The Bass Player from AC/DC was a Genius

Summary

In this insightful video, Daniel explores the often-overlooked contributions of AC/DC's bass player, Cliff Williams, particularly during the 'Highway to Hell' and 'Back in Black' era. He highlights how Williams' innovative approach to playing bass, such as incorporating major thirds and staying on certain notes while the guitar changes chords, adds depth and a unique grit to AC/DC's sound. Through comparative demonstrations, Daniel illustrates the subtle yet significant impact of Williams' techniques, shedding light on the bassist's crucial role in shaping the band's iconic rock music.

Takeaways

• 🎶 The bass player in AC/DC, particularly Cliff Williams, plays a significant role in shaping the band's unique sound.
• 🤔 In rock music, bass players often play the root note of the chord, but Cliff Williams adds depth by occasionally playing the major third.
• 🎵 AC/DC's guitar players Angus and Malcolm Young typically avoid playing the major third to maintain a powerful sound, leaving room for the bass to add that element.
• 👍 Cliff Williams' innovative bass lines in songs like 'Back in Black' and 'Highway to Hell' contribute to the band's distinctive gritty tone.
• 🎸 In 'Back in Black', Williams plays a C-sharp instead of an A on the last chord, which is the major third of an A major chord, adding a unique character to the song.
• 🎧 The bass line in 'Back in Black' sometimes deliberately plays a different note than the guitar to create an interesting harmonic effect.
• 🎵 In 'Shoot to Thrill', Williams plays the major third of a G chord (B) instead of the root note (G), which uplifts the listener when it resolves.
• 🚫 AC/DC's bass lines often avoid following the guitar to the root of the chord when it changes, staying on a note to create a different effect.
• 🎶 In 'Highway to Hell', Williams stays on the A note even when the guitar changes to a D chord, which adds a cool effect to the music.
• 🎵 Cliff Williams' choice to play the same note or an octave higher can significantly impact the feel of the music, as demonstrated in 'Shake Me All Night Long'.

Q & A

What is the main argument of Daniel's video about AC/DC's bass player?

Daniel argues that the bass player of AC/DC, particularly Cliff Williams during the 'Highway to Hell' and 'Back in Black' era, deserves more credit for his contributions to the band's music, which often involved playing around the chords and adding unique effects.

Why does Daniel believe bass players in rock music are often overlooked?

Daniel believes bass players are overlooked because their role in a band is typically to play the root notes of chords, which can be seen as a simple and less noticeable part of the music compared to lead guitar or vocals.

How does Cliff Williams' bass playing in AC/DC differ from the typical rock bass player?

Cliff Williams often played the major third of chords and sometimes stayed on a note while the guitar changed, creating a unique and gritty effect that added character to AC/DC's music.

What is the significance of the bass line in the song 'Back in Black'?

In 'Back in Black', Cliff Williams plays the major third (C-sharp) of an A chord instead of the root note (A), which adds a distinctive and powerful character to the music.

How does the bass playing in AC/DC's 'Shoot to Thrill' affect the listener's experience?

In 'Shoot to Thrill', Cliff Williams plays the major third of a G chord (B) instead of the root note (G), which uplifts the listener and adds an exciting element to the song.

What is the role of the bass in the song 'Highway to Hell' according to Daniel's analysis?

In 'Highway to Hell', Cliff Williams plays a continuous A note while the guitar switches to a D chord, creating a subtle but impactful effect on the song's sound.

Why does Daniel emphasize the importance of the bass part in 'Shook Me All Night Long'?

Daniel highlights that Cliff Williams plays the G note an octave higher when the song transitions to the chorus, which makes a significant difference in the song's energy and feel.

What is the common misconception about bass playing in rock music that Daniel addresses?

The common misconception is that bass players simply follow the root notes of the chords, but Daniel shows that in AC/DC, Cliff Williams often plays around this to create a more dynamic and interesting bass line.

How does Daniel demonstrate the impact of Cliff Williams' bass playing on AC/DC's music?

Daniel demonstrates the impact by playing the bass lines both the 'incorrect' way (following the root notes strictly) and the 'correct' way as played by Cliff Williams, showing the difference in sound and effect.

What is the key takeaway from Daniel's video for aspiring bass players?

The key takeaway is that bass players can significantly influence a song's character by playing around the chords and not just sticking to the root notes, as demonstrated by Cliff Williams in AC/DC.