Bass Musician Magazine - MarkBass Presents Jeff Berlins Bass Lesson at NAMM 2011

MarkBass Presents Jeff Berlin teaching a Lesson at NAMM 2011
Brought to You by: Bass Musician Magazine, the Face of Bass
🔥 VISIT ▶︎ bassmusicianmagazine.com
🔥 SUBSCRIBE for FREE ▶︎ fave.co/2Q4MjCO
🔥 SUBSCRIBE to KZbin ▶︎ / bassmusicianmagazine
🔥 SUBSCRIBE to FACEBOOK ▶︎ / bassmusicianmag
🔥 SUBSCRIBE to INSTAGRAM ▶︎ / bassmusicianmag
🔥 SUBSCRIBE to TWITTER ▶︎ / bassmusicianmag
🔥 SUBSCRIBE to PINTEREST ▶︎ / bassmusicianmag
@bassmusicianmag
#bassmusicianmag

[@Things606]

Real talk here, best lesson ever. Glad I started learing music theory, my playing has improved so much more

[@holdencaustic]

Jeff Illuminates a very simple set of facts-- demonstrates his point perfectly-- the world of academia needs more attitudes like his

[@csgrinds]

This guy is a legend.

[@sebajo82]

this is the sound into my head after seen this video: BOOOOOOM!!!

[@Shanannigan1]

I like when you see Alain walking up to come see Jeff speak.

[@BassMusicianMagazine]

If nothing else this video has motivated some discussion... even two years after it was taken. Always good to get different points of view!

[@tornmask1]

thank u for ur response, cheers!

[@aliensporebomb]

Wish the video hadn't cut off. Jeff is clearly passionnate about this subject and it would have been neat if we saw what happened with the guy who walked up out of the audience!

[@jazznpraise]

thanks for the wonderful information and doing something different. I just wished the video didn't cut off at the point. I'm subscribed fan of your, sir. chris

[@sm26801]

Jeff Berlin is the bassist Jaco spoke very highly of! He is simply demonstrating in his approach,that if you want to Play, Learn the Language (musical language,basics,theory,groove etc etc). When you learned how to Speak,you learned your language! To learn how to speak and write better,you had to learn More of this language and grammar etc! Same thing with music!!!

[@lclaughton]

I think you are spot on. I saw him in a little group clinic at a music store some years back. He is a bit stuffy but, after all he is Jeff Berlin. He has some good points to share and I valued that and it was fun meeting him in a very brief up front personal kind of way. This video was a maze of confusion as he was presenting too much detail with far too much hand gestures and loosing peoples attention span which is very limited at best in a circus kind of environment.

[@tornmask1]

shhhhhn ppl, the master bass player Mr. Jeff Berlin is trying to teach, cheers! x0]

[@chrisguerre2012]

I find many people who somehow misinterpret Jeff's message. Usually, it is because they feel it's a personal attack on themselves. Very common, as is your retort. What "he's basically saying" is... If you want to work in music, learn music. Why is this so hard to grasp? It's great advice from a man who's been in the biz for 30+ years. With music.. learning music is the difference between knowledge in music and wisdom in music. Elitist? No... a wise man who cares deeply for music education.

[@Alenko.2020]

wow

[@VoyagerAlex]

Anyone else notice Alain Caron hanging out in the background? :)

[@pleximanic]

When playing music it's the from the soul to the mind through heart connection that is the key, the stronger these connections are the more powerful the expression of the music will be! If you want to be really free rhythmically harmonically and melodically study Jazz is extremly good, its the shit! Who would not want to be musically free "nobody really want to have human jukeboxes ,right?

[@catalin8818]

very interesting stuff... :)

[@BassMusicianMagazine]

Catalin V Glad you found this video interesting,,, Jeff has a unique perspective!

[@RacManRhythm]

I have watched this clip a good few times, to absorb more of what Jeff has said here, I don't find it attack on me/myself, but it is a very Elitist view of non-schooled musicians that thay can't hack it, I have played in many bands & sessions with both schooled & non schooled players and found it to be a very equal playing field in terms playing ability & communication, it's not all about learning, ie music school/college, a good chunk is having feel & natural stance with fellow players......

