For Once In My Life Bass Line

This is me playing a transcription of the great James Jamerson's bassline and Stevie Wonder's harmonica/melodica solo to Stevie Wonder's "For Once in My Life." I transcribed this myself and I did not use the book "Standing in the Shadows of Motown: The Life and Music of Legendary Bassist James Jamerson." I used my '73 Jazz Bass with foam under the bridge for the bassline. For the solo I used my Fodera Imperial 5-string tuned E-C.

I picked this tune because the bassline is functional and incredibly grooving, as well as improvisational. Jamerson was truly listening and reacting to the vocals and the solo. I want to better incorporate those elements in my own style of bass playing.

Category:

Music

Tags:

• Electric
• Bass
• Guitar
• Stevie
• Wonder
• Motown
• For
• Once
• in
• My
• Life
• James
• Jamerson
• Fodera
• Imperial
• Fender
• Jazz
• 1973
• '73
• J-Bass
• Funk
• Brothers
• Groove

[MrDiesel6]

Very nice Blake!

[blakebranchbass]

@MrDiesel6 Thanks!

[1hutchcat]

Superb Blake! - I won't tell you you're a natural....you'll have figured that a long time ago!

[blakebranchbass]

@1hutchcat Thanks! Having natural talent is good, but it can only get you so far. There comes a time when you have to work hard too!

[MARKLINMAN1]

EXCELLENT playing, what AMP are you using, that BASS sounds great....Thanks for sharing.

[blakebranchbass]

@MARKLINMAN1 I'm using an Epifani 502 amp with the Epifani UL 410 cabinet, but what you are hearing mainly is from the DI out to a Motu 828 into Logic Pro.

[dowsemeister]

wow this is great..... relaxed feel

[a1974h]

Nicely played but I can't resist pointing out that your video could quite easily be a deleted scene from flight of the concords.

[Baycitywalker]

Outstanding! I see you played a lot of the passages higher up on the neck and it still sounds great. Love it!

[abassplayer4life]

Nice Fodera. Great job on the song!

[DavinciSM]

COWBOY BEBOP!

[hendrixfreek]

well done!

[Khrismillermusic]

Yeah man! You sound great man!

[Khrismillermusic]

Yeah man! This sounds great! You sound good man!