Bernadette
2:51
Added: 4 years ago
From: steveandirene
Views: 116,028
Sort by time | Sort by thread (beta)

Link to this comment:

Share to:
see all

All Comments (212)

Sign In or Sign Up now to post a comment!
  • I had a liver transplant with jack bruce of cream and famous eric clapton. dont worry about these A holes who go on about your pants. The idea is to see your playing which was note perfect.

    nig54321able

  • Awesome! great job man!

  • didn't know there was a song with my name in it... lol...

    Thank you for posting... Made my day.... smiles

  • jamerson did it with "the hook" amazing

  • i wish i could play bass. or any instrument. i'm crap at all music. great video, you rock.

  • Mad props. Google this:

    20 FEBRUARY 2011

    KingCast presents: Bernadette in two parts.

  • Thank you for this amazing rendition, both in your extraction and execution. Would it be impertinent to ask if you might work out "I second that emotion," by Smokey?

  • Bloody brilliant man!!! keep up the work

  • That bass line is like a symphony unto itself. One of my favorite Jamerson sessions. Lovely.

  • HOLY FUCK. YOU BEAST. Too bad i play electric :0

  • fantastic job, man!... i need to get this down, too.... along with 'i was made to love her'...i'm determined....lol

  • Awww man I gotta get this one under my belt....thanks for posting

  • lines like bernadette, for once in my life, darling dear and what's going on, just to cite a few, should be praised, respected, loved and cherised forever and ever... pay attention to that feel!!! makes you blood boil!!!

    HOLY JAMERSON!!!

  • You put alot into this , and 99 love IT alright.

  • FROM THE FUNK BROTHERS ????

  • very sexy playing...totally awesome!

  • Hey man, THANKS A MILLION for posting this, I've always wanted to learn this genius bass line but just couldn't get around it using just my ears. How did you learn it? Oh and that comment (good thing it's not a video about pants) cracked me up, people are sooo dumb some times.

    Anyhoo thanks allot all the way from Ireland.

  • @damodrummer1

    i have a booklet thingy just filled with kamerson's parts if youre interested.

    talk to me.

  • @damodrummer1

    i have a pdf book thing filled with james jamerson's basslines.

    talk to me if youre interested.

  • epic bass line!

  • What an excellent style Mr. Jamerson had.  Now imagine playing this with only one finger!

  • brilliant guitar playing for a classic tune. hats of to you steveandirene.

  • Although I know nothing about bass playing, I do know how to listen to music. This, my friend, is spot on! Gracefully done.

  • Nicely done my good man!!! This video is now in my favorites and I fully intend on learning this amazing song by watching your video. Thanky, Thanky, Thanky!!!!

  • Wonderful

  • i have gone thru all the bass players on youtube to this sing,,,,my friend you are on fire! james would be proud of you brother,,wish you lived next door, that is to the tee, every note is burning thankyou you have just made my night all the best son x

  • damn that was good dude

  • my goodness your bass playing just makes this great song much better. Keep them coming for I will be watching and listening....

  • hey!! nice technique!!

  • What's your bass?

  • Great bass soo much on time !!! 99

  • Beautiful, dude... can we hear your isolated bass line somewhere?

  • Dude that is some lovely playing.very fluid and a lovely tone.

  • Great bass playing on a classic song

  • kool groove dude!- straight in da pocket!.keep up da good work!

  • Fucking pants are cool, ask the Pakistani police imho

    Bass line is also too fucking killer

  • Just come backk after a while to watch and listen to your interpreatation of this song. It's a bit like a fix - if that doesn't sound too mad! There are a million things that people can point to that confirm this is one of Jamerson's masterpieces. For me it's when Levi Stubb's phrasing cahnges for the verse starting, 'In your arms I find...' Jamerson completely turns the whole thing on it's head to briiant effect, then on the last note returns us right into the driving heart of the song.

  • HOLY BASS LINE BATMAN!

  • I don't like your pants.

  • Well he member of C.O.B.R.A. So I guess it's excusable.

  • Good thing it's not a video about pants then eh?

  • @steveandirene I know, right.

    2:25 + ten secs.... epic.

    I'm blogging this tomorrow I've already got the post set in the queue, got a headline about eMusic CEO Adam Klein that needs to stay up through the morning. Did you know they guy is a felon? Yep. And he hates paying child support.

  • Que hermosa cancion. Me recuerda los maravillosos 60s. Four Tops eran furor en el Peru.

  • Awesome, 5-stars !!!! :)

  • LOL... bernadette is my name...

  • Thats good man....I'm impressed !

  • Well done mate! What kind of bass is that? Is it a Yamaha??

