Ernie Ball: String Theory featuring Mike Dirnt of Green Day

String Theory is a web series from Ernie Ball that explores the sonic origins of some of music's most innovative players. In this episode Ernie Ball​ artist and Green Day bassist Mike Dirnt discusses his beginnings with bass and guitar, his love of playing, and his relationship with Ernie Ball.
Watch additional episodes of Ernie Ball: String Theory here: ernieb.al/1QtdTx9
Mike Dirnt plays Ernie Ball Hybrid Cobalt bass strings: www.ernieball....

[@bennunes967]

He's the hidden weapon in that band

[@henriktheonly3874]

His newer bass lines are so boring.. I hope he is going to do better on their next record (if they make one)

[@WilliamMcCarthyIII]

He had awesome basslines on the Trilogy. Makeout Party has a cool one.

[@henriktheonly3874]

And Stray Heart. But his basslines were lacking in Revolution Radio, 21st century breakdown.. and (don't kill me) even a little on American Idiot

[@walkeranderson158]

no just no please piss of

[@WilliamMcCarthyIII]

A lot of the good basslines on American Idiot are pretty hidden under the other instruments, like She's a Rebel.

[@DSC24]

that bass tone fucks me up in amazing ways

[@ltodom5884]

ikr

[@explore2265]

DSC bro his bass sounds amazing 😭😭😱😱

[@deadflag7030]

It's the bass line from the green day song Longview

[@carlosmatos9848]

He's always had great tone... it's got that low growl and rumble but still a little twangy. I love it.

[@julianrose9883]

Seriously an underrated bass player. I know a lot of people who dismiss him just because they don't like Green Day.

[@fastcornbread]

Julian Rose totally agree... the bass is more complex than the guitar in most songs.

[@rigzinbhutia7467]

Nobody hates Green dayyyyyyyy,angry noise.

[@wuwliwonka]

Well I know respectable musicians who like Green Day because HE is the bassist

[@djmac206]

​@@fastcornbreadexactly. His ability of crafting articulate lines, integrating punk and groove inspired me to pick up the bass. He's the reason why I got into bass.

[@fermore5365]

Best punk rock bass player.

[@mishaparkhill7385]

I love Mike's bass playing

[@carlhilber2275]

it went downhill after 21st century breakdown

[@billfraser1491]

@Preston Garvey he's not always playing root notes compare to punk bassist. Go listen some greenday dumbass

[@bob-px8eg]

Bass guitar is so underrated, I understand that it's not like guitar, but people don't understand how helpful it truly is

[@markhawksford785]

bob5543 I'm a bass player. It's not underrated at all.

[@markhawksford785]

You're just not in the right places.

[@mirkecWii]

I think he meant it was underrated in this music industry... yeah a lot of my non rock friends told me that bass is useless but then I proved them wronf

[@jakestevens1270]

Mirko Žaja no one who is properly in the music industry will tell you bass is useless

[@Toastandbananas130]

A band that neglects their bass player is a band that won’t succeed. It all falls on the drummer and bassist. Guitar and vocals are just nice touches on top

[@ddrum121]

mike dirnt's tone is great

[@ibnufasya6408]

Punchy and little bit fat.

[@maryray1784]

I WANT IT

[@gabewilliams7462]

@@maryray1784 get a fender bassman 800 and a closed back cab. That'll get you really fuckin close

[@lllllGreenDaylllll]

0:00 Longview 1:49 Bang Bang 3:17 Minority 4:00 Holiday

[@guapagrande4789]

After watching so many of Green Days live performances, I've learned that Mike Dirnt is a soldier! He plays through injuries on-stage; he never misses a beat even during the days of Billie's long drawn-out audience shenanigans, and he created one of the most memorable bass lines in modern rock music. He's quickly becoming my favorite member of Green Day.

[@alexdavis6578]

Guapa Grande YES well said my friend!!

[@gabrieledomingosjardim5358]

Nothing can stops Mike playing!!

[@ajamthefreak6734]

it's sad that people don't know much about him such a underrated bassist

[@regedit148]

Fathul Ajam and that was awful things i ever know :(

[@khr1spykreemes563]

But I Really!-Love Mike Dirnt

[@khr1spykreemes563]

DIRNT DIRNT DIRNT(Repeat)

[@dominiksawadsky5545]

Mike lives what he does. You actually can feel it. He is the only reason why i started playing bass two yrs ago. The same with billie 7 yrs ago:)

[@robertpurdy4452]

Same here.

[@antonionsfw]

same, i started to play guitar bc i like the sound and because i used to like "asking alexandria" (yeah) but i started playing bass bc i watched a video of "30 basslines of green day"

[@dominiksawadsky5545]

toño i know that one. Its played very fantastic.

