Common mistake. Abby Road was recorded after Let it Be.

Some additional info about some of the songs listed: 1. Since Ringo stepped out for Back In The USSR, all 3 other Beatles ended up playing bass and drums on the track. Over 4 tracks, Paul played the main drum part, a jazz bass, guitar and piano while John and George both individually played the Fender VI, a snare drum and guitar. 2. Both George and Paul play bass on Rocky Raccoon. George played a bass part with a tremolo effect live alongside the rest of the band and Paul later overdubbed a jazz bass part. 3. John's bass part on The Long and Winding Road only sounds as "bad" as it does because they were still rehearsing the song. The take used on the album was the first take of that song to be recorded and it was still while John was learning the chord changes so his performance wasn't going to be perfect and no one expected it to be used for the actual album. 5 days later after actually learning the song they recorded what they expected to be the final version (which was the one used on Let It Be Naked) but when Phil Spector went to mix the album he chose the first take as it had the best vocal but not as good of a bass performance since it was basically just a rehearsal. If you listen to Take 19 on the Let It Be Super Deluxe you can hear that John's bass playing is much better than the actual album since he actually learned it for this take.

Two of us is George playing a great bass line. One small correction. You referred to Back in the U.S.S.R as the "title" track of the White album. It was the opening track. A title track is a song that has the same name as the album it's on, like Let it be.

George’s bass on the Two Of Us is superb.. love it.. it makes the song.

For most long term Beatles fans, it is no surprise that the Beatles interchanged instruments. However, the one that surprised me when I learnt about it, was Paul McCartney on lead guitar on "Taxman". Amazing !!!

McCartney, the most successful musician and songwriter in history, just wants credit for what he did do, just like everyone else. McCartney gives a ton of credit to John, George and Ringo because they deserve a ton of credit. They’re all great together and apart. Ringo is a vastly underrated song man, singer and musician. He has it in spades. Lennon was a brilliant dynamic underrated rhythm guitarist and George was a beautifully tasteful guitarist who lifted many songs with his playing. The lead guitar on Something is as good as it gets; nobody has surpassed him.

George's style of guitar playing and styling has been described as lyrical, so it isn't surprising that his bass playing is the same.

About 'Old Brown Shoe': In a 1987 interview for Creem magazine, however, Harrison recalled that he was the bass guitarist on the track, rather than McCartney.[60][61] When the interviewer, J. Kordosh, suggested that the bass part "sounds like McCartney was going nuts again", Harrison replied: "That was me going nuts. I’m doing [on the bass] exactly what I do on the guitar."[62]

John's bass on "Helter Skelter" is awesome, totally perfect for the song. "Helter Skelter" is my favourite track on The White Album and Lennon's isolated bass is the isolated instrument I visit the most on youtube.

I read an interview where George said he played the bass - he said it was a simple matter of playing bass exactly how he'd play guitar.

Only proves, john or any band member can play other instruments, drums, bass, harmonicA, guitars, vocals. Anything at all. Amazing musicians!

I remember learning so many Beatles bass lines for an off Broadway show, “Sargent Peppers On The Road”, before the investors chose to make a movie. So many wonderful bass lines, songs.

We for so long missed that the Beatles never had advanced to become fantastic musicians. They, however, had superhuman skills writing songs, melodies, lyrics, arrangements, rhythms, accompaniments, and studio effects in overwhelming volume that they could play. And their singing was great, even in how their voices meshed. Such skills will perhaps always outdo musicianship.

In Barry Miles' McCartney biography (best Beatles book alongside Geoff Emerick's incredible book---both are fascinating deepdives into the actual making of the songs), Paul is quoted saying he didn't play bass on "She Said She Said", and that George did.

The “big 3 “ front line of The Beatles…since 1958 was John, Paul, George..originally all 3 on guitar and all 3 were lead vocalists. The main thing is they were their own session men. In the entire Beatles recorded catalog they played all guitars and bass parts, with the LONE EXCEPTION being Eric Clapton once on WHILE MY GUITAR….playing lead guitar.

