Greatest Bass Line Ever? Ep4 'Good Times' Chic

[@supermario2100]

The craziest thing about Rapper's Delight is that it wasn't sampled or looped or anything. Bass player Chip Shearin was hired at 17, and had to play the whole nearly 15 minute backing track in one take.

[@IanMartinAllison]

WAIT - is that true?!

[@supermario2100]

@@IanMartinAllison Chip gave an interview in 2010 about it. He said he was paid $70 for his services.

[@0000song0000]

damn... that's steady tempo 😍

[@dannydirt5D]

Holy shit

[@michaellong9278]

I couldn't believe it either. Always thought it felt a little different to the original.

[@brianrookard]

Chic is so underrated because of the proximity to disco ... but people don't realize all the great acts they influenced and helped to produce. Just awesome, so funky.

[@halcop]

I've been telling folks for years that Bernard Edwards is one of the most underrated bass players of all time. People considered Chic a disco band and the crazy anti-disco movement made people not pay attention to his greatness. Folks need to listen to Bernard, Nile Rogers and Tony Thompson. A great rhythm section.🔥🔥

[@nehemiahbass]

Reminds me of this guy kzbin.info/www/bejne/nKHYYYt6ec1msKM

[@CurtisGabrielMusic]

I think he is very well respected among bass players. I think he has done a lot for the Musicman Stingray sales.

[@roninslv]

Great work. Thank you sir.

[@brianfergus839]

Thanks for not employing the overused “criminally” adverb

[@sonjmac1]

This!!!

[@hijmestoffels5171]

Bernard Edwards has been my favorite bass player since I first heard Chic, 45 years ago. Because he is not showing off, but playing only the notes that matter.

[@devinebass]

🧡🧡🧡

[@Iguatemy70]

something that is missing nowadays......"notes that matter".....

[@paulsteezo1772]

Bernard Edwards.... THEN NOW FOREVER!!! R.I.P. MAESTRO

[@restructures]

Minor correction: It was a few months, not years, later that "Rapper's Delight" came out. "Good Times" was released on June 4, 1979. "Rapper's Delight" was released on September 16, 1979.

[@flagelmulti-media7577]

About Friggin' time Bernard Edwards gets the attention he deserves !! He is the reason I became a bassist. I heard " Le Freak ", and that put me on the path of learning about groove and timing..

[@mrbungle7586]

I get what you mean, but this song and Bernard's work and contribution to bass is well documented on YT. This lesson is a bit late, but will help some. There's lots of lessons covering this song that have been around for years. Yep, Bernard certainly knew how to groove and keep it tight and funky. Cheers

[@nehemiahbass]

Reminds me of this guy kzbin.info/www/bejne/nKHYYYt6ec1msKM

[@moi3557]

Bernie Edwards was one of the greats and highly influential.

[@joaocalladomusico]

For me Bernard is the best of all!

[@nathanmitchell1928]

Bernard Edwards' bass line for Good Times is a classic. The kind of line you had to learn back then if you wanted to be a bass player. The combination of Bernard Edwards and Nile Rodgers (another underrated guitar player along with Ernie Isley ---- think rhythm , riffs and timing) made them unstoppable with all the projects they were involved in collectively and individually. Nile Rodgers still makes his mark in popular music today by way of Daft Punk and a current Lizzo track.

[@bobcorn]

Bernhard Edwards and Chic are so great! The footage of him was as far I remember the night he died, his last concert in Japan. R.I.P. his groove is still going on!!

[@markmallinder7618]

I worked this out myself a couple of years ago, but kept discovering other little subtleties in the part that I hadn’t noticed. I always get a massive kick out of playing this bassline. Probably my favourite baseline ever. Thankyou to Bernard Edwards, for his utter genius.

[@strat0871]

Agree. Also the funky guitar part from Nile Rodgers is so great .

[@markmallinder7618]

@@strat0871 Yes, that is also a legendary part. Awesome.

[@SamRoads]

What an enthusiatic, clear-speaking educator you are! Wonderful!

[@marklitherland888]

The enthusiasm is quite infectious :)))

[@H23-z6p]

agree 100%

[@brucesmith9144]

A master of bass minimalism. One note played with the right technique implies a billion more.

[@devinebass]

🧡🧡🧡

[@mikedean8903]

Bernard and Nile left each other so much room to get it on. The best pairing in the history of music. In my humble opinion.

[@georgeabitbol6758]

Bernard Edwards, c'est la classe. Des fois, c'est indéfinissable. Le son, le phrasé… Il a tout. J'aime ce mec.

