How the bass opened up the world of music | Victor Blagoev | TEDxYouth@ISPrague

years ago when I was almost 14 something

years ago when I was almost 14 something incredible happened something that would

incredible happened something that would

incredible happened something that would completely change and determine the

completely change and determine the

completely change and determine the course of my life something I was so

course of my life something I was so

course of my life something I was so incredibly fortunate and blessed to find

incredibly fortunate and blessed to find

incredibly fortunate and blessed to find I found my colleague I discovered music

I found my colleague I discovered music

I found my colleague I discovered music and even more than that I discovered the

and even more than that I discovered the

and even more than that I discovered the bass now you might think to yourselves

bass now you might think to yourselves

bass now you might think to yourselves that seems pretty far-fetched I mean

that seems pretty far-fetched I mean

that seems pretty far-fetched I mean you’re just a kid right how could you

you’re just a kid right how could you

you’re just a kid right how could you have found your calling when most people

have found your calling when most people

have found your calling when most people never even do well if you take a moment

never even do well if you take a moment

never even do well if you take a moment to listen to my story I hope you’ll

to listen to my story I hope you’ll

to listen to my story I hope you’ll understand but even if you don’t you

understand but even if you don’t you

understand but even if you don’t you will surely feel the supernatural energy

will surely feel the supernatural energy

will surely feel the supernatural energy that music exists and the shear of those

that music exists and the shear of those

that music exists and the shear of those that do understand for me that all

that do understand for me that all

that do understand for me that all started when I took notice of the

started when I took notice of the

started when I took notice of the magnificent thing I’m holding in my

magnificent thing I’m holding in my

magnificent thing I’m holding in my hands the bass for some reason I became

hands the bass for some reason I became

hands the bass for some reason I became attracted to the bass I remember

attracted to the bass I remember

attracted to the bass I remember watching the bass player in a jazz club

watching the bass player in a jazz club

watching the bass player in a jazz club somewhere play and I just found that I

somewhere play and I just found that I

somewhere play and I just found that I couldn’t take my eyes off the instrument

couldn’t take my eyes off the instrument

couldn’t take my eyes off the instrument those sounds he was getting man those

those sounds he was getting man those

those sounds he was getting man those incredible tones those ultra funky slap

incredible tones those ultra funky slap

incredible tones those ultra funky slap licks oh man I remember seeing that and

licks oh man I remember seeing that and

licks oh man I remember seeing that and thinking this is what I’m going to do I

thinking this is what I’m going to do I

thinking this is what I’m going to do I mean just think about how big a role the

mean just think about how big a role the

mean just think about how big a role the bass plays in music how many times have

bass plays in music how many times have

bass plays in music how many times have you found yourselves grooving out

you found yourselves grooving out

you found yourselves grooving out bobbing your heads to a tune then wonder

bobbing your heads to a tune then wonder

bobbing your heads to a tune then wonder what it was that captivated you like

what it was that captivated you like

what it was that captivated you like that the melodic fancy guitar riff the

that the melodic fancy guitar riff the

that the melodic fancy guitar riff the powerful cool drum beat nah it was a

powerful cool drum beat nah it was a

powerful cool drum beat nah it was a vase

the bass is the heart of the band

the bass is the heart of the band really it’s what lays down the

really it’s what lays down the

really it’s what lays down the fundamental groove of the tune the bass

fundamental groove of the tune the bass

fundamental groove of the tune the bass line what sets the flow of the harmony

line what sets the flow of the harmony

line what sets the flow of the harmony and the rhythm it’s the blueprint it’s

and the rhythm it’s the blueprint it’s

and the rhythm it’s the blueprint it’s the glue that keeps everyone in the band

the glue that keeps everyone in the band

the glue that keeps everyone in the band together and more importantly makes them

together and more importantly makes them

together and more importantly makes them sound good I mean just think about how

sound good I mean just think about how

sound good I mean just think about how many Tunes are as iconic as they are

many Tunes are as iconic as they are

many Tunes are as iconic as they are because of the bass right right if you

because of the bass right right if you

because of the bass right right if you didn’t know that one I hate to say it

didn’t know that one I hate to say it

didn’t know that one I hate to say it but you’ve been living under a very

but you’ve been living under a very

but you’ve been living under a very large Justin Bieber shaped rock that was

large Justin Bieber shaped rock that was

large Justin Bieber shaped rock that was stand by me by Benny King now just

stand by me by Benny King now just

stand by me by Benny King now just listen to the powerful melodic bass line

listen to the powerful melodic bass line

listen to the powerful melodic bass line in standing in the shadows of love

in standing in the shadows of love

in standing in the shadows of love originally played by the legendary

originally played by the legendary

originally played by the legendary Motown bassist James Jamerson

[Music]

