The 5 Levels of Longview (For Bass)

👉 My full beginner bass course: yeah.bassbuzz....
You think Longview is just a basic beginner bass riff… but there’s more to Mike Dirnt’s magic than meets the eye.
Longview tab + sheet music: www.noteflight...
Yep, we’re talkin’ about Longview, from Green Day’s 1994 Dookie album. Whether you call it punk rock or pop punk or power pop, we can all agree that Mike Dirnt kills it on the bass.
This is a super popular “beginner bass riff" that everyone wants to play on day one, but there are a bunch of ways you can go wrong. In this video I’ll walk you from level 1 - Noob level - to level 5 - Mike Dirnt beast level.
I bet you didn’t know these things about Longview:
* You can play it as a total n00b and survive a garage jam
* It’ll teach you a rhythmic concept important in jazz, blues, and other styles
* You need to hold a strategic piece of plastic to play it right
* Mike and Billie Joe did something super weird with their tuning before they recorded this album
* Dirnt copped some serious Peter Hook vibes in part of the riff
You read all the way through this video description… you must really like bass lessons. Subscribe so you don’t miss the next one - yeah.bassbuzz....
#GreenDay #DirntDirntDirnt

[@BassBuzz]

What level can you make it to?

[@Emily_M81]

I learned it at level 4.5 lol. I didn't do the diads at the last measure; but I kinda simulated the sound of it by a quick slide/pickup note into the measure so that it *sounded* like I was picking the open and fretted note it turns out🙃 I could hear it, but my young, inexperienced brain didn't know what I was doing at the time, and we didn't have KZbin to watch Dirnt's hand XD

[@johnnyharperscoutstable5386]

None yet😆I’m such a damn noob. I gotta get your course on disc when I get time

[@bluepaladin9630]

@@Emily_M81Same here. None of the tabs I found online had the “duh-Dirnt” feel of those notes, so I did hammer-ons from open strings. It’ll be great once I can play by ear, finally.

[@Jarod-Thomas]

I don't mean to sound like a jerk, but I was very disappointed that none of your levels included the lead in open D (or Db.) Before every opening E or the rhy. fig., doesn't he include an open D to work as a transition between the higher fretted note of the diads and the lower fretted note of the figure starting over?

[@cesteves6882]

i can only make the like button

[@ElliYeetYT]

Mike wrote the song while high on LSD and according to him the main riff of this song apparently was half of the full riff that he did while on LSD, but he couldn’t remember the other half so we got this riff instead.

[@jomamma1750]

That story is pure B.S. You remember EVERYTHING when you're tripping, all TOO vividly as a matter of fact.

[@s6g2k]

​@@jomamma1750Depends on what you're tripping on. Coleridge's Kublai Khan was supposedly the result of an opioid dream which he immediately sat down to write. He was interrupted and couldn't remember the end lines and had to make something up.

[@jomamma1750]

@s6g2k OK, you you're saying LSD is an Opioid?? Perhaps reassess your "thinking"?

[@s6g2k]

@@jomamma1750 That's why I specified opioid. Does one only trip on LSD? Is that what you're saying?

[@jomamma1750]

@s6g2k Apparently you cannot differentiate between different classes of drugs and thereforr assume they have identical effects? Not the case, at all. Re-read my original statement, K.

[@aritsunes]

very noble of josh to go through the painful procedure of installing LED lights inside his fingers to improve his teaching, the man is dedicated to his craft

[@hyomaaiiroofficial]

I love the led on fingers

[@johnnyharperscoutstable5386]

It helps🐸

[@bassimprovjams3772]

He does great editing!

[@guilhermecarvalhodarosa]

😂

[@yuckphooey]

When I Come Around and Longview were two of the first "real" bass lines I learned when I was first picking up bass. I used to sit in my room for hours playing Dookie track-by-track. Fun times!

[@J.M.81]

Same here ❤

[@appleitree]

I think welcome to paradise is a really good bassline

[@edizzle445]

Dirnt has some absolutely amazing basslines. "Stuck With Me" is one of my favorites to play

[@smeckmusicofficial]

THANK YOU for finally bringing Mike Dirnt to Videos like that. I feel like he's such an underrated bass player in the genre, putting a song within a song with some basslines. If you read this and don't know what I'm talking about, listen to "welcome to paradise" or "J.A.R.".

[@DiagonalCoff33]

OMG YES! i love the song JAR!

[@Slimeball21_3]

The Welcome to Paradise bass line is INSANE I get chills every time, and not just the solo but also when you hear it behind the guitar it’s so different from the guitar part but it fits so well

[@SisterRose]

I thought 5 steps for such a simple bassline was excessive, but for total beginners this is actually a great way to learn how different sorts of basslines are constructed

[@alexandermzelski1785]

Your attention to details is on absolutely other level.