[@RackwitzG]

Being a kid of the Disco Era, Chic is my all-time favortite band. You can hear Nile Rodgers in many other songs.

[@BenD_Bass]

the little ghost note dropping your hand on the string to the back beat is so helpful too . I do it to every song i play now and it just really helps with timing and rhythm. made me realize ive been playing a lot of songs slightly off lol. so little tutorial has so much useful information in it.

[@hahabass]

Why do I love Mr. Allison so much???

[@ShawnKendall]

Ian fills your heart with joy for bass.

[@sergiobruno5157]

Esa linea de bajo influyó a toda la industria musical durante años . Hasta Queen con " another one bites the dust " . Bernard Edwards es leyenda

[@PushSueAside]

Your whole nerdy happy enthusiastic excitement and love for what music does to you…..is almost more beautiful than the music itself. I just had to say, I love the feeling I get when I watch your videos. You are a gift. On the lucky occasions you release a video like this, I know I’ll watch it many times. MORE VIDEOS PLEASE!!! Btw…No disrespect meant at all by “nerdy”

[@mykemech]

This song taught me that you don't always have to run riffs even when you really want to. Sticking to the line is better in lots of cases

[@JohnUssher-jk2qo]

Nile and Bernie! Magic right there. So much restraint, with sole focus on groove and melody. Incredible band. You guys need to do one of these on 'Everybody Dance', that bassline is so sick.

[@RonSmith472]

Bernard was so frickin cool bro just hangin back in the groove

[@crumpred805]

Ian, people sure loved roller skating to that song!

[@MarcG7424]

This is a prime example of less being more Bernard Edwards and Tony Thompson created a pocket and lived in it. Bernard Edwards made me want to pick up the bass

[@laurentwagner2376]

The perfect bass line example of what the groooove is !!!!

[@murrayneish4695]

Bernard Edwards... Legend!! Well done for a great video. Shows that the sense of time and subtle rhythms transforms a good line into a great line

[@atlas900]

The best tutorial of this bassline

[@devinebass]

🧡🧡🧡

[@dard4642]

Even though it came out in the '70s, it was definitely the most important bassline of the '80s. "Rappers Delight" was the world's intro to rap music; John Deacon intentionally wrote "Another One Bites the Dust" to sound like "Good Times." "Another One Bites.." was a huge hit and got a lot of people interested in Queen who then went on to become musicians because of Queen. Then Duran Duran took over early-80's pop with John Taylor blazing on bass, doing his best to play like Bernard Edwards (when Bernie Edwards died, he left his favorite bass to John Taylor). Duran Duran shaped the direction of 80's pop. Have you ever taken the time to learn a bassline you love so much and you're almost disappointed by how simple it is to play? That's how this one was for me. It's so simple and it's so obvious I can't help but think he just made it up on the spot. This sounds like something I would play when I'm deciding what I'm going to write. I figure out the key, and they just kind of walk up the scale then walk back down a different way and that's really all this is, only with magical flair and perfect touch.

[@TitusB226]

I'm a rookie bass player, and just yesterday I put flats on my Ray 4 bass. Looking forward to learning this iconic bassline. Thanks for the tips!

[@nehemiahbass]

Reminds me of this guy kzbin.info/www/bejne/nKHYYYt6ec1msKM

[@kevinlynch2248]

Yes. Yes it is and this is one of those bas lines that I play all of the time and I occasionally play it to warm up. Love this bass line and that can be said for pretty much every Bernard Edwards bass line.

[@danielpalmersofficial]

Rest in peace Bernard Edwards, he is one of my top favourite bass players!! ✌️☺️

[@ibbumpn]

Watching other people's vids on this bass line and then to see him play it is a great education in tone and feel.

[@pedroavc]

Man! Right now that's the best KZbin series there is. Love the oldies of course, but my favorite ones are the takes on recent releases! What a moment to groove with a bass huh.

[@Saxby8six]

That last clip was Bernards last show. He passed in his Hotel that night from pneumonia RIP the greatest

[@JDeloggia]

We want More Ian Allison!

