Another controversial Jeff Berlin video

[el murdoque]

I debated clicking on the video at all for a moment, but then I thought that maybe Mr. Berlin will keep on spiraling out of what most people perceive as reality when his videos get clicks, so I did it.

But this is a cheap one. He simply takes one niche interpretation of a popular phrase, acts like that's the only meaning and then argues against it.
This is somewhat boring - his last rants have been more entertaining IMO.

Of course there will be a few players unwilling to improve their playing, hiding behind "serve the song" to justify their mediocrity and unwillingness to further improve their playing.

But the concept of playing to serve the song is much deeper than that, and Mr. Berlin knows it.

 

[Swamp_Ronin]

I like that Jeff Berlin exists. I like the Jungian Archetype of the Troll.

 

[Gopherbassist]

When posting a video, could you please give at least a short summary of its main points?

Let me fill you in:

"Serving the song" is bad because: madeup nonsense reasons.

 

[Dust2Dust]

So, am I, or am I not allowed to go all-out Cliff Burton during a wedding song

 

[metron]

So, am I, or am I not allowed to go all-out Cliff Burton during a wedding song

If you don’t, then you’re not improving. Therefore you must. I think that’s what Jeff is saying.

 

[dune]

If you don’t, then you’re not improving. Therefore you must. I think that’s what Jeff is saying.

If that's the case, given how much of an overplaying wanker I was throughout the early years of my career, I ought to be one of the best ever.

 

[SFOB]

Jeff is being contrary for sake of being contrary. I really don't understand what he's trying to accomplish with this one.

 

[RGerhart]

The hair dye and horrible bass were all I needed to stop watching after 1 second.

LOL

 

[RGerhart]

I follow Jeff on Facebook, and I feel like it's just a matter of time before his circle of fans dwindles. The guy is a monster player, for sure, but he just does not understand that there are other viewpoints and ways to teach music. His narrow view of things really puts people in the hate him or love him camps, and eventually there'll be very few (if any) people tolerating him.

 

[DuluthDank]

As with most things, I think the truth can be multi faceted. There are those who tend to over play and play with ego, and for them the phrase "serve the song" can be a useful reminder. And there are those who would rather stay in their comfort zone at all times and play it safe, and for those "serve the song" can be a crutch and justification.

 

[Alper Yilmaz]

Interestingly, I did not find his view controversial at all...

 

[Deleted member 409896]

When posting a video, could you please give at least a short summary of its main points?

Agreed, and not an "AI" summary. One's own thoughts, written by an actual human being.

 

[DuluthDank]

Interestingly, I did not find his view controversial at all...

I agree with some of what Jeff says and disagree a bit too, but I'm always mystified at how worked up he makes some people.

 

[Koshchei]

I agree with Jeff. I also like how he's mellowed out and is now able to present his argument much more respectfully than in the past.

I've talked with Jeff on many occasions on facebook, and despite being a bass legend, he's always been extremely generous with his time, gracious, and willing to engage in service to the pedagogical pursuit of greater musicianship.

Also, agree with him somewhat about metronomes: children clapping together as a group proves that almost everybody has an internal sense of rhythm, and can fall into common time with one another. That said, I love my Wittner Maelzel, and use it all the time to work out difficult passages while shedding or learning new repertoire.

 

[gln1955]

Serving the song...

Invalid Link Removed

 

[mambo4]

1:30 The "serving of the song" seems to be , in my opinion, the declaration of bass players who have chosen not to musically improve, whereby the seeking of music and the search for a better way to play bass, .... is no longer the interest.

In my opinion, I call hogwash on that assumption. He does go on to call out Steve Gadd as an example of someone tries to both improv musically AND serve the song. One does not negate the other, and bad bassists will fail at both. Jeff is makes a straw man out of the concept of serving the song.

Jeff was rage baiting before it was cool. that thumbnail logo is hilarious though

 

[mambo4]

When posting a video, could you please give at least a short summary of its main points?

"claiming to serve the song means you are not interested in improving musically.
Also, to serve the song, you should improve musically"

 

[iTzPrime]

So Jeff's premise is that people used to learn the bass part of the song they were interested in and then contributed to the band, but today he says they deny themselves their musical interest to support the song. In his eyes serving the song solely is not musically improving as you don't strive for music.

Well, that argument doesn't even make sense. The idea that serving the song is musically limiting just isn't reality. It all depends on the music itself. There are songs where it makes sense for the bass to hit the root note of the song once every bar, and there are songs where technically and musical level is so high that Jeff today wouldn't be able to play it.

So I guess, continue to serve the song

 

[JamesGrant]

ahhh Jeff. It’s comforting to know it’s there to watch but it’s also comforting to know that’ll be exactly as I expect without even having to watch it.

 

[mambo4]

There are songs where it makes sense for the bass to hit the root note of the song once every bar,

And even in that constrained situation there are abundant legitimate musical avenues to explore an improve upon