How To Play Reggae Bass Like Aston Family Man Barrett 

"It wasn't until the late 90's and I was on tour with Freddie McGregor..." What a great way to start out a sentence! Legend.

This man is in another universe by himself,his style is his and only his alone. No one plays reggae bass like “Family Man” You simply cannot duplicate this genius.. The greatest ever..long live the bass!

Aston & Carlton Barrett were the Best Bass & Drum Rhythm Section .. Ever !!!🎶🎶🎶

I first started playing bass as a direct result of hearing and being inspired by Family Man on the Bob Marley & The Wailers albums. I saw him with Bob in concert five times in London during the Seventies. Later, sadly after Bob had passed, I was fortunate enough to meet Fams after a Wailers gig in Cambridge and he signed the back of my ticket. I was on cloud nine for days. He is the best! :-)

My favourite bass player EVER....He literally shakes the floor...

The real genius is that he effortlessly blends roots bass rhythms with a question and answer lick construction that’s right out of the funk textbook all while supporting the chords and keeping the whole song feeling musical. Of how many baselines today can say that you can still get the whole song and top line changes hooks etc in your head while just the bass and backing track plays? He can shoot straight and funky or drop back to some kinky roots vibe at will. He’s doing his job in the band supporting the changes all while having a blast and experimenting too. What a true legend. Thanks for this breakdown so I can appreciate the work on a new level.

I met Oteil Burbridge at Virginia Tech in 2002(?) when he played a small club with his band the Peacemakers. I said "Hey man, Im learning bass. You got any tips?" He smiled real big and said "LISTEN TO FAMILYMAN." Roger that!

I am glad that you could come round to Mr Aston Family Man Barrett, Because without him and his brother, Reggae would never be what it is today,And i know that some people Will disagree,but that is ok for me.BOB wrote great songs, but their only a few Artist in the world you will hear their music without the voice and you can say what song it is.And That is a talent and a gift by it self.

Due to circumstance I have switched from guitar in my rock band to bass. We have a reggae tune and that's why I'm watching. However, I am finding your video really helpful in general for whatever style the song we play. Thanks man.

Sent this to my boss/friend Junior Marvin. He loves this. Recognizes some of his guitar licks in there. Says he still plays along with Fams licks to this day and knows all of his tricks. Good work you’re doing bro. Blessings. 🔥🔥🔥

Family Man & his brother are top shelf musicians.

PLEASE DO A FAMILY MAN SERIES! This was such a great video, and he has so many iconic bass grooves. I'm amazed how many bassists sleep on Aston, and even drummers on Carlton. They are an irreplaceable rhythm section.

Oh my God! The two Barrett brothers were SIMPLY THE BEST together.

I saw Bob Marley as a 17 year old in Sydney, best concert of my life still. There is so much that is interesting in Bob's music. It never gets old. I particularly find the bass intriguing and pretty special.

Them to bros will never be replaced, but always remembered, "REST IN RIDDUM BROS!!!!!!

Man you are so right about family man. He’s really the ninja of reggae bass. A legend

Fams thrived in the Wailers, the chord changes in the songs inspired him endlessly, it was a perfect match, all the musicians contributing something different all the time, not a regular type of reggae band, (If there is such a thing).The bass sounds melodic & free, laidback & in the groove, no wonder Miles Davis enjoyed the Family man sound..

Fams is the pinnacle, and "Positive Vibration" is a marvelous portal into his magic. The attack and feel ... the subtleties seemingly improvised, and the "weight" and deliberation given to certain notes and phrases ... his unique swing and fluid propulsion -- it all really sets him apart. I've often felt like Fams' "process" might have been to compose "straightforward" lines, and then begin to remove anything he felt was too generic, obvious, or "expected" in favor of rests or Carly-influenced triplets. The Carly influence is the finishing luxury that the others weren't afforded. Hail the Blessed Brothers, musicians who whose profound vibration was the sublime, deep "feel" itself. Thank you, Don!

You have single handedly made me pick up my bass after a long time. Reggae baselines are the root of all my favourite music and sound system. Can't get enough of reggae bass

I come to realize in reggae bass is lead instrument.Doesn't mean loads of soloing or riffing,.Means everyone else is following You.Family Man is superb.

RIP Man what a half of the duo. 😢

Thats called improvisation, those unpredictable things like part 4 and the flat-ish notes at the beginning. Thanks Don! Family Man held the family together! And his brother was the hi hat master!

Also 'Babylon By Bus' is considered the best engineered live recording of reggae period, listen to the metronomic consistency of 'Heathen' and the power of those low F notes.

