Behind the Player: Robbie Merrill: Bass Guitar DVD

This DVD offers something rare: direct instruction from a working professional bassist in a major rock band, complete with real footage and the VideoTab animated tablature system that shows exactly how the lines are played. Rather than abstract technique drills, students learn Godsmack's actual compositions from the person who wrote them, which means every fingering choice and rhythmic decision comes with genuine musical context. The behind-the-scenes material also demystifies what professional musicianship actually looks like.

The bass work here sits in the heavy, groove-oriented pocket that defines modern rock; the lines drive songs forward while contributing to dense, powerful arrangements. Merrill's approach emphasizes locking with the kick drum and creating momentum rather than elaborate virtuosity, giving students a clear model of how bass serves the song.

This DVD works best for rock bass students who already read tablature and want to understand how professional players approach composition and performance. Intermediate and advanced bassists will benefit most from seeing Merrill's fingering choices and hearing his rationale for specific voicings. It also appeals to musicians interested in the working life of touring professionals.

• Study the VideoTab carefully before attempting to play along; watching the animated tablature system multiple times builds muscle memory faster than reading static tabs alone.
• Focus on locking the rhythmic pocket with the drum part; the footage includes jamming with Shannon Larkin, so pay attention to how Merrill voices his lines against the drums rather than playing independently.
• Work on dynamic control when shifting between the driving parts and any more reserved sections; rock bass requires clarity at high volumes and definition at lower ones.

Use this as a supplemental resource in a rock bass curriculum or private instruction when covering contemporary rock styles and band dynamics. It works particularly well when students are learning to analyze how professional musicians build parts in recorded songs, or when discussing the relationship between bass and drums in driving a song's energy.

• reading and executing rock bass lines from animated tablature
• synchronizing bass and drum parts to create rhythmic pocket
• understanding how bass contributes to overall band sound and arrangement
• analyzing fingering and positioning choices for heavy rock playing