any sort of overall musicianship to the bass player: "Creating and arranging music is for other instrumentalists son, you're just here to provide audible wallpaper. Now go sit in your corner"

[@joslinnick]

@@oilslick7010 this only works because Rick is already playing the chord on guitar. If Rick was soloing through a chord change, would it really be wise for the bass player to be playing thirds and fifths?

[@oilslick7010]

@@joslinnick No of course not, but Yonit doesn't mention solo's specifically, she says to never EVER play anything other than root notes Yes, Rick plays a regular chord progression. This is a pretty common phenomenon in various musical styles and during the writing and arranging of songs like these using 3rds and 5ths is a great way to make it interesting and to create inversions in conjunction with the rhythm-guitar player or a keyboard player. Yonit's own demonstration even proves it, because her inversions immediately add tension to an otherwise tepid progression. It only goes 'wrong' when she deliberately plays notes out of the triad and starts noodling excessively.

[@joeysocks5718]

Good info - I use a mute wrap for songs with open strings.

[@user-zl5zn7of9p]

Thank You!

[@FreshBagelz]

"never play open strings, I'll show you why..." ...doesn't mute the notes 🤦🏻‍♂️

[@venusmantrap6238]

riGHT ??!

[@antianti328]

That's the point

[@brubeck1]

title - be dont do these things and you'll be a better bass player lol.

[@sticklyboi]

@@antianti328 what are you talking about she says "dont use open strings" and goes out of her way to avoid muting them, even people who have never touched an instrument before figure that out after a few seconds

[@EmJeRo14]

You do realize that not muting is a very very common mistake among beginners, right??? Not everyone starts out as an expert like you

[@scottcrowley3509]

Stanley Clark has a lot to learn.

[@ultimatefab]

:-)

[@sandrabecht4489]

😃👍🇩🇪

[@baroque9983]

Brand new base player here. I can't emphasize how down to earth and straight your points and teaching style are. Thank you so much!

[@VincyMan912yt]

thanl you i learned soo much

[@BASSMANN2007]

Open strings are OK, just need muting when going to tne next position

[@gabrieldamian9074]

@Zarozapa CnJ but if you want to be a better bass player you can not avoid to do something just because is less easy

[@maniradrianaslam3881]

She’s awesome and totally right with everything she said.

[@mayuriwalker1512]

Thanks!

[@joeyhandeland983]

Wow. That was so informative. ❤

[@TH-bk5hj]

Geezer Butler played most of his notes above the seventh fret. While Tony Iommi player the lower notes on guitar. It worked quite well for Black Sabbath

[@dannymain542]

Yeah and it's essential for a guitarist and a bass player to lock in to be able to play while giving each other room

[@bgrushbr]

Geezer would thank her for the video . But if you are apart a band sold over 20 million ablum's your doing some fucking thing right

[@jonathanhardy9142]

He sure stayed below the 7th fret for 'Symptom of the Universe' one of the heaviest riffs around.

[@RyanWright]

I kind of disagree with #1. Open strings have their place, and can be used for great effect. You can control that sustain, it just takes a certain type of technique. I use them fairly often, but I would agree that they should only be used with care, and if you can control the sustain and ringing.

[@johnathansaenz672]

might be different styles, and preferences. i was tripping over it too

[@RyanWright]

@@johnathansaenz672 totally preference... Presented as fact, so I had to disagree... Lol

[@gummybearvitamins1211]

Agree also tip number 3 was valid but what she said not to do sounded way better lol

[@maidenrulz73]

I disagree with all of them

[@timhenderson6473]

Pearl jam alot of open strings.you listen and u can hear them.brighter sound but they gotta be tempered.

[@diddd4970]

thank you for the tips

[@CairoQuinn]

fantastic advice

[@jackfisher9833]

Good tips.. Im a guitarist, but from time to time i pick a bass if I need to make a recording and sound like a whole band. I dont know much about bass scales and stuff so I try to keep it simple and i use what i learned on my guitar. I try to stay to the rhythm and as much the same tones the guitar is played in. I dont do bass solos tho i know one guy who learned bass like a pro in TURBO time and played in a 3 man band. They played funk. The music without that bass was nothing. He did allot of fills and he was given time to solo too. I guess that was the right type of music for the guy. It sounded so funky.

