No brainer for me...James Jamerson with Marvin Gaye's What's Going On. Classic bass player's riff showcasing the Master's iconic style and technique. At the same time, he outlined a very tastefully executed, constantly moving bass line that will forever mark the Motown Sound, and how it influenced popular music.👑🎸🎵
Hello, I agree that this is one of the best bass lines ever... And what is interesting is the lack of slapping, tapping, triplets and other modern day bass histrionics... 👍... Great lesson Mark
13:51 I read an interview, years ago, in which Norman stated that the whole bassline was built around that one section. He heard "Come On, Come Over", was grabbed by that lick at the beginning of the chorus section and thought "I'm havin' that!" Everything else was expanded from that one lick.
Great tutorial, Mark. I love Ian's lyrics but it's Chaz and Norm that make the Blockheads for me. This bass line is like Jaco passed the gods' fire on thru' Norm.
I've the barest glimmer of memory of this odd tune; like a past-life memory, perhaps best forgotten. I dissected it on youtube after this lesson came up in my feed. Man! That freak'n bass-line! The way it holds everything together, everything trapped in it's gravity like the 60+ moons orbiting Jupiter. (There's even one moon - recently found - going 'round in the opposite direction. No one quite knows why. Maybe it's the singer).
Absolutely fantastic. I will always come back to your tutorials....cuts straight to the chase but do-able. Super. Coolest bass riff ever....hmmm it's certainly in my top 3 along with YYZ and Sir Duke :-p
Definitely up there as one of my all time favourite lines.... also going to chuck in Talking Loud by Incognito (a pure masterclass by Randy Hope Taylor)
Thanks for sharing this tut with us Mark its been one Ive wanted to learn for some time and thanks to you have finally got it. As another NWR and Blockheads for the future perhaps, would you maybe consider "What a Waste"?
Been my workout since the mid eighties. I prefer to slide the Eb to F, NMR mixes it up as I've observed. Oh what a band to see live !! Luckily ... I'm old enough to have been able ...
@TalkingBass - Online Bass Lessons Lovely job! You certainly made a damn complicated bass line for most; more approachable..I don't play bass much..I have a good go at it though! Norman's an old friend ..he tried to show me this once, he was polite bless him..lol..bloody fiddley bass line!..but when you get in the groove..it's a joy to play, I have to say you made a fine job of explaining it! You're spot on with the Jaco reference..he's Norman's favourite..I can't remember the song, but we spent hours going over this one tune live where he's detuning the neck..yes the Neck! not the bleedin' strıngs!! as he's playing!! Amazing ..Norm and İ couldn't get our heads round that one! Anyway..when we're freed from the dreaded virus İ'll get Norm to check this vid out..Till then do keep up the fine work sir!! ;o)
Hi Mark, another great lesson. Thank you. Can you suggest any tips to overcome my problem with right hand finger alternation when playing octaves in lines like this one? My fingers are a bit stubby and I really struggle to cover both strings with equal attack. Any suggestions would be most welcome. many thanks once again.
This song is difficult for many people because it requires some careful right had finger coordination to play the doubled up notes. I feel too little attention is given to this on the tutorials I have seen, and it is important for students to see what the fingers on the right hand is given. I am pleased you have given attention to this. Might be an idea to show which part of the string to pick, as to close to the bridge it gets too taut.
I personally don't think Norman plays the low Eb in the run up to the high Eb at the end of the low Fm riff - i.e. the part you discuss at the 4:00 mark. The way I used to play it - before I saw this video - was to slide from the C to the F on the A-string. But now that you have me listening the song more closely, I think Norm actually slides from the F to the Ab on the D-string. I don't hear him throwing that extra low Eb in there.
I saw a documentary once in which Ian Dury described his composing style. He would come up with a song in a relatively simple form then bring an arranger in to finalise it. I may be wrong but I have always thought that this bass line in particular, has got _arranger woz here_ written all over it.
Mate thank you so much for this video. Honestly, didn't know about this band (and of course this song). Thank you for introducing them to me. Now this is a must listen, and of course I'm grabbing my bass ASAP to learn this. Greetings from Argentina.
