Scott and Ian take on WatchMojo’s list of the 10 Greatest Bass Lines of All Time—do they live up to the hype or fall flat? From feel and pocket to creativity, tone, and those unforgettable hooks, they’re rating what really makes a bass line legendary (and which ones get a “meh”). If you’ve ever wanted to level up and find out what skills might be h…

Scott and Ian dive into the recent firestorm around guitarist Giacomo Turra—from miming and monetizing others’ solos to what it really means to be a musician on social media today. But this isn’t just about one creator—it’s about blurred lines, internet fame, and how we define integrity, performance, and progress in the modern music world. Miming? …

Scott and Ian dig into 12 common (and surprisingly relatable) reasons bassists hit a wall—and spoiler: it’s not just about not practicing. This episode gets honest (in a good way), with plenty of insights, laughs, and “wait… that’s me” moments. Even Ian felt called out by a few of these! Which ones resonate with you?…

What makes a bass line cut through in a heavy band like Pantera? In this episode, Ian Allison sits down with Rex Brown to find out. Rex walks us through a few of his most iconic lines—including the growling groove of “I’m Broken” and shares what it took to hold down the low end in one of metal’s loudest, heaviest bands. If you’re into classic hard …

What really happens when you go to one of the most famous music schools in the world? In this episode, Sharon pulls back the curtain on her time at Berklee College of Music as Scott digs into the highs, the lows, and the stuff you don’t hear in the brochures. From late-night jam sessions to lessons learned side by side with other hungry young music…

Scott’s got a brand new 5-string, and it’s shaking things up. In this episode, he and Ian dig into what makes it so special and why 5-strings deserve way more love. From tone and feel to gig-ready setups, it’s a deep dive into the gear, the playing, and the choices that shape your sound. Whether you’re thinking of switching it up or just curious wh…

Ready to stretch out beyond your usual comfort zone? In this episode, Scott and Ian explore five epic bass lines that make full use of the fingerboard. We're talking top to bottom, end to end. Along the way, you’ll pick up tips on fretboard visualization, targeting key notes, and making the entire neck feel like home. These riffs aren't just cool. …

What’s it like to be one of the most recorded bass players of all time? In this episode, Scott sits down with session legend Leland Sklar, the bassist behind classic records from Carole King, Phil Collins, James Taylor, Dolly Parton, Toto, and Diana Ross—just a glimpse into a career that spans over 2,000 albums. Lee shares unforgettable studio stor…

Exciting things are on the way! Scott and Ian sit down to talk about major updates coming to the SBL YouTube channel, including a brand-new series featuring some of the best bassists in the world. With 12 days of back-to-back sessions in Los Angeles, they’re bringing top-tier talent straight to your screen. Who’s involved, and what can you expect? …

What happens when you commit to writing a brand-new two-bar bass line every single day for a year? In this episode, Scott sits down with Ian Trusheim to talk about his 365-day bass line challenge. From the creative process to the quality of tracks, they dive into what it takes to craft hundreds of unique grooves. Ian breaks down his approach to fee…

What makes a bass legend? Is it flawless technique or breaking the rules in just the right way? Today, we’re having a raw, unfiltered conversation about bass technique—what works, what doesn’t, and when “bad” technique actually makes a player great. From Flea’s slap to Geddy Lee’s plucking, Bobby Vega, and more, we’re breaking down the mechanics of…

It’s never been easier to capture pro bass tones at home without waking up the neighbours. Whether you’re taking your first steps into home recording or planning a multi-layered bass masterpiece, in today’s podcast, we break down some essential advice that will help you get the best results possible, whatever your budget. Looking to deck out an aff…

There's something about playing a bass guitar that’s older than you that just feels incredible. But just because it’s old doesn’t mean it’s great. Mojo aside, do vintage basses really sound better than their new counterparts? In today’s episode, we’re delving into some of these key questions that often come along, namely: is the vintage bass you’re…

2024 was the year of the HX Stomp, Jad Freer’s Capo, Boss being bosses and more effects than we knew what to do with! We seem to say this every year, but there's been so much competition for your cash in 2024, with the bass effects market bigger and better than ever. Of course, we've got our favorites. In today’s podcast you'll find our handpicked …

As the hair-metal spandex of the previous decade met its end, the ‘90s ushered in a new breed of bass guitar. From Ken Smith to Lakland, to Spector to Tobias, basses of the '90s packed a memorable punch to the gut. In today’s podcast, we're running through the bass guitars that defined the decade.By Scott's Bass Lessons

We get it: bass players are extremely difficult to buy for and everything we want costs a small fortune. Well, you needn’t worry, as we’ve trawled through the Internet to compile a list of bass-friendly gifts that we'd be more than happy to receive ourselves on Christmas day. So, let us extend an olive branch, as we offer up some killer gift ideas …

While Leo Fender will be forever revered for his iconic electric guitar designs, without doubt his greatest contribution to the advancement of popular music was unveiled in October 1951 – the first year of the Fender Precision. Today’s podcast is a reminder of why the P-Bass has remained the ‘go-to instrument’ for so many bass players, for so long.…

If you’ve ever suffered from wrist pain after spending hours perfecting a John Entwistle bass solo, you’ll know that spending extended periods hunched over a bass guitar can cause all kinds of hand and arm problems, back pain, and even nerve damage. In this podcast, we talk through Scott’s recent health scare and share some advice to ensure that yo…

You might have an expensive custom shop bass and all the boutique stompboxes in the world, but you’ll still need a great bass amp to achieve your dream tone. In this video, we’re looking at some of the greatest amps, pedals and cabinets of 2024, handpicked by the SBL team – including tube, solid-state and preamp pedals! Here’s what we think are the…

Let’s clear this up from the start – we LOVE bass amps, big stacks of speakers coupled with loud, monstrous amplifier heads. We want to feel the air move as we play! But when you’re a gigging bassist, one of the biggest struggles we face is the endless battle with the onstage sound. In this podcast, we’re asking if there’s a future for bass amplifi…

Headless basses were two a penny in the 1980s and 1990s, and nowadays they tend to look pretty embarrassing. But we like crazy-looking gear, in case you hadn’t noticed! So, whether you love them or loathe them, if you’ve always dreamed of wielding a headless bass, then we urge you to watch today’s video!…

We’ve got some good news for you today. Dirk Lance, a co-founding member of platinum rock band Incubus, is here to break down some of his greatest bass lines. We also asked him about his ’65 Jazz Bass and why he went from a Fender P Bass Special to a Warwick 10-string! It's the ultimate inspiration to pick up your bass this week.…

After he sold Fender and exited his collaboration with Music Man, Leo Fender founded a brand-new company that would play host to his final electric guitar and bass innovations. Leo called G&L Guitars the best instruments he ever made – the problem was that by the time he formed his new line of instruments, his accomplishments in the music industry …

Finally, a video that dispels some of the myths about achieving bass guitar fretboard mastery - like having to learn ALL of the notes in the Hungarian minor scale! In this episode, Scott and Ian reveal how they solved their fretboard woes, their newfound love for headless basses, and the simple steps you can take to elevate your own bass playing.…

In today’s video, we asked Kelsey González to name the bass lines that helped define his career with American singer, drummer, and record producer Anderson Paak. You’ll hear nuances to his bass lines you never noticed before – and probably rush home to grab your bass!By Scott's Bass Lessons