Playing bass with Jimi Hendrix: Noel Redding & Billy Cox - Bass Habits - Ep 56 

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Jimi was actually a damn good bass player.

Celebrate Mr.Cox. He is the last surviving member of Jimi's two main bands. When he is gone, a whole universe of memory and experience goes with him.

I like them both. Noel Redding is really underrated imo, he was the anchor Jimi and Mitch would periodically return to. No doubt Billy Cox is a more accomplished bass player, and he brought some funk and a bit more life to the mix. I think both were right for the time they were with Jimi.

i really love the difference between their bass playing. billy is more funky sounding and noel is more straight forward rock sounding. this is a great video man

I learned to play bass largely through playing along with Noel's bass lines in the early days. Were just so easy to hear, as they can seem a song's only structural element at points, and are not overly complex or technical. Those bass notes carry real weight. Essentials.

I recently spoke to Pasi Heikkila, the person behind Hevisaurus' bass work, and now you have reasons to cover Muffi Puffi. 1. Knowing when to keep it simple 2. Walkups 3. Octave slides at the end of a bar 4. Triads 5. Fills with weird rhythms

I like both Redding’s and Cox’s bass styles. Each contributed to Hendrix’s music. As a bassist myself, play classical string bass and play electric bass finger style for jazz , rock ,country and other styles.Both Redding and Cox contributed to Hendrix’s trail blazing style.

Noel Redding and Billy Cox were both great bass players for Jimi Hendrix, different in some ways and I think it influenced the music to a great extent. A big part of the reason we talk about Jimi Hendrix, I think, is that there was a bit of pop sensibility mixed in with the blues and psychedelia on the first records. With Billy Cox there was more of an understanding of where Hendrix’s music came from and that was great for what I think was the intention of the songs but maybe not as accessible to a Caucasian record buying public.

Thank you for mentioning Noel’s Yard. He was a real part of a stand out player who broke so many boundaries that hopefully we can still hang on too. All the best Paul

Mr. Cox is a really down brother and truly the "Last Gypsy". He lives here in the 'Ville and is always willing to share stories of Jimi and chat. I'm so glad to have met him. Jimi Hendrix, Billy Cox and Buddy Miles...Band Of Gypsys forever. Stay Free!!!

Their concert at the Filmore East is easily one of the best live performances of Hendrix's career.

Anybody who doubts Noel's ability should listen to Come On Part 11 on Electric Ladyland. Noel Redding provides some solid backing to Jimi's soloing and and rhythm playing but also keeps it interesting - Tommy Shannon of SRV and Double Trouble would be one of the very few that could equal Noel's handling of this 12 bar blues.

When you hear round wound bass with a pick it is Redding, when you hear flat wound bass with a pick it is Hendrix playing bass on many Axis and Electric Ladyland songs when you hear flat wound bass with fingers it is Billy Cox.

That's Jimi playing bass on Have You Ever Been (To Electric Ladyland). Noel walked out during most of the recording of most of this album and spent his time drinking in a bar across the street from the studio while Jimi and Mitch did multiple takes that drove Noel crazy. For example, Jimi and Mitch did 41 takes of the guitar and drums basic track to Gypsy Eyes before Jimi was satisfied. Noel would leave and Jimi would track a bass part. That's Jimi using Noel's 8-string Hagstrom bass on All Along the Watchtower. On Are You Experienced Jimi would give Noel bass parts he wanted him to play then on Axis he would show him the basic outline of the songs but gave him the freedom to come up with his own parts. By 1968 Noel wanted to front his own band on guitar and vocals while Jimi wanted to work with other musicians who could expand the sound of the music he was beginning to write at that time. Noel formed the band Fat Mattress which opened for the Experience on their last US tour with Noel playing in both bands. They recorded 2 albums and broke up in 1970.

Band Of Gypsys is my favorite Hendrix record: it's just so badass!!!

Apples and oranges. They were both great.

Redding and Dewar. My 2 favs.

Nice to see Noel Redding getting some props. His contributions tend to get overlooked because Jimi and Mitch Mitchell were both these powerfully flashy styled players. One of the best examples I've seen (or heard) of him playing live is the ever disappearing and reappearing 1969 Royal Albert Hall show. You can really hear his playing and how it added to the overall sound. Listening to Billy Cox here, especially in the tunes featured in the vid, he was a bit more funky in feel. Both fit well with wherever Jimi was at the time.

