The Bass Tone Secrets of Gail Ann Dorsey

Рет қаралды 98,655

Күн бұрын

So today we’re lucky enough to have a living legend in the hot seat…
The one. The only. Gail Ann Dorsey.
Bass player for the likes of David Bowie, Lenny Kravitz, Tears for Fears, need I say anymore? ;)
In this week's lesson Gail is sharing her bass tone secrets that she’s learned and applied over the years.
You’re going to be learning:
- Why Gail plays with an extremely light touch (and about her conversation with the legendary Anthony Jackson)
- Why her tone has drastically changed over the years
- Her philosophy about choosing the right bass for the gig
- And much more
As always, see you in the shed…
Scott :)
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Пікірлер: 197

@NoahThul 4 жыл бұрын

"always serve the song" - That is advise that could make so many groups of musician into great bands.

@baskruitnl 4 жыл бұрын

Wow, can you believe she's from 1962? I think she looks much younger.

@marontesla2982 4 жыл бұрын

that what playing bass made with people)

@fredericthom8113 4 жыл бұрын

perhapse she have some magic tricks from Bowie ?

@basslinephunk3441 4 жыл бұрын

Yeah, it crazy!! She looks like she's maybe 30. I was born in '62. But anyway, she is a NICE bass player.

@kirkhullinger1934 4 жыл бұрын

Theu say black dont crack haha

@philipm3173 2 жыл бұрын

Black don't crack

@Igor_Vinicius 4 жыл бұрын

A video featuring Gail Ann Dorsey must be liked even before watching. She's a true legend of bass, a solid and reliable musician. Any artist would be delighted to have her in his/her band. Thanks, Scott. Keep bringing the sessions players to the spotlight. Have a great weekend.

@Shred_The_Weapon 4 жыл бұрын

I think Gail and that Stingray are very well suited to each other. Another skill that deserves mention is the skill to groove it and sing at the same time.

@ThinWhiteAxe 3 жыл бұрын

She's fucking AMAZING at it omg.

@kyledamron 2 жыл бұрын

Such an incredible talent. I can't imagine being so good that Bowie wants you in his band then Lenny Kravitz.

@greyklopstock7155 Жыл бұрын

And that's saying something, cause Lenny is a damn good bass player in his own right. So if he really felt like it, homie could say "fuck it, I'll do it myself." It's like Prince asking you to play something for him. Dude could very easily do it himself, so having them delegate that to you is a big deal

@landrews7280 4 жыл бұрын

She is a great bassist and she also has an amazing voice.

@Alanoffer 4 жыл бұрын

She’s a great bass player . Really tastefull

@Blycker 4 жыл бұрын

The shout out to the kids and proof of the shed's existence was hilarious and I LOVED that. Thanks for being human.

@theTrend7 4 жыл бұрын

Thank You for having Gail on,she is so awesome,she's such an inspiration for me!

@rcmakingtracks18 4 жыл бұрын

As always Scott, you bring us truly awesome bass player's. Thank you. Brilliant

@akusbass 4 жыл бұрын

Man! Thanks a lot for share all this with us! I’m learning a lot! Once again, thank you!

@KnapfordMaster98 5 ай бұрын

A light touch is so underrated. I don’t play professionally or anything, I play occasionally for fun and to record, but I have found that the cleanest tightest most consistent and fattest bass tones come from just barely even touching the thing. Hardly make contact with the strings as you feather over them, and the tone is just unbelievable. The same actually goes for guitar as well, big huge chords sound a lot bigger with a lighter touch. It’s counterintuitive, but it’s absolutely true.

@ManCaveStudio 4 жыл бұрын

Your shed is so freakin cool! Looks peaceful. Perfect for getting things done.

@danielhoneycutt3100 4 жыл бұрын

such a lovely talented woman. what a great interview as well!

@frederickthorne2496 4 жыл бұрын

shed looks fabulous!! congrats on your tidy new setup!

@redskull2000 4 жыл бұрын

Gail is so effing awesome! Great video Scott

@capgpro100 4 жыл бұрын

I so love the bass. Thank you Scott

@estelalourdespudizaarocena5892 3 жыл бұрын

Es mi bajista favorita, amo ese instrumento y me gustaria poder tocar asi como ella.Una gran artista

@jari04 Жыл бұрын

I'm a massive Lenny Kravitz fan and she's one of my favorite bass players

@guatobean2869 Жыл бұрын

Loved the man shed bit and Gail's knowledge!!