[@NateInDC]

Every Chic song Bernard Edwards gives a lesson on how to play the bass, he was great, Diana Ross song Now That You're Gone, co-written by Bernard Edward, is the only ballard that you can't help but listen to the bass line, real funky

[@MichaelJohnson-vg1kp]

Ian Marin Allison! Congratulations for doing exactly what you were born to do! Love the energy and legit passion for bass tutorial. You are clear and entertaining and can really play. What more could I ask! Keep up the Juju brother

[@ultramet]

And this is the Basic “101” Intro Course for B’Nard Edwards. Wait til we get to “Everybody Dance” and his “chucking”. Even Chic’s current bass player has to use a pick instead of “chucking” Everybody Dance is a rite of passage for any funk/RandB/dance music bass player. Great video. You have just an incredible ability to teach.

[@bradcanavan]

Appreciate this so much, my personal top 3 are Bernard, Louis Johnson and Leon Sylvers. Please feature Mr. Sylvers, his bass lines are some of the greatest ever in R&B/Dance Music, namely “And The Beat Goes On” he produced for The Whispers on the Solar record label. He truly hasn’t been featured enough.

[@charlesmcgehee3227]

I met Louis Johnson at NAMM one year. He was walking the aisles with a Stingray (of course) bass. He had the end of a silver teaspoon bent into a ring to cover his thumb slap joint. He had a callous there as hard as a rock. It looked like bone. One of Louis best pieces was Rock with You by Michael Jackson. Very melodic piece of art.

[@ryanhale5010]

This bassline really is the GOAT 🐐

[@simontromans2748]

No other comments required

[@gavinjones3637]

Thank you Ian. Not only is this a wonderful break down of a fabulous bass line, but you have also given me the motivation that I need, to get to grips with the modes.

[@jeffthemarshall]

Not sure there’s ever been a sound check where I didn’t play a bit of this bass-line at some point. EVERY TIME, I’ll get a couple of ‘woo-hoo’s from the crew or someone standing nearby. Is this the greatest bass-line ever? Yes. Yes it is.

[@markej4801]

Hi Ian. Yet another great vid that explains more of the joy of bass playing. I love everything being put out at SBL and I so enjoy watching Scott and his antics, but your thrill at playing bass and making it real makes me want to just get to it! Thanks for all that you do and for everything offered @ SBL.

[@grahamcooper2144]

Been playing this since I started bass a year ago. Just discovered I've been playing it WRONG!!!! Many, many thanks. (I always kinda knew I was playing it 'shady but close' - but I seem to have just internalised that and let myself off - Error!) SBL member here - love what you, Scott and Phil Mann do. Huge respect.

[@CyclopeBeatz]

Just the internet makes me having you as a teacher and I’m thankful for that 🙏🏽

[@thrashtilldeath4243]

I ve been playing bass about 5 years and I didn't have a bass Teacher so I was just playing to learn but this year thanks to this channel I get to know a little bit of theory which to be honest helps a lot maybe when I finish university and get a job I will start getting bass lessons

[@milesmossman]

Ghost note - a note that is rhythmic rather than attached to a pitch. Fantastic definition 🤌 Edit: You know what? SUBSCRIBED

[@theamazingperrin]

Flats on a Stingray! Thank you! I think I’m gonna put flats on my stingray soon.

[@nickbudd4535]

This always brings a smile. Both versions of song that used this, plus the various (let's call them) homages to the great Bernard Edward line provided part of the soundtrack to my youth and way before I played the bass and could appreciate the craft. Thank you Ian for the comprehensive run through both of the song, it's history, and the theory that underlines the part. I now know how it should be played and why. Kudos !!

[@danieltorres5238]

Ian Allison thank you, I tried to learn this bass groove for awhile now and you must made it so easy to follow.

[@jodylowe8476]

This is surely one of my fav base lines.

[@gonzalosurvideos]

Yes that's the great bass line everrr!!!

[@dc3470]

i like chic's EVERYBODY DANCE a bit more

[@KM3W]

I have to admit.....I really like your lessons..>!!!!!!!!!!

[@brentmerriam3383]

I love playing this song. Now I can play it correctly. Thanks!!

[@climbingshepherd]

Best tutorial ever, he his feeling it sooo much that he became the bass line 👑

[@josephalvaro5244]

Thanks Ian,I've been tugging a bass since the early 70's and always get a golden nugget from you on your vids. Bernard Edward's work with Chic and Sister Sledge are a master class in groove and taste.Sorrily missed but we're lucky to have so many great recordings. Also a wonderful bassist,who in my opinion doesn't get the recognition he deserves,is Tiran Porter of The Doobie Brothers.Wonderful lines played mainly with a pick."Listen To The Music" is a fine example and tricky to get it right.Love those flats!

[@novacorps2468]

Bernard was also the bassist for the Robert Palmer fronted band Power Station.

