The Two Feel: Making your bass lines dance! - Bass lesson with Russell Hall

Check out this preview lesson from Russell Hall's new course, Bessie's Bass Busters
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LESSON NOTES
In this lesson, Russell breaks down the mystery and challenges of playing two feel bass lines. He explores and demonstrates how great bass legends such as Israel Crosby, Ron Carter, and Ray Brown all approached the two-feel bass line, and how you can use their playing as inspiration to play your own great bass lines.
Download the free transcription to the music played in the lesson: discoverdouble...
BESSIE'S BASS BUSTERS BY RUSSELL HALL
In his new online course, Russell Hall teaches his 'Bass Busters' - his essential lessons which can make a huge difference to your bass playing. Designed for jazz bassists, the course covers a range of topics including left and right-hand technique, sound production, rhythm, soloing, creating walking bass lines, and much more! In the course, there are 45 videos over 5 hours, band demonstrations, play-along tracks, and detailed transcriptions so you will have everything you need to make maximum progress. If you are a fan of Russell Hall's bass playing and want to learn some of his signature sounds, you will love it!
LEARN MORE
The course: courses.discov...
Course trailer: • Bessie's Bass Busters ...
Russell Hall's Lessons and Interviews Playlist: • Russell Hall Double Ba...
Free sheet music for the lesson: discoverdouble...
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[@haggaicohen-milo4705]

This is a beautiful lesson. Hearing Russell give a lesson through history with all his own idols and teachers. Such a deep and humble approach. And of course still so unique and personal for his style. Chords are subjective, I love this. Like 2 times

[@jimmynickles828]

Really nice to see you giving props to Israel Crosby- he is not mentioned enough.

[@DiscoverDoubleBass]

Agreed, Israel Crosby is a legendary artist.

[@jamesrichardson3322]

@@DiscoverDoubleBass Israel Crosby was born in my home town Chicago and died here at the age of 43, He is buried in Alspin, Illinois at Burr Oak Cemetery 🪦. Bob Cranshaw was also born in Chicago!!

[@Hiphopdabop]

Don't forget the dancers, who many of these rhythms, beats, and grooves were associated with..

[@sultana1486]

Wow!! I reached for my bass after a minute into this clip. ‘Prof’ Russell should definitely make more clips….we are waiting to learn sir. It’s like having the great Ray Brown in the room. Will surely look into enrolling.😊

[@NoushLikeSploosh]

That was super interesting to hear the link from tuba to bass and how the 2-feel evolved from that, is what I understood. Amazing lesson:)

[@farshimelt]

This bass with that E string could grind up a pound of raw beef.

[@ivofechner8039]

Phenomenal to hear Mr. Hall speaking about his artistry. Thanks!

[@georgefulton8152]

Russell Hall is one of my favorite bass players. He swings. It’s not just intellectual playing, it has always has a danceable feel. So this is a perfect lesson for him to give. Thanks for sharing this.

[@MrLuridan]

Hey Russell! I met you in Portsmouth…I was playin some fiddle. How this video ended up in my recommendations is a pure luck! Amazing playing, great lesson.

[@russellhall1471]

mannnn

[@ttrumpett1]

Phenomenal! I like this. To learn from such good musicians❤ Peter Germany

[@danielargolo2797]

Loved it, Russel! Thanks for share your knowledge! Great lesson!

[@IanFrancisco-CAPianoman]

The drummer contributes as much to a 2-beat feel as the bass, so it might help to demonstrate the difference between 2 -beat and 4/4 with drum loops. Especially if the bass is getting busy, the distinction between 2 and 4 can be blurred in a solo context

[@DiscoverDoubleBass]

Good point.

[@DavidMiller-bp7et]

Great to see your individual lessons; your playing is great; I lust after your hats. Too cool. You deserve all the accolades. Love your vibe.

[@davidlopez-white3185]

Incredible content right here, Russell Hall is a living legend!

[@thomascordery7951]

"The Basis of a Bassist". Sounds like the title of a book you're going to write. 😊

[@sambac2053]

Worth noting ,authentic Samba is in 2

[@mp4str]

Also listen to slam Stewart and Milt hinton..

[@af2k368]

Already on the mount rushmore of bassists

[@timbuktug3321]

Thank you Russell this is great. I’m currently learning the bass guitar but I have a long way before I start the upright bass. Beautiful man.

[@jinobass]

So beautiful,spiritual &such a great simple but important musical lessons,Thank You!

