The Who's Bassist Learns DUA LIPA as FAST as possible

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In today’s video, you’ll see The Who’s bassist Jon Button learn a million-stream Dua Lipa hit that he’s never heard before with zero preparation. You or me might panic - but Jon stays cool and reaches for an octave pedal! If you’ve ever felt like your bass playing isn’t ready for the next step, you can learn a lot from Jon’s approach.
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Video Breakdown:
00:00 - Introduction
01:00 - Dua Lipa - Dance The Night
02:09 - Initial Thoughts
03:47 - Second Listen
04:27 - Hot Tips for Learning Bass Lines
06:26 - Going Over the Form
07:01 - Charts Vs Memory
07:44 - Test Run
08:40 - Improvisation & Fills
09:40 - Jon’s Approach To Learning Songs
11:17 - Jon’s Take
14:27 - Final Thoughts
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[@joaomatheus6222]

jesus, I thought you had brought John Entwistle back to life

[@devinebass]

That would be quite the trick!

[@genghis_connie]

The Ox cam, using gold records for skeet shooting, and of course - playing with Dua Lipa. 😂

[@GoofyJamal-jt4ph]

I wish

[@andreamolinari7105]

He would never play that shit.

[@navsnavsnavs]

@@andreamolinari7105 hahaaaha

[@TheBigburcie]

Dua Lipa's recent work has some killer bass lines and having Mark Ronson working on this track added complexity and extra funkiness.

[@devinebass]

💯💯💯

[@willfromyadkinville]

YES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[@drewyoung2102]

Bass makes Dua Lipo so fun. I always feel the session were held back on bass.

[@solal94]

what tracks are you thinking of?

[@rizzzlaaa]

This channel destroy every stereotypes of bass players. We are nice, fun energetic and joyful people ❤

[@Jonathan.R.Pereira]

But we love seeing other bassists suffer and work through a challenge.

[@greeksdorok]

Demons

[@IBoughtItMyself]

I'm surly, lazy, and serial killer cold. But I make up for it by being a second-rate bassist

[@ngolinyirenda6421]

Hey Man, I still don't smile when I play, proper Rastaman bass things 😅

[@user-ox9ep9ki6h]

Yes, we are cool!!! Cool I tell you!

[@angelofontanez6347]

It’s so cool to see what the pros do to learn songs.

[@devinebass]

💯💯💯

[@liamhemmings9039]

His bass sounds killer. He’s a great player. The octave trick is fantastic.

[@ricodepapa8308]

The P strikes again!

[@happymontanamusic]

Any producer on the planet would have said, "it's cool, but let's split it and track both." Then likely not used it as it's too heavy for the driving kick. Still cool however.

[@jacquesstrapp3219]

@@happymontanamusic Andrew Wyatt composed, produced, and played the bass synth. That theory doesn't apply when one of the producers is the bass player. The octaver is only useful in the upper registers on bass guitar because notes begin to break up when you drop below 40 Hz. That's why they aren't used for many styles other than funk or techno. It isn't really an issue of not fitting in the mix if instruments are EQed properly. Split tracks are SOP for most instruments when effects are used because you can always add processing to dry signals, but you can't really remove it from a recorded track. If the processed track doesn't fit in the mix, you can process the dry track and tweak it.

[@kup9j]

That's my most favorite category of videos on this channel and also videos without bassline

[@OdhranWAR]

Agree, also this format is better than than the bassist hears a track for the first time minus bass and they get to do their own thing

[@kup9j]

@@OdhranWAR I love both

[@mjmason75]

I love that he ran to his house to get the pedal, video taped it, and SBL included it in this video. Awesome!

[@a1be31s8x9]

And then they played overcooked music over it

[@zeldaworld7]

My elementary music teacher said the exact same thing to us “practice doesn’t make perfect, practice makes permanent” never forgot that advice

[@knappster1754]

Definitely going to use the octave up trick for learning songs. 24 frets on my bass finally coming in handy.

[@davidmoore8397]

LOL so am I.....now I've finally found some use for the higher 12 frets !!

