Love your video. I saw Paul live last year, and he played "Being for the benefit of Mr. Kite" on his old hofner.. He did it so effortlessly, and it was amazing to look at. Paul is a multi-instrumentalist who can play anything he touches very well. That is probably why a lot of people overlook the fact that he is a great bassist. Cause they`ve seen him play the piano on Hey Jude, and acoustic guitar on Blackbird and Yesterday, and of course electric guitar on Let me roll it. The man is amazing. He`s probably the most talented musician in the history of rock and roll music, or at least one of the best, apart from being a genius composer, and a great singer. Paul McCartney is the man!!
Dude, his guitar playing on strawberry fields is genius but overlooked. I used the isolated tracks and my ears and learned it, because there are no tutorials or tabs online. Very worthwhile, though. Very Hendrix inspired. Anyway this is random but just kind of proved your point and is interesting to me
I suspect that Paul was the hidden genius composer behind almost all of the Beatles music, but the coolest thing is that he might not have been able to do any of it without the rest of the band. Sometimes it takes the right band to make a genius, and the right genius to make a band.
@@LegendsofBass it’s so tricky to play on the bass. I love your playing man. From one bass player from and living in Liverpool to an American bass playing brother - peace and love and I love watching great players like you ✌️😎
@@pucmahone3893 one of the greatest things about mccartney is how inventive and out the box his bass lines are but he’s singing while he does it and makes it look easy. It really isn’t easy. There’s players who became faster, more technical and would almost make paul look like an amateur these days in comparison - but he was the one who opened the doors to all of these people. Peace and love and groove all around the world! X
Absolutely loved both of these videos. The sheer amount of amazing bass lines which you have captured so well just amazes me. McCartney just is a genius beyond anyone else at not only creating these bass lines but writing the songs and playing so many instruments as well. I also really credit the engineers of abbey road who captured and mixed his bass lines so well onto the tracks.
Fantastic video! I could've watched for an hour, I really didn't want the video to end. Thanks again for doing a fantastic job. I especially loved I Want You (She's So Heavy) and Except For Me and My Monkey. Looking forward to your next "Legend Of Bass".
many people dismiss his work after after the beatles which is unfair, his work as a bass player is equally appealing till his latest years, check see your sunshine for example, in many of his songs the bass plays the role of the king instrument for example silly love songs, goodnight tonight or Mr.Vandebilt and others
MyDreamside -- for sure! I just couldn't cover his solo work too without ending up with 8 hours of footage. I'm a major fan of his solo work and those bass lines as well.
@@LegendsofBass Yes, John, please do a few videos on Paul's post-Beatles work. He has great bass playing scattered throughout the last 50+ years. Glad to see MyDreamside list See Your Sunshine. He goes a bit crazy on that one!
Some can play 1000 different sounds per minute. On a guitar, a bass, a drum, etc. And some can make real music, really extraordinary music, evenly music, from the instrument he is playing. If we´re talking about the bass guitar, then i have to say that J. Entwistle and JPJones, for example, belong most definitely to the first group: the fast ones; Paul McCartney and John Deacon clearly belong to the second one: the melodic ones! But, nevertheless, no one, i mean, no one did make a bass guitar sing, really sing, wonderful, melodic, delicious music like Sir Paul McCartney! Go and ear "Hey Bulldog", "Rain", "Paperback Writer", "I want you (she´s so heavy)", "Something", etc., etc., etc., and you´ll see what I mean. Indisputably...
Hey, fantastic video, love it. Good comments and nice bass playing. However, I must reinforce other comments that Hey Bulldog should be there too ;-). Let me add that I did miss While my guitar gently weeps, as well. In fact, I think that George's comments about the busy bassline, in Something, was unfair. I cannot help thinking that Paul put some extra effort in George's songs, out of love and care. Even George told so about Paul's solo in Taxman. Well, that's only my feeling regarding that matter. Paul is a very inventive and intuitive musician. His basslines show a rare intelligence and taste, frequently digressing to a totally diverse melody that "talks" to the main melody, creating dynamics and movement in the music. Genius Cheers!
