Bass Teacher REACTION | Unleash the Archers "AWAKENING" and this INSANE Bass Technique! 

Thank y'all for this KILLER request! What are some other bass players with unique techniques I should check out?

In an online comment Nikko did confirm this was a technique he learned from Matthew Garrison after a fan made the connection.

Can we give their drummer some love for his amazing double kick bass!🤘🤘🤘

Every one of the members of this band are top notch with playing their instruments and Brittney Slayes totally Slayes on vocals.

Nikko does a bass playthrough of one of their songs called Cleanse the Bloodlines and it's wonderful to hear the bass so forward in the mix - and a killer tune.

Proud to have smashed some of the band members in Pictionary 💪

I like how the bassist plays the opening like a classical guitarist. very cool.

Nikko, the Bass Player is mainly a Cello player and his bass strings are also tuned in 5th (like a Cello). When he left the band and they got a replacement Bass Player, he had big troubles learning and playing Nikko's parts (he needed to transcribe a lot of things to fully understand the bass lines and then adjust it for playing on "regular tuned bass")

From what I understand it's called the clawhammer style he is using on the bass. Very close to the style used on banjo. Great for speed .

That double tap the drummer is doing is also something I have never seen before that smoothly!

I have probably seen this video 1000 times, and have played the album 1000 times, and it still gives me the chills when watching/hearing it. I grew up in the Golden Age of this stuff - mid 80's - and these guys are legit!!!

The bassist is Nikko Whitworth and here's a video of him with his bass, tuned as a cello, playing the cello part in Bach's Brandenburg Concerto No. 1. ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-8j7we0vYJ9M.html I think you'll find it very interesting.

Nikko's bass work in Awakening always reminded me of Buck Owens or Roy Clark on a banjo.

Yes,in fact, they did normally start their shows with that song but now they usually start with a newer song called Abyss. (Highly recommend as your next UTA song analysis btw) They're a blend of several different sub-genres of metal but that's what makes them unique. I caught their show about a year and a half ago, met them before the show then again during an early dinner before the show. I didn't even notice until after we were seated and my daughter pointed out who we were sitting next to. Each one of them were very polite and cordial. I tried not to disturb them, but they remembered me from the meet & greet from before and we exchanged pleasantries. UTA are a band that bring top level energy and talent to every show. Lead singer Brittney and drummer Scott just had a baby girl and still found time to record a new album with the rest of the band between diaper changes. Very good reaction from a bass player's point of view. Too bad Nikko decided to leave the band but their new bassist is quite good. You got a sub from me. Thanks!

Big fan of Unleash the Archers, this song in particular. No clue how many times I've watched it, and Brittney's grin at the end always gets me.

As a Canadian, I have never heard this band. Thanks for sharing, Im going to go give this band some love, with a Low End University shout out. Sick band, and I usually dont like power metal type vocals. 🤘

I like to use this video as the standard for people who have mastered their craft. Great reaction and analysis.

Haha, as soon as I saw this vid go up I had to watch it because of Nikko's technique. Love the way you analysed it - your expression at his solo moment after the guitar solo was perfect lol. It's a shame he left the band. Apex is such an awesome concept album, as is the follow up Abyss. Highly recommend Cleanse The Bloodlines from Apex, too.

I think the best testimony to their top notch technique is how relaxed they look: Brittney looks totally relaxed, like no tension in jaw or neck whatsoever, guitar players make it looks easy, the drummer looks like he could go for days and the bassist you described yourself.

Iron Maiden!! That's what I've been saying, noone else ever says it. I would die if they covered "Run to the hills"

That face averyone made at 11:11.... Yup, that hit really hard!

Thanks for breaking it down for us non-bass players out here. Enjoyed it.

Huh!……….That was just a ear onslaught of technicality,….and precision. Dude! You just got quote of the year! That was awesome! Made my day!

@9:38- literally waiting for that the whole video lol. They are all fantastic musicians, but her voice just melts.

I had a bassplayer in my metal band who just used 3 fingers to play fourths...it never bothered him that there was a change between the "finger rythm" compared to the actual 4/4 stroke ...he was just amazing!

As soon as I saw you reacted to the video...I knew you were going to key up on the bass lick at the end of the Solo... You didn't disappoint.

Nikko Whitworth is amazing...unfortunately he was only in the band from 2016-2018 and only played on this one album. This band has quite a revolving door of bass players for some reason. Also, Brittany Hayes is the best and most underrated female metal vocalist. Yes, she has a very Bruce Dickinson delivery in her phrasing.

