What 'REALLY' Makes a Great Bass Player?! /// Scott's Bass Lessons

Ed Friedland is not only one of my favourite bass educators in the world - he's also a fantastic bass player and one of the nicest guys you'll ever meet. In one of his recent live seminars within the Academy he was asked a great question... "What constitutes a great bass player?"
Now take a moment and think about that question.
It's actually much more complex than it first seems - and, is absolutely relevant to all of us.
I this video Ed shares what he thinks makes a great bass player. And personally, I don't think anyone could have given a better answer.
As always, see you in the shed...
Scott :)
PS. Remember that Ed, and many more of the best bass educators in the world do completely live online streamed seminars every week in the Academy.
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[@SYARU_vocaloid]

Video starts at 2:03

[@UndecimeBeatitudo]

⅓ of a video wasted

[@DarkReaperK97]

My man

[@Asia.Persuasia]

Thank you.

[@eknight101]

Thank you!

[@connerkinsman5217]

One reason why I stay away from videos like this. Such a shame because I love music education, but it's always half the video is a damn plug and and the rest of it might actually be useful but it might not

[@chrisburge9718]

A lot of people are saying that the bassist should be invisible. Thats impossible if your playing something funky. Not every style of music wants the INVISIBLE MAN.

[@chrisburge9718]

If I remember correctly at the time when I had posted that comment a lot of people were writing things like a real bass player and real bass playing should not stand out. That might be fine for some styles of music but not every style of music.

[@sci-fiweekly4710]

chris burge true it depends on the type of song, me and my friends are working on forming a band and we all agreed we want some very bass centered songs with bass solos and moments where the guitar takes a back seat and the bass takes over

[@LunaQur]

@@sci-fiweekly4710 you got it with funk mot-town or disco Thats the way to go

[@talkingbasslessons]

I could listen to Ed talk all day. Love his manner and that weathered, nonchalant vibe he's got going on.

[@acutefailure1]

TalkingBass - Online Bass Lessons Hey! It's great to see my two favorite bass teachers on the same page. I was almost worried that you and Scott had some like coke/pepsi rivalry and I had to choose.

[@talkingbasslessons]

Gevon Sutherland We're from the same town. Known each other a long time and far from rivals.

[@acutefailure1]

Man. You guys must come from one hell of a rocking town

[@EclecticHillbilly]

In my opinion, good bass players, like good drummers, are more felt than heard.

[@caddelworth6794]

Ed is spot-on: I couldn't agree more! I can't sight-read (but can write!) music, but I've been told by others down the years I have a great instinct for rhythm, and a happy 'knack' for knowing the 'right' thing to play on any tune, as Ed referred to. And in my time, I''ve been in bands playing all sorts: ceilidh music (that's "folk" to our American friends), country, jazz, pop covers, and presently, "piano lounge" style with my very talented musical partner Penny. I'd certainly advise anyone just starting to play bass to play in AS MANY styles as you can AS EARLY as you can in your bass career. When I was a beginner, I'd put a music radio station on and try to play along with every tune they broadcast. Then after maybe an hour, I'd take a break, have a cup of tea, change the station, and try to play along with THAT station. That sort of "general" practice will give you a wonderful appreciation of what Ed means by "common sense," because you'll absorb the "right" thing to do on the bass in lots and lots of different styles which you might never normally play or choose to play. Just my tuppence worth!

[@bertinernie31]

Cad Delworth great note

[@tonydecicco9728]

Ed nails it. I would add that a great bassist makes everyone else sound better, while being invisible. Probably the most important lesson an advanced player must learn.

[@hypnodelica]

Tony DeCicco What you say is true up to a point, but there are also great bass players that pull attention - Bootsy Collins work with James Brown was in your face and grabbed attention but it still slotted in perfectly with the band and lifted everyone around him... invisibility in and of itself isn't necessarily the mark of a great bass player...

[@tkadn338]

Well said mate

[@stickster]

Ed gets it exactly right. There are situations where flashy playing is definitely called for and appreciated. But by and large, the mark of a great bassist is to serve the song and the situation. That's what gets you the callback!

[@longdongbongchong]

Paul Frields "Thou shalt not fuck up the groove."

[@rawstarmusic]

longdongbongchong "Thou shalt not make errors."

[@TerryBowling]

And a great lesson for six string guitarists as well. The hardest techniques are holding back, patience and silence.

