The Number Of The Beast (Bass Only) [Studio Version]

Iron Maiden - The Number Of The Beast - The Number Of The Beast
Original master (isolated) bass track from the Number Of The Beast song. Enjoy and learn from the master Steve Harris. \m/
All images and sounds are property of Iron Maiden, EMI Records.

[@skeeter197140]

I wonder if Steve Harris knows just how many players picked up a bass because of him. I did.

[@jerimiahrouillard6330]

I wish it was Harris and not cliff but seeing I'm born one day after him and bear a half resemblance to him ..... why not eh

[@jerimiahrouillard6330]

I meant cliff eh

[@jerimiahrouillard6330]

Lol I'm so Canadian

[@psychosalad6653]

He makes want to play so bad. Him and David Ellefson

[@Peterickenbacker1]

He's one solid reason I picked up the bass and adore it. Him, Geezer, Entwistle, Cliff, JPJ, and Jack Bruce.

[@Akira625]

Just recently started getting into Maiden. It's so refreshing to hear a metal band with a bass that's loud, clear, and not buried underneath the rhythm guitar. Steve Harris' bass playing is so melodic, it sounds great on its own!

[@harrisumar3099]

Why do they always tune the bass down under the rhythm guitar that’s a buncha bogus excuses for the studio editors to do that all the time Steve is loud and clear idk why it’s not heard all the time so bullshit

[@Daddy53751]

They really did that to Cliff Burton as well. Such tasty bass only to buried in the mix.

[@viper7159]

You can tell just listening how relaxed his hands are.

[@Phillyfast]

The only bass player I know of in the metal world that rocks flatwound bass strings. Steve Harris's tone kills.

[@fazexx_sanic420_xx5]

***** nope

[@SquierStrat72]

+Brian Fassbender I prefer flatwounds myself. And Steve Harris is why.

[@richardwilliams877]

I mostly play metal-style stuff and play in a similar style to this (smashing the crap outta the strings EG Harris/Burton) and I'm too scared to try flatwounds. Harris is 500x the man I will ever be.

[@Daddy53751]

Richard Williams I play kinda the same way, but I play flats on a fretless and it’s really sweet. Never tried ‘em on a fretted bass. Now thinking about it, I have to try it!

[@jajsound]

Rotosound SH77 Steve Harris Signature Flat Wound Bass Strings

[@ANDJUSTICE4U]

best bass player in metal. ever.

[@KangaPanda]

Steve Harris, one of the best bass players ever!

[@harrisumar3099]

*2:42**-**2:47** OMG THATS MY FAVORITE PART ON BOTH GUITAR AND BASS*

[@RideWithDeath333]

Totally agree

[@dopiaza2006]

It's why I'm now a bass player!

[@RockGTA]

Steve Harris, thanks for Iron Maiden!

[@richyperez_plays]

Awesome bass tone.

[@darrenpolok2869]

This is it, where it all started for me been playing bass 15 years now amd mostly play victor wooten/ marcus miller style but back in high school this is the very first song i learned on bass so i could join in with my freind at schools band, i remember that little bridge part between solo 1 and 2 taking me soooo long to get down, steve harris is truly the greatest rock/metal bass player to ever live and ever will his songwriting skills are unmatched, thank you steve

[@customedge1]

I can play that, someone hold my beer

[@harrisumar3099]

*I can play it too JUST LIKE STEVE HARRIS MY LADDIE FROM IRON MAIDEN 😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍*

[@TheEinherjarKM]

man if im going to learn this i need to get that rhythm down lmao its going to be hard to keep up with this... this is REAL talent.. back when bass players were awesome and creative

[@jorgeabbud9518]

Now that's a raw bass sound...

[@PauloMonnerat]

it´s funny to check him out isolated like this... after the solo he gets a more consistent galoping rythm than what he does in the first part. There would be no other way to notice that hehehehehhehe The guy is a genius, and it´s bad to have him being criticized just simply as "sloppy". He´s got his own unique sound, that he invented.

