The trick to playing BASS RUNS... SUPER FAST

Students often ask me how to get their super fast bass runs together... and I ALWAYS point them in the same direction... the exact same way I learned how to do it.
In this lesson I'm going to show you how I finally got my fast bass runs happening - and - exactly which bass player unlocked it all for me...
The AMAZING Anthony Jackson!
If you're not hip to Anthony yet... now is the time.
Check out this lesson (there's some great clips of Anthony in there for you), then go grab a copy of "One More Once" by Michel Camilo...
It's a big band album (you'll LOVE it no matter what music you're into!) and includes some of the best bass playing you'll ever hear. As in... EVER.
Lemme put it this way.
If you're a bass player and you haven't listened to this album, you're about to have your world... ROCKED.
As always, see you in the shed...
Scott :)
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[@peixecobain]

Starts at 00:02:00

[@Loko-kk7tl]

This lesson is so fire he had to take his fire alarm down.

[@devinebass]

Lol ;)

[@johnfraser548]

Merry Christmas to all you bassists / musicians and family!

[@greatwhite61967]

A belated Merry Christmas & belated Happy New Year fellow bassists & All The Best For Over The Weekend... I would've sent this sooner but Scott has so many uploaded videos now... Food for thought with what Scott is doing & it's just my own personal experience but bassists are such thoughtful and very giving of their knowledge in music & in life... So many other musicians I worked with before I quit many years ago now that it's hard to remember but they were always very secretive of any knew thing they discovered but anytime I came across a bass player we would exchange any knowledge we had learned whether it was something new or old... The only reason I say this is because of what Scott does & I've just always found that bassists never close anything off from other bassists & again all the ones I met were so down to earth but were & are amazing musician's that were happy to share their knowledge with me & vice versa... Slaínte...

[@lowpitchguy]

I've been using this technique for years now without even realizing it's a trick. Thanks for explanation!

[@korkinden]

Nice glasses, Scott!) Thank you so much for your lessons!!!

[@theguitarclubonline]

I read your article in the paper the other day. Congrats on your success mate. All the best. Chris ;-)

[@thedondeluxe6941]

That's the technique I've always used for descending runs! However, every time I had lessons with various teachers, they kept telling me that it was wrong and that I should always do index-middle-index-middle etc. Now I know you use that technique as well, I feel so much better about it :-)

[@jaymentzoni6451]

All the best Scott, enjoy your break. Thanks for the posts. Never missed one yet. Take care.

[@blackrook1]

Thanks , Scott! I've been waiting for you to break down some Anthony Jackson..awesome!

[@patrickhale424]

Another helluva video from Scott !!! Thanks !!! Merry Christmas my brother from across the ocean !!!

[@andykuhn4968]

how blessed you are to have such a delightful family! Merry Christmas Scott, thanks for your instruction!

[@basslinephunk3441]

He did it again! Thanks, Scott. This is another great, timely lessons!

[@KrunkCobain]

I thought it was my fire alarm for a second,my relief was your frustration. Seriously great video and channel in general,you've helped me improve my bass playing immensely this year! Happy holidays Scott

[@ipelengmolete161]

Scott does his own stunts!

[@mbrsart]

I used to rake all the time, but when I tried this exercise, I realized that I'd lost the technique over the years. Now I know what I'm going to be practicing over the next few weeks.

[@jesusmusic91]

I'll be working on this! Thanks! Merry Christmas!

[@PeterGreenProductions]

You're awesome man! Thanks for your great info and candor - great teaching style.

[@AndySantanaBass]

You are the man !!! Thanks for the trick!!! Happy new year!!!

[@stevenshorkey7271]

Thanks, Scott. I’d read about “raking” but did not understand it. Well done!

[@mossovichwintovsky]

Thanks for the video Scott!! This is exactly what I'm trying to practice atm!! Sir Duke has been the bane of my existence for ages now, but hopefully this will help!!!

[@blues61]

Happy Holidays to you and yours Scott! Thanks for sharing that excellent technique. Wishing you a happy, healthy and prosperous year ahead.

[@pigfish168]

Ahh, the SBL one strap is just so damn good. Even my T 40 is dream time comfortable. Yet again, thanks Scott

[@IcaroArthur]

Dude, you are awesome! Cheers from Brazil!

[@jazzwriter]

Thank you. That lesson is really going to help.

[@jonwill]

Great lesson; thank you for sharing.

[@Tony21TT]

Great Lesson and Happy Christmas to you too.......

[@TheSweetpoonanner]

I learned my right hand technique out of a sick book, and the book had a chapter on raking. I practiced it so much that raking is just how I naturally descend strings, and I have to THINK about it to alternate pluck.

[@BlackRootsAcademyOfSoul]

Anthony Jackson is certainly one of my TOP/FAVORITE Bassists.

[@PeterNiallLancaster]

I watched the video and thought that was a really cool bit of technique that I ought to try. When I tried it I realised that I naturally play descending runs using raking without thinking, although I always start with my middle finger.

[@larnellkeith3484]

I steady with you Scott! It been a while for me! But I'm doing good following your lesson!

