Michael Manring "Helios"

[@tbcass]

I've been playing Bass 36 years. All the other Bass players I've heard I always felt, "well with a little more practice I can do that". After watching this series from this living room concert I'm thinking "even if I had that unique Bass I couldn't live long enough to practice enough do what he does" so I won't even try. I'll just be happy with what skills I possess and admire him from afar. :-)

[@etwl]

@tbcass oh wow youve played 49 years!!!!

[@CEKISBACKmetalTV]

Extreme virtuosity, enormous compositional talent and a good sense of humor ... highest respect for this artist!!!

[@Whirlybird88]

I'm just blown away by this guy... thinking outside the box, doing things you never see, showing how much he's REALLY into this instrument, and can do whatever he wants with it, all the while staying musical and creating a mood & atmosphere that is unique. Just fantastic. I don't get how people can dislike this.

[@zanderzon]

awe-inspiring. every single time i watch it.

[@ArmedBobbery]

o my god, i just heard of this guy. ive been playing for 7 years and now i have another name to add to my influences. this makes me happy to be a bass player. thank you

[@Keyd333]

Amazing. One of my favorite songs, musicians, and people. Michael is beyond great. Awesome version. Thanks a lot for sharing.

[@p.t.mchaineyman3235]

I hate it when people compare musicians to each other like they're comparing cars or something. "So an so totally wipes the floor with this other fella..." Appreciate them for their art/craft. Its music, not a pissing contest.

[@SuperYertleTurtle]

You're right! You can't compare musicians! A musician that plays more technical stuff isn't better than a musician that plays stuff you can play at home. Like many of the newer songs from Phish. You can play Mike Gordons part but creating those bass lines and integrating them in the song isn't always as easy as it might seem. Or Ringo from the beatles. Every drummer that has played for a few years can almost play every beatles song. But it's about what's right for the song/music. Having the feeling to do so makes you good.

[@adityatyagi4009]

Very mature approach. People engaging in comparing musicians to another are at a very low level of spiritual development. Higher evolved beings focus on the vibe, groove, and what the music means to them. They aren't worrying about all these foolish "comparisons" which accomplish nothing in the end.

[@plaguedoct0r]

It can be both. In a way I kinda agree with you, but I severely disagree with trying to dictate how other people should enjoy things. If it's fun for them to turn it into a pissing contest, then let them do it and be happy that other people are happy.

[@ILoveHandles]

I can't say I disagree, but a lot of the time in my experience, it is less of a pissing contest and more of people exchanging who some of their favorite virtuosos are. Perhaps I've just been fortunate. I've also discovered a lot of amazing musicians I'd have never heard of if not for such "pissing contests". So in the spirit of that, Manring is right up there with Victor Wooten, Jaco Pastorius, Marcus Miller, Les Claypool, and more stellar bassists besides, for me. I'm happy to have been able to discover and enjoy those artists, even if people were having "pissing contests" in order for me to have heard of half of them. Didn't always have the good ol algorithm to rely on, y'know.

[@aguythatisasa]

Oh and this song is kick ass...I saw Michael Manring at High Sierra Music Festival a few years ago and he played this song (among many) and it freakin kicked my ass.

[@pizzicato16]

This blows me away. I am agog, aghast, flabberghasted, and overwhelmed. His name even has MAN in it, cause he is the man.

[@GodelsPrison]

His originality runs deep. Amazing talent; terrific song.

[@RedCapicua]

Thank you Michael for sharing your genius, creativity and soul within your music. This is pure pleasure !

[@AndreGrandier]

I've watched this video in the greatest state of amusement ever... even Steve Bailey'd be in pretty serious trouble when trying to cover this guy. Simply amazing...

[@Iliketacos091]

KZbin community! Take lessons from this guy. You, sir, are one of the good people on youtube. That you can say you didn't like it but you respect the guy and his talent is awesome. Check out his song "Selene." I think you might like that a little better since it's much more melodic.

[@thoughtlesmind]

He came and played at my high school today at lunch he is amazing in person

[@RepeatedFails]

I could watch this every fucking day

[@wayner396]

i love watching musicians faces when they really get into there art. :-D totally loved it :-D

[@slapppa]

Just when you thought the fretless couldn´t be made any more original sounding after Jaco, along came Michael Manring! Stunning, a TRUE master!

