Bass Pedal Tricks With Michael League of Snarky Puppy | Reverb Interview

[@lillip9770]

"The bassplayer for Snarky Puppy“. So humble. He could easily say "the head of Snarky Puppy“, "the composer for Snarky Puppy“, "the genius behind Snarky Puppy“

[@nuberiffic]

Or it's more that it's arrogant to say those things? Because the other people in the band also contribute? He's not being humble; he's being accurate.

[@zacharymorin5696]

nuberiffic Well he is the leader and main composer for the group, so it would be accurate to say those things

[@nuberiffic]

@@zacharymorin5696 You've never been in a band have you?

[@zacharymorin5696]

nuberiffic I most certainly have. I don’t remember saying that he’s the only person in Snarky Puppy. But it’s literal fact that he is the head and main composer of the band

[@nuberiffic]

@@zacharymorin5696 Ah, I know which member of the band you were then

[@arghyadeepmitra3615]

If anyone is curious, the bit where he plucks exactly an octave above the note? Plucking at that point cancels out the octave harmonic, as a result you're hearing a lot more fundamental. Since we hear very little fundamental on any physical instrument, and instead usually hear mostly harmonics and overtones, usually 2nd harmonic and up (integer multiples of the 1st harmonic, to be precise), ie starting from that octave harmonic, cancelling out the octave harmonic does sound like going an octave below (since the fundamental literally is an octave below). If anyone wants to read more about this, get a hold of the book "The Science of Stringed Instruments" by Mark French.

[@loztprofet]

Arghyadeep Mitra interesting thank you

[@Munch-g7s]

Arghyadeep Mitra I don't know any of this but will check out the book thankyou

[@Eugensson]

I have noticed that when i recorded all the harmonics possible on a single open string (without the fundamental) and layered them together. The sound I got was just a sound of normal string pluck. I was surprised!

[@Eugensson]

@Dave Wallace yep, pretty much this. But also the isolated harmonics usually sound thin and trebly, so having the deep lows when you layer them was something unexpected.

[@AllanFelipe]

I can't find this book, would it be 'Technology of the Guitar" or "Engineering the Guitar" by Richard Mark French ?

[@christophertompkins7216]

Michael League is one of the most talent bass players I have EVER seen. He's on a whole new level.

[@JamesRussoMillas]

Yeah dude, he is a massive player. The whole band is on another level.

[@0oTHEJACKo0]

yeah way out of league

[@0oTHEJACKo0]

that's why he looks like Thomas Müller

[@0oTHEJACKo0]

that's why he looks like Thomas Müller

[@randyducasse9075]

He does look Thomas Müller

[@MangoldProject]

Isn't it funny how a keyboard player is watching a video and trying to learn stuff from a bass player who learned from keyboard players?

[@RedSquaredFox]

MangoldProject do you even have a tie with keys on it

[@MangoldProject]

I do but I can't show it to you.

[@RedSquaredFox]

MangoldProject good you can slang keys without the proper tie

[@xerospacious4024]

Hpv pro, I concur, the pianokey neck tie is indeed op pls nerf.

[@ignatiushegelvoss6881]

MangoldProject and now i, a bassist, am learning from you learning from michael league learning from keyboardists who originally probably learned their keybass chops from earlier bassists

[@AD2adam]

1:05 - MXR Bass Octave Deluxe 1:54 - EarthQuakerDevices Spatial Delivery 3:01 - BOSS Super Octave OC-3 4:34 - MXR Carbon Copy Analog Delay 5:35 - moog MF Drive 6:50 - EarthQuakerDevices Fuzz Master General

[@ffbunte796]

7:48 - F*cking punch the bass

[@SeanMcCannMusic]

Around 2:12 when he goes for the tone knob. So fluid. What a pro!

[@kdt85]

Sean McCann shit I must have blinked and missed that bit cheers :)

[@nj5374]

I recognise the line at this point but I can't put my finger on it! What is it??

[@butterdrool991]

do that stuff - pfunk

[@ReasonableRam]

Notice how he hammered on the E on the A string to make up for it since he wasn't going to make it back to pluck in time. He is insanely good.

[@dariusxxo]

Sean McCann | it has 212 likes now too

[@rdxj]

The Boss Octave demo is so great. "You feel like you're making more money." Love it!!

[@gasolineandwine]

Absolutely love his enthusiasm, and he remembers that you play music, but you also "play" with music. Amazing.

