Best first Jamerson line to learn

[megadan]

I'd like to branch out my playing a bit, I've never played any funk or R&B music... I'm wondering what the best introduction to Jamerson would be in terms of learning a song. I have a decent ear but it's not perfect.

Thanks.

 

[Honk'n_down-low]

There are so many good ones - here is a few to start with.

Ain't To Proud To Beg - Temptations

My Girl - Temptations

Shot Gun Junior Walker & the All Stars

 

[behemecoytl]

you might be aware of this, but there is a book called _Standing in the Shadows of Motown_ that has a bunch of Jamerson basslines transcribed in music notation (no Tab).

it's not an easy book, but it has plenty of Jamerson bass lines note for note + a little bio of Jamerson. if you can read music, or if you're willing to plow through figuring it out, then it can be a good resource.

 

[nortonrider]

I was going to suggest "Ball of confusion" but I think that was Babbit not Jamerson.

Either way, A kickass bassline thats pretty simple to learn and fun to play.

 

[Honk'n_down-low]

Another good one and one of my favorites is the line in "I want you back" by the Jackson Five - I owned the Album when the Song reached number 1 in 1969 - played by Wilton Felder - but none the less in a similar style and - a classic if there ever was one - Bass Line.

 

[Mystic Michael]

I'm wondering what the best introduction to Jamerson would be in terms of learning a song.

You Can't Hurry Love, by The Supremes. Structurally very simple, ultra-catchy, and easy to learn. No complex left-hand tricks required - it's all about catching that great syncopated rhythm with the right hand...

MM

 

[megadan]

Thanks for the recommendations, keep 'em coming!
I'm also open to non-Jamerson funk/R&b tunes to help me pump up my chops.

 

[Otso]

James Brown! Bootsy Collins's work with the JB's got soul and is superbad.

 

[JTE]

Yeah, get the "Standing In The Shadows of Motown" book/CD set. Also by Dr. Licks is the book ("Funkmasters"?) about the James Brown bands. That's a great learning tool because he goes into details of bass, drums, and guitars and how they work together.

For first lines, I wouldn't tackle "I Want You Back" or "Bernadette". I'd start with "You Can't Hurry Love" as MysticMicheal suggests. And of course "My Girl" as long as you learn the bass line, not the guitar lick- well, OK learn the guitar lick so you can teach it to your guitarist, but know it's a guitar riff, not bass... And "This Old Heart of Mine", "Ain't Too Proud to Beg", and then maybe move up to Gladys Knight's version of "I Heard It Through The Grapevine" (MUCH better record than the more popular Marvin Gaye version, and I love Marvin!).

Have fun, and once you think you've got the song nailed, work it up playing it only with your index finger of your plucking hand. Extra points for tackling "Bernadette" and "What's Goin' On" with heavy flats (55-110) and a seriously bowed neck...

jte

 

[One Drop]

I can't get his bounce and timing with two fingers, I find myself naturally falling into his hook approach when I try to play his lines. Man, are they ever fun to play!

 

[adammazza]

Yeah, get the "Standing In The Shadows of Motown" book/CD set. Also by Dr. Licks is the book ("Funkmasters"?) about the James Brown bands. That's a great learning tool because he goes into details of bass, drums, and guitars and how they work together.

For first lines, I wouldn't tackle "I Want You Back" or "Bernadette". I'd start with "You Can't Hurry Love" as MysticMicheal suggests. And of course "My Girl" as long as you learn the bass line, not the guitar lick- well, OK learn the guitar lick so you can teach it to your guitarist, but know it's a guitar riff, not bass... And "This Old Heart of Mine", "Ain't Too Proud to Beg", and then maybe move up to Gladys Knight's version of "I Heard It Through The Grapevine" (MUCH better record than the more popular Marvin Gaye version, and I love Marvin!).

Have fun, and once you think you've got the song nailed, work it up playing it only with your index finger of your plucking hand. Extra points for tackling "Bernadette" and "What's Goin' On" with heavy flats (55-110) and a seriously bowed neck...

jte

I'll second the James Brown book. Has transcriptions for every instrument, and if you are just starting off most of lines are easier then the James Jameson lines.

Adam

 

[Mike Shevlin]

It's A Shame -

 

[Rope]

I had a teacher once that stressed Jamerson. He started me off on "I Was Made to Love Her." It is a great part that actually isn't that bad once you figure out how it is put together.

 

[lowB_2277]

+1 to the JB's. +1 to the James Brown book. Anything played by Bernard Odum and Fred Thomas. George Porter Jr. is a great study. The old Meters tunes are classic and the newer PBS (Porter, Batiste, and Stolz) has some incredible basslines on it. Just Kissed My Baby by the Meters is a good study in spacing and the "less is more" principle. Then listen to the Jon Cleary and the Absolute Monster Gentleman cover of it and the bass work done by Cornell Williams....funky, funky, funky.

Memphis i.e. Stax sound is also good for soul/R & B lines. Duck Dunn and James Alexander laid down some pretty classic basslines. Check out the standard "tramp groove" on Otis Redding & Carla Thomas "Tramp." (simple, but the foundation for a ton of funk tunes.)

I love this stuff and could go on naming songs for days. I hope you have just as much fun listening and learning.

tr

 

[JimK]

..then maybe move up to Gladys Knight's version of "I Heard It Through The Grapevine" (MUCH better record than the more popular Marvin Gaye version, and I love Marvin!).

FME, Gaye's version is tougher to 'get'. Sure, Gladys Knight's "Grapevine" is more upbeat, 'funkier', more Gospel, etc.
Jamerson/Gaye's version has some 'out' passing tones, crossing the bar line figures, more space, etc.
Anyway, both make a great study on how to play the same song in totally different feels...and it's the same player(s).

 

[JimK]

Thanks for the recommendations, keep 'em coming!
I'm also open to non-Jamerson funk/R&b tunes to help me pump up my chops.

Here's the JB's album you need-
http://www.amazon.com/Funky-Good-Ti...d_bbs_1?ie=UTF8&s=music&qid=1235647536&sr=8-1

Also, for non-Jamerson...I recall 2 albums that really helped me out back in the day-
Average White Band- AWB (w/ "Pick Up The Pieces", "Work To Do", "Got The Love", "Person To Person", etc).
Average White Band- Cut The Cake...IIRC,according to James Brown, the title tune is a rip-off of "Hot Pants Road".

 

[GM60466]

I was made to love her
My Girl


G

 

[shamus63]

Shake Me, Wake Me (When It's Over) - The Four Tops

Excellent bass line that doubles with the piano left hand for the verse parts.

 

[megadan]

Started working on "What's Going On" and "I Was Made To Love Her."
Wow. His lines are can be so fast, and yet so amazingly smooth. I love the rhythms that he uses, very... I don't even know, vocal, instinctive? It's certainly very different, but it's a style or direction that I've been moving towards lately, without really knowing where.

Been trying to cope a lot of jazz stuff too, Miles Davis Bitches Brew era.

 

[EddieG]

I'd go for "I Was Made To Love Her" first of all. A simple four bar bassline, which subtly alters each time.