The 10 Greatest Bass Solos (You've Probably NEVER Heard)

[@ekumtambeable]

Richard Bona-Majestically the best of all of them. Precise and very beautiful ❤️

[@callingchristiano]

best ?!?? music is NOT a race cars !!

[@TTinari]

The Michael Pipoquinha solo almost feels like flamenco guitar. The precision and the tone and the energy is just... gorgeous.

[@matsong5134]

I love how every bass player takes from other bass players and creates their own style of solos. Solos are an expression of what’s in your heart and what you’re feeling as a musician. It’s an opportunity for you to express through your instrument the joy and love you feel as a musician.

[@FrankTurk]

I love you because you’re a true bass geek Scott. Never change.

[@devinebass]

FX Turk don’t worry - never will ;)

[@ZoeMarlowe1]

I agree with this sentiment completely, I absolutely LOVE every bass solo on here.

[@shanecabbage2187]

@@devinebass so glad to have this in writing, lol. We love you Scott!

[@halaman9500]

@@devinebass thank you for teaching us!

[@gregwilliams2764]

I played drums with him in Tommy Strand and the upper hand back in early 70’ s. Played all summer at the Hurricane lounge in ocean City Md.

[@danielryklief]

Saw Pipoquinha live... he was everything and a little more, I was absolutely blown away.

[@arthameadors8952]

Thank you for giving Jeff Andrews some shine. Definitely one of my favorite players that, I agree, needs more credit and notoriety.

[@lw48wp4]

As much as I respect all these technically brilliant ultra fast-playing bassists - nothing comes close to folks like Pino, who can create a solo which stands out simply by its recognisable melody and tasteful phrasing. I could probably learn to play this solo in a day, but I would never be able to come up with something pure like this myself. This is what makes a great solo in my opinion. Michael League played an equally impressive solo last year in Nuremberg. I can listen to the recording of this show over and over again, just for that bass solo.

[@davidkron2292]

Completely agree, I also found the Pino solo best in this video's selection of solos. Pino made me "woooo" just by his groovy licks and choice of notes. The other solos are technically very impressive, but mostly not interesting to listen to. Exceptions for me are Gary Willis and Hadrien Feraud though, because they got the chops, but I know they also do great solos with more melodic approaches. Personally for me the best bass solo is still Victor Wooten's live solo on Dave Matthew Band's #41: kzbin.info/www/bejne/goKzo5VrmJKHpLc It combines groove, melody and technique together and there are only a few bass solos that come close to this for me. Edit: I just remembered since I brought Victor Wooten into the conversation. I heard some clinic a while ago where Victor said some of the most important aspects of solos or music in general is space, meaning the notes you don't play. And as I watch this video more, I notice a lot of these technical solos very much lack space.

[@altmaxv]

Totally agree with you. I think the best solo (no matter on a bass or guitar) is that continues the main theme of the composition. My favorite bass solo for many years is from Cosmosquad's "Jam for Jason". Anyway thanks to Scott for the video, it has many interesting things to learn and practice.

[@babayaga1767]

drums stop. very bad. drums stop... bass solo

[@road2hell46]

lw48wp4 what tune was Michael League soloing over? I’ve always liked his solo on Skate U from Tell Your Friends.

[@JoergB]

Agree 100%! No more details necessary. :-)

[@dong1872]

Laugh out loud at the joy it brings to you, Scott! It gets me, too, and I'm not even a bass player!

[@acvecchia]

Great video!!!! I'm from Brazil and tks for showing Michael Pipoquinha, he's an amazing musician.

[@zac3392]

Tudo bem!!

[@andrekruysen814]

Dear Scott, you always brighten up my day. Thank you so much for all your beautiful energy! Greetings from Holland, André

Since binge-ing on this superb channel and working on my new bass skills, or lack there of, this drummer hasn't touched a stick in weeks. You, dear sir, are seriously addictive. I am not complaining.😀

[@BARTOZZI-OFFICIAL]

Andrews sounds exactly like a tenor sax bop player. Incredible, what a talent.

[@thumpybones]

Sad to hear about Jeff Andrews' passing. I knew him at Berklee, he lived in the room above mine. I even subbed for him on a rehearsal once. Mike Stern was playing guitar!

