The Beatles - Something - Bass playalong

[mazoperez]

great cover!! beatifull song.

[MonkeySeeism]

Your covers are some of the best on the tube.

[steph4234]

Oh my! you made a perfect song sound even better!! if that's even possible... you just broke a law or something

[koalacheroki]

This is the best bass cover of the song on Youtube.

[rodanecastro]

great bass cover!

[BassDudeee13]

Godo video, but I'm kind of sure what you played isn't the correct bass line

[MonkeySeeism]

Very good cover of one of Macca's best bass compositions.

[gbtalking]

Brilliantly played. One of my fave mccartney bass lines. A pleasure to watch you play it.

[will30x]

What a nice sound of your bass, and a very very nice playing too, cheers from Ecuador SouthAmérica! All you need is love

[MonkeySeeism]

Up there with the best.

[faqirsilki]

omg

[6021diesel]

One of my favorite Beatle bass lines of all time and you just proved it on here. Great job. This is actually one of favorite Beatle songs of all time and the bass line by Macca is just superb. I love listening to this song and listening to this bass line. Paul is extremely talented with his singing and songwriting but his playing in my opinion, is very underrated. I do remember hearing George saying that Paul's playing on his masterpiece a little "busy"but i think that it's perfect.

[smithwa1963]

excellent work!

[1dgkonig]

This is probably the hardest song to play when it comes to feel. Getting in all the dynamics in the song is veryyyy difficult. Short and long notes everywhere. I have been working on this song for yrs and think I am getting close, if I ever get it up I'll send you it. Good Job on yours!!!

Did you learn yours by ear or tabs?

[waraupesina]

ho men. you have a Fender Bass Jazz... i love that bass..

[goodchickenbroccoli]

Hey I gotta say you're on point and smooth with this and your other bass covers

[zaczenos]

ur amazing!!

[mrsullyrox]

awesome job !

[Jamie2Rock]

I wish my hero Paul could still play bass like you just did!

[monsta64]

A+!! Awesome job!!! Watching you actually helped me out on "somethings" I missed. HAHA! Sweet tone you have. I have '77 Fender J with Seymour Duncan Basslines and Rotosound Strings.

[jc333jc]

Well played, that man!

[experimentalartz]

just wonderful bass line!!! genius!

[ROLEBRA1]

hofner and precision BASS fuck FUCK FUCK!!!!! bassowman is crazy bassist crazy, teacher BRASIL

[zoom041]

Hey this song is so hard to memorize due to all the difference in each part! I've just finished learning it after like 2 hours or so! Normally I can learn a song in 15-20 min but Paul McCartney is insane :P Anyways thanks a lot your video really helped me learning the rhythm of this wonderful song :D

[shak956]

please please PLEASE do you have a tab or score to share? some parts of this song are unfindable in the right versino on the web, but i'm quite a beginner and i can't learn by ear yet :(

[bassowman]

@shak956 Send me a message with your email address.

[shak956]

@bassowman i sent it to you as a private message

[TrickeyRickey]

This has been one of my all time favorite bass lines...lots of soul..Hats off to you...you got it down...

[ironcitydevildog]

Actually McCartney recorded that with his Rickenbacker. You can really hear it if you listen.

[hofnerbass24]

what kind of bass strings do you use?

[bassowman]

@hofnerbass24 I don't remember what I had on at teh time. Nowadays I use mostly DR Hi Beams.

[JMB30]

Outstanding , personally think this was PM best bass part

up there with what's going on

[cartman1492]

God that's a beautiful bass line. And played wonderfully.

I think George did think this bass line overwhelmed his song, but as much as I love George he was wrong. I think he let his personal feelings for Paul at the time color his view of this excellent piece of work that Paul did for him. The guitar and bass are both great. They fit together like a hand in a glove. If either the guitar or the bass where changed this song would be diminished. This is arguably the best Beatles song ever.

