Bass Teacher REACTS | John Taylor is a SYNCOPATION KING in "RIO" by Duran Duran

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➡️ Years ago, someone requested "Rio" by Duran Duran on my Twitch stream, and I kind of blew it off when I saw it queued up...until it quickly ate my lunch trying to follow along. I completely forgot how KILLER bassist John Taylor is with precise syncopation and funk deliciousness woven through Duran Duran's new-wave pop music. In this video, I dissect the groovy "Rio" from their 1982 album "Rio" with an analysis on John's HEALTHY usage of ghost notes and their rhythmic placement, his usage of passing tones in the chorus bass line, using contrasting grooves as a compositional tool, how to get his sharp and cutting mid-focused tone, and much more!
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Mark Michell is an internationally-touring and recording bass player known for his work with Scale the Summit, Tony MacAlpine, Tetrafusion, Watermox, and more. Michell is a published educator and author for Hal Leonard, the world's largest music publisher, and has taught bass clinics around the globe for many years. He has played on several Billboard-charting album releases and is endorsed by Jackson Basses, EMG Pickups, and Dunlop.
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👉Original Video from ‪@DuranDuran‬: • Rio (2001 Remaster)
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📺 WATCH MORE:
▶️ Reacting to YES: • Bass Teacher REACTS | ...
▶️ Reacting to RUSH: • Bass Teacher REACTION ...
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#DuranDuran #Rio #JohnTaylor #DuranDuranReactions #ReactionVideo #LowEndUniversity
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Copyright Disclaimer Under Section 107 of the Copyright Act 1976, allowance is made for "fair use" for purposes such as criticism, commentary, news reporting, teaching, scholarship, and research. Fair use is a use permitted by copyright statute that might otherwise be infringing.
Non-profit, educational, or personal use tips the balance in favor of fair use. The original work played in this video has been significantly transformed for the purpose of music education.

[@cindykoller806]

When you to stop and realize that John was 21 and self taught with NO musical instruction when he created this iconic bassline… just wow!!

[@WhatDayIsItTrumpDay]

Have you heard Ethan Cristea from Liliac? The family rock/Metal band? They got started about as young as anyone could. Ethan has been playing bass since about 2018, and he's only 16 or 17 now, I believe. But he started on guitar and could shred some Iron Maiden solos when he was just 10. He switched to bass when his sister, Melody, the vocalist/bassist dropped the bass to focus on just being a front woman. Check out their latest song, which just dropped just about a month ago, called "Madness" (band name LILIAC). Their keytar player is Justin and he's only 15 this year I think. But he's been playing keyboards since they got started as a band. He was like 8 or 9 then. And it's funny, he voiced the young child voice in their cover of "Enter Sandman" back in 2018, but he's got the deepest voice now of all three of the boys in the band. Puberty hit him hard...lol. The oldest, Sam, the guitarist, is 23 or 24 now, has kind of a feminine voice and maybe gay, but idk. But he plays guitar better than some of the best, because he plays clean. One of the best guitarists out there right now, for sure. No joke.

[@adam872]

John is such an underrated player. His bass lines are all bangers.

[@JonLucas1968]

And had only played bass for less than two years, having played guitar when he and Nick Rhodes first formed the band in 1978!

[@yuothineyesasian]

Check out the bassline of the chorus for the early demo "See Me, Repeat Me" It eventually became Rio but it was significantly more funky. He was 19 when he played that.

[@JOHNNYSGIRL1960]

You need to listen to some more of their hits like Notorious, Skin Trade, and All You Need is Now. You will be blown away how mature John became. And when he's live he is even more fantastic!

[@michtarragon4665]

John did a whole series of bass tutorials during the pandemic called Stone Love Bass Odyssey or something like that here on KZbin. His episode for this song is amazing.

[@NoCanDu]

His excitement for the songs really make that series incredible. He’s in such a great place in his life now. So happy for him. Great guy, great player.

[@shannoncheney8155]

I don’t play bass but have been a fan since a teenager and admire his breakdowns of how the songs were pulled together. It’s an excellent series!

[@emislive]

That series is awesome. If you've ever seen Peep Show, John is a sane Super Hans.

