how to play bass for beginners - under pressure

[sweetheart1140]

Not to be mean! But like stop talking and play please.! :)

Sorry. XD

[MicrosoftPoitsPlz]

He sounded like the gecko from Geico.

[howtoplaybassdotcom]

@MicrosoftPoitsPlz That makes a change from being told I sound like either Jack Dee or Ricky Gervais! I'll take the gecko every day!

[jogmas12]

other than getting people to practice what is the most difficult thing for beginners to learn on the  bass?

[howtoplaybassdotcom]

@jogmas12 Correct Left Hand (Fretting Hand) Technique IMO.

[kramerstrikesagain]

Another Brick in the Wall part 2 of Pink Floyd Fame please?

[howtoplaybassdotcom]

@kramerstrikesagain Not a great fan of the Floyd...thought about doing this one though. (Prefer to do MURDER by Dave Gilmour....great Pino bass line!)

[omarmhalilovic]

@howtoplaybassdotcom pink floyd is music



[VanillaBeanybaby]

Thank you so much! I just started playing the bass, and you explained it very well for me :)

[howtoplaybassdotcom]

@VanillaBeanybaby Glad I could help!!!

[MrMindlessTurtle]

Hahah, I'm having a lot of trouble doing the rythym! ... my fingers cant seem to handle it hah, Once I've grasped it it will be useful in future though! thank you

[howtoplaybassdotcom]

@MrMindlessTurtle Slow it down and practice it much slower than the performance tempo...and then when you can play it properly slowly then gradually speed up.

[MrMindlessTurtle]

@howtoplaybassdotcom Yeaah i've started doing that now, thanks a lot

[imjustrockinaround]

@howtoplaybassdotcom That's an awesome bass riffs from an awesome band, by the way you're video was cool I am actually learning how to play this on accoustic guitar because it's such an awesome song.

anyway keep it up man

[howtoplaybassdotcom]

@imjustrockinaround That will be interesting! Make sure you film it and upload it when you're done!

[MultiAnimalChannel]

Hey can i ask if you could send the song without bass to me? Msg me if u can n ill send u my email adress

[ynyslochtyn]

Nice - cold room?

[howtoplaybassdotcom]

@ynyslochtyn Yeah I think this was filmed in the winter....my studio is well cold in the winter!

[wowgeek870]

sweet video

[thekidpanda201]

i already know the song in guitar bass drums

[palmdesertpimp]

Hey Paul. I dont think I have ever touched a bass guitar before the one I bought yesterday. Ive got this lesson down after spending about 30 mins on it. GREAT LESSON, Thanks!!!

[howtoplaybassdotcom]

@palmdesertpimp Hey - that's great. What I like most is when people actually sit down and implement what I'm teaching....its very satisfying for people to post progress like this! Keep it up!

[johnyawsome74]

Thx paul this is my second song i learned for the bass other being a blues pattern.

[howtoplaybassdotcom]

@johnyawsome74 That's cool - I like it when I hear from people who actually implement the teaching in the lesson. That's the way to make progress - keep doing it.

[RainbowSkiittlez]

@howtoplaybassdotcom Thanks so much helped me sooo much. ^_^

[sk8thewater]

Hey Paul, Could you do something by a band called "Streetlight Manifesto"

Good Songs are We will fall together, Day in day out, and A moment of silence

[mrputo27]

@sk8thewater Some Ska !

[sk8thewater]

@mrputo27 Music for the bassists soul

[mrmegaskillz]

im 13 and soo confused... :/

[howtoplaybassdotcom]

@mrmegaskillz then you're probably not yet ready for this...go to my website, look for the 'virtual dvd' page and spend some time with the basic technique exercises....

[mrmegaskillz]

@howtoplaybassdotcom ok thanks

[HutchisonHeather]

I've only been playing bass for THREE days without a lesson and I can play this! You're brilliant teacher Paul!

[howtoplaybassdotcom]

@HutchisonHeather Glad that the video helped! If you've just started I would recommend trying to ensure that you're playing with good technique. See the comment below about the 'Virtual DVD' pages on my website.

[Basstard22]

Hi Paul, i've got a question for you : Do you have a video that only focus on the left hand position, spiderwalking and placing of the thumb on the back of the neck?

