Do these LEGENDS of bass have BAD technique?
???? Enroll in the Technique Accelerator → https://sbl.link/40Z17WA
???? Try the SBL Bass Academy FREE for 14 Days: https://sbl.link/join-sbl
???? Get 1-1 Bass Coaching (12 Month Mentorship Program): https://sbl.link/the-blueprint
What makes a bass legend? Is it flawless technique or breaking the rules in just the right way? Today, we’re having a raw, unfiltered conversation about bass technique—what works, what doesn’t, and when “bad” technique actually makes a player great.
From Flea’s slap to Geddy Lee’s plucking, Bobby Vega, and more, we’re breaking down the mechanics of legendary players. Plus, if you’ve ever struggled to sound clean and tight, we’ve got some tips that might just change the game for you. Let’s get into it!
===
Video Breakdown:
00:00 – Introduction
01:50 – #1 – Flea
11:20 – #2 – Brian Bromberg
14:39 – The Technique Accelerator
24:30 – #3 – John Entwistle
29:40 – #4 – Geddy Lee
37:30 – #5 – Billy Sheehan
48:50 – #6 – Hadrien Feraud
51:30 – #7 – Janek Gwizdala
53:20 – #8 – Gary Willis
55:50 – Ian’s Challenge
58:00 – #9 – Bobby Vega
01:04:10 – #10 – Krist Novoselic
===
GET MORE BASS TIPS ????
_________________________________________________________________
???? Be the first to know – SUBSCRIBE now → https://bit.ly/sub-to-sbl-yt
???? Tune in to our Weekly PODCAST → https://sblpodcast.buzzsprout.com/share
???? Try our free GrooveTrainer APP → https://scottsbasslessons.com/groove-trainer-app
ABOUT SCOTT’S BASS LESSONS (SBL)
_________________________________________________________________
As the largest online bass education platform in the world, with an ever-expanding course library and 40,000+ active members, Scott’s Bass Lessons (SBL) has everything you need to master the bass, all in one place.
With beginner-friendly bass lessons, interactive courses led by industry experts, structured learning paths, personalized feedback, real-time mentorship from top bassists, and a vibrant, supportive community, SBL is the ultimate destination to enhance your bass playing—whether you’re starting out or already a professional.
Try SBL Membership today! → https://sbl.link/join-sbl
RECOMMENDED BASS PLAYLIST
_________________________________________________________________
Catch up with SBL Content you’ve missed:
➡️ https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLq5Wss5r1Cvvplt7z7O45JHk2TaJ3NT53
#bassguitarlessons #bassforbeginners #easybasslines
#LEGENDS #bass #BAD #technique
Originally posted by UCWTj3vCqkQIsrTGSm4kM34g at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O4O00coRSUg
I shred guitars. Starting out as bass player (and being into it totally again), here's two things about using the pick: 1, spend some time to develop your own sound from the strike and the damping before you move on to frettting. and 2, realize that the motion is complex. I like my strings lose (open D), and use hard and pointy 2mm picks for the guitar, which when worn down are just perfect for the bass.
If I may take what you are saying at put it in different terms – it is better to make choices than be stuck. Having conscious access to good technique – you become a conscious player – and not beholden to your short comings.
Growing up in Chicago when we wanted to watch a movie we went to 'The Show.'
I use pick for slap and middle finger for pop ????????????
1:15 I'm proud that you're getting Italian, Scott!!!
I might have missed it but I've not seen a lot of my favourite bassists ever mentioned in this channel. Mike Porcaro, Keni Burke, Abe Laboriel, and Anthony Jackson! Come on guys!
Please leave me alone already .
I think you are completely missing what Flea is doing. He is playing the top side of the string (i.e. away from the floor, not away from the body) and up plucking. If you try this, you will see that you can follow that with a down pluck on top of the string to get a "double thumb" technique. It is simply the mirror image of what many people do, down plucking on the bottom side of the string, and up plucking on the way back. He's doing out/in on top instead of in/out on the bottom. The advantage of his technique is a MUCH louder pop on the upstroke, louder than the hardest hammer or through stroke could ever be.
On a related note, there should be no such thing as "double" thumbing. Just use your thumb as a pick, and you will find yourself naturally in the "down thumb" position.
I think showing that kind of clip of Billy Sheehan to non-fans actually does him a disservice. There's a clip of him on Produce Like a Pro where he plays on a song he's never heard before. He plays 4-5 takes of the song and he does a different bass line every time. The bass lines are somewhat busy, but they fit the song. He's not shredding. He easily could have gone through his career being a consummate professional bassist. He just happened to have this band that allowed him to show off a bit.