[@flaviotp]

You are a guitarist, thats it.

[@Evillevivile]

Actually, the "Do not do this at the gig" parts she did was awesome!

[@forresthancock1939]

Wrong, but awesome. LOL

[@roysandoval8230]

I like what I see and hear you’re a great artist teacher 🧑‍🏫 ❤❤❤

[@ZAKARFIX26]

Indeed!

[@russellburnham298]

That’s some nice bassface going on there.

[@rosalieabalos1762]

Sir Blue Footed Booby Thatssome nice bass face

[@ElKilller]

Peter Hook hates 5th Tip

[@joannebeauchamp1169]

EXCELLENT LESSON!!!

[@julien830]

This video is not about "How to become Geddy, Flea or any other genius playing in his own band". It's about getting gigs and not being fired if you just want to work as a simple bass player. And it's a good video.

[@Powwer69]

And the white knight has entered the chat

[@thatoneguy611]

@@Powwer69 what the hell does that have to do with it? He’s saying this because there are tons of comments complaining about how “these aren’t good tips”

[@21moopster]

I love this ... and you are AWESOME! Great tips! You made great points in ... keep it "simple" & less is more.

[@pmh1nic]

Thank you!

[@mr.t382]

Awesome!! 🙏❤️🙏

[@CarlDoesMusic]

that's my favorite bassist cuz she/he keeps it simple... "said no one ever"

[@fletchabars8229]

You can play with open strings just mute them when you’re done 😂 it’s called don’t be dumb

[@ttv_mister_vic467]

Exactly!

[@kimbaptempura4073]

@@ttv_mister_vic467 Seriously anyone who picks up a bass for the first time and spends 5 minutes fucking with it will learn this...not a tip, just common sense...you should always ask yourself, does it sound good? If it does then go with it, if it sounds like shit, or not where you like it, of course change it.

[@EmJeRo14]

@@kimbaptempura4073 well not everyone is a genius like you. Go find someone who has never touched an intrument. Give them a bass and tell them to mess with it for 5 minutes. 90% of the time THEY WILL NOT FIGURE IT OUT. Edit: That's like saying singing in tune is common sense and everyone should know it but we all know not everyone does.

[@randallduncan5640]

Thank you

[@0711RC]

Love it! Thanks from AZ

[@ubellubo]

Thanks, good tip about not playing open strings. I was confused about this. I just started learning and I have two tabs for When I Come Around by Green Day. One has open strings in the tab, but the other tab version shows the same notes as fretted. I wasn't sure which one would be best (but I started learning the tab version any way because its a Guitar Pro file as opposed to Ultimate Guitar Tabs.

[@smith97320]

Last time you heard a bass solo in Rock? Orion has an amazing bass solo. Don't limit yourself.

[@SeanRyan14]

She's awesome!

[@TheSonnylily]

Thanks thanks for the most valuable tips, Cheers!!!!!

[@pskemster]

Thank you for the tip,,,s lol What brand of Bass is that U are playing. I love the p/j set up and the astetciics look easy to fret! Thankxx and a big Cheers to you!

[@northernbrother1258]

Tip #5...see, I prefer to stay on the E and A strings primarily because I think it sounds fuller and more consistent, e.g. I'll play the E on the A string rather than on the D string.

[@lawrencetagliareni4893]

Thank you.

[@barnabywilde374]

i, for one, find it a relief to know that simple is better. that's right up my alley.

[@whiptech]

Thanks for all of the tips for becoming an average house bassist. *

[@RideAcrossTheRiver]

The world doesn't need any more lead bassists

[@DoggyEffect]

@@RideAcrossTheRiver I respectfully disagree.

[@RideAcrossTheRiver]

@@DoggyEffect I mean in bands trying to do actual songs with melody and a singer.

[@indigoking6618]

Hi funny people, where did she say for pro, Paul from Beatles was amazingly gifted and Professional. This girl is right on! The only thing she might of said which is obvious by the music played, it was not jazz or Fushion it was middle of road playing tips and Root note with most runs under B on E string and across and down, yes the money area of the bass.This Video is obviously for people who want Gigs that pay. And not play like Jaco at day at jam! and kitchenhand at night.