Dude this series your doing is literally my favorite videos regarding bass, music, guitar, etc. on all of RU-vid! I am fucking obsessed with these videos and your admiration of Sir Paul the genius in every single way. He is the reason I started playing bass. I started with drums and guitar (some piano) but when I started examining his bass playing I decided to take up the bass as the main instrument. My dad used to always say that his bass lines are a byproduct of his genius songwriting ability and it makes total sense. He is effortlessly able to write top notch melodies, harmonies, chord changes, etc. so it only makes sense that his ability would easily translate over to his bass playing and crafting of bass lines. Plus he has the technical mastery of his instrument enough to where he can pull it off. Not everyone can play exactly what they hear in their head but then again he is far from everyone lol. Keep up the great fucking work man (sorry for swearing but when I am passionate about something I do it and I am very passionate about your work bro) earned my sub! Wish I could sub a hundred times over, cheers!
Fuck yea man! Haha. It means a lot to me that someone could be so interested in this series. I've always loved the bass and can play a few other instruments too but it always comes back to bass. I thought this would challenge me to dig deeper and learn more about each player I cover, especially with regards to their techniques and style. Macca is a god tier musician. Melody maker numero uno. He can play every instrument and every style but his bass playing is what puts him head and shoulders above the rest. Thanks for watching! Stay tuned for more!
Paul is such a great song-writer, wit, singer, good-looking guy, that people forget, or underestimate what a brilliant bassist he is. ( He's, pretty formidable on the drums, too.)
Great and underappreciated bass player. It is too bad the cult of personality surrounding Lennon blinds so many to McCartney's importance to the Beatles. Up through 1964, Lennon was the dominant personality in the band but by 1965 he was already starting to be eclipsed by McCartney and from 1966 to the end of the Beatles' recording career, it really was McCartney's band. If John and George got fed up with being Paul's sidemen, they were every bit as much to blame for this as Paul. They bristled at Paul's professionalism and perfectionism and criticized his work ethic - but without Paul's pushing them, the Beatles creative peak likely would have come in 1965-1966 and they'd of become victims of their own success like so many pop phenomenons before or since.
McCartney is my favorite Beatle personally and I agree with a lot of your analysis. Frankly, I'm sure he was a jerk or demanding at times but he pushed them to new heights.
I really agree with you for the most part, but you can't deny that Lennon stayed toe-to-toe with Paul through his dominant years. Strawberry Fields Forever? Day in the Life? John's influence elevated Paul's. That was the difference between The Beatles and Wings.
Thank you for doing this! Grew up on the Beatles, inspired to play Bass, etc. Recently grew to appreciate them just as a "band". They're kinda taken for granted, like air, but what a great band, so much dimension and depth. Plus, the tunes are especially fun to play.
I was born after they split up so as a result they’ve always been a part of my life. I try to explain it to younger people like imagine life before the internet or mobile phones. I’m just glad I was born and will die after they existed. I can’t imagine living and dying in a world before them. I’m not particularly religious but if there is a god, then god sent them to this earth to make every single day after they existed more positive and better.
Time Stamps for preceding commentary and playing: 1:04 and 2:10 (from Sgt Pepper) Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds 3:24 and 4:05 Getting Better 5:03 and 5:55 (Magical Mystery Tour) Hello Goodbye 7:00 and 7:43 (The Beatles “White Album”) Dear Prudence 8:50 and 9:20 Sexy Sadie 10:44 and 11:18 Everybody’s Got Something to Hide Except Me and My Monkey 12:07 and 13:28 (Abbey Road) Something 14:13 and 14:58 I Want You/She’s So Heavy 16:07 and 16:31 She Came In Through the Bathroom Window 17:21 and 17:47 (Singles) The Ballad of John and Yoko 18:36 and 18:54 Old Brown Shoe 21:33 and 22:10 (Wings at the Speed of Sound) Silly Love Songs
I agree. Harrison mentioned Lennon being often disinterested in his songs, but Paul did a great job on the bass in "Savoy" and also awesome background harmony. You can tell Paul is really into the track.
