Why MOST bass players SUCK (the unfortunate truth) 

Respectfully, the word is complement

Thanks. Edit made.

@@kenemerick3002 but maybe he meant musicians who love each others playing and are constantly giving each other compliments

Well said

@@sabin97 lmao

Love that

Walking bass

Another cool way to see bass is, they have the control to change the context of the other instruments. Bass is kind of like the "link" between the guitar and drums but the bass can change the context of the guitar and drums by changing the notes they revolve around and the rhythm they play it with. The guitar can play a C major chord, but if the bass plays B, the chord becomes a major 7th, or they can play D and make it a Major add 9. It's crazy what a solid bass player can add to a song through utilizing these kinds of things, you don't even have to be mega technical to do any of it. It just has the capacity to make even a basic chord progression more sophisticated just from playing a couple notes.

Damn....never heard it put like that....I get shxt constantly from guitarists "you don't do power chords, Barre chords, blah blah blah..." if I wanted to play boring guitar, I would've. But I don't. I like to not only hear, but physically feel what I'm creating-with the rumble and the way bass just flows through your body... and most non-musicians do too.(especially people with sound systems in their car listening to hip hop) (That's why there's a bass player in 99% of successful bands....because treble alone isn't going to make people feel your songs. 😱 I know, crazy right?)

If guitar is playing a C triad, the bass player has the power to change the chord. If bass plays A, then its now A minor 7. A C E G

Good for you! 😂🤣😂

The snark is strong in this one…

Memorizing a ton of other musicians bass lines is the opposite or creative. And whether or not you learn theory, the fact is, if you aren't at least listening to what notes are in the chords you're playing with you're gonna sound like shit even if you are "in the pocket". Telling musicians who are starting out that it's about nothing but POCKET GROOVE is not very helpful; what these words represent is something intuitive that really comes with experience and can't be taught.

I don’t doubt a second that you can make a vivid career without any theoretical knowledge. I know a bass player playing with big jazz names (former WR members and the likes) that can’t tell the notes on the fretboard. Still these are exemptions AND just personally: some doors will always stay closed to you. Not my approach to something I love. In it for all. Like Marcus Millers said: Who said you have a choice? You must master all! 👍

I've taught thousands of students and written a handful of music education books and recorded and performed with hundred of artists and have made all the mistakes in the last 30 years. This is not my intellectual opinion, it's over 30 years of experience. POCKET GROOVE is just my own terminology for timing and rhythm. Victor Wooten, Marcus Miller and even Mozart has said it.

@@RolandDeAragon I see that. This is my main concern with Victor Wootens lectures: not everybody is blessed spending his life in a world of music where time for music, access and opportunities to make music is the given. It’s quite arrogant actually to rub terms like pocket groove, learning music like a baby learns to speak etc under the nose of people that hardly make it in the practice room once a week. Music theory is key and shortcut to get exactly the same result… it’s natural that self taught and seasoned musicians making a living of lessons and tutorials try to make up reasoning why theirs is still “better”… sorry, we have no time for meta physical cool aid, we want to make music. Picture this played in phrygian mode, off beat ☝️

99% of the players attending Victors bass camp are already good bass players that would be welcome in most bands. Pocket Groove gets nothing started, it’s what naturally evolves if you’re lucky enough to have music staying in your life for good. Modes, meters, timing (not groove) is what gets people started making music!

Wolfie ? Is that you ?

@@coreynorth4587 No. Who's Wolfie, did they do something similar?

The latter. Obviously rhythmic feel trumps comprehensive fretboard awareness but that lack of awareness can really bite you in the ass in certain styles. I’ve known several players who were very technically and rhythmically savvy who didn’t really know their instruments and it always became very apparent the moment they had to play anything more harmonically sophisticated than most pop/rock music.

Fretboard diagrams were included in sections. People these days really want literally everything handed to them on a silver platter, even stuff that is completely free. Put in just a tiny smidge of effort from time to time yeah? This shit is SOOOOOO much easier to learn these days than what it used to be like and people still complain 🤣

@@MrEcted I just finished watching another of his along the same lines. It’s just been replanted in my brain…see how it goes.. Yes mate that’s why I suck after 37 years, I’m a lazy prick, I never practice & never had a lesson & I DID kind of expect the universe to hand it to me on a platter…. But it doesn’t work like that. I’m good at root notes & keeping the best tho..! Na he does good lessons and I like his videos but seriously if he’s reaching out at beginners…slow th fk down & use 4 strings so it’s easier to see what is going on.

He does kind of seem more and more speed addled these days, I don't know if it's copious quantities of coffee or pharmaceutical Dexamphetamine.... either way, it's intervention time : hey Scott, do you know anything about harm reduction. Maybe I'll start a channel. Thanks for the reminder.

There is a great vid on Scotts channel where he explains how to quickly detect the mode of the piece and a visual „box-shape“ approach how to know all related modes in the very moment you start to play. Once you got this the worst thing that can happen is that you unintentionally spice up or mellow down the song, but it will never sound „wrong“ 👍

@Paul Jacques... one bass player we had would play the song at differnt octaves on the neck as well.. going back and forth seemed to make the bass line more interesting as well... not critiquing... just saying.. sometimes.. different things work.. when playing guitar.. I try to use different techniques as well.. pinch harmonics..... slide.... octave harmonics... string bends..etc... something to give songs a little pizazz...

