The REAL Way To Play Billie Jean on Bass (The Bass Wizard)

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8 жыл бұрын

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The bass line in Michael Jackson - Billie Jean is one of the most famous and iconic bass lines of all time. However, most bass players don't know how it was actually played on the record.
In my previous video I taught you how to play Michael Jackson's Get On The Floor, which was played by bassist Louis Johnson. In this bass lesson, I show you another great bass line by Louis Johnson and how he utilized some of his unique techniques which I discussed in my last video to create one of the greatest and most recognizable bass lines ever.
If you want to master slap bass, check out my Slap Bass Mastery Course: www.TheBassWizard.com/Slap-Bas...

Пікірлер: 458

@Begruded_Norse 7 жыл бұрын

Just watched a live recording of him playing it, and boy you are so right. It's amazing how that's escaped notice.

@pancakepunch1011 8 жыл бұрын

this guy is a badass. I really enjoyed the tutorial he did on amp selection, although I knew 85% of it, it was very well explained..good job you tube friend

@michaelsayers9435 4 жыл бұрын

I AGREE!!! HELL OF A PLAYER!!!

@ya_boi_logs9792 6 жыл бұрын

oh hi mark

@cpmario97227 6 жыл бұрын

I did not hit her! It's bullshit, Lisa!

@jilldavidsen8411 5 жыл бұрын

Lol

@bimborard7486 3 жыл бұрын

yes

@xyronic5745 2 жыл бұрын

shut up and take my like

@nakajimastriker62 2 жыл бұрын

hahahaha

@mr.jimbusiness6326 6 жыл бұрын

Just like my father...you set me up for failure when you asked me which one was right and neither of them were..

@elisseospap3340 3 жыл бұрын

Hahaha

@Ky-Nas 4 жыл бұрын

Marcelo: "Is it this bassline or _this_ bassline." Me: "That's a trick question, it's clearly a mixture of bo-" Marcelo: "It's actually both."

@bradster2214 7 жыл бұрын

without the octave, i'd say the high F# is more appealing than low F#

@andrewpangus5440 6 жыл бұрын

That's irrelevant. He giving you the right way to play this song and you are throwing in your opinion, which btw your opinion is wrong

@nathanj4254 6 жыл бұрын

Just re-read that last part, “btw your opinion is wrong”. It’s an opinion it can’t be wrong. You can agree or disagree, but an opinion can never be wrong.

@OogieWa 6 жыл бұрын

Of course an opinion can be wrong! Duh. In the end, reality always wins. Although in this case I believe that the original statement is correct, if you're only going to play one note, doing the high one to him is more appealing, and it is to me, too.

@jorgeperdomo2489 6 жыл бұрын

OogieWa let me guess, your opinion is always correct and if I share the same opinion I'm also correct? But if I disagree then my opinion is wrong?

@OogieWa 6 жыл бұрын

That's ridiculous. If it's your opinion that it's OK for the kids to go play in the busy street, then that opinion is pretty wrong no matter what mine or anyone else's may be. If it's still someone's opinion that the earth is flat, they are messed up, how can that opinion possibly be right?

@bojnebojnebojne 2 жыл бұрын

Actually, not only the root note, which is played with the thumb is played in staccato, most notes of the bassline are. There are places in the song where the notes are supposed to be played legato, but most of the time it's staccato.

@Twobarpsi 6 жыл бұрын

Nice job man. Evh used this technique too. Great lesson!

@tsangpogorge 5 жыл бұрын

Mind blown! its little details like this that makes helps a song timeless.

@pillepalle3614 5 жыл бұрын

Listen Wizard. After years and years I gave up and said to myself: ‚Either it‘s a synth doubeling or a overdub or he switches an octaver quickly in and out (which I would have been too lazy to do). I never came on the idea of octave it with the thumb. Thank you, thank you, thank you. And, LOUIS JOHNSON WAS A GENIOUS!