[@deppwaswho]

craazzzzyyy. such a simple line but can't even begin to imagine the amount of energy and stamina needed to play this

[@FromagedeNez]

deppwaswho trust me not simple at all

[@mephistopheles7545]

@@FromagedeNez maybe difficult on bass but it’s pretty easy on guitar

[@Christianonbass]

Not out of time! String noise does not mean it is sloppy! If this is not Steve, it is a very good cover!

[@Da_Swifta]

To clarify, this is Steve. This is the exact same recording that is on the studio version of the song

[@Daddy53751]

It absolutely is. There’s a mistake Steve makes that you can hear in the album. (About 3:03)

[@Jeff-o-Lee]

Nice Tone. Rotosound Flat Wounds on a P Bass with the treble cranked.

[@bigolemonkey2898]

Bluesquidd1 and mids

[@f3rfra]

Magical 3:09

[@LFxlKONGz]

LOL when i try to play along with this song my hand cramps

[@karensuarez2825]

UP THE IRONSSSSS¡¡¡¡¡ AND STEVE HARRIS lml

[@marcos6415]

Harris is a crazy... the best player bass \m/ UP THE IRONS!!!!!!!!!

[@iupiterbong4033]

Siamo sul band antante

[@JeffMatson]

Steve Harris is a fucking god.

[@felipealmeida8144]

First thing to learn: The Isolated Bass Track will not sound just like in the song with the whole band.

[@eddiethehead7976]

This is gold!!!

[@dceufan]

2:04 - for a second …. that sounded like the intro to the song Clairvoyant (1988)

[@descou1]

just awesome

[@bauermarkim]

amazing

[@robloxwarshipsbetaplayer588]

yeah

[@DenverStarkey]

so tired of so many idiots posting on here "meh it sounds sloppy". people throw that word around any time a bass player sounds like he is doing more baby tapping the strings. people got this absurd idea that bass guitar is some how some kind of "clean" sounding instrument just because its not distorted. Any one playing bass like they own a pair is gonna make some noise. two 3rds of the youtube bass covers I see got some dork playing like he is afraid to break his fingers and wet on himself.

[@notvisible8200]

Man, My feelings exactly! Pound those strings!

[@Adrian_MS86]

Am I too late to reply? That's how I feel when I read those comments... They need to pull those strings! Bass is made to be played hard

[@Abonodi]

Been playing bass for over an decade now and yes, this is sloppy sounding and there is no way to get around it. I understand that the Iron Maiden fanboys get really butthurt when their favorite bass player is getting criticized but it's no reason to praise someone for being better than he actually is. I'm not saying his bad, just sloppy.

[@guydude6546]

Abonodi define sloppy, if it's because of the clanky tone of the strings it's supposed to be that way, its what happens when you play bass with some balls

[@DenverStarkey]

Abonodi you mean you been playing like a pussy for over a decade ?

[@Kwarde.]

To the guys talking about stamina and everything; if you have your bass guitar adjusted right, you don't need this much stamina. It's really not needed to use alot of tension in your fingers. You merely have to tickle the strings. If you get a really low output then, either lower the bridge for a higher action, of adjust your pickups and move them towards the snares. Using alot of tension is really bad for your hand and can even cause tendonitis! (If you keep playing with pain, or if you get pain everytime you play it). p.s. Tip for AMP EQ Settings: Bass: 4-6/10, Mid: 7-8/10, Treble: 9-10/10, Presence: 7/10. That works really out with my bass (w/ Seymour Duncan SPB-4 Pickups and the Artec SE2-A pre-amp, with the bass on neutral and max. treble boost (I think that's a boost of 20dB).

[@RPJTheWhiteWolf]

even the best bass players mess up man,; Steve is an amazing bassist even if it sounds sloppy here, I think all of his basslines speak for themselves

[@joesmith4045]

It’s jus a bit of strings noise and fret buzz that’s what happens when your record with a drum track most metal bass tracks sounds like this

[@megadoomed100]

I saw a lot of your videos recently and your edition is boss. May I request To Tame a Land bass only?

