Las Vegas Bass

Anthony Wellington

Are we born with an innate talent and creativity? Or is it something that can be taught? Below is a statement on that subject from one of my bass heroes, Anthony Wellington. As you read the words below (which he has graciously allowed me to share here), you’ll see why I believe Anthony is a true Bodhisattva of music education.

“In my lessons I address creativity in a ‘section’ I call ‘creativity, inspiration and magic’.

In a nutshell, what’s teachable is dexterity and music ‘know-how’. Creativity, inspiration and magic isn’t teachable. How to retrieve it is teachable. We don’t have to be taught creativity. We are creative creatures. Some of us just tap into it better than others. But we all have it. It is part of that package I talk about that we are born with. And waking up in the morning and taking a breath should be all the inspiration you need. We can choose to be inspired by any thing throughout a day. It’s your choice. And the magic is the ‘filter’ that is YOU. In other words, if you and I both look at the Mona Lisa we’ll see the same painting. It may inspire you to write words but it may inspire me to write music. We both may write music,…that may be totally different each other. That’s the filter that each of us are. It’s our own personal magic.

If I ask anybody on the planet to think of a great bass line they all can do it. And like in the [Groove Workshop] DVD, I say that what they lack is the knowledge and dexterity to bring it to fruition.

Where some people go wrong is that they mistake the dexterity and the knowledge for creativity. The try to ‘offer’ you a great technique as music. They try to play something fast and call it music when all they really did was show you a tool that they are possession of. The dexterity and knowledge are just tools and supplies to build the house. But they aren’t the house.

My suggestion is to not think that music comes from the bass. It comes from you. You have to tap into music and life in a non-instrument specific way. Then you use an instrument to bring out what you find.

I’m hearing ‘new’ music in my head right now. And I’ve studied enough music to hear that it’s moving from the vi chord to the IV chord to the V chord. And it has a Reggae feel to it. The bass line has a ‘one drop’. My knowledge told me what it was. And my dexterity will allow me to physically do it on the drums, bass, guitar and keys. “

Although it’s a commercial, it still makes a wonderful point: It’s not about the instrument. It’s about the music.

I stumbled across this movie trailer the other day while trying to pick up some more riffs from the late James Jamerson, one of the top bassists you should get to know. Jamerson was the session bassist on just about every Motown hit from the 60s and 70s and his style influenced many of today’s top musicians. You just have to listen to his driving beat to understand how he changed the role of the bass.

Here’s a pilot for a documentary, “The Birth of Bass.”

Enjoy.

Below is a video of Dan Faehnle playing a duet with Howard Paul. Dan is the younger guy playing rhythm guitar for the first half with some slick walking bass lines thrown in.

Why am I showing a jazz guitarist like Dan (www.danfaehnle.com) on a site that focuses on the electric bass?

First, Dan is an amazing musician. I bet he could play a lamp shade with a wooden spoon and create some amazing music.

Second, before he toured with Diana Krall, and before he was a featured artist at jazz festivals around the world, he taught me how to play the bass guitar.

Dan and I went to the same high school and he was the man that first made the electric bass cool to me. Five years my elder, I watched him do some amazing things on the bass when he was in the high school jazz band that I’m still trying to emulate to this day. Plus, he was also the first guy who taught me how to play the bass.

Hold on to your socks. Just about everything you can do with a bass is covered here in this masterful solo by Victor Wooten. Now HERE is something to strive for in our playing. We may never get there, yet think of what you’ll learn about your bass, and yourself, if you try.

An amazing introduction to my favorite musician who has opened my eyes and changed how I view music and even how the bass guitar can be used to express that music.