  • Bernadette isn't an amazingly hard song, but bass lines don't have to be complex to be great. You also have to realize that without Jamerson no one would be playing bass with any feeling.

    RicePlaysBass you do see how silly this comment looks one you see it in print, right? You are a very silly, small minded bass player. I take it you are a bass player since you made such an elitist comment? Get over yourself. Jamerson was amazing, but there are millions of great bass players out there.

  • Comment removed

  • Nice! But I have a question: I noticed someone else playing this on a 4 string bass. Is there a difference or an advantage/disadvantage to this?

    Great job, and keep it up, that song is a favorite of mines.

  • watch the video, does he even use he low B string?

  • I don't know what the B string is. See, I don't play, but I want to. I look at these videos as an inspiration of sorts and as I watch I try to see the way they play... Now, since you chose to get involved here, would you care to answer the question? Assuming you play...

  • the basic advantage of extended range basses (5 and 6 string) is that you can play more notes theres not much more to it than that, and this will come in handy covering songs where the original bassist uses an extended range bass!

  • thank you bassman7890! i appreciate your input on this. now, next question: what is, in your belief, the best string count to start with as a rookie looking to learn the ropes?

  • u shud learn on a 4 string first in my opinion, and then extend to a 5 or 6 if u feel limited on a 4, the advantages of startin on a 4 is tht there often easier to play, and will be of high quality for your money.

  • Yes he does. Several times !!

  • Very nice!!!!

  • Not bad, not bad at all.

  • I like the version you've did here. I am not the biggest fan of Jamerson though, however I am learning this bassline this now to "prove" that it ain't that complex to learn(my old man said it took months to get to grips with it, he's more a guitarist than a bass player)....cool cool. One finger? I think him more a fool for not using two?!

  • Whats difficult is getting the right feel. If you want to groove like Jamerson then you'll need to master "the hook."

    Bernadette isn't an amazingly hard song, but bass lines don't have to be complex to be great. You also have to realize that without Jamerson no one would be playing bass with any feeling.

    The more you know, the more you hear they say. If you're doing this by tabs, you're missing out. If you learn the theory behind the song, its even better.

  • You sound kinda like an angry teen.

  • The mark of a great bass line is not how hard it is to copy. If that is what you think then you aren't much of a musician. Jamerson created this bass line in a studio. Nobody had ever created a bass line anything like that before. He had no one else to copy from. Truly great playing comes from creativity, feel and how much it adds to the song. Difficulty level has absolutely no importance at all except to impress your friends. The beauty in this is the timing & feel of the playing not the notes

  • When you can create lines that are as revolutionary and timeless and have as much influence on future musicians that Jamerson did then you can talk. Until then you come off looking like an arrogant, small minded fool.

  • @tbcass I have to imagine that even Jamerson cut his chops on other people's licks, give it a rest.

  • @humanills True but that doesn't have any relevance to what I said in my post.

  • you didn't quite get jamerson's dynamics but what the hell, you groove like him so well done.

  • Ok...now play it with one finger like JJ did.

  • Man to keep up with and do what James Jamerson did you need to be playing with some group because you jammed. Right the you know what on!

  • Wow! Right on the money, and I should know, this is my favorite song, ever!

  • Sorry, Didn't mean to hit the thumbs down. Your right this is an excellent song.The Four Tops are awesome.

  • Dude! Nice job on a great song. (I played brass bass long ago-tuba- so the bass line is tops!)

  • One of my fave Tops songs. You nailed that bass line....I play keys but b/c I love Motown I tend to isolate the bass when I'm listening - I mean by choosing too.

    Great job. Levi RIP.

  • Very slick dude, you make it look effortless.

  • Great bass! Closest thing to a studio version as I'm going to get.

  • Heroic.

  • This song has an excellent baseline, and you nailed it! 5 stars!

  • there's only one James Jamerson, but this was incredibly faithful to the original. impressive!

  • Levi will be missed, but the music lives on "forever & a day". Thanks for the music and the songs and the added touch of Levi's voice. All pure magic.

  • DA-HAM DUDE! You were PERFECT! Great job!!!

  • You are good my man! Great talent.

  • Levi is smiling down on us. Peace to you all.

  • 2:03 was thrown in there to test us mortals.

    Jamerson never makes a mistake.

  • Thats good man....I'm impressed !

  • Wooo go Bernadette! xD

  • Look dude, any bass player can learn that song, but you have really got the tempo down, and you are really controlling the sustain, keeping it at a minimum - the same reason Jamerson used to damp his bridge with a piece of foam. Good job!