This is great. What a band. What a song.

Nikko's right hand technique reminds me of Gary Willis' which if I recall is also taken from classical guitar. And as you pointed out in the video Nikko has a ramp on his bass, which Gary in fact pioneered, so I wonder if one of Nikko's influences was Gary Willis and adapted that hand technique for metal.

Nikko Whitworth has a channel on YT, and a couple videos of bass playthru on 'Cleanse the Bloodlines' and 'Tonight we Ride' from his time with Unleash the Archers. Gives a really good view of his playstyle; a metal clawhammer bass picking is absolutely nuts.

I believe it is a variation of the claw hammer technique used on a banjo. Also the way that Mark Knopfler plays guitar.

11:56 sounds like a little harmonics action there? Dude is amazing

UTA are AMAZING! Absolutely top level musicians with one of the best vocalist this side of 80s-90s Geoff Tate/Roy Khan. Saw them live and they crushed it!!

We all need more Unleash the Archers content! Such an amazing band!

I'm VERY happy that you experienced this song by Unleash the Archers first! Amazing song by a brilliant band! Always happy to hear this one. :)

I booked this band in Raleigh, NC USA a couple of years ago, and if you think they are that good in the video, you should see them LIVE. OMG!!!!

Britney's voice has been described as 1/4 Ronnie James Dio, 1/4 Bruce Dickenson, 1/4 Ian Gillian, and 1/4 Geoff Tate....she can also sing opera; and she also writes the songs.....

10: 56 :".. talented.." : These guys are passed talented. They re the real exemple of virtuosos.

Dudes almost banjo rolling, that is wild.

Saw them at AMF a few years back and was Amazed

Jazz players use this if you search here on RU-vid. Thumb plus the 3 finger. Nice because 4/4 time works nicely and there's control. 3 fingers works well on a single string, but 4/4 or scales, it's more(much) difficult to do clean. Double finger with the index and middle works well for scales, 4/4 time. My big clown fingers bunch up too much but I play with all my fingers. Most folks who play this 4 finger use the ramps. I've not seen many that do NOT use the ramps with this method. It's hard to learn how to do, but the pay off is incredible.

Reminds me of how Damien Erskine uses his plucking hand as well. It's a very economical action that could be less likely to cramp the hand especially if you can go between a " normal " style and this style.

Steve DiGiorgio uses another interesting technique (at least to me) during parts with one of his many side bands Gone In April, it's put on display during his play through video for "as hope welcomes death"

UTA is by far my favorite metal band. Nico is no longer with the band, but their new bass player, Nick Miller, is incredible! I can't wait for their new album that should be out this fall!!

In this song the bass provides the gallop sound....Called clawhammer... seen many southern players use this techinique as itis similar to banjo. Sometimes called down-picking, overhand, or frailing, is a distinctive banjo playing style and a common component of American old-time music. The principal difference between clawhammer style and other styles is the picking direction. Traditional picking styles (classic banjo), including those for folk, bluegrass, and classical guitar, consist of an up-picking motion by the fingers and a down-picking motion by the thumb; this is also the technique used in the Scruggs style for the banjo. Clawhammer picking, by contrast, is primarily a down-picking style. The hand assumes a claw-like shape and the strumming finger is kept fairly stiff, striking the strings by the motion of the hand at the wrist and/or elbow, rather than a flicking motion by the finger. In its most common form on the banjo, only the thumb and middle or index finger are used and the finger always downpicks, hitting the string with the back of the fingernail. By contrast, the thumb rests on the fifth string with the downpick motion, and is often released in a lighter up-pick to create the distinctive clawhammer sound.

I don’t know anything about playing the bass or guitar for that matter, but a couple musician reactors said the bass player is or may be using a banjo technique. One reactor said he saw a banjo in the background but I’ve yet to see it.

"Yeah, you knew I was going to stop for that." That's the reason I clicked this video!

Fk man 6 years later this song still gets me with chills and a lump in the throat

This song has been watched by many reaction channels and the ones who are more into technique are usually speechless about that bassist so I was hoping to find a review by someone who knows something about bass, Which is why I got here. Really cool to see your reaction and explanation ! I have no idea what that guy has become now 🥺😮

Epically powerful metal album!