[intelsiberia]

@cartman1492

I totally agree with you. George probably thought Paul was "stealing the show" with his magnificently creative bass work in "Something" which George considered his masterpiece. I have been a true admirer of George Harrison all my life, but in this occasion his criticism of Paul´s basslines was unjustified, petty and mean spirited. If you substitute Paul´s bass by a less daring approach, a la Willie Weeks, etc. the song loses half its beauty (check other versions of "Something").

[monsta64]

@intelsiberia I'm a Beatles fan my whole life, I never knew George criticized Paul's bass work on "Something". What did he say?

[intelsiberia]

@monsta64

I do not recall where George´s remarks were published, but he described Paul´s playing as " a bit overpowering"; he then went on saying that he´d rather have (accompanying him on bass) someone like Willie Weeks for his solo work or his live shows. If you listen to the performances of "Something" in the Harrison´s US tours in the seventies, you´ll see that Paul´s basslines were an important part of the piece as presented in "Abbey Road" and that without them the song is not the same.

[monsta64]

@intelsiberia Thx for the info. Never knew that. I'm a bassist myself and it's hard to imagine what "SOMETHING" would have sounded like without Paul's classic melodic style.

If Paul played bass in my band, I would tell him: "Play whatever you want, bro" HAHAHAHA!

[ricardomt]

Awesome playing! Thanks for sharing!

[yrrepyesac]

My favorite bass line! Awesome!

[toshuff]

Did you use standard tunning for this song? When i play it it sounds kind of off.

[bassowman]

@toshuff Yes, as far as I remember.

[joaolopes53]

I'm a brazilian, and I think that is the best cover of Something. Congratulations.

João

Rio de Janeiro

[Yerulio]

ITS PERFECT! GOOD JOB :D

[YERBLUES87]

AMAZING!!!!!!!!

[Parley454]

Are you using just a video camera to record this? The bass sounds really good, what is the setup for amp etc ?

[bassowman]

@Parley454 I have a brief description of the setup in the profile line.

[ltdesp2002]

Thanks you helped me out! You have a great technique. Good Job!

[Honda599Girl]

Wow, you nailed it.

The phrasing and the sound!

Well done. Thanks for sharing it.

[Tailsilver]

Tenson f113, isn't it? :)

Got the same one and it's awesome.

[TonyTakano]

All Beatles covers is just great. (Incl: Another day )

No more beatle tunes ?

[arxvarela]

Congratulations, this is one of my favorites, I think this bass line is a melody inside the main melody.

To me this is a McCartney masterpiece and you play it not only with good technique but the intention and musicality of this beautiful Harrison's song.

[segilloful]

I'm not a bass player, I'm a guitar player, and I think that everything you play is beautiful, good song, exelent sound, the only way to play like you, I think, is be a good bass player...

exelent

[xterra43]

well done,  I like your technique, good fundamentals.

[sbbinahee]

great job, love it!

[msconnie12345]

love it :D

[lcoulman]

The Fender bass Harrison played was actually a right-handed Fender Bass VI (which was a 6-string guitar tuned an octive lower. Paul did had a left-handed Fender Jazz Bass. Judging by the sound of your bass, I believe he just may have used that bass on Something. Well done.

[w6aws]

Very well done. Never really realized how much bass was in this song. Thanks for posting.

[romanowskistudios]

Very good.

[815KgM3]

I just watched one of your other covers, and I gotta' say that this is by far some of the very best representations of Sir Paul that I've ever heard! You capture his style perfectly. Really good stuff, keep it up man!

[cacodrillo]

great job man!

[Manutebecker]

Excellent job man... perfect. Gonna learn how to play this one myself... 5 stars!

[fjv147]

imitaççao foda... perfeito

[pnoynoir]

Are you reading (tabs or notes) as you're playing? Very precise. Excellent stuff.

Funny how George once said the bass lines were too busy for this song but in all I think it has become one of the integral parts of this piece.

[EuphoriaAvenue]

Awesome cover. It's really helpful for me.

[manusaro4U]

Such an audible pleasure! Perfect.

[BourneAccident]

You do a really really nice job.. nice touch.. great timing... good sound... Awesome! Thanks...

