How to play like Roger Waters of Pink Floyd - Bass Habits - Ep 45

[@kennet7837]

6:05 David Gilmour is credited with fretless bass on "Hey You". I would have instead highlighted the bass intro of "Let There Be More Light". Roger's playing was a bit more adventurous on their early albums.

[@floydrockcafe]

That´s probably what he plays in the footage starting around 0m:11s

[@kennet7837]

@@floydrockcafe Yep!

[@andrewpappas9311]

Oh yeah, that song is definitely one of Roger’s coolest bass riffs

[@kennet7837]

@@MrFrankHolliday Well, I own The Wall physically on CD and it credits Gilmour with bass guitar, albeit without specifying which tracks. What about later album credits? "Hey You" has been featured on some compilations. Furthermore, we've seen examples in the past of musicians going uncredited for instrumental parts they played. What we do know for sure is that the song in question features a fretless bass. Gilmour was asked about this in a 1992 interview with Rock Compact Disc magazine: Did you play the fretless bass on "Hey You"? 'Yeah. Hmm. Roger playing fretless bass? Please! (laughs)'

[@AllianceOfCalgon]

Your analysis of bass players is fascinating. Top stuff. Learning a lot.

[@WilliamSullivan-uv1ht]

Don't forget, he used Rotosound Jazz flats on the albums. He's apparently switched to Swing Bass strings for his current live set up.

[@georgecovetskie6717]

Yes, I tried many a strings and always seem to come back to Rotosound strings.

Hey You was supposedly played by Gilmour on his fretless, but this was another excellent video nonetheless!

[@yodapagoda6417]

That's right, he also played fretless bass for "Pigs (Three Different Ones)".

[@halmycroft194]

Oh interesting!

[@Morgyborgyblob]

@@MrFrankHolliday OK, so Gilmour played a fretted bass on Pigs.

[@CarazyDiamond]

So technically correct but that's not the whole story here. Both Hey You & Pig (Three Different Ones) Roger has already played the and constructed the baselines. Especially on Pig (three different ones) where Gilmour himself said that during the recordings Roger just reversed the role in the studio and recorded the rhythm guitars and let David record the bass. Although during the concerts Roger was already playing the bass during the DSTOM concert when the song was in the developing stage. Same goes for Hey You, where Roger just left David to play and record in the studios. This also clearly shows that Roger in his own rights careless about who would finish the job as long as its done according to his demos shared with the band. And for Hey You, David said once I finished recording the my guitar parts so picked up the bass and recorded the entire song as he would do it more quicker than Roger - who would take more time. One of the reasons David got the credits for Hey You.

[@BullyMaguire4ever]

@@CarazyDiamondanother time post fall out, David said Roger could never play fretless and laughed at the idea.

[@halloweenfiend666]

Waters vintage tone actually was quite trebley… at least live. Most likely fresh flat wounds every show or something like that. He didn’t go “tone rolled off” until he started playing solo. Especially live, his tone is much different than back in the Floyd days. I used to listen to many old bootlegs from way back then.

[@rustyshackleford4761]

I love it some bootlegs his playing sounds like thunder and lightning

[@ZERONETWORK0]

I think his older sound is so much more trebly because he used to use Rickenbackers, switching to the Fender in the early 70s

[@andrewpappas9311]

I’ve been asking for Roger for awhile so I’m definitely happy to see a video on him, he’s definitely one of my favourite bassists and is a fantastic musician and songwriter

[@emilio8381]

Waters is a great Artist and extraordinary Man, God bless him

[@redgamer821]

The bass on "Hey You" was played by David Gilmour, like quite a few other songs on The Wall.

[@sirisoj]

Atom heart mother: the bass line between 3:40 and 4:20 and again between 20:10 and 21:05 is sublime and always catch me. Maybe the best job from Waters.

[@markbarrett4440]

I love the story that Roger and Nick had to record the bass and drums in one epic, continuous 23 minute take because EMI were reluctant to let them cut the quarter inch master tape 🤯

[@Trobtwillis]

This video is less than 7 minutes long, so I don't know how to listen to the second pair of time stamps which you cite. The first pair of time stamps features "Echoes," not "Atom Heart Mother."

[@BullyMaguire4ever]

@@Trobtwillis search for the song atom heart mother and go to those times. They aren’t supposed to be time stamps for this video.

[@Trobtwillis]

@@BullyMaguire4ever Oh, got it. Thanks! 👍🏻

[@mikewilson3581]

Roger inspired me because he wasn't a virtuoso on the bass. If he can do it, so can I. How about doing one on Jamie Stewart (formerly) of The Cult? He did play on their classic 80's albums.