[@zenmonkey666]

@JordanEvans3794 i repeat: steve is a great songwriter. what are we talking about?

[@jorgeabbud9518]

Dude, chill down!!!! I was supporting you!!!

[@fishdog666]

Is this real? How did you get this? If it's not, it's a damn good cover!

[@metalkingbeast6]

@digdug3520 lol ur not like most of those top comment addicts who say "my favourite part was from 0:00- 4:26 its prety rare for people to actually do the impressive job of a comment you did sir, well done!

[@NoddyTron]

First verse: 1:05 First verse down: 1:13 First verse end: 1:23 First chorus : 1:25 Second Chorus: 1:53 Middle bit 1: 2:00 Break down: 2:40

[@tubadude07]

God these trolls are annoying, it's obvious it's Steve.

[@awesomefanger]

@Greenman422 Flatwound strings close to the neck up past the 12th fret

[@Christianonbass]

I know that I wrote "String noise does not mean it is sloppy". I've played bass since I was a kid. I remember the day this song was released. I was correcting the other guy's comment!

[@QueEEnfAN1]

Steve Harris & Cliff Burton are just the best bassist there are, there simply isn't no one that can beat them But I know some guy that maybe, one day, may be able to compete with them, my friend Daniel Cazares, wich I have the pride to have in my band is a fucking great bassist, best none-famous bassist I've ever heard, he's 14 yrs old, has been playing for two years and can play any Steve, Cliff, Rober Trujillo, Les Clayspool, and other guys songs almost as good as them

[@mephistopheles7545]

I know this is a 10 year old comment but Alex Webster is better than both of them

[@PJyrstinkangas]

This can't be real, there's no bleed.

[@agustinperezmillan3442]

It can be ripped off Guitar Hero games.

[@Danishdarwwizy]

3:09

[@Dennis19901]

@sciaho Yes... yes it is

[@user-bd1bx6mo1h]

Харрис крут как Мюррей!

[@PutItAway101]

LOL it's Steve Harris. A good bass player will be pushing and pulling against the beat in a controlled way, it doesn't sound right unless you can hear how he's working around the drums. Are you having trouble counting the intro? Remember it's in 5/4.

[@SanitysVoid]

Where is Flight of Icarus? I cannot find it now?

[@Greenman422]

@Greenman422 nm think he just hits the strings closer to the bridge of his bass.

[@punishmentforall]

I'd be curious to know if Steve was inspired by Pink Floyd's One of these days.

[@Meta9871]

well they are both British bands, Pink Floyd was approx 10 years before Maiden, so it very well might be

[@effiemars_]

Pink Floyd was cited as one of his influences, so probably

[@Antonito1Tonito]

Thanks for posting ! How did you manage do get a as good result as this ? What software did you use ? Thanks ! :)

[@KJ7409]

Interesting, sounds like a chorus on the intro or maybe double-tracked?

[@TMMrKing]

Steve Greatris

[@juuaopassos11]

British Lion, King!

[@imarvideos]

1. Newsted 2. Harris 2. Burton

[@nate-ds9tg]

lol newsted aint shit compared to them. he was good and had great energy/backing vocals but his bass playing was very simple. harris and burton are all miles better than newsted.

[@Cliffburtonruled]

@bassplayer1966 A bit yes, but the symphony with the actual vocals and guitar is amazing.

[@ejl1000]

I LOVE IT AT 3:09

[@bassplayer1966]

It's great, but don't you think the 2nd half of the lead (until his real high part) is very "sloppy"? just saying! I love Harris....he still is a maestro.