[@indigoking6618]

@@derpmancini4269 How so, I know so many musicians who say I have sold out because they would rather wash dishes than play covers, at home I play what I want but for a Gig I will play what the band want. It's like having a problem with the singer(not hard) but they rule the show. So I shut up or leave. Besides she's right and got way too much negativity for saying what she has found in keeping a job, I found the same.

[@haenzdenk8848]

Thank you again 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻 this is the most valuable tips ever 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻

[@jeromewilliams6317]

Great tips! Thanks!

[@LessonFace]

Live online bass lessons at Lessonface: Lessonface.com/BassLessons

[@n_y_o_o_m]

*Davie504 has entered the chat*

[@frankvozak7280]

I really enjoy how you are creating a theory of bass playing that provides a roadmap for all of we bass players are trying to have a theory for what we do as bassists

[@sticklyboi]

id rather not

[@vetryder]

braeden F uh oh! Did he bring his “slap” hand? Lol

[@kckillakrack9714]

Play everyday. Dedicate at least 1-3 hours just like working out to playing everyday. Focus on learning chords and scales. Focus on keeping your hands relaxed. Guarantee you will be better it bass. Ive played for 25 years I'm 41 never had lessons its not hard but you literally have yo do it everyday like anything if you want to learn it

[@LessonFace]

Note from Yonit: Hey everyone! Thanks for watching the video :) Just wanted to make a few clarifications! * This video is for beginner / intermediate bass players * Obviously, there’s exception to all my tips (which are not rules!) but these tips should help you when playing with your band. Of course you can play open strings if you can mute them (which is a difficult technique to master if you’re a beginner), of course you can play fills that are well practiced, on time, from the bottom to the very top of your neck and so on. * Always play the root - in the beginning of the bar - you can obviously play any chord tone / mode tone you want after. But not straight at the top. We establish the root and then venture out. Of course you can play inversions but that changes the chord, and you probably should make that decision with your band-members. * I may have said ‘never’ and ‘always’ but this is really me just trying to make a point, don’t take it too literally fellas * This can be applied in many genres, but mostly for mainstream genres such as pop, folk, rock, funk etc. Yes, if you’re playing a progressive-jazz-fusion-hardcore-metal song this might not be the video for you. * Here’s a 6 tip for the brave ones who read all of this - make music to be happier and have fun with other human beings. That’s the point of everything, including this video ;) Peace, love and many low frequencies, Yonit

[@thewomble1509]

Hi Yonit. Thanks for reading and responding to the comments your vid has prompted. I appreciate your clarification, it shows you genuinely value feedback and respect the other bassists who took time to comment. Apologies for "jumping the gun", you know what bass players can be like!

[@joshoptical]

Lessonface it’s sad so many people can’t just think a little and realize who the intended audience of the video is. Your video was very clear from the beginning but hopefully those hell bent on arguing will get some clarification here. Great work. Thanks.

[@lucasnunes3473]

Omg i love so much your video, thanks, this will really help me. Kisses from Brasil ;)

[@hellizeo]

i may have said never and always...i also may have meant would instead of wouldn't

[@joshoptical]

Elieser Cedano exactly. The bottom line is that people either are determined to understand or determined to misunderstand.

[@therealdoug1000]

It may sound cliché but less is definitely more. Excellent tips!

[@bobbycardona1255]

You're the best Yonit!!!

[@vinisasso]

Solid advice for beginners. Many people consider themselves advanced but lack in the fundamentals, so I appreciate her tips. It's always good to be reminded of the fundamentals of bass playing. Sure, once you have the foundations end to end you can start find your expression by breaking the rules, but no great bass player has ever advanced without learning the fundamentals first.

[@dlovas]

Redding, Simonon, Cupin, Hook, Weymouth, Gordon, James, Pege and many other innovative players would strongly disagree 😉Some people might benefit from gaining a scholastic foundation first, but it's just as likely holding back creative vision.

[@DaveTex2375]

Did people miss the part about this being tips for beginners & intermediate players? Get the solid fundamentals down first, then you can play with the boundaries. Also, she referenced gigs, where you can lose your job for jacking around when you get a wild hair. Also, these are tips, not hard rules.