Ray Brown's Most IMPORTANT Advice for Bass players

In this video the great Legendary Bassist Ray Brown will reveal the most Important thing you should do to be a solid bassist.
Tone, Articulation, Clarity....over speed. Hear a master demonstrate this and explain it in his own words. "Get a good sound, play in tune"
Great resources & guides
The Real Book: Sixth Edition: amzn.to/2OqFXv2
The Real Christmas Book: C Edition Includes Lyrics! amzn.to/35HvdhC
The Real Book: Bass Clef 6th edition: amzn.to/2qUsEKl
Ray Brown's Bass Method: amzn.to/35HPtjo
Ray Brown - Legendary Bassist Transcriptions: amzn.to/2qSmtGO
Musician Mastery guides & tips
Kenny Werner's Effortless Mastery: amzn.to/2OPFscV
Victor Wooten's The Music Lesson: A Spiritual Search for Growth Through Music
amzn.to/2DpbLKt
Victor Wooten Bass Workshop: The Language of Music and How to Speak It
amzn.to/2L0UCLo

[@chazinko]

This is why a certain amount of Classical technique can be very helpful - not the kind that is about speed, but the emphasis on how the body works to efficiently produce quality sound in each musical situation.

[@MrBlackbass59]

He’s RIGHT! A Las Vegas bassist that I truly respect said to me, “The pocket is your best lick.” I’ve ALWAYS remembered that.

[@DLMaston1]

Who ever told you that is/was a wise bassist indeed!!

[@jamesrichardson3322]

David Littlefield that's cool gig man!! How have you played in Vegas? I went Vegas not too long ago myself. I am a bassist myself!!

[@josephtravers777]

Timing and intonation, timing and intonation

[@vonbabasin9544]

Ray was an old family friend since my father and Ray would sub gigs for each other frequently... when I started gigging, my father would always say the same thing to me as I walked out the door - "Look straight ahead and strive for tone..." Mr. Brown is echoing the same sentiment here...

[@rudyzulkarnaen1633]

2:15 he told the truth. He worked the rest of his live till the day he died.

[@wyrdstone85]

There was a class that Ray Brown did for students where he explained the layout of the bass: (plays busy, high-note stuff up the dusty end)...."Now this is the upper register of the bass.....and this" (drops down to play a low-end, swinging line)....THIS is the CASH REGISTER of the bass!!" 😆😆😆

[@andreashoppe1969]

I've just started playing the bass myself. It is so tempting to wanting to explore the higher registers of the bass before being able to hold the instrument correctly, before knowing how to tune the bass etc. So I must keep coming back to this video to remind myself, to focus on the basics and trust my teacher, the virtuosity will come only if the basics are fine.

[@jacksonoberhauser4322]

doesn't mean you should stray away from the register, just be conscious of your tone when playing in that register. best of luck

[@johnrobinsoniii4028]

I always said to some Students, “Technique will come when it does. But get a good sound,and you’ll rule the world.”

[@cameroncooper4175]

If you want to play in the upper registers so much, take up the guitar,. Or fall in love with the low... Romance the rumble.

[@hansmathiasthjomoe4817]

Coleman Hawkings once stopped a song, turned to the bass player and said: The bass shall be at the bottom.

[@davidyup3338]

We are now years later. Hope youre rippin it any way possible bud

[@jimjennings7623]

There are great bassists and they do what he says but there's also a Ray-Brown sound that is better than all of 'em. This advice of his applies to really EVERY musician. You have a sound, don't throw it away, DEVELOP it and be glad you have it. Ray Brown is still teaching us. I hope we're learning.

[@nemo227]

Amen, to that, Ray. I started in the fifties and never had to ask for work, just tried to give the group a solid harmonic line to work from.

[@BluesSky]

I was in a Bass store in Denver, heard a Bass lick coming from the teaching room in back. From the first note my ears perked, the tone and time was so perfect. It was Carol Kay giving the lesson. Rays bass sound does the same thing to my ears here, he’s my favorite. Ray and Oscar Peterson and Ed Thigpen, that’s my jam!

[@stratovani]

Excellent advice. Applies to the electric bass as well as the upright bass.

