Billy Sheehan - Bass Secrets Interview - part 1

[Hubbel2010]

I'm disappointed, billy is a great bass player - but what he talks about major and minor free pentatonic simply is not true - both types exist! Okay I'm from germany and maybe I didn't understand all the words being spoken - I'm a bass player too and I've learned some basics in musical theory, when I started playin' bass. For example the major scale in the key of G (billy plays)

can be a (harmonic) minor scale by changing just one single note and thats the third. These things

are BASICS !!

[jordak]

The secret is in the purple leggings.

[vdelrio999]

@jordak Then I don't need an 80's blonde wig?

[helloween76]

@JBeeDubstep... I thought so too for a while, but when I came back to the video I saw that he is just being very supportive and informative (and technical) to Billy's pure natural expression. At least that's what i like to think ;)

[RotnRoll77]

Yeah, E Minor, alright!

[musicmaster555]

that hair hahahahaha!

[eekleefeld]

The real star of this instructional video is the interviewer's hair.

[sootski]

What a tool.

[KudahBass]

Pentatonic isn't really major or minor free. Just about every scale can be related to the major scale. Like pentatonic.. It's a incomplete major scale, omitting the 4th and 7th. This dude rules.

[FreeTheMusic20]

Go a little bit faster I missed a part lol jk

[22FretsIsNotEnough]

It's so weird seeing him with a guitar.

[KILLALLSCUM]

a magnificent musician and no bullshit about him. An inspirational player Such a nice guy why does he have to be a fucking scientologist!!

[d24isDURIAN]

@KILLALLSCUM hes a scientologist? oh no...... why...

[wikiemol2]

so if I go 'dooodododoododoododo' then theres 'dododododododododododo' so 'dododododododododo'... understand?

[bamboosa]

Hair. Hee.

[dongtingwong]

They remind me of Wayne and Garth from Wayne's World

[Pittsisamazing]

STOP BEING HUMBLE!

[GtheJAR]

omg, the sound of the bass is amazing:]]

[greyfoxzero]

Billy, you seemed to have mastered the art of hair.

[Geilization]

Billy Sheehan... hair... WTF?

[ThePracticalTheorist]

Billy! `nuff said :)

[arosha90]

Blonde:P



[MrFlyslayer]

I was wondering about the hair too - Whitesnake vs. White Lion. But when your'e as good as these guys are, you can wear whatever f*cking hairstyle you want.

[gesielpb]

this man is the man!

[whatshendrix]

@TheSavfil

Intuitive learning has a million limitations, but the most serious is that you still have the same learning processes to cover, but you cover them subliminally. That means that very often you'd get stuck, develop bad habits and/or not focus on what's most important for your progress.

Studying theory prevents you from rediscovering the wheel all the time and allows you to expand your scope effortlessly. It's a MUST for everyone who wants to progress efficiently and completely.

[enahcs]

Yes Billy, I know more theory than you but you still kick my ass playing....:( The interviewer is a nobody putz.

[BDFPA]

@enahcs Wolf Marshall is hardly a nobody, he has alot of experience and qualifications in music, check him out on wiki.

[enahcs]

@BDFPA I know Wolf from waaaaayyyy back in the 80's. He had tons of theory ads in the old Hit Parader and other music mags. I know he is a grad from UCLA with a BA in music and can play guitar like a mother. It was supposed to be sarcasm based on Wolf never really getting into the limelight as opposed to Billy playing with Mr. Big, DLR, and Talas,plus being voted best rock bassist 5 times in guitar player magazine, Billy has made a huge mark in the music biz.

[thrashtildeth247]

i didnt know michael J. fox played drums! hahaha

[stoob1969]

What I would give to be called Wolf Marshal...

[rafiki4816]

He's so humble and that interviewer is such a dick. He just has to say it when he knows what Billy is playing.

[bloemen34]

i only know thad this is older than 2000 XD (or close to it

[44SuperShredder]

his tone is sick

[cageinblood]

has the interviewer never played guitar wtf is up with that they couldnt get someother guy to make the vid better but cool video

[trinoply]

It astounds me how little he knows about music theory yet hes so good.

[cbfeeling]

Dude, the HAIR!

[Stephh211]

belt on the belly.. euwwwwww

[FaLaTiCi]

failed guitarist



[cbfeeling]

@FaLaTiCi LOL!