[@DiscoverDoubleBass]

Glad you enjoyed it! :-)

[@TomBelknapRoc]

Great, inspiring words and demonstrations of bass playing. Thanks!

[@peterwarshaw2352]

I am not a bass player, but this was, for me as well, a wonderful lesson. Thank you, Mr. Hall!

[@fruitypebbles803]

😮I didn’t know you could do this with a bass. 🤯

[@ili626]

Good voice too

[@m.hughes2521]

Thank you sir, really good stuff.

[@justanotherk0ala]

off topic, but you have beautiful eyes 😊

[@arnoldfernbladst3875]

That was a great lesson! I took in and understood everything you were saying! Thanks

[@richardbishop1916]

That was Fresh !...........ya................................ thanks Russell

[@andresdelafuente3783]

very good! 👍🙂

[@jamesrichardson3322]

😯 Russell was taught by Ben Wolfe? Ben Wolfe played Harry Connick Jr and etc, he is a monster bassist. Ben Wolfe was taught by greatest bassist ever been born Ray Brown, freaking awesome.

[@DiscoverDoubleBass]

Yes, Ben Wolfe is a monster player!

[@michaeldozier7053]

Thanks!

[@DiscoverDoubleBass]

Thanks so much, we really appreciate that! :-)

[@davedave8608]

awesome.. what would you guess is the percentage breakdown of you targeting the different triad chord tones on the changes? for example 50% thirds 30% fifths, 20% tonic?

[@robinmolin]

What in the living… this youtube clip made me smile and gave biig time inspiration. Thank you master Russel Hall 👍🏻👍🏻 and thank you dicover double bass for making great content

[@DiscoverDoubleBass]

Our pleasure, I'm glad you enjoyed it :-)

[@RomualdIII]

This is basic if you play some tradition and want to go deeper in your feel and more tasty in your line. Great fathers as Ron, Paul Chambers, Brown, and other know and feel it and play it perfectly, because they are grow up in two feel era. Russel give key for this - it’s Tuba part transcribe. If somebody have possibility try to play on Tuba, use it, it great feel for understanding two feel !!!

[@fideliusconcrete4871]

Wow, what a great lecture. Thank you very much for that. As the people wrote here before me: "Professor" Russell should make more clips. He's really good at that.

[@richardbishop1916]

I don't want your feelings hurt like the guy's(on the chat) hurt "Benny's"( it's too hard to type faster than the guys ,And say things to try to counter ,and keep Benny's outlook and sensitivities good (don't get mad at them ) because we are the peanut Gallery) chat ...we wish we were on(envy) ya know?

[@paulohenrique-bv4qg]

MAGNIFICO!!!!!!

[@sirpatrickofgoober6603]

Wonderful playing and vibe but I still don't get the difference between 2 time and 4 time but with the emphasis on 1 and 3 say with the latter. Although, it took a great lesson on KZbin to explain the difference between 3:4 and 6:8 as being the former is counted as 3 quavers with emphasis on 1, and the latter as 2 lots of triplets with emphasis on beat 1 of each triplet. Otherwise I would have never got past the mathematical equivalence. So, it could easily be me!

[@DiscoverDoubleBass]

I can't answer for Russell, but if you're asking about when to set the metronome and feel the pulse on beats 1 and 3 or beats 2 and 4. Typically for a straight 8ths feel it's beats one and three and for swung quavers it's beats 2 and 4. However, for uptempo swing it may be better to use beats one and three, and for very high tempos, you may even just set the metronome on beat one. I hope that helps. The key thing is to not mix up points about 2 and 4 feel bass lines with how to you feel the pulse (on beats 1 and 3 or 2 and 4).

[@nylesfrench3568]

Great lesson, beautiful Nod to the legends.

[@Sannypowa]

Thank you for your video, Russell, I feel inspired by your music so much that my brain was playing a piece of jazz music of its own from your lines

[@fiddlestix3025]

Super interesting and well explained! Thanks man, also for your absolutely beautiful playing there, not just grooving and grounding, but that bass tone is singing…! 🔥

[@curtrod]

sounds great and groovy!

[@KevsSanders]

That tone!

[@raccoola5089]

What a great lesson. I loved the end too 🤣. It's so true it's all about the resolution!

[@jeffroberts_tunes]

the tip of humming/singing the melody while playing is huge --and it's really such a completely cool thing to listen to; wish there'd been material like this when I was learning to play!!