@devinebass Жыл бұрын

💯💯💯

@sylart57 4 жыл бұрын

That was a very cool video!!! BTW... I love the shed!!!!!

@mattiabassriffs 4 жыл бұрын

"Serve the song" is the bass player's Creed. Gonna printed on a shirt

@MrConfo Жыл бұрын

I discovered this great bass player some years ago on Bowie live BBC Radio theater (june 2000). This album made me coming back to Bowie for his fantastic vocal performance but more of that, for the global band sound, that i feel rich, simple, musical and smart. And i felt interest in the simplicity of the playing and the bass sound. So very happy to discover her lots of years later. She looks like her bass sound : authentic and sensitive.

@ArthurStone 4 жыл бұрын

Cheers Scott; much appreciated : D

@kongandbasses8732 4 жыл бұрын

This is why I have to provide 3 different StingRay 5 and a SR 4, all with a different vibe, a Carvin SB 5000 for JazzBass tones, three different Precision basses, one of them a 5 string, a Fenix Jazz fretless, and a vintage Les Paul style bass, made in Japan, for vintage tones that are different to a Precision. Before starting the recording session you have to talk to the band and engineer, what kind of tone they are after, and I bring the three basses to the session that I think will be the right ones. Last decision is on the engineer. Notably its mostly one of my StingRays, second come Precision, the Jazz Bass tones sometimes. There was more desire to Jazz Bass tones some years back. But I feel like, its the style of music that I am called for that is more prone to the StingRay and Precision.

@thelegend-vb7ep 4 жыл бұрын

P-Bass is gold man. Industry standard. Love it. Its THE bass.

@adolfoagudelo8462 4 жыл бұрын

Wow excellent video! Thanks!

@robertpurdy4452 4 жыл бұрын

This is a great interview.

@danfango1333 4 жыл бұрын

Saw Gail @ Manchester Apollo playing for Lenny Kravitz. Lotta love for her that night 🌴

@bobwright4945 4 жыл бұрын

Great interview

@czarpaul01 4 жыл бұрын

Such an amazing player with an amazing career

@eliotmccann2589 4 жыл бұрын

I simply adore this woman !

@saonem.o.e2048 4 жыл бұрын

Love her pickguard 😍

@clementschrepfer5050 4 жыл бұрын

Super Great Ann ! :) thx Scott ! Would you get Sting for his bass point of view in songwriting along his carreer ? :) that would be huge !

@pjmuck 4 жыл бұрын

I remember when she first emerged on the scene I used to mix her up with Me'shell Ndegeocello, since they both were bald black female bassists. (And both superb). Me'shell's since grown her hair.

@TheSeanSnider 4 жыл бұрын

On the subject of getting familiar with all types of basses, I've done that over the years, but I always gravitate back to the Jazz. I always want just one instrument, which I'm sure isn't ideal for a session player. But I'm wanting to work out how to emulate those other bass tones as close as I possibly can from just my one Jazz bass.

@juniorgomes8209 4 жыл бұрын

AMAZING!

@karrot101 2 жыл бұрын

2 of my favs in 1 vid :)

@ozdragon7523 4 жыл бұрын

Thumbed up just for the end

@morrisdane 2 жыл бұрын

Fantastic Tone. Period

@kyledamron 2 жыл бұрын

Shes got great socks! I have always enjoyed playing lenny kravitz' "Sista Momma Lover"

@jean-francoisrene5536 4 жыл бұрын

I always wondered why you kept saying "See you in the shed" as I've never heard someone say such a thing. Thanks for sharing the view and your shed is awesome btw!

@75RWM 4 жыл бұрын

Perhaps not familiar with the phrase "woodshedding"? Means to practice, practice, practice, focus intently, and work long and hard at getting better at something.