I found out that George played bass on “Oh! Darling” ages ago, I love that bass line. ✌️☺️

Paul also didn't play bass on I Will. He hummed it. As for Old Brown Shoe, George said he played bass on that one in an interview to Creem Magazine.

John played bass on 'Fixing A Hole'. John is on bass for all early 'Let It Be' - takes, the Glyn Johns Mix, and the movie version. 'Naked' version has a mixture of bass parts by John and Paul. George played bass on 'Good Day Sunshine'. George played the Fender VI on the Video version of 'Hey Jude'.

The ballet of john and yoko...i thought was done by all 4 till i learned it was just john and paul..

No other band worked in this way, swopping instruments, but it enhanced the variation and creativity song to song. One of a kind!

George had often said that he played bass on his composition, Old Brown Shoe.

The average person (if they know the instruments at all) will think Paul was only a bass player. Bet Paul played guitar on more songs than he didn’t play bass on.

While My Guitar Gently Weeps sounds like McCartney on his Rickenbacker to me.

Thanks for using my cover of Dig It! Nice video

Old Brown Shoe was the first song that came to me. Always heard that George played that magnificent bass line.

Lennon played the incredible solo on honey pie

George also played bass on She Said She Said from Revolver. George was a solid bass player.

John also plays bass on Let It Be and The Long and Winding Road. And George on Good Day Sunshine, that's why there's footage of the revolver sessions where George plays bass.

I assume that the fact that he didn't play in the actual recording it doesn't mean that he didn't come out with the lines. He could've just gone to John and George and teach them how he wanted it played. I've read that he always taught Harrison and even Ringo how to play their parts in his songs.

I LOVE the bass line on the Long & Winding Road. I am shocked, that it wasn't overdubbed and performed by Paul though! It seemed to have the same feel as the bass line on "Something".

Paul himself has said that George played bass on "She Said She Said"

He’s done more than enough to have to pad his credit. He’s hands down the most gifted and versatile musician in the Beatles. His list of acknowledged credits on iconic bass, guitar, piano, Mellotron and many other instruments speaks for itself.

It’s fairly common for John or George to play bass on a song that Paul was doing guitar or piano so most of these I did know, and I’m pretty sure that George also played on Hey Jude, as he’s seen with the Bass VI in the promotional video for the song

My favorite bass line from the Beatles is probably Paperback Writer. Amazing 😎

Very informative in that I grew up in that era and now it seems apparent that the style in the melodic sounds of the band was ever so refreshing. And why not, if the members were exchanging their instruments to fit the narrative.

Let It Be was also John on bass. I actually like the bass on Long And Winding Road.

You have to compare Lennon playing on the Phil Spectre version of “the Long and winding Road” (which Paul complained about not only the strings and chorus on, but also the choice of take), and the version which is on the “Let it Be Naked” record, which was the take the Beatles themselves chose. (please note Paul‘s extremely detailed letter complaining about this to Apple and Spector, and insisting none of his songs ever again be changed without his permission), and you will see that John was learning the song during that take, not sabotaging it in any way-on their chosen chosen he plays perfectly fine- not great but truly not amateurishlly or ineptly in anyway. The truth is out there, and easily available in any record store, I mean, honestly!

I have an inkling that Billy Preston played that bass track for Old Brown Show. I seen some Let It Be footage of him playing the Fender 6 string as George was playing piano. And Paul was acting like he was playing a right handed guitar. It was just a rehearsal sort of thing, while showing them the song. Or getting used to the song. I noticed Preston do that rolling style on and off on the verses, because the clip didn't show but a few seconds of the middle 8. Yeah, I think it was Preston who originated that rolling bass style in that song.

kzfaq.info/get/bejne/Z5uIY6Rhv52odo0.html Hereby the complete version of the Two Of Us "bass" on a Hofner V63. Thanks Andrew for sharing a bit of this in your awesome vid! Cheers from Holland, Norby Hofner

George is very melodic, like to play the chord tones and have great timing on guitar, why not on bass? He was lead guitarrist cause he was the best on it in the group

George did play bass on "Old Brown Shoe" and from what I've always read Paul had an argument and walked out on "She Said, She Said" session.

