Bob Marley's Bassist Aston Barrett: Bass Guitar Techniques | Reverb

Bob Marley bassist Aston Barrett's reggae bass grooves have defined the feel of the genre for many listeners. Today we're celebrating the "Family Man" by running through some of the multi-talented Barrett's classic bass runs. Watch along with Jake so you can try some of these lines in your next jam.
Read more on Reverb: goo.gl/cr7zFn
Bob Marley & the Wailers on Reverb LP: goo.gl/bcVq3S

[@rufdymond]

As someone who’s been buying reggae music from the early 70s it warms my heart that many of the great Jamaican musicians are finally getting the recognition they deserve. I remember a time when these musicians were laughed at, told they were playing novelty music or were musicians with no real skill. As a person who grew up with the greats - Style Scot, Sly, Robbie, Aston Barrett and his brother, Tommy McCook, Don Drummond, Earnest Ranglin, Flabba Holt, Jackie Mittoo, Roland Alphonso and so, so many others, I always believed that they deserved more respect from the music world.

[@pdsCV]

Agreed. Speaking as a bassist myself, you HAVE to be good to handle reggae. Takes a TON of skill, prowess and connection with your instrument.

[@andrethompson2034]

Absolutely, many of them were just as good as the house bands or better than the record labels like motown, muscle shoals, staxx, etc. They were and are great musicians

[@dubsurgeon1742]

the music world is an industry of ego-maniacal, narcistic sociopaths often unhinged from certain drugs ... you ask too much ! 😂 Which of them were actually laughed at for playing reggae though? It was always a respected 'entertainment' and serious platform for moral/political issues , it kept many tentacles of business afloat and people respected that.

[@azariah1903]

Rest in peace Family man🖤🕊️💎

[@paddydaddyo]

Can’t believe that there wasn’t a single Jazz Bass with foam mute ashtray kicking around at Reverb world headquarters when this was recorded ...

[@becktvnc]

What a well laid out video this is to have such a missed opportunity tone wise.

[@gloubiboulgazeblob]

I play bass for a long time and Aston Barret is by BY FAR my favorite, along with his brother on drums, together they make a killer rythmic section

[@tubbytown6545]

Look at killin' of Carlton Barrett an killin' of Pete Tosh. Tell you what place Jamaica at. Jah Rastafari

[@sprayscience]

The rhythm is the central nervous system of reggae. And Aston is my favorite bass player of all time.

[@kofiofosu9051]

Aston and Geddy Lee are my two favorites. Rush paid great respect to the Wailers (whom Neil Peart admired) in their song “Digital Man”, from their Album Signals. Also The Spirit of Radio has a reggae vibe interlude. Stevie Wonder, Eric Clapton, Led Zepplin all tried. As great as they all are, could not quite capture the pull and heart beat of Aston and Carlton Barrett.

[@jackworman6780]

@@kofiofosu9051 same! my two favorite bassists as well. favorite aston line has to be midnight ravers, fav geddy line probably leave that thing alone

[@TheTrooperMB]

@@jackworman6780 someone acknowledge midnight ravers , very nice :)

[@JOHNTULASI]

He was the iconic face of root rock reggae..we miss him surely.

[@mykhedelic6471]

Yes!!! Finally someone is talkin Familyman! Bass is lead in reggae, and Aston's lines are king! Someone below said talk Andy Rourke, he's a king, as well. Some sweet ass bass.

[@lesaatuatasi6267]

Aston played with Bob the King! Nuff said!!

[@AieshaBarrett]

Thank you for sharing this video on my father. One love 💚💛❤️

[@JohnECocaine]

Do you really have 800 siblings?

[@AieshaBarrett]

@@JohnECocaine go worry about covid-19 and leave people business alone.. thank you

[@jg6698]

@@AieshaBarrett "I went down to Picadilly Circus, down there I saw Marcus" Fam and Carly deep down driving the bus. Believe it. 👍

[@jeffscotland6499]

yes thanks for that i know people love to see or talk about the superfeciality of things like the singer but sometimes most of the time they dont look deep to understand Who is the Real person hiding behind all of this. my favorite instrument is the basse guitar and aston barrett is my favorite i believe he is the best i cant understand how could a man had such tallent. the two best basse of his to me is the basse in coming in from the cold and the song rastaman live up. WOWW

[@mlafi7]

Man much blessing I so wanted to com to Jam dwn and meet family man guess in the nxt dimension

[@joace8575]

"FAMILY MAN" can make the Bass talk. He and his brother made Magic.