[thatdamgood]

great song great cover luved it ...

[freezazoid]

On the part when george sings "i don't wanna leave her now".... You should use a bend on that half step. Not only more accurate but sounds better.

Great job though!

[gdanks1]

maca only had four strings to play with!

[marvy1118]

Missing the tasty hammer-on in that bit around 2:20

[bassowman]

Thanks for noticing! I didn't hear that until I bought the remastered version of Abbey Road. Will include it in my director's cut version:-)

[aghmpa]

this is one of the best McCartney bass arrangements

[joaormedeiros]

mccartney is a freaking genius

[jpbeatle]

good work, i realy enjoyed. Muito bom trabalho, gostei verdadeiramente e acho que tens capacidade para estar numa boa banda de covers aos Beatles, ou de originais. seria interessante ver a musica que dai sairia.

[manuelgon77]

increible, sigo practicando

[Bassthijs]

Iet's like a Höfner but with a low end! Things you can do with a p-bass... :)

[joemichaels2]

You're three for three. I listened to Millionaire Waltz and Another Day. You picked them well -- and play them exceptionally well! And this sounds like the Hofner!

[Revolutioncasino]

Great Job! Awesome.

[Kildarerios]

Thank You! I've been playing this song for 15 years and now you showed me where I was wrong. Now I can play it perfectly just like you!

[RiRuBassPlayer]

Spettacular!

[dorsaie]

Bravo ! La ligne de basse et le son sont très fidèle à l'original ! Très belle interprètation de cette magnifique chanson des Beatles ! Encore Bravo !!

[gotohellpunk]

solid job!

[santiush]

excellent

[did13frico]

bravo, c'est une des plus belles lignes de basse jamais écrites sur un des morceaux les plus somptueux jamais écrits, et ici l'interprétation est magistrale....

[PonchoGreg]

That's such an amazing bass line.... Not that hard to play, but so hard to play with feeling. You really have to take your time and put your soul into each and every note ; and you've done just that. Great job, mate !

[Giannibosio]

Bravissimo. Those who say that you don't catch the complexity of Paul's lines until you see them played are perfectly right.

[BeKindBeNice]

i believe paul used a fender jazz bass on "something"...not a hofner....

[bassowman]

I came to think of your comment when I heard the remastered version of Abbey Road. George H plays the bass on Golden Slumbers and it is a Fender Jazz according to photos I've seen. Listen to the completely different bass sound compared to that on Something: Paul definitely plays a Hofner on Something.

[TehBenshiGuy]

@bassowman correct, he went back to the hofner for abbey road recordings. as far as i know he's never touched a fender jazz.

[bultaco111]

@BeKindBeNice This is beautiful!!!! you play it beautifully/ perfectly. wow, I am at a point in my playing where I am trying to simplify and still be tasty, but I sing lead, so it's a challenge. This is inspiring!!

[DEATHBYGHANDI]

thats an expensive bass

[FCalcara]

Are you in the key of G I believe that it is one step up in A. Are you sure?

[FCalcara]

Great job! George would have wanted the bass that way!

[BeatlesBootlegs]

Brilliant playing, nice crisp growl on that bass. I can't believe George Harrison wasn't keen on Paul's bassline, I think it's an absolute classic. 2:18 to 2:23, amazing!

[hanoc101]

I think George probably thought Paul's bass line was a little overwhelming but I agree with you - it's a great bass line. Paul was known for having his bass be almost as upfront as the rest of the guitars.

[dkdeu]

lol i always want to hear that part, makes me something inside *chills

amazing song

[maccafan10]

When you see it actually fingered, it makes you realise what a genius Macca is at creating bass memorable lines.

Well done, nice play along there, not as easy as it sounds until you try it eh?

[gblalo423]

Ure absolutely rite , is hard to play by ear and even harder to memorize, I'm still tryin and determined not to search 4 tabs

[maccafan10]

gblao423. Even tougher to copy are Paul's hero's lines James Jamerson. Its that certain inventive and random 'feel it as you go' style that's the true brilliance and sets us all apart. Andy Fraser 'Free' for instance too.

