Jamerson Bassline - Bernadette

[allrequiredfields]

Good playing for sure, and great tone but in the descending part of the verse, he's definitely not hitting a hammer-on from the 4 to the 5 between those octaves; he's essentially playing a power chord - and there's no 4 in there. And like most bass players in the 60's hammer-ons pretty much never happened unless it was for a very specific vibe (thinking Gezer Butler).

[ocean4315]

Jamerson moved his index finger back and forth to get more speed on some passages. Chuck Rainey talks about this method in one of his instruction books.

He would play a note with the finger pad (in) and flick his finger (out) hitting the string with the top of his finger or nail. You can see him doing this on a live perfomance of "What's Going On?" with Marvin Gaye on youtube.

[TheAlmightyBassist]

Loving this, and your videos. also loving the bass. what amp, and what strings do you use for this? btw, are you an upright player at all?

[WeCamefortheDead]

Subject to debate my ass. If you listen to any of the Jamerson bass recordings (it's easier if it's isolated), you can definitely tell that it's only with one finger.

[JonHammerHeart]

Excellent Jamersonshook, and just like the master himself, with 1 finger! Kudos man!

[pop9900]

how do u get that upright bass kind of sound?

[InnoViaBassest]

can you please put up some tabs for you jamerson lines, would love to learn them but cant find tabs anywhere! would love any help you can give

[stevieplez2]

That was awesome that u can play like Jamerson, I didn't know he and the bass was sp important in those songs....AMAZING ...check out the funk brothers intrumentals on YouTube... I know u all ready have

[comitube]

James said he never changed his strings "keeps the funk in".

I really like to see a separated Gladys "Grapevine" bass line too.

[VanzKantDanz]

The trick is in the fingernail. As explained in Bass Player's December publication, Jamerson used his fingernail when plucking, personally I used to hate the sound but Jamerson makes it sound full, fat and soulful. The man still manages to amaze me and fellow musicians even though he left this earth over 25 years ago. Long live the funk...

[ROCKSTARCRANE]

Only flatwounds give you that kind of tone and FAT. And of course, the hands.....

[UnoEins]

the sounds and tone of your bass just makes me smile. well done sir.

[beatlebassmania]

i like how it sounds very deep, warm, and muffled. howd u do that? it sounds very nice on all ur p bass vids

[Blkdrs]

Very cool....very cool.

[diamonddust22]

Those look and sound like flatwounds.

[kingbmore73]

That's fire..

[mattaki]

people should spend more time playing guitar and less time writing on the internet.

[fmiller747]

Hypocrite!  :p

[rknnc]

nice bird chirps in the background...they're obviously diggin the funk

[EddieG1888]

Some nice playing, that Precision sounds just like an upright. Are you using Jamerson LaBellas on it?

[JacoDeLucia]

Jamerson was definitely the one who really dug deep into the soul of the P-bass and unearthed a groove and feel that no one before ever attained. He opened the doors for many bassists, including Jaco, Paul McCartney, Rocco Prestia, John Entwhistle, and a host of other bass icons. Using the open E as a passing note at the right time in the beat is a standup bass trick, but to play it on an electric bass--to evoke a sensation of even lower notes--was nothing short of pure genius.

[bluewine1]

Ahhh, so thats why that stuff sounds so unbeleivable. The open E as a passing note at the right time. I was always thinking(for the past 40 years) how is he gettin to that low range while he's moving positions.BTW I love the tone on your bass, I think younger musician think way to much technically about tone.I have to Telecaster basses, I get my tone from my fingers

[zaksnaporaz]

great job !

[rodcrippler]

yeahh for the predominant riff he could have never used just one finger, not even entwistle would change the position of his finger that fast, or maybe he could have...

[jamersonshook]

Not sure what you mean - this IS just one finger - check out my other DI version.

[rodcrippler]

sarcasm, tho i actually love this song!

[mikeedmikeedmikeed]

It doesn't do me any good to not see what notes are being played. Move the camera back.