[@RyanakaRhino18]

Occasionally I come back to this just for reassurance.

[@wea69420]

It applies to nearly everything in music! It's a really grounding piece of advice.

[@pxofpxof7782]

That applies to everything because that’s ambiguous and obvious as fuck.. people only think this is “good” advice because a famous guy is saying it

[@joaomenegalebarbi1586]

@@pxofpxof7782 That's kind of the point. If someone who couldn't make it as a musician gives me advice, I will question it. If Ray Brown, who worked with everybody, tells me the main thing I should focus on is getting a good sound, I will not question it. I can give you an advice on how to make money, but if Bill Gates gives you the same advice, it will mean more.

[@pxofpxof7782]

@@joaomenegalebarbi1586 I guess

[@leelmag9087]

1:45 Was funny, but real talk!

[@poopyjoe7883]

0:43 sample the individual notes

[@jameswelch8916]

NO

[@fngoodmusic78]

@@jameswelch8916 yes

[@jmflyer55]

This is SO true. As a long time musician myself, I've also known this. But coming from someone as renowned as Roy Brown, these words carry so much weight they should not and cannot be ignored by any serious musician. And this "rule" or lesson if you prefer to call it that, holds true no matter what instrument you play! And just like the bass is explained here by Roy Brown, this same lesson especially holds true for drummers. Even more so IMO. No one wants to hear a drummer banging away all the time. Even the audience doesn't want to hear that, much less the guys in the group! What they want to hear is a rock solid foundation for them to play on. And as a drummer, you'll receive more praises and more applaud, by following this simple rule. And as far as drums go, doing this will not only make YOU sound better to everyone, but will also make the entire group sound better to the audience. I used to tell people, "Hey, this performance isn't all about you! You're oart of something bigger than yourself. You're contributing into a group effort. So make your input make the group shine, more than trying to make yourself shine", and all will be well. 👍😉

[@drawbridge611]

Seems like most other bass players I know put tone and intonation down at the bottom of their priority lists. But they've got the speed, the fancy scales, and the stage moves down tight. Oh yeah, and the $4k boutique basses that sound great in the bedroom but can't be heard in a mix. Not to mention the 2'x4' pedal boards that could suck the life out of a sine wave. And they wonder how come the phone never rings. Thank you Mr. Brown for your wisdom.

[@RyanakaRhino18]

I get tempted now and then to try throw in that odd lick when I play but it's really not my style 😅 simplicity is always best 😁🤙🏾

[@klapsigaarenbasgitaar1931]

I saw Ray Brown in a small club in the nineties and I remember that indeed I was amazed by his amazing sound at the time. He passed away a few years later I think, very happy I was still able to witness this legend. And what he says maybe applies even more to electric bassists.

[@icecreamforcrowhurst]

That must’ve been an amazing experience. Ray Brown moving the very air you breathed!

[@hahabass]

@@icecreamforcrowhurst Love this!

[@Amoeba744]

Best advice you can take with bass!

[@etpslick100]

Ray was the man! Love his Some of my best friends were….series.” Great lesson! Told the absolute truth! May he R.I.P 😔🙏🏾🎶🎸👍🏾

[@DLMaston1]

Truer words were NEVER spoken from one bassist to another!!! I do not care how fast you can play, how many slap sweeps you can do, how high end your gear is, nor how many strings are on your bass. If your tone sucks and you can't manage to sound killer doing just the basics with nothing but your bass and your amp then it's all for nothing!! Those who do not get it may swoon over your "technical expertise" but those who know will quietly turn their heads and walk away.

[@chrissharkey9644]

The greatest that ever was!

[@sammominks]

Those are some sounds! Incredible

[@shawnjackson9240]

WOW...the simple things we take for granted when it comes to music...thanks Brother Ray.

[@williamlindsay3912]

Thank you.

[@bigbarty8648]

Wise words!

[@mollyevans687]

Beautiful, Ray. I love the bass.

[@lennonist9746]

Wow ! Golden words.

[@Clunk49]

Thanks Ray, RIP

[@LloydMajor]

Love the class!

[@intuneorange]

I love Ray Brown and all that were touched by him.