[@duett445]

Great sounding bass.

[@taijazvidfish]

Free gold!

[@jethrofrancis1470]

Thank you for this!

[@ChimyMusic]

My dude!!

[@sixofone]

As always, your spirit is inspirational, and your viewpoint up-lifting. Such sincerity, coupled with incredible talent is a rare find these days. Thank you for these amazing lessons.. on many levels!👏

[@JesusChrist5000]

nice clean rich tone on that bass

[@alexandergallant6444]

Great lesson

[@nimitng5922]

Such good observations and ideas!

[@garethde-witt6433]

Absolutely wonderful lesson

[@DiscoverDoubleBass]

Glad you enjoyed it :-)

[@LloydMajor]

Awesome and thank you for the class!

[@leblille4146]

This dude knows what he’s talking about. Remarkable.

[@godfreydaniel6278]

Love this guy!

[@avunculaire3823]

yeah

[@pascalgrit]

So inspiring

[@abara887]

Luv yer playing. 💓 wonder what strings you using?

[@DiscoverDoubleBass]

Pirastro Perpetual 👍

[@theturnaround7290]

Cool

[@richardbishop1916]

next time you are at smalls ,Say ;"Hi GREG "(and I will know you got the last 2 messages(i am 64 yr old Ret. Postman.(Guitar since 12 , Bass since age 63(and loving it as a portable skill

[@andyisacsson7503]

This is inspiring 😊

[@jkcymbal]

Awesome! :-D

[@janubbelohdehenningsen4190]

Thank you Mr. Hall, simple and easy - explained - now I´ll find out about the difficulty of playing and will come back!

[@jazzman1954]

Some nuggets in this! I get confused between the 1&3 guys and the 2&4 guys though 🤔

[@Stabacs]

Yeah, same. He got a lot of prays in this comment section, and he explained a lot of good stuff. But the one concept this video is supposed to be about didn’t really get explained in my opinion. Like what is the 2- feel know? What does he mean by that opposed to playing on 4? I learned more about melody and harmony and will take it as a lesson in that instead. :)

[@tuomas3964]

@@Stabacs Have you listened to jazz ever? Two feel = two notes per bar. Playin in four = walking.

[@robinmolin]

If you guys litsen again you can hear mr hall explain that 4 feel accentuates four beats in a bar and 2 feel two.

[@jazzman1954]

@@tuomas3964 Condescending comment mate. Perhaps he is new to jazz or perhaps he struggles with English as a non speaker. Perhaps the teacher didn’t explain it well because of his hippyish verbal approach.

[@jazzman1954]

@@robinmolin True. But you will get guys out there who say you should accent 2&4 on a walking 4 note (crotchet) line. That’s the confusing bit.

[@SOFTSPEAKNOIR]

Taking in a lot from this lesson thank you so much

[@DiscoverDoubleBass]

Excellent, I'm glad you've enjoyed it :-)

[@1happboy]

I can barely play in tune, now I gotta play in two???

[@jpa1214]

What a great music lesson!

[@fabianmartin7126]

Had I seen this video 35 years ago...

[@ajota77]

who is the guy he mentions at 10:45 min

[@DiscoverDoubleBass]

@@ajota77 saxophonist, Lester Young.

[@richardbishop1916]

(and) smooth goes without saying

[@kyleetie5608]

Great lesson, thx! 🙏

[@grishagek3290]

Hello, where did Chad LB go?

[@lambrusco1970]

Russell, this is great. Thank you.

[@rogertebb1997]

Beautiful musicality.

[@richardbishop1916]

(and CRISP!)

[@dnikoevans9902]

YOOOOOOO!!!!!!

[@kitsunepicard1111]

Thank you

[@LloydMajor]

Excellent playing Russell!

[@memobass]

woooooooooowwww

[@geofharris5546]

Delicious sounding double bass.. Love his approach, tho' I don't go for all the fancy fills saturating the gaps.. kinda defeats the sparseness and beauty, and purpose, of a 2-feel.. irrespective of which illustrious player it originates from.. Call it clutter if you will. Don't understand why many db players insist on doing this, as if it's an obligation? Or is it ego that's driving it..? ".. I must make a creative contribution to show that I'm hot-shit too..!" ??

[@farshimelt]

No, people respond differently to music. It's the same with drummers. Listen to Roy Haynes with Monk, then listen to Ben Riley with Monk on Monk's Time. Both approaches are valid. You play you.