Jelly, excellent lesson and explanation of what is going on, breaking it down part by part and giving any bass player whatever level enough information they should be able to do some justice to the song. I'm 62 and have been playing for about 10 years, started late. Im in a band, and though we may not play this song, a friend of mine said he will come to next gig and will be shouting Free Bird after each song.....wouldn't it be funny, cool to then play the song for him! NO ONE would expect that. We are going to play call me the breeze ( easy), and SImple Man ( more going on there also than meets the eye). For someone who relies 95% on playing by EAR, I appreciate how you have explained this song. Important for any body who hasnb't been playing since age of 12....NEVER too late. I'm living proof. I know I cannot repeat what the MASTERS play note by note, but my goal is to be able to understand what is going on, and do what I can...not to take away from the song. And each time I play out, I try to add something. At any age, finding a good teacher is very important, only a few can self teach and play out of their heads. good luck. I am a less is more bass player....my strength is timing...must be right there on next chord when it changes, keep pace for the band....adding in some cool licks...improvs fun....but get the basics down...most won't hear all the EXTRA stuff going on. YES agree the 70's bassists are underappreciated, another one is the bass player for Steppenwolf...rock on!

Ed King played bass on the first album and Ronnie said he was a bad bass player which I think he was excellent, they moved him to guitar where he was even better, I think Ronnie wanted him on guitar so he told him he was bad.

Yes, er Leon's live Freebird approach would be a welcome study.

Thanks a lot, Dude from a french bassist that plays in his very first band. We play this song on rehearsal session and your explanations were really instructive to me !!!!

The original bass player for Lynyrd Skynyrd Band was Larry Junstrom, and Ed King was one of the first guitar pickers, that use to play for the Strawberry Alarm Clock Band, Larry was a nervous type person, and didn’t keep his grades up in school, so his parents made him drop out of the band, then Leon Wilkinson was brought in to play bass, Thanks for such a good video on How to play Free Bird on the bass guitar…. ✌️

Nice Bass, I won’t one…we’ll another one! 🤣👍

Hey Mike..nice Freebird spot, fer sure.. How about a follow up- advanced level- session to cover some of the signature Ed King runs and fills esp in their classic One More From the Road. They seem to be frightening some of our bass prospects...

It’s a freaking difficult baseline I need a lot of this honestly I couldn’t follow your lessons😢😅

Ed was great “pick player.” You can hear his country style picking and loping feel and it’s perfect for the song. It’s been said that Ronnie didn’t like it. That’s in part cuz I feel that Ronnie just didn’t like him much anyway....for some reason or another....

Larry Juststrom, Ed King, Leon Wilkeson

his name was leon !!! lol... I think he left skynyrd because he was intimidated by the whole record deal thing. He re-joined before the second album. However it was actually the bass player from 38 special "LJ" who wrote many of these bass parts. He played on the first 2 demos of this song.

First off I loved Ed King and knew him personally (Rest in Peace Ed) but Ed was a guitar player in the band before he moved to bass and guitar players always over play on bass and Ed was no exception to that...lol. If you really want to learn this bass line listen to Leon Wikersons playing on this song it’s basically Ed’s line he’s playing but Leon made it better. Don’t get me wrong Ed is a great musician and a good bass player but Leon is what Skynyrd needed!

Hey old .

It was Leon , not dead came and Leon played with a pick

Leon Wilkerson is the bass player. He got a paying job and after Ed wasn't up to Ronnie's liking as a bassist, Ronnie went and visited Leon and explained to him probably in a way only Ronnie could that, they needed him bad. Johnstrom was the very first bass player in their first line up but, didnt play on Freebird recording on the first album.

Easy realy

ma suona ziocan

If you're a beginner, don't try this at home!!!🤓🤓🤓

Leon Wilkinson was a million times better on base than Ed king