5 Beginner MOTOWN Bass Lines (Guaranteed To Impress)
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 9 มิ.ย. 2024
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Motown Bass Lines! As a bass player, it’s hard to go past Motown and James Jamerson when talking about incredible bass lines.
In fact, some bassists get super intimidated when they get asked to play Motown bass. You end up standing in the shadows of some of the most respected and influential bassists of all time.
But playing Motown bass lines doesn’t have to be intimidating or scary. In fact, in this lesson, you’ll learn 5 beginner-friendly, entry level Motown lines that are:
► Instantly recognizable - in fact, they carry the songs entirely; and
► Also easy to learn, get your fingers around, and master
Two of these bass lines are so simple, they only use 3 notes the entire song!
If you want the tabs, notation and practice tracks from this video (including the slowed down versions to make practicing easier) and to get them all for free, make sure to head here:
becomeabassist.com/motown-bas...
Fill out the form on that page and you can download everything you see in this video. It’ll make it super easy to learn, practice, and master these Motown bass lines,
Now because of the Motown record label’s record-keeping practices, it’s not always clear which musicians ended up playing on which songs - especially if multiple people were brought in to have a pass at a song.
Sometimes three or four people would come into the Motown studios and lay down the same part for the same song. Which take ended up on the final recording? Sometimes it’s tricky to tell.
For example, on Papa Was A Rolling Stone, the bassist on the final track could have been James Jamerson, Eddie Watkins, Leroy Taylor or Bob Babbitt. In fact, Bob Babbitt talked about this on his forum back in 2008. Check out the post here:
www.bobbabbitt.com/smf/index.p...
Apparently Babbitt and Jamerson were on the same session, but Jamerson walked out because he was being asked to repeat the bass line over and over. That being said, Babbitt himself doesn’t remember this. I guess that’s what can happen when you play on as many recordings as he did.
So while Jamerson is synonymous with Motown, it’s not always certain that you’re hearing him on the Motown recordings.
No matter who is actually playing though, these Motown bass lines are a ton of fun, they’ll get people singing along and dancing and like I said, they’re easy to get your fingers around.
Good luck with the lesson and happy playing!
Cheers,
Luke
P.S. Here's that journal article I mention in the video. Super interesting look at Motown's practices that led to legal action and defamation cases over who played on what. It actually cites primary sources too: www.cambridge.org/core/journa...
[Chapters]
0:00 Intro
1:12 Motown Bass Line #1
4:06 Motown Bass Line #2
7:32 Sidenote: Motown Bass Tone
8:25 Motown Bass Line #3
11:06 Motown Bass Line #4
14:51 Motown Bass Line #5
18:07 FREE: Get The Tabs & Tracks For These Motown Bass Lines
#motown #becomeabassist #basslesson - เพลง
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What other (beginner-friendly) Motown bass lines do you love?
It's the Same Old Song - Four Tops
My Girl & Ain't Too Proud to Beg
Dancing in the street - Martha and the Vandellas
@@Boodroh867 it’s the same old song is a bit harder because it’s all over the fret board. Not the hardest but I wouldn’t consider it a beginners bassline
@@xMateox- The whole song can be played on the bottom 4 frets of the bass without having to shift your hand once. Gotta use those open strings, especially for Jamerson songs. He loved using open strings. Also, there was a mentality of 'there is no money above the 5th fret' back then in the music industry and still somewhat today.
I grew up on Motown music and this bass lines are truly iconic. Thanks for sharing your technique for playing them.
I've been playing bass for 3.5 years, and I've been watching you for 5... lmao
😂
I’m 61 years old and have been playing bass since 1975. I’ll stand with Luke gifted instructor. I’d really like to hear him let loose on the bass@@BecomeABassist
Same
My first instructor taught me " My Girl "
CHEERS LUKE !!!
I read through that reference page re Carol Kaye/James Jamerson - what a convoluted mess! Enjoyed reading the list of songs from the early 60's. We moved to Detroit in 1963 when I was 9 years old, received a 'table radio' for my 10th birthday just in time to immerse myself in the homegrown joys of the Motown Sound - and I loved it! Now I've been playing bass since the late 70's (better late than never) and really enjoy your lessons (beginner schmeginner!) - thanks! Hope you're making money 🙂
Was just thinking....Where's Luke been? Glad you're back.
Good to be back John! Thanks so much
Was thinking the same; no emails, wondered where Luke had got to. lol
And he's beard soo grown😅
Love you videos very helpful. I play at church and it's easy to get locked into one style of playing. Thank you for your content ☺️
Thanks Luke - I'm always eager to try your tutorials!! Fun music and great teaching!