[@tonygaruba424]

he was a student of his

[@zanderzon]

His right hand is just incredible: it's like each finger has a mind of its own...

[@alvaro.makes.music1]

Like octopi!

[@bonzelite]

one-man rhythm section!! he uses the entire instrument! the whole thing!!!

[@baronvonsatan]

I'm less than 1:30 into it and already this is both the best and scariest thing I have ever seen in my life. D: Holy crap this is good.

[@ryanchappell1745]

this guy isn't comparable to Wooten as a bass player; they play completely different, but are both still absolutely masterful at what they are doing. and at the end of the day when it comes down to bass playing, Feel and groove is everything!

[@coeball]

I am speechless.

[@tobybailey1285]

wow! What an awesome picture of trees behind Michael. Just great framing and composition. ; )

[@baptistewxpolpodcast3339]

The groove and the rattle on that low string!!

[@Mountaincold1]

I think of a childhood game called spyro the dragon when this man plays.

[@ryansilke]

the detuned harmonic at 0:49 is divine.

[@Rhiannon0423]

That was awesome.His use of harmonics is unreal.

[@RobertBrtka]

One of the Best bass players on the world !!!! RESPECT !!!!

[@Toxeensynth]

One thing that I love in Manring is actually that he smiles when he plays, like he's enjoying it a lot...

[@dmholman]

Dude is freaking amazing. I read an article that says he uses "only" around 40 different tunings when he's playing his Zon Hyperbass. 4 hip-shot machines on the headstock, two bridge levers and a 3 octave fingerboard. Crap.

[@davymartinez]

I'd love to see this guy live, no shit!

[@TheVinnie3]

penso che non ci sia da fare niente x nessuno.... manring e' semplicemente il piu' grande!!!!!! PAZZESCO

[@squiresuzuki]

@shzindenPL Well it has 4 strings but this special "hyperbass" as he calls it not only has tune droppers on the headstock, but also in the bridge. So basically he can drop the tuning to a low B with the flick of a switch, or drop the entire tuning of the bass down a whole step with a flick of a switch.

[@erikmongrain]

My god. Manring kicks so many asses. His use of false notes/false harmonics is brilliant.

[@ShuKatashSam]

I'm a bassist and having seem him play this song several times in person, he's spot on and it's intense in person.

[@bassswings]

mammamia ! i heared DARK FUNK for the first time of my life ... tankyou manring for sharing ......

[@jacobcs]

hes deffinently got a different and out there everything, his bass, his style, his emotion, his sound, its all crazy but its so fun to listen too.

[@ginopezzini]

Fenomeno. Mai visto suonare un basso in questo modo. L'ho conosciuto solo oggi dietro indicazione: Questo è l'Hendrix del basso fretless.

[@more_me_than_I_am]

looks like he can utilize 100% of his brain.

[@WTHFX]

+curlyback he's a computer of the universe on a usb stick.

[@twentyeighthunnid]

My mind... melted? What a man.. and what a bass!

[@ronaldmcdonald333]

when you're not playing your bass your bass is playing it's michael manring.

[@LukeSniper]

I agree. I don't know of any bassists that have as unique of a technique as Manring. I also love the variety you get in his recordings. Jazz, pop, metal, and really really strange stuff. He does it all!

[@taps87]

this man is god of the bass

[@daave3]

i get the distinct sensation that when he pulls that lever to retune that beast, it's like pulling down to second gear in a lamborghini for him! LOL. LOVE IT!

[@wizman440]

Actually, he uses (according to his website) D'Addario Electric Bass XL Nickel Wound Piccolo Bass Long, .020 - .052, EXL280

[@bakkersyx]

best player alive he and pastorious are legends but he still alive watch him play live its a gift!!!

[@tatt4music]

He probably has the most unique style of playing.Just makes you wonder how he came about and developed his style.I love how much fun he is having still playing after all these years!!

[@JonP1961]

Saw him live with McGill & Stevens. I simply had never heard sounds like that come out of ANY instrument before. Pushing the digital and the analog (his digits ;) into some alternate extra-terrestial soundscape... Utterly Progressive, in the 'groundbreaking' definition of the term. To take an instrument that's been around for a good while and push it into a whole new realm of experience. YEAH!!!!