I happened to see The Blockheads at a gig back in June and saw Norman Joseph Watt-Roy perform this bassline. I believe that Norman wrote the bassline straight after hearing Jaco play.
That's right. He was at a Jaco gig a few nights before the Blockheads were due in the studio to record this song. Instant classic inspired by one genius to another!
I got thrown for a loop from the gate,Mark called the first fret of the D string E flat, where as i learned it as D sharp,it took me a second to fix it in my head had to watch that first part a couple times to make sure i was hearing right
I've tried playing this bass line myself and found using three fingers on my plucking hand worked better and smoother than the usual two. Mind you I find it hard to get the hang of too. BTW; I wouldn't be so delusional to claim to be a bass player of any real ability, though I once thought I was good; I'm not. And Covid and osteoarthritis in my fretting hand thumb has stopped me playing for months. It's certainly a great bass line and I can clearly remember when it was charting and the cool vibes I got from the bass line!
Great vid! Love the 16th note funk! Rocco Prestia’s line on Tower of Power’s “Ebony Jam” was one of my first forays into the style back in ‘98. Gonna get started on this one right away!
As an ‘l wish l was a bass player instead of being a guitarist’ ( no regrets as a pianist WOTSOVER); . I blew it. It ain’t the same thinkin you can be a GREAT BASS GUITARIST coming from the guitar; don’t kid ya self! It’s a different beast!! Anything l hear doesn’t sound like it’s got enough bass little alone mids, 😩🥺I so LOVE THESE GUYS. I’ve been playing for years; is it to late for me ??? 😖😢😡🤢🔫
I really want to know if we are born with limited speed fingers ... i learn the first part of the riff i started when you posted it and i can not reach more than 85bpm
It’s limited _strength_ fingers, mostly. Most of the time, if you can’t get up to speed on fast bass lines , it’s because you didn’t develop the strength/stretch/muscle memory _slowly,_ before you attempted it at full speed. TB and lots of other teachers cover this aspect of playing. Get it solid (and you have to be honest with yourself about how solid you have it) at a slow speed, then work up through the BPMs, and I’ll guarantee you’ll get it faster and eventually full speed.
@@DaveyMulholland That 's not what I asked. He could have decided to come in on bar "x" and the tape could still have been rolled from another spot......................
"Ghetto Life" by Rick James....bass line during the main verse is two notes (and mostly just one). By the way...I know that song you're teaching, but there was some wild woman singing on the version I heard....quite unique she was/is.
So because he simply told us what the song was called, a brief overview of what it's like and then saying that he's going to play it, that meant you could no longer enjoy the video? Nice one.
I don´t think so. I really respect you and i'm really grateful to alllllll your lessons. But this isn´t tasty. I always thought that a bit of marketing would be good to your channel, but not in this way (promising title, average cool bass line). Now come to mind Heart of the sunrise (Yes), Wake Up (RATM), Cochise (Audioslave) and various from Led Zeppelin. Greetins from Argentina.
Yup. Goes up and down. If you look at my first vids (5 years ago) I'm thinner than I am now (with more of a tan!). Then I put on weight dealing with all the tiredness, trials and tribulations of having two young children. Got married in August of last year and then absolutely hammered my Keto diet. Still have a couple of stone to lose. But doing well.
I think this is probably the coolest bass line in the world ever! What do you think? What's your vote for 'coolest'-bass-riff-ever?!
This is one of the coolesr bass line for finger style, for slap is hair by Larry...
ua-cam.com/video/RL4eDvMaJyI/v-deo.html
No brainer for me...James Jamerson with Marvin Gaye's What's Going On.
Classic bass player's riff showcasing the Master's iconic style and technique. At the same time, he outlined a very tastefully executed, constantly moving bass line that will forever mark the Motown Sound, and how it influenced popular music.👑🎸🎵
Tesseract - Singularity; intro and after 1:05 ua-cam.com/video/m0-IsU3-jDM/v-deo.html ua-cam.com/video/6BhOI5ix6Og/v-deo.html
How can you consider this an "average" bass line? As a bass line designed to fit a classic, four minute funk pop song ,Watt - Roy did an amazing job.