[@keithdoeskungfu]

That "club" bass line at 3:07 slaps though 😂... Just loop that and add drums and vocals

[@redlight1696]

You can tell that he really, really loves doing what he's doing. His excitement is so up there! Respect!

[@juanchioooo]

The fretboard sub octave thing is SOOO cool i just tried it!

[@stephenstrings]

yes the natural anti-node picking position is good. But remember it is not a sub octave that is happening , just more fundamental in the tone. A bass guitar has little fundamental when plucked at the usual position . Mostly 2nd harmonic

[@matheoquevedo7748]

how you do it?

[@janneboman8573]

I also discovered something, you can play stuff on the A string and get a kind of 5th harmonic with the E string: pluck the C on A string and drop your plucking finger on the high G on the E string with a kind of hammer-on, sounds interesting.

[@findus8269]

Damn, must be really fun to be that good.

[@jacobmwav]

findus I wouldn’t know

[@shadowstealer5]

@@jacobmwav yep

[@emmywillow6599]

If you practice enough you can get there

[@bak1386]

@@emmywillow6599 exactly, u gotta put that work in. Not saying I'm as good as Michael League, but I'm on the way

[@avalerionbass]

Yep. It is.

[@humbermg]

You can see the joy he has for music. So awesome and inspiring!

[@trevorhall9204]

I love running into this video! I jump straight to it every time: DUDE. RIPS. & he's having so much FUN! The feeling permeates straight to my face. Cheers!

[@zooskerdoo]

Not satisfying in a melodic way... *proceeds to satisfy in a melodic way

[@me_angelo]

Without the effect man... Without the effect.

[@Mezziah777]

@@me_angelo My P bass sustains beautifully all the time, but I guess it´s a bit harder with the flatwound strings he´s clearly using here.

[@WizardOfArc]

He played Hendrix even

[@itspaddyd]

i know exactly what he means though, holding a note and just letting it sustain on a bass isnt as cool as with a guitar

[@damanisouza859]

@@me_angelo opa um BR

[@crazyjoe1540]

How to hendrix a bass

[@mustafaalpcigman4110]

I wish all pedal reviews were like this

[@samgort]

That response to the harmonics was just hilarious 😂

[@zachpfeif]

My FAVORITE bass player and a really cool guy!

[@zachwilsonmusic1986]

I love his excitement after hitting those harmonics, things like that show passion for what youre doing. lol

[@javiceres]

This person is a gift to the world

[@czgibson3086]

One of the best musicians in the world today.

[@JesusisJesus]

From 4:40 to 5:30 is some of sickest shit i've ever heard come out of a bass. Awesome. When you think it can't get better than that, you realise your at the 7 minute mark and you are not even in this guys dimension, let alone league. WOW!

[@jamesstonehouse3448]

Jesus in that case you should take a listen to the people who inspired him, like Bootsy Collins.

[@seanm.9942]

I thought he sounded a lot like Jaco Pastorius then

[@williambristow7891]

No even in his (micheal) league

[@julienz2024]

If you want to hear him play these styles all in one song, listen to the song "The Good Things" from Bill Laurance from his live album "Live at Union Chapel". Bill Laurance is the pianist in Snarky Puppy, so it made plenty of sense to have the great Michael League as his bassist. The bass intro is great, but the bass solo gives you goosebumps. Listen to whole live album actually, it's so worth it!

[@beckerzineo]

Haven't heard of Thundercat I see, Jesus

[@thebassrogue]

I really changed as a bassist because of Michael's influence... Before i was obsessed with applying techniques and making things so people would pay attention to me, now i play more to myself and i love my tone and music a lot more

[@gbass23patton12]

My favorite Bass player/composer and ultra cool dude!

[@wastagwaga]

He sounded like Cliff at the end :)

[@benfleming6936]

Exactly what i thought!

[@guilherme832]

Me too xD

[@cjbrewer3843]

When he's messing around with the harmonics it does give an Anesthesia (outro?) Vibe lol

[@maxjbg]

I re-watch this video from time to time just to hear him play!

[@rdxj]

Michael League is the best. I've been following his work for years now. When you're that good you're even allowed to make up your own words! "Bassistic" 6:33

[@MadastheHatter13]

Hello Michael League of Snarky Puppy; Are you sure you're not Matt Stone of South Park?