[@Trace7173]

I was in rehab with John in Tucson, AZ back in 1995. I recognized him right away but many people in treatment seemed to be unaware of who he was. We had a few group sessions together but I was scared to talk about Duran Duran..He was very cool and I'm glad to know he's still clean and sober

[@kerrylake4751]

Hope you’re still clean and sober too!

[@icantintyou]

john rarely gets the respect his deserves. incredible bassist

[@Debbie-qs2xo]

I don't know.. most any adult fan of duran duran are going to know the bass makes their music what it is. Because it drives most their big hits and its so up front in the mix even your non discerning listener or non musician would be hard pressed to overlook it.

[@brandenwilson4378]

John Taylor is a MONSTER!

[@MatthewADever]

You might dig Mick Karn-I agree w your comment

[@spaztekwarrior]

Love the way he adds the ghost notes and chromatic runs after the bass note, his use of octaves, pops and staccato.

[@burnindownthehouse]

The thing people always forget about Duran Duran is just how good of musicians they were. They were initially viewed as a boy band when they first came out and unfortunately that label on them kind of stuck until they released their self-titled album (also known as The Wedding Album in 1993). Then people finally realized they were excellent musicians all along. I remember that album well because it was my senior year of high school and I was blown away at the complexity of the songs on that album. The album was filled with top notch songs. It was my favorite album of that year and never left my cassette tape deck in my car that year. Wait, I also had a Morrissey tape that frequented that tape deck, if I remember correctly. Anyway, John Taylor is an excellent bass player. When you go back and listen to 1980's Duran Duran you can hear how good they are, and you especially notice just how good John Taylor was. Killer bass grooves.

[@BigBass-xf5yi]

And Simon was/is a top tier frontman/vocalist

[@Daddy53751]

Watching live vids of these guys shows the guitarist was really good as well, singing backup as well.👍🏻

[@DanHunterSportsWriter]

They weren't considered a Boy Band, which is a constructed group. Duran Duran were thought of more like pretty boys who were image first and ability a long way behind. Punk had sneered at musicianship, and 80s UK bands were never lauded for musical ability. For example Andy Taylor was an excellent rock guitarist but rarely given the chance to show it.

[@Eden639]

They are still.

[@thesnapperkeeper]

Very underrated band,they’re all excellent musicians

[@badspy100]

no they are not underrated. they were no1 pop-rock band and they were chosen for 007's main song "A view to a kill"

[@thesnapperkeeper]

@@badspy100yeah no kidding,I still don’t think they get the respect they deserve and don’t quite understand why you’re acting so butt hurt😂

[@Daddy53751]

Normally I think “underrated” gets seriously over used. In this case I have to agree, not because they were underrated as they were the biggest thing out there at the time. I think they were underrated as actual musicians. If I had two brain cells to scratch together as a teenage metalhead bassist, I would’ve been front row for these guys. (Would’ve stood out like a whore in church at that show!😂) Watching live videos of these dudes actual musicianship is seriously entertaining!

[@thesnapperkeeper]

@@Daddy53751 yeah I was referring to their musicianship being vastly underrated.I don’t think people took them seriously as players because of the genre of music they were associated with

[@Daddy53751]

@thesnapperkeeper 100% They were zeros to us metalheads at the time as New Wave crap. But from a pure musical standpoint, and Watching videos of thier live shows of the time, that whole band was really top shelf.

[@michaelk622]

Duran Duran is one of the most underrated bands…their musicianship is amazing. Nick and Roger are really good too.

[@stevestrange965]

'underrated'...

[@michaelfarrow5817]

Bunch of musos having a noodle.

[@WhereIsPancakesHouse]

Love this bass line. John Taylor was a beast and he had “the look”

[@michaelfarrow5817]

66 and he looks better than men half his age.

[@kerrylake4751]

@@michaelfarrow5817*64 (he was born June 1960), but your point still stands!

[@MrAKbass]

John Taylor was a major influence on my playing during my first years of playing the instrument. I've played DD songs like Rio, Last chance on the stairway, New Religion, Anyone out there, Hold back the rain, to name a few, a zillion times.

[@Roger8176]

Last Chance On The Stairway is an awesome bass line. New Religion is great as well. John Taylor is a stellar bassist.