I took some lessons a year ago, but for some reason i have alot of problem with spiderwalking on the neck. Also, the further i go to the body (so the higher notes), the more difficult it is for me too place my fingers on the A and E string... kinda stupid.

Kind gards, Thomas

[howtoplaybassdotcom]

@Basstard22 Thomas, if you find the 'Virtual DVD' pages on my website there is a lesson with PDF as well devoted to left hand or fretting hand technique. 

[MortsMaisVivant]

I've seen so many tutorial videos on youtube and yours are by far the least confusing

[howtoplaybassdotcom]

@MortsMaisVivant Hey - is that a compliment - or are you damning me with faint praise? ;)

[MortsMaisVivant]

@howtoplaybassdotcom It's very much a compliment! Lol. I've only been playing bass for a few months and I can't afford lessons, so I've just been searching youtube for videos like this

[howtoplaybassdotcom]

@MortsMaisVivant Ha ha - Ok. In that case thank you very much for the compliment!

[BOGnz]

Hi paul!

[howtoplaybassdotcom]

@BOGnz Ummm......hi???

[AlexMakesThings]

Under Pressure or Ice Ice Baby. They are both great songs. A funky bassline nonetheless!

[genetunerz22]

thank you very much!! this really helped me!!im just a newbie on bass!!thanks!!



[daskiiai]

Small tip, you might want to hold your finger down hard and pull off faster, or raise your action to avoid that annoying buzzing sound

[Pupi666]

A & D in 12th fret...

[Myeviltwin100]

headset makes this awesome lol and great lesson btw : )



[kdlaiusa]

Something like Rush's Freewill will be nice.

[howtoplaybassdotcom]

@kdlaiusa Great - when are you going to make a video and post that for us all to learn the solo section?

[MrNikcccc]

thanks so much you rock

[wheelman11]

this video is for beginners. so mabye u should tell thm what ur doing. ur just like the teachers in our public schools

[howtoplaybassdotcom]

@wheelman11 Did you watch the video and it's follow up. I explain the note names and where they're located. What more info should there be on it?

[rejey8]

could u do a lesson on 7 nation army by white stripes. thnx

[lolipopo0007]

Can you make a lesson how to play DD.Sound - Disco bass

[Aussiechicksrock]

Can you do me a video so i can learn Joan Jett - I hate myself for loving you, Please :)

[howtoplaybassdotcom]

if you asked politely and told me what the problem area was maybe I could help?

[SketchCityDrummer]

@dusk97

Yea, your hands. HIS.FAULT?

[siarung]

@howtoplaybassdotcom sir i ve just ordered a short-scale bass(cos ive only got tiny girl hands boooo),do you recommend or not? id really appreciate yr advice, thanks

[howtoplaybassdotcom]

@siarung I've seen it work both ways - i.e. people with small hands adapting to large scale basses. And people with small hands using short scale basses. For learning I'd probably recommend a short scale bass - as learning an instrument can be hard enough without causing yourself extra physical hardship. If you decide you love it in the future and want to 'train up' to a large scale bass....you could.

[siarung]

@howtoplaybassdotcom many thanks .the bass ive ordered is a short scale fender bronco(torino red,sexy huh?)now you've eased my fears bout splashing so much cash on my credit card

[howtoplaybassdotcom]

@siarung there's nothing better than splashing the cash on basses and bass stuff!

[cellphonestinks]

Paul;

Thank you for making thing really easy for us. Can you post a video for fat bottomed girls? This song has always been a challenge to me.

[howtoplaybassdotcom]

@cellphonestinks We are the Champions is up next for Queen tunes I think!

[slick505ness]

i have been playing for a week nd when i strum G and G only the E string the A string and the D string all start to vibrate and make my stuff sound like crap HOW DO I FIX IT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[howtoplaybassdotcom]

@slick505ness  Are you playing with a plectrum or fingers? It sounds like you need to mute the strings you're not playing.

[cellphonestinks]

@slick505ness I think you need to adjust the hieght of the string and try to mute the strings you are not playing

[brickmaster24]

man im 16 and my dad plays bass and i feel really bad that ive always turned down his offers to teach me cause looking back i realized that he really wanted to teach me and instead of taking it up i played drums for two years which didnt last

[howtoplaybassdotcom]

@brickmaster24 It's never too late to turn away from the Dark Side! Seriously if your Dad wants to teach you, take him up. I teach my 8 year old son - it's great 'quality' time between us.