So glad you covered both. 👏🏻👍🏼🙏

i PRAY this video doesn't get taken down, your analysis here is superb

I liked them both, and if I were a Bassist, I'd probably pick Billy.... but when I listen to all the old LIVE recordings, the band, on some songs, sounded like more than a trio with Noel. When Billy plays I only hear 3 instruments. Noel had a way of being able to lay back and sometimes even incorporate feedback with Jimi. Noels simplicity made it easy to groove throughout the song. As a musician, I can really appreciate what Billy brought to the table, but I could also tell that many audience members couldn't follow some to the complex, intricate playing when it got really busy. I'm mostly saying this about their LIVE sound. The studio recordings, with overdubs, were fantastic with either bassist. Even Jack Cassidy's bass on the long Voodoo Chile, was very simple yet perfect for that song.

That Double Dragon nod took me back

Can't wait!

For me...Noel Redding!! Why? I like his work on the first 3 albums, especially on "Third Stone from the Sun" and then on ""Voodoo Child (Slight Return)" ." However, there was a third bassist..."Jack Casady!! GREAT bass player and he played on Jimi's third album (Electric Ladyland) on the track "Voodoo Chile." Actually, I see two separate bands here: (1) Jimi Hendrix and the Experience, and (2) Band of Gypsys. Jimi was going in another direction and both are great. Speaking of great, super awesome video here Paul! Thanks for posting!

Excellent commentary job well done my friend.

Enjoyed this one very much!

82 year old Billy Cox is probably the most underrated Bassist of our lifetime. He was the perfect foil for the greatest guitarist. I know people tire of this or that, but Hendrix should have kept Noel on guitar.

Just subscribed. Appreciate your in depth analysis on something I was interested in music that no one else has really covered like this. As a young music player I enjoyed you going into the music theory and explaining the era of music and the play styles of the time in relation to the band. Amazing to think jimmy didnt know music theory and just wailed these amazing songs all through feeling and instinct..and a lot of guitar playing. Thank you

Billy is My Man. He and Jimi were not onmy Friends, they met and served in the 101st Airborne together. In fact When gking to England, he wanted Billy Cox a d called him to join. It obviously didn't work out/ happen. Jimi promised Billy that when he made jt, he was going to send for him. True to his word and indicative of his true character, jimi finally got Billy. He was a schooled and Versatile Bassist. He and jimi forged their chops in the notorious "Chitlin Circuit "

I think Billy laid down the Bass lines that fit perfect in the direction Jimi was heading with the Band of Gypsy's grooves..

Excellent video, thank you!

Billy is my favorite but Noel was great too. Billy is funky, which wins me over 9 times out of 10

This was really interesting. Thank you for posting it. 😎

Hendrix, Billy Cox and Buddy Miles, What a Trio!

I agree with you. Noel was great for his time with Jimi and Billy had that American soul/funk background that slotted in so well with Jimi in the later years. His playing on the Band if Gypsies is exemplary.

Noel is the era of Hendrix I first grew up with, having the first three albums. I really dig that era more because it was the first one for me. But i'm a drummer first Mitch Mitchell is a really great drummer

Do Bill Wyman!!!

Let's gooo!!

Haha! That" Wack A Mole" clip got me

Incredible vidéo, beautiful montage with great informations and the choice of JH Expérience 's music is so instructive.⭐⭐⭐have an happy new year and keep on the good job.💘☮️💟🙏

This was excellent and very thorough. Love Billy, respect Noel. Billy work on "Ange" was his best, IMO. "and both their names ended with an X". LOL

I began playing bass on January 4th, 1970. I frequently played along with my favorite songs on his albums. My playing and style was strongly influenced by both Redding and Cox. While both are good, Cox’s style fit mine more. I wore out two Band of Gypsies albums playing his songs with Cry of Love taking a beating as well.

Noel played on the vast majority of Hendrix' best tracks, so he must have been doing something right.

Great awesome super group

The bass on have you ever been was and is still magic to me 😍

Oh yeah

Another great video! Your videos have a way of summarizing the essence of many things in a direct and original way. Jumping off another comment below, I thought Jimi did a lot of bass himself (including Dolly?) so maybe u can do a video tracking that, thanks!

both awesome... just different styles

Dig it!