[@jenanthony7575]

You should check out “Last Chance on the Stairway” John’s bass playing on that song is incredible ♥️

[@cindykoller806]

Yes! Fantastic without all the “showiness” of Rio

[@deannadrake2040]

I also thought of "Last Chance..." while listening to this reaction vid. Taylor's bass lines on that are light, playful & flirtatious, which was perfect for that song.

[@cindykoller806]

@@deannadrake2040 100%!!

[@bluesilver7237]

I agree 😊

[@mediaboyz9848]

Yes watch that at least 2 times a week 😊

[@astronaut2005drummer]

John Taylor is one of the best bass players ever. :)

[@descantinginsalubrious]

As a drummer, in 1982 I was obsessed with bass in this song. SOOOO Mf'in Funky! I love your analysis of his playing.

[@tricky92x]

It seems like a lot of drummers are in to Duran Duran. I guess we all dreamed of playing with a dude like John Taylor! Ha!

[@MetalphysicalMel]

John Taylor is a very under-rated bass player.

[@russellward4624]

John Taylor has been one of my favorite bass players and DD has been a favorite of mine since the 80's.

[@gustavohansen1]

Simply, The Best Bass Player of Pop

[@cavellfrancis-king4809]

John Taylor’s funk/disco bass playing is at the forefront of Duran Duran, making their sound so recognisable. Check out New Religion or Last Chance on The Stairway from the same album.

[@AtomizedSound]

As a synth player too I can tell you the “stab” chords in the verse are (e minor, C, a minor, C) for the first pass and the second pass adds an A major chord in place of the minor. Such a great song to perform live. Duran Duran are amazing! The ending “screaming” is the synth doing some crazy pitch bends on the chords and notes.

[@andriealinsangao613]

Is that an arpeggiated synth on the verses?

[@Roger8176]

It's funny how Duran Duran were considered teeny-bop music, but if you listen to the first two albums there is almost a dark gothic kind of atmosphere to it. Maybe it's the British thing? It's great music though and it's good to see them getting recognized for their music these days.

[@Daddy53751]

We all have regrets in life, And DD is one of mine. As a teenage 80’s metal head bassist, I could’ve cared less about poppy “crap”. If I had a half ounce of brain matter at the time, I would’ve been a long haired, Metallica t shirt wearing metal head FRONT ROW at a Duran Duran concert!!! John Taylor is a Gangster! 🤘🏻🫡🔥

[@christheghostwriter]

Same here. I was a metal drummer who basically only listened to and played metal. The one 80s band I made an exception for was the Police (mostly because of Copeland's drumming), but Duran Duran was "chick music" in my mind. It wasn't until the 90s, when my tastes started to expand, that I heard a house/techno remix of Duran Duran's "Ordinary World" as the closing track of a weekend-long warehouse rave that I first connected with their music. Today, I'm a big fan and I know their catalog inside and out

[@rachelar]

Boys tend to like metal as it seems manly. I didn't have any hang ups tho DD was a bit of a secret pleasure

[@sparkeboosh]

Yes.. DD are awesome. I was lucky enough to recognise their talent from an early age though.. posters of Slayer and Duran Duran on my bedroom wall. 😂 🤘🏻👊🏻 Take care brothers..

[@badspy100]

thankfully, although in the 80s i was(and still am) a metalhead, i liked DD and Taylor was one of my influences

[@Jsing6946]

Yes, I loved them before I got into hair band then later realized his monster ability

[@CarMoves]

John was a HUGE fan of CHIC (Bernard Edwards) and ROXY MUSIC (Graham Simpson and John Porter) where he learned syncopation

[@bluesilver7237]

How can we have forgotten how epic this base line is! The bass god lives 41 years later and on and on🎉

[@LowEndUniversity]

Epic AF!

[@dipsydoodle7988]

This song is a prime example of why JT is a musical beast. Every other DD song proves the same. You could choose any song, really.

[@Republic3D]

That sax is so dirty and raw. Love it!