[@barondavis5692]

Every time I see one of your posts, I realize what a great instructor you are. 🎉

[@BassBuzz]

Thanks mate!

[@thomasfioriglio]

As an experienced player, this was excellent Josh. Once again, it shows what a great teacher you are and a fantastic way to learn a song and progress. I loved the glowing fingers! So many channels become too advanced, I love how you are dedicated to newer bassists. Well done.

[@dinoduprey6676]

Hey Josh, I hope all is well. It's a great tutorial . What really got me was the high lighted fingering ,the first I've seen, and what an excellent visual component to add to this video.

[@scottkretsch4887]

I agree. I noticed that immediately. Nice distinctive feature Josh.

[@8takes485]

Mike got high then write a walking jazz bass line and it into punk. What a G!

[@cthulhukid7131]

Love the glowing fingering. This is a huge next step in training!

[@simonbielik1252]

I was waiting for you to make vidio about Mike Dirnt since I started playing bass. Thank you❤

[@DiagonalCoff33]

Mike dirnt is such a cool and melodic bassist, every green day song has these little hidden bass lines that just an absolute joy to seek out and listen too! (a few of my favs are: JAR, Stuck with me, Minority)

[@alexefors1068]

This was one of the songs who gave me more inspiration to become a Bass player (apprentice, but bass player =D ). My level here is 5. I love this song, so I spent a huge amount of time to make it sound right. Thanks for this video man

[@maren2451]

Thank you so much for your channel! I used to be a drummer and years ago I tried to learn the bass on my own but gave up. Because of your videos I got the bass out of storage again and for the last 10 days I have been practising about 2 hours a day and can't stop anymore. I have already learned so much from your videos in these few days, it blows my mind. In the next jam session I can hopefully already be a bit of a bass player :) THANK YOU!

[@Gorlung]

Wow, Josh unlocked the next level of teaching and got the "Glowing Fingers" pack!

[@jreschke5]

This song is why I became a bass player! Awesome video dude

[@Yoohooyooohoooo]

I bought my first bass 3 weeks ago. Got it 2nd hand, it’s a Squier jazz bass 🥰loving the sound! You’re a great tutor and I’ve been able to pick up a few basics from your channel 🥳 so thank you very much! I’d really love to be able to play well one day

[@GeorgymonF]

My first bass was a secondhand squier jazz bass too lol is yours red as well?

[@Yoohooyooohoooo]

@@GeorgymonF mine is black and white 😁

[@GeorgymonF]

@@Yoohooyooohoooo thats cool! I recommend that if you stick with it, and get better at playing, to invest in an expensive bass, your playing will feel so much smoother and it sounds sooooo good. I recently just bought a stingray from guitar center and its polished wood body with black pick guard, it looks so beautiful and sounds equally as good. I still love my squier though i just dont play it anywhere near as often ever since buying that one

[@Yoohooyooohoooo]

@@GeorgymonF yes, I’ll keep practicing! Probably worth getting some lessons and/or signing up to Bass Buzz online. Now I’ve started, I’m feeling that instant gratification want! Im watching all these amazing bassists and I’m just like “I want to play like that” 🤣

[@drtnic]

My first bass was the Squier jazz too. Mine was brand new but it was only $200 bucks the back in the day. Lent it to my child for their high school guitar class and had to go buy myself a new bass because I never got it back. And They also gave it a nickname - J Black

[@georgeavouris8539]

Before I start practicing on bass I always watch your precious videos.

[@ryanbadorrek9735]

The glowing fingers is a nice effect. Really helps see what you're doing.

[@MrRichicago]

I own quite a few basses but that Squire (same colour) has a special place in my heart. I play it a lot and I love seeing you using it here. Great lesson!

[@oilslick7010]

2:04 Nice! adding in Plato's cave allegory...Helps reinforce the image of the bass as a thinking man's instrument.

[@skidviscious1662]

blast from the past goddamn

[@cheeze_pizza]

Yes! A new Bass Buzz video! Let's goooooo

[@felipe_durante]

Amazing content! Could you please make this a series ? A video like this with rancid basslines would be amazing!

[@BassBuzz]

Matt Freeman rules!

[@felipe_durante]

@@BassBuzz I totally agree!!

[@user-sz8lp2tj5x]

I cannot hear even the first few notes of the Love Will Tear Us Apart riff without shivers

[@DrummerGrrrl]

Oh, crap. Now I want to learn the bass line to this "juvenile" song. LOL. Oh, Josh, you're my hero! 😂

[@lilidonlan4752]

Do I play bass? No. Did I watch this whole video? Yes.