[@jamesbeard]

I think I appreciate all kinds of bass solos, both technically complex and also more melodic and soulful. But the ones that touch me emotionally are usually the simpler, more tasteful ones. I'd love to hear your thoughts Scott on something like the one Jaco does in Midwestern Nights Dream by Pat Metheny. A blizzard of notes is for sure impressive and easy to be wowed by, but it's really nice to be able to connect with the music on a deeper level sometimes ... It's the same with drummers - those internet arguments about who the 'best drummer ever' is so often revolve around who's the most technically proficient or who can solo with the most fireworks. But I'll very happily take Vinnie's playing on something relatively simple like Fields of Gold or Seven Days as it's the restraint and tastefulness which come to the fore rather than the display of chops! Just listen to Pino's playing on the Don Henley track New York Minute and you'll see what I mean :)

[@pierreandrewt1347]

Agree. Chuck Rainey said there's "melody notes" and "theory notes". I like the melody notes

[@billyanthony2051]

Wow, didn't know that was Pino! You're absolutely right, incredible Bass work!!

[@johndoe1765]

JAMES BEARD I LOVE YOUR COMMENT IT,S VERY TRUE .

[@ChuloDavidcito]

Thanks so much, this is incredible! I got to see and meet Skuli at a Holdsworth gig. I'd never heard him before, and he stunned us. I told him that Iceland must be a source of geniuses! :) 🎻

[@carshingmoran6583]

My personal favorite bass solo on record is Oteil's solo on "Davey Crockett", with Col Bruce Hampton and the ARU live from 1991 (I think it was '91). Great video Scott. Those guys are all monsters!

[@sawmaster6095]

Go to 15:13 in this: kzbin.info/www/bejne/qpC1dJhnfdl8p6s That is Oteils best work, he sounds way better with a 4-string

[@uralien1227]

That was right around the first time I saw him live. I did not know who he was, but that first experience seeing him wearing long Egyptian garb, barefoot, eyes closed.....as a young bass player then (about 5 years in), it completely changed everything for me. He dropped every jaw in that room. I will never forget that. At first I couldn’t handle playing for a couple of days, and then I couldn’t stop. Oteil remains one of my favorite bassists of all time

[@tlsbjj]

Pipoquinha is a monster, as well all the other bassists in this video. I'm glad to hear you saying that Jeff Andrews deserve much more credit, I totally agree. I love his solo on Mike Stern's "Bait Tone Blues", music from Play album. it's a mind blowing solo.

[@strat0871]

Jaco was soooo the best of his time, and now the technical level is really much more higher, and...impossible to reach for most of us ! I wouldn't have thought that 40 years ago when I started playing..

[@FilipCordas]

But Jaco still sounds better. Honestly this all sounds a bit pointless trying to do stuff for the sake of doing it.

[@charlesnagtzaam1658]

Yep, the technical level went up a notch. However, there’s still no cat around who has all parameters on that ‘Jaco level’. I mean, I still haven’t heard compositions of all those technical guys reaching the musical level of ‘Three Views of A Secret’. Also, Jaco’s arranging skills were very high. And not much players had that level of impact like Jaco did. He’s still audible in every (technical or even non-technical) bass player. But then again, there are lots of bass players who have their own thing going, despite of the obvious Jaco influence. There are numerous of great players out there, still so much great music for us to enjoy.

[@strat0871]

@@charlesnagtzaam1658 Right. Still love Jaco too.

[@warrenosborne1539]

Jaco was on the level of Mozart.

[@SergeDuf]

I think Alain Caron and Percy Jones should be mentioned. But you have a great list here that made me discover new bassists.

[@penelopepenny4593]

Mate, I love that you are straight to content (and good content). Good analysis and no bs.

[@bentaylor4705]

Hey props for shouting out Dane! Cool guy and never fails to drop quite a few jaws.

[@AntonAmadeus]

That Gary Willis solo on Self Defense has always and will always be the best bass solo I've ever heard. The only thing that comes close for me (if not another Willis solo) is Jaco on Havona. Never has something inspired me so much. 👍🏼 Great video again, Scott.

[@jamesk167]

Check out Willie Weeks' solo on the live recording with Donny Hathaway around '73 - tasteful and in the pocket... different from the rest

[@JoshuaDb_The_Witness]

Anthony Tydd - Child Of Troubled Times- the whole album. Steve Colmen and Five Elements - Flint , Reggie Washington on Bass

[@kevinmitchell8650]

When I started to play the goal was to play with the touch and technique of the violinist. These greats have realized it. Great video.