All I can suggest is break it down into bite sized chunks, then super-glue it together, LOL.

I did this with a Yes song 'Yours is no disgrace' (all 10 mins of it ). It took weeks but I cracked every nuance (I hope). Tabs don't have 'feelings'.

Good luck !!

[supercooey]

Really well played, man. Enjoyed it.

Thank you!

[GiantPandas]

What kinda strings do you use on this? What year and what kind of p-bass this?

Great job. I love it.

[bassowman]

Thanks! It's an all original 1966-er which had a worn set of roundwounds from Ernie Ball at the time.

[bots265]

bravo!!very detailed.thanks

[wurlytone]

5 stars. Perfect tone. Perfect playing. You got a great gift.

[yoyad]

Very good!!...on the part that goes to the lyrics, " I don't want to leave her now" you should add some more funk to the high part.

[brg067]

your play great mccartney bass. do you happen to have a play along for dig a pony? Just trying to pick up some tips and it would be great to see what you do.

Thank you

[radcam69]

NICE! Thanks for being spot on...

[pablorockbass]

Big change! .. Although you play with a pick, still sounds like fingered.. its great! and you dont hear those metallic sounds..

[westfield90]

Superb!!!!!!

[suckthedry]

You deserved to smile at the end!

[rederic2004]

Terrific playing once again. You truly are lord of Youtube bass! Thanks!

[CEIAKI]

私、日本人のオヤジベーシストです。ジャズベでこの音出せるんで­すねえ。

[JVmelvz]

Nice P-bass, outstanding playing! Were you reading some music sheets while playing? it seemed you were looking at something while playing.

[bassowman]

Yes, I was looking at my transcription. To get all the details right.

[Phaseonegraph]

Why do you keep removing Sungodv's comments? They not offensive just Beatles theory.

[bassowman]

It's not me, it's the spam blocker!

[santie82]

very well.. u r a great bassman! :D

[ocitymike1]

I am seriously impressed by your take on Paul's work. Great work!

[Wol1verine]

A testiment to McCartney's genius. Absoutlely fearless playing, stunning.

[Endureth]

Kudos. Very impressive.

Motivated me to bookmark this and learn it.

[commieobama]

Nice! great job, now try some John Entwistle

[RiguelAntares58]

Question to everyone:

Did paul write ,or only played the bassline

of this marvelous George's song?

[TheBeatlesfan1991]

paul and john never really liked the fact that george was making songs and good ones at that this is on of the reasons that there were up to 2 Harrison songs on each record minus the white album theres more like 3-4 by him. george probably gave McCartney the notes and Paul just redid somethings to match his playing style.

[berherbi]

George said in several ingterviews he did not really like Paul s bass on something, because he felt it was too busy.... biut I am sure he later found out how great the bass line is.

Andreas

[bassowman]

I'm convinced Macca wrote the basslines himself, he's full of melodies be it vocal lines or basslines. Some of them quite unbelievable:-)

[Phaseonegraph]

He only played bass on this tracked. He said that he thinks he "overplayed" on this song...... however I think this bassline is absolutely poetic.

[felipeueno]

nice "hofner sound" out of a prec bass =D

[636117]

Actually, Paul MIGHT have used his Fender Jazz (which also saw use on the White Album) for a lot of AR. Either that or the Ric. This is definitely a "solid body" bass sound, not hollow body.

[Cantormatis]

The ric, definately. the sound is not right for a Fender Jazz at all.

[joel622]

good job to Macca to create it ,and good job for your interpretation . Bravo !

[k25pub]

best bass line of all time

[lancego30]

bravo!

[hufferz]

Put some pictures on the wall.You must be from the UK! Just having fun... Great playing.

[47pulp]

That's very nice! Compliments! How do you use the tone pot in this?

[strawbfan]

5 stars great job

[atimholt]

Absolutely beautiful. I'm getting a Megatar, and am thinking of trying flatwound just for the feel. Can't seem to find any good sources that directly compare flatwound tone to roundwound.

