What's Happening Brother - Marvin Gaye - James Jamerson bass line (w/ transcription & tab)

Yet another Jamerson bass line. His work on Marvin Gaye's "What's Going On" (1971) is among the finest electric bass playing ever recorded, IMHO.

Here's my transcription: http://grandsix.org/forum/Whats%20Happening%20Brother%20-%20James%20Jamerson.pdf

Disclaimer: the tab documents how I play the bass line, not necessarily how Jamerson did it.

The bass is a 2008 CIJ Fender Precision with LaBella 0760M strings and a foam mute, recorded through a VT Bass from Tech 21, and an Avalon U5.

Category:

Music

Tags:

• james
• jamerson
• bass
• line
• cover
• bassline
• what's
• whats
• happening
• brother
• marvin
• gaye
• precision
• labella
• 0760M
• tab
• transcription
• tablature
• timo
• metzemakers
• fender
• vt
• tech
• 21

[basslabd]

Very nicely done! How did you learn the part (or are you sight-reading)? More important to me is not that you hit every note that Jamerson did (because you did miss or change some phrases) but the feel is genuine. Keep up the good work!

[timometzemakers]

Hey Bob, thanks for your kind words! I'm sight-reading the part, because I'm incapable of remembering every single note Jamerson played on that song... Yes, there are a few clams (darn fingers!), and there are also a few differences between your transcription and mine. I guess that we'd have to get access to Jamerson's isolated bass track in order to know for sure what really went down.

Thanks again for listening!

[revengeofthescalp]

Incredible. Transcription is great and kudos for the one finger picking as well! You a left hooker or have you reversed the image?

[timometzemakers]

Thanks man, I'm really a lefty.

[afrosensuous]

Hey Tim....I damn near cried when I heard this. This song doesn't get the hype like the other songs. For you to hit every freakin lick James did.....coming from Los Angeles, California...as a bassist and Motown fiend....I THANK YOU, MY BROTHA!!!

[timometzemakers]

Wow! Thanks, man!

[Sal1675]

Dear Tim,

Thank you for bringing life back into this almighty and most under-rated song and Jamerson's playing. The dude was magnificent as you are for getting this as close to the original as possible

[moongoon817]

ok last one promise. listen to end of our road by gladys. he decided to strictly play off the double kick. the whole song! he restricted himself to that box and rarely deviated except for transitional notes and a little ear candy. that was the B side to grapevine which is another masterpiece where he introduced pausing in the middle of a phrase. ie "it took me by surprise" anyway,with james,you gotta copy his thoughts then incorporate them. he is the all time master of the bass. learn from him.

[moongoon817]

ps. you can incorporate james into any type of music by thinking how he thinks. he thinks in full phrases,not note for note. before he starts the next measure he knows how he will play it. if it's a melodic tune he thinks wide. funk tunes like cant get next to you he puts himself into a box and does everything that can be done in that box.he's the king of the bottom on that song. verse 2-i can turn a river-james plays 2 then 3 then 4 same note licks.insane! thinking ahead is how thats done

[moongoon817]

good job! and thats coming from a true jamerson-ologist. whats happening brother was the slick finger poppin spin off of WGO and in my top 3 all time jj cuts. jamerson formed my musical dna and it takes a great musical mind to even process him and you got the core of what he did on that track. the trick to getting J is in the ear not the finger. if you can mouth him rite then you get really close. who can touch J? nobody! all you can do is have fun with his music. next time nail it note4note

[praxkan]

Thank you so much for the transcribe ! Saved me hours of work...please check out my cover

[arnaud360]

Wow, this is more than awesome man! Keep up the good work, it's inspiring! :-)

[ellioteaston93]

the 0 dislikes should remain till the end

[tristar848]

fabulous thank's !!

[superfunkyheroe]

Good Job...The Important Thing is You Used The One Finger (The Hook)....Jamerson Set The Bar for Us BASS PLAYERS!

[46az46]

Wow Man!! "The Hook" is alive! Amazing job!

[muzicman20]

i dig!!!