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greghagger

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Everything posted by greghagger

  1. greghagger
    The last album that the original Lynyrd Skynyrd band released in 1977 was, 'Street Survivors,' and it features the song, 'I Know A Little', which was written by their newest member at the time, Steve Gains. This is a high-energy uptempo boogie song with a fast walking bass line played by Leon Wilkeson. Leon Wilkeson played some really nice lines on this song and these are the sorts of patterns that are useful to learn and then use in your own Blues walking bass lines. It does go at some pace though and playing this bass line can feel like you're hanging on for dear life at some points! In my latest YouTube video I tackle the, 'I know A Little' bass line and break it down for you. I also suggest some fingering patterns for the more awkward sections. Link to free bass line transcription is under the video. Enjoy!
  2. greghagger
    'I'm Tore Down' is a good honest Blues standard that was originally recorded by Freddie King in 1961. It's been covered by different artists since then, including Eric Clapton on his 1994 Blues tribute album, 'From The Cradle'. The bass player on the Eric Clapton version is, David Bronze, who has an impressive CV and played with Clapton from 1994 to 1997. He's got a really solid style and an awesome bass tone. He comes from the school of, 'laying it down' and adding the odd variation to enhance the bass line. You can play a simple version of the bass line by learning the main riff and moving that around the 12-bar Blues progression. But as always, there are some subtleties in the bass lines that really give it a lift in certain places. This bass line is deceiving tricky to nail perfectly though, particularly getting the shifts in time when the chords changes. In my latest YouTube video I guide you through the bass line and offer a few tips to help you master this great tune. The link to the full transcription of the bass line is under the video lesson.
  3. greghagger
    I had a 1/4” Jack wired into my record player for my bass! I wish I had kept some of my band jam cassette from the late 80’s!
  4. greghagger
    Pet Sounds by the Beach Boys is a really iconic album that I love and have been dipping into over the last few months. As I found out last week when transcribing, 'God Only Knows', Carol Kaye was not the only bassist on the album and even some of the bass lines played with her classic combo of muted pick and P-Bass were in fact played by Ray Pohlman. Then there is the interesting topic of the Danelectro bass to throw into the mix… There's even upright bass on a lot of the tracks and you might be surprised to find out who else features in the bass lines. In my latest YouTube video, I discuss the bass parts of Pet Sounds and demonstrate some of the more interesting bass lines. Ultimately, as I said last week, we'll never know 100% who played what on every track, but it's a fun journey to explore! Free transcription link under the video in the description.
  5. greghagger
    I've always liked the bass line from 'God Only Knows' by The Beach Boys, especially the way that the line moves smoothly in steps for the most part. I started transcribing the bass line thinking that it was Carol Kaye on the original recording. But as I explored more about the album, I found that a guy called 'Ray Pohlman is actually credited for the main bass line, not Carol Kaye. Now that information changes, depending on which source you look at so it's not 100% concrete. Ray Pohlman played a lot of the Danelectro parts on Pet Sounds, but he also played some of the main bass lines on P-bass. Ultimately, the bass line is great so it doesn't really matter who played it, but it provides an interesting angle on the song. In my latest YouTube video, I break down the bass line and show you how to play it. A link for the free transcription PDF is in the video description. Enjoy!
  6. greghagger
    Thanks for this. Always handy to have more information on Moises. i generally create a mix on Moises and then download and load into Logic. Then I record to it.
  7. greghagger
    Carol Kaye has played bass on so many hit records that you can't count them all. She has a wealth of experience on the session scene and is quite happy to share this with the wider bass community. There's a really cool interview with Carol Kaye that I found online and a particular section of the interview really struck me. She talked about how chord tones were so important, not just for bass players, but also for soloing on any instrument. I'm a big advocator for bass players learning chord tones and ignoring the trend to focus on modes. Chord tones will give you the building blocks for bass lines and solos as they are the notes that outline the chords. In my latest GBS YouTube lesson I analysis sections of that interview and breakdown some of the excellent exercises that Carol Kaye shows. These exercises are gold if you want to explore chord tones more deeply and get real tangible ways to apply them to your bass lines or solos. Link for the free PDF is under the video in the description.