My Ampeg V4B was played as backline by Familyman and a bunch of other reggae greats! Bought it from the owner of the company that provided backline and did production.

As a Jamaican American the bass and drum is always what my ear naturally keen to first before any other sound ...in music but especially on reggae music.

I’m a drummer, but Aston’s playing is sooo good!! I’ve recently picked up the bass because of him. Such groove, pocket, simplistic yet melodic bass arrangements. My top favorites he did with Bob Marley are ( Coming in from the cold, War, Crazy Bald head, I Shot The Sheriff, & countless more!) For anyone that wants to hear him and the whole band at their best IMO, check Bob Marley and The Wailers Live in Pittsburgh, PA 1980💯💯

For reggae loving bassists this video and this channel (and Glen Browne's Glen reggae bass lines) are priceless. I used to play in bands that did metal, classic rock, a little blues. Listened to a lot of jazz - Jaco, Stanley Clarke basslines. Then I heard Bob Marley and this song. First reggae song I ever heard. Fell in love. Tried to play the bassline and I couldnt get it right. Could play the fast Geddy Lee and Steve Harris stuff, but I couldnt play slow reggae songs with only two or three notes. Took me a long time to learn that less is more. The feel and riddim can be hard to play. Thanks Donstrumental!

Fams is amazing in babylon by bus, at the end of jamming he does this quick 16th note climb to the octave that is just so nice to hear, my favorite part of that version

The music that heals the mind

I love the album "Babylon By Bus". I was lucky enough to discover this great album in high school and it remains a favorite.

Alston and Carleton played a huge part in Bob Marley sound, they were awesome.

Many blessings I. You illustrated why Family Man was the music director! Word sound power Love Knowledge Music BASS!!!!!!

Absolutely nailed his tone and feel on this one. Just a little behind when he wants to be, but right in the pocket always. Been playing and teaching bass for years and this is the best tutorial on Barret I've seen. Suscribed without hesitation

I don’t even play bass but I love these tutorials. Brilliant job. Almost makes you want to start playing the instrument (but the guitar journey is still so long).

Beautiful breakdown of a BIG bassline. Many thanks. So much nuance and feel to that one.

Man I love your videos and how you break down the architecture of the basslines so accurately. Sweet sounding bass too. Great work....

RIP Family Man, the greatest ever!

Beufifully disected Don. Being a veteran guitarist myself in reggae and a huge Bob Marley fan I thought I knew that Bassline, but they way you broke it down makes me realise how great that Bassline is and that I didn't know it half as well as I thought. Nuff respect Don, Keep doing what you are doing. You are definitely the go to man when come to excuting reggae bass

Bass Ninja ! I played a gig opening for the Wailers, talked to Fams, amazing ! There are also so many little ghost notes and 'dummy' figures in his playing. Check out a live recording of 'I Shot the Sheriff' where he completely flips the bridge by playing a triplet passage, such feel !

Another one of my favorite Reggae Bass. Legends to study is George “Fully “ Fullwood Check the song by Peter Tosh - Feel no way.

Thank you for this, again! Deepest appreciation! I signed in two accounts to like it twice ;-) I'm not a reggae player, just someone who plays bass and loves MUSIC, and so eventually diving into Family Man's playing on one of the first reggae albums I got growing up (Burnin') was intoxicating and expanding for me- that roots playing, subtle, supportive, and slightly dangerous and surprising underneath... so undeniably creative, so deeply connected and musical... love it, and all of the reggae grooves and players you are exploring and sharing. Excited to spend time there. And- In another comment, you mentioned not used to being out front, so you're still getting comfortable being featured on camera... well I have to add that one of the things I appreciate about your lessons is that you are more naturally focused on teaching us, (in a very economical yet thorough manner that also manages to serve all levels), than entertaining us or pumping us up, and that aspect seals the deal for me- *just* dropping the knowledge, exploring, explaining, and demonstrating so clearly is perfection for me! Respect!

loving these lessons..Masters of Time and Space...Charles Mingus would have loved Reggae..

Yasssss!! I was searching for this ! As a Bob Marley fan, I can forgive you for seemingly dismissing Bob Marley and the Wailers, especially because of your age ! I grew up with Bob’s music, caught the bug from the “Burnin” album as a 12 year old in 1973.! Aston Barrett is a virtuoso bass player! No cap!!!!! A Beast of No Nation ! That band made music that would last for eternity!!! Thanks for featuring Aston Francis Barrett! An absolute genius and musical maestro!! 👊🏾🇳🇬👊🏾🇳🇬!