Hello, I agree that this is one of the best bass lines ever... And what is interesting is the lack of slapping, tapping, triplets and other modern day bass histrionics... 👍...
Great lesson Mark
😂 love the disdain lol or maybe even high dudgeon
13:51 I read an interview, years ago, in which Norman stated that the whole bassline was built around that one section.
He heard "Come On, Come Over", was grabbed by that lick at the beginning of the chorus section and thought "I'm havin' that!"
Everything else was expanded from that one lick.
Thanks for your teachings Mark, you are very kind.
Mate, this has left me utterly speechless!!
Norman Watt-Roy took inspiration from Jaco Pastorious and made history. Totally monster grove and as busy as it is absolutely worked for the song.
After you played all 3 parts, I immediately stopped this video and looked up this song to hear it in real time. This bass line is awesome! 👍
I listened to this song a bajillion times in high school (when it came out) and I never noticed the great basslines in it.
Great tutorial, Mark. I love Ian's lyrics but it's Chaz and Norm that make the Blockheads for me. This bass line is like Jaco passed the gods' fire on thru' Norm.
Well this will become a classic go to lesson for sure. Well delivered Mark.
Well, that's my weekend taken care of... Thanks Mark!!!
man, this bass line is mind boggling!
nice bass playn love it
I've the barest glimmer of memory of this odd tune; like a past-life memory, perhaps best forgotten. I dissected it on youtube after this lesson came up in my feed.
Man! That freak'n bass-line! The way it holds everything together, everything trapped in it's gravity like the 60+ moons orbiting Jupiter. (There's even one moon - recently found - going 'round in the opposite direction. No one quite knows why. Maybe it's the singer).
Great bass lines. I think my favorite is Jameson’s work on What’s Going On.
Absolutely fantastic. I will always come back to your tutorials....cuts straight to the chase but do-able. Super. Coolest bass riff ever....hmmm it's certainly in my top 3 along with YYZ and Sir Duke :-p
Definitely up there as one of my all time favourite lines.... also going to chuck in Talking Loud by Incognito (a pure masterclass by Randy Hope Taylor)
Thanks for sharing this tut with us Mark its been one Ive wanted to learn for some time and thanks to you have finally got it. As another NWR and Blockheads for the future perhaps, would you maybe consider "What a Waste"?
Awesome. You're a great teacher
Thanks you've really helped me in my bass playing.
Been my workout since the mid eighties.
I prefer to slide the Eb to F, NMR mixes it up as I've observed.
Oh what a band to see live !!
Luckily ... I'm old enough to have been able ...
@TalkingBass - Online Bass Lessons
Lovely job! You certainly made a damn complicated bass line for most; more approachable..I don't play bass much..I have a good go at it though! Norman's an old friend ..he tried to show me this once, he was polite bless him..lol..bloody fiddley bass line!..but when you get in the groove..it's a joy to play, I have to say you made a fine job of explaining it! You're spot on with the Jaco reference..he's Norman's favourite..I can't remember the song, but we spent hours going over this one tune live where he's detuning the neck..yes the Neck! not the bleedin' strıngs!! as he's playing!! Amazing ..Norm and İ couldn't get our heads round that one! Anyway..when we're freed from the dreaded virus İ'll get Norm to check this vid out..Till then do keep up the fine work sir!! ;o)
I agree completely! Cool Norman bass line and an excellent lesson.
Probably still my favourite song to play
I remember skiing with this on my walkman. Good times...
Sounds very cool. But still the bassline from "Come Together" and "Dark Neccesities' are my personal favorites.
Thanks for posting this video. Helped me complete my quest to learn and upload this song.
Great bass line. Thanks for sharing it, as I will definitely incorporate it into my practice routine. Appreciate you Mark!
