Advanced Bass Soloing made Easy with Gary Willis

Ever get in a rut soloing?

Ever wonder how to make your solo lines more...modern? Interesting? Dare I say, sexy? Even over something as basic as a minor chord?

(Ever wonder what makes Gary sound like...Gary?)

Today’s video is the cure for what ails you.

Here’s what we’ll cover:
- A “magic trick” using pentatonics to add dimension to your solos instantly
- Which pentatonics to use in a key to sound fresh, instead of repetitive
- How to incorporate the blues, and sound soulful and modern at the same time
- A simple fretting exercise that will keep this musical, so you never sound like you’re playing a pattern
- And much more

And, once again, that’s all taken from just a tiny bit of The Gary Willis Masterclass.

If you want to get the complete canon - everything I learned from Gary that transformed my playing, plus 3 live seminars with Gary, just follow this link:

Scott :)

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[gallollibre]

First time I heard Gary Willis was with Tribal tech. one of my favorite bands. WOW!

[AndyGoodstuff]

My dad has the album Illicit by Tribal Tech. I remember being a kid and hearing him listening to mad jazz fusion music on his hi-fi and had no idea what it was until I came back to it as a teenager when I started playing guitar. The Big Wave will always be the absolute definition of that genre in my head. Absolutely incredible musicianship. That was my first time hearing Gary Willis.

[W.O.P.R]

Gary had a website back in the early 2000’s and responded to my story about my dog Chance and posted it on his website. That was my intimate connection with Gary. Love this man

[WTHFX]

Getting to have a private lesson with Gary was one of the great honors of my life. Not because I learned so much, which I did, but because I got to meet such a generous and kind grandmaster of his art. Genius is an overused word but I can think of no other that better describes him.

[daniels]

He's such a monster, love his playing, love his tone, love the way he thinks.

[flynnaugustbassist]

Love how this so different from how most people teach jazz soloing. Usually there’s an emphasis on having a complicated knowledge of a million scales and when to use them and, though knowing whole half diminished scales and altered scales and bebop stuff, having just the pentatonic moved around playing different modes of the chords is very refreshing and pretty sounding.
Love Gary Willis first heard him in a recording in 1979 with Pat Methany, Lyle Mays and a drummer who I can’t name. I loved his fretless sound and how he swung and accompanied the soloists and how he played his own solos.

[henrikbay]

in 1987 he was my ear training-teacher at MI in Hollywood. I loved and admired him so much. He made us sing minor 2-5-1's to earn a donut. So cool. He just quit Shorters band at that time to focus om Tribal Tech. Scott Henderson taut at MI at that time, so we heard a lot of Tribal Tech. He never bothered to pronounce my name (which is impossible anyway to Americans. :) Hi Gary :)

[och]

Gary Willis' right hand technique is one of the coolest things I've ever seen. Makes you think about your own playing in a totally different way.

[seangeist]

First time I saw Gary Willis was at Bass Day, when it was still in NYC. I believe it was 1998. Of all the phenomenal bassists featured throughout the day (and hanging in the booths), I thought he was the most mind-blowing. He was the most unpredictable; that sound and technique are quite unique. If you're not ready for it, it'll kick your ass! In a very good way. Never forgot that, never will.

[PeacefulThinker]

Thank you for the video. I am a keyboard player who attended M.I in the 90's. Mr. Willis is by far my favorite player. I had the pleasure to watch him play live (Tribal Tech) and it was an eye opening experience. After watching Tribal Tech's live concert, my guitar playing friend ripped the G3 poster on the wall in his apartment. Gary Willis, Scott Henderson, Kirk Covington, and Scott Kinsey are way ahead of their time. True visionaries! Please get together and play again!

[johnreilly]

Scott I purchased a fretless and fretted directly from Gary 1999 and met him in 2000 also took a 2 hour lesson with him! He is a super good guy and of course killer bassist and educator! First became aware of him in the Tribal Tech era. Check him live with Wayne Shorter live for a little different insight into what he has done. Check his solo albums and Triphasic etc.. His voice on the bass is unique and distinguished! Thanks Scott for bringing him to the bass community and all your great work, really enjoy it!

[bankovicalexandre]

First time I heard Gary Willis it was on Swiss tv. Montreux jazz fest in '86 with W.Shorter. He blew my mind. In '88-'89 he was my instructor at the Musicians's Institute. One day we were supposed to be, as usual half a dozen of students and i was the only one to show up. Gary was kind enough not to walk away fo a coffe with fellow teachers but he gave me a two hours one on one lesson. Best music lesson of my entire life. What a blast being taught by one of the
best and nicest musician ever.

[zzzyzzzyzzzyxxx]

The first time I heard Gary Willis was at a workshop during a bass conference in Vancouver BC - either in 2000 or 2001. I bought a Willis bass within six months of that and still have it.
I remember sitting there slack jawed at his right hand technique.

[bobpickett]

Why would anyone want to make themselves look stupid by giving this a hands down. The 4 that did just exposed themselves as either duffs or, they know nothing about playing an instrument. Thanks Gary Willis and Scott. This is a real eye opener as it comes to soloing.

[SimonDelgadoSimusik]

I’ve been also a Gary Willis student, only for a brief period of time while I lived in Barcelona. Huge inspiration, and when he spoke to you, the words he chooses to make you understand are invaluable. In my 40s still my number 1 musical artist.

[djlay]

Geez heard Tribal Tech about 10 years ago and couldn’t believe what I was hearing. The Alan Holdsworth of bass. Which is a huge compliment. I am doing fretboard accelerator and zoom lessons from a pro, and will probably never understand what is going on with his playing. I still watch his videos from the early 90’s and right hand muting technique. The master!

[IndigoBass]

Just now was the first time I’ve heard Gary Willis 👀

[EdLanouettebass]

Studied with Gary in 90-91…. Best bassist going.. great person!!

[czarpaul]

Man heard Gary late 80s, saw him in concert multiple times. Best one was at the Bottom Line in NY. My table was right up against the stage, right in front of him. Heaven! Lol

[AislanSousa]

Gary Wiilis sem duvidas é um dos melhores baixistas do planeta !! Parabéns pelo canal Scott´s.. Saudações aqui do Brasil