  8. greghagger
    There's a program which has changed the way that I now make videos on YouTube, and it's called 'Moises'. Moises enables you to easily isolate a track from any song and even allows you to create a mix of your choice. For us bass players, we can create a backing track minus bass for any song. Once we have the backing track we can then create our own play-along videos. Moises is pretty simple to use has some really cool features. The basic version of the program is free which is pretty unbelievable, seeing what it can do. it can be operated on a desktop version or through the Moises app. In my latest YouTube video I talk you through using Moises for the first time and show you some of the extra features it has.
  9. greghagger
    There's a Thin Lizzy song that gets me every time, and that's, 'I'm Still In Love With You'. My favourite version is from their, 'Live And Dangerous' album and this has a distinctly different feel from the album version. The bass line is so great on this live version, and there's a really interesting funky section at the end of the tune. if you aren't that familiar with Thin Lizzy, this is a good song to check out. Phil Lynott is the bass player and the lead vocalist and it's pretty incredible to hear him do justice to both role simultaneously! In my latest YouTube video, I break down this bass line and show you how to play it. It's fairly simple for some sections but the articulation is very important, including lots of little slides that add character to this bass line. if you want to really replicate Phil Lynott's tone, you can use a pick, but fingerstyle also sounds good as the click of the pick is not that prominent on this recording. I’ve made a full transcription of the bass line in notation and Tab. You’ll find the link under the video lesson. Enjoy this classic Thin Lizzy bass line!
  10. greghagger
    This week I've been checking out more footage from the Chicago Blues gigs at Buddy Guy's Tavern. You'll find these videos on YouTube and they originally come from a DVD. If you enjoy Blues, they are well worth checking out. In one of these videos I found a really cool tune called, 'Move On Down The Line' performed by Son Seals and his band. If you aren't aware of Son Seals, he's a really interesting character, a real authentic Bluesman. Although he can be seen singing and playing guitar on this session, he even played drums with Albert King at one point Move On Down The Line is in the swing Blues styles and requires a walking bass line throughout. You can further categorise this style as 'west side Chicago Blues', and it includes the addition of a brass section which was common in this style. There's a different approach when creating walking lines for Blues, as opposed to Jazz lines. You use more repeated 'Blues patterns' and keep things a little simpler. That said, there are some really creative ideas in this bass line, especially under the solos. In my latest YouTube video, I break down this bass line and give you simple concepts that you can use to create your own Blues walking bass lines.
  11. greghagger
    Ah, I see what you mean! Very similar riffs! Have fun with Jailbreak.
  12. greghagger
    I thought it was high time that I covered another one of Phil Lynott's bass lines for my weekly YouTube video. If you don't know of Phil Lynott, he was the frontman and bassist for Irish rock band, 'Thin Lizzy', who at one time had Gary Moore in their ranks! This week I'll be looking at the bass line from 'Jailbreak' which is one of Thin Lizzy's best-known songs. It has a really great main riff that is shared by the bass and guitar, and it also has a more technical 'break-out section' that is a lotta fun to play! Thin Lizzy detuned a half-step so if you want to play along with the original song, use my E Major transcription part and detune your bass. In the PDF booklet, there's also an Eb Major part but it's better played on a 5-string bass because of the low 'Eb's'. The Tab part for the Eb version is written for 5-string. You’ll find a link for the free PDF transcription in the description underneath the YouTube video.
