Billy Sheehan Masterclass

Ok cool. What a great Christmas gift!
So what is the difference between a private master class and private lesson? Curious.

Can you explain what you mean by reverse tapping? Especially the reverse part.

And also curious about the setup of his basses. Is the action super low? Or just average?
Thanks.

 

man, Billy is a demon! That must have been awesome. Lucky man, your missus loves you.

 

Totally awesome! I’ve spoken with Billy many times over the last few decades and always wanted to meet with him basses in hand at some point. From the outside view, it appears he’s only doing live in-person coaching because the demand would be too great if he did online one-on-one.

Like many of his longtime admirers, I’ve arrived at my own place with my playing, and leave a lot of the personal stylings and techniques he developed to him. Not because that stuff isn’t awesome - it’s out of respect. The big things I got from him are his focus on confident delivery, clean execution, solid time with both foundation AND lead-style playing, and overall command of the instrument. He’s a living legend and anyone who gets this kind of opportunity is very fortunate and will likely get enough inspiration to last a lifetime.

 

Do you mean tapping with the right hand on the lower frets/lower strings and playing the higher frets with your left hand? So reversing/crossing the hands from place so to say? I am not sure if we are talking about the same thing. Do you have an example video of Billy or you doing the reverse tapping? Would make it easier to understand.

 

"So what is the difference between a private master class and private lesson? "

A second mortgage.

Actually, really jealous. Billy is a master at visualizing the things he wants from his bass and then figuring how to do them. Everything I have seen him explain on line has been A-1 teaching wise. He is the master in his genre.

 

I am so jealous right now. I was lucky enough to meet him in passing a couple of times but never got to spend any one on one time with him. Always seems like a great guy and based on some of his videos is a great inststructor. I have to laugh when he says "this part might be a little tricky". Translate = this part is near impossible for most people but he would never want you to say that. Congrats to you.

 

How very cool! My session was Friday afternoon. Flew in from Nevada about midnight and had to fly back right after (work on Saturday). It was incredible, we spent the entire time on little else but mapping out the G major scale the full length of the neck and every tangent from that - like how all of that we did applies to every other scale. "Economy of motion" was the phrase of the day. Very intense work that will be good to go back and pick through the video for practice.

I spent the next two days at work trying to put it all into practice to see where our styles differ and how I can break mine down and add his to what I do. I was so wrapped up in what he was teaching I didn't even think to ask to play his basses! Great class!

 

How are you going top that jest? is the real question

 

OP, I know this has to be one of your top musical experiences of all time. Billy Sheehan is a great example of why it is misleading to describe someone like him as self-taught or a non-reader. In his own way, Billy Sheehan has worked as hard to master the bass as any chart reading session or Jazz master. He is not a product of just being gifted. I saw him do a presentation in St. Louis years ago, and I watched one of his instructional videos online. The man has studied and theorized about playing the bass as thoroughly as anybody.

 

What an awesome experience! Congrats!

 

Amazing! Billy is a stand-up guy and a legendary bassist!

 

I would be in full-fanboi mode the whole time. Gonna have to do it sometime!

 

That is so awesome! I can only imagine what meeting your bass idol would be like, and you should feel lucky that yours is still alive.

He uses pretty heavy gauge strings, doesn't he? Like a .110 E, I believe? That might also explain how he can have such low action but not have fret buzz.

 

If I remeber correctly his signiture Rotosounds were .110, .085, .065 and .042. So a heavier E but a lighter G than most.