[@stein0niets]

2:11 that finger snap on muting the open G and the switch too the talking.. this guy is a clock and more in tune then any fretted instrument i own:P masterfull! i am in awe

[@petermihaylovic4837]

Outstanding!!!!!!!!!

[@RSerious]

Great advise!!....

[@christopherstolz2506]

Great video!

[@mattmay9601]

Ray Brown was simply the best!

[@Johnwilkinsonofficial]

this is so dope

[@jinpeter2961]

Master!!!!

[@miodragradovic2794]

Applicable for all musicians!

[@paulnicolosi4792]

I met Ray, back in the 70's. VERY nice guy...

[@jeffreywilson9913]

Love Ray

[@fereymusic]

The 2 people who gave this a thumbs down should NEVER pick up an instrument of any kind ....:)

[@LetzBeaFranque]

They were exclusively slappers.🎯

[@lorenzosalamone8933]

yes! period!

[@immyac6700]

who would win in a ONE FINGER ONLY fight? ray brown X james jamerson?

[@moonpie22399]

Anyone within earshot

[@JTPrime08]

Noice, that is great advice from a bass master. I play bass and love Ray Brown’s bass playing. He was awesome. Mr. Brown was an amazing bass player. Other than that, cool:).

[@davaxschinko]

Words of Wisdom

[@Tomijee]

Damn right! You get it right away, later from experience.. Or never if you don't open your mind and learn how to be humble with good taste

[@AlbertoOlivieri]

Genius!

[@geraldleroy2225]

love it

[@JungleYT]

Fascinating... Never heard his voice.

[@janielferreira7507]

Sábias palavras do mestre!!

[@ronaldmorrow1198]

Bravo

[@Pierre50mm]

I'm 71, taking weekly DB jazz lessons for 4 years now. Ray is right. I don't play the thumb position. May be I won't never play it. Just to play up to the 12th fret is enough. Jazz is not easy, neither the DB. It demands work and work and commitment. But what a music and what an instrument.

[@vandogs181]

Touche' kind sir!!!

[@raulrico8788]

Gran maestro del contrabando en el jazz yo estudie jazz en México y berkee además tengo su libro de Ray Brown

[@thomasshell9409]

Some "sound" advice from an all-time great!

[@yooo8153]

this goes for every instrument

[@lemuellachica4991]

Master's advice: Good sound. Very nice

[@glitchxero4687]

Bass is the glue that binds the rhythm to the melody. The halfway point between them, if you will. Lock down your fundamentals and the rest will come. They say, "Take care of your pennies and the dollars will take care of themselves." Same with bass (or any instrument, for that matter.)

[@CKVideoGames]

his feel is so insane

[@michael_caz_nyc]

I Agree 100%. I hear so many Bass-players . . . who play on instruments that Buzz. They want super-low action, and each note has a Terrible Fizzy quality to it. Even these "Professional Teachers" on You Tube. I am like: "How can you be happy with that instrument" (but to each his own) oNe LovE from NYC

[@untipcubreton]

Surreal intonation.. incredible. Absolutley remarkable.

[@GjaP_242]

just like the king of rock, Ray's mother - Ella - didn't die 1:21

[@icecreamforcrowhurst]

Da best eva!

[@fernandoanacletofirmino1518]

Amen

[@adamrafferty]

YES YES!

[@alantaylor3659]

Great advice ... that's not to take away from Stanley Clarke and NHOP, who do flash AND sound AND groove.

[@johndowson7929]

He's 💯% right in keeping it tight , a lot of jazz musicians of today seem to think get as many notes in a solo sounds better than less notes in the right places 😉

[@AntKneeLeafEllipse]

For any musician this is the grail! Learning cello now, and shit if you can't get a good sound what you playing for?

[@egglardo]

Fills for thrills, groove for the bills!

[@amsp531]

It's also true to electric bass, or any other musical instruments. Recently very few electric bassist can generate deep and heavy sound. Instead, they do slap or unnecessarily fast passage. You have to let the instrument SING or SWING that assists whole band to make good music.