[@samuelstevenson2455]

A similar trick that i use is to use software (like Audacity) to play the original track back an octave higher but without changing the speed. It tends to make the bass jump out of the mix and make it easier to discern the pitch.

[@c-papagasket8363]

I'm actually surprised that the playing an octave higher trick was such a revelation for some. I've been doing that for decades, since I first started playing - kinda thought all bassists did that.

[@dariomartinez6358]

@@samuelstevenson2455 thx I was wondering if he pitched up the track an octave higher or what

[@jacksonwright5145]

That Octabass sounds so good, I want to buy one now 🤣

[@maartenarnou]

I've been using these for years. They do the job! 👍 😎

[@Joe_Murphy-REV_Realty]

I am a huge fan of Jon!! As a 59 year old Nashville pro, I KNOW that he absolutely crushes it in every way! What a fantastic musician.

[@user-tq3rg4xi8x]

Why did it sound like shit then? Because the production quality was terrible. It didn't sync in time.

[@eldorado5319]

I saw Jon in a songwriting /recording session with Warren Huart some weeks ago. There he build up a basspart from scratch while they were writing the song. For the first part I thought I would have done something similar.....and then I completely lost him He is so good

[@Ben_Mdws]

The three of you have such amazing energy…and the editing of these videos are fantastic

[@devinebass]

Appreciate the warm words!!

[@jamesleyba5149]

Yessss! Practice makes permanent was taught to me by my 6th grade band teacher. It never left my brain. Its gold

[@MaquiladoraIII]

The octave and no volume tricks are awesome, and I'm totally nicking them for the guitar. Absolutely love seeing other musicians explain their process 'in-situ'.

[@CesarCastroBR]

Nice, indeed. I use an acoustic guitar and it works just like playing on a higher octave.

[@mikegerber7148]

Thank you so much for admitting that even great musicians can draw blank at the beginning of a song on stage. I have had that experience and I’ve gotten very frustrated with myself. Something I have played 1000 times and in the moment, it is gone.

[@DOCTASTY-SONOFDOG]

"""PRACTICE MAKES PERMANENT"""...........BRILLIANT !!!!!!!!!

[@Jonathan.R.Pereira]

My mentor used to say that. RIP

[@michaelbalty2750]

Inside Jon’s brain. Thanks for the trip, y’all!

[@devinebass]

🧡🧡🧡

[@RichardHoogstad]

So much good advice on how to figure a song out. This was one is very valuable even if you don't like the song.

[@TheHasekmichal]

5:39 Gosh!! For a longest time I thought I’m weird. There are day when I find the right notes instantaneously and there are those when I’m not able to hear it almost at all 😅

[@pjkr123]

This is not just my random visit, it's also a life changing with "Practice makes permanent" quote

[@detectiveh654]

the higher octave tip and the "practice makes permanent" tip is really useful for any bass player. Thanks John!

[@3l84r70]

@7:17 this is great advice... for years I struggled with learning songs, as I was using notes, and tabs.. all those became crutches and would end up never learning the song properly as I always had notes to fall back into... for a few years now I don't take note. and force myself to learn from memory.. it goes much better live, and I think makes you a better musician.

[@TheBENHEC]

The octave trick blows my mind along with the Sensei's advice...WOW! AWESOME VIDEO!

[@NathanGilmer]

That is interesting how he talked about how if he writes the chart than he can't memorize it and they are two different parts of the brain. Sean Hurley sad the EXACT same thing. Good lesson.

[@ninodjuras]

Same with me, if I have it written my brain goes into lazy mode.

[@Fraughtful]

Same thing with lots of musicians who read sheet music. You take the sheet away and some musicians forget. I've noticed it myself. So I practice both reading and memorizing it's a workout.

[@cubby6708]

If it's a wedding gig or something, I don't have the time to memorize 40 plus tunes. I Nashville them out. If it's a good one off studio sesh thing, all memory

[@jimmymullins4106]

dude i love ur guyss channel ive been watching for yrs

[@JohnSmith-pn8sc]

Man that EBS tracks super well, which isn't always the case with analog octave pedals.

[@PantherPaw]

This format of vid is killing it ! Thanks guys- super valuable -- wish my ears could get that good

[@devinebass]

they'll get there with time and practice!!