James Paul McCartney died in car crash on September 11 1966. Brian Epstein with the consent of the authorities at the time and the three Beatles, he decides to replace Paul with a right-handed session musician named William Shepherd. Everyone involved, including their families, vowed to keep everything a secret. However, The Beatles produced over a hundred clues about Paul's death in their albums and images. William underwent numerous cosmetic surgeries to resemble Paul. William is two inches taller than Paul, William has green eyes, William has a weaker and thinner voice than Paul, William has totally different manners. Musically, Paul was a genius, William is a weak musician.
I absolutely love these videos. For me, Paul's bass playing is what makes a lot of Beatles songs as great as they are, and you're nailing it! It sounds so good to hear some of these lines amplified. Rain was always my favourite bassline. Gotta say though, I'm gutted you cut She Came in through the Bathroom Window right as the bassline gets super funky. You cut the best part!
james crofton --- Sorry! I'm always searching for the right part of the song to film so I can cover plenty while not making the video an hour. In retrospect, the second verse is definitely busier and could've used some love. But the first verse show cases the movement in the bass that really drives the rest of the song.
Great, thanks. I've always wanted to see someone play Something (just wish you played the whole thing :). Every time I hear that song the baseline seems to be the only thing I focus on. Thanks again.
I can be telling something wrong because I'm not a musician but think that in "silly love songs" Paul's bass line could really shine because we didn't listen a eletric guitar so the bass line can be perfectly listen. For me the best post Beatles bass line from Paul!
So glad I stumbled across this series! I watched both McCartney episodes back to back because it was just too good to pass up! Never stop man, you got something awesome going on here!
I don't believe there was any other case in the history of music where just one man possessed some many music skills ... singing, composing, playing, producing and on top of that: he had movie star looks which is paramount for a band to become worldwide successful. There were and there are many great talents in the music industry, but Paul is definetely an anomaly, no wonder he’s the most successful and wealthy musician of all time. And by the way the maker of this video is a great analyst and superb player.
I agree, except the part about movie star looks being of utmost importance to be successful. Back then, it didn't really matter. You just needed a "hook." For the Beatles, it was the hair styles, not the jawlimes. COnsider the Rolling Stones - consistently voted the Ugliest Band in history, with te Aerosmith coming a close second. Today, yes, you have to be a Super Model - and, if you are, then you get the afdded benefit of millions of dollars worth of engineering to make you sound half as good as the Elders.
@@OutnBacker You have to take in consideration that the Beatles are one of a kind, totally out of the box. They were the first mega-big all over the world where nobody understood a single word they’re saying, and still don’t. Their music was great, arrangements, harmonies and so far, but one thing I can tell you because I’m from a non-english speaking country myself, billions of girls all over the world got aware of the Beatles because of McCartney stunnnig looks. You have to remember there was a time when people bought records and the images on sleeves took a huge impact on the sales, and on top of that there were magazines too and some movies. To some degree the same happenened to Elvis Presley. That also brought billions of guys in as well, the girls wanted Paul McCartney and Elvis, and the guys wanted to be and look like them. You can’t analize the Beatles popularity by the american and british perpective, they were much bigger than that and nobody came even close and never will. And this is not putting the others down, Lennon has admited how much of the Beatles popularity was due to Paul’s looks and he said the main reason he wanted Paul in the band right from the beginning it was because he resembled Elvis. Paul was well aware of how great looking he was and that was the main reason he strove so hard to became a top musician. He did everything he could to be separated from his looks and being taken seriously. And he was 100% right on his convictions.
@@OutnBacker You have to take in consideration that the Beatles are one of a kind, totally out of the box. They were the first mega-big all over the world where nobody understood a single word they’re saying, and still don’t. Their music was great, arrangements, harmonies and so far, but one thing I can tell you because I’m from a non-english speaking country myself, billions of girls all over the world got aware of the Beatles because of McCartney stunnnig looks. You have to remember there was a time when people bought records and the images on sleeves took a huge impact on the sales, and on top of that there were magazines too and some movies. To some degree the same happenened to Elvis Presley. That also brought billions of guys in as well, the girls wanted Paul McCartney and Elvis, and the guys wanted to be and look like them. You can’t analize the Beatles popularity by the american and british perpective, they were much bigger than that and nobody came even close and never will. And this is not putting the others down, Lennon has admited how much of the Beatles popularity was due to Paul’s looks and he said the main reason he wanted Paul in the band right from the beginning it was because he resembled Elvis. Paul was well aware of how great looking he was and that was the main reason he strove so hard to became a top musician he did everything he could to be separated from his looks and being taken seriously. And he was 100% right on his convictions.
