How To Play Bass Line To Billie Jean - FOR BEGINNERS!

[IAM3LITE1]

time to Slap da bass man

[Woodeh06]

god my left hand kills after playing the first riff a few times

[howtoplaybassdotcom]

@Woodeh06 Yep - it's a good workout!

[happyduck70]

Hey paul, Nice lesson! You have a nice right hand technique. when i play my thumb always slips behind my strings.Maybe you could make a video about right hand technique..i would really apreciate that!

[howtoplaybassdotcom]

@happyduck70 There is a basic one somewhere....try heading to my website and finding the 'virtual dvd' - that's the easiest way to find it. That was one of my first videos - so the production values were poor, but the content was good.

[happyduck70]

Hey paul!, nice lesson!

You have a very nice technique with your right hand. my thumb always slip behind my strings. could you make lesson about right hand technique, please?

[Graymatter117]

I see that youre playing a F# for the first note, but its on the E string. Couldn't you just play it on the D string to get a "Funkier" sound?

[howtoplaybassdotcom]

@Graymatter117 In an ideal world you'll have a keyboard player doubling some of the notes for you (cross reference the original). The way I've shown it is in my opinion the best way to play the riff if there's just you providing it. If you find using the note on the D string sounds better to you...then you should do that. A lot of note choosing is subjective...there's just about never only one way to play something.

[Graymatter117]

@howtoplaybassdotcom Thanks for the reply. I was just wanting to be clear With the thoughts. Nice Tutorial. I'm only 14, and I've learned so much from just your channel. I originaly played bass guitar, and the reason I asked about the F# on the D string is because I'm not playing upright bass. I'm also planning on doing a duet with my friend. I dont know If you take requests, but I would appritiate it if you uploaded a tutorial for the vocals on the bass for the song Someone Like You- Adele (:

[Graymatter117]

@Graymatter117 Because I am* playing upright bass. Sorry

[Graymatter117]

@Graymatter117 Because I am* playing upright bass. Sorry

[TheMetalHokie]

can i know why you play right on the fret instead of in between, is it the genre?

[howtoplaybassdotcom]

@TheMetalHokie Nop[e you get the best note doing that.

[AmigoFiell]

i have a question, when you change from the 5th note to the 6th note, i mean, from E to Cm, you play both with your index finger or you also alternate fingers?

[howtoplaybassdotcom]

@AmigoFiell Depends on your picking system.

[likeursmile]

888-------88888888-------77777­77.. . ahaa

[kissmablaekaess87]

Wow nice fish dude!

[iYahhdo]

that is the whole song? you just repeat that same routine?that's cool!

[cursedswordsman]

Would this be a good song for a COMPLETE beginner? Also, should I first learn fingers?

[fiz671]

tab?

[hopnoggin1]

I appreciate the effort but it really isn't entirely accurate. In order to recreate the sound of the original the F#s in the opening riff have to be played as simultaneous octaves. I can't tell if the original recording has a keyboard playing the low (4th string) F#, but in order to play it on a single bass guitar, you have to double them.

[howtoplaybassdotcom]

@hopnoggin1 On the original it's doubled by a keyboard. When I play live I sometimes use an octave pedal on that one note. What I'm trying to teach though is how beginners can play it and get it to sound reasonably authentic wihtout necessarily being 100 per cent right.

[lorddinaire]

Hi. I'm playing with a group of friends, most of us beginners like me. After several weeks playing together they "suggest me" that will be better to stop playing with finger and use a pick. the truth is with the pick sounds better, but i see that all the good bass player use their finger instead of a pick, and the truth I like more the fingers than the pick. What could be the cause of this difference between pick and finger and how can I fix it in order to play with better sound?. Thanks.

[howtoplaybassdotcom]

@lorddinaire There's a LOT of guys in the bass world who are snobbish about playing with a pick, and playing with fingers is better. Neither way is 'better' in my opinion - what I'd probably advise is learn to do BOTH, that way when you need the harder, rockier edge that you'll only get from a pick you can do it. And when you need the warmer, rounder sound that you get with fingers then you can play that too.

[lorddinaire]

@howtoplaybassdotcom thanks for your advice. Do you suggest any way play better with pick or fingers?

[Bassisbeastiful]

@lorddinaire I've found that the fingers feel way better than a pick, its feels right. But the pick sounds great too. My friends i play with also say the pick sounds better, but i cant not use my fingers it feels just right. So ya

[TheMetalHokie]

@lorddinaire dont say that all good bass players use fingers, that is not true at all

[stevesprouse1]

coool

[kodyandkara]

hahaha awesome az!