[Ihatemyusernamemore]

Holy shit, thats my favorite Mr.big song right there at the start

[fuimas]

@Ihatemyusernamemore What´s the song´s name please!!!!!

[ericralph]

no feel equals all stupid.

[4JayeP]

Billy is a great musician and is a great live performer. but in terms of discussing music theory...not exactly one of Billy's strengths.

[gibsonj4]

MAJOR AND MINOR THE SAME???? WTF lol Modes are parts of scales! Modes can be taken of Melodic Minor as well as Major, etc.

[rafaelix74]

Billy is the King of the groove !

[69erthx1138]

This was hair was a common look in the Glam rock era (early-mid 80's). As for the scales, he shouldn't refer to major and minor as the "same." I realize that he's referring to relative finger positioning, but this can confuse a beginner. Modes are not directly associated with minor scales, they are taken off the major scales, (Ionian, Dorian, Phrygian, Lydian, Mixolydian, Aeolian, Locrian...C-B). The modes are a designation for the degree of resolve in diatonic scale played legetto, note by note

[dtphillip3]

sheehan = god interviewer = faggot

[JBeeDubstep]

Is it me, or is the interviewer being really patronising?

[XxXapocolypseXxX]

@JBeeDubstep i love how billy dosent mind it. hes like "thats your department i guess, ill just play you explain" i would get frusterated and hit him, if i was billy.

[cwbeas]

@JBeeDubstep

Yea seems like it. But Im thankful he's asking mostly legitimate theory questions.

[thatblokefella]

@JBeeDubstep Yes he seems a bit too keen to show off his technical knowledge in front of Bill

[ClassicRockMan95]

Those are some nice pants... :D

[cornhollieo123]

he went so fast i lagged in my pants...

[cornhollieo123]

HE WENT SO FAST I LAGGED IN MY PAMTS.

[depressedsoul001]

The hair is making it hard to focus on the interview.

[2Apathy]

ohhhh man billie is the best.... wat evea u say

[epicusfuror80]

he uses yamaha Attitude LTDII Billy Sheehan Signature bas

[epicusfuror80]

he uses yamaha Attitude LTDII Billy Sheehan Signature bas

[epicusfuror80]

he uses yamaha Attitude LTDII Billy Sheehan Signature bas

[creepypplathome]

XDDDDDDDDDDDD wow lovin the hair

[Rhys666Metaller]

its the 80's! YEEEEEEEEEEEEEAHH! RAD!

[PowerPlusProductions]

wat the fuck is that thing standing next to billy?

[Bassisbeastiful]

what bass does he use?

[Mikanish]

what the hell are these guys talking about

[jimlbw71]

My hair was even bigger but it looked just like theirs did back then but i was only 13 :-)

[DaemonicNimrod]

This interviewer comes across a bit of a low watt bulb in his demeanor...slightly less sharp than a butter knife....him smokum too much chronic....I dunno...he just bugs me.

Or maybe it's just me and he's really....smart....but seems stupid on camera...

Bong hit, anyone?

[safetheory]

Love the hairstyles, very cool.....not

[MrStrangeSensation]

Sheehan is a great bassist within his realm, and I'm not gonna say anything negative about his musical knowledge or abilities as a bassist but..............his tone is absolutely atrocious. He can play his ass off, but the bass sounds fucking disgusting in my opinion.

[DaemonicNimrod]

@MrStrangeSensation

Very rarely does someone comment on his tone, but I concur absolute that despite his technical wizardry, he's got one of the worst sounding bass tones I've heard. Right up there with Jeff Berlin's flanger tone...amazing player but sonically wretched.

[council]

@MrStrangeSensation Yep. Absolutely. Sounds like someone gargling nails.

[6ftUnder92592]

This looks and sounds like a good Jam bass guitar to learn some good stuff, i dunno what it is about it, maybe its just billy sheehan being a bad ass but the yamaha sure does catch my mind about getting one before a rickenbacker. but im totally geddy lee cliff burton lemmy guy. and john entwistle

[fssokolic]

pagaria porq estos videos esten subtitulados...no entiendo nada : (

[NIKKGAGE1994]

i dont know shit about scales and chords and notes and shit like that, i just read tabs, learn by ear, and i just play!

