How to play like Alex James of Blur - Bass Habits - Ep 51

[@PaulDelBelloYT]

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[@TheBEATLEnumber5]

Alex and Graham are both deeply underrated in their respective instruments.

[@lucianogoyenechea8704]

no they re not

[@robertjamesonmusic]

@@lucianogoyenechea8704yea they are

[@1500in1dayPLS]

@@lucianogoyenechea8704 They are

[@aragusea]

I feel like this is your best yet - so practical, informative, clear, accessible, tight. Informational content doesn't get better.

[@harrisonbailey6018]

I didn’t think I’d see you here Adam

[@bibbyboxx2219]

Adam Ragusea is a Blur fan???

[@cowsareawesomex]

Thanks for gifting me with your cooking lessons papa 🙏🔥

[@netlean9081]

i like your lasagna recipe

[@JeffPenaify]

I didn’t know you played bass

[@nicolaszappa8093]

Alex James is very overlooked for some reason although he has one of the smartest bass playings in rock music history. Nice video :)

[@dpphillips7497]

you spelt overrated wrong.

[@alexsaynor6717]

@@dpphillips7497 Explain why. Girls & Boys and Entertain Me are examples of brilliant bass lines. Who has overrated him?

[@cortarelva]

Blur were always leagues ahead of Oasis musically. I can still listen to them today and enjoy their music and that one thing I cant do with Oasis without getting bored real quick.

[@SeanSMST]

Oasis rock heavily for the casuals, lead guitarists and drummers. Otherwise, there's not much interesting about them. With Blur, Graham and Alex alone make them worthwhile listens. They're so good. Damon adds some lyrics on top, and Dave keeps generally a straight enough rhythm to the whole thing. Damon's vocals and Dave's drumming aren't the best in the world, but they complement the guitar and bass beautifully.

[@nicolas.grisanti]

Alex James is an amazing bassplayer! Country House, Girls & Boys, On your Own, Bugman, etc. So many amazing basslines. He and Graham Coxon complement each other greatly!

[@e.v.e.9688]

Entertain Me is its best!

[@misstekhead]

I actually had a massive crush on Alex James. Unfortunately it wasn’t enough to make me want to learn bass at the time. I loved Graham Coxon’s guitar and he had a massive influence on what I learned in the beginning.

[@EAMAMUSIC]

Fantastic analysis of a criminally underrated player and creative force.

[@RunOfTheHind]

One of the most under-rated bassists ever.

[@scatterbrainL]

I am kind of amazed that you didn't mention his slides, I think one of his greatest and innovative habilities is the way he used slices in a lot of his baselines

[@notanotherjamesmurphy5574]

I like ‘habilities’ it’s habits + abilities = habilities

[@songcrafter]

I always though Blur’s bass lines were fun but never realised that they avoided the snare. Learning so much from your channel!

[@aelahn]

Always thought Alex was awesome but never noticed that too

[@thomasglaop3831]

After all these ingredients stated above, i got an impression that Alex James bass line is his own interpretation of jamaican/ska/reggae bass riddim

[@xbmpr]

I always thought Oasis were a joke compared to Blur honestly.

[@20centurygirl21]

yes

[@GreetingCommittee]

No you didn't.

[@spaghettisauce445]

oasis had 2 masterpieces with definitely maybe and whats the story but blur are real artists

[@agungadi1817]

Don't say that😂

[@burger1113]

oasis is "nice" but pretty bland for sure compared to Blur

[@hotstankygarbage788]

Gotta do Murdoc Niccals of The Gorillaz. His bass is so demonic like and he's created some of the most memorable bass lines of all time.

[@olerudd]

Please do Joe Lally of Fugazi!! One of the best punk bassists and Fugazi probably have the best rhythm section ever.

[@9804216]

Would be cool if you did one on Mat Osman of Suede. He's got such melodic bass lines.

[@ricardojmestre]

Good idea!

[@eddiecousinsjr]

Tracey Jack also got a great bass line

[@henrychinaski2890]

One of your best videos in this series, thank you man, keep up the awesome work.

[@hotstankygarbage788]

Agreed, love learning things I never would've picked up in a billion yeara.

[@juancortesfernandez2717]

Thank you so much for this video Paul! Alex James is my favourite all time bass player, and the guy who made me start playing bass. I am a huge blur fan and I always thought that Trouble in the message centre and specially, He thought of cars, are Alex's finest works.

[@rookers1932]

I once saw Alex James in tescos in bakerstreet buying a meal deal. I wish I had met him recently I would have asked him so many questions. That was back when I cared so little about music!