[@chrispchrist8074]

I was born in Longview WA and this is the first I’ve heard of the song title’s origin, pretty cool. I learned this bass line the day it hit! I was 23 years old then…

[@santin4reel]

I just saw 3 ads on my Microsoft page browser while surfing the net on my laptop.. you are popular 🎉

[@bassimprovjams3772]

Great video Josh, this is perfect for beginners we all wanted to learn this but back in the day all we had was the CD to listen to, I actually had it on Cassette first lol, your edits are top notch as well!

[@5n1p3r0p5]

Hey, Josh! Great video idea! I’d love to see more of these where you break down popular riffs from different levels. You have a series!!

[@ktoso]

Fanstastic video, thanks Josh - gonna grab my Bass now and give this a go! 🎉

[@elihyland4781]

I love this so frickin much no clue I was playing it so wrong for decades. Met him before he was so cool. Been a fan since I was like 10

[@stoyanivanov5542]

I really hope someday you make a similar video but for Lemmy from Motorhead! These types of videos are great!

[@raynefaded]

"...Mike's moves to make more magnificently melodic MOTIFS" There ya go

[@Sierra-xi2ty]

Lighting up the fingers was awesome. Thanks for this.

[@danielgalindo3494]

Josh another GOAT'd video.

[@BassBuzz]

Thanks Daniel!

[@_Taipo]

I'm obsessed with this tune for some reason

[@Dwimordene777]

Was hoping for some Dua Lipa, but Green Day is ok as well. Thanks for another amazing lesson :)

[@lsh3rd]

Josh has become my bass Yoda… really enjoying your B2BA course!

[@thatguitarandbassguy]

That part at 3:11 made me laugh way too damn much, I love when youtubers find creative ways to say the thing

[@iduncanw]

These videos are gold standard Josh. Definitely helps with the learning process and getting quick wins by playing along almost immediately at level 1 🤘 I reckon you've also got the best method for plugging the usual KZbin "like, subscribe", almost like a subliminal message for this and your B2B course except they make me laugh so I notice them 😎

[@Henry_plays_guitar]

I woke at 4 am to see that you had done a mike dirnt video, i instantly clicked on it lmao

[@rockthecasbahs]

The bassline that started it all for me

[@ravifkhan1970]

Nice vid

[@fishslap8893]

You should definitely do a similar video on love will tear us apart.

[@prisonmike4971]

9:23 Just let it RANG hahahahahhahaha gave me a chuckle

[@mr_ozzio5095]

Lemmy used F-C-G-D sharp tuning, to get that "Lemmy sound"🤘

[@idiocracy587]

New bassbuzz video= better day

[@shaunoleary8740]

The jazz guy cutaway made me laugh out loud! lol!

[@RockBassTv]

been playin this song right for 20 years, but I still watched the video coz I enjoy all your vids Josh! Next time please break down the bass solo to Stuck with me or the intro to J.A.R. haha :P

[@t-zex4650]

Where is the 60s Noob Josh? we miss him.

[@djjazzyjeff1232]

8:12 alone those lines kinda, the Skynyrd song Simple Man during the guitar solo has a cool bassline but you lose the low end so I asked my bassist to play the same thing an octave lower since I'm the only guitar player to keep that foundation and it works really well. It's sort of a combination of the cool one on the album and the regular part during the chorus. Gotta do what you gotta do!

[@MonkeyMan65O5]

Another great tutorial Josh! Very fun bass line

[@appleitree]

Green day Getting the recognition it needed ❤

[@idontmindatall]

Always good vids BassBuzz!

[@etyramone2000]

This is such a cool and great tutorial ! My inner teenager is so hyped: this must be one of the very first basslines I learned (with Teenage Lobotomy and Rock'n'roll Radio). I love especially the way you break the riff into pieces and also throw light on Mike Dirnt : such an underrated bassist who serves the song and add nice counter-melodies to it. Thank you Josh !!

[@pentalarclikesit822]

From when I first heard the song those swung notes were always the key that made the song for me. It just made it sound . .. sarcastic. Almost as if the bass is trying strut, but keeps stumbling or tripping at the "wrong" point.

[@TehDFC]

Jazz Bass Josh is my new favorite.

[@reinotsurugi]

I was talking to Billy Sheehan in Portland Oregon and he was reminiscing about being in the studio at the same time as Green Day and how they couldn't tune their own instruments so Paul Gilbert tuned them for Green Day.

