How Black Sabbath's "Into The Void" Track From Their Master Of Reality Album, Can Take Your Playing To A New Level

A lot of musicians want to play their own way these days and that's all fine and good. But you need to learn from some of the masters of rock and metal. Black Sabbath is one of those bands you need to learn from, even if all you play is jazz fusion or even folk music. Doesn't matter.

A lot of Sabbath material is blues based and you'd be well advised to heed my words, or be forever floundering in shit ass bands that take you no where. Just my opinion. The intro to Into the Void has a
strong bass like chord and riff structure that's all Geezer Butler. Even Ozzy's vocals are based on the lead and bass riffs if you listen closely.

Near the end of the song Tony Iommi's playing structure takes on not just a heavier tone, but more of a melodic bass and almost jazz like texture that's ingrained in this song. What you want to do is learn how to infuse these types of playing and phrasing in your heavier material. It all stems from more of a blues like foundation.

With the advent of certain music software, you have the ability to play along and play your own way. But I always implore musicians to find an actual long play album, yes vinyl, and play to that. Playing with actual analog recordings will serve you better in the long run to learn to be creative as an axeman. Take certain chord structures from,"Into the Void" switch them around to suit your playing or musical style and inject into your mix.

Really astute players and fans of your music will hear the little nuances of Sabbath like material, or even Zakk Wylde or Geezer Butler influences. If you want to take your playing to new heights, learn from classic material like Sabbath.

Mark Grove

Are You A Great Bottom Feeder? Here's How To Be A Slick Bass Axemen Like Geezer

"I Never Try And Sound Like Sabbath" (Geezer Butler)


This is a repost I felt was important because of the amount I watch bass players locally and how most bottom feeders don't have for the most part, their own original playing style, feel and tone. Just my opinion. Bass players are the glue that holds bands together, and watching them gives you an indication of how the rest of a band will play. Next time you watch a jam session, a concert or even a recording session watch the bass player and how they play in step with the lead guitarist, drummer and even a singer.

Think about Geezer Butler the Bottom Feeder for Black Sabbath. He plays in lock step with Tony Iommi, and he plays his own way, like a lead axeman. Take a look at a You Tube video of Geezer and how he plays with Iommi. You'll see what I'm talking about. You may think that you being a bass player you aren't that important. I beg to fuckin' differ!

If you're a real bass bottom feeder you'll always play your ass off and get set lists down like it's the only thing that matters. You'll learn how to play differently and play your way if you read this post. And you better. I think you'll gain some valuable knowledge you can take on stage or in the studio. You can even tweak your bass guitar and amp settings to get a different playing tone and feel. As well, you can even tweak your stompbox settings to add to your original tone. So take a few notes and then get started playing, just a little differently.

Sometimes your Bass playing gets stale and you don't stray far from the pocket for anything. One of the better utilization's of being a bass player is holding down the rhythm, yet adding your own texture and chording structure.


When you hit the first two beats with a solid pocket bass back beat take the next two and play them differently by combining different note structures inside the chord. This will take some training and practice on the chord and fret structure that takes the beat and sound to a higher level.


This will help create a bolder feel to the music. You can even switch the first beat to the new chord structure as well and assist in being more of a bass virtuoso and challenge your playing ability. It will even take your band's playing and stretching it dynamically.


You can play different chord variations by learning from music that has both a higher and lower tempo feel. Blues arrangements like Elmore James Jr's tracks on his recent release(JSP)Daddy Gave Me The Blues album, with tracks like "Don't Get Mad" and "I'll Get You," are two examples of playing with intensity--yet taking your blues back beat on the bottom feeder scale to a new level.


You might want to include partial chords on each note you play, there by mixing up the bottom end even more. You'll learn when to include variations on chords and when to stay in the old Bottom Feeder pocket.


Mark Grove

Interview With Blacks Sabbath's Tony Iommi and Geezer Butler Will Help your Band Decide Where To Take Their Music Live And In The Studio

I decided to grab this 1992 interview with Tony and Geezer who talk mainly about Sabbath from 1980  and forward. They had their best singer since Ozzy, Ronnie James Dio who helped define Sabbath with a new textural range that seemed to be even heavier. As well, the interview talks about Dio's reluctance at first to go along with certain lyrical picks for new songs.

But where this interview helps you the players out there is where Geezer talks about the importance of producing when it comes to live material and what to focus on. But the tell tale little nugget of advice for players comes from Tony when he talks about why bands seem to focus on what a record label or your fans want. And why Tony said that's the wrong move.

I hope this interview with Black Sabbath's Tony Iommi and Geezer Butler gives your band some advice that can help it move to the next level. And many respects to the recently passed on Ronnie James Dio.

