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Billy Sheehan’s Secret Trick
By funnyvideovlogger | May 22, 2010
Billy Sheehan shares his secret trick in addition to other bass clinic excerpts including technique, three-finger picking style, stories and humor from one of the greatest bassists of all time.
Topics: Funny Videos | 25 Comments »
May 22nd, 2010 at 11:36 pm
What are scalloped frets?
May 23rd, 2010 at 12:26 am
Hi Larry
I play on a Ibanez RG 350 DX which has ibanez pickups(Two humbuckers and a single coil). I’m thinking about changing those into dimarzio pickups instead, but the problem is that i am quite new to the whole area of pickups. The sound i’m aming for is in the area of heavy metall/shred..
Could you please recommend something?:) Thank you
May 23rd, 2010 at 12:40 am
Made me giggle abit when he showed the middle finger
And he is so right, Learn a technique because you NEED it for the music you want to play
May 23rd, 2010 at 12:41 am
Bill is the nicest guy in the biz you’ll ever have to pleasure to meet.
Played a show with him once,, he’s the “shit” to talk and hang with..
May 23rd, 2010 at 1:19 am
Billy! I found you! I finally found the myserious Bass genius behind the Steve Vai videos I’ve been watching!
May 23rd, 2010 at 2:15 am
@GiantPandas
You might like a Model P, although I wouldn’t describe it as vintage-sounding. I think most players would find it to have more of a rock sound.
May 23rd, 2010 at 2:49 am
Hi Larry,
I’m looking for a replacement pick up for my 2008 Fender Am Standard P-Bass. I find that the bottom is not focused or tight enough and the mid range is slightly muddy and unimpressive. What would you recommend for? I’m leaning towards organic and vintage sounding with better range, not hi fi or one with lots of top. Thanks!
May 23rd, 2010 at 3:14 am
I’ve visited Sheehan’s masterclass one year ago and I want to visit again.
May 23rd, 2010 at 3:36 am
very special bass sound
May 23rd, 2010 at 4:06 am
1:43 thats way cool
May 23rd, 2010 at 4:39 am
wow never really listened to Billy Sheehan, but I totally agree with his philosophy. Technique comes from just playing the music. practice for me usually helps me remember a song. The chord changes, and song structure. never really technique. cool!
May 23rd, 2010 at 5:34 am
All the ladies call him Billy Blazing Fingers. Can you guess why?!?!!
!!!
May 23rd, 2010 at 5:57 am
lol I love 1:00
May 23rd, 2010 at 6:51 am
His “secret” of playing over the pick ups is well known. Many players install wood inserts (called a Ramp) at the same height as the pickups so they can pick at different spots for different tones and still have that consistent distance. Gary Willis, another excellent bassist, is a strong advocate of using a ramp under the strings.
May 23rd, 2010 at 6:55 am
@countrynole There are many other bass players using pinch (false) harmonics. Jaco Pastorious may have been one of the first and Steve Baily is a master at it, probably the best ever.
Check out
Steve Bailey – NHBF Masterclass
Here on You tube.
May 23rd, 2010 at 7:48 am
@countrynole You’d better expand your horizons and listen to more Bass players. Jaco Pastorious was probably the first to use pinch harmonics in the 70′s.
Search
“Steve Bailey – NHBF Masterclass”
and you will see some amazing use of pinch harmonics.
May 23rd, 2010 at 8:06 am
@bassguitarmethod There is no best. Sheehan may be the fastest but others can do things he can’t do. Speed is only one of many skills one can master.
May 23rd, 2010 at 9:04 am
@sirmoog You are correct but if you really listen to Rainey’s playing most of it is anything but simple. It sounds simple on the surface but rhythmically it is heavily syncopated and complex and harmonically it is very interesting.
May 23rd, 2010 at 9:23 am
Not only is Billy Sheehan a nice guy but really one of todays very best bass players !
love that he’s using Dimarzio
Thanks for the post and looking forward to more
Billy Sheehan is the future
May 23rd, 2010 at 9:55 am
I was totally in the front row here, Billy was/is amazing, and he was cool enough to sign my bass afterwards.
May 23rd, 2010 at 9:59 am
damn,he really bumps his mids on that graphic eq on his amp
May 23rd, 2010 at 10:34 am
Hi,
Yes, Billy was one of the first to realize that scalloped frets above the 12th fret helped him control the string better.
Hope that helps,
Larry DiMarzio
May 23rd, 2010 at 11:29 am
this is ridiculous… does he have the high frets of the high strings scalloped? … and that is the first time I’ve ever heard a pinch harmonic on a bass.. wow. Amazing.
May 23rd, 2010 at 12:12 pm
i want his bass still, if it can handle what he throws at it haha
May 23rd, 2010 at 12:58 pm
i feel so sorry for the bass being knocked by him!!! hehehehe