What you have to remember for Let it Be sessions it was impractical for Paul to play bass as the intention was to play live, on the piano

The White Album definitely isn't called 'Back In The USSR'.

I’m sure I have read something about George Harrison talking about playing bass on ‘Drive my car’. He referenced the bass line on Otis Redding’s ‘Respect’ as his main influence for that bass line.

It was mentioned a few times here in the comments, but both John and Paul played bass on Let It Be. As seen in the Get Back doc, when the words appear on the screen saying that what we’re currently watching was the actual take of Let It Be that was released, John is on the floor with the Bass VI and basically playing basic whole and half note root notes. Paul went back after and overdubbed a proper bass track, on top of John’s single sustained root notes. If you listen closely you can hear it! I didn’t realize this until I watched the documentary!

George originally played bass for paperback writer because Paul was doing lead guitar but then they recorded over George’s playing by accident with someones vocals (I thinks don’t quote me)and replaced it with Paul’s

George played bass on Old Brown Shoe, he said so. Paul said he didn't like She Said at first and took a break and George did the bass while he was gone.

Crazy how one of rocks best basslines comes from the apparently “instrumentally ungifted” john lennon

I studied and went to music school to play bass because of Paul McCartney. I listen the Beatles daily, or at least hear them. It only makes sense. My take away is that I want to learn how to play, create, or find that Fender 6. LOL

Fender finally gained a foothold with the post touring Beatles. New studio tools put straight to use.

Your work on Rush is fantastic!! Over the last few weeks, I've been asking, "Who was/is the "mystery" Bass Player"? On the live in Dallas Clapton/Layla 1976 version. Opps, but I think the bass player is one of the favorite parts of the song.

You can definitely hear George’s country influence when he takes the bass

I think I seen a video where George says he played the bass guitar part for Old Brown Shoe. He was certainly capable of coming up with and playing that part.

According to The Beatles Recording Reference Manual. 1.) Back In The USSR: Backing track- Harrison Drums, McCartney Casino Guitar, and Lennon Fender Bass VI. Overdub 1 McCartney Drums, McCartney (Fender Jazz) and Harrison (Fender Bass VI) on Bass simultaneously, Lennon on Snare Overdub 2 McCartney Piano, Lennon and Harrison on Lead Guitar 2.) Rocky Raccoon: Harrison on Fender Bass VI 3.) Helter Skelter: Lennon on Fender Bass VI 4.) Honey Pie: Harrison on Fender Bass VI 5.) Maxwell’s Silver Hammer: Harrison Bass (either Fender Bass VI or Fender Jazz Bass) 6.) Oh Darling: Harrison Bass (either Fender Bass VI or Fender Jazz Bass) 7.) Golden Slumbers/Carry That Weight: Harrison Fender Bass VI 8.) Two of Us: Harrison on Fender Rosewood Telecaster 9.) Dig It: McCartney Hofner 500/1 Bass 10.) The Long and Winding Road: Lennon Fender Bass VI 11.) Old Brown Shoe: McCartney on Rickenbaker 4001S Bass 12.) While My Guitar Gently Weeps: McCartney on Rickenbaker 4001S Bass 13.) She Said, She Said: McCartney on Rickenbaker 4001S Bass* McCartney had recorded his bass on the track before he and Lennon had an argument with McCartney leaving.

As far as I know, George also played the Bass VI on Birthday. That one has always been one of my favorites.

To me those last 2 are not mysteries. On the rhythm track of she said she said paul can be heard counting in and you can hear him clearly talking right before the take. I also dont think the other 2 were good enough bassists to play what is on she said (in 1966 atleast). Its so tight with ringo in a way very few people could get. Bass on gently weeps is 100% macca. The bass 6 triples the chorus line with a 12 string and you can really hear bow different it sounds to the jazz bass. Macca used his jazz bass on a few white album songs and its really easy to hear if youve heard it in iso.

