Jazz Bass Lesson

[ummagummas08]

I love how relaxed you are when you are teaching, makes it a lot easier to access the information.

[vegetasrevenge]

@ummagummas08 Thanks, I am currently making arrangements to do a video on jazz and blues style guitar. I am trying to get one of my friends to do a bass video. Wait till you see this guy!

[frazerstockton]

I absolutely LOVED this! Thanks for posting mate !

[frazerstockton]

@frazerstockton Oh yeah and to add, **** the guy that's hate spamming you, theres no need at all. Cheers again!

[vegetasrevenge]

@estewarrior1 You could at least give me the dignity of spelling the "you"!

[estewarrior1]

@vegetasrevenge dont be st*pid dude now i see u r a nerd that donno how to write with abbreviation L0L

cause ppl like u a lot o ppl think that the bass sucks and the sadest think is thats not true

id*0t

[vegetasrevenge]

@estewarrior1 ESAD

[estewarrior1]

@vegetasrevenge l0l

[zachpeabody]

@vegetasrevenge but yeah , that whole comment was geared toward estewarrior1 for his speaking like a 13 year old girl. again i believe it is just a misunderstanding

[zachpeabody]

@estewarrior1 i really had hope for humanity..till i saw there were people as dumb as you, that actually share the air i breath. "st*pid dude now i see u r a nerd that donno how to write with abbreviation L0L" Theres nothing cute or funny about speaking like a 13 year old girl...its not funny it doesn't make you special...its just..retarded.

[vegetasrevenge]

@zachpeabody sorry I couldn't please you Mr. Peabody! After reading the comments on your homepage I can see why people like you so much. As long as there are vermin like you out there, there is no hope for humanity.

BTW I see you like Judas Priest, hard to believe an asshole like you has any taste.

I've only seen them twice, once at the Cleveland Coliseum and the other time I was too stoned to remember.

Nerd

[zachpeabody]

@vegetasrevenge and as far as my channel i'm not sure what you mean ...like i get spammed by anti-america dick heads being my dad was a soldier and uses my channel as well as my self; if you look closer you will see all the comments are about hating "the american dogs" blah blah ..so i believe this is just a large miscommunication

[vegetasrevenge]

Just lazy I guess!

Trust me I can play with my fingers.

But I didn't really need to,and the sound is even.

I don't even play bass, I'm a guitarist.

I wish I could do some more videos but my PC is crapping out on me.

I can't get anything large to load up.

[chumlymau]

what's with the thumb? You've perfected that but why limit yourself to just one digit?

[54spiritedwill54]

I love that black strings, nice playing!

[samspade1957]

Well done! Very understandable.

[TeenySolorzano]

AWESOME123 YOU ROCK!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[stxguy911]

nice work!

[Gruntcakes69]

tbcass is right on the money.

[nixli1980]

This is sad.

[damielolar]

cool video bad audio

[bassman68s]

That's a lot of picking with your thumb for a bass player, man.

[QuinnyGoth]

That's how bass used to be played

[bassman68s]

What?

[QuinnyGoth]

When the bass guitar was first made people either played it with a pick or with their thumb

[renaudbassplayer]

yeah, but that was a long time ago...

[QuinnyGoth]

The pentatonic scale was developed a long time ago, but it's still the bases for the majority of western music today...

[renaudbassplayer]

heeeee yeah, but who talked about pentatonic ?

[QuinnyGoth]

You made a comment that implied that because it's old you shouldn't do it, so I was simply making the point that just because something was made "a long time ago" doesn't mean it shouldn't be used/isn't used today

[renaudbassplayer]

I didn't say that playing with the thumb is not good, there is some good technique that include the thumb, but this guy played all the walking with the thumb, we obviously see that he only play with the thumb, like in the old time ahah, playing with fingers is way more comfortable in this case ! (sorry for my english if there was any mistakes, I'm french)

[QuinnyGoth]

Different strokes for different folks. You might find it easier to play with your fingers, he might find it easier to play with his thumb. Ultimately if it sounds good it doesn't matter how you play.

[renaudbassplayer]

yeah, but technics exist because they've made their proof, know what I mean ? playing without technic will block you in your progress (sorry for my english once again loll)

[QuinnyGoth]

I know what you mean, but not always. I don't think playing this song with fingers or a pick would of made much difference to him playing with his thumb.

[renaudbassplayer]

yeah, because it's not technically hard, I think we finally know what we each means ahah :)

[wtfAvailableUser]

people pay too much attention to techniques and show off instead of making music these days tbh. theres no diference what technique is used if the line sounds good. No matter how good your technique will be the composition will suck if theres no musical value in it.

