Sting's Best Basslines (Outlandos d'Amour)

[@montraix]

Ok, a couple of things to point out: 1) Sting played fretless on EVERYTHING in the beginning, Andy used to comment on that all the time. 2) on Regatta, Sting plays fretless and upright bass AND also plays the bass notes on piano on the Beds Too Big and Walking On The Moon. Yes, three bass tracks. 3) on the C - G pre-chorus on Can’t Stand Losing You, the “I guess you’d call it cowardice” 2nd time through it’s actually C - A. Just and FYI. 4) on the last verse of Can’t Stand Losing You, at the end of the the last verse where he pedals on a D, under the “all this guilt will be on your head” he plays quarter note Ds an Octave higher on 2 3 4. The reason this is significant if because it’s a McCartney move, also used by Flea, often, to emphasize the end of a pedaled phrase and built to the chorus, or in this case, the pre-chorus. Not trying to contradict you or make fun of the series, because I do love it, but more to point out that these subtleties help younger bass players to understand why players write a new movement, however small, into a bass line. It makes a difference

[@LegendsofBass]

Thanks for this feedback! Happy to have anything added or corrected by viewers. I'm no expert, just trying to share all these songs and players I'm so passionate about.

[@devinfrench4924]

Bro I am the same way about Mark Hoppus from Blink and Shavo Odadjian from System of a Down. They shaped my Bass Playing

[@radiozelaza]

Outlandos was definitely NOT recorded with a fretless, because Sting bought a Fender fretless bass while on tour in US after the session for Outlandos was over.

[@devinfrench4924]

@@radiozelaza you tagged the wrong dude

[@Sultaoinho]

Very informative! I always loved that pre chorus bit, the rise in tension with him playing the octaves are amazing. However, Sting DID NOT record Outlandos or Reggatta with a double bass, he started incorporating the double bass from Zenyatta, to Ghost and finally Synchronicity. For the first two albums, he juggled a Fender Precision and Jazz bass, while also playing Ibanez/Fender P fretless basses. I never knew Walking on the moon was doubled with a piano, that is the first time I've heard anyone say this and I just listened back to it and indeed, it is there (I had to bump up the volume though, hard to hear it at normal volume, the sustain of the piano rings out right?) and I love this song, wow. Great comment!

[@badmonkey0001]

So happy you spoke to the dual bass/frontman stuff. Sting wrote many of these with that in mind. IMHO it makes his writing even more genius.

[@LegendsofBass]

badmonkey0001 - for sure, some of his lines are real tough to sing and play!

[@MikeVernonProd]

Roxanne was the very first song I learned playing bass with my high school band, super fun song to play. Sting is a fantastic bass player. Great vid!

[@LegendsofBass]

MikeVernon Productions -- thanks! Please check out parts 2 and 3 for the big picture.

[@lptomtom]

He used a Jazz, yeah, but his main axe in the early Police years was a fretless Precision IIRC. Great video, as always!

[@LegendsofBass]

lptomtom thanks man!

[@nicobass4099]

Fantastic video ! Cant stand losing you ..my favorite

[@jpeez12345]

Plus the band was a 3-piece operation. Each member had their own style and methods which added to the very unique sound they had. Even live they sound much bigger than a bass, drums, and guitar.

[@OriginalRaveParty]

Great video and playing. I'm learning the bass and I find Sting's basslines really fun and challenging.

[@LegendsofBass]

They can be deceptively challenging! Have fun.

[@Friedsan]

Great videos, man. Thx for that! Sting didnt present Roxanne to the band as a Tango, but as a Bossanova. Not Buenos Aires, but Rio! ;-) Our luck that Copelands energy was there to make this gem ethernal!!!! Long live the Beatles of the 80s!!!

[@neocollective5959]

I think you forgot to mention that this guy was doing killer vocals lines that most times were running very different paths from the bass lines. Remarkable independence ! Great videos, very fun to watch !

[@LegendsofBass]

I think I touch on that in part 2 or 3. None the less, I couldn't agree more. He's a really talented writer and player.Thanks for watching. Glad you're enjoying.

[@Tyl-Fiedler]

He told it more than one time in the video ? Super video dude

[@judsonbradley3852]

instaBlaster.

[@0xBenR]

It was one of the first things mentioned in this video

[@yuriydisman6829]

And playing those riffs while singing...even better...he's fucking greaat.