[@big58jazz]

Even with the Bruford stuff thrown in . . . he still has that classical music approach to his playing that I don't find as appealing as say Jamerson, or even dare I say Flea. I don't know if it's note choice or feel or whatever. Having said that, I own every things he's ever played on, including some out of print lp's. Jeff IS one one of the most technically proficient bassists out there and has been for a LOOONG time. He's one of those guys that drives other people to be better players. Primo.

[@JohnFHebert]

@cciemail i think what he's trying to get at is that rhythm is internal and natural so you if you have it, its a waste on time to practice?...but ya know like i said i never use a metronome cause playing bass to me is about locking in with a drummer, so after Ive learned the music i turn on my Roland.

[@bassguyification]

I think you just made Mr. Berlins point you just noted that you would not learn the blues because it doesn't do it for you but you then said you would interject it into your playing,the blues is where it all comes from regarding cultural western music.

[@HomePersonalSecurity]

@big58jazz >> rather mechanical and lacked soul . . . Jeff has got a great groove, and of course his soloing is great. Take a listen to his playing on the first 3 Bill Bruford solos albums. That is when I became a fan. I only like a handful of his solo stuff.

[@HomePersonalSecurity]

@CoachG1000 It's not about "getting him". You stated your purpose of playing : tittie and beer. Nothing wrong with that. Most (if not all) guys start playing because of that. But if you are a fan of music, especially bass, then you would appreciate Jeff. I mostly listen to rock and only like a handful of fusion/jazz/rock etc. click on the Image on the right (the red bass) "Jeff Berlin - Joe Frazier Solo, Bill Bruford" that is me playing one of his very difficult solos

[@sm26801]

If you wanted to be a successful writer,you would find it hard learning from someone who only knew some of that language and who only knew slang! If you want to learn to play music,the Same thing! You will find it harder to reach your goal of a versatile musician if you only learned from eg a self taught heavy metal bassist! It would be easier for you to progress if you found a teacher with more academic background! And to study this seriously! Jeff is so Right!

[@TedTalksBass]

4:45 -4:50....wow. Truth smacks them straight in the face

[@SuperMegaR]

it wasn't until the video stopped that i realized how noisy it was -_-

[@JohnFHebert]

@cciemail I agree only because...once I know the content of what I want/need to play...i use DRUMS...but the metronome itself never.

[@tornmask1]

what if someone has been playing for such a long time & doesn't read music sheets or can't find a note on the bass when asked, but can play blues, jazz, funk, rock, latin & even gospel basslines without any problems & can also find a key to a song by listening even if the song changes keys from high to low transitions & can also keep perfect timing while playing & can play drums as well, can you say that musician is gifted? thx to anyone who can respond to this questionable thought, cheers! ':O]

[@JohnFHebert]

@GaryNull Hey are you Gary Null the fitness guru?

[@cciemail]

@JohnFHebert whatever works. with a metronome or a drum machine, it's just practicing rhythm. Lennie Tristano used a metronome to teach, and it's prettty hard to argue with his teaching methods. peace out.

[@sm26801]

Its also True that Some manage to be Great musicians just learning their prefered style by themselves! There are Many examples of that! But,its Harder,usually takes longer time,and it Could be very difficult for that person to function Outside of that particular field! What if you could only read letters ABCDEFG,but really well? Not the rest of the alphabet! Then you would only be able to funcion,to read whenever only those letters where used!

[@gilnicbobby]

not necessarily ,i would say that person learned to play without learning to read,or express the terminology. He or she concentrated on the sound,physical mechanics,and the aural thought process. He may not be able to express it in words or written text,but can understand and demonstrate it on the instrument. I have met many persons musically,mechanically,art,dance,athletics,ect. who didnt attend formal school ,but were highly developed in their field ; and work ethic played a part in it.

[@indigorob]

he has forgotten more than you will ever know

[@roman14032]

he is simply saying that if you want to work as a professional musician you should know your buisness, and pointing out the fact that most actually dont that is a painfull realisation to come too the good news is music isnt actuall that complicated and remeding the situation is not only possible its realtivly strait forward

[@hero2d0s]

If you want to attend a Jeff clinic.It should be required that you pass a test on music knowledge.The man is a genius and he looks so bad at this clinic attempting to pass on his wisdom to simpleminded by standers.