I am sooooo grateful for this discovery!! Been listening to Bob Marley for more than 3 decades and never listened to this beauty!! Thank you so much!!!

Rest in peace the great Family Man

Awesome lesson Don!!! That bassline is wicked and so powerful... Fam really is a ninja you're right I've listened and played Bob Marley tunes for years, and every time I come back to them after some time off, I find something new I hadn't noticed earlier in the bassline... and I mean almost everytime :p Keep up this amazing channel!! Large up, Nathael

The LEGEND Aston Family Man Barrett-his infectious melodious bass put Bob's muzik over the top .

RESPECT BRETHREN. ONE OF MY FAVORITE BASELINES TO PLAY THOUGH I'M FAIRLY NEW TO THE BASS . 10 MONTHS TO BE EXACT. HOME TAUGHT TOO. JUST HAD TO MAKE A FEW LITTLE CHANGES. DON HEATHEN IS ON A NEXT LEVEL ON THIS ALBUM ( BABYLON BY BUS). ONE LOVE AND STAY SAFE FROM GUYANA.

Excellent tutorial. Now I understand better how unique Family Man was. Thank you!

The man’s bass lines are so hypnotic to me, especially on the Babylon By Bus Album! I listen to at least one track of the album everyday driving from job to job. Thanks so much for the tutorial!

I'm no expert on bass playing but just from listening, the difference between Family Man and other reggae bass players that I've observed. Is that family seems to play bass around Bob's vocal changes which makes his playing more melodious and interest. Other bass players finds a 1 bar melody and play that loop almost through the whole track with one change in the variation thrown in.

Thanks for talking about family man, my favorite bassist ever. ✊🏾

Aston Family Man Barrett World best reggae bass player

That late note is so amazing

Thank you so much. This is the most intelligens bass style, the foundation, the roots style. Aston and Carlton were the best.

Fantastic tutorial, this actually cleared up a note of which I wasn't too sure of in section one (C note). I have to admit I was also a late comer to "Fams" as I gravitated towards Robbie's kind of militant playing before eventually settling into Fams and his on / off behind the beat feels. I had the pleasure of sitting down and chatting with Fams back in 2008 as our band was part of the first ever Raggamuffin Reggae Festival line up touring my homeland New Zealand and across the ditch in Australia. It's kind of funny as we never got to finish our conversation until mid 2013 when we met again on a tour in Brazil. Thank you for presenting us with premium content.

Thanks for this video... God bless family man... R.I.P Clarton barette 🙏

Incredible, all the little rhythmic variations and the playfulness of being so late behind the beat & then on top of it etc. Great analysis, there’s lots here to practice, thanks

Very interesting master class on a masterpiece, well done Don , I’m a lover of bass as a guitarist

Sweeeeet!!!! I don't play any instruments any more, played the recorder more than 50 plus years ago, and I love reggae music, but this was sweet to here all of this. Earned a sub immediately.....ill be back here again soon!

They say you can't explain what a groove feels like to someone, what it is to a bass player that is, but I think you showed me where to be in my head. No one has succeeded with that until now, so I gave up on bass a long time ago. Thank you man.

Yes yes yes bring it on

Aston Barrett & Robbie Shakespeare.....2 of the best in reggae...Rest In Peace❤💛💚

Family man is classic

Nice one mate! Your videos are awesome. For me, he's the best bass player that I ever heard. So much feeling for this beast. Greetings from Brazil ;)

Back in the day , around 1983 in the bronx, a fella with long dreads was blasting this out of a honda accord , and I was hooked! 💖💛💚 Positve Vibration -Irie ite

Big ups Big ups!. I love your channel Bredda. Fam signed my bass twice, and his son also a crucial bass player too. Keep the fire burning King . Best Bassmon Channel I have sighted. Family Mon Gave "Rabbi" Shakespeare his first bass.✊🏾 I love your bass tones, I listen to your videos through the Studio Monitors. P.S. Carlton is beyond Chronic.... so crucial. Massive Massive RASPEX to you KING! I give Thanks for Your Jah works too seen.

I was always moved by the sound of those Reggae Bass Vibe.

I can remember as a youngster being do frustrated. I would ask what is the cold part of that song. It was how I expressed the feeling of bass lines. Goose bumps! Love bass bad

This video was sooooo well done. I have GOT to start listening to some reggae...