Hi Mark, another great lesson. Thank you. Can you suggest any tips to overcome my problem with right hand finger alternation when playing octaves in lines like this one? My fingers are a bit stubby and I really struggle to cover both strings with equal attack. Any suggestions would be most welcome. many thanks once again.
you're making me work learning this Mark
Hmm, not bad for a 4am wake up call 😉 time to wake up my girlfriend belting out this bassline I guess 😂
I have been looking for all the parts to this song. I only had part of it. Thanks for posting this video!
Wonderful. Thank you.
I know it's still a bit early but I'd love a breakdown of Christmas wrapping by the waitresses!
This song is difficult for many people because it requires some careful right had finger coordination to play the doubled up notes. I feel too little attention is given to this on the tutorials I have seen, and it is important for students to see what the fingers on the right hand is given. I am pleased you have given attention to this. Might be an idea to show which part of the string to pick, as to close to the bridge it gets too taut.
I've got to agree with you even though it's not my usual style(assuming I have one that is!)
Very good. You've just given me some serious practice there.
Brilliant tho
Thanks for this Marc. I managed to get it under my fingers in about an hour.
But jeez my upper right arm is killing me right now 😂
yep i agree its a class bass line from norman,one of many he wrote,!!although most famous....relax n two tribes on his trevor horn session!
I personally don't think Norman plays the low Eb in the run up to the high Eb at the end of the low Fm riff - i.e. the part you discuss at the 4:00 mark. The way I used to play it - before I saw this video - was to slide from the C to the F on the A-string. But now that you have me listening the song more closely, I think Norm actually slides from the F to the Ab on the D-string. I don't hear him throwing that extra low Eb in there.
O Man, that is what I need! What a great way to wakeup. Thanks Mark
IT is a killer riff.
Turned out not to be a click bait title at all, totally awesome bass line I've been working on far a while. It's quite a work out!
Gm Mark can you make a video of the Jacksons Heartbreak hotel plz
Norman is great, is he still in the band by any chance?? ✌️😙
nice one - you're right it is killer
I saw a documentary once in which Ian Dury described his composing style. He would come up with a song in a relatively simple form then bring an arranger in to finalise it. I may be wrong but I have always thought that this bass line in particular, has got _arranger woz here_ written all over it.
DURY.
@@grahambrowning6114 *YES*
Mate thank you so much for this video. Honestly, didn't know about this band (and of course this song). Thank you for introducing them to me. Now this is a must listen, and of course I'm grabbing my bass ASAP to learn this. Greetings from Argentina.
I happened to see The Blockheads at a gig back in June and saw Norman Joseph Watt-Roy perform this bassline. I believe that Norman wrote the bassline straight after hearing Jaco play.
That's right. He was at a Jaco gig a few nights before the Blockheads were due in the studio to record this song. Instant classic inspired by one genius to another!
I got thrown for a loop from the gate,Mark called the first fret of the D string E flat, where as i learned it as D sharp,it took me a second to fix it in my head had to watch that first part a couple times to make sure i was hearing right
I've tried playing this bass line myself and found using three fingers on my plucking hand worked better and smoother than the usual two. Mind you I find it hard to get the hang of too. BTW; I wouldn't be so delusional to claim to be a bass player of any real ability, though I once thought I was good; I'm not. And Covid and osteoarthritis in my fretting hand thumb has stopped me playing for months. It's certainly a great bass line and I can clearly remember when it was charting and the cool vibes I got from the bass line!
Truly talking...and some bass
I always thought the Ghost note was an Eb? Leading to F and G with a D Ghost note?
Thanks mate. Awesome breakdown. Love your work. Cheers. Thanks again brightens up what I was looking for. It's played pretty busily that tune.
Really cool vid!
you should make your own app!!!
I've actually got a scales app out for the Ipad
Ionly have an android😣😰
the jazz bass sounds great
Great vid! Love the 16th note funk! Rocco Prestia’s line on Tower of Power’s “Ebony Jam” was one of my first forays into the style back in ‘98. Gonna get started on this one right away!