[jbyesterday]

I pride myself on playing this classic tune note for note on Bass.....you are the closest to nailing it than anyone else I've seen on youtube so far.....Great job Bassowman !

[iowdave]

Lost for words, what beautiful playing to a beautiful song.

[shadowestreetshuffle]

One of Macca´s finest moments IMO. Well done!

[smithshaven]

I meant McCartney's bass part (as the compliment)... not to give credit for Harrison's terrific composition.

[smithshaven]

Stumbled on this. Pardon the following languge;

Frickin' unbelievable ! You could not have played that better. McCartney's a frickin' genius. That song, lyric, bass line and melody are unequalled.

[kpcd7]

hey man just want u to know this songs isn't mccartney's is harrison's :D

[xxxBeaNZerxxx]

Flawless

[jesus4christ4pose]

What year is that bass? I have the exact same as a '72 with an added jazz bass pickup

[bassowman]

It is an all original 1966'er.

[colourscrash]

really, really, really impressive. i'm enjoying your videos very much. would love to see you do 'oh darliin' - my very favourite bass line of sir mccartney's (and probably ever).

[losida]

Oh, thanks very much for this!

It's brillant!

You sir, are amazing!

Greetings from Brazil!

[that 2.19 is just tasty!]

[LutakFlint]

Wow...excellent !

[fn58]

Awesome tone, half of a good sound comes from the bass and amp, the other half comes from the player.

[Rabaf2]

Just...thanks.  Wow, really awesome.

[vietnamcatfish]

Excellent!

[nikonlovers]

niceeeeeeeeee sound!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[hannahandcameron98]

Note for note brutha!!! Thats kick ass! Trev, Paul wrote and played all the bass lines! (George H. wrote this song and sang all the parts)

[trevorb6]

I wish either YouTube was around or that I might have met you 12 years ago when I was struggling to nail that tune! That and "Another Day". You appear to have mastered the instrument. The well defined, note for note renditions of all the tunes you've posted blows me away! I mostly relied on a hack-style, close enough approach. Did McCartney write and play the bass line on "Something"?

[LucianoBerliac]

Alguien puede discutir que Paul al igual que los otros Beatles era un genio, que tal linea de bajo, sin duda enriquecio la hermosa cancion de George

[aspygr]

very good play!

[Silentlamb13]

great tone...ive been trying to get a good pick tone for my bass but i dont know how to set my eq for it....could you or someone help me out here

[bassowman]

Thanks! I recorded this one with my Korg PX4D and I just fiddled around with the eq so I have no idea specifically for this one. More generally, if you want distinct pick sound, try boosting frequencies around 3 kHz.

[TerrorStudios]

That's great!

[saratoga202]

you nailed it....well done...im enjoying your bass playing.Thanks,Jeff

[corbin5167]

Truly beautiful. Great following sir-

[Bass69Line]

Hi sir owman! This number is the MASTERPIECE of Sir Paul above all basslines he wrote within the last 47 years. You play it MARVELLOUSLY! I've learned recently that Sir Paul had worked weeks to build this one, and for that number he used a Fender Jazz. In an interview dated back to 1992, George reveals the tribute Paul had paid him with this work on a song which, to me is part of the 5 best Beatle songs. Thank You 4 yer respect on this bassline.

[daletwin1]

This song shows just how good a bass player Paul McCartney is. I love this bass line. I think it's one of the best ever. The bass line in "OH, DARLING" is awesome, too.

[patrick569]

thank you

i wanted to learn this song

but i wanted a visual

yours was perfect and very clean/smooth

[teknonmedia]

Perfect.

[lenskap]

I read somewhere that George complained that the bass was too busy, but Something wouldn't be the same without it.

[marvy1118]

I don't recall George ever saying anything positive about Paul's contribution to the Beatles, only criticisms.

[michioabe]

Great job!

Glorious bass line-seems perfect for the song and lyric. I think that this bass riff and moog synth on 'Here Comes The Sun' are the highlights of AbbeyRoad.' The last line of 'The End'