This is the best lesson I learned in music school.
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- Опубликовано: 18 янв 2024
- In this short story, I tell some of the best advice I got at music school.
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I always enjoy watching Leland Sklar play along with with tracks he's done over the years with James Taylor, Jackson Browne, Carol King (and not just because of nostalgia). It's interesting to see how simple and basic the note selection is, and how completely in the pocket he sits. But it's not because he can't play more complicated stuff. Every once in a while -- at the right moment -- he'll tear off a run that makes you remember what a monster he really is. Yes, he could play like that all the time, but he doesn't, because that's not what the song needs. Your teacher had it exactly right: he doesn't play the coolest thing he knows how; he plays what's right for the song.
“Play something beautiful and expressive, not impressive.”, amazing Phillip.
I was a chops master on electric. My first lesson with a teacher just made him laugh out loud when I showed him my scale work. “Do that again!” he said. It was so fast and clean. He couldn’t believe it. But he quickly pivoted to teaching me a Jameson bassline in a Motown tune. Needless to say, I wasn’t really impressed. Then at some point I acquired an upright bass, right around the time I went to the local blues jam and fell flat on my face with my electric bass playing. I went home embarrassed and decided right then to take up the challenge of learning upright. Now on upright I had zero chops, just playing a root in tune was a huge challenge. This saved my musical career. Since I couldn’t play lines I just started playing songs, chords, root movement, arrangements. I felt silly after being able to note for note any Rush song but I knew that I was on my way to being a musician, not a Guitar Center bass player.
Interesting. I had something like this happen. I played electric bass for years. I won't call myself a chops master, but I've been told I'm great in an improv situation or jam and have great groove. I switched to upright, as that had always been my dream instrument as I loved early Elvis, rockabilly and jazz. Now, like you - zero chops. Playing the root was a challenge. And, like you, it saved my musical career. Because it was such a struggle and my inadequacies as a bassist could no longer be covered up as easily I really pushed myself to learn and study in ways I never had before. I was playing with a band at the time and bringing both. All 3 guys told me I played better on upright and not to bring my electric again. That was 4 years ago and I've never touched electrics again, and play far better than ever. I consider myself now a musician, not a, ha, "Guitar Center bass player" who could play a song but couldn't play. I can even read music now and never touch tabs. (I only regret not doing this change earlier.)
😄 same thing happened to me. I'm 53 and i had never forget it. When I was about 14 my musical teacher said to me " if you do a solo you have to have something to say and the silence is essential because it's your breathing between words and sentences "
i did my first sight reading gig tonight for a patsy cline tribute show here in australia. it was fun and tough . the only downer was the old guy piano player that has been in the game way too long was a real dick when i made mistakes. everyone else had an amazing time. im self taught and busted my ass for the gig, learing how to read charts in 3 weeks is tough and it deffinately takes longer then 3 weeks, but thats all the time i was given. coming from pub rock theatre music in 3 weeks the old guy has no idea of my musical history and no room in his ego for understanding .despite all the swering and death stares from the old guy. the audience thought the show was amazing!. so what iv learned is we are there because we love it ,
because we want to share what we love to do . and we should all have room for graciousness and understanding with other musicians. cheers for a great channel and great content and for sharing your thoughts and experiences
I attended AIM for a short time as well - for guitar. I didn't enjoy the jazz performances and thought they were a bit too simple. When I found out the keyboard instructor wrote all the guitar parts, I was a bit annoyed. Well, I had been playing slide one night for some of the other guitar students at a jam session and they were impressed and said I needed to play slide on the next rock performance. I can't remember what rock song was next, but I do remember thinking the jazz song was better suited. So night of, I stuffed a slide in my pocket and started the performance as usual, but when my solo popped up, I grabbed the slide and started my usual improv playing (I never wrote a solo, always improv'ed), but I didn't take the slide off when we went back into the pre-written part, which really blew the guitar students' minds. These guys never applauded anyone, but I got it that night. The keyboard instructor was not happy and walked out of the room. Mr. Knight (the guitar instructor) asked to see my slide, a black Dunlop mudslide, and was kind of refusing to give it back. I got a C for the performance and never played slide at AIM again. Stifling creativity, jealousy, or just wanting to keep everyone "on the path", I don't know, but It always bothered me that the AIM staff didn't appreciate what my fellow players loved. I guess I know why now.
Been loving your stuff lately! Cheers from Athens, GA!
Great advice! Thanks for so many great videos.
Good stuff for sure!!
The best advice indeed!!
I have never been a fast guitar player. But I've always been able to be an expressive player. To get my point across and still blend it with my singing. Doing that I did gradually gain some ability to play with speed. But I never became a shredder. Ps...this is why I always admired George Harrison and Eric Clapton.
Gold! Absolute gold. Thank you sir
Excellent advice!