[silvez]

how to make this hair style?

[BioStigmaBass]

wtf with the hair match!?

[dlechler1]

@BioStigmaBass they are gay lovers, I mean who dresses like a fairy, he has most likely tasted weiner.

[bubblechog]

@BioStigmaBass

Dude That is so funny! I was thinking the same thing..

[jsem94]

he's not the brightest in the world of theory, but man is he skilled and at least humble to admit his faults

[Fr4gg3r2]

Nice hairs.

[RobZiak]

it seems like the interviewer has a similar relationship with billy sheehan that peter parker had with spiderman

[jackrkilby]

He must be a big guy, that strat looks so small in his hands.

[fatalbert51888]

this other dude needs to STFU

[6672rock]

Did he say the pentatonic scale was major and minor free? That didn't make sense at all. You can apply major and minor tonalities to the scale. Maybe he didn't mean to word it that way.

[SparkiiSilver]

I suddenly have much less respect for sheehan

[minutopotopo]

muy bueno gente ...soy de argentina y esta muy buena tu clinica men

[FlaKey651]

'i doubt if mastered is the word'

no, mastered is the right word stop being humble and accept your one of the fasted bass players ever.

[PaulRattlehead]

@FlaKey651 Fast and technically sound sure but for feel and creativity and skill Victor wooten eats hiim

[BellevueSuite]

Ampeg SVT pro series

[alejincin]

those amps behind him are??

[ooberpwnage]

He kicks fucking ASS at bass. But being a scientologist fucking ruins everything. Mother fucking brainwashed cultist cunt.

[RaguelAngelofBalance]

@ooberpwnage Isn't every religion a  cult of some sort?

[Headbanger9000]

I wonder how he gets that godly bass tone

[IbanezMS1995]

This Guy right here is the reason Im buying a Bass, And Im mostly just a regular guitar player

[WallSpace]

haha, love that hairstyle

[mefugoenmicarro]

chupame la pija

[DangerSheep]

He's technical, he knows a lot of theory but he lacks the most important - a statement expressed through music. It's the difference between all those great players like Wooten, Flea, Cliff etc. and Sheehan - they play emotions and statements, while Sheehan plays modes, scales and patterns.

Not saying that knowledge of theory is bad though, but theory should serve the musician not the other way around.

[bassbaby82]

This interviewer isn't right about everything he's saying

[gedaom]

@bassbaby82 You may be a teenager who doesn't know who this man is....look up Wolf Marshall on google....I DON'T THINK YOU KNOW more than this man about music....he is a genius in music theory.

[bassbaby82]

Billy knows the modes he just doesn't know what they're called

[sithis876]

someone is in need of a new haircut, and Im not talking about Billy

[volcomscooter29]

i thought i knew my music theory well but i honestly think in this video he is playing good and saying random music stuff to confuse me

[circuloperfecto21]

Is he talking to a mirror???  hehe

[cottonfever1221]

@circuloperfecto21 He needs some conditioner,how frizzed is his hair?...the duse across from him is even worse they look like an Aquanet gone bad com. Billy Sheehan and a few others(Flea)LOVE to say how little they know about theory yada yada,but in fact they DO know the fingerboard and scales,modes,penatonics,ETC...­.maybe they cant site read but they do know it,they will loose their so called"street-cred."admitting they know their shit,one doesnt play for 20 yrs and not "know" tech stuff.

[fluugenzinsky2]

Like, seriously. What a douche. I mean, he practically had his nose upturned the whole time like he was too good for the video. Pathetic.

[ruaridouglas]

There must have been an awkward look shared at the start when they realised they had IDENTICAL hair styles.

[ranXerox09]

wow! look at those hair styles! hehe

[muffinhammer]

You suck at music theory

[OddMusicality]

Haha. 3:27-3:30. New Years resolution.

[1dgkonig]

I feel like I'm in class.

[roundtr1p]

I wish i could have my hair like this.

[nikklazz]

Does anyone really know from first-hand use the pros of scalloped fretboard on bass? I would love to try and play on a bass with a scalloped neck but I don't really know how it feels or the way it makes the bass "better"...your thought on this? Billy kicks ass

[RIDGEBACK890]

@nikklazz billy bends strings quite a bit and he designed the neck so he can get under it for better attack..