[Music] that tune that tune was a prime example

that tune that tune was a prime example

that tune that tune was a prime example of how the bass can really drive a piece

of how the bass can really drive a piece

of how the bass can really drive a piece of music now let me give you an idea of

of music now let me give you an idea of

of music now let me give you an idea of just how important that is to the window

just how important that is to the window

just how important that is to the window crescendo you can run a five minute at

crescendo you can run a five minute at

crescendo you can run a five minute at the dusties on the confident now that

the dusties on the confident now that

the dusties on the confident now that was smooth criminal’ by Michael Jackson

was smooth criminal’ by Michael Jackson

was smooth criminal’ by Michael Jackson but something felt off there didn’t it

but something felt off there didn’t it

but something felt off there didn’t it the tune felt a little empty like there

the tune felt a little empty like there

the tune felt a little empty like there wasn’t really something driving it now

wasn’t really something driving it now

wasn’t really something driving it now listen to this for a change on the

listen to this for a change on the

listen to this for a change on the carpet stupid

carpet stupid

carpet stupid label SEC on the label so she ran into

label SEC on the label so she ran into

label SEC on the label so she ran into the bedroom she was done that made a

the bedroom she was done that made a

the bedroom she was done that made a difference didn’t it so you see how big

difference didn’t it so you see how big

difference didn’t it so you see how big a role the bass really plays in music

a role the bass really plays in music

a role the bass really plays in music none of those Tunes would sound anything

none of those Tunes would sound anything

none of those Tunes would sound anything like they did if it wasn’t for the

like they did if it wasn’t for the

like they did if it wasn’t for the instrument and that’s all great I think

instrument and that’s all great I think

instrument and that’s all great I think it’s great that the bass can play all

it’s great that the bass can play all

it’s great that the bass can play all that kind of stuff so well but that’s

that kind of stuff so well but that’s

that kind of stuff so well but that’s not all the instrument is there for I

not all the instrument is there for I

not all the instrument is there for I mean people have this stereotypical idea

mean people have this stereotypical idea

mean people have this stereotypical idea of what the bass is in music just sort

of what the bass is in music just sort

of what the bass is in music just sort of there to fill in the low frequencies

of there to fill in the low frequencies

of there to fill in the low frequencies kind of like the guy who wasn’t good

kind of like the guy who wasn’t good

kind of like the guy who wasn’t good enough to play guitar so they slapped

enough to play guitar so they slapped

enough to play guitar so they slapped him on bass

a lot of people think the base just

a lot of people think the base just consisted that’s pretty cute isn’t it

consisted that’s pretty cute isn’t it

consisted that’s pretty cute isn’t it I mean can you imagine a whole gig of

I mean can you imagine a whole gig of

I mean can you imagine a whole gig of just that at least us bases get paid for

just that at least us bases get paid for

just that at least us bases get paid for that kind of stuff let me tell you if

that kind of stuff let me tell you if

that kind of stuff let me tell you if anything though they had a face extra to

anything though they had a face extra to

anything though they had a face extra to just be able to sit through hours of

just be able to sit through hours of

just be able to sit through hours of that now with all that said as I

that now with all that said as I

that now with all that said as I mentioned the base really is capable of

mentioned the base really is capable of

mentioned the base really is capable of so much more

so much more

so much more see that wasn’t the only thing that

see that wasn’t the only thing that

see that wasn’t the only thing that captivated me when I saw that basis that

captivated me when I saw that basis that

captivated me when I saw that basis that night I wasn’t only fascinated by the

night I wasn’t only fascinated by the

night I wasn’t only fascinated by the things he was doing I was also

things he was doing I was also

things he was doing I was also fascinated by the things he wasn’t doing

fascinated by the things he wasn’t doing

fascinated by the things he wasn’t doing and that was really using the instrument

