Am I missing something...watching play-a-longs on YouTube??

SteveC · #1 12-31-2007, 12:28 PM

OK, so there are millions of videos of people sitting in their bedrooms playing along with their favorite artist. Fine, it's YouTube, whatever.

But then people start threads about "you have to see this guy" or "isn't she amazing" or whatever. Some of them are pretty good, I guess, but...big deal. So you can play along with a recording. I'm not knocking it as a great way to learn, but I'm guessing any number of us could put up 100's of videos like this.

Am I missing something or should I get my camera out and get to work?

fenderhutz · #2 12-31-2007, 12:42 PM

I want the entire "Sailing the Seas of Cheese" album on youtube in a hour. Ready. Go.

YouTube has given the opportunity for all of the dimestore talent to post videos. Freedom is a a wonderful thing.

5andFretless · #3 12-31-2007, 12:52 PM

On a related topic. Our current singer was found by our piano player singing karoke in a bar. Before we invited her to sing, I went and watched. She was pretty good and certainly looked and acted the part on stage, but...

Put her in front of the band doing the same song and her entry and timing was all screwed up. It took a lot of practice and patience to get her presentable. Fortunately it is easier to teach some one to sing than it is to teach someone stage presence, and she already had the latter.

I believe that is what the OP is getting at. It is one thing to play to the record, another to play [perform] with a band.

Steve · #4 12-31-2007, 12:56 PM

I don't know guy, there's a ton of garbage out there for sure. Some of it is mine

Having said that, just because that's what they post doesn't mean that's all they do. It's just a lot easier to feature the instrument in that context then a live performance.

MarlowDk and Lydia both spring to mind. Both obviously very accomplished players but that fact is far more obvious on the computer stuff they have up as opposed to the live vids.

Not that the live stuff is shabby by any stretch it's just the nature of the evironment.

By all means post some stuff. I'm always looking for a free lesson.

SteveC · #5 12-31-2007, 03:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 5andFretless

I believe that is what the OP is getting at. It is one thing to play to the record, another to play [perform] with a band.

Not necessarily. I just don't get why people playing along with a recording is such a "must see" thing for people.

Matt Till · #6 12-31-2007, 04:35 PM

I'm more impressed by the people who wrote those basslines.

**bassybill** · #7 01-01-2008, 06:59 AM

Sounds like what you're really commenting on is the over-excited tone used to post about these rather than the videos themselves. If so, I kind of agree.

Some of the videos are interesting and can give you ideas for new things to learn or how to get a particular tone or vibe that you're after. If someone posts to say "Have a look at this if you're interested in...." then fine, but yes, posting "OMG man you have to see this guy, he''s is totally amazing etc etc etc" does seem a bit far-fetched. Unless it's true, of course.

ROON · #8 01-01-2008, 07:23 AM

I love watching play along videos. It's a chance for me to hear other people's tone, see cool basses, check out other people's technique.

And most of all, a way to see if I am playing things the right way or ****ing it all up.

Depth_Charge · #9 01-01-2008, 08:14 AM

I mainly use YouTube to study bass lessons or watch live performances to see what stage presence tools I can "borrow", but I spend some time watching bass lessons and odd tidbits of online "trivia" so to speak as well.

I learned to play Upside Down (Diana Ross) with that sweet pop in the chorus after watching a dude smoke the song on a steinberger headless bass playing along to the recording via YouTube and deciding "I must know that".

Then again, I've clicked back on plenty of "lessons" and other shabby videos...the worst a drummer showing how he double kicks really quickly with both feet gently tapping the pedal, only to exclaim in surprise "Oh, but maybe I can't do it on the left foot after all"

Baryonyx · #10 01-01-2008, 08:22 AM

Some of them are nice enough to watch, but I am more in awe of the original player and composer...

dave_bass5 · #11 01-02-2008, 09:54 AM

A bit OT (maybe).
When i was playing keyboards in a wedding band a 20 years ago we needed a bass player. we auditioned a few but one guy was fantastic. He came in and slapped, plucked, picked, could do everything at 10 times the speed i can play now. he played every song we asked him to, Beatles, stones, wham (yes, ok, it was the 80's) etc, but all on his own. As soon as the band started he was lost.
And trying to play Jail house rock and rock around the clock with him was a nightmare. He couldn't keep a straight rhythm for longer than a couple of beats.
Turns out this was the first time he had played with anyone outside his bedroom (he was 19 and had been playing for 3 years at home).
We ended up with an old guy who wasn't great but he knew what was needed and delivered.

Bruce Lindfield · #12 01-02-2008, 10:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dave_bass5

A bit OT (maybe).
When i was playing keyboards in a wedding band a 20 years ago we needed a bass player. we auditioned a few but one guy was fantastic. He came in and slapped, plucked, picked, could do everything at 10 times the speed i can play now. he played every song we asked him to, Beatles, stones, wham (yes, ok, it was the 80's) etc, but all on his own. As soon as the band started he was lost.
And trying to play Jail house rock and rock around the clock with him was a nightmare. He couldn't keep a straight rhythm for longer than a couple of beats.
Turns out this was the first time he had played with anyone outside his bedroom (he was 19 and had been playing for 3 years at home).
We ended up with an old guy who wasn't great but he knew what was needed and delivered.

I think this is why Jeff Berlin says that a metronome can't give you good time - so you can sit in your bedroom playing along with stuff and sounding impressive as long as you like; but there is no substitute for getting out there and playing with other people as much as possible!