[@BassBuzz]

Haha wow amazing, thanks for sharing!

[@NelsonMontana1234]

Actually, there is yet another level --- the way Jeff Berlin plays it. He uses standard tuning but plays it in Eb -- holding the Eb at the 6th position on the A string as the pedal point. Pretty cool.

[@buddy5129]

this was 100% the first song i tried to learn when i got a bass a year ago and i also definitely used the "duh dirnt dirnt dirnt dirnt duh" method but i also started learning at level 5 so it took a couple days

[@davidm6298]

Good vid. There is more to this video than just learning a song. Nice.

[@angermanagementstudios]

Spent a week learning it. Then nearly 30 years wishing I had the genius to write it.

[@ajhieb]

This was one of the first songs I learned on the bass and that was actually courtesy of the September, 1994 edition of "Guitar World" which included guitar and bass tabs for the song. (I bought it for the Pink Floyd article) Back then we had to buy magazines to get music tabs and video game strats. #backinmyday #getoffmylawn

[@PajuTheAccursed]

i actually had no idea about the picking technique, thank you for noting that in here! also from what i hear mike does an open strum on the a then a string hammer on to the seventh fret.

[@Jarod-Thomas]

I opened my laptop just to make the same comment, but I always thought it was an uppicked open D into the downpicked fretted 7th. Could be wrong, but I think that's how Guitar World tabbed it and it fits the picking pattern

[@dannytetreault]

Awesome Dirnt, dirnt, dirnt da dirnt Danny

[@davegolombisky5530]

very awesome ! ...... love you for what you do !

[@tomanderton2173]

well, because of this video i ended up learning lopsy lu rather than longview. sick

[@JonnyTheLarge]

Epic video my guy!

[@1234drums]

This bassline is awesome, thank you ❤❤❤❤

[@bettafin933]

holy shit josh is so cool

[@EpicBassTime_]

YESSSS BASSBUZZ

[@johnnyharperscoutstable5386]

Swing eighths. Cool🐸🍺🔪🔥

[@martoneill]

Excellent lesson - thank you!

[@theafterpartyparty]

You always get my cave-brain’d bass bone a ragin’!!! 🙋🏻‍♀️😏🤤💀 Thanks for being durnt best!!😂❤

[@Rushmanyyz]

You know, man, I just have to say this. Been a subscriber for years and I love your channel. It's just great. Go you. Seriously.

[@Ben_Mdws]

Really well presented

[@malcelinho]

I love that song, but I never thought I was able to sound *like* him; The moment I do you bet I'll play the shie out of it everywhere I go hahaha

[@losferwords10]

Great video Josh, as usual. My question is where is the GEDDY LEE video???? Please do a deep dive into one of my ultimate influences.

[@ZaryaMain]

I would absolutely love a video on a Suicide Machines bassline. Their bass players have historically written killer lines, as well as get a really crisp and clear sound out of their finger playing. I'm happy to throw out a list of tracks, tho I'm guessing you've heard of them.

[@modernmusicstudio303]

This is an awesome video!

[@henryeowens]

Great video. Thanks for this.

[@philxknife]

Not a Green Day-person but still interesting! Thx! Made it up to level 3 ✌️

[@ultrajazz5335]

Drive me up the wall watching you not hitting the open string until the 5th part of the bird.

[@theaustranaut2352]

Could you make a similiar video on Boston's More than a Feeling?

[@BassBuzz]

MORE THAN A FEELIN

[@calebo56]

fantastic video

[@bruhmingo]

If you really want the correct tuning, set your tuner to 444hz. All of dookie and insomniac are slighter higher than true Eb standard

[@CraigRobbins5526]

Imagine how many Green Day songs would be 1 semitone higher if Billie and Mike had a tuner.

[@guilhermecarvalhodarosa]

Awesome thanks josh

[@cactustactics]

This is a great lesson! But... was that a jar of Noob Josh's tears??

[@YodatheHobbit]

Surprised you didn't list Blink 182's Carousel with those bass chord riffs. Whenever I remember that I can play Longview, I always also remember how to play that song.

[@shawn576]

Interesting video. As a person who doesn't play bass, I always wondered what the sound difference is between a picked note and a plucked note.

[@bakatronix]

why are you so perfect, josh?

[@TropangBahista]

good tutorial It's easy to catch up thanks a lot.

[@travisedwards3543]

I lak dem bass geeterz. ❤ Whoo!! 🤸

[@eddie3713]

I've been playing guitar for a while so playing this came easy to me but you killed me at the pick game, I've gotten so used to picking up and down consistently that Its so hard to change

[@Obscurity202]

His fingers light up !!