[@jack2152]

I see so many bass players online who are clearly very skilled but would rather show off with slapping and tapping than play something musical

[@amsp531]

@@jack2152 I think that's due to spreading of Active bass which amplifies fingering input on strings. By this, you can get big sound without big input, then whole passage becomes monotonous. However, good bassist can have good sound from both Active and Passive (non electronic assistance) instruments.

[@mikecurtis11]

I get his point about solid walking bass to support rather than soloist grand standing, but when he says good "sound" does he mean intonation, being in tune, or getting a full resonant volume. Or, as I suspect, both? I'd love to hear the whole lecture.

[@BajeTiger]

Does ANYONE know the song/progression @ 1:50? That line is EVERYTHING! ❤🙇🏽‍♂️🙏🏽

[@Amelio777]

👏🏿

[@adgo22]

Sound, time and feel...not only 1 but all 3..

[@harvies1894]

Everybody listen to this!!!!!~!~

[@TheBassfresh]

tone-taste-time...IMO nobody ever did the 3T's as well as Ray, unless it was Jamerson on his P bass, some came close and some had so much style it was amazing but Ray? man.....

[@johnrobinsoniii4028]

There’s Ron Carter,Rufus Reed,George Mraz, Sam Jones, Eddie Gomez, Richard Davis, Red Mitchell,Charlie Haden, Jimmy Blanton…and then there is…MR. BROWN.

[@jamesrichardson3322]

Greatest Bassist ever lived

[@GjaP_242]

0:13!

[@davidstewart4780]

And you don't have to sit through 2 hours to get the idea, either!

[@michaelannen4168]

@1:50

[@alanscott6836]

Seen it Done it. Listen up.

[@TallSomeone]

Jaquet! Hodges!

[@andybaldman]

Geta goo sounnn

[@ShoesMagoo]

I can't help but wish that he would have provided a live example of what not having a good sound sounds like.

[@ThreeBeingOne]

"get a sound" then floats off into tasty land.

[@normanspurgeon5324]

This is utterly true and important- it seems to me, that people don't know how, or do not want to take the time to tune up. This is what I call the "I'm OK, you're OK" school of tuning. Where's A 440? orchestras players know how to do this. If you have 3 horn players and a bass in a group, no one will ask for an A.

[@1mespud]

"You tell 'em GOD!!"

[@grahamkozak2315]

"Play in tune".. plays an open E hahaha

[@kevinmitchell8650]

Tone Technique and Timing a must.

[@richsackett3423]

Don't put words in his mouth.

[@kevinmitchell8650]

@@richsackett3423 Not at all. A note to myself and an extension to those of like mind as myself. Room to improve for every one.

[@richsackett3423]

@@kevinmitchell8650 I get that.

[@philipdotsenko4814]

In what key does mr. Brown play his part at 1:50?

[@blashemusic]

🥰🥰

[@djthemoretaiwan]

Carmen McRae

[@AmatriceBand]

The most important thing for a bass player is keep the time no matter what.

[@sfmag1]

Yes very important but EVERYONE has to keep time.

[@reisserjean-michelakabeeth8551]

No way ! If you have an awfull sound, you'll destroy every body and every thing around you, included you !!!!

[@tofinoguy]

What's with the awful rattling on the E string. Is this expected?

[@OneDay_One_Day]

one thing he didn't mention was actually you have to play in time and also swing.... if you don't swing you won't get hired either..

[@herculesmwp7983]

Now how do I get my bass to sound that good though :/

[@d.d.7720]

As the great American philosopher Dwayne Johnson once said: Know your role

[@marcobaek1378]

who here becuz they just saw him playing Teen Town

[@user-dl5zu7wr4x]

what does Tune mean in his words?? It’s a controversial topic in the Korean Subtitled vid

[@musicmanson]

Not just for bass players…

[@xsteeldragon]

This guy does'nt treat bassists like subhumans like glen fricker does :D

[@TallSomeone]

Actually, Ray, they may only need about 1/4 of what you played.

[@ramonemiliogomezjorge8557]

Well, yes, i always tune my electric bass every day

[@tayb.3417]

This is how I feel about ppl who can play the piano. Some ppl can play the piano, but it sounds awful. The sound is dry, dead, and annoying even though they are playing the right chords, key, timing, and melody.