[@TheOnlyRagsMorales]

Great vid. I remember being 13 in December and getting a boom box for Christmas. Not a big one… just one speaker for a 13 year old. Anyway, we decided to visit family in Puerto Rico, and I brought my little boom box with me. I had Rapper’s Delight on cassette and played it everywhere. You’d think I was annoying, but EVERYWHERE from the pueblos to the mall; beat boxes. Playing Rapper’s Delight. It was HUGE in ‘79. Anyway, I’m an Aerosmith fan, and Tom Hamilton wrote Sweet Emotion. As the story goes, he wrote it and handed it off to the band to see if they could do something with it. When he came back, they had rearranged it backwards to what he left off. I always wondered what it started off as, and what were the changes the rest of Aerosmith did to it.

[@Boulderbass]

Yes We Can Can - Pointer Sisters or Tony Hall version with Maceo. Tricky little line

[@atldeadhead]

Thanks Ian. I love your videos. You are my favorite teacher on the SBL staff!

[@paulhetheringtonvoice-over]

A good, concise explanation of a classic line. You said in the video to place suggestions for further tracks in the description - I don't know where that is, so I'll place mine here. I don't know if they're well known enough, but... Endicott... or Annie I'm not Your Daddy by Kid Creole and the Coconuts.

[@Napalm6b]

Brave Captain, Fire Hose, Mike Watt's bassline on this song is one of my favorites.

[@jillkeating5608]

I love your enthusiasm its inspiring! and that bass line !!

[@brianb6507]

Thank you for this! My fav bass player of all time. 🙏🏾❤️

[@MarcG7424]

Mine too 👏

[@JeremyPeterson86]

These are among my favorite videos on KZbin. If IMA gets his own channel, I'm subscribing immediately.

[@johnl.6930]

Ian you now are one of my favorite go to KZbin demonstrators/ teachers/explainers dudes!!! Thanks and can’t wait to see what’s next. ✌️❤️

[@markblackstad8705]

I definitely need to put flats back on one of my Stingrays again. Thanks for the lesson Ian!

[@onyxman39]

THAT IS WITHOUT A DOUBT THE GREATEST BASELINE EVER...........PERIOD!!!!

[@kennyroadknight1771]

Been in my head forever now i can play )a version) of it. Super thanks.

[@tcc300892]

These are fantastic videos. Thanks very much!

[@damianrf6309]

Hi Ian Thanks for this lesson. I would like to request one of Duran Duran’s John Taylor’s basslines... Bernard Edwards was a big influence on him. Whilst John is far from a virtuoso improviser, he has written some great lines. I feel he is underrated by dint of the stigma that surrounds Duran, never truly having shaken off the teenybopper, popstar label...To me, the bassline on New Religion is as funky as it gets. He did great work on the Notorious album, which was produced by Nile Rodgers. Many thanks.

[@markmallinder7618]

The bassline in Rio is also awesome!

[@brendanerskine4158]

You can clearly hear the influence on Taylor's bassline in Powerstation's Some like it hot which Edwards produced

[@ultramet]

Rio and Girls on Film (Night Version) are great basslines. Bernard was such an influence on John that Bernard ‘s widow Alexis gifted John one of his Music Man basses after his death.

[@detlefranderath5899]

Oh man Ian, I love the songs you bring us here and the way you explain them and make them understandable. You brought a lot of sun into my very cloudy weekend with this post. Keep it up!

[@harryblue9502]

Infectious enthusiasm....keep up the Good (Times) Work Ian!!

[@zachkaeser8320]

Your enthusiasm is so infectious! Great editing too. Chic is tops.

[@bluz1n]

Here in Brazil, Gabriel O Pensador also sampled the bass line, with his song 2345MEIA78

[@Dickelul]

Gotta love your enthusiasm!💪

[@EphemeralProductions]

I’ve probably said this before on one of the videos with Ian, but he literally could be a TWIN to a guy i know! Same sense of humor, same way of talking, similar voice, and (i kid you not) even a similar face. They even wear similar glasses! It’s like they could be brothers. It trips me out! Lol

[@IanMartinAllison]

I get that a lot lol

[@EphemeralProductions]

@@IanMartinAllison weird. Lol

[@vermintky]

That's crazy I've been playing it in the upper neck 2345 tab r ange.. !! This was WAY EAISER !!! I AM very new to base got it for Christmas and I'm 50 years old ..