[brickmaster24]

@howtoplaybassdotcom maybe but right now his concern is for me to grow up and go to college and be a working stiff with a boring job mainly cause he skipped college and spent ten years playing in bands trying to make it big but never did so basically that forbibs me from persuing anything artistic like acting singing modeling whatever

[howtoplaybassdotcom]

@brickmaster24 as a 'dad' I can empathise. Doesn't stop you taking it up though and learning for fun....and to hang out with your Dad!

[JuniaTheTapper]

Is there anyway you could send me the link of the backing track that you use??? I would like to practice with it! Thanks for the tutorial..... It helped a lot!!!

[howtoplaybassdotcom]

@JuniaTheTapper It was just a midi file I found on the net - try googling for it.  I don't think I have it anymore....it wasn't very good anyway...

[Rileyskaterboy565]

I hate when i want to just learn a song and they talk the whole time

[howtoplaybassdotcom]

@Rileyskaterboy565 I hate it when people can't use the fast forward button on YouTube.

[papascoa]

You have the name of the God Of The Bass Paul Gray *.*

[howtoplaybassdotcom]

@papascoa Yeah....I don;t understand what you just said!

[wicked1337zn]

@papascoa he's not the god of bass u wimp..i'm pretty sure u're just a kid..ever heard about jason newsted..cliff burton..ellefson..or sheehan? + thousand of other jazz/funk bassists?...better shut up if you don't know shit..i do like paul and slipknot ( well..used to..) i m sorry about his death but NO HE AIN'T A GOD OF BASS

[rockstarMcNeely]

@wicked1337zn ellefson <3 !

[amythesenior]

Sweet. Thank ya! I just started learning bass, and I'm excited to know something other than Blitzkrieg Bop and scales haha

[koydix83]

great!

[EvWsox]

the beginning sounds like the intro to ice ice baby! lol

[kabluwi]

and with this, i will now play ice ice baby.... XD

[Ben92x]

stop talking start playing!!!!!!

[tryithere]

HEY!!! That's Vanilla Ice's bass line.

J/k

[Jcahalane]

@tryithere I think you'll find that it's Jedward's.

[IICODNERD]

Yer good vid but I can't see the fingering can u do another vid with a close up of the fingering I like close ups of fingering

[Stewie083]

Seven Nation Army is a good beginner song.

[DarkkDreamer1818]

i cant do that, no matter how hard i try...

[Owen5031]

sorry i watched all of it now its easy

[Owen5031]

you dont even say what your doing

[TheFatmanjam]

come on radar shut up and play the thing!!

[pulgo09]

how to play bass on 21 guns teach me please!!!!!

[CakeRabbit]

OMG, you're fabulous! Thank you for all your videos. Queen is one of my favorite bands, and I'm just getting started on bass. :)

[MendozaMichelle100]

omg, thanks - my first ever bass song. like the professional way you do it, telling us what notes we are playing, not just saying fret and string nos.

would have liked you to tell me which fingers yur using too

[howtoplaybassdotcom]

@MendozaMichelle100 thanks for the comment - the fingers thing is different for everyone, depends on your hand size, bass size and also your fingering system.

[RobloxProuductions]

ok the first 1:40 dont even have any meaning!!!

[bringthenews]

Ice Ice baby too cold too cold

[mikkelejus2]

Great job - again! I can recommend everyone Pauls web site

It is a goldmine of material and inspiration. If his teaching doesn't appeal to you as to one impolite guy further down (like vitoizzy43) , you're in luck: It is a free internet, so just stay away and at least don't insult people who FOR FREE make great stuff for all of us to use...

Mikkel, Denmark

[Boruness]

Would you say Bass is harder to learn than electric guitar? Or what parts are easier and which are harder?

[Heartlessstudios]

i appretie the help but i just dont under stand what ur talkin about

[howtoplaybassdotcom]

@Heartlessstudios - OK - my bad. Perhaps you can be more precise about where yo don't understand me. Then I can possibly help more.

[Heartlessstudios]

howtoplaybassdotcom i dont know maybe using more basic terms may be

[Zeph100]

@Heartlessstudios You must be American...