As an ‘l wish l was a bass player instead of being a guitarist’ ( no regrets as a pianist WOTSOVER); . I blew it. It ain’t the same thinkin you can be a GREAT BASS GUITARIST coming from the guitar; don’t kid ya self! It’s a different beast!! Anything l hear doesn’t sound like it’s got enough bass little alone mids, 😩🥺I so LOVE THESE GUYS. I’ve been playing for years; is it to late for me ??? 😖😢😡🤢🔫
Why isn't this guy a major star?
Heyo! What kind of bass is that in this video?
I really want to know if we are born with limited speed fingers ... i learn the first part of the riff i started when you posted it and i can not reach more than 85bpm
It’s limited _strength_ fingers, mostly. Most of the time, if you can’t get up to speed on fast bass lines , it’s because you didn’t develop the strength/stretch/muscle memory _slowly,_ before you attempted it at full speed. TB and lots of other teachers cover this aspect of playing. Get it solid (and you have to be honest with yourself about how solid you have it) at a slow speed, then work up through the BPMs, and I’ll guarantee you’ll get it faster and eventually full speed.
Suberb lins sir..
I would also add Higher Ground by the RHCP and the intro to Sweet Child O Mine by Guns and Roses
Bit of ian dury and the blockheads
The verse riff has a strong Jaco feel! Work it! ☺
So what song is this?
not many can play it. very tough!
Hi Mark. I've always wondered if Watt-Roy came in on the off beat on purpose or if that is just where they rolled the tape from?
You think he just recorded it without having worked out what he was going to play BEFORE he started recording? 🤦♂️
@@DaveyMulholland That 's not what I asked. He could have decided to come in on bar "x" and the tape could still have been rolled from another spot......................
Half-tongue by All them witches
Omg, I’ve never heard of this bassline
Have you been living on another planet.
@@Madmikey626yes
Best bass line ever? Too Shy by Kajagoogo.
If this bassline doesn't get your foot tapping and your head bobbing, you need to check your pulse.
"Ghetto Life" by Rick James....bass line during the main verse is two notes (and mostly just one).
By the way...I know that song you're teaching, but there was some wild woman singing on the version I heard....quite unique she was/is.
Ain’t nothin like the real thing by Jamerson is the Greatest
"Lesson Material and Drum Track available to view here: bit.ly/2xWVTfe [...]"
It´s a shame we can´t download those drum tracks.
No ,stop thinking,slow down ,tire that wall down Now do it
You should start the video with the bass line...
36 seconds was too much to wait was it?
yes, in terms of enjoying the video it was, i skipped the babbling
So because he simply told us what the song was called, a brief overview of what it's like and then saying that he's going to play it, that meant you could no longer enjoy the video? Nice one.
You should stop being such a child.
It better be “ rhythm stick”.
I thought 'taffi teffi' was the age old method...
How abut covering some John Entwistle,a bass guitarist.
easy.
To fast m8, for me anyway
I don´t think so. I really respect you and i'm really grateful to alllllll your lessons. But this isn´t tasty. I always thought that a bit of marketing would be good to your channel, but not in this way (promising title, average cool bass line). Now come to mind Heart of the sunrise (Yes), Wake Up (RATM), Cochise (Audioslave) and various from Led Zeppelin. Greetins from Argentina.
Led Zeppelin lol your joking right
Copying what someone else has already created is not impressive
I dunno, I think this is pretty impressive: ua-cam.com/video/Cr17v7cVJRk/v-deo.html
Did you lose weight?
Yup. Goes up and down. If you look at my first vids (5 years ago) I'm thinner than I am now (with more of a tan!). Then I put on weight dealing with all the tiredness, trials and tribulations of having two young children. Got married in August of last year and then absolutely hammered my Keto diet. Still have a couple of stone to lose. But doing well.
It actually helps that I've started wearing a fitted top rather than the shirt which was a little baggy
Nothing quite like getting your funk-chops into shape - oooooh, you are awful!
“Best ever”!!!!! 🙄 Please don’t use American hyperbole to attract attention.
change your background.
The bass lines are cool but the song isn't. Actually it's stupid! Always turned off the radio when hearing it.