[@radoslavpichl7738]

Next Tre 😊

[@dominiksawadsky5545]

@@radoslavpichl7738 haha i think my neighbours will hate me :D

[@kebab_boi]

Idk why but Mike looks as like Putin getting a Punk makeover

[@bwowo443]

Ali Rafiei i hate u... now i cant stop seeing that

[@lottie0903]

Ali Rafiei What have you done...

[@jimhalpert4.015]

You monster...

[@ayalacarlos18]

Ali Rafiei 😂 so true

[@nando19751]

cause he's putin's younger brother

[@blakewhittington4336]

I work 40 hours a week and gig on the weekends and getting older it's tuff. I wish I could just play music all day. most important thing is what he said though. I'm just happy to play music and I am

[@frantisekvtelensky820]

I love that bass line from Minority! It's so damn catchy, that I play it even on guitar much more than actual guitar parts! :D Mike is awesome guy! :)

[@guhjjify]

František Vtelenský Stuart and The Ave is my favorite!

[@antonionsfw]

Solomon Lusk this man is perfect!

[@BodaciousWickerman]

František Vtelenský For sure. That whole song is awesome. Bassline is one of the best things about it.

[@drabanddour]

I play the bass lines on my cello. I’m not a great cellist, so it’s kinda difficult. My favorite one to play is Stuart and the Ave.

[@alimarshalljw]

That bass tone is godly!

[@victimizedidiot1612]

I just love Mike's passion in his craft.

[@danielpapuga4615]

Green day needs to do another rig rundown

[@willyorkmusic467]

Daniel Papuga agreed

[@patthetwat6963]

Daniel Papuga agreed

[@alexdavis6578]

Agreed

[@robertcortez4956]

When was the first time????

[@MichaelAftonactor]

@@robertcortez4956 some time around 2013

[@nuke2625]

I've learnt so much from green day. Their music is super easy and awesome as f*k.

[@KellyK387]

He’s An amazing bassist. He, mark Hoppus, and Matt freeman from rancid are why I started playing bass

[@TheMusicfan189]

Incredibly under-rated player.

[@blanknhoovygaming6781]

Would've loved it if Mike sat down and talked about String Theory in physics

[@wuwliwonka]

😆

[@Aussieduderivs1]

It's great to hear mike talk on his own because billie Joe is usually the centre of attention.

[@GemmaSeymour]

I watched it, because my new roommate Stephanie is a huge fan of Green Day and just went to see them last night. I've never watched any of this series before, but after hearing Mike talk about his craft, I really want to not only watch more of this series, I want to listen to Green Day a little more closely. I've never really been a fan of Green Day. It wasn't that I disliked them, they were just not really my oeuvre, and I was a little too old to find their music as relevant to me as some other styles. That being said, I don't think I've ever changed the station because Green Day came on, and they have some really great tunes. I don't play Ernie Ball Strings on my Ernie Ball/Music Man StingRay (in my profile picture), but I do play Ernie Ball strings on my Rickenbacker 330. I don't have anything against Ernie Ball bass strings, which are obviously standard fitment on all Ernie Ball instruments, and this is my third StingRay, I just happen to have settled on Rotosound Jazz Bass 77 Monel flatwounds for my fretless piezo StingRay. I'm in the process of starting a new band that will require me to have a fretted bass, however, and it will almost certainly be a StingRay with roundwound strings. Mike's tone is a little too dirty for my music, but man, does it sound boss! I'm also easily impressed by people who play with a pick. I can't play with a pick for more than a few seconds before my wrist gives out. I'm about 99.44% a fingerstyle player, and have only used a pick for short accent sections of a few songs.

[@brunobsl]

As a non-bass player, but Green Day fan, I was glad to see this comment. And it actually made me watch more and more bass videos.

[@Biggreasyhotdog]

Mike is the reason i picked up a bass guitar in the first place, he's definitely the stand out part of green day, the backbone of the whole band i really dont think there's a single song from green day where i dont love the bass in it

[@koopakid715]

Being a bass player for 7 years, mike was and still is one of my big influences. First songs i learned from him were sassafras roots and nice guys finish last and holiday

[@TheOrangization]

This man right here is one of my biggest inspirations and influences as a bass player, and his band definitely has made me who I am since I started listening to them as a kid. Thanks for everything, Mike. You are loved

[@jesserooney7191]

My favorite bass player and inspiration as I start to learn how to play bass guitar myself!!

[@adi9880]

please more green day!!

[@jonastjelle7683]

A great bass player!!

