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The SBL Podcast

215- Mike Dirnt and the INCREDIBLE Bass Lines of Green Day

The SBL Podcast

Scott's Bass Lessons

Scott's Bass Lessons, Bass Guitar, Bass, Online Bass Lessons, Education, Music Interviews, Electric Bass, Music, Sbl

4.8522 Ratings

🗓️ 2 March 2026

⏱️ 51 minutes

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

Ian is joined by Mike Dirnt to break down the bass lines that shaped the sound of Green Day. From “Longview” to “Basket Case,” Mike shares how he builds his parts, what inspired them, and how simple ideas turn into massive, melodic bass lines that drive the song. Tone, attack, feel, and singing while playing — it’s all here.

Transcript

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0:00.0

This vessel of Green Day, you know, it's taking me all over the world, and it started with one show at a time.

0:09.0

Man, that feels such a great feeling when you know you're just crushing that.

0:16.0

My wife always told me, she goes, you gotta slow down, you gotta stop.

0:19.0

They'd be married a race race car not a pace car

0:21.2

I'd be doing this whether I was making no money or not because coming from nothing you got nothing to lose

0:30.6

live a renaissance life do lots of things make a mess everywhere it will all come out in the wash

0:40.8

we have always had this common belief that what we are doing in Green Day what we lead behind will be

0:46.5

our biggest contribution to the world here we are in the studio with mr. Mike Dernt from Green Day. Thank you so much for being here.

0:59.0

Thank you for having me. I love what you guys do.

1:02.0

Thank you so much, man. I've been a huge fan for a long time, so this is a big deal.

1:06.0

We're going to start off right away, diving into some tunes. I feel like all these songs and these bass lines that you've written over the years are going to be great, sort of jumping off points to talk about your approach, your sounds, your techniques, how you approach the bass, how you sing and play, all of these things that you're known for.

1:25.5

So you're ready to dive in?

1:27.1

Let's go.

1:27.9

Let's do it.

1:28.5

All right.

1:34.3

When was the last time you saw this video?

1:37.1

It's been a minute.

1:38.7

That was our old house.

1:40.9

No.

1:41.5

Well, it's actually, Billy and Trey lived there.

1:44.2

I lived down the street.

1:46.5

The room we're jamming in in this.

...

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