[Heartlessstudios]

@Zeph100 no im english

[Zeph100]

@Heartlessstudios sorry fella

[Heartlessstudios]

@Zeph100 its ok

[hanaeuemura]

vitoizzy43, you don't go to someone's home for dinner and say to the host shut up and serve me the food.

Thanks Paul for the bass tutorials.

[howtoplaybassdotcom]

@hanaeuemura Thanks for that. Sadly there are guys who hide behind their computers and have no concept of politeness or etiquette. I don't mind people who don't like my lessons or my style of lessons - you can't please all the people all the time - but just to say 'shut up and play' is rude, ignorant, helps no-one and is a waste of his time posting it and my time reading it.

So if anyone has got any ideas of how I can make my videos better I'm all ears! Just don't be a troll!

[knifer22]

this is one song I cant get the rhythm on

[howtoplaybassdotcom]

@knifer22 A way you can use to get the rhythm is to listen to the original over and over and sing the bass part. When you can sing the bass line without thinking you'll intuitively know the rhythm and all you have to do is match the notes of the line with that rhythm.  Hope that helps.

[7venus13]

@knifer22 you should probably listen to the original song. and you may find it easier, it helps sometimes

[vitoizzy43]

you talk too much shut up and play

[howtoplaybassdotcom]

@vitoizzy43 Thanks. Great constructive feedback. Really helps improve teaching.

If you don't like my style, don't watch the videos. I clicked on your name to see how an expert should teach - but couldn't find anything. Looking forward to your next teaching video where you show us all how it should be done. When do you think that might be?

[runescapefan1211]

At first i didnt really get it until at a time i noticed i was playing the wrong note cause it sounded diffrent but when i played the right one sounded much better thanks man

[big360jake1]

I CANT PLAY WITH MY FINGERS

[SweetNicciG]

Thanks :)

[jackahicks]

thanks man, your a legend

[howtoplaybassdotcom]

@jackahicks thxs for teh comment - in my dreams I am a legend! In reality I'm just a (mostly) normal guy like you!

[handgun1]

What is the tuning for this?

[howtoplaybassdotcom]

@handgun1 Hey - it's standard tuning.

[jean5997]

thanx....

[JDM62]

My compliments, beautifully done. This helps me.

[howtoplaybassdotcom]

@JDM62 Thank you! If you feel confident when you've learned the tune you could post your play along as a video response! (If you have a camera of course!).

Paul

[nomcrunchyfry]

on the 2nd bar at 5:00 is that the "b" on the second fret of the A string?

[MultiJavierdiaz]

what are the tabs?

[ToxicAbyss1]

@MultiJavierdiaz Tabs, really bro, tabs? Ha, those suck!

[cl3vergirl]

thanks so much . its hard to find someone who explains it so well . Thank You :)

[gaara100593]

the intro and verse sounds like ice ice baby

[howtoplaybassdotcom]

@gaara100593 Actually it's the other way round. Ice Ice Baby used the bass line from Under Pressure as the main 'loop' in that song.

[MCRThreeDaysGraceFan]

thanx! i just got a bass yesterday and this really helps!

[Idocracy789]

i just picked up my first bass a few weeks ago and i was wondering if you could show me any worth watching free online lessons. if you could it would be much appreciated. thnx

[DENTONx666]

wasnt this song played with a plectrum

[Slaney1001]

Great advice!

[random828]

great dude , im 12 n started bass a few months ago n im gonna ask my teacher about playin this =]]

[howtoplaybassdotcom]

Cool. Practice hard now and you'll reap the rewards in 10 years time!

[TheAwsomeMysteryMan]

@random828 Wow im too 12 years old and i started playing bass some months ago too :-O

[joel01370]

start the song sooner dont babble so long

[sufcluigi]

Hey dude, your videos are great, very helpfull and to the point. keep it up.

[0114sams07]

great help....

[casimir63]

Paul,

I accidently got on your You-tube channel, this is what I was looking for, played the Spanish guitar for a year (as treatment for my dissabilty) Bass was my first choice but to hard for me (the doctor said) bought a Bass a few weeks ago, Apregio and stuf learning from my teacher, but as you recall just want to play some tunes. thanks for making this possibel, suscribed instantly !!