[@surfstrat59]

Roger is my favorite bass-player! When he left Pink Floyd, they lost that abstract darkness...

[@SomeNiceChips]

Gilmour played the bass before waters left so they didn't lose anything bass wise. Guy prat who joined later on is considered a better bass player

[@YinWhoo-zx2sz]

Roger is a grand concept designer and songwriting lyrical master.

[@semi-decentmontages7906]

⁠@@SomeNiceChipsonly dogs and hey u supposedly. And no one thinks guy Pratt is better than waters

[@SomeNiceChips]

@@semi-decentmontages7906 you've been sleeping under a rock then, he played on pigs, confortbly numb, one of these days, young lust, potentially alot of dark side aswell. Guy pratt as a bassist is way better in every way (listen to pulse) then waters so I don't know how you can say waters is better. Look at the list of people he's played with

[@weezergreenalbum]

@@SomeNiceChips one of these days was not infact played by david gilmour

[@guvanor66]

Thanks for this video, it's very useful

[@Farewelltokingz]

Roger used a lot of phaser on “Gates of dawn” era jams.

[@ThePosrein]

I’ve really enjoyed these types of videos on your channel. I’ve learned a lot. Thanks!

[@thomasfioriglio]

I love this series. Great job with this Paul. I love how you emphasized how he does what a bass player should and plays to the song. Nothing flashy, just a P bass and solid playing. It's playing like his that attracted me to the bass in the first place. Looking forward to the next episode. Maybe one on Adam Clayton.

[@junkhead_92]

John McVie of Fleetwood Mac could be a cool one to make

[@AustinAlso]

Underrated bassist!

[@lilmelvin11]

Yes, please!

[@achilles1977]

Yeah just make sure you especially cover the Peter Green years

[@Trobtwillis]

Yeah! ❤ Mac & Fleetwood.

[@andreasschneider8556]

Hey Paul! You summed it very good!

[@furyomori3896]

Apart from David Gilmour, I have never really been struck by the the musicianship of the others. I have never disliked them, but never thought of them as outstanding musicians. However, years ago I was walking in the street and heard in the distance a Pink Floyd cover band playing. The drummer was hitting hard with no dynamics, terribly flatting the song. That helped me understand that if Pink Floyd songs are so nice, it is also thanks to the fact that Mason, Waters and Wright knew perfectly what to play and what NOT to play. So, I completely agree with your assessment.

[@Trobtwillis]

Yeah, there's plenty of flashy music which I love, but there's some simpler music which I also love. I would describe much of my favorite music as: complex enough to be interesting, but simple enough that you don't need a Ph.D. to enjoy it. I hear that in a lot of Pink Floyd's music.

[@Trobtwillis]

There are some Floyd recordings with 2 bass guitars. "One of these Days" has 2 bass guitars going at the same time. One was performed by Rog while the other was performed by Dave. Together they made a really cool sound. At the end of "Pigs (3 Different Ones), there are 2 bass guitars going. I believe that the lower one which anchors down the chords was performed by Rog. The higher bass guitar part which accents everything with broken octaves was performed by Dave.

[@FederinzC]

Thanks for the video. Roger was a solid bass player, what he did was often simple but structural and fit so well the band. Gilmour though apparently reproached him, in the later years in Pink Floyd, of not working and improving on his instrument more, as Roger probably focused more on other things (lyrics, business, artistic leadership, private life ...). One Of These Days, Pigs, Hey You and a few other tracks had Dave contribute a more musical bass part. It's curious, since Roger had such melodic "à la McCartney" inventive basslines in the early years. I suppose after Syd's era the band's material called for a different approach and he probably felt being more of a singer-songwriter than a crafty musician.

[@FederinzC]

@@MrFrankHolliday I'm sorry but you're misunderstanding, It is not about Gilmour/Waters factions or Pink Floyd's overall sound. The video is about Waters' bass playing in Pink Floyd, the comments about when Gilmour recorded a bass part are mostly from other bass players who are fascinated by history and technique of these songs. It is interesting that some memorable parts were not recorded by Roger himself, that's all. My own comment is not intended as diminutive of his playing and role in the band either. He played magnificently on "See Emily Play", was rock-solid live at Pompeii, on Animals he preferred to track rhythm guitar on some songs instead of bass. That's fine and fascinating. I'm well aware of his wide artistic visions, the guidance he tried to give the band during uncertain times and how interested he was in sounds (screeching vocals, synths, soundscapes, ... ). He's a all-round artist whereas Gilmour is mainly an accomplished guitar player. The fact that David tracked some bass parts does not exclude Roger from the picture, despite the differences they worked together and they surely decided together how to arrange the song and which sounds to look for. About 80's Pink Floyd, it's clearly a different beast but since the subject here is Roger as bass player, I was referring only to the period he was in the band. And again, not commenting the whole band's sound and direction. I'm sorry that my comment gave you the wrong impression, I'm a Pink Floyd fan that learned to play bass listening to Roger play. And I'm in no faction game that the band's fan community seems to exceed in. All the best and cheers from Switzerland!