It probably is good if we don't forget that Paul was originally a guitar player. He took over the role of bass when Stu Sutcliff left the band, since George was clearly a lead player. So it shouldn't be a stretch to see that Paul enjoyed playing guitar and would happily let someone else take over bass. In those days bass was still considered by many to be something less important. Obviously we know this was just unfounded bias and, we hope, no longer a common misconception.

Funny that you included a quick clip of the Fab Four tribute band. Theyre friends of mine for the past 30 plus years (well, the original lineup is).

It's Paul on bass for Helter Skelter. Listen to take 17, which can be found here on KZfaq. At the beginning you hear Paul explain something, he starts singing and playing the same thing on the bass at the same time. There's no way John would've known what to play and be that synced with Paul, especially it being off the cuff. It's also sloppy because Paul is playing and singing at the same time, and he's also singing very hard, so it's understandable that he'd be playing a bit sloppy.

Similarly, many of the great Rolling Stones bass parts which I used to praise Bill Wyman for were actually played by Keith Richards!

This video is another example of the genius of The Beatles who were some of the greatest musician who ever lived.

Nice video, never knew most of these!!

I had seen you on Instagram before, your videos here excellent too!

You forgot "it's all too much" The entire song is a mystery on who plays what

John played bass on Let It Be, as can be seen in the movie and the Get Back documentary, but it's said that it was so bad that Paul re-recorded it.

Ha, the isolated helter skelter made me go “oh yeah, not Paul” 😂

Excellent video! My only bone to pick is at 3:48: the word "homage" is pronounced "Oh-Mahzhh"

Paul played the guitar solo on Taxman, a song written by George Harrison. Paul may not have played bass on every Beatles song, but whatever instrument he did play on a Beatles song it was always the best AND most creative part.

It really doesn't matter who played what. They are just the greatest band there's ever been.

"Gently Wheeps" - Lennon on the verses playing Fender VI. McCartney joins on choruses playing his lefty J Bass, doubling the hook. you can also hear guitar doubling the hook in octaves, most likely George, most likely playing his Ric 12.

When read the book “Revolution in the head” 25 years ago, and read some of this also Paul playing lead in a lot of 65-66 track, Paul playing drums when rings left in 68, etc.

Ive always heard that "she said she said" was the only Beatle song recorded without Maca on it

I suspect, John also played bass on "Let it be". Paul played piano.

There were two bass played in Obbla Di Obbla dah. Different octaves 😊

Oh Darling and Maxwell's Silver Hammer are 2 of my favorite George basslines. George had a fine melodic sensitivity when he played bass. John plodded on the bass, but George played it well.

Paul's memory is not - shall we say - definitive. As a session player of some 45 years who has happily gone through the original master tapes, let me add: The bass on 'She said, she said' was definitely George, after Paul had walked out in a huff during that session. 'While My Guitar Gently Weeps' was primarily John on bass, with George doubling the bass line on guitar. 'Old Brown Shoe'...when George was interviewed about this, the interviewer said 'and McCartney going a bit mad on the bass again, eh?' to which George replied 'The bass player WAS going mad but it wasn't Paul, it was me - I played the bass on that.'

I am very old now and I was brought up on the Beatles. Personally, I always regarded Paul as a singer/songwriter and never as a Bass player. I think they all played whatever was necessary to make the music work. I really don't think it mattered who played what and quite frankly I couldn't care less.

On the bridge part of "Old Brown Shoe" it sounds like Chris Squire playing bass.

I've scene a vid where the interviewer claims Paul played the bass part in silver hammer and compliments him on the Tuba like approach of the part at which point Paul demonstrates the part on a bass.

You are making the assumption that George/John created the baselines on Paul's songs. You state that George sounds just like Paul when he plays. It is just as likely that Paul created the baselines and George played them and that is why he sounds like Paul. When watching Get Back, one can see Paul telling John what he needs to do on the base because he is struggling with it.

Oh Darling is for me the most surprising...it's so Paul. Wonder if he gave any "direction" to George...Better not to know and just enjoy 🙂.