@jean-francoisrene5536 4 жыл бұрын

@@75RWM Thank you for clarifying the origins of this phrase. As a french-speaker, I never came to hear it yet but it totally makes sense! :)

@shyguy6185 4 жыл бұрын

loved the pot socks

@derrickk.asante5345 4 жыл бұрын

Wow👏👏👏👏 i am moved when i see a lady on the bass... I’m a learning a lot and I’m going to incorporate into my channel too.. Derrick k asante.🤘🏾

@garideb 4 жыл бұрын

She's one of the greats. Really.

@karansuryawanshipaontasahib 4 жыл бұрын

Super Scott sir and Dorsey mam

@dli199214 3 жыл бұрын

building my own shed and sound proving it. so I can practice in peace...

@greyklopstock7155 Жыл бұрын

This is the kind of thing that makes me want to get a music man stingray. Cause my only bass is a 51 p bass reissue with flats. You want vintage, THAT is it. But if I have to get a zingy slap tone, or a modern, bright tone, or even a gritty hard rock heavy thing, I'm low-key fucked. And every music man stingray I've ever played has been absolutely fantastic. They're fabulous instruments. I've always known, if I'm getting an active bass, it HAS to be a stingray. Heck, if I'm ever getting another bass, I've basically already decided it will have to be a stingray.

@jose-azevedo 4 жыл бұрын

Wait, there was an actual shed all along... I'm blown away

@martinheath5947 4 жыл бұрын

0:48 Musicman tone from a Jazz bass! Awesome

@brycemapstone9255 4 жыл бұрын

Please get Tim commerford at some point!

@iwillnevergetone5 4 жыл бұрын

agreed

@TSALVADOR97 4 жыл бұрын

Yess

@fredericthom8113 4 жыл бұрын

ho it will be great if ....

@TSALVADOR97 4 жыл бұрын

GEEz NUTz so how come he is one of the most influential rock/metal bass player of all time?

@cacadordorio 4 жыл бұрын

@GEEz NUTz shut fuck up

@Nivenization 4 жыл бұрын

Thank you.

@Grumdot 4 жыл бұрын

Bass full, treble off, touch of mid; produces an interesting vibe and I Think I like it.

@Matthew-b2i 4 жыл бұрын

Very cool.

@stcezaire06 4 жыл бұрын

Great bass player and fantastic voice too. Have you some infos about Gail Ann' s StingRay ,I see that it is a PreErnie Ball Neck but there are 4 potentiometers so I think 3 Band eq. so it's no a standard PreErnie Ball ??

@SlySpe 2 жыл бұрын

Love her socks (and her music of course)

@NSiahsBassWorld 4 жыл бұрын

Cool vid. Seems like I've seen this before.

@MartinPeterWhitney 4 жыл бұрын

The coolest manshed EVER!!! :-)

@davidcloutman2949 8 ай бұрын

She's so cool.

@jacopasto3204 4 жыл бұрын

one of my fav girls playing the bass!

@satho4790 Жыл бұрын

I find it strange to put the treble completely off !! I think the settle of the amplifier has to be very specific to have the good frequencies to be able to put the bass into the mix. Anyway, just in this video, Gail Ann Dorsey has a very good sound !

@crominion6045 4 жыл бұрын

Raoul and the Kings of Spain!

@tabachoi 4 жыл бұрын

I slapped Like

@jacquelinediesel7883 4 жыл бұрын

Love her! Nice socks too..

@digitalis7 4 жыл бұрын

The Shed!

@bensherman1628 4 жыл бұрын

Really groovy

@wallabyparty5443 4 жыл бұрын

I actuall really want to print a pic on my stingray now.

@McDoinky 4 жыл бұрын

What’s that song she’s playing with kravitz in the video?

@GeneLeoneMix 4 жыл бұрын

Go Gail Ann (y)

@GarethFlatlands 4 жыл бұрын

Great bass player and such an amazing voice on top of that. Gail Ann that is, not you Scott.

@rooster1737 4 жыл бұрын

That's the beauty of Sims Pick ups

@jeremiegagne9455 4 жыл бұрын

I love the socks.