[@URQUIZA1979]

Dear Scott, you should check out Nico Assunção. He died in 2001 but still is the best bass player from Brazil. His solos are amazing.

[@BlackRootsAcademyOfSoul]

Let me send this to Richard Bona. 👌🏿 Pino 🔥 All these are incredible Bassists.

[@m.perrone5542]

Michael Pipoquinha.... 🇧🇷🇧🇷🇧🇷🇧🇷

[@marcuslacerda618]

@Scott, you can try saying Michael's name like "Pipokiña". 😉

[@ChuloDavidcito]

@@marcuslacerda618 Si, legal! Glad to see Michael again!

[@zac3392]

Marcos Perrone Tudo bem!!

[@FilipCordas]

Man that was so clean every note people have a tendency to muffle notes when they play fast but this was like someone speed up a regular recording, really good.

[@siddonfer]

BR BR BR !!!!!! Pipoquinha !!!!

[@ericgendell8874]

Fantastic selection of bass players,everyone who ranks among my favorites including 2 of whom I was not aware. You can tell alot about a musician by his influences. Incidentally, beautiful bass, great tone and killer playing, Scott.

[@TheRobWay1]

I wish I could like this video more than once! Thank you Scott!

[@devinebass]

Rob Kelman ahhh cheers Rob! :)

[@danielwilson6529]

You just did Rob 👍

[@jrotondi]

Thanks Scott! Your enthusiasm for great bassists mirrors my own. This is a great selection of players/solos. I saw Jeff Andrews with Mike Stern. He made a 4 string sound like a 5 string, huge vocabulary. He is missed. I would consider adding two of my favorite fretless players: Jeff Berlin, and Percy Jones of Brand X, to this group.

[@KiraPlaysGuitar]

Oh hell yeah, Steps Ahead. Man this video was great, going to have to watch at least three times.

[@devinebass]

KiraPlaysGuitar cheers! :)

[@cascasben1093]

Wowwww! Pipoquinha is unbelievable! And you are one of the most complet bassists that I ever know.

[@bubinga_basher]

That video, your skill, ear, and playing blew me away. Asa drummer just starting to make covers musicians like yourself let me know where i stand. The drummer in those videos were insane! I’m now hoping there’s some video of some of your performances. Your on that next level I’ll never achieve . Brilliant!

[@jarrodsmith8260]

love this format! keep doing these

[@luismayol3145]

GREAT JOB Scott !!! thanks a lot !!!

[@michaeljones3807]

Awesome thanks for the cool clips Jeff Berlin and Percy Jones are two of my favourites

[@AnthonyMonaghan]

I really enjoy your channel, but I've walked into the wrong video here. I've heard some Jaco Pastorius...but the rest I have no idea about. Pino Paladino, is the only other player I know of. I feel like I'm in the wrong class at high school. To be honest, they all sound the same to me, and I realise I don't really know what I'm talking about here, but going purely on what I'm hearing, it all sounds like Jazz school...but each to their own. Love your passion and depth of knowledge. Keep on keeping on. Thanks.

[@ignaciomeyerp]

Man! Singing that part in the Gary Willis solo, you're a real bass player! xD

[@77inthehouse]

You're awesome Scott....you are always bigging up other musicians but all credit to you for being a great teacher, you have a love for the bass which shows with the excitement on your face watching the greats from yesteryear. Keep it up, you are inspiring a new generation of bassists...myself included. Many thanks.

[@devinebass]

Steve Thornton ahhh thanks so much, Steve 🙌

[@stevemarston1794]

I'll still go with Skuli on Low Levels, High Stakes as one of the best - incredibly musical

[@FabianoKroeffSaboya]

The pronunciation is "pee-po-keen-ña" ("nha" in portuguese sounds like the spanish "ña"). It is a nickname, meaning "tiny popcorn".

[@mixedmediawoodwerks7246]

When you were trying to break down some of Pino's licks about sliding in, and out of the main harmony it stands to reason he, like Jaco listened to a lot of sax players' phrasing. Working around chords by circling them in half step increments....like a roundabout in a roadway...takes you any direction you want to resolve to...