[@andyg4082]

JT is an underrated bassist I can name loads of bass by JT Last chance on the stairway, New moon on monday, late bar Hold back the rain Girls on film etc etc That's just five Plus loads more but out those tracks. Great review by the way 👍👍👍

[@colino72]

First clip of yours I have seen - I’m a singer not a bassist, but I love the groove on this song. I loved it as a 10 year old, but I think I appreciate it a lot more now as a 51 year old!

[@davidcolumbia5792]

Bassist John Taylor is the most underrated bassist ever! And you are a living doll! Woofff!

[@bacongl]

In the bass world, John is known is being a monster player. I initially slept on him until I saw him featured in Bass Player Magazine. Now I cant ignore him when I hear Duran Duran.

[@dalehammers4425]

Duran Duran were WAY ahead of their time. Sadly they didnt get the respect they deserved when they were still active.

[@Roger8176]

They are still very active.

[@JC-yz1sf]

Yes, they’re still very active!! Check them out if you can! You’ll be amazed!

[@erinfraise6154]

They're still active now! They put out two new albums in the past few years and they tour all the time.

[@raindrops21_9]

Their looks were a blessing and a curse. Because they had the whole new romantic image going on, and their videos were quite 'cinematic,' people got distracted and didn't stop to _really_ listen to the the music. Their image and good looks made them plenty popular but they had substance as well as style.

[@DrTomoculus]

I was just entering High School when this came out. I dared not tell a soul I bought RIO. Tell Led Zeppelin Zealouts, Deep Purple Patriots, Rolling Stone Rollers in 1982 you liked Duran Duran because you thought John Taylor was a really great bass player??? Are you kidding? I kept my mouth shut and just kept listening to what he was doing!!!

[@MrAKbass]

That tone is due to the Aria Pro SB-1000 single pickup bass, it has a unique tone. I do own a 81' SB-700 and it sounds exactly like that.

[@timparr3916]

Spot on, but he also said publicly he rarely changes his strings, which helps this tone

[@patricklearned7992]

I was never a huge Duran Duran fan but... this song has always been one of my favorites from the era. And the video is one of the best... EVER!

[@ericwhitfield9918]

Yes...THIS bassline (from my favorite bassist, I have to add) is a BEAST!!

[@Insanalyst]

Thanks. Now this will be playing in my head for a week. John Taylor elevated this band to legendary status

[@russellward4624]

John has some really cool breakdowns of how the songs were written on the Duran Duran channell.

[@raindrops21_9]

I love any video that celebrates John's incredible talent. He doesn't get enough credit. And I wholeheartedly agree with his take on what a bass player should do - _drive_ the song, make it interesting, do the unexpected, and be melodic as well as percussive. He is my second favourite bass player, behind Paul McCartney, who IMO, really brought melodic and imaginative bass playing to popular music. Sting is another one of my favourite bass players.

[@Cheryltwin2012]

You'd love the bass on "Careless Memories" from the band's first album. The bass has a definite slap on it. Also, "Hold Back the Rain" from "RIO" is another with a really strong bass on it. John was amazing and still is.

[@bobbyarp8]

happy late duran duran appreciation day!

[@rogersgonc]

Great analysis! Duran Duran is so full of great tunes. John Taylor is a outstanding bassist. Regards from !

[@colinpeters3893]

John Taylor is and always was a beast, his playing was the biggest component of Duran Durans music. I'm surprised that you haven't reacted to any Billy Sheehan yet.

[@justinsleeper3734]

80s pop had quite a few great bass performances. Too Shy, Our Lips Are Sealed, Don’t Dream It’s Over, Something About You, etc.

[@Farewelltokingz]

The thing about John’s tone is the Aria he was using at the time. It’s more or less a P bass with a Wal Filter preamp. Even though it looks like a soap bar, it’s a p underneath the cover. The preamp uses a 5 position “varitone” Low pass filter. He was also using rotosound “groundwound” strings at the time which are like a mix between flats and rounds. The thing that gives it that bounce is the ridiculous amount of compression and the pickup being slightly closer to the bridge than a typical p bass would be.

