Playing bass in Soundgarden: - Ben Shepherd & Hiro Yamamoto - Bass Habits - Ep 62

[@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

[@ZERONETWORK0]

Fourth of July's bassline sounds like stoner doom mixed with dub. Pure awesome.

[@KyleKalevra]

Hiro’s work with the band is amazing. He’s one of my biggest influences on bass.

[@Neodude991]

Listen to the isolated outro on Head Down..Shits insane!

[@IgNaceus]

Which I think Ben wrote himself. Quirky music.

[@td8778]

IMO the level of bass in the mix is sometimes directly related to the strength of personality of the bassist. Geezer in Sabbath is a good example. Great video by the way.

[@isetta4083]

I think there's plenty of great bass players that usually sit quite quiet in the mix

[@afonphoenix16]

I knew Ben in Seattle. And you ain't wrong. 🤣🤣 He's a beast. Larger than life.

[@akwilson1676]

​@@isetta4083Yeah but I mean great doesn't equal big personality. Shepherd plays like an animal and it reflects in his writing as well.

[@TrevorLahey3]

It’s mostly dependent on the producer and mixer.

[@WhereTheBASShasNoName]

Paul, bless you buddy, I love Soundgarden. Probably my favorite band of all time

[@evelangdon3086]

They're great! All of them! Have you heard Hiro on Down by the Water by Maki Mae? kzbin.info/www/bejne/f3XZq5dtrduSp9k

[@tonysimmons5729]

Thanks Paul, you really identified how Ben was so immersed in musicality that he could have been a force in much more sophisticated music and his influence is felt in so much of Soundgarden’s music. So cool that the band didn’t let his influences go to waste. They seemed fearless in how they approached their creativity. To my ear, they were the heaviest and most experimental band of the grunge genre. Your choices of songs to display highlighted that. As always, spot on✊

[@danadane2501]

Yes , they were definitely the heaviest of all the Seattle ( early 90s ) acts . Dirt ( Alice in Chains / 1991 ) was definitely up there as well . However Soundgarden had the entire package . Odd meters 5/4 , 7/8 mixed in with 4/4 . Soundgarden had such an incredible rhythm section . Which really allowed Kim to shine in his solos ( especially live ) and gave a sturdy foundation for Christopher to become easily the most influential singer out of the " grunge " scene . Hands down by a mile the best . IDC what anyone says .

[@amsknirb]

Hi Paul, At 6:03, you asked whether the bass also used a weird tuning. A few years ago, I watched the Soundgarden rig rundown. At some time during the video, they'll show a setlist; next to that setlist, there's a piece of paper showing every weird tuning per song. They show it during the rundown of Kim's gear. I hope that helps! Great video btw! I love all of your deep dives!

[@strykr82]

Holy cow. Great video, as always! I've been waiting this since FOREVER! Also, I'd like to add some fun facts about my favorite SG song: Head Down (CGCG) was played in a Jazz Bass and I think that the outro was inspired by Charles Mingus, who is an influence in Ben's playing. Loud love!

[@jaschul]

Ben is a great bassist. Sometimes his note choices are brilliantly odd. You can tell that he has broad musical tastes.

[@danadane2501]

No doubt , I don't believe he depended too much on theory . Ben had an incredible ear which allowed him to get away with the use of a lot flats / sharps and dead notes . I always wished a lot more Heavy Metal and Rock N Roll bassist utilized more dead 🎶 . With Ben , he did when ever the song called for it . Which made him percussive , rhythmic and dissonantly melodic . I would call Shepherd the Steve Harris of 90s Rock ( aka alternative / grunge ) .

[@RyanCrase1]

I shot this a while ago. A couple hours of this but not sure it’ll see the light of day. Here’s a clip you might like. kzbin.info/www/bejne/pnzYc2ZrnZ5rj5I

[@RyanCrase1]

Here are some influences. kzbin.info/www/bejne/nKunhGCqfLV1d68

[@TrevorLahey3]

One of the most underrated bassists imo

[@tylerrose4416]

These videos are so good. It’s very obvious you spend a lot of time researching this stuff. And these videos make it really easy to apply different concepts to my playing. Respect ✊

[@PaulDelBelloYT]

Thank you!