[@zenmonkey666]

@mista81 i don't fuckin care, who plays, just what i hear. his sound is unique i didn't doubt that, but almost everybody can play the maiden songs from a technical point of view (everybody=every decent bassist)

[@Dennishionisbass]

@JerryFeng41 lol, yes, sorry, a fourth guitar:P. Though, i just think the role he plays as a bass player is a little weird in this song if anyone gets what i mean:S

[@DenverStarkey]

No actually the string noise is from the string hitting the lower neck frets not the pick up. when the string hits the pickup post it makes a very different static pop sound where as string hitting the frets makes that clacking sound.

[@fins20001]

i,ve always liked steve harris also. i played bass on and off over 20 yrs and always had it drummed into me that playing consistently, in time and with a clean technique were vitally important espacially for bass and drums. i also heard geddy lee and flea isolated tracks that sound very sloppy and dissapointing. maybe our heroes are,nt as good as we think, having said that i still love steve harris,s playing and also flea , geddy lee and jj burnell amongst many others.

[@TheMartini1234]

"Portrait" is actually pretty easy, you just need to practice harmonics a lot and it comes pretty easily. I agree, this isn't that hard, you don't need to practice all that much to get this kind of stamina.

[@gigabroly]

@Dcool53 No, this is an awesome bass line, and his tone is not like a guitar, it's an awesome BASS tone.

[@jorgeabbud9518]

Actually, the string noise is produced when you hit the string against the pickup, not because you mess up, and judging by many other Bass only tracks, such as Run to the Hills, The Trooper and Infinite Dreams, for example, you get that "clunky" sound...

[@JerryFeng41]

@Dcool53 Iron Maiden HAS 3 guitars.. plus a bass

[@PMZpablo]

@OnymousIllusion man, it's probably a studio assistant job LOL!! imagine in the late os evening a guy with all those materials in tape and pro tools just in the face! just roll the tape and record on computer!

[@orlandosierra]

@Greenman422 I wouldn't think so, especially knowing how he plays. I don't hear the picking sound that you normally would get. I would think on a bass you would hear much more prevalent than a guitar and I don't hear it. He is just going up on the neck. I don't hear it but I definitely appreciate us sitting around listening to a bass track, take it from a guitarist. :-) Take care, brother.

[@iamalpharius9483]

I love it. Its a little sloppy but it is what it is. Up the IRONS!!!!

[@darkscorpion-donzaloog]

Sloppy? How?

[@dsisa27]

Because it's Steve...

[@careypricefan11]

@OnymousIllusion guitar hero or rock band

[@dsisa27]

And who says that Steve's technique is brilliant? :D

[@gary999t]

@zenmonkey666 whether a bass line can be played technically by 10, 20 or 100% of bassists is irrelevant. The best bass line is the one that enhances the music, and sometimes this can be achieved by not even playing. It's all about the music. Harris is a master at what he does ... bass player and songwriter in Iron Maiden, and for that job he is probably irreplaceable.

[@Dennishionisbass]

I like Maiden and Steve Harris a lot, but everyone talks about how great his tone is. It's just, by having that really trebley tone as opposed to having a more bassey tone, kinda makes think he is trying to be a little more like a 3rd guitar than a bass. His tone is really quite twangy at times. I think he shows his skill more with the bass to revelations than the bass that this has. Like, it's technical enough, but still quite manageable.

[@1612HavenhurstDrive]

@bell82mma Umm, this track is not being played with a pick.

[@Chrisell]

Who the hell was the one dislike, and more importantly why???

[@bassgeezer]

@Greenman422 no way man... that's all fingers

[@zenmonkey666]

@mista81 yeah i play bass. i hate the word troll, now every shithead uses it for anything that they don't agree with. you are the perfect example. but explain me accurately why steve's technique is unique from the technical side, and i will happily agree.

[@bassgeezer]

@Greenman422 nope!

[@zenmonkey666]

@mista81 like i said he's a GOOD bassist, so chill out. he has a trademark sound and playing style, which i respect much more than skills, but face the facts: technically he's not that good. for example, rex can kick his ass any day - if we talking about metal. being a metal bassist is not hard overall, the instrument is usually at the background, playing simple bass lines, etc. that's why metalheads are think that steve is a beast, cause they can hear the bass, unlike on other metal records.

