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

[CorruptBlue]

QUOTE ''The Bass on this track is very simple''.

All i could think of was " Of Course It Is, Paul McCartney wrote it!

I'm sorry, But he is not a Bass Master! This is grade one standard like most of 'The Beatles' bass lines.

[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.

[autocrow]

Bass lessons from Paul. Too cool!!

[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.

[Frobe1357]

@CorruptBlue OK then you try playing rain, abbey road medley, silly love songs, i want you shes so heavy & taxman, then tell me he sucks. Yeah he's not flash but he doesnt have to be. The point of a bassist is to help drive the bands groove & rhythm & gell the rest of the rhythm section to the lead instruments, and not many people can do that as well as he can. He can make complex bass lines but he can also create simplistic ones such as this, and that is why he is a bass master.

[44t56]

@CorruptBlue you try playing Rain, and tell me how "easy" it is, bitchface cocksucker

[TheThelolipop]

@CorruptBlue I somwhat agree, but dude, come on bro, don't be cruel!

[AnnaStarsTv]

I HAVE THAT BASS!! :'D He makes me proud to play bass

[johnstephenburnett99]

@johnstephenburnett99 What makes paul mccartney such a great bassist is that he does the bass line simple if it sound better simple, and complex if it sounds better that way, unlike stupid heavy metal bands, who just either do 1 note per beat, usually the same note for ages, or solos with millions of crazy notes that sound stupid.

[johnstephenburnett99]

@CorruptBlue What the heck are you talking about? Beatles bass lines aren't grade 1 standard, and proper bassists don't do grades anyway, because there's no rock band that's gonna ask what grade's you've done before they let you join as bassist.

[rogerscottq]

The fret-chart is right-handed. To really follow his finger work, should be left-handed. Amazing how he uses his thumb to do some of the notes! Watch how he hits F on the A string.

[rjberry]

@CorruptBlue Paul writes bass lines to complement the other instruments in a track. He doesn't write basslines to show how big a dick he has.