[@brickwalljoen.y.c9514]

How about a bass habit video of Noel Redding of The Jimi Hendrix Experience.

[@robbykiss7609]

Juan Croucier from Ratt would be a good one too!

[@joedecker3900]

🤣

[@jamesrusso2523]

Thanks, Love this one.

[@louischristle5379]

Can you do bill wyman of the Rolling Stones?!?

[@Richard-deValmont]

Interesting that you give Phantom of the Opera as an example of a similar style, the riff was lifted from Echoes

[@jacobmeyers3446]

Mike Herrera- MxPx

[@donnix768]

It is interesting to think of Roger Waters as merely a bass player. He is the mind and genius behind Pink Floyd’s best work Although I am surprised to hear that Gilmour played bass in the studio besides “hey you.” What albums or tracks did Gimour play on??

[@MrFrezer22]

I heard he played fretless on Pigs (three different ones)

[@FederinzC]

If I recall correctly, Gilmour added a bass part on One Of These Days, him with roundwound stringed bass (the bright percussive one that stands out) and Roger with his usual flatwounds. On Pigs Roger played rhythm guitar and Dave did the whole track on fretless. There were a few more I can't remember, but apparently Gilmour stepped in occasionally but almost regularly from Wish You Were Here (album) onwards.

[@kennet7837]

Gilmour also played bass on "Young Lust", "Sheep" and "Fat Old Sun" (on the latter Gilmour played every instrument except organs which was done by Wright).

[@donnix768]

@@kennet7837 Kind of like Billy Corgan playing a lot of the bass parts in smashing pumpkins instead of bassist Darcy Wretzky on studio albums. I’m sure Roger could have played those parts but Gilmour could track them faster.

[@thomlichtenberg6765]

In the early days he played a Rickenbacker and I think his tone is quite unique especially on Atom Heart Mother. But you're the expert...

[@matsgoalkeeping2448]

He Did! When his Rickenbacker bass he always used the bridge horshoe pickup muted

[@acfrise5974]

Would love to see a video on mike mills of rem

[@docnutriales6414]

Could you talk about Kim deal or lou barlow?

[@SO-ym3zs]

Great series! How about Ed King/Leon Wilkeson of Lynyrd Skynyrd and Chris Squire of Yes?

[@georgecovetskie6717]

Waters did what was needed for the song and allowed evryone else to insert their parts to create color . Great player in my opinion.

[@kameronwraithd.k.5363]

Could you make a video of Interpol´s former bassist, Carlos D?

[@Md75897]

+1 to this

[@maddoxandhisband9146]

its funny that you use phantom of the opera considering they directly stole that riff from pink floyd 2:35

[@spencerrobertson4275]

I'd like to see Carlos Dengler of Interpol in this series :)

[@halmycroft194]

I'd push back a bit on the 'standard P-bass tone'. Waters often used a much more 'present'/bright tone than that might imply, also his use of modulations and delays puts that description out of mind for me. Personally, I'm very fond of his playing on Animals - at the time where one UK music magazine or other wrote them off as 'Punk Floyd'... which I actually think was something of a backhanded compliment. Without Waters' bass on that album it's hard to imagine PiL, Magazine, Joy Division, Fields of the Nephilim, or The Sisters of Mercy. But Waters can also do that old-school, flatwound-sounding/muted goodness. I love how that comes out on Piper At The Gates of Dawn.... and then is promptly replaced by Let There Be More Light on the opening of Saucerful Of Secrets which feels much brighter and got ripped off by Placebo :)

[@CuyToro]

Please do a Klaus Flouride video 😩

[@kameronwraithd.k.5363]

Talking about this century´s bassists, can you make a video of Chris Slorach (METZ) or Pavel Koslov (Molchat Doma)?

[@GSDEYNRA]

Great as always Paul 👌 what strings do you use in this vid ?

[@dannydirt5D]

One of these days has to my best waters handywork

[@izaakdaviddiggs]

You should do one on Simon Gallup

[@britishfellow962]

fun fact the bass for "Hey You" was actually done by David Gilmour and he used a fretless bass

[@Md75897]

Carlos Dengler of Interpol please

[@Uroste]

Careful with that axe eugene is also a fine way for bass practice

[@ramonemiliogomezjorge8557]

Can You talk about his effects?