Very sick - the bass right-hand technique reminds me of Matt Garrison's style

man I waited forever for a bass player to react to this one. thanks for the insights!

Discovering your channel and this band at the same time is a big win

Never heard of this band before. I have some homework to do because this is epic AF

If i'm not mistaken this technique is called "tremolo" in classical guitar

He's doing fucking galloping with the effort of a slow rub out that you are slow burnin LMFAO......very cool \m/

Love you dude.

People have said that this technique is called clawhammer and is traditionally used to play the banjo in bluegrass music.

Watched a lot of vocal reactions for this track, but found your bass reaction really insightful.

Probably the reason this one got suggested more than their other songs is because you can visually see his technique, and obviously that fun little bass fill; all of their songs are bangers, including their more recent album Abyss, which won at the Juno's (Canadian grammys). UTA's new bass player (as of about a year ago) is equally impressive, though his technique is a little less unique than Nikko's, q.v. ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-ZQzsO8_llW0.html

This technique is being used by Evan Brewer for years already. Although the finger positioning of his right hand is a bit different, this is not really something new. You can also see check Dominique "Forest" Lapointe of BARF / Augury / First Fragment, Alex Weber (Session Player) of Exist, Malignancy and Talking Points - This is highly inspired by Classical Guitar Players - I took this technique (but never really got good with it cos I did not have a band that I can use this technique on) from Michael Hedges back in the days.

You need to check out the title track "Apex" too, one of my favorite tunes ever, learning the guitar parts for it.

Another reactor, Old Skule Nerd, called the bass technique "Claw hammer". Don't know if it's the name for it but it seems accurate...Great band and Ms Slayes is one H of a singer!

Don’t know if you’ve looked at them before but the bassist from Beyond Creation is nuts. Also Cryptopsy

I think Nikko had his own bass playthrough vid up as well. Could have focused in on that bass playing as well.

Really glad you did this song...one of my favorite songs by this incredible band...you absolutely do this song justice with your review....thank you 🤘🤘🤘

Lol. I love it when reaction video people are outclassed and a bit embarrassed.

So I'm going to start this request with an unusual question, what does an Latin Grammy Nominated Bassist teach their student? In most cases we will never know, but in the case of Pablo González Sarre of Los Claxons and his student Alejandra Villarreal of The Warning we have video. The Warning are 3 sisters from Monterrey, México, Daniela (Lead Vocal, Guitar), Paulina (Drummer, Lead and Backing Vocals), and Alejandra Villarreal (Bass, Backing Vocals), who went viral on RU-vid in 2014 (ages 14/12/9) and have matured into a great band. All 3 are very talented, Daniela (Dany) has a great voice, Paulina (Pau, said like Pow) is one of those rare Singing Drummers (she has a headset mic, if you can't see who is singing it is her), Alejandra (Ale said like Aleh, not the beer) has perfect pitch and is, according to her sisters, a walking talking metronome. The Warning - DISCIPLE Live at Teatro Metropolitan CDMX 08/29/2022 ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-Wo0odllVq8g.html The Warning - Ale y su maestro Pablo (bajista de Los Claxons) ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-1i4oFvVUJQU.html

LeatherWolf-band is smiling and love the inspiration :)

I love the lyrics to this song so much, love the fantasy story telling.

I watched this video when it came out and as a bass player myself thought this guys technique was interesting cool to come across this video👍🎸

Awesome musicians and really down to earth band!

You're genuine love for music is infectious man, subscribed!

I explored this technique when I started playing in the mid 80's. My first "big influence" being Steve Harris I was already playing the gallop rhythm w/ 3 fingers as I didn't know (or care) at the time that he only used 2 fingers. It was just a natural motion for me to use 3, but when it came to straight 8ths/ 16ths I just couldn't wrap my head around hitting the beat/ emphasis/ accent on alternating fingers (only found out maybe 5 yrs ago that that's exactly how Sheehan plays) & trying to get my short-assed pinky in there caused cramping in my forearm. So I decided to try getting my thumb involved. Worked much better but I couldn't really "dig in" as I was already pretty used to having my thumb planted to pull against. Then I met/ befriended Chris Chapman around '86-7, "original" (in the sense that I don't believe they played any gigs before he joined) bass player for Disciples Of Power. You want a fucked up RH technique? He developed what he described as a 4 Finger Moebius Technique for "economy of motion": pinky ring middle index middle ring repeat. Very cool, very economical of motion, & yeah, it was 2 of my own "weak points" (pinky & counting) but he was/ is fucking amazing @ it. So I took & adapted it to a 3 finger Moebius: r m i m repeat. True, my middle finger does twice the work, but for the style(s) & slower speeds I tend to play it works for me just fine. Add in that fucker Geddy doing more w/ one finger than many do w/ 2 or 3 I guess one could say that us Canucks are just built differently.