[renaudbassplayer]

yeah, but having a good technique when you're not playing something hard is also important man, that will help you to play things that are technically harder to play. Sorry to say it to you man, but I believe technique is very important to. oooh and by the way, I don't care if you don't approve my point, I know what I'm talking about, and I don't need you to agree. (sorry for my english)

[wtfAvailableUser]

id rather listen to music that isnt performed perfectly over mastered dull scales and techniques

[tbcass]

Maybe he is using his thumb because it produces a fuller more upright sound than the fingers., I know that playing with my thumb sounds different than playing with my fingers. Just a thought.

[tbcass]

I just checked his main site. He's a guitar player, not a bass player. Playing with your thumb is more like using a pick.

[renaudbassplayer]

yeah that's what I tought, because, look at his left hand technique too, looks more like a guitar player left hand technique then a bassist technique

[tbcass]

I will take exception to something you said earlier about what he is playing "not being hard". Technically you are correct but to improvise good walking bass lines over chord changes in Jazz is one of the most difficult things to master because it takes a thorough knowledge of rhythm, scales, chord structure and the applying it to the whole neck.

[tbcass]

It also requires one to immediately know, by ear, which notes fit best harmonically over the chords being played. A lot of bassists can sort of fake it but only a few do it well. I know for myself that it was easier to learn fast runs and complex funky riffs than to learn proper walking lines over Jazz changes, something I am still working on and have yet to master after 36 years of playing.

[renaudbassplayer]

yeah I know, I'm studying jazz music ;)

[Geezermo]

I totally agree.

[jman51297]

But this is now adays.

[QuinnyGoth]

As below... \/\/

[maximu8899]

nice black beauties

[rarebasses]

Don't mean to metronome nitpick, metronome because I wouldn't metronome want anyone metronome to nitpick me metronome you know what I'm saying? hehe just kidding...nice chops.

[Hejj10]

Nice, but dude wtf is going on with your right hand?

[Zombbg4]

I think he's a guitar player.

[Hejj10]

lol

[jhersk]

You're playing in C minor, not F minor.

[vegetasrevenge]

You're right, my bad!

[TVXchangeTV]

I love that black strings,nice playing too!

[kimo0o0]

Hey...

I'm loving this...and I'd really like to play it

..but to be honest I don't know much about scales...

Do you know a good way [site or w.e] to learn them..?

[Mizaxlite]

easy i take bass lessons and i learned that real fast plus bass lessons arent costy normally =D

[Aztecalt1997]

awesome! Thanx for posting.

[monstajopps]

Thanks Vege. This is a very instructive video with good understanding of scales. Nice work!!

[Saelkar]

looks like the guy from murphys law

[SamMelbz]

lol ye il laugh if the string snaps and blinds him then he gets real angry and smashes it :L lol

[vegetasrevenge]

It would be funny if you spent more time practicing and still sucked.

[vegetasrevenge]

I look like someone famous?

Not familiar with Murphy's Law.

[monstajopps]

Adventures In Outer Bass - have a listen to THIS Stingray!!

[vegetasrevenge]

Pretty nice playing dude. Love the bass!

The shirt is cool too.

[wedge90]

:/????

[petersonp715]

are those DR black beauties that your using?

[C33Four]

They look like it. I've got them on mine; best set so far!

[punk66694]

jazz bass lesson und denn mit preci bass das is arm

[bluetreex]

essa aula e pra ensinar pessoas q perderam os dedos da mao...se vc tem um dedo em cada mao...esse e o melhor video para se aprender tocar contrabaixo!

[Postmanpain]

ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZzzzzzzzzzzzz­zzzzz.......

[fabojano]

pode corta os outros dedos ja q nao usa!

[toastyman111]

hey do u have a tab for that? Thanks!

[Jesser55]

wishes for tabs *******************

[Nosferatick]

Good lesson, thankyou!

and these nilon strings are wonderful, i guess are from Rotosound...

[jude4312]

it's baffling. why is that Ebmaj7-Abmaj7 and not Ebmaj7-Cm on 1.30? you are not even playing Ab. please help me understand..

[vegetasrevenge]

Good observation, a cousin chord it is sometimes called or a neighboring chord.

You could say it's a substitution, but I would call it a chord fragment.

C minor is the 3rd chord of Ab major.

Bass-icly the roots determine the chord, I just didn't go down all the way to Ab, so it is an incomplete Ab major seventh arp.

Still functions as Ab in the progresion.