Absolutely 💯 percent right. Thanks for sharing and reminding us all what's it all about.
Great lesson indeed! I myself am a bassist that loves groove and conforming to the vibe of a song, and actually shies away from taking solos!
Keeping it focused on the fundamentals is what it's all about. Thanks!
Same here 😂 and it is a great lesson.
It took some decades for me to play a solo and I do it just because it's serving the song perfectly at this particular part of it.
Seek to express,
rather than to impress.
I can appreciate that! Thanks, I plan on learning to play bass guitar soon. Thanks for the advice!
I love that. I’ve always felt that way about music. Express yourself.
That’s a nice lesson! Thx for the wise words!
At the end, you kind of mention something relatable to one of the best sentences said to me. Know where every note is on your bass
Me encantó el video. Creo que muchos lo aprendemos de esa forma.
Really, wise words from your teacher.
Quoting Gail Ann Dorsey "Serve the song." and I strongly believe in that.
Nice vid Philip.
Gosh, one video and I’m subscribed. Learned this lesson myself some years back, and it was a hard pill to swallow, but I am so thankful you are sharing this sentiment, too.
Something we all need to learn at some point. Thanks for subscribing; glad to have you here!
wow, this one hits home
Well said.
Interesting how the older one gets the more we can appreciate negative feedback, especially when delivered in succinct and gentle ways.
Melody is king! (Howard Roberts) Great video!
Nice message to hear at a younger age, saves lots of years of mindless playing.
Definitely good advice you got I my own opinion. Would be interesting to see you do a video on your music school bass. Curious to see how you play it now with the years of experience on different and more oldschool style basses. 😎
A lot of wisdom dropped here. I often stick to my P bass just because it is limiting and makes my mind shift to getting past just the equipment and focusing more on the song. The view you shared is a maturity milestone that is important and some folks never get there.
Wow… very good stuff!
Wise words. I'm a bass player, and I don't really listen to bass-centric music a lot, because a majority of them don't "touch" any emotion in me. I've been moved more by simple, tightly played songs, that were just good songs. I know it's an individual preference, but, a lot of great music can come out of 4 notes on a bass.
YES!!! be honest. be authentic.
Very nice story and lesson learned.
Thanks for watching!
I've always felt that I have to prove myself. It's only in recent times that I understand the importance of consistently serving the song.
If you wanna play bass then play BASS. If you really want to play solos then play guitar.
I love playing bass in a rock band. Do some backup vocals and rock the eighths. With some fil ins and variations of course. To me an actual bass solo is keeping that bass line going when the singer shuts up and the guitar gets quiet for about 4 or 5 bars with just me and the drummer.
Now I want to hear you play some amazing grace
That is just generally good life advice.
Dude, Philip. I think this gave me clarity musically. I'm in my 30's and started playing bass March 2022 because I was struggling as a guitarist of 12/13 years. Wasn't really getting anywhere. I just LOVE the bass and I think I want to pursue being a bassist. For whatever reason, it's easier to navigate the fretboard with 4 strings instead of 6. Love the lower tones as well, finger style and with a pick. And to me, it's a great mix of lead and rhythm guitar. What I mean is, if you're a guitar player who struggles with lead guitar but you got groove, chances are, the bass is knocking on the doors of the frustrated musician's heart. I got the knock and boy I'm glad I opened the door's of my musical heart to let the bass into my arsenal. Just a lot of fun, even to mess around with. But I'm considering getting bass lessons to improve my musicianship and keep opening new musical doors
That’s awesome man! I’m glad you found it helpful. I am taking limited private students on zoom right now if you are interested.
Same here, man.
I like the idea of a thick-necked Jazz. Will try it out soon. Coincidentally, it'll also be Oly White.
There were two paths laid out to you in that moment- the first would be to reject the teacher’s wisdom and the second was to embrace it and grow as a person and musician. That choice and the places it took you shows in the person you are now.
What you're saying is right, context is everything. A lot depends on the gig. If you are filling in for Leland Sklar the crowd will expect something different than when you are filling in for Billy Sheehan! In case of the latter playing stuff 'because you can' may be not such a bad idea😂
I had this realization a little while ago. When playing out, most of the audience is NOT musicians and they DGAF about your solo. They just want a good beat to dance to. Being a tight band, that plays the right thing, is way more important than playing something that looks hard.