[@Anti-S-A-Complex2099]

oooothas a smooth funky groove n that bass is doing it justice. like the mind sets on this guy what a bassists brain!!🧠🎶

[@DyscoSyndicate]

It’s cool hearing him talk about his octave trick to learning songs. I have been doing that for as long as I can remember. It just seemed like common sense. But people do look at me like I’m crazy first until I explain that it’s easier to hear the notes especially when it’s a lower range

[@slowpacedgaming8596]

What a cool guy who plays like butter! Great video everyone!

[@joshmore7175]

Dua Lipa has some really killer songs. Her team are absolutely killing it now

[@devinebass]

👍👍👍

[@guavasmoothie5516]

The thing about him playing things an octave higher to figure notes out, I’ve been doing this for years. Absolute game changer when learning things by ear

[@joaodalfeor]

It's one of my favorite bass kind of videos on KZbin!

[@ElDami]

This guy is a Pro! Pop music have so many examples of incredible bass lines. Rhythmic tension is a concept I've learned from pop, for instance. Great video!

[@apterousgargoyle]

A true master of his craft indeed. He should've introduced a few octave jumpy fills here and there like Juliaplaysgroove, but anyway, he nailed it.

[@Mgreco0419]

Awesome tips and tricks. This guy is what I imagine a badass bass playing Mr. Roger’s would be.

[@edgesportfishing]

Love these videos! Sharon's joyfulness and enthusiasm is infectious!! Ian's combination of chops and humility bring likable authenticity to the channel!! Thanks for sharing

[@devinebass]

Glad you're enjoying these, lots more to come!!

[@AntigenSmith]

I just love these folks, they have such a great chemistry. Must watch more.

[@devinebass]

Appreciate the warm words!

[@artymcd]

I used an old Yamaha of his on my bands EP! One of the best instruments I have ever played

[@georgivasilev8428]

Listening to an absolute pro like that drop the nuggets of wisdom just feels surreal. It gave me such a boost! I wanna go practice now! Inspiring stuff

[@devinebass]

🧡🧡🧡

[@willd6231]

the audio quality in this video, including mics, is fantastic

[@aresramon]

Those tips of wisdom are excellent!!! Thank you!

[@lucastperez]

You mean nuggets. I loved it, too, he is brilliant!

[@sunglee2048]

The amount of talent and genius in display is just impressive to watch. Very inspiring!

[@Crumsie]

Love this stuff - real (obviously talented and successful) people figuring it out just like anyone would do jamming with friends or their band.

[@supergman312]

Love that these style videos are goin viral rn

[@imparatore9377]

Lately I am also learning music playing along even though there are charts. Cool to hear from someone the same concept. That I am not the slave of the charts.

[@mcurryguitar]

I was always taught… “ Don’t practice a song until you can play it right… Practice it until you can’t play it wrong.” This guy is a monster player, and I learned quite a few tricks from this video! Many thanks!!!

[@mcurryguitar]

Also, apologies if someone else already said what I said above, I haven’t read all 300+ comments lol!

[@Kcutthth]

Thank you for the tips and the practice makes permanent…well I will never forget that! Admittedly I have two badly herniated discs in my lower back and early mornings are very difficult as of late. This video really put a smile on my face that I’m hoping will carry me throughout the day. If I make it up to my third floor music room I’m going to work on a song an tryout some of these ideas.

[@carl_anderson9315]

Even when I’m not a fan of most current tendencies in music, I love Dua Lipa. Her blend of styles, and the kickass bass is great. But I guess for anyone filling John Entwistles’ shoes, it shouldn’t be a problem.

[@mailiam499]

Jon Button was the first bass player I followed on instagram when I started playing bass like 10 years ago. This is such a wholesome full circle for me :)

[@devinebass]

🧡🧡🧡

[@mailiam499]

@@devinebass He made me buy and Ampeg 4x10 lol

[@davidkellymitchell4747]

I spent 52 years engineering sessions and most of the time the person that played it on the record would have to learn it again themselves. "Play it for me. I forgot what I played." Band members know them all by heart but for session players it was just a passing moment in their daily life.