[@anycoversyoulike8649]

Great video ! But why you don"t talk to all the hammer which roger do ? I think it's the biggest signature of waters but nobody talks to this, and it's weird because roger do hammer really often in the pink floyd's songs and we can hear that easily... For example "Atom Heart Mother". It must be the better example

[@browndog171063]

In the early days he was more active on the bass. Check out See Emily Play.

[@paul-michaelgobitas3574]

Carlos Dengler?

[@JohnsonJonesMusic]

It's actually really easy to play like him. Just scales. But to create good songs is something totally different.

[@URBANxSKULLS]

Bruce foxton of the jam please

[@SilasBellino]

Gilmour actually played bass on Pigs

[@tnsaturday]

Colead songwriter? He wrote them all!!!

[@MichaelGoodridge-t4m]

David gilmour played most of the bass on recordings especially when the bass is more than very simple

[@rodrigod3349]

Great video, you should do the next one of Bruce Foxton from the Jam, he's style is very unique

[@RaulDuke773]

Yes!!! Very underated bass player

[@tielzebob]

Its ironic that you used Phantom of the Opera as an example of a horror theme when Lloyd webber stole that part from Echoes by Pink Floyd

[@RicardoRivera-rv2me]

That is a lie, Sorry, but I think Andrew Lloyd Weber does not need to stole anything...... If you were musician, you would understand that both melodic lines are absolutely different. Clearly you aren't.

[@dabhidhm4093]

@@RicardoRivera-rv2me The bass line in Echoes contains an descending/ascending chromatic line that is virtually exactly like Phantom Of The Opera, albeit in a different key. When the Floyd played Echoes live, the guitar often did it too, eschewing the more complex line that the guitar plays on the recorded version. Roger has accused Weber of stealing it for Phantom, although as far as I know he's never taken action over it. For my part, I doubt that Weber actually stole it, it's just a coincidence.

[@sirisoj]

@@RicardoRivera-rv2me "I think Andrew Lloyd Weber does not need to stole anything" sounds like am "Appeal to Authority" thing but it's ok.

[@wr7662]

​@@RicardoRivera-rv2me It is the same melody.

[@Squarer67]

Just surround yourself with musicians who can play and try to remember to move your lips in time with the tape?

[@neoaeonmusick]

I want to know all of Rogers tricks about how to be a musician when you're not really a musician

[@Phaidrus]

Form a band of the caliber of Pink Floyd, then compose similar stuff to what he has composed, and you'll find out.

[@NoNo-iv2zo]

Can you make a video on the bassist in Mr.Bungle? (exs song: Girls of Porn) Just a request

[@ak47dragunov]

Waters did not play on Pigs

[@juhos30000]

Indeed. Gilmour played bass on that whole record

[@T-Dawg-lp2sh]

@@juhos30000 except dogs I think

[@dwissba68]

@@juhos30000 No he did not play bass on that whole record.

[@fsolisiii]

Dogs=Roger The rest=Gilmour

[@PaulDelBelloYT]

👉 Get a 'More Bass' t shirt: www.pauldelbello.com/shop/ ⭐ Don't forget to follow me on instagram: 👉 instagram.com/pauldelbello_/ ⭐ Support my work with a PayPal donation: 👉 www.paypal.com/cgi-bin/webscr?cmd=_s-xclick&hosted_button_id=5FBW9J5CWRNUQ&source=url ⭐ Support my work checking out my band: 👉 kzbin.info/www/bejne/aJrRdaeImNqra9U

[@dennisneo1608]

Hey You was played by David Gilmour!

[@thrashtilldeath4243]

Do paul mccartney please People like if you agree with me

[@RossW-z6s]

Most of the decent bass on Pink Floyd albums was Gilmour anyway. Waters drifted from half decent to a plonker, in every sense.

[@neoaeonmusick]

Roger's bass technique is trying to steal David Gilmour Thunder during that one crucial note in his guitar solo LOL

[@wr7662]

What are you talking about?

[@PerezBroz-p5o]

I've aleays thought it strange to categorize Roger as a bass player.

[@CJC15]

But Hey You was Gilmour. Waters didn't even know how to play fretless. LOL

[@manofocean]

He played fretless on “Pillow of Winds”

[@KZombi6]

Lots of bass record Gilmour ,Waters isnt that good bassist than you think

[@dogcowrph]

Roger just can’t sing any longer.

[@maddoxandhisband9146]

its funny that you use phantom of the opera considering they directly stole that riff from pink floyd 2:35