[@StratsRUs]

Blur really sounded great live and surprisingly heavy.U2 also had a very heavy bass end live.

[@Superdelphinus]

One of the best live bands in the last 30 years in my opinion. Everything is twice as fast and twice as loud!

[@alanbrito5239]

Country Sad Ballad Man its another example on how he makes pauses then in the interlude he used Chords pattern with some spaces (guitar goes Eb but bass goes E)

[@santilozus5370]

Suede's bass player will blow your mind then!

[@ricardojmestre]

Yes, Mat is amazing

[@garideb]

Yeah, he's great. Girls and Boys is one of my favourite basslines. Good video - maybe if you feel like doing an add-on you could talk about his bass gear and technique - I know he's used a Stingray and a Precision at different times and played finger and pick, so pretty versatile. I think I read somewhere that he gets bored with questions about his rig/kit though.

[@petermanley7525]

I couldn’t agree more. Blur rely on talent whilst Oasis rely on Media manipulation and trying to copy the Beatles. Blur were (and still are) versatile, interesting and totally original.

[@PantomimeHorse]

I think time has told on this particular britpop 'battle of the bands' (a media invention if ever there was one). When Blur took a hiatus Damon Albarn invented a cartoon hip-hop group and took over the world, launched a new record label to bring his influences in Hi-life and African roots music to a wider audience, and wrote a couple of critically-acclaimed operas. Since Oasis folded, Noel Gallagher has mooched around the director's box at Man City, and made a tit of himself calling radio phone-ins to whinge about cancel culture or brexit or whatever. Live forever was a banger, though.

[@petermanley7525]

You tell it so much better than me! My round!

[@SHPIKOVZ]

Очень интересные и незаурядные басовые партии. Алекс красавчик!

[@jonathona2983]

Another great video, I will listen more for Alex's basslines from now on. Any chance you'll make more videos in the "albums you need to know" series? If so, I have some recommendations: Matt Sharp - Pinkerton (Weezer) Nate Mendel - The Colour and the Shape (Foo Fighters) Nate Mendel - There is Nothing Left to Lose (Foo Fighters) Nate Mendel - Diary (Sunny Day Real Estate) Jared Followill - Because of the Times (Kings of Leon) Jared Followill - Only by the Night (Kings of Leon) Joe Skyward (aka Joe Bass) - Amazing Disgrace (The Posies) Joe Skyward (aka Joe Bass) - How it Feels to be Something On (Sunny Day Real Estate) Tim Commerford - Rage Against the Machine (Rage Against the Machine) Arion Salazar - Third Eye Blind (Third Eye Blind) Other ideas for bassist features are: Lou Barlow - Dinosaur Jr. (playing a lot of chords) Doug Pinnick - King's X (often uses a 12-string bass like Jeff Ament) Roger Lima - Less than Jake (very active lines, often while singing) Juan Alderete - The Mars Volta/Racer X (the opening to Day Of The Baphomets is a great example of his skill) Mike Herrera - MxPx (lots of memorable, catchy basslines) Ben Shepherd - Soundgarden (very melodic lines) Robert DeLeo - Stone Temple Pilots (lots of memorable, catchy basslines) Adam Clayton - U2 (legendary player with so many great lines)

[@ramonemiliogomezjorge8557]

yes! blur is one of my influences

[@GVike]

I always noticed Alex James was quality.

[@Alpha_7227]

Top shelf video, thanks for highlighting his playing. Such a great player, I love his melodic bass lines especially and funky stuff on Girls and Boys.

[@TheBEATLEnumber5]

Love the bass on The Puritan 🖤

[@ayakkumii]

this is a very thorough video ever! thank you for this. i always amazed with some the "rrrRrrr" in song 2 and the groove in "ghost ship".

[@sususegar]

I subscribe to the philosophy of leaving breathing spaces and it should be applicable to all instruments in a band. The problem with a lot of amateur musicians (including myself) is they all try to play as much as they can all over the songs they write. I've had debates and disagreements with my bandmates in the past when we were writing and recording, even as a guitarist I was especially annoyed by people telling me to "play more" here and there. My drummer is especially the worst at this, we all had to tell him when or where to pause or play less - strangely, he is also not particularly good at playing more either, when needed.

[@irfankusai1433]

Thankyou for this sirr, been listen to blur since junior high 😁

[@gainsbarfromtokyo]

Great video, super informative ! Alex is a great talent. Another bass player in a related style is Tetsuya from Japanese band l’arc en ciel. Check his songs Honey and Driver’s High out. Really melodic stuff !

[@losely451]

The great thing about Alex James is that he uses all four of the strings when he plays the bass.