[@lummond]

His intonation plainly and simply defies criticism.

[@saltyjon42]

Great tune in general. Manring's so incredibly talented, I have no doubt he'd be able to play anything and everything.

[@DeathFan94]

i LOVE this DUDE!!! :))))

[@JerichBlakk]

who says a bass guitar cannot be a solo instrument? this proves them wrong..his harmonics are insanely good....

[@Hellfytr77]

Could you imagine trying to write tab for this kind of stuff. Manring ripps!

[@pappgergelymatyas693]

stunning.

[@wizman440]

You're right, the creator of this bass is a genius- Manring designed it himself.

[@FJUWANA]

Stop comparing bassists! It's like comparing Apple and Oranges! They are different in so many ways, I love Flea for his crazy funk and so much attitude in his licks. Michael Manring on the other hand, he explores and always trying new ways to play bass! Very creative, and I feel in peace everytime listening to his Stuff!

[@rustyjames6971]

what's the next step higher than musical genius? this is it.

[@chuckinator13]

Absolutely terrifying....I'm speechless. Basses for sale....Cheap... A MONster of a player

[@ellhow]

Incredible tone, incredible playing.

[@BryanMaxDobberstein]

The main features of the Hyperbass; Graphite neck (generally stronger and more stable than a wood neck) 3 octave fingerboard (the equivalent of 36 frets, most basses have 20-24) Hipshot bass D-Tuners (if you watch his left hand when its up behind the headstock, the reason the tuners seem to be swaying in the breeze is that each tuning key has a switch that allows on to easily tune a string to two different notes.)

[@pieterjanoddens]

Wow, original is the word! Manring's compositions sound like a journey into space! Too much going on for one mind!

[@briandickinson5403]

There are so many awesome bass players out there that it's not fair to compare them to each other, they all have their own style. You also have to look at what type of music they play. A jazz fusion player might be more technical than a rock or heavy metal player but it's really all about personal taste. I'm a bass player myself and as awesome as someone like Billy Sheehan is I'm more of a Geddy Lee fan. He may not be as technical as Billy but the fills he uses in his bass lines kick ass. Just enjoy bass for what it is, the backbone of the song!!

[@zanderzon]

very true, he is the man. but is he actually a man... don't you have to be human first? i'm not sure he's of this world. manring = legend

[@vincenzodestasio229]

Mostruoso

[@Nickmendez]

Wow how true. I never would have thought of that.

[@jordanmiller42]

He's so modest in real life that I'm glad he shows off a bit :) I think he's earned it. And comments about timing errors? "If I don't know how to count it, then is must be wrong, amirite?"

[@SonOfVulkan]

What an amazing performance...

[@bandicoot5412]

Inspiring

[@TheGilmer]

Wooten, Sheehan, and Manring definitely top my list of favorite bassists. :D

[@stefanobasso617]

Best compoer, incmpreso, than 40 yold. But actually n°1 in avvsolutley evry camp. Geniusof 21°centry. there can be onlyon and this is Michel andtousend centre of our soul. Thank my bright who can se we the way 4 future.

[@applesauceman3555]

Makes me thing of an 80s movie where you are inside technology surfing through the codes and the electricity. Just my thought :)

[@patrickselden5747]

Yeah... ☝️😎

[@mspainthero]

The smile on his face says it all!

[@JohnnyHelzja]

i get my hyperbass this month and OMG im gonna try for the life of me to learn this song. The energy in it is overwhelming x0xBluntmanx0x

[@contrabone]

Awesome, congrats and good luck!

[@Superterrestrial]

They're both unbelievable.

[@B455PL4Y3R]

His rhythm is just fantastic

[@ryanbristow6868]

My fingers almost fell off watching it my lord

[@MrStrangeSensation]

@SpaceVulcan I dont know about. I feel very strongly that Manring is on a higher level of talent and connectedness with his instrument than almost ANY other bassist, not just Claypool. I'm pretty sure Manring could play anything Claypool can, but I'm not sure it would work the other way around. I am absolutely a fan of Les, I'm not bashing him at all. But in a way I have to agree with you; everyone has their own style/sound and it's not easy to reproduce it, even if you are Michael Manring.