[@kadesoutherland3648]

Not to long ago I was playing for my high school's jazz band concert. I had a pretty cool improv solo that everyone liked apparently and so did the principle come to find out. He tracked me down after the concert and asked me if id heard this song before and claimed it had a good bassline. Id never heard of this song before or duran duran so when I got home to look up what it was, I was shocked at how good the bassline was and how similar John Taylor's technique is to my own. the concert was a friday night so I quickly and excitedly learned it over the weekend. Monday comes around and I was warming up with the jazz band at the start of class, and the principle walks in. I ended up getting to play the whole song (with the track) for the band by request of our principle. That was a very fun moment in my highschool experience so far.

[@Eden639]

John Taylor is one of the best players in the world. He keeps you dancing with that bass.

[@markwilburn4962]

80 new wave and pop is what got me into really listening for the bass line in every song and this is a go to song for me! John Taylor, Mark King, and Nick Beggs are probably my 3 favorites from that era. John Taylor is most definitely one of my favorite bassists to listen to! Love your reaction to him!

[@benbox9081]

Nick Beggs has performed incredibly with his involvement with Steven Wilson

[@rationalmuscle]

Taylor is not only a beast of a player, he's a natural. Nice bloke too.

[@pierpaolodebona3571]

John is just natural, raw, gifted talent. And then he just got better and landed on another galaxy.

[@TerreSteed]

John Taylor himself did a series of videos/tutorials all bout his bass playing. They are here on KZbin.

[@JenniferWilson-j7e]

I love how you nailed the Taylor bass sound. I watch these videos on KZbin, and I've never seen anyone analyze John's light,precise tone before. It is the reason I prefer these DD bass lines to the twangy, ringing sound you hear from other bassists, regardless of genre. The only other famous bassist I can think of who used this kind of tone was the late Louis Johnson, and it's one reason I prefer John's lines and playing in this era than from Notorious onward. The hard, twangy style does work nicely on Power Station, though. In classical terms, it's sort of an early music sound rather than high romantic era. It works so nicely for DDs interwoven musical lines -- like on the chorus, where John does something even he doesn't do anymore - namely those little arpeggiations which join the sections of bass melody together. I also love in the sax/bass duet how John does those two detached , almost staccato, chromatic notes then resumes the accompanying pattern almost without the ghost notes, then he returns to them very prominently... also how he moves off the beat then strictly on the beat. again, as someone said: 21years old. self taught. I'd love to see you give Last Chance on the Stairway and Shadows On Your Side a go. Bravo .😮

[@g2thegeege]

JT shared an amazing tutorial on this bass line during the pandemic along with other songs and talked about his influences. Fascinating.

[@bassimprovjams3772]

I think there’s no better candidate for Dingwall endorsee than John Taylor, especially with his tone and the heat Dingwall takes for being metal only, I Love how your showing how to get these tones lately!

[@montys8th]

The KING of syncopation.

[@EtoDemerzelSpaceBurial]

Thanks for doing this one! I love this song and the way he is so relaxed playing these lines just blows me away but the bass really shines without being over the top!

[@billykreger9765]

He deserves so much more credit than he was given. He definitely influenced my playing… and yes he used chorus quite a bit.

[@ERICF66]

Their first two records (and b-sides!) are chock full of kick ass basslines! John is the man! I’m still working out all of those early songs to this day. So much fun to play and challenging to get it right! 🔥🔥🎶🎶😁👍🏽❤️

[@VG-iq8xq]

John has a cool video of him playing and reviewing Rio. He's got this yeah I wrote this when I was 21 and it still kicks A** attitude. Seems like a cool guy

[@magne6267]

John Taylor was a big role model as to me picking up a bass guitar. Although another was Deon Estus, maybe you should check him out if you haven't heard him?

[@djku3e226]

I saw them twice during their Future Past Tour. My goodness, they are phenomenal!!

[@5150show]

John Taylor - monster bass player

[@ianinfinity380]

He used an Aria pro bass, it has a reverse P pickup in a humbucker case in the musicman position.

[@JoneyJefe]

You meant to say, “THAT’S SO SAXXXXY!!!!”

[@bradami1234]

Really dig how you pull from all different walks of music to highlight the quality in all them . Another fantatsic video brother

[@zenaudio108]

I was a goth in the 1980s and viewed Duran Duran as 'just another pop band' (although really the difference between new wave and goth was not exactly huge) but now I can look back and see the genuine musicianship on display here, and the talent of bassists such as John Taylor and Nick Beggs (Kajagoogoo).