[@vaportrails7943]

You can't really cover this subject without other musicians, or at least a drummer. It's the rhythmic interplay of the instruments that makes reggae what it is.

[@rufdymond]

I agree Aston & Carlton, Sly & Robbie, Style Scot & Flabba Holt etc - each on their own is great, but as pairings they were elevated to a different level. Add in the other musicians and it often resulted in magic.

[@pop_ulation]

"kinky reggae" has one of my all time favorite basslines.

[@rastanz]

I like the Babylon by Bus version, it cruises along throughout the whole song.

[@Chitosmon]

The Wailers a show 10yrs ago outside of Council Bluffs, IA and a lady noticed I limped and couldn’t stand...I was born with spina Bifida..... So this kind Lady noticed I had an album but standing with everyone else was very difficult so after the show, she brought Family Man to me. What a sweet spirit this mon & just too Cool! Afterwards, I got to thank the kind lady for bringing Aston to me. And started leaving. After about say 30 yards or so Family Man crew member came out of their bus many feet from me but he still says goodbye to me, remembering my name! And he had very dark sunglasses on the whole time. This is at 11:00pm. The Coolest Bassist I have ever met without a doubt!!!

[@fius10456]

Hahahaha dark glasses @11pm. What a cool dude!

[@AdityaPurwanegaraBass]

"Silence is also a note"

[@shmu-elocho706]

I love Bob Marley and I hate the fact that no one ever seems to discuss his music in depth so I salute you sir💯💯💯👍

[@fius10456]

Many of us are always ready to discuss bro

[@lloydn2103]

What are you talking about. Bob is one of the most discussed musician worldwide.

[@plasticspoon839]

I saw the Wailers live a couple of years ago. I pointed out to my friends how important Aston Barrett is and that despite it being a “covers” band of sorts that it was a privilege to be able to see him live. I suspect that he was far more important to the songwriting process then he is given credit for. His bass lines are genius.

[@darrenmichaels]

One of the things I dig about Family Man is how he plays these classic lines live. Each time I've been lucky enough to catch a live performance, he's played variants on his fills and pickup notes while staying true the vibe and feel of the recordings. Hearing and seeing him live adds a whole other dimension to his bass artistry. Thanks for the video Reverb!

[@rastanot]

No boi! You Can't rush the Roots Rock Reggae! You must feel the groove. Deep your feet into the sand and get on Island Time.

[@yagoaguero88]

Also A string awfully out of tune

[@noblehillministerprophet8689]

Yes,more than music notes,it's a life style

[@rowellbasilan2384]

I agree.

[@rictualfury965]

Please do a bass video on Andy rourke of the smiths

[@ewetoo]

Yes, do it. He's criminally underrated.

[@geronimo3641]

Yes!

[@57precision]

What a great idea! Yes please!

[@coachgb]

Pleeeeeease!

[@fanoffreedom3003]

Wtf is that lol,, do a video on Trevor davies bass lines from the sock people

[@lesaatuatasi6267]

He's my favorite bass player of all time! That's why I started playing 35 years ago...So more of his please

[@TheTmat007]

The baseline in Bob Marley songs always blow me away.

[@SalimBrowne]

Much respect for acknowledging a great bassist. Reggae bass lines aren't necessary thought about theoretically but more based on the feel. I'm a Jamaican bassist and the approach you're taking isn't necessarily the right one. It's all about the feel of Reggae Music and that can't be taught.

[@deviationblue]

Donstrumental does a great job on his channel of breaking it down.

[@sgreen4539]

You just explained 30 yrs of what has always been in my head when I listened to this great band. This video is so necessary and over due. Thank you

[@eduardooliveira532]

Tive a honra de ver o grande Aston Barrett 3 vezes , emocao pura do inicio ao fim .Deecanse em paz ..o Brasil te ama

[@kcamsdog1387]

I ran monitors for them a couple years back. Family Man asked to borrow my gaff tape, and proceded to re-"tolex" his whole cab! I wasn't even mad.

[@William.Driscoll]

Right on 😄🧡

[@SoundScientist1]

@Aj Valcourt. Curious... What does re-"tolex" mean?

[@twkotb]

Michael Dauphinee Tolex was the brand name of the black vinyl material used to coat Fender amplifiers. It’s still used as a generic term; I think the Tolex name is long defunct by now.

[@SoundScientist1]

@Carefulnow. Thanks for the lesson.

[@alaincolet2023]

Aston is a genius. The man behind Marley's success as he said.