[@marcioletras]

Hi, Scott. I'm a Brazilian English teacher, and a bass player too.I'll try to teach how pronouce "Pipoquinga", that means something like "tiny popcorn", because he was a child when he starts to play the bass. So, you can try to say: Pe-paw-ke-nã (like senõr in spanish). Have you ever seen he playing Jaco pastorius' Teen Town with an orchestra? That's amazing! Cheers from Brazil!

[@wolfgangfricke8555]

stunning compilation. could watch that all day.

[@davidraath252]

Great compilation! Loved watching this and learning from it. Pino all the way.

[@devinebass]

David Raath cheers, David! :)

[@daveycmusic5150]

All great players. All have amazing chops....and I can listen to soloing like that....1 minute, tops.

[@MrMjp58]

Another superb video. IMO you saved the best till last! If I'd foreseen any of this in April 1970 [when I took up the bass], I.... don't know what I'd have thought.

[@jordanmiles106]

Thanks for all the great content! -amateur bassist from a small town

[@4EverLearning757]

Great video, thanks for breaking down the music theory behind those solos! So helpful.

[@billylikitsakosmusic6367]

Great video! I studied with Jeff Andrews in NYC; he was totally brilliant! What a loss for the electric bass world; luckily Jeff's legacy is totally intact via amazing records and videos! Thanks Scott!

[@devinebass]

Billy Likitsakos music awesome Billy! I spent time with Jeff (and his cats, lol) in NYC too - great guy!

[@billylikitsakosmusic6367]

@@devinebass yeah! I wrote a paper about Jeff when I was at NYU taking a class in Jazz history... I totally gave it to Jeff before I handed it in for my final to make sure I had gotten all my facts right; he liked it so much he asked me if he could publish it on his web site as his bio. Of course, I said "yes please!"... He was a total master bass player and really nice person too. R.I.P. Jeff Andrews.

[@mfair4u]

Great video! Some of these guys I've never heard of. I must look them up.

[@devinebass]

Miguel Fair cheers, Miguel :)

[@LeoTraversaMusic]

Etienne Mbappe ? One of the best things about your video is watching you watching the solos .. lol. It has a kind of "Mystery Science Theater 3000" quality to it :-) Thanks, Scott. Great stuff.

[@kevinmitchell4094]

Great bassists. Dedicated to learning and performing music.

[@philippemelkonian6485]

Great choises. Thank you for your explanation

[@jean-baptistebuisson2616]

Scott, what a good player and teacher you are!!

[@poasful]

I'm not an expert, but Scott is the best bass player I've seen among the youtube musicians. Great lines with even greater tone.

[@strivingx67]

I don't know Bass like you do. But man I loved watching this as much as you loved presenting it. I thought Stu Hamm would be in there. But that is likely because of my lack of Bass player knowledge. Great vid, keep it up!

[@devinebass]

Bruce H thanks Bruce! I REALLY enjoyed making this vid - hearing feedback like this make me wanna make more :)

[@stevesorrell9835]

Unreal!!! Mind blown...

[@ahmedaq9071]

Great video Scott. I know there's no way you can include every amazing finger bass solo (or solo technique), but I really think Tom Kennedy's crazy solo technique should've been included, whereby he incorporates fast 16th chromatic notes along with open strings while moving his hand along the neck, and THEN almost doubling the speed into a triplet feel while still playing that same technique. Especially since a lot of bass players don't even know Tom. Hope you explain that technique in one of your future videos. Thanks and appreciate the great work you and the team are doing for the bass community.

[@devinebass]

Ahmed 'AQ' AlQasim Tom is THE MAN! 💪... did an interview with him a few weeks back for SBL... keep a look out for it ;)

[@exhpv]

So awesome to see the "Great Dane" Alderson on here, with Andy Finsenden on drums, Perth represent!

[@juanbageneta9709]

muchas gracuias! este video valio cada segundo de su tiempo , adhiero a cada uno de los bajistas que nombraste los que conocia y aun los que no. creo que deberias escuchar a Federico Heliodoro de brasil , Marco mendoza,, guillermo vadala en cada uno de sus solos , ´pero particularmente en willie. gracias

[@thillwl]

As much as I love Felix Pastorius, I feel that Dane Alderson is more the spiritual/musical heir to Jimmy Haslip within the Yellowjackets.