[@vincenzodestasio229]

Unico genio

[@terriblecrayon]

Jaw is on the floor. What a GOD

[@LastKingdomX]

Holy shit!!! The fucking computer took my mind to the Tron`s world during this song. Only very talented musician can create this kind of music. This man is fucking freak!!!

[@miroslavzivkovic1658]

0:40 that tone !!! brutal

[@lexusmaxus]

That's got to be ultimate bass hyper solo

[@Safabox]

Please, Michael, teach me!!!

[@ryansilke]

I like how at 7:22 he comes back into the main riff, but its been tuned wrong...you can see it in his expression, so first chance he gets he tunes it right...I can't imagine keeping track of tune changes!

[@XtuluTheInkaKing]

Mostly musicians forget that "skill" isnt everything. As a bassplayer I see this guy here playing like a damn god. But for a non musician it may become quite boring or isnt enjoyable as e.g. someone playing songs on a westernguitar beside a campfire. And if you pick Flea.. he isnt as "good" as this guy, but im pretty sure he doesnt even want to, cause for him it is more about playing as a bandmember, entertainment and emotions, not only technical skills. And for goosebumps they arent necessary

[@stereoroid]

I think he's showing ff a little on THIS specific track, but so what? You can see the other pieces from the same gig where he's not showing off, such as The Enormous Room or Adhan. MM also plays with other musicians a lot, and always locks the beat down, so the other comments about "timing errors" are bogus.

[@RxDoctorDaddy]

Music is art. Jumping up and down like a rapper is not even 25% of what this guy can do artistically on his bass.

[@unclehardware]

Wow! His technical ability is off the hook. I like the harmonics and tone. The song itself isn't my style but that doesn't mean I can't appreciate the work of an excellent fellow bassist. I'd like to explore more in this direction, with the tapping and harmonics and all.

[@artbasss]

amazing!!!!!

[@Leotheleprachaun]

@moondancer33 FINALLY! a guitarist who appreciates the beauty and complexity of the bass! thank you! if only more big-headed guitarists were like u we wouldn't have all this useless arguments on how the bass is a backing instrument, like does nobody remember the 70's and 80's? some of the best music had crazy funky bass-lines and the GUITAR was the backing instrument. so to all u ppl who think the bass is pointless, go listen to some funk music or ANYTHING that's not simple rock

[@Andraleia]

Oh my GODDESS

[@MrShake77]

@LeopoldGold1 100% with you on that...it's not color...it's the person...it's the attitude...the dedication. Best wishes!

[@Umut.E]

I prefer to see this guy as a scientist more than a musician.what he doing is can not be explained by any music teaches or theories...it is really beyond the notes and all possible musical combinationes... by the way, whoever thought to build that bass guitar, I really preciate the idea behind it.this bass guitar is like a great enginearing product of a genious brain... people are not born as the same...mr. manring is living proof of the unfair creation of human beeing :) he is unique...

[@abscrete]

manring is fking insane lol great the only pity is that the sound comes from a mic in the room which makes the sound and definition of what he is playing a bit dull i would love to listen to this from a recording done in a computer, dat or what ever but non the less very cool !!!!

[@zliderr]

one of his best

[@Travybakersk8er]

one word...maestro...*low decibel lingering background fart* sorry guys, i chose this video over arduous defication =P

[@fearcross]

He's using artificial harmonics. And correct, that bass is fretless. Basically all the notes from a fretted bass are present on the fretless, you just cannot see them when they are not lined. Harmonics can still be done, if not easier in my opinion on a fretless bass.

[@Mr.SpaceBurger]

@ZxMUTILATORxZ I would love to see myself with 1/50 the amount of talent he has. Quite honestly this song is a technique show off for him. It speaks to the audience "Look what I can do!". While it is amazing, it is garbled, raw, and lacking in structure in comparison to songs like "Selene" and "Monkey Businessman". I'm sure the intent of this song is not to be a thing of beauty, but a thing of power, skill, and flaunt. He is surely entitled to it, no doubt.But it still sounds like farts