[@ikhowaka1471]

Honestly he is the man behind Marley and reggae's success by even tutoring bobby Shakespeare. I love family man.

[@_baalshamin]

One of my all time favorite bass players, Aston is a groove genius.

[@jaredmeit6127]

Waiting In Vain has got a bassline that really helps define the song.

[@tguthrie6]

I love your appreciation for Aston and his playing style!

[@McDoinky]

Good angle. Reggae has a lot to offer to bassists when it comes to feel and pulling back. Very helpful to transcribe some reggae when you practice. Laura Lee from Khruangbin practiced a lot of reggae and you can hear it in her playing.

[@Vpmatt]

Absolutely, Family Man was just as brilliant when he wasn't playing - the silences speak as clearly as the sounds.

[@zzirjukez2899]

I want a bass even more now

[@Toastrodamus]

Yes but that bass is an especially nice bass

[@tinyb69]

Not only did he produce the records, he produced over 50 children, hence the nickname, "Family Man". Truly living up to the Rastafarian belief that, Dread don't die, they multiply.

[@AieshaBarrett]

tiny b don’t read everything you see in the media, that isn’t why he has the name family man. He had the name before he had any children.

[@fanoffreedom3003]

No,, he was called family man before he had any children, do youre home work he also turned out to be an ass hole and all the wailers turned away from him , he is very greedy he wanted all thier money

[@AieshaBarrett]

and that's a DAMN lie. you need to do your home work.. The wailers always on the road after Bob, died because of HIM and still going. he's the only one who honored the name and continued the legacy for years up until this day. he's a kind hearted man. WHAT MONEY??? everything is worked for not like the others who don't put in work but want to collect just because... YOU HAVE NO IDEA so don't speak about something you have no clue about...and he still don't get what he's worked for years, he just do it for the love of music, so watch yo fucking mouth...ask question before you assume... stop clout chasing fool...

[@AieshaBarrett]

that's not facts

[@PharaohLawLess1]

I thought it was only 46 kids. lol. Bob had 22 kids himself. Buju Bantan has 16 kids himself

[@stephencapper1380]

One of my favorite Aston bass lines is on Who the cap fit. I just love it. So much space in it and very simple but melodic.

[@Sousafolle]

The most important thing for reggae bass is to carry the emotional intention of the song. Reggae comes from the heart. There is also a living musical tradition in reggae carried through "riddims" that bassists should be aware of and owe respect to.

[@gavriel.r]

"Sun is Shining" has pretty cool and interesting bass lines, very peculiar.

[@greazy4433]

Do Geezer Butler next

[@DEADENDJP]

There ARE SO MANY GOOD Bass Lines Family Man Created!!!! “So Jah Say” Has To Be One Of His Best Ones And Funkiest!!!! Truth Be Told All But 1 Song Was An Single, His/Their Best Work Were Album Songs!!!! Hands Down He is At The Top As An Producer, With George Clinton & Uncle Bootsy. & Is The Reggae Equivalent To Uncle Bootsy.

[@dj_dippa]

So Much Things to Say is one of my all-time favorite Family Man bass lines!

[@jfro5867]

Can’t play anything and can’t read music but what I can hear is the space between the notes. It’s like the music has space to breathe, same with the drums and all of it tbh. It’s like the music floats in the breeze. That’s why I ❤ reggae and of course Bobs music.

[@richardfrancis915]

Thanks for bringing light to this unsung hero of reggae music. Great job.

[@user-np3uh4xk7k]

To All the members of the wailers who have passed on . Thankyou . For sharing your music and religion . And especially the message of jah . It was a privilege. To know about the wailers . And reggae music . You will surely be missed among the living . Jah Bless you All . Thanks for the memories .

[@wildbird78]

Aston is brilliant, that whole band is. And happy birthday to Bob!

[@noblehillministerprophet8689]

Reggae has its own soul! Man!

[@jeremychamplin1078]

Great tribute to a bass legend

[@Kevtron9000]

Love this series !

[@jurdevries7393]

True genius musician. Thanks for exposing him like this! There are quite a few isolated bass tracks on here which are super good material for studying time and feel, and playing to support and drive the song :) (Fanboy alert!) On the verse of get up stand up he actually bends the high note (minor 3rd) up a little, like a blues player would, giving it more tension. On the last phrase of the Is this Love riff: one would assume that he would play A A G# A G# F#, as you did in the video, because it goes with the chords (back to the root of A at the triplet chord changes) But when you listen to the isolated tracks, he just goes down A A G# G# G# F#, ie stays on G# instead of alternating between G# and A and it does sound less busy in the low end and gives it more of a relaxed feel that way. He understood these subtleties so well and was able to look at the song as a whole and thats what makes him one of the best bassists ever in my opinion (Right up there with James Jamerson and Bootsy Collins)

[@jean-michellimmois9962]

Thanks for this tribute to the genious of Aston Barrett. One of the greatest of all time.