[biggigjohnson]

good player but he needs alot of help on theory

[RandomGuyBlake54]

@biggigjohnson I'm sure by now he knows a lot more now. Judging by the hair this video came out in the late 80's or early 90's.

[exno8]

@biggigjohnson ha ha ha he needs help? from who? you? earning big money and playin to tens of thousands of fans, he is prob happy enough. . . .

[restxinxlove]

THE HAIR SUCH GLORY

[spinner1208]

lol this interviewer cracks me up

[andrasiboti]

0:55-0:57 <---------------- hes so modest!

[GiantPandas]

@andrasiboti

Yah, he's one of the nicest guys in rock and roll!

[Audiobrasil]

lol

niiice hair dudes =D

[jeffrey95]

Well i have no idea wtf he was talking about at all in the vid but i am pretty sure he is epic

[GrantSmithBass]

This opening groove is a MR.BIG tune...awsum !!...Billy Sheehan is tone...very individual and its interesting that many modern (rock) bassist dont strive for that individual tone...this is what sets Billy from the rest, regardless if you dig him or not...when I met him at a bass workshop/clinic, he was really polite and just a cool guy..rock on !

[xiozthunderplums]

Haha the interviewer knows more theory than him. Hes still a god tho

[containslead]

clearly from the 80's rofl. as far as i know the dude is god.

[gtarjason69]

im like sheenan i know my scale patters and can reanrange the major scales to do other modes like inion phrygian etc but i dont think when im solioing i just play im not going ok im goona go E f sharp legato abcdefgab stuff like that i just feel it and even shredding just feel it

[HurricaneTBag]

You're not really like Sheehan, please don't compare yourself to him.

[gtarjason69]

wtfs ur problem im not comparing myself i was just saying how i think of music theory

[HurricaneTBag]

Here's the sentences that you could use when describing yourself in relation to Billy Sheehan:

"Billy Sheehan takes shits that are more talented than me"

"I wish I was cool, like Billy Sheehan, but instead I'm an uninteresting and untalented asshole"

"Billy Sheehan has talent and style, unlike me"

"Every night before bed, right after my parents get done molesting me, I pray to god that I could be half as talented as Billy Sheehan"

Also, don't use the word "think" to describe anything you do.

[madeinquebec666]

@HurricaneTBag HAHAHAHAHAHA!!!! has a bass player, I THINK it's funny!

[irkman123]

One Word FLEA kicks his ass night and day

[HurricaneTBag]

Not really.

[irkman123]

hahaha go watch some of his playin live ... the man is awesome

[SoulBirthGuitar]

LOL Flea is awesome but this video is about Billy Shennan.

If you like Flea go watch his video ;D

[FRSyndicate2]

@SoulBirthGuitar Props for not being a brainless idiot and insult those Flea lovers. Not that I''m one :D

[XxonedayafterxX]

@SoulBirthGuitar lmao its billy sheehan... its in the title.... good try tho hahaha

[TheSmooshster]

HAIR

[BassGK]

great lessons

[tomwilliams1983]

Billy shows that he knows his theory well enough here,

[YngvarBrnjolf]

Awesome hair as well. Look at these guys clearly not giving a fuck

[redhouse7]

he may be quick but he has no knowlage of music theory at all...he said that there is major minor and pentatonic scales and that all he know, but really if he was smarter he would also know diminished scales and whole tone scales, duh thats why he dosnt compare to the electric bass masteres because he lacks the knowlage and doesnt bother to find out, to get better...

[kane45613]

nobody gives a rats ass

[wolvrine19732003]

you re saying that about billy????:))))) u seem to be a master....i bit u dont have a guitar heheeeee

[xXcutXmeXemilyXx]

@wolvrine19732003 I bet your no older than 13

[WhelanBass945]

How many rock songs do you know that use whole tone scales?

Almost every single rock song uses the major and minor pentatonic scales.

That's all he needs to know.

That's why he knows it.

and he might not "bother" to learn those scales, but he's obviously spent a lot of time working with the scales he does know to play like that, so obviously he does "bother" to spend his time doing something.

[SvarteJack]

Is that knowledge really something you need when you are a rock bass player?

