Christmas Archives

Dee Murray is a giant of the bass guitar many people do not rate as being among the best of all time, but I certainly do. His playing on the holiday single “Step Into Christmas” by Elton John is nothing short of impressive as he finds many inventive ways to make very simple chord changes sound exciting and new. After...

One of our favorite holiday traditions is getting a holiday video from Steve Bailey and the Berklee Bass Department. This year, Steve, and fellow Berklee bass faculty Victor Wooten, John Patitucci, James Genus and Lincoln Goines put together this terrific arrangement of “Little Drummer Boy”. The bassists dedicate this year’s video to the late Victor Bailey. They’ve also announced Victor...

Marcelo Yakko is a great guy (and a terrific bass player too). He shared this video with us, saying “A Christmas song to send good wishes and positive energy.” You know the tune, and Marcelo’s energy is infectious on this arrangement for two basses. Be sure to check out the outtakes at the end.

Karl Clews took Donny Hathaway’s classic “This Christmas” and arranged it for solo bass. Happy holidays everyone!

Here’s a version of “Silent Night” like you’ve never heard before. Guitarist Carl Mörner Ringström teamed up with bassist Johannes Zetterberg and drummer Jonathan Lundberg to make this intense yet relaxed version of the carol. Zetterberg lays down the groove on a beautiful six-string fretless before taking the lead at the 1:38 mark. The track is available as a free...

We’re getting into the holiday spirit with some bass videos, including this new arrangement of “Carol of the Bells” by Tony Grey. The bassist creates an ambient soundscape with the song’s lulling melody before taking a beautiful solo over top. Light the tree, sit back and enjoy. Grey is offering the track as a free download on his website.

Here’s another great Christmas medley the way we like it… all on the bass. This is Anthony Wellington, looping some funky beats together for the holidays.

Kent Beatty recorded this solo bass arrangement of “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas” back in 2008, and it is still awesome. Skip to around the 0:45 mark if you want to get right to the music. Merry Christmas all!

Davie504 posted this video he dubs “Christmas Funk”, featuring his own unique three-bass arrangement of “Jingle Bells”. Happy holidays!

Here’s a warming rendition of “O, Tannenbaum,” performed by the Gothenburg Bass Quartet. (Beware, the group also doubles as the Gothenburg Kazoo Quartet!) The four members play in front of a beautifully decorated Christmas tree… no, wait. That’s a bass flight trunk. Charles DeRamus shows the decorating of the trunk, saying it took “11 hours, which is a new Swedish...

Editor’s note: we’re celebrating the holidays this week with some awesome (and sometimes funny) holiday videos. Be sure to check back every day for some holiday cheer, bass-style. We first featured bassist Nick Mason recently, with his all-bass arrangement of Randy Newman’s “You’ve Got a Friend in Me“. And then we spotted this fun holiday-inspired performance by Nick, two hand...

Editor’s note: we’re celebrating the holidays this week with some awesome (and sometimes funny) holiday videos. Be sure to check back every day for some holiday cheer, bass-style. If you’ve been looking for a great video of Santa dancing while playing bass, look no further. Double bassist Todd Matthews sent us this video of his “Holiday Looping,” where he gets...