  • Oh Cool,

    my name is Bernadette :D

  • awesome song...one of my favourites from the Four Tops,,,gr8 bass lines...well done,

  • well done! The bass line always catches me. Sterling job!

    Jxxx

  • James Jamerson was the greatest bass virtuosos of all time

  • this is so cool.....singling out the bass part which tends to get lost when you hear the actual song.

    great job my man!

  • Hey, Bassman, some fine playing there, by the way! : )

  • Bernadette is one of my most favorite Four Tops songs! Great bass guitar work, too! Cool accompaniment! Woo Hoo!!

  • Excellent! That is a wonderful gift you have. Wish I could play like that. Unfortunately my "talent" in playing anything consists in pushing buttons to turn on a radio or cd player.

  • anyone else think this song sounds oddly a lot like I'll Be There (also by the Four Tops)?

    awesome playing man!

  • The bridge is, in fact, identical. The songwriters were the great trio Holland-Dozier-Holland. They penned something like 20 #1 Motown hits, the absolutely record. They were active in Motown from 1962-68 (they were active AFTER that, too, but they were active in Motown during 62-68).

  • One of their best songs!! They will live on indefinitely through music.

  • You got it down pat!

  • wow man, very nice. that a schecter?

  • A Yamaha actually, a BB5G. Thanks!

  • love them and you!

  • No better bassist then James Jamerson

    You rule

  • you are very good, i love this song!

  • this song was played at mi grandads funeral

    liked it ever since

  • Nice womping dude, to a great song. 5/5 for sure.

  • Do your thang Young Blood, hahaha, very good son.

  • At first I was not going to save this song and video on my "Playlist" but after hearing the first few bars I had to have it!

    Great job. Have you thought of doing some other songs like: "I'll take you there" by the Staples singers?

    I'd like to hear it if you do.

  • great song, great bassline!!!

  • Helluva job my man. Way to study the best.

  • good job,,keep on playing,,,

  • Awesome Mastery of the base there Steve Keep it up.. Congrats

  • oh yeah! you got this! and you are copying a LEGEND! keep on playing. although you play bass, "zen guitar", by phil sudo, for you have a song in your heart. keep rockin' my friend! plus you seem so relaxed and cool! I wish I could see your face for the reactions, but oh well. loved it!

    peace

  • Great job Steve, anybody who's ever tried 2 play knows how difficult it is to play a Jamerson selection.

  • Good job. Sounds perfect.

  • Major Kudos my man. That bass playing is really great.

  • Pretty good!

  • one of the best i've heard on the net! good job!

  • It's great that you appreciate this music, but now it's time to dig into the groove a bit more. Punch that stuff out like James did. He was ON TOP of EACH NOTE, dancing on it.

    You've mastered the notes, now jam them up. Get up and jam that song with some energy and soul.

    You've got to make that bassline jump around with the nimble power of a rabbit. Pop those notes out like James did.

    That's all that's missing here, and I say it with respect and love.

  • brilliance and thank you!

  • you can see jamerson play for yourself. look at the "what`s going on/ what`s happening brother" video.

  • Nice work. They say James Jameson played with one finger. The greatest bass player ever in my book. Great job on the tune!

  • Damn... take that bass line for a walk. nice!

  • You've got it! Nice job!

  • A truly enjoyable show. Thank you. And by all means,,, please keep doing what you do.

  • FLAWLESS! great job man

  • Damn! You play by ear? **Bows**

  • Great job Steve. Keep up the good work!!

  • i felt that!

    great job steve

  • im just realizing that everyone is talkin about my playlist. im new to this. if anyone cares this playlist starts with bernadette cause so many songs relate to our insane relationship. me and my girl bern

  • you also forget to play another part in verse

    do you have the book with all the basslines?

    then you will notice what he does different

  • I am not sure what part? I play by ear and don't use charts.

  • Then you did a great job :O

    yeah the first little part of the verse

    (the part that is repeated)

    at the end it goes a little bit different

  • Dude let it go.....It's like a note Mr. Sidney Bechet (jazz musician who shot somebody over a note change). Let the man do his thing and be proud of it.....

  • Thanks !!

  • That's my song!

  • Babbitt did this track

  • um

    definatly not.

    thats james all the way.

  • Yeah, this one is James' line. But if you want to be sure.  Go to Bob's forum and ask him. He posts responses on there quite a bit.

  • Nice job Steve. Saved it. Thanks.

  • best bassline he ever made.....PERIOD!!!!

    NICE COVER DAWG!!!

  • It's definitely a great one but I'd argue that either "I Was Made To Love Her" or "Darling Dear" was his best. But my absolute favorite was the "What's Going On" bassline he played live with Marvin Gaye. It was every bit as good as the original bassline and to see him in the same frame with Marvin Gaye tells you even more how great he was.