@harrypachinko 6 жыл бұрын

Hello Marc, Love all your videos and I completely agree with your opening statement that NO ONE live or most here online don't execute all the subtle nuisances of this amazing track and bass line. You are correct about Louis Johnson thumbing double stops when he plays but, my ear has always heard it this way and this is how I always have played when playing "live" with variations of the two once the song is going: I hope you don't mind my input, and I appreciate you and your ear.... F#m Billie Jean Bass Intro (KeyBass unison): 8 - 5 - b7 1 - b7(pull off) 5 - 4 - 5 Bassline once into track (8 Bars of bass), moves up to upper octave of riff along with KeyBass: 8 - 5 - b7 8 - b7 5 - 4 5 With incorporating it this way, a lone bassist can cover the part when there's no keys or synthbass in the Band. :)

@PlanoFSXer 5 жыл бұрын

The real answer is, the bass guitar goes with the higher F#, while the synth plays the lower F#.

@UltraCasualPenguin 4 жыл бұрын

Listen to original. It's both.

@djurgens76 3 жыл бұрын

there was no such thing as a synth when this song was written, watch a video of Louis Johnson playing and you will in fact see him thumbing this song.

@vegeta1885 3 жыл бұрын

@@djurgens76 but there is on the record though

@srdjr6760 3 жыл бұрын

@@djurgens76 uh...there were synths for over a decade before this came out. I thought the low F# was a synth until I saw Louis Johnson play this. So there were synths but the low and high F# were played on bass.

@YucaConPanela 3 жыл бұрын

Bass guitar is both, Synth Bass is Higher F#

@kirbyamick7976 5 жыл бұрын

great insight. the bassline sounds great all 3 ways..

@blacktoad2425 5 жыл бұрын

Damn this was actually insightful. Thanks!

@mikeldavies1406 7 жыл бұрын

Thank you! I've been straining to hear what that buzz on the f# was and if it was intentional and you nailed it. Nice one.

@stephencoxbass 5 жыл бұрын

The funny thing is...I knew about this and still made a tutorial with only the higher octave :D I put a card over to this video, though...so those serious about playing it like the record can come here and watch your awesome video! Great stuff!

@classicalplayalongs6154 6 жыл бұрын

My personal solution for approximating the original sound by only one bass and no synth, is putting a capo to the 2nd fret so I have the lower f# (and lower b in the Bm parts) on open strings. That makes it quite easy to play the octaves. Takes some practice however to mute the open strings in time.

@RitchieRosson 7 жыл бұрын

This blew my mind! Thank you

@RicardoStrani 6 жыл бұрын

How noble is to pass ahead such knowledge?! Thank you very very much :-)

@veronicagorosito187 7 жыл бұрын

I thought some other instrument like a piano (rhodes or some) was hitting the subtle high octave at unison with the (low on) the bass. Now I can hear the original track and yes you're right :)

@eddybass68 7 жыл бұрын

wow!!! ive been playing the high f# forever lol...just pulled out my bass and played it the way youve shown and WHAT A DIFFERENCE. thanks for sharing

@Sindig0 7 жыл бұрын

mind blown. Thanks.

@northernlightbander 8 жыл бұрын

cool!! Back in the day I played it starting with the low F# and playing the second F# (on the "and" of the second beat) an octave above on the D. But you are right! The octave gives the pulse of the song an extra boost! Always enjoy your stuff! Spot on! You can even teach us old dogz!

@elmuan 8 жыл бұрын

Fantastic lesson! Great job maestro.

@mikelunatiko 6 жыл бұрын

I've always played it with a first low F# and a second high F#, because that's the way I played it on the keyboard before having a bass. And sounds pretty cool.

@rubentrevino8684 8 жыл бұрын

Did not realize the late great Luis Johnson played on this track! I played the high F and felt I was always missing something, thx for the great lesson..

@asj511 8 жыл бұрын

Very helpful, indeed. Thanks!