[bowlish45]

yes... to play any style you need at least a basic knowledge of music theory

[lralon]

I think people like Billy - or Pastorius for that matter - are above "mastery." They were innovators because of their originality, and pushed the limits in their field. To me that's above being a theorician - or a critic like you. I think that the more you're consciously aware of what you're doing, the less spontaneous, the more structured, and the less original you become. Those who really leave a mark in the arts, are all people who didn't try to rationalize what they were doing...

[CapnJim09]

Most of the greatest musicians of all time had little or no musical knowledge (or knowlage, as you might put it). Hendrix and Dimebag Darrell both had a lack of musical knowledge, and they were some of the greatest guitarists in the history of rock.

[redhouse7]

dude you are an idiot. Dimebag knew his major and minor modes in side out, you are a moron to think he didnt. and jimi had a knowlage of chord progressions far beyonde his time...you are wrong

[CapnJim09]

I'm an idiot? Jimi couldn't read music, and was entirely self-taught. I'm a Hendrix fan, but it's true. Dimebag said in a video on Dimevision that he didn't know all the music theory bullshit. To say that someone couldn't be as good as the other virtuosos of their instrument because they aren't excessively educated in music theory is stupid. Who the hell are you to say that Billy is not talented, when he is commonly regarded as one of the greatest bass players out there?

[CapnJim09]

But clearly you must be right. I mean, look at everyone that agrees with you on here, with all the comments and the thumbs up you've gotten. And the writers of those guitar magazines definitely don't know shit....

[budbud619]

@CapnJim09 i wouldnt say musical knowledge but rather had no training from a teacher or no musical school

[ushuaia213]

@CapnJim09

Yes, but we have luck to have what we have. We go to school, we can buy instruments, we can go to teachers, I speak english because I started going to English lessons like 4years ago. If we have that chances we shouldnt waste them

[Nekronaut321]

@CapnJim09 hey hey. it all depends on wahts the greatest musician here. i like pantera and hendrix, but ive also heard alot other. and there are other i can say are BETTER musicians. Have you?? Or do you put hendrix and dimebang on the top?

[electricbumblebee]

@CapnJim09 they knew what they were doing

and Hendrix did know quite a bit of theory, jazz harmony and such

[fishnsticks]

@CapnJim09

very true. but there are also as many great musicians who know tons about music theory, so it doesn't hurt to learn... or not learn.

[LOLPombaer]

@CapnJim09 As much as I like Dime's playing, I wouldn't go as far as to describe him as one of the greatest guitarists ever. That's pretty ignorant. Btw., ANY musician could use some theory knowledge and "not knowing theory" certainly doesn't make you a better guitar player. More probably the other way around.

[bassbaby82]

@LOLPombaer Amen brother I couldn't have said it better

[Augenatic]

@CapnJim09 hendrix knew music theory

[theIonliestmonk]

@CapnJim09 You are completely wrong but that's ok, you just leave the theory and education to the real musicians and keep practicing your power chords in your basement. By the way, I think by "greatest musicians of all time" you meant "a few guitarists that I like from the past 40 years". AND Hendrix knew more shit than you would think.

[fingerboy18]

@CapnJim09 Guthrie Govan, who is arguably the best guitarist living, didn't know any theory until he looked up chords at the public library after he discovered them on the guitar.

[oOJimmySueOo]

@fingerboy18 arguably is definitely the right word.

[alexAENESIDEManders]

@CapnJim09

wrong

jimmy hendrix had a way bigger knowledge of music than anyone thinks.

and studied everything on his own.

but he knew his theory

dimebag didn't know theory but was succesdull. but it's not liek he wrote complicated tone and rythm changing things.

he made goo dmusic but was not a genius.

[MultiMiracleMan]

@CapnJim09 That's because when you don't know the names of the notes you know their sounds...which is more important because you play music....that's why some people know C and D and G and others know sounds...

[TopazT145]

@CapnJim09

Incorrect, sir. They both grew up on the blues. And the blues grew on him.

[DtFaN93]

@CapnJim09 alex lifeson too

[XxdieformetalxX]

I keep on watching this obviously because of Sheehan, but also because I love looking at the color of his fingerboard. Really unique color.

[EddieG1888]

Billy, you're a great bass player, but you suck at picking religions!

[reet12337]

@EddieG1888 What religion does he have?

[EddieG1888]

@reet12337 Scientologist.

[NewAgeEagles]

@EddieG1888 and style for that matter