[jude4312]

hmm. i think i understand. but when can i apply the substitution in a progression? i think that substitution makes the bassline smoother but i can't use them at any time can i? thanks.

[vegetasrevenge]

If you can fit the subs into what you're playing then by all means use them.

Especially when you are soloing.

Most important is to lay down the groove.

[strzempa]

boooooring

[Jackrocksass]

im guessing if i was to play rhythem guitar over this bassline, i would play the chords yes? (ive been playing guitar for years and been trying to get into jazz and failing misserably)

[jude4312]

you can play anything on this. he's just walking in 4/4. in other words, there's only harmony and no rhythm.

[C33Four]

Keep to it. I think Jazz is the hardest type of guitar to play, but it can sound smooooooth.

[kliudrsfhlih]

thanks,

[reaperpro]

hey, is that an Ampeg Stud behind you?

[vegetasrevenge]

Are you refering to the white guitar?

If so, it is a guitar I built.

Called the White Angel.

See my "Info-mercial" vid.

John

[reaperpro]

I checked it out, that is a great guitar you built.

[vegetasrevenge]

Well thanks! Sadly the finish I was using was not catalyzed properly and it cracked like crazy! I am going to have to strip it down and redo it. I was compensated by the store where I got the finish, but several guitars finishes were ruined. First time that happened, same finish same store. A real bummer.

[prijedorshit]

tako i treba jebem im familiju

govna smrdljiva

[m0t0fr3ak]

šta vam je? niso svi neke budale. onda ne gledaj kad te boli kurac...

[MilicaRHCP]

Namerno cu da pisem na srpskom da ovi ameri nebi nista skontali mater im jebem...

[michaelsin1968]

those are either la bella nylon wound strings or roto sound nylon wound (they cost about 50 bucks!) but they'll give you that upright sound. they're quite thick too so you might have to get the nut filed to accomodate them.

[Maltainjuly]

my problem is when working in a trio, when the pianist or guitarist is soloing i have to point out the chords so that he won't get lost....probably i should just use chord tones right when working in a trio....when i heard your walking bass i could tell where you are so i'm assuming you didn't use any diatonic notes right? thanks

[vegetasrevenge]

Well, when walking like from C to F in a blues form I just start on C then walk from D, D#,E, to F so thats not really Diatonic.

Partly Chromatic. Try playing chord tones on the strong beats, 1 and 3 and non diatonic tones on 2 and 4. If your guys are getting lost you should get one of the books by Dan Haerle or David Baker on small combo playing and arranging.

Peace, JR

[Maltainjuly]

thanks now i'll check them out :)

[vegetasrevenge]

I found the book I was thinking of.

It is called "Improvising Jazz" and is written by Jerry Coker.

[freeBTU]

Yes! It helps a lot when you turn so we are looking toward the tuners, then we can see where your finger tips go on the strings.

Thanks for sharing your knowledge with us.

[itsmetopher]

dude what strings do you use. they sound upright-ish. i need to get some of them

[C33Four]

This lesson was so unbelievably helpful. Is there any way you can talk more about Jazz walking bass? Thanks.

[vegetasrevenge]

I don't have time to post new stuff, sorry.

I will say that you should know chords,scales and arps. Thanks for the comments.

JR

[quiqueisawesome]

dude could you like send the tabs or something PLZ?

[domogunner]

I actually hate the noobs who cant use anything else tha tabs

[gcolemanjav13]

who cares how someone learns, as long as they are playing. Dont worry about how others play, just make music. thats what it's all about.

[quiqueisawesome]

ok dude i just use tabs just to have an idea on how to play it dumb shit

[goddamnit666a]

haha you said noobs ya freakin queer

[yeldin]

sadly some of use a rich liek you.....cunt

[yeldin]

that was to domogunner by the way, the bass vid is koool.... i just hate people who are too up there own arse "OH I HATE PEOPLE HATE PEOPLE WHO CANT USE ANYTHING BUT TABS, ILL GET MY BUTLER TO SEE THEM OFF"...

[freeBTU]

domogunner

I actually hate the noobs who cant use anything else tha tabs

--------------------------

Why ~! Why do you care what others do? Its none of your business. No one needs your permission to be alive.

You must hate for lots of other reasons too if you hate so easily for this nonsense reason.

[vegetasrevenge]

Sorry, I realy don't do tabs, too time consuming. Just watch and listen.

JR

[Pepperfan123]

what strings are you using? they sound fantastic.

[vegetasrevenge]

I don't remember what brand, but they are nylon strings and sound a little more like an upright bass.