@@jackmcdouglas4126 Yes, I remember well all the girls at the time were in love with Paul. George, Too. I was 8 years old when they exploded on the American scene. Over night, I recall seeing teenage boys wearing the hair style and the Beatle boots. They were a Phenom, that's for sure, but I was speaking about ther Era of Sixties Rock. Therw were some hideous looking bands that were hugely popular, The Stones and the Kinks were not models. Plus, the Beatles had a unique association with fans, being silly, precoscious (sp), and flirty. That went a long way.
I thought on "I Want You" in the bass solo bit, the 2nd riff (where the double riffs are) has a different rhythm to it. And so true what you said about 'bathroom window' his bass IS the melody for me.
Again, great job. McCartney is a great bass player and actually quite multi talented. When it comes to the Beatles, it's amazing how great they were when you consider their rather humble beginnings musically. And it was amazing to see how they evolved as musicians (when it would have been so easy, financially, for them to just keep milking the same kind of hits over and over).
Laura L. Enright -- You said it! They just continued to grow and develop and I think in the end it was just too much talent for one band to contain. The genius continued on their solo albums though.
People forget that the reason the Beatles were so 'tight' and skillful was practice,they cut their teeth playing 7-8 hrs A NIGHT! in Hamburg,they paid their dues and then some.
I agree. It still amaze me the fact that those 4 crazy musicians came from the same city and 3 of them knew each other since their 15's years old. They were a kind of super group!
@@MrBoreray Of course. Many people forgot how great performers the beatles were because the most of early performances they did were ruined by screaming girls, and because they stopped touring, but when they stopped doing songs as complex as Tomorrow Never Knows and got back to their rock and roll roots in 1969, they showed of great they are as pure rock and roll musicians (I Want You and Come Together were absolutely outstanding performances!).
Silly Love Songs was an awesome song. As a 70's kid, i used to hear it on black(soul and r&b) radio stations and didnt know it was Paul until years later. ✌🏾 I saw the movie Live and let Die on network TV in the late 70's and i loved the movie more than the title track. At that time i knew nothing about Paul, i just knew his songs were hits and being played in the 'hood.
You put a lot of work into this, but on the Lucy in the Sky With Diamonds chorus you should consider a redo. The highlight of Paul's playing there was no note on the beat of the word "diamonds". It just wasn't there and let our brains and hearts stop for that one beat he did not play a note on. You not only played one but you slid into it which was also not on the recording.
Don't do it! I'm a huge fan of McCartney and his basslines...but they'll have you crying like a baby trying to learn and play some of them because some of them are complex and require a lot of pinky usage (which is my weakness). I honestly am amazed how he could play some of those basslines and sing at the same time. Legends of Bass makes it look easy--don't be fooled. If I didn't love fiddling with my bass, I'd probably throw it away from frustration. I cry every time I try to play "I saw Her Standing There."
For "Something" the story goes that since Paul and John both agreed Something was going to be the A-side they wanted to give George full creative control of his song, Paul asked George how he wanted him to play bass and George actually felt intimidated because he wouldn't dare tell Paul how to play bass (i mean who would with two big egos in the room) but since Paul let him, he did.
but didn't George later complain the bass in Something is "too busy"? (Which is silly because the bassline fits perfectly with the song) but anyway, it's a bit weird for him to complain if he's the one deciding how Paul should play the bass.
I don’t know if that’s true at all. I suspect Paul knew George had composed a master piece in Something, so it was a matter of praising the song by building a master piece bassline to match (mixed with his ego not to be outshone by little George as a songwriter.)