Drive My Car is another. I have read one account (wish I could still recall where) that George recalled playing bass on this song and even indicated it was a swipe from someone else's song, though it's hard to believe it's not Paul. You mention Lewisohn's book which I used to be in awe of but over the years seems to be rather thin in information. He would be better served going back to researching and rewriting a more complete version than writing their biography and attempting to position of the world authority on the Beatles, which he is not.

Paul could pay any instrument, drums, any guitar and his voice range was incredible. If he wasn’t playing traditional bass it was for a particular reason, leave him alone.

Towards the end, Paul was very bossy in the studio. I could see him writing the basslines on the Abbey Road album for George to play. Also, I heard John’s bass in the Long and winding Road was from an earlier take when he was still learning the song. He eventually got better, but they didn’t use that later take for some reason

If Paul lives long enough, he’ll eventually confess to playing every instrument on every album and that he wrote every song.

To be fair considering that the Beatles were only in the world spotlight as a band for 7 odd years, but they changed music as we know it forever, like who writes the music for bands, selling albums not just singles, have 30 odd number ones, changed culture and genres of music to no end,.....ect. I guess what I'm saying is they were, well are massive and I don't think there will ever be a band/group/solo artist that will change the world as much in under a decade,...ever again!?! In under a decade they changed the world forever! I mean, wow, just wow;-) Respect🙂

Wait until they find out that Pet Sounds' music tracks were already recorded by session musicians BEFORE Mike Love and the rest of the boys even knew about it. The vocalists were not happy with Brian.

Is it the original version of "Helter Skelter" you used in this video? Maybe I'm wrong, but it seems to me it sounds better here, than the original version ! 😆

Love your energy!

It's not surprising the Fender Base VI wS used as it is not actually considered a base but more a guitar, tuned to guitar tuning but one octave lower so it sounds like a base, with special strings. John and George would have felt more comfortable because it would have been a familiar six stringed instrument exactly like a guitar except deeper with a slightly longer fretboard.

I thoroughly enjoy this video . there's always something new just when i thought ive heard and read it all. Thanks Andrew.

Yeah, not a lot of people know the real name for “The White Album” is “Back In the USSR”

Back in the USSR is not the title track, the name of the album is The Beatles, and is referred to as the white album. Examples of title tracks include Please Please Me, Let It Be, A Hard Day's Night, Help, Sgt. Peppers Lonely Hearts Club Band. Magical Mystery Tour, Yellow Submarine. Back in the USSR is the first track, not the title track. Young people.🙄🙄🙄

George's Two Of Us bass line was inspired by the Everley Brothers Bye Bye Love...which he later covered (badly) in the 70s.

Re "Old Brown Shoe" - because it's so good (fluid and medodic), everyone assumed it must be Paul until George put a spanner in the works during a 1987 interview for Creem magazine in which George stated that *he* was the bass guitarist on the song. Interviewer: "the bass part "sounds like McCartney was going nuts again"". Harrison: "That was *me* going nuts! I’m doing [on the bass] exactly what I do on the guitar."

George plays that Fender bass on the semi-live version of Hey Jude. Not sure if he did on the recorded version. And I thing Lennon also played that same Fender bass on Let it be. Thanks for the video, cheers!

So many talents shared. On Get Back, all four of them play some piano. Harrison even says something like the piano is hard as he plinks out a reasonable melody. That 6 string is handy for guitar players to fill in on.

As a bass player I've played this song live and didn't know that there's no bass at all on I've Just Seen A Face. Bob

Harrison stated Flatley regarding bass “on Old Brown Shoe that’s me going crazy on bass”. I have to go with the guy who wrote the song on that one. They could all play several instruments, but George didn’t have the Texas sized ego of McCartney or Lennon. He just wanted to get the job done. Either way, what a dynamic song and Lennon said it was one of his favorites. And as to the sloppy bass on Long and winding Road, well, if you’re doing heroin, it’s all up for grabs. He was a junkie at that point. I wonder why they didn’t fix it. They were such an odd group of thinkers that maybe they convinced them selves 🎼It was avant-garde and abstract to have that messy baseline. What a cool fucking band.🎼

I don't know about the studio versions of Hey Jude but George plays the bass on the live version that was made for the David Frost show.