Are most bass players TERRIBLE at playing bass? 😱😬

The role of a bass player in a band can be discussed at length and most opinions are probably correct actually. That said, the bass is as much of a harmonic instrument as the guitar or the piano and saying that bass players don't have to concern themselves with harmony or chords would be a mistake.
And from this perspective, the role of a bassist can take on a new dimension that involves outlining the chords and giving a song's harmonic progression more shape than one might have previously assumed. If this is new to you, you're in luck cause today is all about teaching you how to do just that! 😜

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Video Breakdown:

00:00 - Apologies in advance...
00:30 - The role of bass compared to other rhythm section instruments
01:05 - The bassist's various roles
02:01 - A bass player who can't outline chords is like a guitarist who can't PLAY chords
03:25 - Let me give you an example
04:13 - Knowing your triads
05:20 - How to learn the patterns of the triads
07:02 - Breakdown of the chord progression
08:22 - Basic concept demo performance
08:45 - Chromatic Approach Tones
10:47 - FBA is open for enrollment right now
11:23 - Full concept demo performance

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[devinebass]

Hey all. LOVING the discussion around this video in the comments! Lot's of you are loving the vibe of the vid, and some are certainly not - and that's ok too. Something I think that might help clarify my point within the video...

When I was teaching music / bass students in Universities around the UK, my job was to turn those bassists into bassists that could WORK professionally in ANY situation, and ultimately were hireable... i.e. turn them into awesome bassists and musicians... and to do that, I had them eating chord tones, harmony, groove and time for breakfast! Because without those skills they wouldn't have a chance out in the real world. ZERO. So if YOU have any aspirations of becoming a semi-pro or full time pro, being able to outline (and understand the harmony) is an absolute non negotiable.

Take any of the world shaping bassists: James Jamerson, Carol Kaye, Jaco, Paul McCartney, Billy Sheehan, Thundercat, Anythony Jackson, Joe Dart, Pino Palladino, Victor Wooten etc... they ALL have eaten chord tones for breakfast. Ooo... and some peeps mentioned Flea... Flea went back to music school in 2008 (Uni of Southern California), coz he knows that the knowledge of how music and harmony works is GOLDEN... he was studying music theory / Harmony and composition.

Anywho. Thanks again for taking the time to check out the video - for those of you wanting to reach that next level of musicianship, I HIGHLY recommend getting this stuff DOWN COLD!

... I LOVE all the feedback. The good and the bad :-)

[Defmusicman]

I may be the exception here because I’m a deaf bassist. I don’t play by ear, no matter how much I wish I could. So I had no choice but to do it the traditional way - scales, theory, sheet music, etc. I envy those who can play by ear but I’m glad I had a good foundation on which to build my bass playing skills. I’m not the best and I’m not the worst, I’m just a bass player doing the best I can. Keep on rocking, brothers!

[johnpatitucci]

I've been playing bass for 35 years and as time has gone on I've realized that the more I learn the less I actually know. I started taking upright bass lessons locally so I can learn to read music and actually learn something worth while other than playing by ear.

[nerigarcia]

I'm not a good bass player. I know nothing about theory, scale, chords and such but when Billy Bass from Parliament Funkadelic came up to me after our set at The Whiskey and told me he dug my bass playing, I didn't feel so bad. Even Flea and Watt, two of my faves didn't start off by knowing how to read music and such, they could just play, and that's punk rock. I mean I'm trying to learn all that stuff now at 52 but I didn't care about all that in my 20s. I just wanted to rock. You need it to progress but you don't necessarily need it to play, IMO. I guess I've always been stuck in beginner mode.

[envaleorex]

I started playing bass 4 years ago at the age of 65. I took Scotts advice at the time and grounded my bass playing totally in learning jazz standards. I should say here that I already understood music theory as I completed a music degree many years ago. I am very grateful for Scott advising this approach. Playing straight ahead jazz has several strengths. First is literally forces you to emphasize playing chords and secondly (only secondly) the various scale options related to chords. I'm totally convinced that jazz standards are the best way to learn the whole Fretboard in all of the inversion patterns of various chords. But more than just this jazz forces you to get really good at laying down an extremely steady beat required for the swing style. This steadiness then translates well into learning more complex styles of music like funk and so forth. You timing can't be off even a little and still "swing." So even if your going to play rock or country or whatever, you've got the underlying chordal structures under your fingers. Plus you've got the basic pulse for any stye. That is the bass function in most popular music styles. So thanks for the advice Scott and I think you're on a good theme here.