[@stervonoza]

All hail almighty Scott!!! You mister are a main reason I progressed so fast

[@Nikolay_Nikolov]

Another great lesson! It's really obvious but when a learning player is so focused on "alternate plucking" the raking seems unthinkable and it kinda necessary to have an accomplished player like Scott to approve it:) The line that did reveal raking for me was the intro from "Smooth Criminal". I've never thought of playing that A-A-A-A-G run solely on the E string. I've always played the As on the open A string and then used raking to jump down to the G on the E string instead.

[@markchip1]

I suspect that the beeping may be a low battery warning..

[@gmjones2001]

They don't beep like that when they detect smoke, they are much more in your face. Definitely a low battery chirp. Annoying as hell.

[@maxgagno]

happy new year, Scott! You are simply amazin! Tnx for sharing your knowledge! XD

[@yaripedone217]

Thank you & merry Christmas to you and your family

[@mrmsmdjp]

What a great band! Happy Holidays To you Scott and everyone at SBL! Cheers!

[@diegovargas70]

Merry Christas Scott and a super new year for you

[@FabioRaitz]

I used this technique since i started to play, I always tried to be most efficient with my technique and i used this for every and any descendant plucking.

[@door4755]

Great vid Scott!

[@bsharporbflat8378]

I'd love you to post a lesson for finger-style guitarists trying to play bass (like me recently) with a thumb that always gets happy and wants to play with the other fingers and ends up doing silly stuff

[@bigc2nyce]

I've heard that fire alarm in other videos you've done. And i thought it was mine, so I took that battery out. LoL... It also makes my dog go CRAZY.. He runs around the house aimlessly freaking out.

[@breadchris]

scott is my spirit animal

[@GiovaniMoreiraG]

Cool, i'll need that for Breaking All Illusions

[@thisdyingsoul76]

This raking technique makes total sense to me. Economy of motion. I use a similar technique on guitar that I think a teacher once described as economy picking where instead of strict alternate picking you time descending string changes to occur after an upstroke and sweep up using another upstroke to switch strings and ascending string changes happen on a down stroke with the change occurring with sweeping across in another downstroke. It was initially identified as a bad habit because I sometimes messed up my timing and they tried getting me to do strict alternate picking. In the end, I still struggle with alternate picking and it was decided to simply work on my timing with the economy picking because it was working better for me. I do it subconsciously.

[@elladombrowner8496]

Thank you :)

[@SyaidanYakob97]

Thanks Scott 👌

[@luisvelez3802]

Muy buena tecnica,gracias por el video. Gracias

[@davidpoole2284]

Awesome vid fella. Merry Christmas to you and the family :-)

[@listillolordoc7604]

As a leather worker and a bassist by trade, it's a treat to see the bass lesson fallowed by the Bass strap being made. Have an awesome Christmas Scott!

[@JOSEFERNANDEZ-zq4fz]

Happy Christmas!!Feliz Navidad!!🎄

[@jefferydavis7329]

Reminds me a lot of sweep picking a la someone like Frank Gambale on the guitar.

[@BlackRootsAcademyOfSoul]

Anthony Jackson certainly plucks with three fingers. That's why he achieves such speeds. It's something I've been learning for a while now. Three plucking fingers.

[@tiwoni972mad]

Loved the indle!!!!!

[@onlyjesh7494]

Your definitely the 🐐 goat

[@gregorydwight5669]

Merry Christmas to you and yours.

[@joaosanva348]

Woow! I'm in love with that straps!

[@sbdreamin]

great tip. merry christmas!

[@ruthlessadmin]

I did the raking technique naturally w/o ever being taught. Lucky me I guess. And as a result, my descending game is a lot stronger than ascending, though I'm starting to get both down pretty well.

[@andrewsmall1193]

Scott, I’ve always found descending runs easier to play faster than ascending because of the drag. Any tips for ascending? Also I’m very interested in anything you have to say about the three finger plucking technique

[@arthurmee]

Ah Anthony Jackson . . one of my favourite bass players or should I say contra-guitar? Anyway, Stupendous musician.

[@allenwc]

Christmased up, oh ya, that's a thing, just ask my wife. "Hacky", ya that's a thing too lol. Merry Christmas man! BTW, I love the glasses, totally kewl.

[@klisher]

happy christmas. may the only runs you have be bass runs!!

[@uncletomsb]

That's really crazy for me Scott. I guess I've been starting with "middle" for so long, it feels super awkward using "index as the #1. I "middle-index-middle-middle index-middle" etc... Thanks

[@AmbientFellow]

Could you maybe do a lesson on ascending the strings as well? I've gotten pretty good at descending but ascending feels sluggish to me. Thanks and happy holidays!

[@juliendebustos6357]

Happy christmas scott. :-)

[@Matthew-b2i]

Thank you.

[@SeanVplayer]

His music stand light is in the way!!

[@russellburnham298]

Bloody hell Scot! You’re nearly at 500,000 subs. Are you going to do anything to celebrate?

[@josephanthonygonzales9917]

thank you mr scott hahah

[@Knotdead73]

Scott! You found a strap. Hahaha

[@Sabirwolf]

That's his own custom strap he sells. Looks to wide to me.