I always learn something from these. Thanks for making them!

Just a little mistake, it's Jimi that is playing bass on have you ever been (to electric ladyland), like on gypsy eyes and 1983 (he also plays drums on that one).

Noel Redding was an adequate and proficient bass player in the context of Jimi's early albums, however, I don't think he would be able to handle more challenging material, like Freedom and Power of Soul, nor create complex lines over a few chords, as in Message to Love, for example. In my opinion, Billy had a better understanding of what Jimi wanted to do, and his interaction with Mitch was something supernatural... Lastly, Billy's tone is unparalleled, so much so that when I started listening to Jimi Hendrix, a long time ago, one of the first things that caught my attention was the sound of Billy's bass, he's one of those few guys that you can identify on the first listen

It is very clear on the live recordings, Billy pushed Jimi. Propelling licks beyond what Jimi began with, Noel was keeping up but always fell to that "Redding riff" when Jimi went all Jimi.

Like both of them, as well as the one on All Along The Watchtower 😏😄😎

The Redding Bass lines are extremely fun to play and give a much needed tight feeling to the songs, Cox indeed had more soul and groove, it could be due the songwriting itself but I prefer Noel's style, at least for those particular songs, There's also some talk about what Redding actually did or didn't play on the Axis sessions, I think that's him on most of the album, and there are quite a few live or unreleased songs where he could be really inspired and melodic But this being said, it's hard to imagine anyone else but Cox on let's say "Valleys Of Neptune", the bass on this song really has everything you want to hear from the instrument Both great musicians :)

Noel was a guitarist thrust into a bassist position and thought/played like a rhythm guitarist.Billy was a born bassist. He thought and played like one. Fit in more on the Jimi "caravan". That said both likely played what Jimi either verbally or musically suggested. Billy probably had a tighter intuition with Jimi tho.

Noel redding if 6 was 9 was the best walking bassline he made.

the double dragon reference was really hilarious.

It was through friendship. Something that's rare.

I love how you did both of them. I prefer Billy's bass work. "Freedom" is such a fun song to play. Hopefully there will be no issue with copyright (their usually strict with that when it comes to Hendrix).

Bobby performed better than Noel. He WAS a bassist, not a guitarist who decided to switch. Could bring the funk too.

It's interesting that so many lead guitar players get most all of the credit. The bass player makes or breaks a song ,but some are great at both. Keith Richards is one very underrated bass player and even lead guitar . I had a bass player research how many songs Keith took over on bass. One song of many is " If you can't rock me" . Amazing bass. Lennon even commented highly of his bass skills. Lennon chose Keith on bass for the " Super group" or the band " Dirty Mac" for the LP Rock-'n'-roll circus. Keith hung out with Jimmy and I wonder if there's some lost jam track with both . 😎

Redding was a guitarist who picked up the bass. Cox was already an accomplished bassist. I think Cox playing was more funky and precise like an r and b player.

Both Billy and Noel were great Jimi would'nt have it any other way Period .

LOL!.....Noel was lucky to be part of the group. Before Jimi came to the UK he asked his best friend and fellow musician Billy Cox, to come with him. But Billy, didn't have the money to travel and wished Jimi all the best. The rest is history

Great great video!! Although I like both players‘ sound, I’d consider Cox more of a „real“ bass player than Redding. But you got to love that „Redding-lick“! It may be simple but in the mix, it just sounds very cool!

Hello Paul

I think most fans know that Jimmy played the bass part on most all of his records .

Billy Cox said that Hendrix called him from England and wanted him to be the bass player in the Experience. This was before Noel was chosen. Billy said it might not go over so great having 2 black guys in the band so he declined.

Both excellent bassists, imho.

I like Noel better which was more raw. Probably because I like Hendrix's earlier music and I'm a guitarist that plays bass occasionally.