[howtoplaybassdotcom]

No problems!

Enjoy!  If it starts getting to be a habit - TAKE SOME LESSONS!

[Lydiababe121]

very good but how many times do you do the D note and the A note?

[howtoplaybassdotcom]

if you subscribe to my ezine you'll find a link on the 'thank you' page to download a PDF that goes with this that has the line written out in notation and tab.

Should make it easy for ya...

[AltinAndGent]

Im sorry but,what do you mean by Ezine:P

[howtoplaybassdotcom]

Ezine = Electronic Magazine

I have a free monthly Ezine but you have to subscribe to it. As a 'reward' for subscribing you get various PDFs with basslines in them.

Under Pressure is one of them.

HTH.

[Cyclosx]

Wow, nice vid.

I haven't even started playing yet, and I already understand how it works quite well (well, as well as I can understand being a complete newbie ^^).

Going to buy a bass pretty soon, and I'll be sure to watch at least a couple of your vids.

[Cyclosx]

WTB> Edit button

I stumbled upon your vid by accident, so I consider it a lucky find ^^

[howtoplaybassdotcom]

Cool.

Keep checking back - as I'll be posting a new video for beginners just about every week for the next few months....

[corpsegrinderfisher]

been playing about 3 years, im self tought, your videos are really good, and you proper look like my brother!

[SteveArpo]

Adoo Paul. I can't tell you how grateful I am for the work you put into your videos for bass beginners. WHen I tell you that I am 51 years of age I'm sure that you will understand what I mean!

[welshdrummer1989]

i just started bass and this is damm easy as iam a drummer and guitarist well done dude

[Kafedus]

thanks, just started to pick up the bass....u have been a great help..

[howtoplaybassdotcom]

I'm assuming that your comment means you found it boring and it put you to sleep. If that's the case it would be waaayyyyyyy more helpful to say WHY you feel that way.

Remember this is aimed at bass players who are still at the start of their bass playing journeys. If everything's not explained fully then they'll get left behind.

Be interested in your reply.

[bakabakashii]

ICE ICE BABY

[LucasvsNess]

thank you. thank you. Queen is the best. Your video also helped

[magnumdog]

Hey mate, I just got a bass guitar today and your video really help me out, so now I can proudly say that besides The Wild Rover, I know how to play Under presure on the bass. Thanx a lot!!! Cheers!

[monkipuzzle]

You are great .... first day playing now this is my favourite piece to play :o) could you please please please show us how to play Billie Jean by michael jackson ... ?

Thanks

[twinkieramirez]

Could you do some U2? Possibly One or Mysterious Ways?

[jaime65portillo]

Thanks so much for posting this video

I'm a beginner from Phoenix AZ. USA.

and it was really ease to follow you !

Thanks again !!!!!!!!!!

[tomybarsa]

this is my first day playing bass and i dont understand anything T_T

[howtoplaybassdotcom]

Hey

If you're a total newbie the first things you need to work on are getting your right hand working (assuming you're right handed), how to fret notes with your left hand, knowing some note names and tuning the bass.

There are lessons on all of these things available in my channel.

Paul

[tomybarsa]

thanks :D i'll check your channel

[galifan]

its easy, intro, 7 fret, 2 strings

[howellheat]

didnt help me one bit. but good video

[howtoplaybassdotcom]

Interesting comment. Why didn't it help? Let me know and maybe I can make new videos better for people.

[ilovepenguins23]

on some tabs i found it didnt do the same thing all the way through and on the song it doesnt do it all the way through either

[MechaHateChimp]

Hi Paul.

Joel here all the way from Denver, Colorado. Just wanted to say thank very much for making your lessons available on youtube. They have been a tremendous help!

[howtoplaybassdotcom]

Hi Joel

Thanks for the comments. Look out for some more videos like this real soon - don't forget to head over to my website (link in the text area to the right) and subscribe to the ezine. You get a free bassline every week.

[legendofthemoon]

im brand new to bass (bought one last month) and this has REALLY helped me. I usually sing, so harmonics and other music basics come easy. The only problem i'm having is getting my fingers to the frets in time, but practice has been helping ALOT!

[neagudan]

jon deacon is a awesome bass player though he is underated :| at what school where you ?(and jon)