Don, you have given me so much hope for the future. I was getting down on myself for not having enough funds to provide for my family (out of work musician). The Wailers music has always brought me to my senses. For the first time in a long time , (thanks to your guidance) I feel excited to be able to delve deeper into the music and enjoy the learning experience. God Bless Ya! 🔥💖🔥

Exellent Tutorial,,,,,great Vibes, great insights into the genius of the great reggae music, Big Up Family Barrett and Big Ups to Bob Marley & The Wailers. Big Honours & Majesty to all the Great Reggae Singers & Players of instrument. what a powerful and mystical music.

Great tutorial! It's all the little intricasies that make his playing so unique. People underestimate it as much as they appreciate that I admire you ear for nailing it!!.🙌🏿

To be honest, I haven't noticed the little genius rhythmic shifts like that. I've been a bass player for a long time and only play some dubby stuff now and then, so I've never dived that deep into the playing of the brilliant reggae bassists. Great that you show the genius so clearly. Thanks for the absolutely great tutorial! ✌

There is so much in this video! From Glen Browne's channel, which is also amazing, to an in dept view of all that is going on in this song. I've been practicing your studio one basslines for a few weeks now (I'm new to playing bass). Also, you seem to be enjoying yourself more with each video which is great to see. Thank you!

Family Man is on the same level as James Jamerson. The real royalty of electric bass. Great tutorial, as usual Don!

DC, love the tutorials. Thanks for the insight and selfless information. One Love.

Yours and Glen Browne's channel are my sources for bass training.

Ive watched a few of your tuts now and each time im rocking my head and totally feeling it. You just cant beat a bit of reggae bass to feel it in your soul. Love your t-shirt too.

You make my dreams come true Don. this is awesome. love you man.

I met family man backstage at a concert and he was a great guy. Stopped to talk to me even though he had no obligation too and had a great vibration!

Thank you for a ninja level analysis and breakdown. And those backning drums and guitars were perfect too! Please do many more songs from the "Babylon by Bus" album!

Thank you,son for your tutorial on the ever greatest bass player. Always felt there was not enough focus on his playing. Big up! Earnestly waiting for further things from you on the same man.

Reggae bass players are the most unique bass players in the world. I appreciate all of them, but Fams is a teacher, the foundation. Robbie Shakespear is an icon, but in my opinion he is tallented student of Fams. Tony Gad of Aswad is also great, I like to listen bass lines of Ian Lewis of Inner Circle too. Check out bass line in "African Teacher", also played by Familyman, it is so mad. He had tremendous gigs beside Bob Marley too. Big respect to you Don!!

Way before I started playing bass I always gravitated toward the bass player for Bob Marley when I was a kid and as I got older I found out about Family man. Awesome video bro.

Family Man is my favorite! I once took a picture with him and got his autograph after a "modern" Wailers performance in Nashville, TN.

In my opinion Family Man Barrett; is up there with the best of the best, it's the Feelings that He brings in his playing which stand out, even more than his Technique, I have heard some of the worlds purported best players attempting to play Reggae bass, and they cannot get that Feel, although Technically, they are some of the world's best bass players, Aston ''Family Man'' Barrett, is underrated he hasn't received the recognition or praise he deserve, Thanks for mentioning him.

Thanks Don, your contribution is much appreciated.

Don, u are very strategic in terms of illustrations. To me u are the worlds greatest reggae bass teacher, God bless.

I'm so excited

Been a bass player for a while but never knew how to play some of my favourite music (Reggae of course) like what I hear comin out of the best Reggae bassists around. Thanks for the breakdown man, much love, stay jammin.

I could listen to you all day Don. (speaking and playing). Thanks for another great lesson!

Man, that odd rhythm in section 1, whew, I looove that feel!!

You were spot on on the Carlton Barrett’s hi hats drumming! An original Carlton trademark sound!

As a guitar player that recently started to practice the bass, I was looking for some insights on reggae bass and seems like a found just exactly what I was looking for! Those are some really nice videos! Very Insightful! Keep up the good work man!

Nice bass brother soothing the soul bless 👍😁

Don, I've been practicing for almost 2 years now and this is the first song with a distinct intro/chorus/verse I can play in full on the bass. All thanks to the very high quality tabs and the backing tracks you put together, still have a lot to clean up in my technique but this is a big milestone for me. Hope you are well, and maybe one day we'll see some new uploads on the Donstrumental channel. Cheers

Familyman is without a dout,in my book the number no1, be cause he knows the use of chords and scales progresstion, and he use them well.play any Bob Marley song and you know what song it is withn out the vocals.yes the Bass line will tell you.he is Familyman in a true sence of the word.

I've been wanting to learn Reggae bass. I play mostly Goth Punk Funk and Metal. This will definitely help me out.

That bass makes my whole body vibrate. Just Marvellous. Thanks and praises!