@sheldon6307 6 жыл бұрын

Thanks dude really great advice

@scottm7720 5 жыл бұрын

I always thought it sounded off when I played it and not exactly right. Great video, thanks!

@ExtraRdinery 6 жыл бұрын

Very insightful, thanks.

@magnificus23 8 жыл бұрын

you just blown my mind geniously

@brucenlittlepictures 7 жыл бұрын

I got it right!

@kdt85 7 жыл бұрын

brucenlittlepictures yeah me too :) go us

@MostlyEarTraining 6 жыл бұрын

Very interesting. I always heard that low F# being played twice like that, but I always thought it was some overdub (and still think that might be it) ... but yeah; this sounds right - closest way to get it sounding just like the record anyway. Subscribed.

@bryanbailey5809 6 жыл бұрын

Ah! That's awesome. That octave helps with the syncopation. Thanks for all your videos. Can I request a Santería tutorial? That's one of my all time favorites. Do you do private lessons?

@johnwright739 7 жыл бұрын

Man, your not alone. Been playing it like this way too, thought i was the only one haha..

@oscarmaganajr79 6 жыл бұрын

Omg... When I tried learning this song on bass, i got so frustrated because the tabs I was going off had me play a high F#. Thank you for this video tutorial, now knowing that it's both high & low helps so much.

@bpabustan 9 ай бұрын

I always ask myself why the F# was distorting on that bass riff, this answered it! Thank you!

@ShabaleetoIV 8 жыл бұрын

Wow would of never heard that in Billie Jean and nice opening Marc everything got upgraded lol

@corysoul1839 7 жыл бұрын

I play using that technique so much, naturally, & I never once thought of this!

@jsk8et 6 жыл бұрын

I thought the low octave was a synth and just on the first F#! This is a cool way to do stuff and maybe I'll try to use it. Thanks!

@1funkyangel 7 жыл бұрын

That was good ! I never would've guessed Louis did it that way !😊

@carltongregory3556 7 жыл бұрын

Thanks

@reymondgopog426 6 жыл бұрын

You got yourself a new subscriber. Keep it up.

@TomTobin67 4 жыл бұрын

Johnson was a fantastic bass player.

@Uandro1990 5 жыл бұрын

congratulations man

@nbroberts97 6 жыл бұрын

wow what a great vid..... I'm in awe

@zip8327 8 жыл бұрын

awesome

@kimlu-anh9759 4 жыл бұрын

🎼 Exaactlyyy : thanks a million fir sharing ! 🎶

@SomeHardCandy 7 жыл бұрын

pretty clever. its the octave trick

@mannyflores4128 8 жыл бұрын

good ears to hear the octave two note good job....

@CesareFerrari667 6 жыл бұрын

Nice tip!

@gbl6266 6 жыл бұрын

Excellent...thanks man.

@ScottyHuff Жыл бұрын

I always thought there was a synth part playing the low F# along with the bass line. Cool!

@anubiscomplex 7 жыл бұрын

Dude- been playing this exactly the right way for years and every pieces as hell at me then again I attended a few clinics with Louis Johnson in Miami. Wish I made this video a long time ago!!

@TheNagualZone 7 жыл бұрын

Excellent!

@johnnyroastbeef3048 6 жыл бұрын

You are correct sir!

@brettbernard4948 2 жыл бұрын

So cool bro thx .

@classicalplayalongs6154 6 жыл бұрын

About alternative (single-note) solutions mentioned in the video: I dont't recall any bass player ever doing the line with both low f#'s, and that's well understandable because the line sounds quite sick. I mostly hear and see the both high f#'s, but a good compromise would be doing the first f# low and the second high. That would produce a fluent line.

@KamiKaZeJeremy 6 жыл бұрын

nice lesson

@kayakbandits9894 6 жыл бұрын

I’m not a bass player by trade rather I play guitar mostly. But I did want to learn that song one time and I remember heart both notes. I just assumed it was dubbed in the studio. Thx for the insight!