[@suzannecorona6098]

Duran Duran's: Planet Earth, New Religion and Notorious for another set of insane bass playing. IMO Great video thanks!

[@chriscuthbertson]

There is a HUGE amount of Bernard Edwards influence in John's playing. I believe he was mentored by the late great Mr Edwards.

[@TwoPyramid]

That's because it is Bernard Edwards.

[@depecheddurand]

He is also a big fan of late mick karn from Japan.

[@Roger8176]

​@@TwoPyramidNo it's not. He hadn't even met Bernard at this point.

[@ThorD4602]

No, I used to wonder about that. John is the player on thevrecord and he was and is an amazing bassist

[@RobinUriah-n6m]

The reflex really shows off his style

[@anijon]

JT initially played the guitar when Andy T joined the band he took over bass. In this band there are two "singers". Simon Le Bon & the JT's Basslines.

[@captainshiner42]

Sick reaction! John Taylor is a bass legend! You should check out Fall of Troy one of these days. They're a post-hardcore progressive power trio based in Seattle. Their original bassist, Tim Ward is a fantastic pick player.

[@lindawenzel7865]

J.T. is a LEGEND. His riffs, incorporation of syncopation and overall contribution to music are PHENOMENAL!!!!!!!! I HOPE you, Nick, Simon will perform in Heaven. I WANT A FRONT ROW SEAT, and if I need to ask the Angels to SAVE that seat for me, I will. I’m not missing ONE time you perform.

[@Redbirds2023]

Keep up the great work. I enjoy watching these video, so informative.

[@LaurenBuchholz]

If you have not seen it, John Taylor has a bunch of videos of how he wrote/played many of their songs... Here is the on for Rio... kzbin.info/www/bejne/o6XGfX53fLNgf6s

[@ramongoroth]

Very happy to see you do Duran Duran. John Taylor is great and glad to see you break down the song.

[@Bikedueder]

The bass and the sax MAKES this song great. And yep, I am not a bass player, but will sometimes listen to the isolated bass track which is also on KZbin.

[@Moyetniishiswa2000]

I picked up the bass because of John Taylor. Growing up listening to Floyd, Zepplin, Dire Straits, Deep Purple etc 70’s rock it was the first time I heard bass as an interesting instrument. I was a guitar player and JT’s playing made me realise how cool expressive bass can be in a rock/pop context.

[@TheFab9999]

Best group ever

[@kennethcarlin9629]

John Taylor had the best basslines throughout the whole song. I think he was the best 80s bass player

[@abdulmajid8888]

Girls on film night version will blow ur mind

[@andreadispina5468]

The delay in Wild boys bassline is my fav ever

[@grimgrinningtracy9157]

As bass always being my fave, and being a girl in love with John, his sexy bass was not lost on me from the time they first hit the airwaves and still today.

[@WhatDayIsItTrumpDay]

As a child of the 80s (born in the early 70s) and still a bit too young for music when Duran Duran were big, I still remember this song getting massive airplay on both the radio and MTV. I didn't really get into my own music until late 1986 at the age of 13 during my Junior High years. That's when Bon Jovi got huge, ya know? That humongous album "Slippery When Wet" As a hip young teenager, you had to have that album. And I remember buying it on New Years Eve 1986. And listening to it nonstop that entire night on my portable cassette player. But yeah, Duran Duran was one of those British New Wave bands that I thought was OK. I really didn't get the whole New Wave wave in the early to mid 80s, that's why I adopted Rock and Heavy Metal as my favorite genres by 1987. And I always say "I'm a Metalhead since 1987." But again, there were a few Duran Duran songs that I liked. The Reflex was a big song in 1985/86. Rio was still pretty popular then. Hungry Like a Wolf was also big. But other than those 3 songs, I couldn't name ya another Duran Duran song. Once 1986 hit, music really changed that year. It was like the same Fault Line, if you will, that occurred when Disco died off, whenever that was...like 1980, 81, somewhere in there. I don't know what it was, but something happened in the music industry where all those early 80s bands and sounds sort of disappeared or changed to fit in with the newer sound. Kinda like what happed in 1992/93, when the 80s Rock sound disappeared and Grunge came in to replace the Hair Metal Era.

