Duran Duran - Serious - bass lesson

[kizzietaylor]

This is one of my most favourite Duran tracks. thanks for loading this. So cool to see the music JT plays broken down :) what's the trickiest Duran piece ?

[cheriqui]

So excited... just got my bass yesterday. Saw this -- and I now know how to play Serious. First song out of the gate. LOVE it! Thanks!!!

[MrMarkdavies007]

Why do you give breakdowns of some of your videos and not others. i know this track is quite basic and is general 3 notes, however, i am having difficulty seeing what you are playing in parts, is there any chance of a breakdown in slow time of the begnning of the bridge part and the end outro, apart from this I havecracked it 

[zumazmusic]

@MrMarkdavies007 - That is a good question. It's mostly a matter of time I suppose. Sometimes, quite honestly, I just don't feel like doing it! There is no rhyme or reason. With this one though, you are right in that the track is quite basic. I also try not to use a bass without fret markers as I did in this one anymore. Play it like you hear it! If it then sounds wrong to you, then it's time to learn it again. Good luck.

[MikroBadass]

Thank you for posting this; a famous world known dj known as Ferry Corsten did this song in techno and it was the same down to the guitar riff and bass line

[zumazmusic]

@MikroBadass - I'll have to look up that version. Thanks.

[sosidecop64]

Merry Christmas from Birmingham, Alabama Zuma.

[nintendoneil]

you sir make the bass guitar cool! loved the rio lesson as well....thank you.

[morrisseyfan64]

this and save a prayer...my favorite DD songs. excellent job zuma.

[deepace]

my favourite with skin trade :)

[zumazmusic]

@deepace - Skin Trade is coming soon!

[atheistasylum]

Nice and simple bass. I hate the show offs.

[jorgebroa]

Very good Bro,

Simple & Exact.

keep coming in the great work

[MalaTemporaCurrunt]

don't know why, but it reminds me of the police...

[STOPTRY]

you aren't Zuma ...YOU ARE JOHN TAYLOR AT THE CARNIVAL

[lvcyberpimpin]

so does this mean you are selling the SB-1000?

[zumazmusic]

Not a chance! I'd be more likely to sell the Liberator. Nice try! ;+)

[lvcyberpimpin]

Your SB-1000 is a beautiful bass. I tried to buy a used one a while back and someone beat me to it. I have 3 Dingwall 5-strings right now. The think the SB-1000 is the only 4 string i would own.

[TheWishfulGoddess]

Sick bass player.

[tvrodri]

AWESOME

DURAN DURAN Live Arena Santiago 09 November 2008

[apologyfan104]

sweet i have the same bass, i got it for christmas at neiman marcus. The strings rattled like crazy when i bought it so i had to go get it raised. But its an awsome bass. And the case it comes with is awsome.

[Bullives]

Hey Buddy....i love your style. I´d like to now how many bass guitars do you have and prefered strings. I have a Music Man Stingray 4 strings and a Fender Jazz Bass Geddy Lee, but i prefer the Music Man Sound.

I´d like as well which bass is normally played by John Taylor.

Greetings from Chile, and let me tell you that i´ve learnt a lot with your videos, Thanks for the tips. GREAT BASS PLAYER MATE...YOU ROCK !!!!!

[anthonymij]

you love his style? your fuckin gay, so love my stylish cock

[robrozzie69]

dude, you're a douche bag...

[CADZIO]

MF!

[jorgebroa]

you´re sick ,Clown!!!!

[proof317]

lol funny... and ur dumb at the same time. stylish cock? wow

[zumazmusic]

Hey Bullives, I am a DR strings guy all the way. Try the Sunbeams. They are the best!

My biggest regret is selling my Music Man Stingray with a birdseye maple neck. D'oh!

[GReddy350Z]

HEY WHAT ABOUT THE GUITAR TABS?!

[MinusMan99]

That is a beauty of a bass! Is it solid black or see through black? Colorwise, it reminds me of my SB-1000CB (basically the same as the JT model but all black). Do you have DR black beauties on it, as well? Thanks for the vid!

[zumazmusic]

The video doesn't do it justice. It's actually very deep glossy black with a crazy pattern underneath. It came with black strings, the DR's I assume. I have since bought DR BB's for it.

The SB1000CB is most definitely a killer!