[@lesliemason1]

Bravo Bravo Bravo !…. By far the best breakdown of this wonderful wonderful baseline ….!!! Thank you … !!! I’ve not been playing more than 18 months ..but I’m sure that I’m nearly there for the first time -because of your excellent detailed overhaul of this institution of a baseline…. Thank you so much ! 🙏🏾

[@draperaa]

Great lesson, awesome historic bass line. Many thanks Scott!. The details about fingering techniques, ghost notes etc is super valuable.

[@devinebass]

That's actually our guy Ian. But thanks!!

[@gilbertmiddleton9314]

Billy Bass Nelson better by the Pound

[@paulwebendorfer5627]

Loving this series, Ian! Great choices so far. How about we head into some 80's pop rock with Rio by Duran Duran. John Taylor doesn't get enough love for his playing.

[@shermikeman]

I'm gonna have to echo your thoughts on restraint there. For me, if a bassist is pretty basic, and they play something so simple, I ask myself "I wonder if this bassist just isn't that good". But when they prove themselves talented, and they make this kind of decision, then I know it was very much intended and not an indication of their limitations. So cool.

[@angusburgmann7341]

Loving this series, great work Ian! You’ve definitely gotta do a Beatles Macca bass line, Something has one of my favourite bass lines ever

[@0e0]

Bob Clearmountain who recorded/engineered the song is also a bass player and he didn't even comprehend how anyone could even come up with such a genius bassline

[@Iguatemy70]

YES. This IS the Greatest Bassline EVER!

[@FoxSaysWhat]

Thank you thank you thank you! Love this series and the workbooks!

[@MatthewMackiewicz]

Great video - great teacher - great bassline! Thank you!

[@JayDeeChannel]

I love this guy!

[@SombraDeLaMosca]

Another great episode, Ian, thank you =) What's next? "Stomp" Brothers Johnson would be awseome

[@patrickskinner704]

It’s quintessential! Great feature. Gotta add that Flea did a send up on Young MC’s Bust a Move. And I gotta suggest featuring John Taylor of Duran Duran who switched from guitar to bass after hearing good times.

[@stevegolden2201]

Ian, you are a master pedagogue, a joy to behold and your enthusiasm is infectious. Glenn Hughes' catalogue of work, especially with Trapeze, is not discussed in the SBL campus as far as I have searched. Two bass lines in particular you might want to highlight for a future lesson: 'You Are the Music' from the 1972 album You Are the Music...We're the Band, and 'Your Love is Alright' from the 1970 album Medusa.

[@sweetnsourchick1761]

I heard Thelma Houston's "Don't Leave Me This Way" on the radio today and for the first time (in 45 years), I was conscious of the bass line. Wow! That's a great one! How about trying that song on for size, Ian? Let's face it, Soul/Funk/Disco had/has the most iconic bass parts. 👍

[@broskimedula5300]

Disco and funk is to bass what rock is to guitar.

[@sweetnsourchick1761]

@@broskimedula5300 🤘 👍

[@paolozak3014]

An awesome lesson from the Master Bernard Edwards. Groove is King - Huge Respect. How 'bout Jah Wobble's the sun does rise ? Pure groove with a sick twist in the chorus

[@d.j.stachniak4441]

Great vid! Love your enthusiasm!! And yes - one of the greatest baselines ever! And I love Bernard Edwards - one of the greatest bassists ever! Keep up the great work - love it!

[@jenny88keys]

How funny driving on my way to work just now was Good Times on the radio and I thought- this would be an awesome Greatest Bass Lines ever. I go on KZbin and what do find? KZbin is reading my mind. Great video thank you Ian!!

[@brianh.santos9295]

I do really enjoy the video and the PDF workbook is awesome! Please do a full breakdown of queens “another one bites the dust“ with that marvelous bass plucking by John Deacon!

[@devinebass]

Now that's a great idea!! 🧡🧡🧡

[@bradtanner6047]

I would say "iconic" bass line. It's all in the feel.

[@MrNathan791]

As always, you do such a great job in breaking everything down for the viewer to get some understanding to what’s going on with the monster bass lines. Bernard Edwards was one of my favorites back in 79 when I got my first bass. But the very first bass player who inspired me was Jermaine Jackson of the J5. After I found that the bass player on most of their earlier records was Jameson and Babbitt. Needless to say that I was a little disappointed. Anyway what do think about Jermaine as a bass player and if maybe could break some of his live performances playing bass with his brothers. Thanks.

[@rothaarbiker]

Learned this bassline just a few weeks ago from my bass teacher- great stuff! 😎💫