After Playing Bass For Over 30 Years, This Man Grabs His Gear And KILLS ‘Gimme Three Steps’

Jeff Whiting YouTube Channel

Once upon a time, there was a group of young men in Jacksonville, Florida with a dream of making great music. Those young men would later achieve their dream, going from just a group of local kids to becoming one of the greatest rock bands of all time. 

That band became known as Lynyrd Skynyrd, the force behind hit songs such as “Sweet Home Alabama” and “Simple Man.” Another one of Skynyrd’s many songs that have stood the test of time is “Gimme Three Steps,” which was released in November 1973. 

The song was written by lead singer Ronnie Van Zant and guitarist Allen Collins, and is known for its more laid back sound than some of Skynyrd’s other songs. That’s owed to the bass part in the song, which was played by Ed King and sets the rhythm for the whole thing. 

When it comes to Skynyrd’s bass parts, the one in “Gimme Three Steps” is perhaps the most recognizable. As a Florida native himself, Jeff Whiting certainly grew up surrounded by Skynyrd’s music. The comic book artist and gamer has been playing bass for over 30 years, and played in several bar bands in the Daytona area during the 80’s and early 90’s.

Whiting currently provides DJ services for events and is also working with a new band. On his website, Whiting says that prospective collaborators and clients always asked if he had any videos to show them, so he started up a YouTube channel with some of his best bass covers.

One of those covers was of the bass part in “Gimme Three Steps.” Whiting grabbed his Ruby Red 2015 Rickenbacker 4003, started up the track, and began showing off the skills he’s perfected over the course of the past 30 years.

Whiting jammed out to the bass part in the song, seamlessly matching it with the actual part playing in the track. If you were to walk away and listen to his video from another room, you would just assume his playing was part of the track itself.

He never says a word throughout the entire video, and he doesn’t need to. His skills and passion for playing music speak entirely for themselves. See it with your own eyes in the video below!

We think the guys in Skynyrd would approve, don’t you?

Lynyrd Skynyrd’s ‘Pronounced ‘Lĕh-‘nérd ‘Skin-‘nérd & Second Helping Live’ is available now on DVD, Blu-ray and digital formats – it’s the perfect gift for the Lynyrd Skynyrd fan in your life. Buy it here on Amazon!