@basswanderer2765 6 жыл бұрын

I learned this the proper way then way back when I first heard it. I really didn't know thunder thumbs did this though. Nice

@MrBlacksniperconz 7 жыл бұрын

Fairly certain it's actually a synth bass playing the low F#

@garystackhouse5787 7 жыл бұрын

Probably both, but it's also got a hefty mute on the bass, either with foam or, more likely, with technique... maybe even with both.

@Uthred007 6 жыл бұрын

I agree

@Zoologic21 6 жыл бұрын

Actually it IS both, the thing is is, the high F# version is the original bass line in composition, the low F# is indeed an accompanying note that Louis Johnson played when performing the song. The whole idea was to give more of a strike when the F# repeated, give a little more of a grunt and funk to the bass line, only thing is in composition, you'll see that the low F# is often separated from the bass altogether, such as in midis and are an entirely separate instrument altogether, so technically, while the octave F# fret is more accurate, if you for some reason had to chose between the low and high F#, the high one will always be a better choice, simply for the sake of consistency.

@Julientonif 6 жыл бұрын

kzfaq.info/get/bejne/ec-Xm6xn0dS3m3k.html clearly not

@Zoologic21 6 жыл бұрын

andrew pangus woah, relax buddy, no need to be self-righteous, I'm fairly certain that no one had garageband in the early 80s so thanks for stating the obvious. The confusion comes within trying to piece the song together freehand, which, in case you didn't notice, doesn't happen analog-wise these days because that's just been dated. No one has the original stems or concrete proof to show how the song was really put together, so a computer composing program is the best bet to making a more interactive version of the song that can be listened to, as well as taught and played. No need to go off galavanting about the "good old days", no one's disrespecting them here. Leave the reminiscing to yourself, the level of threat you face whenever someone mentions a new way of doing things that out don't fully grasp is imminent. Just sit back and enjoy the preservation, as well as the progression, pun wholeheartedly intended.

@iLucasfreitas 6 жыл бұрын

Whaaaaaat??? I always knew something wasn’t feeling right! Thanks a lot man!

@renatowernersbach5133 8 жыл бұрын

e assim foi criado o pedal oitavador para baixo...

@greatkingrat 3 жыл бұрын

That’s so cool.

@BaronVonRichtofen 4 жыл бұрын

Good stuff!

@michaela2776 3 жыл бұрын

Wow I was sure before that the low F# was right. Thanks you’re da man.

@Osmien118 6 жыл бұрын

...this vid got you a new sub my good man. good stuff & right on!

@matiasdvoskin3985 6 жыл бұрын

Awesome!

@miguelsocias86 6 жыл бұрын

Damn I was accenting the 5th (c#) instead of the octave. I knew I was on to something. But now I know. Thanks for the vid!

@RASPUTITIN 7 жыл бұрын

muchas gracias maestro!

@GeorgeVrachliotis 7 жыл бұрын

IMO it is doubled by keys or synth bass effect.

@manlioyllades 7 жыл бұрын

I think you're right. But The Bass Wizard is also :)

@j-bird6563 7 жыл бұрын

I agree. There's alot going on there ,with all the different synth ,effects etc. "Not saying that this isn't how it's played on bass"

@ZeconMusicUK 7 жыл бұрын

It is, no idea if this link will come through but here's a comparison of the two bass lines on the original record. First is the bass played by Johnson, and the second is a layered synth bass, both are taken from the original recording session: mega.nz/#!sAdUVaiJ!gwNjVjo4Vl669yvP-XbPnKlMivKM5UUurtjQySl8dNA

@MostlyEarTraining 6 жыл бұрын

That's what I always thought it was too... and yeah, like you say - I think it might be. But this does approach does get the sound of the record with just one bass which is pretty sweet.

@andrewpangus5440 6 жыл бұрын

Your opinion is wrong

@GDCVideoChannel 6 жыл бұрын

I am now at 2:1. And I wanted to comment before I go on. I hear a combination of the two when listening to the song. I try to octave the F sharp ground notes. It makes more sense to the original. So both low and mid f# simultaneously, twice per loop. Now I am curious about your opinion.