[@ilikemusic2773]

FOUR MORE LIKES FOR IT TO BE 666!

[@EddieMaiden666]

Did anyone else sing along?

[@zenmonkey666]

@MrBubbles0o0o he's not that technical like maiden fanboys believe. the tone is great, the song is great, but on bass he's doing the same things all the time, and almost everybody (with a decent musical background) can play it.

[@Christianonbass]

Sorry Bro. I didn't mean to sound like I was trippin. It's hard for me to get my mood across when typing. I wasn't upset. Didn't mean to suggest that . Anyway--even if we did disagree--I don't mind different opinions, but this is the internet. I 've been called funny things for my opinions haha. Take care:)

[@PutItAway101]

The accents in the verse are really non-obvious and difficult to get your head around. That's why he's in Iron Maiden and we're not!

[@jorgeabbud9518]

You came to the wrong place yo be hated, dude...

[@Chrisell]

Haha right, that's the only possible answer.

[@Dennis19901]

@sciaho Show me

[@jorgeabbud9518]

garciakahl LOL... Sure it's hard!!! Try playing this song, the "The Trooper"!!!! You're in for quite some pain!!!!!!

[@Kwarde.]

Beto Ramirez Perhaps I'm doing something wrong, but I never have pain? And I find The Trooper one of the easier songs actually

[@branlopgar]

***** Practice. My fingers almost broke trying to play this one. And I say this because I could had changed to a pick, but nah. Better off Dead than playing with a pick.

[@Kwarde.]

What I did by the way, which made it alot easier: - High tension snares (I'm using the Steve Harris signature snares - Wanted to try it out for fun once, but I actually fucking liked them) - Adjusted the truss rod so that the neck is more back-bowed (adjusted the screw clockwards). Adjusted it so far, if I screw it a liiitle bit futher I get a fretbuzz. (Easier for chords) - Lowered the bridge maximal (high action :3). I just like the sound of that more. If you didn't do this, I recommend you to try this out ;) (If you've never adjusted your bass, make sure you do alot of research first, because you might damage your bass severely if you do it wrong). BTW I'm also using the Seymour Duncan SPB-4 pickups since 2 weeks (with the Artec SE2-A pre-amp to boost the highs a bit).

[@Kwarde.]

Yeah hahaha. Basically just the same snares Steve uses. m.thomann.de/nl/rotosound_steve_harris_sh77.htm?ref=msg_a_0

[@Kwarde.]

Dedamn666 Oh now that you say it, I remember it's called strings indeed, and not snares haha

[@jorgeabbud9518]

Dude, just tell me, who's dead and who's alive?

[@jorgeabbud9518]

Guess who's dead and who's still alive?

[@megadoomed100]

No offense op, but who in their sanity would listen The Number of the Beast without bass?

[@DenverStarkey]

even more funy is the song is not even 35 years old yet LOL do the math its only 31 years old 2013-1982 = 31, so this dude could not have been playing this song for 35 years

[@zenmonkey666]

@JordanEvans3794 i don't deny that. just not as good as metalheads believe

[@SabbathFuckingSucks]

Well then you have a terrible ear. Sorry. lol.

[@mward69]

Sorry folks...another fake, pick being used, NOT finger playing. Also using Round wound strings, not flats.

[@fishdog666]

No you're not. A wah and fuzz pedal don't make you the best, even IF you're dead!

[@jannikrampp9449]

Haha👎👎👎👎👎👎😂😂😂😂😂😋😋😋😋😋

[@Aled916]

Im better...

[@fins20001]

why?? just listen, it,s out of time, try counting to it, the technique is very sloppy and inconsistent. sound like a teenager messing in his bedroom. not saying i,m a brilliant bass player but before you can become good you need to be able to recognise when you are bad. cheers!1

[@fins20001]

can,t believe this is actually steve harris playing bass, the technique is shockingly bad