  13. greghagger
    After releasing my YouTube video on uke-bass strings a few weeks ago, I've had a load of comments and emails asking me to break down the Jazz walking bass line that I played in the video. I've also had a few emails asking me how someone new to Jazz can start to understand how it all works, and how to approach playing Jazz walking bass lines. There've been some really good questions raised, that point to similar issues with understanding Jazz. Issues that I can distinctly remember from when I first started playing Jazz. So, I decided to make a lesson on my walking bass line from that uke-bass video, and also give you a step-by-step guide to creating Jazz walking bass lines. If you're struggling with Jazz or are curious about starting, then you'll get a lot out of this latest YouTube video, and you can pick up a transcription of my walking line by clicking the PDF button below. Enjoy!
  14. greghagger
    @bass_dinger you’ll improves quickly with more recording.
  15. greghagger
    @funkgod Good advice about secondhand gear and keeping your device for music only 👍
  16. greghagger
    Last week I made a YouTube lesson on the five major pentatonic shapes and explained why these might be useful to us bass players. Since then I've had a few questions about how to apply these shapes and how to choose between the major and minor pentatonic scales. So, this week I've made a lesson comparing the five major and minor pentatonic shapes and I also explain a system for knowing when to use them. In the lesson I also discuss how to approach using pentatonics for constructing bass lines and improvising riffs. After working through the two videos from last week and this week, you'll have all the information you need to properly understand how to utilise pentatonic scales on the bass.
  17. greghagger
    If you take the major pentatonic scale and start it on its different notes, you can form five different shapes. These shapes can then be used to create riffs and fills. But just how useful is it for us bass players to learn these five pentatonic shapes? Can they help us or is this just another concept that has been borrowed from guitarists? This is the topic of my latest YouTube lesson where I discuss this question and give you my take on whether to learn these shapes. In the video I also give you clear instructions on how to play the pentatonic scale and what to use it for. Free PDF containing fretboard shapes and four pentatonic licks in the video description.
  18. greghagger
    If you have a U-Bass (bass ukulele) or are thinking of getting one, the Thunderbrown strings are a great choice. In my latest YouTube video I compare them with the stock Kala strings that came with the bass. I brought my Kala U-Bass to use for an acoustic gig when I couldn't bring my upright for various reasons. It's not an upright bass but it does have a similar tone and it's extremely portable. For this reason it's also a great choice for when you want to travel with a bass but don't have a lot of room. If you've never heard a U-Bass plugged in before, I think that you'll be pretty surprised at how they sound!
  19. greghagger
    Inner City Blues (Make Me Wanna Holler) by Marvin Gaye is a really poignant song with a smooth funky bass line that was originally recorded by Bob Babbitt. This song is from Marvin Gaye's iconic album, 'What's Going On'. Most of the bass lines on the album were recorded by James Jamerson but Bob Babbitt was also on a few tracks. There's a main 2-bar groove that Bob Babbitt varies throughout the bass line and because it's a pretty high part it has to be played around the 12th fret, making it a little tricky to get the fingers around! But it's really fun to play once you've worked out the pattern. There's also something very interesting that I've found out about the recording session(s) for this bass line and I share that with you and teach you the bass line in my latest YouTube video. Free bass line transcription in notation and Tab in the video description. Enjoy!
  20. greghagger
    Occasionally an incredible player bursts onto the music scene that just blows me away. The latest player to do this is Indian bassist, Mohini Dey. A couple of weeks ago, Rick Beato released an excellent interview with Mohini Dey where she talks about her childhood, the challenges of being a female bass player in Indian, how she got to such a high level on the bass, and much more. Her style is a fusion between Indian music, Jazz and Rock and although this type of music might not necessarily tick your own music preferences, she's well worth checking out, not least because she's got such a great bubbling personality. I've gone all out this week and created my first 'reaction video' where I pick out the important parts of the interview. I've also featured a bass scale workout in the video that is based on some of the scales Rohini practices. Free Essential Bass Scales PDF under the video.