The Entwistle bass was an Alembic for decades. His model even had an extra treble knob on the horn so he could adjust the treble quicker. Surprised he didn't need back surgery after carrying that boat anchor around his neck for years. Then it was the Warwick buzzard bass towards the end.
Round two please.
Billy Sheehan is a monster. And such a nice person too. ????
Great video, thx for it. ????????
ROUND 2!
I've never in my life heard The Black Album lumped in with grunge. Odd take.
what up with the glove? ????
Great duo, great subject discussion, great fun!
John Entwistle…the man back on June 9th 1979, The Who, Edinburgh Odeon made me want to play bass, they even smashed up the first time in yrs…hell of a gig, they were all firing on all cylinders for sure, John was so kool & his techniques i had never seen before, Thunder Fingers for sure…i was taught old school, raking, 1 finger 1 fret but i still have to adapt/change sometimes….never got 3 finger players myself, i was taught my pinky is important…interesting stuff
I'm surprised you guys didn't talk about the most unusual pick bassist aside from Krist Novoselic which is Steven Severin from Siouxsie and the Banshees which is ONLY upstrokes, I thought for a moment that it was mostly upstrokes (like Krist) but no, it is ONLY upstrokes which is wild as not only it gives you a consistent and different attack compared to downstrokes or hybrid but it is VERY tiring to do for long sets and he did it all the time, it is crazy
I am trying to develop my slap but struggling.
Does your action have to be super low?
The Sheehan solo does zero for me. Same with guitar solos.
"More than handful" actually means exactly two handfuls when it comes to the bass.
Definitely a round 2
Does Scott have tape over the E string poles on the neck pickup?
The problem with Hadrien Feraud's way of playing is that the left wrist is relaxed when you play high up the neck (or in this case better said: near the body) but when you move all the way to the end of the neck you have to twist your wrist in a strange angle.
Seeing "guitar technique" on Bass GUITARS shouldn't really be a massive surprise.
But man I wish I had that finger strength =P
11:47 Marky Miller hahaha
A round 2 will be much celebrated ????
I "break" many of the rules of playing bass, but when it comes to rhythmic basslines, there aren't many songs that I can't play.
— I almost never fret with my pinky. 99.9% of everything I play I only fret with the index, middle, and ring fingers.
— I play exclusively with a pick. Was never into slap playing and never bothered to develop it. I'm able to do fingerstyle playing, but I find that I can play the same things with a pick, except much better, faster, more accurately, and with a tone I prefer the sound of.
— I never put much emphasis on learning scales or technical exercises. I'm largely self taught. I do understand chords and arpeggios very well, though, and can play any basic major or minor arpeggio off the bat. A lot of my practice is simply picking up songs by ear that I enjoy, putting together a bassline for it, and playing along with them. And also tabbing it to have it for reference in case I don't play the song for a long time.
— I'm not into soloing. I might throw in some fancy fill or something here and there, but 95% of what I play is rhythmic basslines that focus on making the song sound nice, rather than on making the bassline stand out too much. I have respect for those who do nice soloing on bass and do it well, but it's not what I enjoy playing personally.
— Improvising on the spot isn't usually my strong point. I like to study a song, learn it, practice it, perfect it, and then play it when I know I can play it well.
At the end of the day, the bass guitar is like my soulmate of instruments. I've played many instruments over the years, but bass is the instrument I'm most passionate about. And when you're passionate about something, you do it well, even if you don't follow the socially acceptable rules for it.
Stan and Kyle
there's either : perfect technique
or
no such thing as bad technique.
its however you can get it done.
some things are more efficient than others.
When I think of bad technique and someone like Geddy, I think of the way he mostly plucks with one finger only. And he grips the neck with hand angled and his thumb over the top. Those are the kind of no nos that a music teacher wouldn't let you get away with, but it is that bad technique that makes his sound.
Gotta love the Billy! amazing, soloing! sServe the song
Master bass technique, eh??? Obviously they are both trying to hold back from laughing when they said it. Lol
I had to stop playing the bass for both health and finantial reasons for a few years and now I've been back for a single week and my mechanics are better than when I left.
You can certainly develop muscle memory for both techs in the slap! Just maybe play for a year with one than practice both from that point on.
Personally, I don't think there's any such thing as "bad technique". I think of it as their own individual approach to the instrument of which works in their favor.
Nobody should judge a person by their technique simply because everyone is unique, it's like if someone accused you for using a glove on your fretting hand because you have bad technique.
If it sounds good, its good.
Dear Mr Scott & Mr Ian. I would humbly request y'all to kindly do some videos on Mr. GIANNI SERRINO from Italy. He is such a monster bass player with his own bass techniques which are out of the box. ????
Or maybe ya guys might have watched the bass solo sparing between Gianni vs Wojtek Pilichowski in the year 2008.