[@stevenstanley5109]

I tried jamming with a friend who was a highly trained jazz bassist. It was worse than a bad bass player. He approached every song as a jazz sound and it never fit.

[@emmanuelokogun9596]

Ed you have perfectly hit the nail at the perfect point of it head to drive it through with the least of energy. That's the kind of bass player I like to be. Taking notes or fills not just because I want to show-off but when it will make the right sense in that moment.

[@Introspectiverider99]

So very true. Same for drumming, that is absolutely an essential trait/skill to have. Having an ear and awareness of what the song and the band needs rather than only focusing on what you want to play.

[@cromconstantino8025]

i couldn't help to repeat this video over when i open my you tube, ED really said it all.. we always tend to throw chops that we want to show, sometimes not thinking could this make the my band sounds good...i heard one great fellow bassist said this,"i'm trying to play not that i could be heard but for my band mates that they may be heard, that we as a band plays as a band... thanks Scott, thanks Ed..

[@bencurry5295]

Hi Ed,Thank's for this advice man,So very crucial points you made about Our place in the band and control,I found it brilliant,Thank's again Ed.

[@MichaelMaxwell747]

Yes indeed. It is all about the feeling and the groove.

[@TeodoroMiranda]

Thanks, Scott for uploading this video. Yeah, Mr. Friedland's spot-on, absolutely!

[@paulkoskinen8895]

Music is more sensual than technical.

[@oopsydaisy4637]

Absolutely right. I play with those whom are trained and they can find reading the notes easy but the feel or style of what is happening really difficult. Whereas I have played other instruments in bands and I can tell what is happening and play instinctively what is appropriate at the time. I do practice daily, that is definitely needed as always. It takes a lot of practice, but it is worth it :)

[@lydellscooby]

That was a surprisingly good and thorough answer for such a difficult question

[@gregguillot4870]

Love the lessons… and LOVE that bass.

[@lukebee78]

I am so glad ive found this vid!as I practice in my band I could play the same song over and over and I play it differently almost every time. at least now I know that that isn't an issue lol

[@tkadn338]

Thanks for uploading the video

[@Armazillo]

100% agree. That's what I've come to realize in the time I've played, which is fantastic, because I can't play super flashily yet haha.

[@jeremiahthegreat]

Reminds me of my meditation. Maybe that's why I love the bass!

[@michaelosorio5378]

tnx professor X

[@corbetcrey]

I just love this P bass! It's so cool

[@gregnewberry4813]

I really enjoyed this video, and the info. It is so essintial that players realize where the bass fits in different music. Check out George Jones This Wanting You. Simple bass but the song would really be lost without it. Still needs a bass line, just not anything outside the arrangement. David Hungate was a gifted player, but played on many Nashville sessions.

[@eknight101]

Victor Wooten's "Groove Workshop" gives the best explanation of what makes a great bass player or just a great musician in general, regardless of what instrument you play.

[@glazeretienne2734]

hihi i like being the hidden guitarist in the bass crowd video. Bass is just groovy guitar player should do that more often

[@kosmickreature]

thank you :)

[@sixstringsandamike]

What's the name of the song that cool funk riff is from? Great lesson bro, thanks.

[@TWKamil]

I used to watch all Scott's films before it started to be "in this is super cool blabla so check and the full course is on academy with a lot of free goodies, so give me money!", and i learned a lot from it. This video is worth to watch as all others!

[@fatarry]

Looking buff. Is the room your in a green screen?

[@wrobinson1702]

What is that bass you're holding here? Fender vintage re-issue?

[@stovepop]

To the die hard traditional bass player my favorite bass guitarist Peter Hook is probably a heathen why I describe him as a bass guitarist them bass lines in New Order come out as a guitar riff for want of a better word but definitely my hero

[@MegaPhilwhite]

Scott! I just want to suggest that you check out/find out the guy who played on all Shalamars biggest hits. Whoever he is, he's friggin awesome! And when you've done that, tell me how to do it! He's deffo a step above! ttfn

[@99Chrissey99]

can somebody help me? i dont know how to tune my bass on drop-a and drop-b. can someone explain me how to do that? i know thenotes but i think im too stupid...

[@yugnikufesin666]

Yeah im agree cause if you want to be a great bass player you should take care the most in the hearing instead of the playing.

[@chuckecheese9411]

I love that music at the end also, 5:17 I hate to be one of those.. but you do know girls can play bass too right?