[@cciemail]

@JohnFHebert yeah, if you have real drum tracks, that's even better. or ProTools. I'm not sure the point Jeff Berlin was trying to make, but I really don't see the problem with doing some practice with a metronome. At some point you've gotta practice your rhythm. I've seen guys that can play great riffs by themself, but when they try to play with a band they're totally off beat and they get lost.

[@squeegeebrown]

Read it more closely - I actually don't say I will assimilate blues into my playing. I say I will assimilate those styles that move me. :-)

[@Shanannigan1]

@CoachG1000 Perhaps that's your issue than. This lesson certainly isn't geared towards those who see music as a way to get ass.

[@basspluto]

who can play blues? Alain caron raised his hand! lol

[@SotR59]

I have a ton respect for Jeff and understand his point, having formal music training myself. But though not knowing what you're doing is certainly limiting, that does not discount an untrained musician's ability to creat "art". As one poster noted, "so that means Paul McCartney will never be a good musician". Rock & Roll was never meant to be intellectual, it is all about a feeling.

[@squeegeebrown]

And just to be clear - I am not trying to start an argument here.

[@prohibitedbeatz]

this guy could get the same point across with half the words... Plus he's going a million miles a minute -____-

[@big58jazz]

I appreciate his technical abilities but I've never been moved by his music.Always thought it was rather mechanical and lacked soul . . . but he's makin' his living in music, has a hot wife and knows his stuff, so who am I to criticize.

[@RacManRhythm]

....... I myself was self taught but went to music college, music to me and many others is all about enjoying it, listening & playing, Jeff here seems to have too much of a too serious approach, yes he's passionate but it comes over has being one sided from a player that is so gifted it is not good and will put people off wanting to pick up an instrument.

[@chawk610]

He has forgotten more about the bass than I ever knew!!!!

[@NelsonMontana1234]

I love Jeff and love his playing but at times I feel he talks down to his audience. No, you don't need schooling to rock, just as you don't need schooling to swing. He rejects practice but does recommend practicing certain things. He rejects using a metronome yet praises Jeff Gotlieb who stresses the use of a metronome. I just wish Jeff would do what he does so well instead of trying to make these points and trying to prove how everyone is doing everything incorrectly.

[@RacManRhythm]

One word here comes to mind, Elitist, Jeff is an incredible bass player but alot of his views here are very narrow minded, he's basically saying a non-schooled musician really can't be a good musician, which is total crap, people can have a natural feel for music, a thing that no music of any instrument teacher can teach, is that saying, You either have it or you don't.

[@Umano86]

WTF! You stop the video in the clue part!!!

[@Shanannigan1]

@CoachG1000 That's not at all what he conveyed here. Perhaps watch again and listen to his words? I don't know how you came away with that interpretation.

[@squeegeebrown]

I really do agree with some things he says but... Not all of us FEEL these musical styles he is insisting we must learn in order to be a REAL palyer. I am not going to learn the blues etc. just to add to my repertoire when it doesn't touch my heart. I will assimilate into my playing the styles and rhythms and such that move me, but I will run them through my filter of subjectivity and come out the other side as an INDIVIDUAL.Jeff Berlin - you have much to offer but I think you miss the mark here

[@cciemail]

I disagree. I think metronomes are okay to use if you're just trying to get the rhythm of something you're playing. I mean, learn the scale or whatever first, then use the metronome.

[@jaydriscoll345]

I got sick of playing root notes and being stuck in the key of E.

[@BROOKS39]

Gee he rambles on a bit...

[@RacManRhythm]

The narrow mindedness is way he comments on non schooled players, you don't need to be a total academic within music to be a good musician or player, it's all about enjoying the music and the instrument you play, I know he's been a great pro for years and makes his living through music but his explanation on his thinking here is too serious and could put off some students rather than inspire them.

[@wxb200]

I know what he was speaking was English, but Jeff seemed "gacked outta his mind!" That had to be the most narrow-minded view of music, ever... Sorta like discussing politics while drunk at a bar.

[@epa44]

thats why paul mccartney will never be a good musician