and that was really using the instrument

and that was really using the instrument to its full potential it’s not like I

to its full potential it’s not like I

to its full potential it’s not like I knew then that I could play and arrange

knew then that I could play and arrange

knew then that I could play and arrange a multitude of solo pieces on base it’s

a multitude of solo pieces on base it’s

a multitude of solo pieces on base it’s not like I knew I could play complex

not like I knew I could play complex

not like I knew I could play complex chords

play with five fingers at once or tap

play with five fingers at once or tap and slap the fingerboard like my life

and slap the fingerboard like my life

and slap the fingerboard like my life was on the line but when I look at that

was on the line but when I look at that

was on the line but when I look at that finger boards I saw a whole Orchestra of

finger boards I saw a whole Orchestra of

finger boards I saw a whole Orchestra of note I saw an incredible range of

note I saw an incredible range of

note I saw an incredible range of boundless possibilities I saw the bass

boundless possibilities I saw the bass

boundless possibilities I saw the bass is one of the most expressive

is one of the most expressive

is one of the most expressive instruments there was so then I thought

instruments there was so then I thought

instruments there was so then I thought to myself what sort of setting could I

to myself what sort of setting could I

to myself what sort of setting could I find that would allow me to liberate and

find that would allow me to liberate and

find that would allow me to liberate and expand the instrument to my desires well

expand the instrument to my desires well

expand the instrument to my desires well it was then the jazz and improvisation

it was then the jazz and improvisation

it was then the jazz and improvisation person in my life like a supernova a

person in my life like a supernova a

person in my life like a supernova a whole new world jazz and improvisation

whole new world jazz and improvisation

whole new world jazz and improvisation are to me some of the most important

are to me some of the most important

are to me some of the most important aspects in music because they require

aspects in music because they require

aspects in music because they require the ultimate amount of musician of

the ultimate amount of musician of

the ultimate amount of musician of virtuosity in order to perform at the

virtuosity in order to perform at the

virtuosity in order to perform at the highest degree possible it was when I

highest degree possible it was when I

highest degree possible it was when I discovered jazz and improvisation that I

discovered jazz and improvisation that I

discovered jazz and improvisation that I realized I wasn’t going to be just a

realized I wasn’t going to be just a

realized I wasn’t going to be just a bass player I was going to be a musician

bass player I was going to be a musician

bass player I was going to be a musician I was going to strive towards the likes

I was going to strive towards the likes

I was going to strive towards the likes of Charlie Parker Miles Davis and John

of Charlie Parker Miles Davis and John

of Charlie Parker Miles Davis and John Coltrane now immediately you could think

Coltrane now immediately you could think

Coltrane now immediately you could think those are some pretty high ambitions to

those are some pretty high ambitions to

those are some pretty high ambitions to match up to but it is with this mindset

match up to but it is with this mindset

match up to but it is with this mindset that one could hold themselves to the

that one could hold themselves to the

that one could hold themselves to the highest standard of work possible and in

highest standard of work possible and in

highest standard of work possible and in turn get as close to achieving their

turn get as close to achieving their

turn get as close to achieving their highest potential as they can that

highest potential as they can that

highest potential as they can that essentially means a thorough

essentially means a thorough

essentially means a thorough understanding of improvisation is more

understanding of improvisation is more

understanding of improvisation is more or less mandatory see you have to be

or less mandatory see you have to be

or less mandatory see you have to be able to perform at a great level at any

able to perform at a great level at any

able to perform at a great level at any given moment on the spot a lot of people

given moment on the spot a lot of people

given moment on the spot a lot of people think improvisation only means coming up

think improvisation only means coming up

think improvisation only means coming up with things directly on the spot without