JR

[MichaelUhler]

Hey John, After I watched your other videos, I felt stupid for having said anything, seeing that you are approaching bass from a guitarist's point of view, which is actually very cool. I've been trying to incorporate my thumb into my electric bass playing (a more guitar-ish technique).

[vegetasrevenge]

Thanks man, but no prob.

Like I said, your crits are spot on.

You are very observant and more than likely kick ass on bass. No way are you stupid!

John

[MichaelUhler]

The notes are functional, but the left hand fingering is wierd. It often skips up the same string with the same finger for many notes in a row. I also notice skipping a finger between a distance of one fret. The right hand is using the thumb only. I'm sure you have a good reason for playing this way and maybe it works for you, but you should use a more standard approach if you are going to teach others (as they could develop bad habits as a result of emulating your style of playing).

[vegetasrevenge]

You're right. I have lots of bad habits, but they do work for me. Luckily the student I posted this for has better fingering skills than I do. I think a lot of it comes form playing guitar, where odd fingerings of bass notes comes as a result of my chord melody styling.

Thanks for the critique, I can tell you are an intelligent person. Unlike many others, you know how to criticize without insulting.

You must be a good teacher.

JR

[Acidbiloba]

very gooood, im starting with the bass and this video help me too much!

[gingolass]

Very useful lesson for begginers.

Thanks man :)

[iLovePizza4Life]

Hey, thats sound sweet :)

I have one question, can you use the Jazz Bass with Metal and Rock?

[icalifornicate]

Just listen to Geddy Lee, Juan Alderete, and tons of other rock and metal bassists... Jazz Basses are very versatile!

[vegetasrevenge]

Sure, just listen to old school rock like Grand Funk or The James Gang. Back when bass was an important instrument to rock!

[mogyesz9]

You need to know different styles to play well :)

[sooperkula]

Dude, is that a Shergold I spy in the backround...

Oh my dear god, I need one.

Good playing!

[vegetasrevenge]

I don't know whay a Shergold is, tough I have heard the name. Check my "info mercial" vid where I run through all of my guitars.

Thanks

JR

[musicsplee]

I honestly don't think I learned anymore than what I already knew. :\ My band teacher doesn't make me play scales and I already know most my notes. :/ Sorry. You're really good at playing and knowing your stuff though.

[vegetasrevenge]

What kind of teacher doesn't make his students practice scales?

They are the DNA of music.

Knowing your notes doesn't mean a thing!

I can find any note on the piano, but it doesn't mean I can play it.

My advice is to find a new teacher.

JR

ps this video is for beginners

[musicsplee]

The kind of teacher who doesn't want to confuse her student that is switching from clarinet on Treble Clef to bass on Bass Clef.

No, it doesn't, but without the notes there would be no music and not knowing notes would lead to aweful sounding music.

The only other two bass players is a college student that is too busy and her best friend. The teacher is the band director for the entire school.

It all depends on what you classify a beginner as.

[rannosgoldfish]

musicsplee i have been studying music and music theory for literally all my life and knowing the notes alone will not help anyone. i have seen some one who can play entire symphony's with out even knowing the standard tuning on the bass he always tuned it by ear and ended up with a FA(flat)DG(sharp)and he still played great so the notes alone can do nothing the only thing that improves a player and makes good music is practice.

[vegetasrevenge]

You are correct about knowing the notes. You have to know what to do with them, for sure. That tuning sounds different, I met a bassist once who tuned ADAD and he was good too. Practice is the main thing that improves a player, but music theory is important and fun to study, and it won't do you much good without knowing the notes.

JR

[tbcass]

You're right. I've been playing for 34 years and I still practice scales. I play in every key in every position in every possible way. It's excellent ear training so you don't have to think about what playing but just hear and play.

[doraba]

ugh, sorry for "my" previous comment-that was my lil' sister. she thinks she's so smart... i don't think you suck, but I'm no expert so I can't really tell...

[vegetasrevenge]

Sorry bout that.

Everyone's a critic.

Appy poly loggies.

[vegetasrevenge]

Thank you for the kind words.

Hoping to do some more videos soon.

Might do another bass one, but man are people critical!

[whtfuc]

I am 35 yr plus bassist and cousin of victor Wooten and i cank funk with the best of them. but i'm hear 2 tell you this is the guy that ill teach how play bass and pay bills doing it.All the slap and tap in the world means nothing without knowlege,groove and feel. so think twice before you knock a goog solid bassist like this brother he's only trying to teach you how 2 build good solid basslines.

[j35u5fi23ak]

LOL cousin of victor wooten

sorry to say but i HIGHLY doubt that

[johnboy8965]

Very good, ignore the idiots that are saying your not good.