[@rainbowslushy223]

i know right!

[@FreddyHernandezbass]

Not gonna lie I’m getting every pedal here now. Already had the MXR Octave and loved it for years, but the MOOG MF Drive is seriously one of the most versatile pedals I’ve ever played. I love this so much, it’s like pedal gear talk but with musicality in mind.

[@NorthTexasEagle1989]

First time I've heard this guy, love his energy and talent. Could see him interviewing musicians on a show.

[@hottaco11]

Matt Stone is a really wicked bass player here. Who knew

[@HLinc.]

hottaco11 damn, you beat me to it 😂🤘🏼

[@Generalbas1972]

He is such an underrated bassplayer, but hes up there with some of the best.

[@amrsharafeldin9413]

Ohhh God !! That was so inspiring & amazing ! Can we see an episode with Michael League for Bass Amplification ?? It would be awesome

[@waTcherKai]

"You feel like you re making more money!" I laughed so hard to this. Best 8 minutes invested ever!

[@jorgepeterbarton]

you dont get a suboctave picking an octave over. It just cancels out other harmonics making a more sinusoidal tone....that's just the natural fundamental..its cool though, sounds like electric piano.

[@McDoinky]

That sub octave trick works and it’s really really cool

[@MixingGBP]

@3:36 I've been playing bass for 25 years and did not know this. I just tried it. It's a really cool sound and I'll put it in my bag of tools! Nice! Thanks!

[@konstantinsheptukhin6675]

Such an awesome human being!

[@allenlark]

he brought the STANK at the end, there. I've never heard that from him. 0o0

[@dogmart]

That harmonics bit at the end was hilarious. "Harmonics normally sound like this. Not today!" :)

[@coldwar1977]

Holy lord, this guy is good!!

[@edjefferson9175]

Pino on “Tear Your Playhouse Down” octave pedal caught my attention right away. Never warmed up to fuzz bass. Don’t know why but I tried. And I like reverb on solo fretless up high.

[@programmedwrong3795]

That OC3 is THE SOUND! I almost started rapping. Great video!!!!

[@ElijahRock92]

Those 2 fuzz pedals together at the end reminded me of Larry Graham's song "Earthquake".

[@drphalanges1520]

He's so goddamn cool. As bassists, he and I couldn't be more opposite, but I just love watching him play and talk about bass.

[@timvanboening9432]

I have no idea who the band is, but I like his playing. The portal to hell he opened at the end was the best part.

[@kevinsemmanuel3539]

I dont know if you allready found out who they are, but i really wanted to recommend you this song (SnarkyPuppy- Lingus)

[@warrenmorphis4208]

You GOTTA check out Snarky Puppy!! League is a monster!

[@nikgiengermakesmusic]

this made me very happy

[@esposoman]

This guy has a very serious sense of groove

[@paljohnson1]

Michael Legue is really great but I wish to point that Anthony Jackson played electric bass on "Watcha gonna do...." with Chaka Kahn, then did Greg Philinganes overdub with synthbass. You can still hear Mr Jackson's fantastic fills near the end of the song.

[@BassByTheBay]

Thought Michael was gonna launch into "Purple Haze" at the end. 😄 The EHX Bass MicroSynth lets me dial in some awesomely keyboard-esque sounds. Took some tweaking, but I was able to get closer to that late 70s synth bass sound (e.g., "Funkin' forJamaica") than with any other pedal.

[@roquemusic]

NOT TODAY! What an inspiring video! And it’s so simple.

[@thebondmen2870]

Love that riff with the moog filter. Sweet.

[@popsss2000]

You get the ABSV award which is(alfa bass sonic video) keep up the good work you check ✔ all the boxes as we say in the NAVY carry on.

[@SuburbanBehemoth]

@Michael League - This is amazing. Very informative.

[@SuburbanBehemoth]

Those harmonics at the 7:30 mark... LOL

[@mercgilado]

The octave trick he talks about is something I accidentally discovered when I was still a noob; lazy noodling found that plucking over the top of the fretboard sounded real warm... Shame I didn't realize it was a thing until now!

[@larrytate1657]

Michael is a beast. Talent oozing.

[@PabloTarantino]

What a wizard! his feel is something else.

[@JLittleBass]

lol. Aaand he kept playing with his pedals for another two hours after the cameras stopped rolling.