with things directly on the spot without

with things directly on the spot without any sort of structural planning however

any sort of structural planning however

any sort of structural planning however you’ll find improvisation is actually a

you’ll find improvisation is actually a

you’ll find improvisation is actually a rather structured and delicate process

rather structured and delicate process

rather structured and delicate process stop any musician at any point during

stop any musician at any point during

stop any musician at any point during their solo and ask them where they are

their solo and ask them where they are

their solo and ask them where they are in the form of their tune even what

in the form of their tune even what

in the form of their tune even what chord they’re over if they’re any good

chord they’re over if they’re any good

chord they’re over if they’re any good they’ll tell you

they’ll tell you

they’ll tell you it doesn’t even hurt to have a vague

it doesn’t even hurt to have a vague

it doesn’t even hurt to have a vague plan of how you want to approach your

plan of how you want to approach your

plan of how you want to approach your solo maybe you want to place three

solo maybe you want to place three

solo maybe you want to place three choruses three times through the form of

choruses three times through the form of

choruses three times through the form of a tune in order to have an idea of how

a tune in order to have an idea of how

a tune in order to have an idea of how to build and resolve your ideas of

to build and resolve your ideas of

to build and resolve your ideas of course you can bend the plan as you go

course you can bend the plan as you go

course you can bend the plan as you go along after all it is improvisation with

along after all it is improvisation with

along after all it is improvisation with that said I’d like to put what I’ve been

that said I’d like to put what I’ve been

that said I’d like to put what I’ve been talking about into action and

talking about into action and

talking about into action and demonstrate the solo over a jazz blues

demonstrate the solo over a jazz blues

demonstrate the solo over a jazz blues form

[Music]

[Music] to

the

the [Music]

so whether or not you understood what

so whether or not you understood what was going on there musically really

was going on there musically really

was going on there musically really isn’t all that important but try to see

isn’t all that important but try to see

isn’t all that important but try to see if you felt something maybe you felt

if you felt something maybe you felt

if you felt something maybe you felt some of the energy that the player had

some of the energy that the player had

some of the energy that the player had onstage maybe you felt a sort of

onstage maybe you felt a sort of

onstage maybe you felt a sort of intuition maybe it felt sort of like a

intuition maybe it felt sort of like a

intuition maybe it felt sort of like a conversation in fact one of the most

conversation in fact one of the most

conversation in fact one of the most common comparisons to music is its

common comparisons to music is its

common comparisons to music is its function as a language this is because

function as a language this is because

function as a language this is because the two share very similar fundamentals

the two share very similar fundamentals

the two share very similar fundamentals see when we speak we don’t aim lessly

see when we speak we don’t aim lessly

see when we speak we don’t aim lessly ramble on and on without a pause well

ramble on and on without a pause well

ramble on and on without a pause well most of us don’t anyway we all have that

most of us don’t anyway we all have that

most of us don’t anyway we all have that one person yeah when we speak there’s

one person yeah when we speak there’s

one person yeah when we speak there’s typically structure and coherence to our

typically structure and coherence to our

typically structure and coherence to our conversation we stick to a topic in a

conversation we stick to a topic in a

conversation we stick to a topic in a theme well musics a lot like that see

theme well musics a lot like that see

theme well musics a lot like that see nobody goes I had eggs for breakfast

nobody goes I had eggs for breakfast

nobody goes I had eggs for breakfast then I mowed my lawn then I went to the

then I mowed my lawn then I went to the

then I mowed my lawn then I went to the hardware store what are your thoughts on

hardware store what are your thoughts on

hardware store what are your thoughts on global warming

like I said musics a lot like that it’s

like I said musics a lot like that it’s communicative you’re telling a story so

communicative you’re telling a story so

communicative you’re telling a story so next time you listen to a piece of music

next time you listen to a piece of music

next time you listen to a piece of music try not to overthink it just listen

try not to overthink it just listen

try not to overthink it just listen listen to every single note listen to

listen to every single note listen to

listen to every single note listen to the bass line and whether it’s driving

the bass line and whether it’s driving

the bass line and whether it’s driving or laid-back listen to all the beautiful

or laid-back listen to all the beautiful

or laid-back listen to all the beautiful sounds and listen to the story they tell

sounds and listen to the story they tell

sounds and listen to the story they tell you or come up with your own story with

you or come up with your own story with

you or come up with your own story with the ideas they give you connect your

the ideas they give you connect your

the ideas they give you connect your mind to your instrument to the music so

mind to your instrument to the music so

mind to your instrument to the music so that they become one join me in that

that they become one join me in that

that they become one join me in that world thank you

world thank you

world thank you [Applause]