[@gustavosandessp]

nice very nice video! finally reggae interst tech video too yeah man! big resect Family man and Reverb team! Thanks

[@terencedrakes5291]

Thank you for taking the time to do this, you made lots of people happy by doing such a thorough, well-researched job. Well Done Sir!

[@gnguyenb]

Good one! Thanks for sharing!

[@StaffordsStudio]

Awesome video thanks for sharing

[@peterbarratt2415]

Great job learned a lot through that review.

[@mrjomonic]

Thanks very much. Much respect for Aston Family Man Barret. Nice one brother

[@oliviervandurme2110]

Thanks for this, this is the clearest video on Bass I’ve seen in a while! Definitely helped me

[@tguthrie6]

My favourite bass lines work, stiff necked fools, lively up yourself, exodus, crazy bald heads, want more, sun is shining, slave driver. Man there’s just so many I’m missing out heaps but these ones are PHAT

[@babycheesus666]

I love this guy. The editing of these videos is on point too.

[@spiggytopes]

Hi Jake, thanks for the investigation. Playing reggae bass lines is a bit like playing the didgeridoo or throwing a boomerang, it is hell frustrating until you get it, but when you do it's like striking a primal chord to the very essence of being human. Family Man's lines exemplify this. Without question, the part that resonates best for me in terms of power, foreboding and speaking out is one of Bob Marley and the Wailers finest songs. The line up at the time knew the power of what they were dealing with. The guitar lead break wails with pain, all the while Aston's bass plods and stomps with the inexorable power of the military-industrial complex, a mechanised beast from the first Star Wars. Concrete Jungle is a lament to modern life, and there's never been a better way to express it. The bass part is absolutely killer.

[@barringtonjohnson6569]

Robbie Shakespeare played bass on concrete jungle!

[@anthonyakana4518]

Thanks for the inspiration instruction..☮️

[@Dakamum]

Yes! His bass lines are unique and heavy. Check songs like pimpers paradise, ride natty ride, and Zimbabwe.

[@piloadami_]

Talks about the feel and then plays it straight!

[@Astropearl]

Love your stuff man!

[@lorenzotosiart]

I think these videos could anyway put some kind of beat below the bass lines (not the full drum part, so you keep it focused on the bass line) Most of the bass lines lock tight with the drum beat, and exist in tandem with it more than anything else. It would help the student watching this to understand the correlation between the beat and the line and reveal more of it, imho. For example for reggae where the kick on the 3 it's so pivotal for the genre. Love Reverb videos anyway! :) Just an observation with no polemic intention!

[@SPLENDIDZEN]

I love the basslines from Aston "Family" Barret in the albums of Bob Marley & The Wailers!... maybe another video: The Clash's Bassist Paul Simonon?...

[@tompoynton]

Ludicrously underrated bassist. How about some Garry W Tallent?

[@watsonunlimitedmusic]

Great video ! Thanks for doing this.. reggae is a great genre as a bass player. You got the feel pretty good too :) ..one Jamaican bass player said to me once - think like a horn player. I think that helped me a bit. I think of James Jamerson too.. it's a similar feel..

[@trumpetlovepdx1930]

this is super close! reggae is often written in half the tempo your transcribers are offering in the video. IE 8:23, those are supposed to be two bar phrases, one bar each (written in 16th note riddims) but aside from that, nice work on this! Glad to see reggae in the mix!!

[@aaronmoore9055]

I’m glad this video was done with a p bass, especially this particular p bass, the American original 50s p bass. There are not many videos on you tube that are done with this bass, and the videos that are out there are done with a funk finger style. I prefer hearing funk on a jazz bass. Finally heard this bass the way I wanted to hear it. Gonna buy this bass off reverb sometime this month.

[@KunchangLeeMusic]

Great lesson 👌🏿

[@omarazam123]

Amazing video. Not are you very talented, but your insights into family man (GOAT) are amazing. I thought I understood his playing, but you opened my eyes to some keys. Thank you! And do Robbie Shakespeare please!

