Paul McCartney teaches bass

The Bass Master himself teaches a little of his playing technique in this "fair use" excerpt from a promo vid for his latest album (you can buy the full video at nowplayit.com).

I think it's interesting because of the closeups showing his fingering style.

Also interesting I think is even though it's "very simple" root notes, he still slips in little flourishes to give it some shape, like at 00:51 where he goes C-"F"-D (instead of straight C-D), and how he slides down from F-E at 01:07 keeping the string open instead of muffled like the rest.

The most interesting part though I think is his discussion at 02:27 of how he was "tempted" to put in "fiddly bits" at the one part -- jumping up an octave -- and why you might do that if you're feeling "adventurous." I guess that's what musicianship is all about, when to do things like that and when to show restraint (he didn't do it in the final mix).

Category:

Music

Tags:

• paul
• mccartney
• bass
• lesson
• hoefner
• hofner

[autocrow]

Bass lessons from Paul. Too cool!!

[Rickdd2]

@CorruptBlue Maybe the essence of being a bass 'master' means knowing when to hold back and just provide the foundation to make the whole song work?

It kind of makes you wonder why McCartney's songs are all wildly well-known, while nobody can name any songs from the bass 'wizards' like Pastorius or Wooten.

[chewyclit11]

Paul is the best bass player of all time. Hands down.

He knows what to do, when to do it, and he does it absolutely note-for-note perfectly.

THATS what being a bass player is all about. Not Wooten/Miller.

Not saying they are bad players, but they are too flashy and in the end they forgot what being a bass player is all about.

[neokimchi]

@Rickdd2 continuum. portrait of tracy. u can't hold no groove. the lesson.

why mccartney's songs are well known: he was in the beatles. he plays pop music for the most part. his bass playing itself is not why most of those songs are famous. except maybe "over me."

he's actually a fantastic bass player, but it's pretty insulting to wooten & pastorius to imply they don't/didn't know what they're doing; when to "hold back and provide the foundation" as you put it.

[allthingsclassicrock]

@Rickdd2 Whats cool though is he does give us a glimpse of his full potential every now and again like on abbey road, the whole album lol

[andyrosano]

Please answer me get this VIDEO WHERE?

[andyrosano]

POR FAVOR RESPONDEME DE DONDE CONSEGUISTE ESTE VIDEO???

[lovingmarshmellows]

@Rickdd2 agh pastorius is probably better than paul but the pure simplicity of paul's music is my favorite part.. he's amazing in every way.. i mean how old is he in this? and everything about him is still sexy! but honestly pastorius was the greatest because of how complicated he was but paul is most ppls go to thought when they think "AMAZING bassists"

[EthanODaniel93]

Can someone tell me what song this is?

[BerenDaMeleh]

Sorry but I'm gonna have to agree.. This is as basic as a bass line could get. The bass lines in Because or Rain are far more interesting. This video has far too many likes and views while other amazing bass players don't have any recognition at all.