[@javier86050]

Qué frescura tenía el primer disco! Police, the best

[@town_and_city]

thanks for taking the time to put out such quality videos. they're all great

[@LegendsofBass]

CoallB -- thanks so much! Glad you enjoy them. Be sure to check out parts 2 and 3 for the full story on Sting!

[@humanchannel7825]

@@LegendsofBass how did you get that bass tone

[@LegendsofBass]

@@humanchannel7825 As I recall this is my old Jazz bass with flat wounds and a sponge mute tucked under the strings at the bridge for a little more muffled sound. Pretty flat EQ.

[@russellmorash3816]

Sting was like a classically trained bass player and like Paul McCartney he could sing very high while playing difficult bass lines and we have to mention who I think is one of the greatest drummers of the twentyth century stu Copeland and Andy summers eas a very skilled guitarists who was able to hang back and play the right kind of rhythm but he could play a he'll of a lead when called apon I think this is why the original guitar player was dumped he wasn't professional enough to be in the background of a bass player they were 3 extremely talented men and they where my favorite band of my high-school years even today I love it when one of there songs comes on the radio

[@roboneil408]

Please comment on and cover the outstanding bass line throughout "Masoko Tanga". I love the first 2 albums by the police and despite it's unheralded contribution to Outlandos d' amour, Masoko tanga is truly outstanding and right up there with the more well known hits off of "Outlandos d' Amour".

[@roboneil408]

outstanding! nice job.

[@chachabooom5]

Loved the vid, very informative! Love the series, really good!

[@LegendsofBass]

chachabooom5 thank you! More to come!

[@lilylittle5199]

Another great video, awesome!

[@LegendsofBass]

Steve Nicholson -- thanks! I just posted part 2 this morning. Check it out!

[@mikeswartz1523]

I have not heard peanut before, but I now really dig it, thanks! Another great video, end excellent taste in basses by the way!

[@LegendsofBass]

Thanks Mike. I also hadn't heard it until doing the research for this video. It's a fun one. I have too many basses. They don't all get the love they deserve. :)

[@mikeswartz1523]

Legends of Bass That's awesome and it is always nice to find new jems. A common problem, I call it a case od B.A.D. (Bass Acquisition Disorder), but it is a good problem to have.

[@LegendsofBass]

Haha nice.

[@mikeswartz1523]

Legends of Bass Thanks!

[@mariodavidsaitto9261]

another awesome video

[@TristanSimon]

Very interesting channel. You know how to captivate us, I've learnt a lot with this one and Paul McCartney's videos, thank you !!

[@LegendsofBass]

Thanks for those kind words. More to come!

[@hsurnag]

Was just listenign to their box set a few days ago so this was timely. Great video and it really makes me want to learn some Police tunes on the bass. Thanks!

[@LegendsofBass]

Nice! Yes lots of good ones between this and my other 2 sting videos.

[@doctari1061]

Damn. Kudos to you for being able to both deconstruct this stuff as well as playing it so well. Takes quite a bit of talent just to dissect these tunes. What I can't understand about the Sting material is how the hell did he ever sing and play that shit so perfectly. That de-synchronization of his playing and singing is another talent in itself. Keep the vids coming. They provide a serious look into the hidden talent that is so easily masked and subtle at times that I could have heard the song a hundred times and still missed stuff you're pulling out like it's nothing. I'm jealous, but glad you're willing to share your knowledge. Thanks from Canada! P.S. If you can ever shed light on how to sing one melody while playing a complex bass line at the same time would be a huge help to old timers like myself who have switched from guitar to bass and am now floundering. I found playing guitar and singing so natural. I find singing and playing bass like going to the dentist. Fucking painful!!! I actually prefer playing bass to guitar now because, even though most basses have two less strings than a guitar, you need to know every note inside a chord and where each of those notes are. Much, much more difficult. I'm a damn fine guitarist, but now I feel I'm having to up my A-game all over again just to become a "reasonable" bass player (a.k.a. not embarrassing myself by staying on the root notes the entire song).

[@LegendsofBass]

Thanks so much-- glad you enjoyed this. Plenty more to come. I've heard Geddy Lee asked this question many times and he says that he works the bass line incessantly until it becomes second nature--automatic even. Then he works the vocals after the baseline is basically on auto pilot. Muscle memory. To your point on guitar vs bass playing, while bass has less strings, the melodies usually have more movement and syncopation which makes it harder to sing a straight melody over while playing. Practice makes perfect!