[@andersingram]

+1 for Robbie Shakespeare

[@CoCre8ors]

Astons Student !!!!

[@clicks59]

Thanks for the examples showing notation. Nice work.

[@marianamaldonado1067]

💚💛❤️ QEPD el gran Aston Barrett

[@Educalaman]

Running away! Crazy baldheads, guiltiness ..lovee them

[@Andyjefford]

Superb👍

[@dwtn81]

Thanks, Reverb!!

[@sudzy314]

“He was really know for playing a jazz bass... So I’m using this p bass.”

[@owalls918]

Haha! Thanks but no thanks

[@reggaefan2700]

His best bass lines were on the "Uprising" album, i.e. Pimpers Paradise, Could You Be Loved, Bad Card, Zion Train....

[@angeltorres4089]

Mike smith. It’s all in the hands.

[@reggaefan2700]

@@angeltorres4089 No it's all in the heart. That's why it sounds different when the Police play it versus Bob Marley and Wailers.

[@BrentLane1]

Yes. Uprising is one of my favorite records. Well everything bob and the wailers released actually ha

[@johnnybgood774]

Reggae music is the best

[@tavitela2]

Appreciate that this guy took the time to study and try to break it down but he doesn't have the groove or feel of the rhythm... Playing roots reggae is all about the groove and feel... Much respect tho

[@Bluezulu85]

Good job 👍🏿

[@jamiehill5255]

Soul Rebel. Aston at his beasty best!

[@thecappy]

Anything played through a vintage B-15 will sound great.

[@mthomas73]

Great video Jake

[@jonathanbyrdmusic]

Genius.

[@franciscoalatorre1763]

Dude, polka rocks the house!

[@aaronpaterson1615]

Aston Barrett is my favourite reggae bass, it only saddened me that he did not come when Bob Marley was in Switzerland getting some kinda new medical treatment and called for the Wailers to come to his bedside to tell them what he wanted them to do after he died in regards to carrying on their musoc and the business. But at least younger bro Carly Barrett went. These Barrett brothers and Wailers percussionist (Bob's main smoking buddy) Alvin Seeco Patterson played in Lee Scratch Perry's 'Black Ark Studio' band, the Upsetters and left them to play with the Wailers in the early 1970's.

[@flynncremin6347]

Azza Paterson how do you know Seeco was his main spliff buddy?

[@rudyserlet8959]

@@flynncremin6347 do some research - Give thanks

[@flynncremin6347]

@@rudyserlet8959 explain

[@JimDragonBass]

A wonderful video would be a demonstration of Jack Bruce's technique on a Gibson SG bass (or eb3 but the SG is what we have now from Gibson)

[@estarling8766]

Nice study and work.

[@cinnamonstar808]

❤️💛💚 Aston Barrett's

[@dookoonu2741]

Very educational

[@PooNinja]

cool info on an amazing player. my take away is you gotta funk wif da time :)

[@markschleinitz677]

have always loved Aston's bass lines and he is one of the reasons I have, later in life, been drawn to pick up a bass. Thanks for the great thoughts on his work. One thing I note on your videos, though. I find the actual bass to be much lower in volume than your vocal portion...not sure if that is just me, but would favor a LOUDER bass portion. Love the vids

[@markschleinitz677]

Actually sounds much better with headphones....must be computer speakers....good work

[@matthewlear9452]

This video inspired me to learn bass 👍

[@robertdread9579]

Familyman el mejor bajista de reggae de la historia !

[@bonnybonny8337]

There is no reggae without the bass guitar.

[@brutalbasspro]

Its like listening to a guy explain how to tune a Mopar 6 pack carburetor while he changes an air filter on a honda.

[@whatwouldhousedo5136]

Fams is my favorite bass player.

[@connorpark2744]

Awsome video, my only critique is that when you showed the larger tab and sheet music, it was hard to see in white. Maybe a darker shade. But nevertheless great video, love reggae bass

[@michaelbenjamin2903]

Thank you for the post. I am inspired to learn music theory to better understand your explanations. Would u analyze " small axe" Thanks.

[@oldirtydasher]

RIP familyman!!

[@montysoomer6575]

I've always shared this view. The dynamic between the brothers. This man is a genius. His basslines are melodies. You hear them a mile away, and you know what song it is. Also, they are all so different.

[@paulroy2964]

hey yo bro i love wou work specially reggae for this one and the jazz work. I really like the work song a another who's i search is mercy mercy mercy for zawinul but play with cannonball

[@zzirjukez2899]

Marleys the gOat