[enoodle]

Practicing triads through circle of fifths is now my practice GOAL. Thank you for repeating this information and making it understandable for us Terrible Bass Players™

[SirFooplesTheThird]

I suck at playing bass but i'm still having fun playing along to the songs i want to play

[rlacombe]

As a guitar player, who occasionally plays bass, this is spot on

[LittleManFlying]

The faculty advisor for an ensemble I was in during college was Mark Henry, a generous, brilliant, extremely even-tempered, and very patient bassist with the Boston Pops and many others. We learned modes, sure, but focus was always on chord tones and strategies like knowing guide tones to outline chord qualities across changes, no matter what instrument we played. I was a guitar major, and learned how to approach chart analysis and improvisation from the perspective of a virtuoso bass player. Nothing in this video would have been controversial.

[MrDaneBrammage]

I started playing bass on blues and early rock and roll tunes of the 50's and early 60's, where nine times out of ten the bass is outlining a sixth or dominant 7 chord. In those genres the role of the bass in carrying the harmony is very clear.

[MarkMarxonsBassChannel]

This lesson SO important. Chord tones are what creates the solid foundation for everyone. EVEN WHEN YOU ARE SOLOING. Chord tones are king!!

[UccelloProject]

The theory/harmony concepts were clear to me (thanks to my first guitar teacher) but, when I started on bass I was a guitarist switching to bass...strike one. My main two influences were Jaco (strike two) and Les Claypool (strike three) 😂. It took me a long time to learn the "role" most conventional bassists need to fill. Now, after decades of work, I play upright/electric basses with some great musicians and know the job I'm there for. Then when I go to write my own "bass up front" music I can enjoy all the innovative stuff that initially inspired me...knowing what to do when was my biggest lesson. Just my two cents and personal story. Btw, I love Scott's Bass Lessons and regularly learn a lot from you guys-thanks for all you do for us bassists!!!❤

[chaoarecool]

I think Scott is right but his explanation of what he is trying to communicate is poor. He is saying that players should not limit themselves to what idea they have in their minds to what they can do on their instrument and that they should seek to improve themselves and their knowledge of their instruments

[scottkretsch]

One of the more applicable lessons from Scott in understanding how to move away from just playing roots.

[Funkybassuk]

Don’t be scared of that chord progression:

I - IV - iii - V7/ii - V - I - V.

Also, you’d want to think about playing the b7 on A7 and G7 and not just the A or G triad to get the flavour of the chord.

If you’re already playing roots and 5ths most of the time then you only have to learn the 3rds to complete the triads or the 7ths for the 7 chords - so don’t panic.

[greenjoseph]

You’re absolutely right. I had an instructor who had me just practice chords because he said that’s what bass players do, they play chords.

[justxull]

I think what every musician should know is that there is no one way to play. Context is key, and to play well you need to listen, and dont just follow one formula.
Playing roots, and doing it well can sound killer! But it can also sound less than ideal. Music is an art with endless ways to express yourself. AND THAT! Is why music is so great!

[someoneoutthere]

The perfect book for this… Chord Studies for Trombone by Phil Wilson and Joseph Viola. It’s a Berklee series book for trombone and since trombone is a bass clef instrument it is also perfect for bass and includes everything Scott is talking about!

[MadMagicPaul]

I'm so glad I got to play in a 25 piece big band for a decade. I learned so much - and I don't think there was a single tune that had me just plugging away on a root note. Walking bass everywhere!

[bobs]

First thing I always tell folks is……you complement the song and hold the beat over all. No showman ship unless you got the back bone done. Sometimes, especially in metal. Your job is to help make that band be heavy as hell. And maybe you can’t deviate because the song can’t have it. That’s ok. Bring the heavy 🤘🏻