[greenysfleetwoodmac]

could you do youre my everything

[eliecalano]

You know, after watching your video, I did a research on James Jamerson and he seems underrated. I couldn't believe that he was also the session bassist for Jackson 5 and Marvin Gaye. No wonder it sounds great.

Thanks for posting.

[jamersonshook]

Thanks - JJ played on thousands of tracks - hope my stuff helps show what a genius he was!

[tbcass]

Underrated by who? Jamerson is generally acknowledged to be the greatest. His playing changed the way bass is played. Sure there are flashier more technical players around today but they owe it all to Jamerson. BTW to the original poster. There is no debate on the fact that Jamerson used 1 finger. Every single person who saw him play agrees on that fact.

[sp1midholm]

@eliecalano JJ isn't underrated amongst other bassplayers - JJ is THE player we all listen to - but you may be right that he's too little known outside the bassplaying 'community'.

[gibandy]

I like the birds chirping and the person screaming in the background. I also like your playing. I took my bernadette down and replaced it with something different. Will tackle Bernadette again after I visit the woodshed for a while.

[jamersonshook]

LOL - the birds respond sometimes - it puts me off 'cos I end up trying to jam with them...the scream is my lunatic 4 year old...keep listening to JJ in that woodshed and you'll be fine!

[KristopherApa]

If you buy the book "Standing in the shadows of Motown" you will see that he only played with n"the hook". It even shows you how to position it on the bass like he did.

[gibandy]

wow. I am going to take my version down. You nailed it.  Nice playing like "the hook".

[jamersonshook]

Thanks - I'll never claim to nail a Jamerson line, and I wouldn't take these down if I saw a better version, so don't stop doing your thing - if you take yours down I want to see another one of your favourites in its place straight away!

[JC10255]

The more the merrier! Its wonderful to see so many musicians paying tribute to the greats. gibandy - by all means keep your videos up. Each of us contributes our own interpretations of this music. Thank goodness for this medium to express what we do. Keep playing!

[raddehc]

every (reasonably) competent version that is posted is school for those of us coming up- we get to hear the subtle variations in phrasing and feel and apply it to our own practice and growth. we get to hear (and see) and learn faster what may not come as easily otherwise.

jamerson is genius-his natural and intuitive gifts don't come naturally to most of us mortals but by really listening and studying and absorbing his legacy(tracks) we can all augment our own natural abilities greatly!

[Brilliantbeing]

Because you recognize this, raddehc, you are well on your way to being a great musician. Keep vibing on Jamerson, by way of this very able conduit, jamersonshook.

Live Long and Prosper

[raddehc]

are they language/words that you're not familiar with in a musical context? i want to know if you are really asking for an explanation before i try to answer...

[raddehc]

defining phrasing might be easier/more straight forward than describing feel, and i might not do either justice... but in this context they're qualities given to the music that are unique to the style of the music or the style of the player. the feel of a type of music is it's rhythmic, melodic, and emotional intent... "it don't mean a thing if it aint got that swing"- swing is a rhythm, but it is also a feel, and a feeling...

(continued)

[raddehc]

so every player of one particular bassline on youtube will play it slightly different, sometimes it's a matter of skill level but what also there will be variations of 'feel', and the feel will be expressed in the 'phrasing'- the length and timing of notes and pauses and subtle ornamentations (bends/slides/etc.) all the things that make up individual expression and interpretation. singing might be the most obvious way to hear two musicians phrase the same line and melody very differently.

[raddehc]

music ideas are expressed in infinite variety.

five versions of "bernadette"s bassline on youtube will all be played a little differently. each variation (better and worse)with it's own feel and phrasing, may reveal something new about the line, or allow me to hear or decipher something i couldn't previously- that was my point.

i hope this hasty reply helps, i probably should have written you privately, but if anyone wants to add or clarify anything, please do so.

peace

[Brilliantbeing]

Yes, raddehc, your explanations are good ones. In short, "phrasing and feel" are the X-Factor in musicianship.