[@hushpuppykl]

He's good. He's humble. Really loved this video.

[@devinebass]

🧡🧡🧡

[@abnerframil]

I ever do the octave trick to learn songs when it's a very deep bass. That's an awesome trick and very useful

[@garethwilliams5213]

I recently shared that I turn my volume off when learning a song to hear the bits I'm missing on r/bass and it was crickets. It's not what you know it's who you know obv 😂 - definitely trying that octave trick though

[@ziopinoo71]

👏👏fantastic! awesome bass player and super great nuggets tricks to catch for improving learning to play a new song. Thankss. Super appreciate this master lesson🖖

[@lupinthird]

I’m fond of “practice makes progress,” a slight deviation from the quote presented in here.

[@revazquez]

Amazing insight into how another artist approaches a song. More please!

[@devinebass]

More to come!!

[@helloitsme9081]

I love this song just for the bass. I had so much fun dancing to the bass on this video. Blasted my speakers. I think I will be hearing from my neighbors tomorrow morning. I don't care!

[@arnlmndza]

Love it when you pit someone against their usual genre. Tells me that good musicians can handle anything thrown at them. p.s. That Octabass setting is musical.

[@DesSherwoodGuitarTuition]

Practice makes permanent.... best words of wisdom I've heard in a while;-) Nice job!! Very insightful;-)

[@Mouly0]

This was really cool! Shout out to this channel for being my only real exposure to pop music, much to my shame.

[@rngrzulu1275]

That was fun!!! For so many bassists, it’s constant song learning!!! It’s fun to have a chance to come up with our own takes.

[@geepike]

@11min, its so cool to hear someone else say that! I also heard that in martial arts maaaaany years ago “Practice doesn’t make perfect…if you’re learning incorrectly. PERFECT practice makes perfect!” I need to reimplement this, and many a Bruce Lee quote, back into my life 🤣🤣

[@haziqcochaziq4713]

Thanks for making this..from Malaysia. Terima kasih 😊

[@boutrosboutrosboutrosboutros]

You guys remind me a lot of the drumeo channel. And that is a huge compliment. This was awesome

[@r3ngokuking]

Reminds me of something my own karate teacher told me a long time ago..."practice does not make perfect...PERFECT practice makes perfect"

[@Crane358]

I could really identify with this video. My idiom for learning bass for a new song (cover) is often, “You think you know a tune until you have to learn it.”

[@devinebass]

👍👍👍

[@tesla-spectre]

I get the part with citing a different song in a song. Back when Implayed in a cover band, we had an evening where we played our standard set and in a modern pop song (not sure which it was, was 10yrs ago) instead of the original solo I played the extended Sultans of Swing solo (just in a different key) that Mark did in the famous live recording (Alchemy tour). It was a mind blowing experience because it just made everybody look up, and get wild. Especially the band (they were all so much better than me).

[@alextinsley9117]

Funny! It was actually a Karate teacher who once said to me, "Only PERFECT practice makes perfect ". Wise words!

[@AndyA1234]

Dua Lipa just headlined at Glastonbury. She put on a great show. Trouble with BBC sync with sound & video caused people to think she mimed. I didn't come to that conclusion although there was pre-recorded string parts and maybe some backing vocals.

[@TheRealHucasys]

Cool, and what a nice guy he is, loved the tips he gave specially the one about playing an octave higher, sweet!

[@caseyholford]

Killin it! Loved watching him cram this song into his head.

[@1loveMusic2003]

He did the bass on Bring it on Back at Produce Like A Pro on a session and his bass was sooo groovy!

[@BlackJackLopez]

Great lesson here! And yes, about "Practice makes permanent", I did read somewhere that if you're learning or practiceing something, and you keep messing up, STOP; as you're teaching your brain to do it wrong! Plus I think I've actually used the octave trick rather inadvertently a couple of times. Great video!!! (And great choice for a song, I hadn't really paid attention to it, and now I gotta hear it again!)

[@TheBigburcie]

I've heard bands confidently cover a song and there's glaring errors in the playing, as if they were learning the song off of a cassette tape they recorded off AM radio 30 years ago and made 15 copies of if and manually spliced together broken copies. I have naturally sharp ears for melody and chords (but not lyrics) and playing something blatantly wrong is like fingernails on a chalkboard to me.