[@gustafsone]

Mike League: I was planning on going out to lunch after this gig and then spend some time at Lincoln Park and the Navy Pier. also Mike League: NOT TODAY!

[@amonster8mymother]

The interesting thing about using an octave is that you can get 2 octaves at the same time and blend them together. Whereas with the Moog you can only get 1-octave sub or 2 octaves you have to choose. 😁

[@samuelrb6]

at the end i felt like i was at a Hendrix concert and Mike was playing bass for him. all i could say was "YEA!!! WOOO!!!" It felt that good. 😂😂😂

[@tiosaintbanks]

That wuz DOPITY DOPE!!! 🙏🏽 Thanx!!

[@mattseymour8637]

Cool video and nice guy! I like the delay bets i think as just adds to it without overdoing it and is melodic

[@Thorgue]

7:41 - Watch this first, before the whole video. Fckn legend.

[@HammondB200]

there is a fuckin Rhodes PrePiano in the back over there. with its chrome legs amputated

[@plaash7396]

"those harmonics normally sound like this" -angelic twinkles- "nat today!"

[@d.fowler2537]

Bobby Sparks is out of Texas and he is one badazz keyboard player! You can find him on some 1990's Marcus Miller stuff

[@hightreason]

Danny Fowler and also he plays on snarky puppy's newest album

[@hightreason]

Well bobby sparks jr

[@Below-Average_Joe]

Chaka Khan's "Watcha Gonna Do for Me," featured Greg Phillenganes on keyboard bass and Anthony Jackson a detuned Fender.

[@Skaisgd]

Don Blackman name check! yes!

[@jakeyorkmusic7215]

1:30. Just... Nothing but groove allllll over duh place.

[@_floydelic_]

Huge bassman ! greetings from France :)

[@daveycmusic5150]

MXR BOD is nice. EHX Pitch Fork is a MONSTER octaver.

[@fisherdouble0]

Does anyone know what song he plays at about the 1:33 mark?

[@mikegeld1280]

Good stuff man👍

[@alvarooliveiratst]

Thanks Michael

[@100nujabes]

That last tone is fuuuuucked. I love it.

[@sweezeyg3235]

THE FACES THO!!!!! HEAVENLY

[@paddyobrien9970]

can anyone tell me the name of the groove at 1:28?? if its a song...

[@LeoLeentvaar]

that with the octave, Ox did that too and more percussive too

[@macuser1232]

Well that's a change. He used to use the Electro Harmonix Micro POG for his octave pedal.

[@Grayham4]

I should know this, but what was the first song he played?

[@StewartGartland]

Here's a thing, I think of Michael like I think of Pat Metheny and also Anthony Jackson. They all open their mouths when they play, like it allows them to hear more? And all of them play every single note with a passion and deliberation that just makes them all wonderful to listen to, least in my ears. All three of them understand harmony on a very deep level as well.

[@TheRavetetsei15]

This was a religious experience. Thank you sir

[@baldbassclef]

SICK!!! 🤘🏿

[@scottyhughes9179]

love this!!

[@jonasvm]

holy shit! checking snarky puppy out NOW!

[@simonbe]

you should try tapping the fret 12 frets up. Then you don't get this synth sound but you get clear octaves

[@dustinsherwood6018]

Lethal Weapon solo starts at 6:35. Nice!

[@hahabass]

Born to play music.

[@waynematthews8165]

Great guy and a BAAD bass player!

[@peterzelaya9948]

Well. Gonna go binge on snarky puppy now.

[@pedroroggla8129]

I remember when some dude showed me snarky puppy the first time... i thought "this is just musical masturbation" i just hated it and i still do but then i listened to this dude solo record where he plays acoustic folk, and man, this dude is a genious indeed.

[@micahandpennydodge3154]

Love the intentional decisions - only using a pedal if that is the most musically appropriate thing for the situation.

[@xTwistedxRagex]

he was the nicest dude!

[@scotchrobbins]

7:45 What?

[@Phaidrus]

phat sound dude! thanks

[@Metalbass1979]

Is it possible to be depressed after watching this guy? He clearly has so much fun playing and is a killer player.

[@ChazJazzNY]

What cha gonna do for me by Chaka Chan is Anthony Jackson with a synth copying his lines note for note.. About 3:11 in the song Anthony and his chorus pedal comes out more.

[@peterb7435]

Great vid. Great bass player

[@Quantumtalesxx]

what a great dude!