Countdown to a countdown ha

This was great 👍 I'm 40 and been playing guitar and listening to hendrix since I was 11 I am ashamed to admit I never gave Noel much thought other than he was a guitar player playing bass and she's so fine was cool and the music is always choice also I always kinda thought he was tool because he wasn't happy and u can see it live some times like dude your playing with hendrix a man who learned how to play guitar hundreds of years in the future and traveled back to teach us and blow our minds and Noel isn't happy.... lol dude 🤣 Band of gypsies is my shit and favorite is who knows and machine-gun that shit is LAVA

Billy is probably my favourite bassist of all time. His playing, fluidity and creativity on tracks like "Dolly Dagger", "Room Full of Mirrors" or "Freedom" - to name but a few - is unsurpassable. That's just my opinion, of course. I mean no offence to Noel. His performances on the re-recorded version of "Stone Free" or even "Highway Chile" show that he was proficient. However, whenever I listen to those basslines, I can almost hear where Billy would have improved on them, added a run or so on. What a shame that Billy was otherwise indisposed when Jimi called him in 1966 from London!

Noel was known to be resentful of not being the lead guitarist

Cox had the feel of a soul player who was leaning into early funk playing.

Both are good in their own way.

I just think Cox had a better sense of groove than Redding did. That's the only major difference between the two, but it's, like, major.

Another request for Alex Webster of Cannibal Corpse.

I think Noel was a better fit with Mitch's loose, yet busy playing style. Billy's solid groove was paired perfectly with Buddy Miles' funky playing IMO. The degree in which they were locked in together was impressive to say the least. I never sensed that same musical communication between Billy and Mitch.

Excellent analysis as always. Still hoping for Ronnie Lane

On "The Experience" Album, that's Jimi... playing bass.

Mitch favored Jimi on bass in the studio and he liked Billy Cox’s heavier style. I don’t think Mitch was crazy about Noel’s bass playing. Noel though, dud have his qualities as a bass player. I think he could have been a great second songwriter in the band as “Little Miss Strange” was such a cool tune.

I thought Jimi played bass on "Electric Lady Land" (the song). As mentioned, Jimi did replace some of Noel's bass playing (on the album by the same name) I, but I really thought that the title track was Hendrix.

One bassist I'd love to see covered on here one day is Bruce Foxton from The Jam and Stuart Morrow from New Model Army, both incredible bassists who were fundemental to the sound of the respective bands.

I don't think that any one of them is "better". They were both good for the music at the time. I don't think those songs could or should have been improved otherwise. Though it was nice to see Billy Cox jamming on the older Jimi material.

IT had to b Noël first as bass. Or , are you experience record would have not b what iT is now. Magic over flow. Every body had his part in Jimmy Hendrix experienced 🦋🦋❤️❤️🔥🔥🙏🙏🌏🌏🏴‍☠️

You forgot Jimi's 3rd bass player Jimi. A Mermen should I Turn to be and much of Axis Bold as Love.

Cox was more funk/motown and excellent, therefore giving a soulful feeling to the songs he played on. Redding was more straight ahead rock. I think Redding probably gave more "room" for Hendrix to move around which was more suited to Jimi's psychedelic visions. Cox was part of the structure of the song.

Dude next you should do a How To Play Bass on Mark Mendoza of Twisted Sister

William was a much solid bassist than Noel IMHO.. What wasn't mentioned in this video that William played in the house band, let by guitarist Clarence "Gatemouth" Brown for the Texas R&B TV show "The Beat." The video clips are available on RU-vid. Also, William played bass on a lot of R&B / Soul recordings in the early-mid 60s, before replacing Noel. Oddly, this video didn't play any of the Band Of Gypsys live performance from the Fillmore East. ( Who Knows, Machine Gun, Power Of Soul, etc; )

The difference between the 2 Noel was really a guitar player that was stuck playing bass( hence his playing was not very solid but tended to work off what the the guitar was doing). Noel didn't really play in the pocket with the drummer. Cox on the other hand was a bass player who tended to play in the pocket and not play in the guitar space- he worked closer to the drummer to keep the basic grove going.

Hagstrom 8-string - Spanish Castle Magic...

The “Redding” lick most likely came from gospel influences where it’s used all over the place.

Very interesting history update! How did you manage to not get this blocked?

Never been a fan of the way bass was mixed during that era. It has no definition so unless you're listening with good speakers/headphones it just sounds like low-end mush

both are great, billy cox is more funky😉❤️

Billy cox was awesome

Playing in a Jimi Tribute band I like Billy Cox’s bass lines, they have more of a soulful groove, Noel is more straight forward, both are fine but I dig Billy more