[kiddadd]

i love this song, and the bass line may be simple, but its sounds absolutely beautiful.

[RoadRage65]

Yo dude nice 1 sounds soo good when u can hear more bass very smoothly done lol keep up the good job.

[ajittffcure]

Good lesson. Thanks for uploading this video. I hope to learn this song on my bass soon.

[ddtdanny73]

Nice video lesson!! can't wait you play on Save a Prayer song...., keep up the goodwork Zuma ^_^

[TaylorGirl1985]

One might think these bass lines are so easy. But i guess they're not at all, if we're talking about precision. Still, i wonder why the change from the melodic bass lines to the simple. I like both.

[zumazmusic]

Yes, this is the key with the simpler lines - precision while maintaining a good feel. You can't be sloppy. As far as the bass lines "becoming simpler" over time...I think that as a player you want to show people that you can do it all. Yet, when you are young you tend to show off. You can't help it!

[TaylorGirl1985]

I'm so guilty for not noticing this video, zuma! Now, i wonder if the way you play those bass lines is the same of the original track. I mean, the position of your right hand fingers is more like the "early way". Am i wrong?

[zumazmusic]

Hmmm...well, as Alienlove1 pointed out this song was probably played with a pick. John's actually pretty good with one. I just decided not to use one. There could be many ways to play the same line depending on the notes used of course. My philosophy is 'play it where it sounds best.'

[TaylorGirl1985]

isn't more challenge to play without a pick?

[zumazmusic]

It is easier to play more consistently with a pick but in general I think they each have their own pluses and minuses.

[ignoe]

Hi, I have a question, how much cost you the liberator?

[zumazmusic]

About $1200 for the initial limited run. There is supposed be a much cheaper version available soon.

[ignoe]

ok, thanks, what do you think about the bass?, do you think that it´s a bass to recommend?

[zumazmusic]

If you have the cash (and can find one), go for it! I would recommend waiting for the "cheaper" version to be sold. It should be out by now. Who knows what the delay is. Still, you should try many basses and choose the one that feels best to YOU.

[canvoodoo]

i used to play this in a band to great bass line simple but effective

[Rafaassis]

Congratulations...You Can Make Bass lesson of Come Undone and Save a Prayes!!Thanks

[Mooton65]

Oh okay thanks

[zumazmusic]

Believe it or not, someone once asked me if I used the sliding motion to give my hand a rest!

[Mooton65]

Zuma, it would help if you told us where you were going on the bass, what frets cause you can do those notes on the lower beginning frets

[zumazmusic]

Duly noted...I suppose my angle is to provide a video where the bass is pumped so you develop your ear and figure it out on your own. Believe me, if I had the resources I would use two cameras with a split screen, etc. To answer your comment I am playing 3rd, 6th, and 8th fret (all on the A string for a fatter sound). You could play this figure in many positions but I think that one sounds best.

[Mooton65]

Could you show how to slide? lol I just started playing the bass a week, but I already know three songs, but they are all raggae, I need to try some rock, alternative, but I love the slides you do,

[vcferlita]

Very cool. My son just started learning bass, so I'm gonna send him this.

[bentsynth]

Nice.. One of there best songs ever ! I was playing new religion today and I was Like JT is just Sick!

New Religion would be a great one to see you do also

p.s kudos on the audio quality of the bass ...taake it easy.

[alienlove1]

Great work, I m a Duran fan from 20 years...only a little mistake: JT plays this song with a pick

[zumazmusic]

I won't you argue with you there...I rarely use a pick so I just stuck with my digits! Thanks!

[agucis]

hey zuma..can you play spandau ballet's pleasure..?!

[zortap]

Very cool, man! I'm the drummer in a DD tribute band and I can tell...Serious is hell of a difficult song to learn! It may seem easy at first, but getting the groove of the thing is hard! Our bass player does an awesome job as well, I'll make sure he checks your vids (though he'll probably faint when he sees your Liberator) You may check some of our songs at our Youtube channel: nightboatdd. Cheers!

[borathasballs]

great vid but what are the tabs on that??

[zumazmusic]

If you mean "tabs" as in "tablature", I don't use tabs so I don't write them out like that. This is a great song to develop your ear with. It's easy. You don't need the tabs.

[borathasballs]

well alright then, thnx for the help :)