[@Marc310380]

@Doc Tari you are right there, it is incredibly hard to play these elaborate bass lines and sing at the same time - I for sure couldn't do it! But I once saw the making of to the 2001 "All this time" live concert, where Sting did an intense week of rehearsals before his show, and sometimes chose not to sing, just to preserve his voice. It was then that he noticed he had a very hard time playing the bass and not singing to it, as he was so used to do. So both activities must be very much linked to each other in his brain, maybe like a pianist playing a very hard classical piece in high tempo with melody lines in right and left hand together. There is also a very interesting scientific documentary called "The musical brain" that features Sting and other musicians on examining what music does to our brains, for example Sting is put in an MRI while listening to different kinds of music. It is extremely interesting!

[@johnmcelroy8453]

This is really cool! I'm glad I stumbled on to it.

[@LegendsofBass]

Nice! Glad you enjoyed it. If you're into classic rock, check out part 2 and 3 on Sting or check out my other videos on Paul McCartney, John Entwistle, and Flea

[@devinfrench4924]

You deserve a hellovalot more views ! Fantastic playing and info

[@bdp1966]

Saw them on the Ghost in the machine tour,he was playing a Steinberger

[@paulwebster7126]

Great video, loved it

[@LegendsofBass]

Check out part 2! kzbin.info/www/bejne/Z2rNnJyjbdutY6c

[@fr8fr6dr69]

Cant' Stand Losing You was superb.

[@LegendsofBass]

Thanks for watching!

[@minglyu3895]

Very good series，gonna watch 'em all.

[@LegendsofBass]

Thanks a lot! Hope you enjoy them all!

[@briangregory6303]

I thought I knew my Police but that live track you play I'd not heard before. Gotta check it out.

[@LegendsofBass]

It's a mashup of "Voices Inside My Head" and "When the World Is Running Down, You Make the Best of What's Still Around" from Zenyatta Mondatta

[@briangregory6303]

Legends of Bass I've heard them segue the two before but not like that.

[@Omega_M1]

Oh my God I fucking love peanuts

[@theitworks5875]

I don't know how I get drawn into these things but, Great Piece! The Police, short of the Red version of King Crimson, were likely the best trio in R & R history

[@lmackenzie89]

Other suggestions could be: John Paul Jones, John Deacon, Roger Waters, Jaco, Phil Lynot, Chris Squire, Roger Glover, Lemmy. Of course there are many more. I'm happy with any and all really. I really enjoy the way you play through some of the tunes.

[@LegendsofBass]

lmackenzie89 -- thanks! Yes--everyone of these guys are on my list.

[@mcdaniels6188]

You forgot Phil Lesh.

[@russellmorash3816]

Forgot to mention the best rock drummer of all time Stuart copland

[@lmackenzie89]

I'm very much enjoying this series! Looking forward to future episodes. I guess Steve Harris and Geddy Lee are planned?

[@LegendsofBass]

lmackenzie89 -- glad you're enjoying it! They're both on my list along with many others. Wish I could blast out one a week, but that's tough with a full time job. Trying to should for a new artist every month or so

[@michaelrizun3403]

Any thoughts on Tony Levin? As far as a journeyman?

[@sadetwizelve]

Starts at 6:37

[@pedroqueridomusic]

Can you do one of these series on Roger Water bass lines? :) You have a new subscriber. Cheers

[@LegendsofBass]

Thanks! He's in my list.

[@criticalfreedomnow4701]

I'm super happy I found you! I am a good drummer (I can play reggae, as well as most any police song, better than most), but I have decided to learn bass. Being a huge fan of The Police, I figured I would start by learning one album at a time -- beginning with Ghost In The Machine. It seems to me the bass parts were more difficult and intricate in the early stuff, (but I'm not a bass player). I do have a question as to whether it is ok to start off using a pick? I started with finger plucking, but began fooling around with a pick as there is so much to figure out with the hands as it is starting out. Part of my rationale was, "it was good enough for Sting". Your thoughts? Thanks

[@LegendsofBass]

Thanks for watching. That's awesome! Great place to start. As far as the pick, I started with a pick the first few years and then moved on to almost exclusively fingers. Nowadays I'm mostly back to the pick because it better suits my band's pop punk and hard rock styles. IMHO it's best to learn both but it comes down to style and personal preference. Have fun!