[@xandermeadows2792]

He's arguably one of the best bassists out there

[@viniciusmagalhaesdecastro3353]

Best bass player of the punk. November see you in Brazil 😎

[@cptnspicywiener]

Vinícius Magalhães de Castro no dude. Best bassist in punk is 100% Matt Freeman. Karl Alvarez is godly too. Fat Mike consistently makes great bass lines. Rkl had 2 different bass players who were both way better than Mike dirnt. Punk is my thing man and Mike Dirnt is good no doubt about that but not even top 5 bassist in punk in my opinion. And don't even get me started on post hardcore. Mike Watt and Rob Wright are on a different level of bass playing. Mike Dirnt isn't close to any of the guys I mentioned

[@elipsiseffect8822]

Karl Alvarez is one of greatest. Along with Tony Lombardo

[@cptnspicywiener]

Elipsis Effect I wouldn't call Tony one of the greatest but he definitely was solid

[@jpunkabillybayd.7562]

Matt Freeman from Rancid! The shit too. And Flee! From Red Hot chili peppers!

[@TheI3lackPredator]

Don't forget scott shifflet from face to face

[@orangederp]

The best part of this video was seeing that he still has his Gibson G3.

[@adamocoin4678]

I'd love if Mike did a couple lesson videos

[@mh.1.]

Mikes just legendary

[@gonetospace5544]

Love this guy and everything he does

[@pattonPwr]

Great man, great bass player, true artist. Thank you Mike

[@kaduvictor1782]

"Find your moment, y'know" One of the best advices for musicians I've ever seen

[@JswisslolGaming]

what a great bassist, great guy and a great musician.

[@jos9559]

dirnt is a phenomenal bass player, i wish he could be given bass lines present in 1039/kerplunk/dookie/insomniac

[@chasing_dragons]

Mike's playing skills and overall bass tone are so great. Green Day is a nuclear powerhouse of creativity and hard rock greatness. His bass playing in this video was really audible too. Just don't tell Lars, seriously.

[@alexdefatte5202]

He's what makes the trio work

[@emmywillow6599]

Dat tone is so good

[@Goatchild90]

Give this man his flowers please.

[@420scene]

Mike has always been one of my favorite bassists next to Matt Freeman. First time I heard Green Day I wanted to play like those guys and I got my first guitar and bass and the rest was history. I played on the Cobalts but I wasn’t impressed. I love the punch of the Ernie Ball Regular Slinkies.

[@benbradley1475]

He is in my top five most influential. Thank you for dedicating your life to sharing your talent.

[@rbmusic9308]

When you are a bassist and know all the green day bass lines featured in this video

[@drabanddour]

I’m a guitarist, but I cannot lie: I might just switch to bass.

[@guavasmoothie5516]

I'm a bassist but I think any green day fan would know all these bass lines

[@Thirteen31Music]

Not the biggest Green Day fan in the world but this guy is a great player “simple” but such an important part of their sound.

[@caseypayne5138]

Mike is awesome and he comes off as such a genuine, passionate, good person

[@DOMSGUITARS6140]

Mike is an AMAZING Bass player!! There is not one song they have done where the bass does not stand out! His lines r creative,he has AMAZING Background vocals and killer stage prescence. He has it all!!

[@henrybernhardt8433]

THAT TONE!!!!!!!!!! PERFECTION!!!!!!!!!!!

[@shealynknettle9040]

"Oh wow I'm in one of my favorite bands" I think that's so beautiful. Music gave his life a purpose and now he's doing the same thing for kids today. Awesome

[@invalide]

I came to find it about new theories for the structure of the universe through physics. Stayed for the meaning of the universe through music

[@komorebi727]

LSD makes some awesome basslines

[@jeffharder8706]

Konrad Damien Perez like Longview? 😂

[@drabanddour]

Yep.

[@IllBeDARNd]

"and I came home, and Mike was laying on ground naked playing what-would-become the Longview bassline, and I was like 'you better not forget that'"

[@oobernoober7617]

*Tré's tom groove starts playing*

[@prouncecat7119]

@@oobernoober7617 du dun dun Dun du dun dun Dun du dun dun dun Dun

[@yucatansuckaman5726]

Getting earnies on my bass right now. Love em.

[@rb919]

I love what he says about how some stuff he plays sounds simple but it's hard to play & some stuff sounds hard but it's simple to play.. as it kind of points at that not necessarily being the crucial element in deciding what feels right. It seems like a lot of his cool little hooks & nuances are all about coupling parts that are really fun to play with a perfect sense of timing about how it's delivered within the context of the song as a whole. He knows how to stay in his lane and when to pop out of it, and he pretty much always writes parts that are about serving the song and feeding the dynamics in a solid and consistent way. Solid.. that'd be my adjective to describe his style. Super duper SOLID. I've always thought that he has a really graceful way of blending two of my favorite elements of bass: holding up the entire backbone of the song with a chunky dose of root-note thump PLUS knowing when to bust out with some super-sweet melodic business. Bless him : ) PS: his tone sounds incredible !!