Love your vids! I’m new to bass (last Friday) I’ve learned so much from your tutorials 🤝 Keep it up 💯
Awesome to hear @Slim P - thanks for checking out the videos
Yet again! More amazing free content to learn. Taking my base camping, that's my evenings sorted for the week. Headphones of course!! Thanks Luke
How was bass camping?
Brilliant lesson, learnt two in less than 15 mins. Thanks you and subscribed!
Luke is back, baby!!! Welcome back my friend. Nice to see a new video. What a great lesson with some nice song choices. I love how these bass lines show all you need sometimes are just 3 notes to groove. Also love how they make use of patterns and then just move them around the fretboard. Good lesson that can be carried over to other bass lines. I am not much of a Motown guy so this was a good education for me. And we got a cameo from Arnie too! Cheers!
Haha! Good to be back Thomas! Glad you liked the lesson and happy to hear Arnie is still bringing you some joy too!
Thank you so much. I appreciate learning from you.
That was great mate! Loved it, a lotta fun.
Good job Luke, good explanation on how it's done.
Thanks Luke, will enjoy these.👍
thanks for the great videos! i really appreciate that you make the lesson materials available for free-makes me much more likely to donate when i can :)
Excellent Motown style introduction for Bass. Thank you Luke for sharing.
My pleasure Frank!
Thanks for doing this video Luke! It's awesome of you to share the sheet music too. Zo
Like how you sing and name the notes ! Trying to get rid of tabs but actually know which notes I play.
Great stuff well presented, thanks
Great video good and well explained guidance
Such a great approach to The motown Sound !
Between this and your other soul basslines video, it makes for a really nice suite of lines to get into classic soul and grow from. I've been getting too greedy trying at Darling Dear, I want you back, What's Goin' On etc. Thanks for getting me grounded!
Fantastic lessons, thank you! I chuckle that I am learning the Motown style on a Spector from a teacher playing a Spector!
Great video, Thanks Luke
So Cool Bass lines Luke !!!✔ Thanks a million for all these ! I really appreciate you Bud !✔✔✔
Very happy you are back, Luke. It is fine to see, that u are quite in good mode. Thanks a lot for the MoTown-Lines. Wll, i recognize, i made efforts in the meantime - i can now play with you (thanks to Greg H. ). Cheers Alf
Great, I love this bass lines , thanks, and the little dog seems nice also😉
Nice Spector bass - owned a few - all well built and with great tones.
El mejor método,todo muy claro y práctico te felicito, gracias por todo
I like the "Jamerson certainty" thing. That's a nice touch. Great video!
Luke just wanted 2 say thanks for being such a great teacher and making it fun l just learned the whole song Get Ready very cool I am having fun and becoming a better player
Awsome great choice of ol school mo town right on!
awesome job!
Just got my firs bass. Its a Sterling by Music Man. Ive been checking out some tutorials but yours are the best so far. Thanks so much for taking time to make these videos.
Hi Luke, Your lessons help me a lot! Thanks for that. But regarding to your question below: I really would appreciate a good lesson on "It's the same old song" Keep up the works!
NICE VIDEO LUKE,
MUCH THANKS
No worries at all Mark B!
Hey great vid again! Could you list some songs in the description with which I could use these lines?
Very sweet, thank you
You're very welcome!
Thanks Luke
Poppa Was a Rolling Stone came instantly to mind when I saw this and Jameson not only didn't change his strings but he also used some type of string mute next to the bridge to get that deep dead sound
Great video Luke….I’ve been trying to figure out some of these bass lines myself so great to get your tabs as well. How about some Northern Soul like Frankie Valli ‘’The Night’ or ‘Time’ by Edwin Starr? Or perhaps some funk like ‘Boogie Oogie oogie’ by Taste of Honey?
Great video and thanks from coming out of the "cave."
Great examples, I’ve loved that music since I heard it on the oldies station as a kid. :)
Out of curiosity, which model are you playing those on, Euro? NS-2?
Thank you
You're welcome John!
He also played with foam under the bridge to help even more in getting that tone that he had
The Jedi is back.! Play Bass.. We Must!
Haha! media.giphy.com/media/26FmQ6EOvLxp6cWyY/source.gif
Lv seeing Fido's nose poke in to the edge of the screen. Dogs make me smile. TY!! easy n fun is important to me at this early level. Plz pet your dog for me!!
I am legitimately petting him right now for you @David NCW! He’s the best
Where ya been? Love Motown bass. My favorite
I've been around @Robert Mock. Haha! Glad you like some Motown - me too.
Thank's for the score and real notes singing : I play fretless only and I have no idea what "fifth fret" is.
Another question: does Motown work with standard chord progressions like blues?
fantastic ,can you do same with Ducky Dunn on Atlantic
Thanks so much. Whaichbass are you using?
