I've picked up the bass after a three year layoff. Been checking out some of the Jamerson licks on YouTube. While checking out some licks today, I ran across this:

Love Rears It's Ugly Head (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P-Pkf1nCv5s)

I'm pretty good at hearing licks and picking the basics up quick. But for the life of me, I haven't been able to get the lick he does around the 12th fret at :22 and 1:17. For some reason, it's just giving me fits. If anyone can "figger" it out, please give me a hand. To me, that lick makes the song and I am having the hardest time with those four little notes!

Thanks in advance for any assistance.

sounds like two tri-tones, one played a half step above the other.

in relation to the root sounds like playing "la me te mi" ( i think that's right, been a while since i've used sol feg)

or if he's playing in C the notes would be A Eb Bb E.

i think. could be wrong, i'm sitting at my computer at work, and not with my bass, so don't flame me too hard if i'm wrong. :)

i second the post above me for the tritones. Heres how i say it goes..


With Some Groove...

G|----13------14------------|
D|--------12-----13--14-----|
A|---------------------------|
E|---------------------------|

Personally, i would add some muted notes in there to get a little more feel to it...

X - Mute
\ - Slide Down

G|--X--13------14--------------|
D|----------12-----13--14\-----|
A|------------------------------|
E|------------------------------|

Thanks guys!

I think I have the notes now, but it's definitely the technique that is getting me. I guess I need a new can of funk!

Thanks again, just going to have to work at it.

the technique? it doesnt seem like a real hard song to play. what part are you having trouble playing exactly? the part you asked about still? what cant you do with it?

the technique? it doesnt seem like a real hard song to play. what part are you having trouble playing exactly? the part you asked about still? what cant you do with it?

No, it's not a hard song to play. When I first heard the song, I could see the chord progression easily. It's just something about the part that I originally asked about. I got the notes. What I was trying to do was similar to the tab you posted (thanks for taking time to post it).

I guess the best way to put it is, you know how some people have trouble saying the word "nuclear". I can do it, it just doesn't sound quite right to me.

Just gotta keep practicing it. :)

Thanks again.

FWIW-
I used to play this back in the day...IMO, it has some tricky parts.
The tritone thing I have done as G#-D-G# G#-D

There's a section at the start of Verse 2 that gave me fits....right after he sings "Idon't go out at all".

...and there's a bunch of doublestops & chordal things goin' on during the choruses.

Bad ass tune.

Well I finally got that section right. Last night, I sat down to jam a little and pulled up the Living Colour video (have my Mac plugged into the mixer).

Just relaxing and playing along, it just clicked. I had the notes, but until last night it just didn't sound right. I think I was more relaxed and not concentrating on that lick, just playing along.

I agree, that is a killer tune, but for some reason, that lick was just kicking my butt. Those are the things that make you a better player! DON"T GIVE UP!

Thanks for the responses!