I already heard the band but Never saw the bass player technique, it is awesome!

This song got me into UTA. I've seen them live and they don't disappoint. It was a sad day when it was announced that Nikko had left the band. They had a revolving door of fill in bass players for a year or so, but finally settled on Nick Miller who is one of the guitarists in the Canadian tech-death band First Fragment. He's got good chemistry with the band live, but in all honestly, I feel he plays bass like a guitar player would. Nikko was definitely a skilled bassist; was unique in terms of sound and technique, and I miss his playing greatly on their most recent album Abyss.

1st time stopping by... you like a bit of power metal that starts w a wicked bass solo (by bassist, Chris David)? Check out Swedish sensations, Majestica (ft Tommy Johansson of Sabaton), song, Above The Sky! Also, super nice guys!

Absolutely LOVING these reactions Mark. Keep em coming!

Screams of a technique developped yo keep up with fast metal while saviouring energy for a full show

UTA are a really amazing and talented band. also great and enjoyable to see a real expert reacting/analysing. thank you.

Speaking of Evan brewer, I’d love to see you see one of his Entheos playthroughs!

First time watching you, and I already subscribed.

Started playing the bass a few days ago, and having been classically trained on the guitar, it felt natural to strum like this bassist, especially since I've got a 5 string and am conscious about right hand muting the B string. Working on the Slap and pop to learn funk, but sometimes I find myself defaulting to this method depending on how some songs group their notes.

This whole album apex is pure 🔥

Hey man, as a bass player myself, i loved your reaction. would love to see your reaction to some of the First Fragment bass playthroughs, hes a beast to be sure.

she has a great voice wow... sick band

This is just one of my favourite bands. The technique he uses on the bass is called clawhammer, and its commonly used by banjo players!

You should check out Forrest bassist, he plays this way in the death metal genre, and out dates this band by 20 years. Its a very well known technique in Canada.