[vegetasrevenge]

Thanks!

[doraba]

frst learn to play and then teach OK?

[vegetasrevenge]

That's exactly what I did, fartknocker.

[kulto777]

you sucks! don't play bass anymore!

[vegetasrevenge]

First learn English, then post.

[eluvian]

very informative,keep posting,forget the comments re thumb playing,plough you own furrow,good work

[vegetasrevenge]

Thanks for the good advice.

[SgtSlaughter18]

what is this song called anyway very nice job

[vegetasrevenge]

Autumn Leaves.

[FantasiaCloud]

Nice

[vegetasrevenge]

Thanks!

[nachube]

Guys... If you don't have anything to say, don't write shit... This guy is teaching what HE does in HIS way... SO... if YOU don't like it, go check some OTHER videos... but don't waste your stupid time trying to talk shit about what you see around... GO MAKE YOUR OWN VIDEOS, IF YOU THINK YOU ARE SOOO GREAT....

[vegetasrevenge]

Thanks, like I said I don't play bass much.

This was just for a friend who is learning bass. He knows how to pick properly but didn't know his arps.

JR

Flamers will always exist.

[PhilippeBaugh]

Enjoyed the video. Nice walking technique that I'll turn my students on to.

I've seen the posts about the odd choice of key that you play it in but in reality, this is the perfect standard to learn in all 12 keys (walking, soloing comping all). Thanks for sharing. Best, PB

[Dulac91]

nice playing

and nice tone

[vegetasrevenge]

WHY DON'T YOU SUCK A FART OUT OF MY ASS?

[jamosteely]

i wonder how fast and clean can you play with the thumb ? it's not even a lesson.. sorry..

[vegetasrevenge]

I recall a guy named Wes who did okay.

Nice vids btw.

[steweDbass]

Why do you play scale / chord fragments moving your hand all over the place? Is it a technique I don't know about? It makes more sense to me if you play proper fingerings because it makes all the notes more accessible. I appreciate the theory parts in your lesson, but if you want to teach effectively, you need to show students how to use their left hand efficiently. This is teaching some bad habits among some useful theory.

[dafunkmonster]

he's not teaching right hand technique, dipshit...he's teaching fingering THEORY. thats the left hand, in case you didn't know.

[vegetasrevenge]

My point exactly.

[peterwentzsux]

im not really a pro bassist or anything,

but i think you should use your index and middle

and only use your thumb when necessary.

[ashsinclair1]

Just like nobody was playing 10 finger tap guitar/bass before the 1960s. So it might not be revolutionary but; how can you define how to play bass? Is it because it's what you've done or because what someone else has shown you? This shouldn't be a discussion of how much you can "smoke" someone else... That's just arrogance like the people I study jazz with.

[ashsinclair1]

Why can't he play with his thumb? It's a way of hitting the bass- just like using your fingers is. I'm assuming that you also play guitar then?

lol @ the "no offence like" Watch some Victor Wooten, or Larry Graham.

[ilovewillsledd]

nobody plays bass w/ their thumb... it's not just like using your fingers.

[ilovewillsledd]

woah!!!

[ashsinclair1]

Why can't he play with his thumb? It's a way of hitting the bass- just like using your fingers is. I'm assuming that you also play guitar then?

lol @ the "no offence like" Watch some Victor Wooten, or Larry Graham.

[bnayr34]

Hey could you lead me to a place where I could get tabs to all those arpeggios tabbed out?? (As in, where I could learn all of them, not just the ones in the song) Thanks! =)

[vegetasrevenge]

Jazzmasters, I think that's what it's called.

[mrsteve123]

dude why are you playing with your thumb use your fingers

no offence like

[vegetasrevenge]

None taken, I'm not realy that good. Haven't realy played bass too much.

[vegetasrevenge]

Give me a break angie!

[12thatkid]

well.....

i think there are tons of different ways u can play ur bass and i don't matter if its with ur thumb, fingers or dick. thats what makes bass different from any other instrument, its the way that u can make it ur own.

[burtonrider423]

kyle1, you know you aint a real bassplayer when you criticize the thumb technique

[chas88]

Real bassists, namely Jaco Pastorius, criticise the thumb technique... have a look at his "Modern Electric Bass Part 1/10" video from about 08:30 onwards. I'm not saying there's much wrong with it, but thumb is more for guitarists. Double bassists use fingers, and that's the origin of real bass.

[vegetasrevenge]

If you can play the music it don't matter if you used your pecker to do it!