@nicolas.grisanti 4 жыл бұрын

She is AMAZING in the live band of Lenny Kravitz! Really really great tone and playing

@hansabass 2 жыл бұрын

Yeah Gail Ann! :-D Gary Willis even says that digging in deep kills the tone. He says, if I'm correct, you get a fatter sound by playing with a soft(er) touch

@colinyoungscot 4 жыл бұрын

Great video but.... That's a kick ass shed

@thecatboss123 4 жыл бұрын

great video, but please let her speak :) and for that matter all the interviewed players so far

@Bey11ktb 3 жыл бұрын

Hey why do you play a 4 string instead of 5 or 6?

@amadams 4 жыл бұрын

she is so cool bruh

@theTrend7 4 жыл бұрын

Absolutely!

@LukesEnglishPodcast 4 жыл бұрын

Nice socks Gail

@Jo-si3ot 4 жыл бұрын

😎👍🏼

@AWhite-pg2fq 4 жыл бұрын

Damn I thought this might be from 10 yrs ago she looks exactly the same from reality tour

@karjala. 4 жыл бұрын

Liked the shef

@karjala. 4 жыл бұрын

*shed

@swagjuulking286 4 жыл бұрын

Brug she got weed socks on im dead 💀

@heynowron3707 4 жыл бұрын

Is the she-shed next door?

@ArchimedesWoo 4 жыл бұрын

Yep..."full on bass". ;-)

@MotoGreciaMarios 4 жыл бұрын

Nice interview but where exactly were the "secrets". She mainly said that in the past bass tone was brighter and that when she plays session she is very professional and does what the customer wants.

@tjdorsey654 4 жыл бұрын

I wonder if I'm related to her.

@martineheymans6388 4 ай бұрын

Chère Gaell Dorsey j aimerais te demander si David était aussi gentil qu il le paraissait c était mon ldole et je 'l adorait' l être qu il était et ses chansons malgré que je ne comprenais pas les paroles depuis toute jeune ❤❤❤😊😊

@75RWM 4 жыл бұрын

So, someday Scott, you should give us your opinion about Fender P bass. Don't recall you ever talking about one, shown us one, or mentioned if you even have one in your collection. You should try playing a P bass sometime, might find you'd like it. (Love what you're doing, thoroughly enjoyable, entertaining, and even manage to learn a thing or two. Keep on keepin' on.)

@perpetualgrimace 4 жыл бұрын

He actually has a jazz bass vs. p bass video somewhere.

@75RWM 4 жыл бұрын

@@perpetualgrimace Ummm, I know that, was hoping to get a smile from Scott with my tongue in cheek line. Been following Scott's Bass for some years, he's actually a huge fan of P basses, whole love affair thing going on with his older Fenders. Was attempting mild, and hopefully humorous, sarcasm about his Fender P love.

@perpetualgrimace 4 жыл бұрын

@@75RWM ah okay. Sarcasm doesn't translate well sometimes

@Grayham4 4 жыл бұрын

I thought it was funny

@laneygator1 Жыл бұрын

I always did the full bass, mix of mids and no treble… i don’t like what treble adds to the sound.

@devinebass Жыл бұрын

Different strokes for different folks!!

@TheWonderer7 4 жыл бұрын

I wonder if Lenny Kravitz tells the other guitar player what brand guitar to play?

@oneammonday 4 жыл бұрын

I'm sure he would say "Hey, man. Switch to the Telecaster (or Les Paul, or whatever) for this one." if that's what he wanted for whatever tune. If he's payin' the bills, he gets what he wants.

@cedricjacobs498jacobs6 4 жыл бұрын

serve the song she said

@godsinbox 2 жыл бұрын

was the tone a secret? I didnt hear it

@kirkhullinger1934 4 жыл бұрын

Makes me happy to have a stingray

@TheToneLounge 4 жыл бұрын

You should call your man shed “Manshedster”!

@geerhoar 4 жыл бұрын

There’s Marilyn.

@shawnhuff6024 4 жыл бұрын

Scott why do more bass players rest their arm with force on their neck of their bass guitar forcing the neck down and messing up the pocket and joints of the neck

@garideb 4 жыл бұрын

D'ya know what? I recon the bass and the amp only account for small part of the tone. I really think it's mostly in the fingers of the player - Gail Ann Dorsey can change the whole sound by "digging in" in a way that only a truly skilled master of the instrument can. I'm going to work on my technique before I spend any more money on kit!