[@bennythetree1221]

I CAN'T WAIT TO SEE ALL 4 OF MY DADDIES TOMORROW!!! (Billie, Mike, Tre, and Jason)

[@ryanbazail]

cant wait to watch you guys for the first time on sunday

[@thestopmotionman9]

His intro from Stuart and the Ave blows my mind away

[@the-heads]

I wouldn't pick up a bass if it wasn't for this guy. Absolute Legend

[@robertpurdy4452]

I play GD on my bass every single day. Mike is the reason I got back into bass playing.

[@gaming_means_lag6446]

I play piano, saxophone, clarinet and i'm just starting learning bass. Mike is my role model

[@ChromaKissbyJulia]

Amazing bass player, always and forever love for Mike and Green day

[@mateoaponte7556]

I'm gonna see mike today!!!

[@Zip2461996]

Great respect for him as my first influence! Always fitting and incredible sound.

[@footbawlsamich]

love listening to people who understand the bass, when he said that some guys are lead to the the guys who just wait for that one single moment just rang out so hard.

[@killerxshark]

One of the most underrated bassists of all time

[@Andrew_suspended_in_time]

You and green day's music are the reason why I started playing bass 17 years ago! And I'm still happy to do this as the first day! So thanks a lot!!!

[@matthewbivens697]

My favorite bass player of all time!

[@leonardodirnt2634]

Yes, Mike Dirnt using channel overdrive on Fender Bassman and New strings and pick , good tone , perfect 👌 tone. Mike Dirnt my teacher forever, Léo Dirnt cover Mike Dirnt Brasil 🇧🇷

[@mememan3799]

Genuinely one of the most underrated bass players ever, and one of the reasons i play today.

[@ZVvereVvolf]

Refraining from saying musicians and/or bands “are underrated” is underrated.

[@SadOni12]

Mike is just a great and really underated bass player, he's my favourite

[@heelpayne420]

Best musician in Green Day, in my opinion. Underrated bass player. One of the greats

[@petethescalemodeller6130]

You know its Mike , soon as you hear it .. Awesome Bass player :)

[@regular12filledgatoradebot68]

Yall should totally do some video on Mike Dirnt, and why the theory behind why is playing in the first 4-5 albums is so bouncy. he's easily one of my favorite bassists, and I take a lot of inspiration from him, even when I'm playing in my shoegaze and rock bands

[@glimpus]

I think his Paper Lanterns line he plays live when they sorta break it down is his best thing. He takes something based around straight 16th notes and makes it funky as hell!

[@swiercuu5410]

I love you Mike

[@amaurythewarrior]

listening to the bass stems from the rock band green day game is quite interesting, you really get to hear the little things he talks about, which you don't really notice when you just listen to the song as a whole.

[@leonardodirnt2634]

Mike Dirnt my teacher forever...

[@Altri82]

His early bass lines has more marihuana influence like "80", "No One Knows" or "Stuart and the Ave" just to name a few

[@oscarfranco37]

Stuart and the av. Stuck with me, when i come around

[@TheJoelsr1]

Mike is such a good dude! There is no Green Day without legendary Mike Dirnt!

[@pooyashirazi1991]

much of Green Day's sound come from Bass and Guitar being on a same level creatively and sometimes even close volume-wise. Mike adds lots of melodies, especially in their older stuff. also he is an awesome dude

[@richieinkwell]

You gave Tom Delonge a whole special about his guitars and equipment. You should make one for Mike. He’s so cool and a very underrated bass player.

[@marcocarretero4190]

My bass hero! 🖤

[@trevor3905]

this was filmed right before i saw them at xfinity in hartford! awesome show!

[@micaellariccia4008]

mike you're the best

[@jordanevans3507]

What a legend

[@Nivenization]

Thank you.

[@d-raycitypunk5447]

Mike has great knowledge of music plus he's one of the greatest bass players of all time

[@chump878]

This man inspired me to play bass. Green day rocks!

[@kacperrito21]

Yeah he still rocks

[@sebastiancv723]

Mike dirnt is the best fucking bassist of pop punk!!

[@khr1spykreemes563]

The Campfire Song Test works!-I still Love all of Green Day’s Songs!

[@jcas98jc]

his bass playing on insomniac >>>>>>

[@boberto331]

The most underrated bass player ever. No one notices Mike, but he is one of the best

[@aplaguedoctor406]

He kinda makes it hard to notice him tho

[@wolframheldmaier727]

2017 „I have always played Ernie balls“ . - rig rundown 2013 - his tech only uses fender strings. He how pays the piper calls the tune. Don’t mess with me. A part from this I love Mike. He is a great bass player and Person and an image for my playing

[@devvin]

"...off and on"

[@deadflag7030]

Gotta respect him playing Longview at the beginning

[@podrouzk]

Absolutely love this, thank you!

[@SoundwaveMusic22]

Great tone

[@sashabowers6053]

YAY

[@franckydookie]

Underrated bassist