[@timkane-ht4lp]

“Drawing Flies” is my favorite Soundgarden bassline

[@s3bast1aannn]

Big Dumb, Underrated Classic

Burden in my Head is my favorite SG song, the bass line is amazing.

[@TrevorLahey3]

It really is. I was planning to do a full cover of that song (everything real except for programming drums) but his baseline is ultimately what kept me from doing it lol. I’m mainly a guitarist. Just started messing with bass to record. I do love playing bass though. One day I’ll start practicing and get good enough to cover that one.

[@johnbehan1526]

*Applebite* y'all! Great bassline, really sets the atmosphere. Song doesn't really evolve as much as I would like, but it's a great intro.

[@guitarist22lespaul90]

Hi Paul, I Just want to you give lot of comments on your channel, first you are awesome Bassist and great teacher and I like your channel and you talk about different Bass players and styles and the playing and it help me a lot as guitar player to listen to Bassist and drummer and it help to lock in with band.

[@PaulDelBelloYT]

thanks!!

[@rudymila4325]

I guess My wave, mailman, blow up the upside and big dumb sex always gonna be my favorite songs speaking about bass Also thanks for this video dude!!!

[@nicolas.grisanti]

Ben is such an amazing bassplayer, so creative and unconventional, he is so underrated. My favorite bassline is the end of My Wave, that chaotic ending with Wah...incredible!

[@TrevorLahey3]

The ending section of My Wave is some of the most beautiful music I’ve ever heard. Never get tired of listening to that. It always made me realize that a lot of bands never end their songs with jams. I still remember how happy I was when King Animal came out and I heard the ending section in Worse Dreams. It was so cathartic to hear them do that after so many years

[@Richarddraper]

14 year old me spent so long trying to play Jesus Christ Pose on the bass. It's my favourite Ben Shepherd bass line and my favourite Soundgarden song still.

[@thomasfioriglio]

Another fantastic episode. I am not really a Soundgarden fan, but there is always something to learn from any bassist. Very detailed and some great examples. Thanks Paul!

[@thelawnmowertapes]

Interesting! I'm the one whose absolute favorite changes week to week. Worse Dreams & Karoke as of late. This is so rich! Thanks Paul.

[@amazinglarry9943]

Jason Everman wasn't fired in March 1990. He was still playing with Soundgarden when I saw them perform in Frankfurt, Germany in late April that year.

[@johngrotefeld6302]

as well as cool bass he's also a good guitar writer/contributor of songs / tunings (for Soundgarden and others like Lannegan...), + he does the freaky high vocal on 'Half'

[@ConnorFogartyVO]

Amazing series! Thank you!

[@mawinswag]

YES YES FINALLY now do Paul Barker next

[@nongrataaz]

Great vid. No doubt took a lot of work. Thank you for this.

[@slippinjimmy6511]

A video should be made comparing the styles of Ben Kenny and Dirk Lance (Incubus)

[@aavila1206]

Simple. Kenny= post-hardcore bass tones, bass parts closer resemble guitar style parts, busier. Dirk= acid-jazz bass tones, funk/jazz bass parts, groovier.

[@KennyKiller3000]

Hey Paul, I really love your Bass Habits series! A band that I’d love to see in this series or any of your other videos is Soviet Soviet from Italy. They aren’t that well known, but I think they’d be interested for an in depth analysis from you, as they are a three piece post punk band and the bassist is also the singer and the bass plays a very important role in their music. Also their use of gear like an vintage Vox Phantom Bass and a variety of different pedals could give you lots of material to work with for a video. Have a great day!

[@tootspogsforever5590]

Hiro is my hero!!😀

[@suffragettefashion]

I think it is greatly overlooked how Ben’s vocal contributions enhanced Chris’s incredible voice. Ben layed down the deep dark lows that gave balance and depth to Chris’s highs. Chris sounded better with Ben behind him.