  21. greghagger
    A couple of weeks ago, one of my students generously sent me a set of Rotosound Black Nylon Tapewound strings as I'd never tried them before. I've always been interested in these particular strings but had never got round to getting a set. I've always thought that the nylons would be a perfect match for my custom ‘tele’ bass. Before putting the strings on, I decided to compare the flatwound strings that were already on the bass with the new tapewounds. I thought this would make an interesting and useful video for those of you thinking about trying nylon or flatwound strings. In the video, you can hear samples of both sets of strings on the same bass to get a good idea of their characteristics.
  22. greghagger
    There's a really cool minor Blues by ZZ Top called, 'A Fool For Your Stockings'. This is from their 1979 album, Degüello. It has some stunning work on it by guitarist, Billy Gibbon and also has an interesting chord progression. It follows a 12-Bar Blues progression, but like many minor Blues, it has more interesting chords in the last four bars of the progression. Dusty Hill's bass line doesn't have anything tricky to play in it but it requires a good groove and feel to really command this root note shuffle groove. It's very accessible and a really fun bass line to jam along too. This week I've made a lesson on the bass line and you can also check out my play-through video with the original track, on Monday. Link for the full bass line transcription is under the video lesson.
  23. greghagger
    This week I stumbled upon a bass groove that knocks it out of the park! It's from the Jazz/Funk classic, 'Expansions' by Lonnie Liston Smith. I had to research this tune more, and it turns out that the album its from was a real trailblazer at the time. The band were all 'straight-ahead' Jazz musicians playing with the likes of Miles Davis, Keith Jarrett and Art Blakey, and they created a more laidback fusion style with this album. The bass groove is two bars long and is looped over and over again throughout the song. Although it sounds more like an electric bass on the recording, it was actually played on upright bass by Cecil McBee. The riff is very fast and difficult on an upright, take that from me, I tried it yesterday!! But it also sounds great played on electric and falls under the fingers once you've learnt the notes. There's no getting away from the fact that it's fast, but it's a really useful groove to learn slowly and get gradually up to speed to help with the technical sides of playing. You’ll find the free transcription under the video. Have fun with this one!
  24. greghagger
    I was saddened to hear of Aston 'Familyman' Barrett's death last week, but I decided to celebrate his fantastic work by featuring five of his classic bass riffs in a YouTube lesson. All five riffs come from Bob Marley songs, as these songs form a big part of his career, and they're great! But Familyman also had a long career after Bob Marley, right up to a few years ago. These bass line are very accessible and not too technical but the real secret to playing them, and Reggae bass in general, is your feel and groove. Pay particular attention to the rest of the band and where they are playing. This is called 'placement,' and as you develop as a musician, placement becomes very important. When I dep (or sub as it's sometimes called), I always check out where the band, especially the rhythm section are playing in regards to the beat. Some bands play right on the beat, some behind, and some in front. Focusing on 'locking- in' with the drummer will also help you to produce a solid groove for the whole band. Groove is what Familyman was known for, so always have this in mind as you play his bass lines. If you develop a strong sense of groove, you'll always have the audience bopping with you when you play live. Transcriptions of each riff are on a free PDF - link under video lesson.
  25. greghagger
    There's a really cool YouTube video that I found this week called, 'Chicago Blues Live, Vol 1'. I assume this is from a DVD and who knows, you might even have it! The video was taken at Buddy Guy's Legends club in Chicago and features some great footage of different Blues artists. One of the tunes by Junior Wells really caught my ear and it's called, 'If I Knew Then What I know Now.’ You can hear the bass very clearly in this tune and it drives the song forward from start to finish. Bass really is holding down the groove throughout! I couldn't actually find out who the bassist is but he's using a 5-string bass with a modern sounding bass tone. It works great though in this context so all you 5-string players out there, you're going to love this lesson. You can easily play this bass line on a 4-string too so don't worry about that. In the video I teach the main riff and then give you two more choruses filled with loads of Blues 'tricks' and licks that you can take away and use when creating your own Blues bass lines. I also show you how I would approach playing this sort of Chicago Blues tune at a gig and you can catch me jamming my own bass line to the live footage towards the end of the video. Enjoy!
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