[@theessay2530]

Is that really that impressive

[@losely451]

@@theessay2530 Yes considering that Guigsy says he only used two.

[@theessay2530]

@@losely451 yeah cause guigsys bass lines where beginner bass lines cause he was literally a novice bassist at the start of oasis. Plus all he was play the root notes apart from a few tracks like end of “I am the walrus” where he plays an ‘impressive’ three strings But still my point stands it’s not that impressive using all the strings

[@PantomimeHorse]

@@theessay2530 Nothing wrong with simplicity, especially on bass - Kim Deal basically just played root notes for the pixies, and that band sounded mint. As far as Oasis were concerned, It wasn't just the bass - I'm pretty sure Noel told Bonehead to keep that first finger on the neck at all times, and just play barre chords. Whatever works, I guess.

[@theessay2530]

@@PantomimeHorse Ik the simpler tracks tend to be the best ones, using all strings on a bass is not something to brag about

[@davidfox7983]

Yeah he's a great creative player

[@elwray3506]

Oasis had the best songs...well, that almost immideately threw me out. James and Rowntree were/ are a fantastic rhythm section, more than capable of providing the groovy basis or at times tasteful contra points to what Coxon and Albarn did. Underrated both of them.

[@alexsaynor6717]

No, Oasis didn't write songs which were anywhere near as good as blur's best such as For Tomorrow and many more

[@davidg6803]

Oasis had some very good songs. But Blur had a lot more.

[@damielpavjanja2263]

Oasis had popular songs but not the best. Popular but not influential

[@viniciustinoco6206]

I miss when you used talked about the bass and equalizer things , pls do it in the new one , maybe Kim Deal from Pixies

[@fishwymusic]

Great video! immensely underrated bass player!

[@thomasfioriglio]

Another fantastic episode in this series. I love the eclectic mix of bass players you feature. Wonderful job Paul. How about one on U2's Adam Clayton?

[@electrolinks]

His book is great too

[@rrdream2400]

I think Blur had better songs than Oasis, and of course were far more interesting. Oasis were more mainstream, like Hootie and the Blowfish were then and Taylor Swift today. Very catchy, you didn't have to think too much.

[@raditoprayogo3918]

Listen to oasis b sides and maybe you'll change your opinion

[@PantomimeHorse]

@@raditoprayogo3918 Nah, Blur were (and are) dope, while Oasis's famed 'b-sides as good as the singles' essentially boil down to acquiesce, the masterplan and the unfortunate realisation that Noel had used up every melodic idea he'd ever have before Oasis got to writing their third album.

[@raditoprayogo3918]

@@PantomimeHorse while i get your point and i love both bands but i have to disagree that all oasis albums sounds the same, probably their only album in the 21st century that sounds like their first three albums was heathen chemistry, the other three newer albums generally sounds different than the first three albums and still had some good songs which often overlooked, and could be considered another classic if it was on the first two albums (gas panic, lets all make believe, the importance of being idle, shock of the lightning), and i could name a few more

[@damiansilguero1986]

Amazing bass player, thank you

[@isaacramirez3729]

I've been waiting for a video like this

[@moustachio334]

Blue was so great. Made it mainstream then said did what they wanted. I hate that in the USA we mostly got Oasis. I remember rediscovering Blur in my early 20’s. I had no idea Damon was the founder of Gorillaz.

[@rossoliver1613]

Huge thanks to you Paul for introducing me to another under rated bass player. Loved your video😊

[@alainbrasseur7083]

I asked for him and you did it! thank you Paul... it will be great to see Graham Maby (Joe Jackson) :-)

[@franco4322]

Maybe Robert Levon Been of BRMC? I think it’s very underrated band and underrated bassist

[@edsohovocals]

Hi Paul. Great video... But do you mean Alex plays the *5th below? (Playing 4 notes below the root is 'playing the 5th'.) When you play the descending example, you play: root, b7, 6, *5.

[@javierpedregal8035]

My BEST British pop band IS suede , but the bass lines of this man are great . Can you compare with mat osman a give your opinion ? Thanks for your video

[@user-in1ju8om8s]

Nice video, Sir. Love Blur & Alex James, thank you. Please do a video about the legendary Jack Bruce (Cream) !

[@snakemont]

Thank you for this! Britpop rules!

[@WilltheAstrologer]

Fantastic video & series! :D Thank you so much bro!

[@georgevaraboutis6672]

I think it's not correct to call the inverse fifth, 4th below. But it's a matter of how you have been used to calling it.