Mark Grove

The Master of Black Sabbath's Bottom Feeder Tone Geezer Butler--And How You Can use His Expertise To Develop Bottom Feeding Tone All your Own

By Mark Grove

Co-Writer Dee Curtis

One of the most emulated Bass players known to mankind in the last 35 years Geezer Butler, knows a thing or two about bass tone and how it melds with the rest of your band. I thought about the raps I've had with resident Canadian Guitar player consultant, Dee Curtis on tone and how best to get it. Now, I'm paraphrasing here. When you crank your amp thinking that it will add to your sound, think again.

Even Heavy Metal Bass players have to watch that their bass tone isn't too dirty or just overwhelms the other half of the bass sound, that being the drums. An old Bass Player of Dee's had a Yamaha 300 watt amp hooked up with a Fender Bass; can't remember which model. He loved to just crank that bastard, but it didn't go well with the type of music being played. Dee feels that you don't need to crank your bass amp to get a great tone and powerful sound that doesn't kill everything in it's path.

http://www.geezerbutler.com

Also, learning how to set up your amp and bass right for better tone is vital to any tonal perfection, or as close to it as you can get. Dee agrees with me that you don't need even a 100 watt amp when you're practicing or onstage at a local club. If you know how to set up your amp properly, you should be able to obtain bass tone that has deep range and a pocket that just blows you away. Experiment with sound by figuring out whether you should be using a pick or using just your fingers for some tracks.

And if some tracks can use more distortion in relation to the sound your band want, try and mic your cabs and record the band to see if your bass tone has any added depth and tone. You'll eventually figure things out, even if that means a different amp bass guitar or strings. If you love being a bass player,and I know you do, you'll think of everything you do to make your tone better as a lab experiment and enjoy the bass journey.


Bottom Feeder Gear of Geezer Butler


Bass-- Lakland(Bob Glaub Model)
(Joe Osborn)

Strings-- (DR) various models--Red Devil -- Hi Beam--Black Beauties

Gauge -- .050 to .110 .045 and .105

Amp -- Ampeg SVT

Effects -- '75 Tycobrahe Wah
DL4 Delay
Line 6 Bass Pod Pro

Cabs -- Ampeg 8 by 10's
2 by 15's
4 by 12's with EV Drivers

Now, go toward the Bottom Feeder gear boys and girls.


http://www.geezerbutler.com

Are You Really A Great Bottom Feeder?

By Mark Grove

This is a repost I felt was important because of the amount I watch bass players locally and how most bottom feeders don't have for the most part, their own original playing style, feel and tone. Just my opinion. Bass players are the glue that holds bands together, and watching them gives you an indication of how the rest of a band will play. Next time you watch a jam session, a concert or even a recording session watch the bass player and how they play in step with the lead guitarist, drummer and even a singer.

Think about Geezer Butler the Bottom Feeder for Black Sabbath. He plays in lock step with Tony Iommi, and he plays his own way, like a lead axeman. Take a look at a You Tube video of Geezer and how he plays with Iommi. You'll see what I'm talking about. You may think that you being a bass player you aren't that important. I beg to fuckin' differ!

If you're a real bass bottom feeder you'll always play your ass off and get set lists down like it's the only thing that matters. You'll learn how to play differently and play your way if you read this post. And you better. I think you'll gain some valuable knowledge you can take on stage or in the studio. You can even tweak your bass guitar and amp settings to get a different playing tone and feel. As well, you can even tweak your stompbox settings to add to your original tone. So take a few notes and then get started playing, just a little differently.

Sometimes your Bass playing gets stale and you don't stray far from the pocket for anything. One of the better utilization's of being a bass player is holding down the rhythm, yet adding your own texture and chording structure.


When you hit the first two beats with a solid pocket bass back beat take the next two and play them differently by combining different note structures inside the chord. This will take some training and practice on the chord and fret structure that takes the beat and sound to a higher level.


This will help create a bolder feel to the music. You can even switch the first beat to the new chord structure as well and assist in being more of a bass virtuoso and challenge your playing ability. It will even take your band's playing and stretching it dynamically.


You can play different chord variations by learning from music that has both a higher and lower tempo feel. Blues arrangements like Elmore James Jr's tracks on his recent release(JSP)Daddy Gave Me The Blues album, with tracks like "Don't Get Mad" and "I'll Get You," are two examples of playing with intensity--yet taking your blues back beat on the bottom feeder scale to a new level.


You might want to include partial chords on each note you play, there by mixing up the bottom end even more. You'll learn when to include variations on chords and when to stay in the old Bottom Feeder pocket.


Mark Grove