@memyself4ever1 7 жыл бұрын

Excellent! Can you play "Let's Be Young Tonight" by Jermaine Jackson? Thanks.

@RoccoSoundTube 8 жыл бұрын

That's the real thing. Thanks for the tip, Marc!

@TheBassWizard 8 жыл бұрын

+RoccoSoundTube Thanks Rocco!

@linuscohen7816 8 жыл бұрын

Really liking these Louis Johnson Bass lessons Marc. I was wondering if you would do a lesson of Stomp by The Brothers Johnson because it's a great Bass line and the slap solo is great! Also I think it would be cool to do some sort of video about ear training and how to learn songs by ear. Keep up the good work!

@uniquebeatsboutique 6 жыл бұрын

that bass is beautiful

@arch1035 7 жыл бұрын

have you ever made a review about this bass of yours?

@AlexBelte3002 8 жыл бұрын

O_O you really are a wizard. That's really it !

@djurgens76 3 жыл бұрын

he is right, there is a video of Louis Johnson playing this live and you can hear and see him thumbing the fret board. His hands look super big so I think it's fairly easy for him to pull off.

@robbiehernandez1340 7 жыл бұрын

thats really good to know good job man 👍

@RSTI191 6 жыл бұрын

Nice tone with that Schecter. Full and even..

@mikestarr6204 6 жыл бұрын

THANK YOU!!!

@ralphyetmore 6 жыл бұрын

Double stop. Nice.

@TheRobWay1 6 жыл бұрын

Very cool!

@user-zd8cy9ct5d 6 жыл бұрын

I like the first one!

@fredgonzalez6619 6 жыл бұрын

Holy shit man! Thanks!!!

@HereticJudgment 8 жыл бұрын

Thanks for the tip! P. S.: Which strings do you use now? Gotta buy a roundwound set after a year of using flats - wanna try your strings)

@TheBassWizard 8 жыл бұрын

+HereticJudgment In this video I'm using the DR Pure Blues, they're great! amzn.to/1SMeJcD I also use the Hi-Beam when I want a really bright sound- amzn.to/1RzWkk7

@roderickthomas3417 3 жыл бұрын

Mr Feldman. Good morning. I enjoy your tutorials. I have a goid ding got you to break down which also would be a good technique exercising in fingering but not too hard for the masses to understand;”777-9311” Produced all by Prince but he had Morris Day & the Time executing performance ! Will you do a bass tutorial to 777-9311?

@heathjelovic961 6 жыл бұрын

Omg! I always thought that the double octave was on the Rhodes/Moog/whatever the other instrument that plays the baseline is!

@CMDRMeatBag 3 жыл бұрын

...because it is. The synth bass plays it. This video isn't correct at all.

@TheNagualZone 7 жыл бұрын

You look like Nuno Bettencourt's bass brother :) great vid!

@michaelmarshall1713 6 жыл бұрын

Cool , what does he play through for rig ?

@rallypoint1 5 жыл бұрын

Guilty..high F over here! Wow..didn’t realize the fretting with thumb. Thanks!!

@CaptainG23 6 жыл бұрын

Great video- you were correct, I was playing it wrong. Did you ever get to meet Mr Jackson?

@stephenpartain5488 5 жыл бұрын

I like to end on an A, which is a major third. Sounds really good that way. I know it isn't right but it settles so well

@JJ-bm2jj 6 жыл бұрын

What is the best app or website to find bass riffs for songs I want to learn I have tried several but they only have a few songs

@joshuapatrick3400 8 жыл бұрын

this is really helpful,you really are a amazing bassist keep it up man

@thatfeeble-mindedboy 6 жыл бұрын

Heart. Barracuda. Chorus. "You bettah .. Think up somethin' quick .." Why so badass right there? Chords in the bass? Just a major 5th interval? Is it the bass plus lowest guitar string?