[@dahbie]

I absolutely love your approach to breaking down particular elements. Less talking and more playing/clips/examples! Keep up the great work :)

[@pauljones401]

Nice one for putting this up. I’m a mancunian but sick of Oasis from a bass playing point of view!! They were a superb band. But you do great stuff so thank you very much! Paul

[@GVike]

Noel didn't help with his philosophy... also McGuigan was quite average,

[@jessejordache1869]

"Don't play on the snare" is a classic bassist rule of thumb. It's why James Jamerson and Paul McCartney sound different.

[@774duke]

Very cool video, thanks!

[@kameronwraithd.k.5363]

Could you make one of Dion Lunadon, former bassist of APTBS, please

[@imonahorse]

Trouble in the Message Centre. You’re welcome.

[@ricardojmestre]

Their best song and a fantastic bassline

[@chlindh1]

Amen!! Thanks, its among top five

[@mikarien]

Very cool analysis Paul ! Thanks

[@Lucgeoff]

the bass of girls and boys is influenced by john taylor, i think graham coxon said that 🤔

[@Hubertoryx99]

Paul, please - if you made an episode about Alex James of Blur, then make an episode about Murdoc from Gorillaz too. After all, singers of their bands are related. :D

[@webinfront]

So basically just Damon Albarn lol

[@Hubertoryx99]

@@webinfront Yeah... That's all the case. THANK YOU for explaining. 😂

[@thrashtilldeath4243]

Ι hear some paul simonon in his playing

[@Paul-dw2cl]

Really high-quality video

[@mickcrocodiledundee6353]

Dennis Dunaway is also a frequent user of the "James box", I wonder if Alex got it from him, or maybe they both got it from Paul McCartney.

[@Pointblankmos]

Probably Paul, since Bruce Foxton does similar.

[@justinw2232]

Awesome ❤️

[@mateomartiarena4633]

Podrías ponerle sub en español? Me interesa demasiado este video

[@riskeys]

Amazing video!

[@thedrawingplauge]

Great stuff , please do Eric avery and/or Tommy stinson

[@davidfox7983]

Nice nod to Peter Hook in the back ground

[@td8778]

You do a great job on these quick deep dives.

[@TheVioletBunny]

Can you do McCartney ? Edit nm you said you did in this vid gotta watch next

[@hairboyanimaciones2711]

Shavo Odadjian of System of a Down

[@wra7h]

Do a video on his Radiohead solos

[@jboy9336]

Oasis did pretty good music, more pop, but Blur is always going to be more musically sophisticated and complex

[@emanuelehomer3]

🤟

[@lacrisidiluglio8029]

Super interesting! Alex is amazing. But watch out! The day they recorded Song 2 for some reason he was not with The band… It was guitarist Graham Coxon who came up with the bass line and recorded it…

[@RBonBass]

not true, read Alex's book

[@-Vaile]

Bros the guga foods of music

[@Emptidiot]

02:18 this song totally sounds like Dani California. I'm quite unfamiliar with Blur -- I'm sure this has been pointed out like a million times before

[@robsdianten1]

I'm a huge Blur fan who has scrolling through all of their videos' comments sections and this is the first time I read someone pointing out that similitude. Also, Country house was released in 1995 while Dani California was released in 2006

[@Emptidiot]

@@robsdianten1 I wasn't suggesting Blur stole from RHCP. Actually, people with enough insight into the industry apparently claim Dani California is not simply a rip-off, but more like a rip-off compilation based on various songs...

[@JaQuicker]

Filling stadiums doesn't mean having the best songs

[@notanotherjamesmurphy5574]

Oasis is like fast food

[@marcocolagrande711]

You are making a incredibile job my friend, il this channel started this work 15 years ago you would have been Davie504

[@Vampiracho]

Tell the drummer not to hit the snare when I am playing bass.

[@ricardojmestre]

🤣

[@jimismith6648]

Cocaine: that's how to sound like Alex James

[@dinwanker1004]

Don’t forget the champagne!!

[@paulpatterson2991]

bump

[@DendyJungle]

He’s a Tory innit

[@dinwanker1004]

Oh shut up

[@damienx0x]

It's tritone not triton. Sort your English out.

[@prpwnage9296]

alEX jAMES IS A TOTAL BELLEND LOOK AT HIM WITH HIS BASS

[@makrisaudio5638]

Blur is a band that only has one song thats only played at soccer games. Who gives a shit about the bass player?

[@robsdianten1]

Certainly not the people who only attend to soccer games

[@susragejr477]

Song 2 is that rare hit song where you have to look up isolated guitar tracks instead of isolated bass

[@jpdabass]

Great video!