[@GalaxyT-sw1xm]

Chuck E Cheese +

[@jessicadutoit2827]

Chuck E Cheese Exactly I'm a girl and a bassist

[@SomeFreakingCactus]

Is that the guy from Tim & Erick's Torino Boy video?

[@codyschlunsen813]

Dude, that was the first thing I thought, too. ' I live for the punk rock totinos lifestyle.'

[@shadowgun22]

Some Guy: Bass Players should be invisible. You shouldn’t be seen as a necessity or even heard. Bass Guitarists: Hold our Cliff Burton, Jaco Pastorious, Bootsie Collins, Larry Graham, and Paul McCartney.

[@koleboydtoomanyhumans3639]

I really enjoyed the way Nirvana did the bass a lot of the time letting the guitar drop out and letting Krist play simple yet super effect bass lines in the spotlight even if for only 5-10 seconds at a time

[@MysticChops]

What is the outro song?

[@joesquires6519]

That bass tho 😍

[@jonathanedward1987]

hey scott, whats the glove u are using? i get sweaty fingers a lot which makes it difficult to play on stage, maybe this glove can help me play better..

[@andrewlwatts]

wuhoolalalala It's just a plain wool glove. He uses it to help control his focal dystonia, which is a neurological disorder that makes his finger spasm when he plays bass.

[@wrobinson1702]

Bingo! The first premise a great bassist recognizes and accepts is that the bass guitar is almost exclusively used as part of an ENSEMBLE, rather than as a solo instrument, because the human ear is simply not capable of discerning as much variation in tone in the typical bass wavelengths, compared to those of the guitar. The second is that almost all ensembles play songs which require that the instruments(and vocals) sound good TOGETHER and does what it takes to make that happen. The result is that a great bass guitar part in most songs will often not be appreciated by the average listener, until or unless it is taken out of the mix.

[@diggrdeeper2466]

I'm trying to not over due it like sometime less is more.

[@samuelhasudungan]

there is lot of 'luxury' bass behind him, but why he choose g&l l2000? that should be a special bass i think..

[@DavidM7531]

hey somebody kwnows for what reason he uses that glove in his left hand? it´s just a question jaja, thanks

[@kayasarangelo9663]

He has a skin condition

[@G_yutt]

i learnt how to play bass through your lessons and i guess i can play now but theres a problem here with me, im not musical i just cant figure out what kind of basssline to fit to any sooong that comes up aaggh man i suck to a point of feeling like quitting bass ... help😭😭😭😭

[@rorybass7915]

don d practice your scales, learn different bass lines. Learn the fundamentals of your instrument. It takes time and dedication, so don’t give up.

[@joecain7320]

I signed up for your course, paid but made 1 little mistake in my email and no one can help me get my lessons started. I did t want the money back !

[@Pedozzi]

So basically get the time and the timber right

[@shanemolloy2824]

I really hate dialled out or flat bass. Get a thunderbird, richenbacker or a jazz and play it like geezer, Lemmy, flea or Norman watt Roy. Up front and in your face. Yes please!

[@fred41678]

Great advice. I would also like to add: No your part; No your place; Show up on time; Have reliable gear; Don’t be an asshole🤙

[@midnightgaming9839284392857]

And also be able to spell, you never know when something literature related will happen, maybe even a simple youtube comment!

[@jalenfuller2000]

this is so true because it's better to have a bassist who mostly play root notes and do it well than a guy playing licks with poor performance

[@SlimBeats7]

4:29 :0

[@hazybrain7]

So basically... being musical... who knew ?

[@perrins57]

Wise words Obi-Wan.

[@brucemcdonald1114]

In other words, what you DON'T play is as important as what you DO play. Tim B****t is a GREAT player but guitar players (Read Jim M****ty and Jeff B**k here)... hated playing with him. Never walk over someone else' solo. This also applies to harmonica dudes and second guitarists?

[@joecampbell9277]

sh-bang

[@bassicbass]

thanx ed. play less and be a cool guy could also be a formula :-)

[@heathkitchen4315]

When I can play a video at 2x the speed and clearly understand it, I know dude is talking waaaay too slow.

[@boborg13]

folically challenged LOL

[@forhundedtwentii5827]

Hi, can i still play the bass if im illiterate thx asking for a friend ofc (who's gay but that's ok)

[@Leo.R.H]

You need some ladies...