[@daleford9606]

I agree with your statement. I actually think he’s overrated...

[@mariusbraun450]

I love how excited you get about this stuff, keep it up Scott!

[@brtpy6174]

It`s very cool format! More and more analize music!!!

[@magnumardent]

Blown away of them all, but that brazilian guy.....man...great upload, thanks!!

[@diogenessantana]

hey scott, before even checking the video, the title made me remember when i had a band, we played some nirvana, as you know the bass lines are mostly easy. the guitar guy asked us to try love buzz, i said ok, i will learn it... basically nirvana one can learn in one sit, i thought love buzz would be the same. for my great surprise it has a hell of an amazing bass solo in the end! it took me a quite time to achieve it and it cracks! after learning it, i started giving more attention and respect to Chris novoselic as bassist.

[@tablameister]

Good stuff! Jeff Andrews had the ability to make an electric bass sound like an acoustic on some songs. Very underrated bass player.

[@humbertooliveira3506]

Wow! The best video Scott! I know all the bass players, but your video is TOP!👌🏾👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽

[@devinebass]

Humberto Oliveira ahhh cheers Humberto! :)

[@jameslo303]

Thanks for another great video Scott! Just like every single one of them, when it's finished, I gotta grab my axe and lay down some grooves!

[@extratenshi]

Scott, I can’t understand most of what is happening, but I really enjoyed your passionate explanation and will share your video. Brilliant.

[@averagejosh810]

I wish I could have listened to all of your favorite bass solos and then had you break them down.

[@ahlceledio5115]

Wow! Great bass solo

[@josephlizzio1832]

Scott, you are terrific.

[@marktyler3381]

Flaming good video Scott, I'd like more like this personally.

[@ivanriverooo]

My favourite video of yours. Whatever it is in this thing, keep it up. You had me laughing of joy and geekiness at 3:36 at Pino's unharmonic bit.

[@hahabass]

That was pheeeenominal. If you asked me though, Jeff Andrews!!!! RiP! I've always loved him. And as for Patitucci? Haha. 'Calm it down!' On another note, I recently signed up with the Academy. Didn't use it once during the trial, but allowed it to 'lapse' into ongoing membership, determined as I am, to use the thing. So, SD, any tips on the best place to start, sir?

[@tabonejohann]

When i improvise on a minor pentatonic i like to add the major 3rd but pino likes to add the major 7th according the video. Thanks scott i try this when i m back home.

[@davidpinto2197]

Jeff Andrews... HUGE loss, and underrated player. Another GREAT recorded solo of Jeff's that I transcribed and learned (and learned a lot from) was his solo on Bait Tone Blues from a Mike Stern recording.... I highly recommend it.

[@jma1304]

This is only a glimpse at Scott's list of players. There are a large number of simply amazing bass players. Stand outs like Jeff Berlin, Steve Bailey, Victor Wooten, Marcus Miller, etc. are not included. The inclusion of bass players that typically play fast, blistering lines is interesting. Often a more conservative approach with key notes, phrases is more effective. The clips in the video are great and show case some amazing playing.

[@lincolnadams83]

Okay, this will be a much listened to and practiced video!!

[@devinebass]

Lincoln Adams cheers, Lincoln! 🙌

[@lincolnadams83]

@@devinebass Actually, I'm in deep need of carving out the time to be in the shed with Scott's bass lessons!

[@Slamminbassplayer]

Even these complex, shredding bass solos can put me to sleep. And I'm a bass player!

[@osXcanada]

Man goes to an island, and when he steps off the boat, he hears loud drumming in the distant hills. As he walks into his hotel, he can still hear the drumming. He asks the concierge, ‘what’s with the drumming?” Concierge says, ‘if drumming stops, very very bad.” Next day, the man had not slept all night, due to the incessant drums that never stopped! As he goes downstairs and jumps into a cab, he asks the taxi driver “so what happens when the drumming stops?” Driver says, “oh very very bad if drumming stops”. ‘Tell me what is so bad?” Taxi driver looks at the man and says…”if drumming stops, then it’s bass solo!”

[@egmccann]

Mph. I can technically appreciate these, but to my ears these still sound like "Here, here's a bunch of really fast notes." They don't *feel* like they'r egoing anywhere. I mean I can hear how they're harmonically related, but they don't ... *do* anything for me.