Again Thank you........You are AWESOME, GREAT BASSIST! I do wish you would have Played ' The End ' .......you would have KILLED IT, knocked it OUT OF THE PARK!!! Well, time to Check out your Band. 🎸💚
Wow thanks! Hopefully you'll enjoy my band too! We're recording some new stuff right now. You can find a lot of info on your youtube channel and facebook.
George, Paul and John all played bass on Back in the USSR and Let It Be (P&G had to do repair work on John's initial tracks). George played bass on Golden Slumbers. I'm not sure if he was dubbed over on Carry That Weight
One of the best bass-players ever, good on piano and guitar, and still pretty good as a drummer. One of the best and most productive composers the world has ever seen, and a top vocalist. Lets not forget his qualities as producer. And that guy can not even read sheet music!
The more I listen to Something the more I appreciate the bass. For such a "quiet" song compared to other Beatles tunes, the bass is still back there and it's so Melodic. Macca is the greatest
Love to hear outtakes of " SOMETHING" if the version released on Abbey Road is TONED DOWN...And , it seems there is still more than a bit of disagreement over the bass part on 'shoe. Nice video. Thanks.
I really enjoyed your Paul McCartney Basslines video. Actually, their last recorded album was Abbey Road. After the Let It Be sessions, it was shelved. They then got back together with George Martin and recorded Abbey Road. After Abbey Road, Let it Be was unfortunately taken to Phil Spector. He added the choirs and orchestras and destroyed the album. If you wanted to hear the songs clean, you had see the film Let It Be. The additions Of Phil Spector offended McCartney, particularly in the case of "The Long and Winding Road". In 2003, he spearheaded Let It Be... Naked, an alternative mix of Let It Be that removes Spector's embellishments.
Your bass expertise is EXCELLENT, but we can't hear CLEARLY the McCartney bass lines in this video. Your videos on Entwistle's bass have clear and high bass sound ...
Awesome stuff. McCartney is my favorite bassist. Most innovative while still remaining tasteful, at least in my mind. Keep these coming! Thanks for taking the time!
Great job! But in the beginning of I Want You (She's So Heavy), Paul plays the A note as a power chord (root and 5th), just like he did in the intro of Being for the Benefit of Mr. Kite.
Very well done, i have to say that you played "I Want You (Shes so Heavy)" awesomely good! And tbh i think the Jazz bass made the bass line even more orgasmic! I cant wait for the next Legend Of Bass episode!
Dear Prudence. My favorite Beatles tune. Too short by half, at least, could have gone into a total trance-like jam. Yeah, the bas line is what hooked me. The use of the gliss is one of Pauls trademark techniques. I will also add that John's bass playing was quite good as well WHile My Guitar Gently Weeps, Glass Onion, and more.
These beautiful dynamic bass lines, created with feeling, still amaze. It is also surprising that Paul could not create anything like this after the Beatles, he played boring parts, not even 1/10 closer to his former creations. I think it was the general creative atmosphere in the Beatles and the 60s, then the routine began, the assembly line and the family bog of well-being killed creativity
George Martin Said Once... Paul was a guitar player - next to John - the next day - HE was the best Bass player i ever heard off. Excuse my bla, bla - if wrong... Love U All. Greets from Poland.
-- ''Old Brown Shoes'' and ''Silly love songs'' are my favorites.. They seem to have been done on the Rickenbaker because of the presence and sustain..
Very interesting video!...I wouldn't have appreciate the music better if it's not because of your video!...I thought the bass lines for "Don't Let Me Down" will be included though!
Abby Road blows Dark Side of the Moon out of the water! My high school son had to do an assignment on how Pink Floyd's DSOTM was the greatest album. I told my son...Abby Road and Sgt Pepper were better albums than DSOTM!
This awesome, thanks doing the series, I'm a huge fan of Macca and The Beatles. I would love to see Steve Harris from Iron Maiden if you were looking for suggestions.
Peter Day -- thanks for watching. Yea Harris is definitely in the list. I'll get to him eventually. I'm trying to change genres or playing styles between each video to keep it interesting.