[@BigBass-xf5yi]

This entire album is a masterpiece. Their very best effort. They just don’t make ‘em this good anymore.

[@michaelfarrow5817]

He said that for the Seven and the Ragged Tiger album that he couldn't keep playing as fast as he had been. He knew he was playing fast but it served the music.

[@leewinter28]

Great video. Subbed. I’m a drummer who’s recently developed a passion for bass guitar. I MUST learn this John Taylor piece!

[@garse70]

One of the best bassists out there. he said he hated playing this song live because it was hard and he should’ve kept it easier. I believe this a a four string as well.

[@violetsnotviolence]

I'm brand new to the channel, but if they haven't already been covered, I'd love to hear your thoughts on two other 80s greats- Mick Karn and Pino Palladino. Also, I would recommend for John Last Chance on the Stairway and Sound of Thunder from their first album. There's lots to choose from though.

[@Marrero1]

Ive always heard this song in a 1997 sedan... i never knew how sick the bass is in this song.

[@RobOHara]

One of my favorite bass lines of all time, thanks for breaking it down. Ghost notes!

[@ilyatermini1022]

Rio is a monument to the music between new romantic and the pop of 80. John and roger are great! Sorry for my english

[@psterud]

Cool video! I learned this track on bass when I was a kid in the '80s and really enjoyed it. When I saw the title of your video I thought, yeah, there's going to be a lot of ghost note discussion. It really is a way to bring more character into a bass part, and it's not really that hard for those who are percussively inclined (and can play with their fingers). It is very much like ghost notes on a snare drum, in that it elevates a groove from 8th notes to 16th notes, thereby increasing the energy. Similar stuff can be done on a hi-hat, even just going from an 8th-note rhythm to a 16th-note rhythm. Yeah, Duran Duran has a ton of really cool basslines. John Taylor - with the help of some producers, obviously - had a significant desire to be more interesting than just functional. All those guys were very ambitious. I really love the drummer, Roger Taylor. And the keyboardist, Nick Rhodes, was really inventive with that early synth technology.

[@mv9787]

John Taylor and Stuart Zender are two legendary bassists

[@CatalystOfFire]

I think an important part of this entire era is considering what it sounded like over FM radio, or what it sounded like on an 8 track in a crappy car stereo etc. I think a lot of that bridge pickup clarity we hear in the 80s was just to become audible where people were listening.

[@KDelta1986]

Never really focused in on the Bass when listening to this. Thanks for helping me listen to it with new ears.

[@tparmenter]

So many people wrote them off as pretty faces, but this man is a beast!!! John Taylor plays some complex, funky stuff.

[@tomowens7499]

I'm 53 and a lifelong fan of theirs. I learned bass by learning his parts. In the 80s, in high school this bass part was the holy grail of bass parts, and often when jamming with other players the question would come up, 'do you know Rio?' I've played bass now for nearly 40 years, largely influenced by his playing, (and Nick Beggs and Mick Karn as well) I get a little frustrated with how he NEVER writes bass parts like this anymore, the bass parts from 'notorious' on are much simpler... some people wonder if he actually played the early parts on records for this reason... Lastly, for fun i like to play it slapped as an exercise, up on yt if you care to see

[@cindykoller806]

I might be to differ. By Notorious, John said he was pairing down. But since the reunion (2001) there are some real standouts. Try Safe, Cry Baby Cry and Hammerhead for starters.

[@josecartaya3452]

Have you heard him in The Power Station ?

[@LARENLM]

I live for Duran Duran

[@aaimginggraphics2411]

the synopation and ghost notes are killer!!

[@AlienWooshie]

During COVID John did like a "masterclass" on the how he created the bass parts on various songs. Here's the link to his video on "Rio" kzbin.info/www/bejne/o6XGfX53fLNgf6s, or if you don't want to click on it, go to the DD YT page and you'll see it there. One of my favourite bass players.

[@johntague]

More John Taylor please! Great video!

[@LowEndUniversity]

Thanks John! Definitely more in the future! Cheers!