Dang man.. I’m a Computer Science major in college right now and I have been dealing with tons of math problems and understanding concepts by breaking it down in tiny pieces and drawing it out/writing it down and try to grasp each concept and mannnn… maybe I should apply that same technique in learning/understanding music theory so I can enjoy new knowledge and grooves from playing the bass! :)

Same exact journey! After 25 years I figured it was time to learn what it is I'm actually doing haha. My instructor is a little baffled at how I manage to write bass lines in key and hear intervals without knowing without knowing what any of that is. I tell him it's years of theory, theory being if it sounds bad then stop doing that lol. Now that I'm learning key and chord structure I'm actually kind of surprised at how much I got right. But I'm with you... I wish I would have done this 20 years ago.

But do you like fried chicken though is the question????

@@chrisw5742 Original Recipe is my fave, but the "Big Boy Corp." Chain owns the real Original Recipe.

Same. In the 80s I was struggling with classical guitar and owned a cheap bass that I liked to fool around with. A friend asked me to join his punk rock band and I was on my way. Sucked at first but no one cared. Quickly figured out what worked but never knew why. Now that I’m back into it I realize that I’m completely ignorant and it’s holding me back. Okay I’ll give the music theory thing another shot.

This is very detailed. I’ll state that once you understood basic theory of modes, harmony, arpeggios and rhythm you can’t go too wrong in any musical situation. Even if you’re totally alien to the piece and genre. Studio musicians around the world proof it every day.

These are words of wisdom!

Here's another way I say the 4th point & everyone should memorize this, "NO STAGE POTATOS!"

I like your response. May I add a few things here as a professional bass player? 6) Use open strings whenever you can fit them in. I wish SBL would address this topic in a course or something because it is a game changer. 7) Dynamics; both ways. Pull back to allow headroom for your vocalist to cut through, but when your guitarist takes a lead solo, you need to carry the rhythm on your bass until the guitar can resume doing so. 8) Whichever you are, a pick player or finger-style, strive to be proficient at both. Anything you can do to make yourself a better player, makes you a better player, including slapping and tapping. There is nothing too difficult for YOU to learn especially if you can find someone else who has already done it. 9) That being said, less is more, per discretion. 10) No matter how the song is supposed to go, the drummer will let you know when to come in, either visually or otherwise. 11) Learn your drummer's style and what they do in a pinch, especially how he/she reacts if a song does goes off the rails. 12) Don't be afraid to sing backups if you can. 13) It is in your best interest to connect with your audience by revealing your personality. 14) Always keep redundant equipment on stage, plugged-in, and ready to go. 15) Never bring an un-vetted guest or band on stage at your gig. 16) Choose your sound mix technician wisely and spot-check their abilities periodically. 17) Never leave your best bass guitar unattended or lock it in the car. 18) Always acknowledge and attend to your band's fellow musicians and openly complement them when they had a good performance. Do not turn-down house party invites or holiday gatherings. 19) Do not take the good times for granted. and 20) Thx for Scott's Bass Lessons. Absolutely wonderful resource for all that is bass.

as another fellow bassist once told me: the song asks for what it needs. you need to listen and provide what it needs and you'll do great.

You make it sound really easy.

@@element-dh9dx Sarcasm 🤔

The bassist must be as bright as possible. Music is not an easy sport.

I think I'm getting some good advice here. Technique is important. I've heard people talk about not needing to learn theory but I just don't see how it would be possible without at least some basic knowledge. My biggest fear is going on any stage unprepared.

@@absoluteai41 it is very possible to create really good music with an instrument and know nothing about theory. It's nearly impossible to sit in with another band and know nothing about theory. You don't even need to go deep into theory. Just what Scott goes over in this video will take you a long way. Get command of the triads for each scale, then learn their 6th's and 7th's. Devote a small amount of time each day (like commit to 10 minutes even), and keep watching this channel. 👍

Denman is an excellent bass player with grocery bags full of tasty licks 😊

@@dard4642everybody is scared of theory and feels like its some chore like obligation, but a good understanding of music theory is going to bump your creativity so fucking massively without a band even being involved. I’ve found in my life that the real way to learn something is not to just do the thing, but understanding why the thing happens when you do it.

And stop all the right notes at the right time….

Ahahah

That’s genius

@@jan-paulvanderhoeven1639 All joking aside, this “note stopping” part is what I relay to nearly everyone to who asks me for tips. It’s a really big factor on feel and time.

Don’t focus on the notes you play. Focus at the space between them. It’s not about you or anybody else in the band. It’s always about the music. Don’t make the song suck!

I was only trolling because enrollment is closed. Haha

Thought I was going to be the only one to get irritated by the incorrect use of the apostrophe. There is a lesson here: just as English is a language and has forms, structure, usage, etc. so does music. To communicate well, to get your thoughts, feelings across you need to use the language - whether that is English or music.

a simple bass line that ties everything together is always better than a complex line that is not in synch with the drummer or is out of key.

Yup - most humans cannot do this. The ones who cannot think this way wear MAGA baseball caps made in China.

Yeah , forget it

That's a F bass not a Fodera. And for the tone, most of the time Scott uses a simple amp setting so the video can be easily heard by everyone

@@liohrt so the F bass sucks. Thanks for the info!