[@goffperu]

I agree with this. These were all very fast jazz solos played in a very similar way in the same position on the neck. I think you should have included a wider variety of styles. These are all technical masters, but I like a bit of slap and funk in the mix as well.

[@martinolssonbass]

If these notes are too fast, your hearing is too slow.

[@barringtonjohnson6569]

Chris Goff I hear what you’re saying dude, it’s just scales, no melody.

[@snoopyjc]

egmccann Yeah I agree - blah blah blah

[@fiscaldisco5234]

Agreed. Pino’s is the only one that sounds musical to me. The others sound like people practicing their scales really fast

[@mykeready3742]

I do enjoy watching you but sometimes you make my head hurt with info overload. Keep up the great work. 👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻

[@CarlosJannarelli]

Really cool video! So happy to see a brazilian bass player featuring! The pronunciation of Pipoquinha is way different, but I can't imagine how to ahow the right way without audio... 🤣

[@matthew9488]

just incredible! thanks

[@jplater9191]

Love your channel! Keep it up!

[@qiitxxsmitj3491]

Why nobody ever says anything about Stanley Clarke?

[@poasful]

RIGHT!??

[@alblack3425]

Wow I guess not a single black bass player ever played any licks that can be consider a great solo...NOT.

[@KingPorter]

I never really liked anything Stanley Clark played

[@jackhammer111]

@@KingPorter Do your homework Bub.

[@hajikelist]

top notch... absolutely amazing

[@goncalomarques2711]

Scott, Can you make the top 10 solos you transcribed for bass? (any instrument) Because this video is FIRE!!!

[@devinebass]

Gonçalo Marques absolutely- great idea man :)

[@AntonAmadeus]

Oh and.. TRILOGUE! I bought that on DVD and was just amazed from beginning to end. Good shout!

[@HiImSeanIPlayBass]

I'm curious how Tal Wilkenfeld never seems to get mentioned in stuff like this. She's unreal.

[@mojoleon2]

Oh she is mate , just check more of Scott's lessons ;D

[@SteveWeltman]

How could he miss Because We’ve Ended as Lovers with Jeff Beck?

[@HiImSeanIPlayBass]

I made this comment a month ago and like two weeks ago he makes a video featuring Tal... Hmm.

[@jensclarberg6419]

Not really anywhere near these guys level though.

[@SteveWeltman]

Jens Clarberg I’d disagree with your statement. Her playing is actually musical and to me (opinion) more emotive than simply fast fretting and other intonations. Sure, there’s always some one that can shred in a guitar or bass but is it a fit for that piece or just a solo to show how fast you can play?

[@RexLancaster]

A good selection. I love that session with Jaco, Albert Mangelsdorf, and one of the greatest drummers Alphonse Mouzon. Btw, it would be nice if you could do something on the late great Dave Carpenter sometime.

[@davidlopez-white3185]

Great post Scott!

[@Ocean8881]

while watching the video I was planning to ask you why you never mentioned Michael Pipoquinha and then you blew my mind with the final presentation!!wooooow!!!! Thanks so much!! By the way what do you think of the late Victor Bailey's playing Coltrane s Countdown solo?? Outrageous chops!!

[@Olivan10]

Hi, Scott! Pipoquinha is the diminutive of pop corn, a nickname. You must know some brazilian bass players like Arismar do Espírito Santo, Nico Assumpção, Ney Assunção, Arrhur Maia, André Vasconcelos and Kleyton Farney. Hugs. 😁

[@estonkers]

That last dude, Michael from Brazil, WOW! I need to watch that again and just figure out what he’s doing with that jazz pinky! It lies back in the waits and just lurches out every once in a while to pap out a note he couldn’t quite reach with the other 3. But most of the time flapping those other three around are more than enough!

[@Gell1967]

An unknown bass solo is featured on Fleetwood Mac Live 1970, on my KZbin channel, go to 24 mins 44 secs and you'll hear a bass solo followed by a Conga solo and then back to bass solo, bass is a Fender VI, it's not John Mcvie, it's Peter Green, yes the well known guitarist, who also plays the Conga solo

[@lcd1957]

I'm a pretend bass player and love your geekish enthusiasm. totally inspiring. You play great as well. Had to subscribe. Great Video.