[@NeRo-zd1fv]

Man that was tight, fat and groovy!!! Major respect for Jon Button!!!! So many gems from this pro bass player! 04:25 | 06:24 | 07:00 | 09:01 | 10:36 | 13:38 ❤

[@qwerty-password]

This format never gets old Once again requesting for a Zutomayo piece written by Ryosuke Nikamoto.

[@EnglishPalette]

Just wow. Bassists are people too!

[@maksphoto78]

Bassists unite! Whoever is the bassist for Dua, he is a legend!

[@sv264]

Thx for this video I download the tab immediately and played it. It’s so so groovy thx

[@devinebass]

You're welcome!

[@Spadeads]

U guys providing so enjoyable content! Thanks and be sure I am subscribed!

[@devinebass]

Appreciate it!

[@alexmackzie]

What an amazing guest.

[@gabolema]

When I started playing bass I used a software called Amazing Slow Downer which allowed to play with the pitch as well as speed, and it was perfect because I would play the song one octave higher highlighting the bass like he said, and I would also slow things down.

[@mr.lindsaymcdonald2065]

What a great show!!!

[@marcosviniciussilva101]

Que Aula este video, saudaçoes do Brasil

[@paulojnascimento9014]

Man, i could watch you playing for hours...👍

[@guitfidle]

Well hot damn! One trick I like to do when learning a song is to run into my little PA mixer and play through headphones. I put the song in one ear, my bass in the other ear. Pretty easy to hear it's different if your ears are not hearing the same thing. I have also picked up a guitar to learn the riff an octave up similar to what John was doing. The fret positions are the same. I do really like that practice makes permanent, that is so totally true!!

[@pmdinaz]

I'm no way a pro, but I played covers in bars for many years. I did the octave higher thing while learning, wow, glad I did some things right for me, that worked for such a pro like John! I thought that was some great advice.

[@azarealbheri6876]

Such a cool concept.. would love to see more of this.. Thanks!

[@devinebass]

More to come from this series!!

[@TheDavidGoldmanphoto]

Way to go Jon Button!!!

[@SEAclub007]

"Practice makes permanent." 🤯 Thank you, sensei.

[@nevillesanchez5962]

Recently i play in a Dua Lipa's tribute band here in Venezuela🇻🇪 and i tell you guys, one word of this kind of pop tracks: CHALLENGE🔥👀

[@locolunch]

I do the "up an octave" thing when learning a tune. I do something right, sweet!

[@hansabass]

Very good tip; the octave up. Tnx! And also so good to hear that I have the same sort of quirk as Jon seems to have; that he has to remember it directly and not write it down first. If I do the latter, I'm never able to remember it again! And I always thought it to be a bad thing because I'm autodidact and not schooled... So good these vids of you guys! You just made my day for ever 😀 Oh and another thing, I have that too!!! The beginnings of songs! Pfew... Last night was such a night... 😕 Also here I thought it was just me...! Blancks a plenty untill we're gone and bang, all the notes are back in my mind and fingers. Bizar...

[@user-sp6is5nz2x]

What a great guy.

[@KONAmustang50]

What a great video!!! 🤘The Bass off and Octave tricks. Wicked!

[@devinebass]

👍👍👍

[@mdmsr2000]

Check out YES, does it really happen. I don't play base but THIS is SO simple. I have been playing guitar for over 50 years.

[@kimginnerup5819]

I use a program called Capo. Here I can loop sections, slow it down without changing pitch or changie pitch without changing the tempo or change both. Go up an octave or go up a quarter (next string same position). The sound quality is not changing much even at 50% tempo. It does it much better than Logic Pro. Then I take a chunk at a time like looping 8 bars at a time.

[@bobbarker14]

Next, a collaboration. The Who's bassist and Chili Peppers drummer both learn how to kayak as fast as possible.

[@sharonrenold]

I would watch this in a heartbeat.

[@jeanpat8946]

Bravo !!! Brillant :::

[@TheJimboe11]

Love this kinda stuff. More please 🙏