I believe Nikko Whitworth sadly left UTA on good terms,they look back on many great memories together,but theyr public statement was that he left so that he could pursue other creative projects. He was abit before my time (not that im involved in the band,but i know especially Grant and Andrew,but also the complete band for spending countless hours together with them,alot of twitch streaming interactions,and me being a subscriber to them) I was mainly into Nightwish as far as female fronted bands go,but once i gave UTA a fair shot they grabbed it and sucked me in,i looove theyr sound and how they bring in "nostalgic metal and rock" in theyr songs. I also were far more into a band i call UTA`s little brothers/little sister,Lutharo. An independent act also from Canada that dreams of achieving the same amount of success as theyr friends in UTA. Lutharo and UTA are raiding and hanging out in eachothers streams all the time,theyr bond had me love both bands more and both bands really have amazing personalities. I dont know if you are familiar with Chris Pacey and Lutharo,and he might not be that extra in the way he plays his bass,but i really like him. He has a really cool sound for sure,but from what i can remember he does things pretty basic/common. Although he does play bass with a passion,and the other band members loves to give him his moments to shine. Just in case i did some snooping for you,i couldnt remember on the top of my head wich videos that shows him the most,so you get a good enough impression of him and his playstyle. I am also a founding supporting on theyr twitch channel,where i made the absolute most of theyr clips,and i have a really good intro clip of them doing What Sleeps In Your Mind,where they give Chris the honor of starting it off. Its one of the best songs i think in regards to bass,as it is very dominant. Sadly they never made any official video for it,but i can find that specific clip for you in an instant of you so wish. But let me give a few good videos that shows Chris Pacey a fair amount of times: Lutharo - Blood Lightning (Official Video) When Krista Shipperbottom (lead singer of Lutharo) starts to sing,Chris is mostly seen just behind her to the side,so he gets alot of spotlight time in this video. This one is also good,as they stand in a circle,this is one of theyr faster,heavier songs: Lutharo - To Kill or to Crave (Official Video) Some slight closeup of everyone playing,but for just a brief second or 2 at a time. At the top of my head,i know he refers to his bass as "the trusty Solar bass",i believe thats the main brand he goes by. Im not super technical into wich model he uses yet,but i know its Solar and that he has a red one and one all black (probably more as well,but thoose 2 i have seen the absolute most) My favourite song by them (that doesnt have any reactions yet!) Lutharo - Hopeless Abandonment,all members get a fair amount of spotlight in this too,so you can always have this in mind as well,if you want to discover them,give Chris some feedback. Im sure i would be able to make them come on over and leave you a comment too. Lutharos current lineup: Krista Shipperbottom at lead vocals,Victor Bucur (founder,Krista is a co-founder with Victor,plays guitar and has backing vocals),Chris Pacey at bass,and Cory Hofing on drums. Just recently theyr longtime lead guitarist John Raposo had his last ever concert with the band,so on theyr current US tour as backups for Alestorm together with Gloryhammer,they have hired Alex Snape from Crimson Shadows and Unbowed in as a tour lead guitarist for them. And John will likely be permanently replaced at one point when everything calms down and the schedule allows it. Cory Hofing is also new in regards to him not showing on any of the videos,the drummer there is Duval Gabraiel (he parted ways with the band as he was against vaccinating himself in regards to the virus,so they felt like they were forced to part ways with him,since every other member was vaccinated and didnt want any future obstacles with him in regards to concerts etc) This is Cory Hofings second time with the band,and if you want to see an early version of the band,with Ruslan "Rusty" Lypovski on Bass (former bassplayer of Profaner) and Cory Hofing on drums,feel free to check out the good old: Lutharo - Unleash The Beast. Chris Pacey is a really experienced bassplayer btw,he is a former bassplayer of the bands Dead To Rights and Forever The Pain before he got together with Lutharo. I went on ahead and suggested them,as i think this would be a really nice surprise for Chris if he got a reaction like that,and i know Victor,Krista and Cory would be over the moon happy for him too. I know them all really well by now,as i took a deepdive into youtube once the pandemic hit,and through alot of automated playlists i came across them,and i fell in love with this band. I have ever since followed them everywhere,gotten to know them on a personal level through theyr streams,and through social medias. They love getting reacted to,and any new reactions i will add for them in theyr own reactions made channel in theyr discord. I think it would be really cool if they came off theyr first ever big tour collab,where they got to support Alestorm and found out of a potential reaction like this. But you dont have to of course,im just trying my best to get theyr material out there,as i think they deserve to get alot more attention then they have so far. Loved this reaction,and i wish you a good weekend!

Awakening is also the first song in a two album storyline. Apex is the first album and Abyss is the second album.

Love UTA! I Think you could appreciate something from Ne Obliviscaris, amazing bass work from Martino Garattoni (he did some crazy playthrough, check them out)😊

I am no Bass player by any means, but I have met the band twice now at smaller shows where I've been a stage manager. Nico is using a modified Claw Hammer technique. He does pick with his 3 top fingers, along with his thumb, but because his hand is curled it's hard to see it. It sucks that it didn't work out with him and the band, but he had other commitments to attend to, so had to leave after this album. You would be correct in that it is more used in classical guitar and flamenco, but man you have to admit it sounds filthy on that bass :-)

Thank you for this video. I wish more bassists would cover rock videos like this. Its a completely different viewpoint that I wanna see. I would love to see you cover more of them or Nightwish.

Thats Nikko, hes not with the band anymore, he couldnt handle touring, but hes got a youtube channel

The drummer's double bass drum technique is not typical either. Where most would use their feet in a 1-2, 1-2 pattern, he uses a 1-1, 2-2 pattern. Blows my mind!

Sammi Hinkka, I think it's how's he spells it, from Ensiferum is one of my favorites.

Ryan martenie from mudvayne was the first person i ever saw using a "classical guitar" right hand technique. This guys right hand is very interesting. Ive had discussions on youtube where people say this technique is terrible and "doesn't even exist" its funny how people can't escape those mental barriers they build for themselves.

I was just gonna say, they sound very Maiden with some Skid Row. 🤘

Very nice job with this one dude. New sub here. 💪

In the UTA Video Time Stands Still, Nikko is playing Cello, so there is some cross over there in the style to playing bass. I have noticed he seems to adapt to whatever the song requires. I have seen him play the usual way you see bass players play and he uses a pick as well at times so again, I think he just plays as you put the most efficient way for whatever the song requires.