[@porkrod7]

Merry Christmas to you and yours Scott. Will I see you at NAMM this year?

[@Liberty4Ever]

This is another great instructional video from Scott that teaches with a sound understanding of not just music theory and practical experience as a bass player, but with a great understanding of kinesthetics and human learning. As a bass noob, I tried the alternating index and middle finger plucking that was taught almost as gospel and it wasn't working for me. My brain seemed to know when it wasn't an efficient technique and rebelled against it. I wanted to use a technique similar to what's taught in this video but was concerned that I was forming bad habits that would be difficult to break later. The one year tuition at SBL would be well worth it if all I received was these free KZbin videos. Thanks Scott!

[@Pielordbrowser9]

Cool... turns out I already do this. lol

[@wyattsiefert2759]

What strings are your bass strung with? They sound fantastic!

[@hypnometal]

Could it be that your smoke alarm expired? We had this happen recently with the house we moved into - the smoke alarm started beeping, and it kept beeping even after we changed the battery. We found out that smoke alarms also beep when the alarm itself needs to be replaced, so we replaced all the smoke detectors in the house, and that took care of the problem.

[@MashPotatoJohns]

I always starts with my middle, so its middle index middle for me

[@ivanmccaffrey316]

Can go both ways but I always lean to middle first. Lololol must be down to the number one symbol that I use quite a bit. Lololol

[@mr.t382]

Hey Scott, great little lesson and insights mate!!! What bass and strings are you using?? Thanks :)

[@ProffessorMusic]

AKA Jaco Pastorius - Modern Electric Bass (revised edition) example 2 on page 6 lol

[@lejavier15]

lolx2 i was going to say that

[@deldia]

The fastest players at this (picado in Spanish) are flamenco guitarists. They will scare you if you e never seen them. This raking makes a lot of sense but the pros tend not to rake. It is seen sometimes. I think this is a useful thing to know but Scott does say to learn true alternate too.

[@GeroLubovnik]

Ok, I get it. But I seem to have one problem- My index finger is a full 1/2" shorter than my middle finger and the tendency is to pick with the middle first because it's significantly longer "right there" when the index is a bit of a reach. . I recognize that I'm going to have to start runs with either finger. So do you have a tip to use to sort of even out the differences to make it easier to pick equally with both?

[@danielhughes3758]

Amazing tip! So how do you best do it when ascending then? Is there something similar you can do there?

[@ryanneris6334]

This lesson will probably make me finally convert from alternate to rake. However, do you rakers really do repeating "skip string" octaves (root, octave, root, octave...), or even repeating fifths (root, fifth, root, fifth...), with strict rakes? It seems much more efficient/economical to alternate there. BTW, at night, Scott is known as "The Moonraker" bah-doom-chish.

[@theyeetman9968]

Please do something with an upright bass

[@boofoobass]

Repeat Offender - Scott, One of your old videos has a smoke detector chirping due to low battery. You had half the bass community checking their fire alarms including me !!! Up to your old tricks I see. Hopefully Santa brought you a 6 pack of Duracell 9 volts So the shed don't burn down!! Peace

[@patrickhale424]

Wow.... just popped over to see about ordering a strap for my bass....$117.00 for a strap will leave me strapped!!! Add another $13 and that's as much as I paid for my used Hartke Hydrive 2x10 and my backup bass Squire P-Bass. I would love to have such a nice strap but I don't have the money to spare.

[@GenericAnimeBoy]

9V batteries are cheap; your gear is expensive, and your life is priceless. Change that damn battery.

[@konkon3535]

Hi scott from greece

[@markgrasso5196]

what is with the left hand glove? what does that do ??

[@stevea4362]

That's cool. Now go up the scale.

[@andymenchaca1648]

It costs a bit more in fact in America it is hard to find a smoke detector that you can put a nine colt battery in. Their all lithium ten year battery life smoke detectors. But you should put it back on the ceiling.

[@zackatronstix]

Question: does it make a big difference to rake with the middle finger instead of the index? As starting on the middle finger feels more natural to me

[@markschwarz2137]

Scott, do you never use the third finger on the right hand? I have to say that I'm probably flattering myself if I describe myself as a middling bassist, but I think there's a case for occasional third finger. And in fact now I' starting to wonder whether, just once in a blue moon, a pinky might pluck a string.

[@michalgruszka3228]

Scott change battery

[@iandev99]

At what point does technique overtake passion?

[@deldia]

Ian Devine depends on the application.

[@LarsSimonsen]

When your technique is so bad that you have to think about it.

[@alvinys6691]

Sup scott

[@MrHestichs]

When i first went to play this i did the other way around. That is start the line with my second finger. That is how i always play. Do you think that is problem, or is it like left and right handed. It's a different way but exactly the same result?

[@destructOzap]

The same with me. Don't think there is any real different.Just do it the way, it works best for you.

[@emartinez557]

where you in right said fred?

[@ssdtrain1]

Is it cold in there Brah?

[@cal4410]

Who is Ray King? ;)

[@padureancalin8096]

Scott, can you put a link to the guy's leather strap company in the comment? :) thanks bro!