[@criticalfreedomnow4701]

@@LegendsofBass Hey thanks. I guess just keep playing is most important. Have you done anything on chorus etc, pedal recommendations (not too expensive)? Yours sounded great. Thanks again

[@LegendsofBass]

@@criticalfreedomnow4701 Yep, practice makes perfect. For these videos it's all direct into the computer with some software effects. Some compression, amp simulation, etc.

[@donny2327]

enjoyed that mate, good work. Just one thing. In Cant' Stand pre chorus it goes from C to A second time around. Cheers

[@bogiebeillin]

Where are the ghost notes on Rozanne!? That is what makes the song level 11!

[@cvalkmal1]

How come you did not include Masoko Tanga!

[@vassili87]

Nice sound, would you mind helping me getting a classier "P" style sound on a J? I'm new to the axe! :-P

[@LegendsofBass]

vassili87 - congrats! Try to stick to the neck pickup and roll off the tone if it's too bright for what you're playing. Nothing beats a classic P but I played my jazzes exclusively for years and never missed the P. Now I like both!

[@megustadiscos]

Sting used any pedal effects???

[@radiozelaza]

Masoko Tanga has the best bassline

[@korocam9137]

Please i want to listen to STING play! FEEL IT dont just play it!

[@kostyantynkhomenko4345]

what for you move arm all the way?

[@mrBDeye]

No one knows

[@larryjonson3550]

Cocktail sausage fingers there. State the obvious. Sounds good though gerry!

[@ziphrox]

It says i can't watch the video cause its not accesable. Am i just to early or is this a technical mistake? First btw.

[@LegendsofBass]

Hi Elliott. Due to the Copyright restrictions on the songs used, the video is not available on all devices. You should be able to view it on a traditional desktop. Sorry for the inconvenience but I don't own the music.Thanks for checking it out!

[@ziphrox]

Legends of Bass No problem! That means i wil check it out later! Keep up the good work, this is one of the best KZbin series i have ever tuned into!

[@LegendsofBass]

Elliott T thanks man!

[@GregoryBoyko]

Wow! Once you got to it it was great. Too much talking before the playing.

[@mickavellian]

ROXANE is a "TANGO" ??? Exactly in what genre of TANGO would you tag ROXANE as a Tango? Knock yourself out Tango Vals Tango argentino Tango canyengue Tango Oriental Uruguayan tango Tango liso Tango salon Tango orillero Tango camacupense (Angola) Tango milonguero (Tango apilado) Tango Nuevo (New Tango) Contact tango Show Tango (also known as fantasia) Ballroom tango Finnish tango. Sting's "Roxane" is a combination of Habanera and some silences that could be Manbo Flamenco, Cuban Pachanga and Ragee (the silences between phrases) You MAY be confusing the best part of the movie Moulin Rouge where a song " Now I gave you a list of ALL Tango variations . Where exactly do you hear "Roxanne" Roxanne's Tango" is played . but it had nothing to do with . I gave you all the type of Tangos I know which do you think Roxane fit ? I saw the boys at CBGB's me and another 12 people and sting was all over the place leaving Copeland to pick up the mess and andy litle strummed accents were amazing but Sting sucked on the instrument but shone on vocals.

[@LegendsofBass]

Hey man, it takes two to Tango!

[@mcdaniels6188]

It's like Tang-o, the orange flavored crystals you add to water to make a refreshing drink the astronauts drank on the Apollo moon missions.

[@Marc310380]

Maybe you can't clearly characterize it as one of the tango genres you listed - but Sting has always been a musician who doesn't care for genres, but rather takes the best parts from several directions to create something new. And I do believe that the writing of Roxanne was influenced by Tango - although he were in a new wave/ punk / formation at the time. But listen to the version of Roxanne on the 2001 live All this time record. That might be how the song was originally meant to be.

[@donnnick]

mickavellian what language are you writing in? That’s not English I could show you how English is written, how sentences are formed, how words are spelled, what you are using might be jibberish or something but it’s not English. If you think it is show me were you got your English from? You sound just a little more ridiculous than me.

[@jobrousa82]

Too much talking too little playing.

[@daviewales5066]

Far too much talking

[@richardkristensen9528]

Extremly booring bass playing, not much back of to the guitar.

[@WorshipShed]

Not a legend