[@mashbolt5008]

burden in my hand is a favourite, super unusual and interesting line.

[@alexsinner6239]

Please do the one about Gary Thain (Uriah Heep) or Jim Lea (Slade). Extremely underrated masters, especially Thain.

[@ilpezkato]

Rowing💫

[@Cherry_Magenta]

I would love to see a Bass Habits episode on Slade's Jim Lea!

[@johnsguitarmusicanddemos]

Great job!

[@Lazarus_Cardinalis]

Hope you'll do a video on the bass styles of Ghost one day, they have some pretty inventive parts. A Perfect Circle too!

[@tonyhensonart5232]

YES SIR!!!!!

[@andrewpappas9311]

I actually didn’t know that they had someone before Ben, I’ll have to check out some of Hiro’s playing for myself

[@Bratishton]

Great stuff. Request for Eric avery and/or Tommy stinson please

[@sambenjamin9636]

Awesome video! In my opinion Nothing to Say and Entering both off of the Screaming life EP have some of Hiros best work. Ben said himself he struggled to figure out the fast paced but well fitting bass line of Entering. Nothing to Says bass line is just booming and doomy, moving the whole song in a sludgy, heavy grove only early Soundgarden could produce!!

[@cadimenta]

My favourite bass line is in Zero Chance...

[@TravelatorH8r]

I've seen some live shows where he has two straps tied together and is literally dragging his base on the ground and stepping over it. Longest arms ever

[@IgNaceus]

Please do one on Klaus Flouride (Dead Kennedys) and Graham Maby (Joe Jackson)

[@DemonSlide]

Ben Shepherd is secretly Soundgarden's secret weapon.

[@kameronwraithd.k.5363]

Can you please make one of Chris Slorach, bassist of Metz?

[@bigmanjones2553]

*Yes.*

[@SevansDog-ju4fb]

Shepperds sound is the sound of flatwounds not necessarily tone rolled off.

[@PxlSnajke]

Do a Robert De Leo of Stone Temple Pilots video please :)

[@ZERONETWORK0]

I think the lowest slung bass player in rock music (probably all music) is Tatsu Mikami from Church of Misery. The lower bout of his Rickenbacker is at his ankles, and he plucks over the neck. Idk how anyone could play like that but he does.

[@jemmareno7979]

Burden in my hand

[@paul-michaelgobitas3574]

Chi Chen!!!!!!!!

[@larsetom1]

Burden in my hand!

[@hiroshikitsun7585]

For me, both Ben amd Hiro were awesome and contributed a lot to the band, but I do think that the bass was lounder in the Yamamoto era tho, propaply it's Ben's boomy tone that makes it *seem* buried in the mix

[@danadane2501]

A lot people usually think of Christopher Cornell whenever Soundgarden is mentioned . However honestly their rhythm section is what truly made them special . A lot of 7/8 5/4 time signatures . Their bassist ( Shepherd especially ) threw in a lot of nuances I didn't notice until beginning my bass playing journey . Shepherd is an incredible bassist . Hiro was very good as well. However Ben Shepherd always found the perfect tone to fit the song . That's one thing I had to reconcile myself to as a bassist . Speaking for a lot of other bassist as well . A bass tone that may not sound great isolated . Can ( and has in countless bands / groups ) literally make a song sound a 💯 times better . A couple of bassist that played for the SONG are Rachel Bolan ( Skid Row ) Rex Brown ( Pantera , Down etc ) Bob Daisly ( Ozzy Osbourne ) Justin ( Tool ) Krist ( Nirvana ) and of course the great D.D. Ramone ( and ) on it goes . Anyway excellent rundown I enjoyed this vid .

[@LyzrdLyzrdLyzrdLyzrd]

Bigbadcircleofpowerscomingtogetyou

[@TheBigMclargehuge]

Oh this would be incredibly interesting if it was in English

[@johnbehan1526]

This comment might be funny if the person making it could write it in Italian.

[@TheBigMclargehuge]

@@johnbehan1526 No that would ruin the premise.