[Endureth]

Fantastic lesson. Thanks a lot!

[ortevitaliano101]

this didnt help me at all!!! this is supposed to be for beginners???

[409playa]

wow, thanks for this. i already have most of it down

[hatmangary]

Thanks, well explained.

[prometheusjohnson]

its hard to see the notes your hitting because the rest of your hand is kind of blocking the angle

[howtoplaybassdotcom]

@prometheusjohnson If you watch to the end of the video then I talk through all the notes and locations. You should be able to pick it up from there.

[prometheusjohnson]

@howtoplaybassdotcom yeah i got it, and it was very helpful, i just had a hard time seeing the indavidual notes, it was a little tricky because of the camera angle

[wallooga]

@howtoplaybassdotcom

yea, but your explaining aint all that. rather you talked less and showed more. Just sayin. ;-)

[trecoolmania]

DRUMMERS AND BASS PLAYERS RULE MAN....rythem section IS the collest

[realjuvelive]

What does the bass guitarist actually play ? root notes ? or what ?

[giovannimontes27]

Thanks my friend

[lizzielab]

Thanks, Paul!

:)

[podda55]

hey, if you have a clip for livin on a prayer by bon jovi, can you send me the link

[howtoplaybassdotcom]

@podda55 I've not done that song - but it's definitely on my list of songs to do. And it's near the top of the list. SO it might get done within the next few weeks. We'll see.

[MendozaMichelle100]

can't find anything on the webste, says it's being revamped?

[MendozaMichelle100]

can you teach stand by me please, thaks

[howtoplaybassdotcom]

@MendozaMichelle100 Hi Michelle

Stand By Me is part of my unique, interactive series of bass lessons.

Check out the online bass lessons page of my website for more details.

Paul

[blazejm1991]

You have the best bass covers! Thank you so much, I'm just starting to learn to play bass, and your videos help a lot :)

[95hammerhead]

this guy kicks ass :D

[Robomannut]

Love your videos.. Very helpful.

[Vanny2829]

hehe xD

XOXO Vanessa <3<3

[Vanny2829]

okay thank u so much i really appreciate it ...xD I love ur covers xD <3<3¨

XOXO Vanessa

[howtoplaybassdotcom]

No problems.

Thx for watching! I hope you learn some bass lines from them too - that's what they are there for!

[Vanny2829]

uhm well audio, because i want to make some videos in good quality and that the sound dosen't sound like crap u know xD LOL so i was wondering what do u use to make it (audio) so good when u are playing ?

XOXO Vanessa <3<3

[howtoplaybassdotcom]

I have a very old Tascam 4 Track recorder (so old it uses cassettes!). But I use that as a mixer and plug my bass into one channel, microphone into another, and iPod or Tascam Bass Trainer into the other two channels.

Then I line out direct to my camera. I balance the signals by headphone output from the 4 track. And then check the overall level going into the camera. I try and have the bass loudest in the mix.....it's hit and miss sometimes though!

[Vanny2829]

ii was wondering what u use to record it??

[howtoplaybassdotcom]

Audio or video?

[howtoplaybassdotcom]

Sometimes!

[gibsongal]

Outstanding; split screen showing both hands is very helpful. Playing the piece at speed with the song volume LOW so you can hear the bass part is crucial. Following all of this with a slow, deliberate explanation of each component makes this a tutorial that will make bass players of any level successful in learning this song correctly and quickly. Thank you Paul - we owe you!

[howtoplaybassdotcom]

Thanks for that - that really helps me. Would it be helpful to have the split screen playalong done at a SLOW speed as well?

(I can use my bass trainer to slow the song down up to 50 % without altering the pitch TOOOOO noticeably)

[gibsongal]

Yes, I think that's an excellent suggestion!

[howtoplaybassdotcom]

Ok - on Monday I've got to film a tutorial for BAD, also Michael Jackson. I'll do the split screen at normal tempo, and slow tempo, and we'll see what it looks like!

Thx again for your feedback.

[amitandutube]

Excellent tutorial - this is how lessons should be! Thanks Paul

[howtoplaybassdotcom]

yr welcome.

In my upcoming book (Dec 21st) called DELIBERATE PRACTICE one of the ways I talk about getting better is to get regular feedback.

WOuld you mind telling me - either a comment here, or a private message - what exactly you like about the tutorial? What was good? What could be made better?

Getting answers is the only way for me to get better...something I am always striving to do!

[AlexKeethTV]

Thanks now me and my friend can play it me on the bass him on the qutiar