  • LMFAO If James made it, then he ment it.

  • Ha! Probably. He probably did it just to screw with us.

  • mistake @ 2:03, but a very excellent job.

  • Good ear! However if you have ever listened to the stand-alone bass track you would find Jamerson made this mistake, that is why I duplicated it. Thanks.

  • Whats up Steve,I missed that too until I read comments and replayed203 .what happend with MFSB? did you noy feel it?Still dying to hear you rip that one Pleeeease? Mike

  • Yeah, when I first heard Jamerson play it I noticed that too but I didn't really chalk it up as a mistake simply because he originated the line and we don't know for sure that he didn't intend to play that. But I do believe that it was a mistake. Anyway, nobody's perfect and he's still the greatest.

  • that is tight playing!!!

  • I remember hearing this song for the first time in the movie Madhouse.

    The guys dancing made the song enjoyable.

  • Sweet.

  • omg i love this. awsome, love it love it

  • Im sure Bob Babbit took credit for this,or was it Carol Kaye? Anyway , grest bassline and you played it tight!

  • what do you mean?

    it was James Jamerson

  • There is some argument over this , Kaye,Babbit, and Jamerson all claim to have played it, read up my friend....

  • i'll have to do that

  • I hope it is James ! Let me know if you find anything,Im sure i`ve read a couple of articles stating some confusion over who it was....

  • well it is jamerson because babbit came with stevie in 67. this song came out in 64 late 65... When motown was in detroit, jamerson was on most of the tracks with benny benjamin on the drums to complete the rhythm section. It wasnt until the late 60s that kaye did bass licks but they couldnt touch jamerson's inpecable timing...

  • My man..you are a bad mother fu#@#@~R! Are you sure you're not black?

  • hey john entwistle didnt have to be black to play bass so motherfuckin tremendously

  • Wow. Great Job Man. On Point.

  • Great job on this -- thought I left a previous comment months ago, but guess not!

  • coolest and funkiest bassline

  • This is one of the royal jewels of Basslines,congrats on finding it.

  • that was sweet!I listen to to motown songs just to hear the bass line and dont forget to listen to Bob babbit in his song scorpio! a Drummer and bassist swan song

  • James Jamerson where songs within themselves. His basslines made those tunes. James Jamerson. Howlong did it take you to transcribe this line ! ? Your laying it down.

  • I took me a few days of focus to learn this one by ear.

  • His timing is so good and he hits all of those dead notes and ghost notes...I'm impressed that you learned this by ear!

  • James Jamerson was frigging incredible. Easily one of the best players of all time...you've really tackled his sound here, excellent work

  • Check out Victor Wooten & his thumb techniques ... there awsome !!!

  • Yeah Wooten is good. But I'm a Jaco/Jamerson dude lol. They get deeper into the pocket and Jaco's tone is just the greatest...I mean his bass sings! :P

  • great job ! Your mama put the funk in your blood

  • Flawless performance.

  • I always loved this bassline...but this is the first time I have ever heard the words to this song. Good job, man.

  • WICKED!!!!!

    GREAT PLAYING!!!!!!!!

    I've got a Yamaha BBG5A - same color scheme but with soapbar pickups and active circuit (4 gold pots)

  • I play most of the time with just my thumb and if that becomes to uncomfortable , i switch to three fingers . I have not been playing for that long , but the Motown songs are not easy at all to master , even with just one finger like Jamerson did it and even with two fingers like Bob Babbitt does .

  • Thats pretty good , but, you r cheating, James play'd it with 4 strings whcih requires more hand movement and dexterity...trust me I play it on 4 strings...not bad though get down

  • Also-James played with one finger only-his second and third finger were anchored at all times on the middle pick-up guard-

    Try that!

  • Yes Sir, he was able to do with one finger what most of us find hard to do with 2. You represented well bro, props. I have tried it with one finger its hard, he has another song thats jammin-Darlin Dear by the Jackson 5- its a blast to play..peace

  • I agree-but check Marvin and Tammi's "Aint Nothing like the real thing" and Gladys Knight "Heard it through the Grapevine" and Marvin Gaye's "Ain't that Peculiar" and Mary Wells "My Guy"-they are all definitely James playing-listen to the spaces,the improvisation-beautiful!!

  • Right on, I luv an have play'd all of them, I realy enjoy Heard it through the grapevine. Iwhen I first started playing I bought standing in the shadow of Motown book (it had cassettes with it thats how long ago it was). I luv your taste in bass music, Ive been on a Jaco kick lately, play'n some Teen Town etc...keep bassin...peace