I'm fortunate enough as a drummer for never really understanding the point of solos or wanting to do them, so pretty much this never applied to me, however it is true that sometimes your ego messes with you and wants to start demonstrating the latest chops you've been practising instead of just playing the song
I’m just getting into drums… And I was at a friends gig the other day… Little jazz, singer, and piano player and bass player… And of course I’m composing drum parts all the way through… And I just kept thinking to myself I don’t want to take a drum solo. Do you know what I mean if I was in a position to take a drum solo because everyone gets their eight bars are there 16 bars yada yada yada. I mean everyone his drum solos anyway. It would be perfectly OK to have one drum solo a night. My idea of playing is being in the mix… And occasionally adding something spicy
I had one of those - Ocean TB4, right ? Made by Cort. It was great other than kind of low output on the D-G side of the neck.
one of the best (worst?) back handed compliments I got was from a drummer whom I had jammed with years prior. He and I were both subbing for a band, and after one of our practices he says to me, "you finally learned how to play less". I was a little hurt, but, yeah, he was right. At the jam it was a circle jerk, everyone was over playing. For this gig, I was playing what the song needed. It was a good reminder that usually less is more, and, you need to play what the song needs, not what I want lol.
When you go to music stores you see lots of bass players slapping and popping like crazy but you don’t hear much music
Good lesson, sometimes it’s the notes that you don’t play that’s impressive. Also, to miss a note is insignificant, to play without passion is inexcusable.
Strange this video showed up today on my screen. I never heard of this guy before right now!
I have always played for the music because I suck at improv and solos and I wish I could come up with cool licks and do a little shredding but it's not in me.
(I also play bass, 35 years now, out of 51) I believe you must work on a lot of musical elements to nuture you music language. Then when the time comes to solo in a live situation, you must "be there", first listening, then playing. Don't take it as seriously as to think you are the absolute author of what you just did. You're decoding some magic... Recommended literature: Effortless Mastery. Good luck and good music! 🎵🎶
Thanks for sharing! Glad to have you here.
I've understood what I would call "Showy" bass. To me really good bass playing is on the Rolling Stones song "Worried about you" What Wyman does there cannot be taught. It moves me. Showy bass never moves me emotionally.
I’m a seasoned bassist. Been playing for almost 30 years. Session work, tours with artist etc. That being said, there’s a place for both for me. I do agree there’s nothing like a bass in the pocket. That perfect tone and placement with the drums gives me chills to this day. But also love some gospel chops with some funk and slap.
🤫🤫🤫
Don’t give away all the secrets
Great stuff
If you hit the west coast hit up super secret band
🤘
Howard Moon
Good lord, everyone I know needs to see this. I'm an MD at a mega church and these gospel players who come through do nothing but detracts from the music and crowd engagement by blowijg chops and reharming everything. It's maddening. You ask them to simplify, then live they just shred.
what I usually say to musicians of any genre or instrument is "What's fun to play most times is not fun to listen to, don't waste a single note or rest for that matter "
Well said!
100%
Not sure if it's just the camera angle, but the string spacing on your Jazz bass looks wrong at the nut.
✨ great advice indeed
allow me to point out, that there‘s a typo in this quintessential sentence of your video
Yes, I saw it after sharing and debated reuploading. But then decided to embrace the lack of perfection. Thanks for watching!
I've been a solo bassist for almost 30 years 😢
3:52 stay in the pocket
The best bass players make their impact through smart arrangements (Pino Palladino, James Jamerson, Paul McCartney). Their contributions don't come off simple or basic, by any stretch. Just my two cents, the world would be a boring place if every bass was a P with flats. Follow your heart! Keep an open mind.
Wise words. Generally making music is not a "competition", is it? So whoever does sing, play or even mix music for beeing "better" or showing off is like a little dumb minded, I believe. Music is for the heart not the mind or the wallet. ;-)
Well said!
Heavy Bike?
Philip are you secretly a gotdamn american icon??
You can’t stop a man that jumped 36 greyhounds end-to-end.
But what about Ingwe?
I honestly dont think Ive played a solo in over ten years.
"Expressive...not Impressive" great lesson!
Chuck Jacobs once said "Too much, too loud, too unemployed "
True!
But I'm all ego... what should I play then?
"Heavy bike"? Like... Fender Rhodes?
You win the best comment award 🥇
We all know this about bass.
You and I may know, but unfortunately a lot of bass players never learn this lesson.
Nah your teacher was just a hater and if you hadn’t listened to him you’d be in a band so big you wouldn’t have to need a RUclips channel cause you’d be selling out shows and tours year after year.
Yes I’m joking I just wanted to take a contrarian approach for the heck of it 😂.
Serve the comments section. 😂😂😂
What the heels is this guy talking about😢
I don’t understand your question…
Serve the song, not yourself.
Musicians are weird.
🍿
True
Bass solos are like tuba solos. Nobody wants to hear that and I'm a bass player.I was an offensive lineman in college and now I'm the offensive lineman of my band.
Good 1
Bass must be humble first.
Do you actually have any idea how many unnecessary jump cuts your software is (hopefully automatically) cramming in to your video? I’m serious. Watch it yourself and count.
I’m not sure what you mean. Either your computer is lagging or you don’t like my editing style. If you don’t like my videos that’s ok with me, but I do appreciate you watching either way.