Now please some Motown grooves for the intermediate student :)
Anything Motown lines in particular you're working on or would want to see?
Vulfpeck- El Chepe
Check out the bass line on Cool Jerk- very cool.
Hi Luke love the channel, how do you do the drum track
I think I made these ones in Garageband @Milopaw.
Hi Luke, love all your tutorials! 🙂 I don’t know if it’s me but on “I Can’t Help Myself,” I was wondering why you put the extra notes in each of the bars, ie 3-3, 5-5? It plays better with the single notes from my experience.
Are you talking about in the notation/tabs @Shaun B? If you're talking about what I _think_ you're talking about, those aren't doubled notes; they're tied notes to show that they're longer and go 'over the bar line' rather than being super short and disconnected.
@@BecomeABassist oh I see, thanks for explaining that makes sense. I wanted to send out a BIG shout out to you for all your helpful and beneficial videos, I’m learning so much from you Luke! 🙂
Awesome to hear @Shaun B. Glad you're enjoying them!
Nice bass. That's a Spector NS-2. Spalted wood? What was the bass you used on the video "Can’t Hear The Bass In Songs? Use These 4 Tricks To Figure Out Any Bass Line - FAST" ?
@@scallopsandpears I looked it up. I knew that the outer wood of the ebony tree was light in color but I don't think I've ever seen it used on an instrument.
@@scallopsandpears I looked it up. I knew that the outer wood of the ebony tree was light in color but I don't think I've ever seen it used on an instrument.
@jburtonca - Thanks so much! And yes, the bass in this video is spalted maple. The other one from the video you mention is flame maple - I guess I'm a sucker for a good maple bass!
@@BecomeABassist Thanks for the reply. What is brand of the flame maple bass? I like the individual saddles.
That was an Ibanez SR2000 (I think it was a 2000 - the number may be different) and it was from around 2006-2007.
That bass looks like a banana from the Canary Islands, with its little brown dots.
Glad you are here 2
Everyone thought all the Motown acts had their own musicians like all baseball teams have their own batboys. No, it was all Funk Brothers including the Jackson Five who actually had their own instruments.
Luke, what bass are you playing on the TH-cam videos?
In this video I'm playing a Spector Euro and plugged straight into my audio interface. No amp or anything.
Thx Luke! Great videos!
what kind of bass is that? it's beautiful
That's a Spector NS-2. André
Great for a beginner (or like me, an studied Ex-Guitarplayer )...but: doesn't stay the line of higher and higher on the d? (a-a-h-d---h-d--d-d-d) Think so...or why do you play it that way? Thanks a lot....
It does on my vinyl copy.
💯💜
❤
Just tried to download tab and backing track, only the tab was available......help......Luke!
The link to the backing track will be in the email that should have been sent when you filled out the form @St. Henry. Be sure to check your 'spam' or 'junk' folders in case it was routed there accidentally. If you can't find it, just send an email to support (at) becomeabassist.com and they'll be able to help you out.
Pet your dog for us!!!❤
Grapevine
I too also suffer from premature articulation 10:10
10:10 any one else suffer from premature articulation?
There’s a pill for that, right?
Am I seeing too many D’s?Is there an accidental mistake on the tab of the first song?
Definitely don't want any premature articulation.
My main bass is a pj. Your bass is a reverse pj. It sounds good but has less bottom. No disrespect intended.
No disrespect taken at all @bassistdc! Although I'm not sure what you mean by 'reverse' PJ. I thought you meant that the pickups were swapped positions, but all the PJs I know have the humbucker at the neck and the single coil at the bridge just like mine. What did you mean by reverse PJ? I'm curious.
@@BecomeABassist I see it! On your neck humbucker, the lower part (that covers the D and G strings) is closer to the neck. On every other P-bass setup I see, the lower half is closer to the bridge.
@@BecomeABassist I was actually referring to the split p pickup as being reversed. On a standard p bass pickup the part over the E and A strings are closer to the neck while the part of the split pickup over the D and G strings are closer to the bridge. On Spector basses that is reversed. DJHperreal is correct with his comment. The positioning of the part of the pickup over the E and A strings is what gets you the deeper tone.
Higher and Higher - another song that The Jam ripped off (Just listen to A Town Call Malice)
The dog approves.
I prematurely articulated
Happens to the best of us. Lol
whose the dog?!
His name is Arnie and he's the best!
yeah?
Yeah.
Premature articulation 😂😂😂
Dude that's clickbait I thought you was a cool old black dude wearing a suit. And you ain't
Normally I just wear t-shirts and jeans @Aries Waters.
premature articulation
Really great stuff presented here. I just bought a Bass. I love J.J. & the Motown-stuff, also: Chic: Bernard Edwards, and Paul Denman from Sade-band. oNe LovE from NYC