Charles Berthoud: Extreme Bass

If you thought the bass guitar was there to stand quietly at the back of the band, Charles Berthoud may change your mind.

The British-born bassist has become one of the best-known solo bass players of his generation, building a huge international following with performances that make a single bass sound more like an entire band. Using two-handed tapping, slap, harmonics and live looping, he can play melody, chords, basslines and percussion simultaneously.

A Berklee College of Music graduate, Berthoud has taken solo bass well beyond the usual musician's niche. He has more than 2.1 million YouTube subscribers, has appeared on the cover of Bass Player, and performed at New York's Carnegie Hall in 2025.

His Extreme Bass: Play With Fire China tour brings him to Suzhou with material from his new five-track Play With Fire EP, released in June 2026, alongside original music and some very recognisable covers.
The advertised setlist includes his versions of Michael Jackson's “Smooth Criminal,” Daft Punk's “Get Lucky,” Beethoven's “Moonlight Sonata” and Muse's “Hysteria,” alongside Berthoud originals including Slapocalypse, Elevated and Play With Fire.

Even if you've never knowingly listened to a solo bass performance before, this might be the one to try.