SITSOM Jamerson question

Are you doing any learning by ear? And using the books to help figure out the more esoteric bits?

Playing the notes is one thing. Getting the feel down is a whole other thing. Kind of need to do both simultaneously, IMO.

 

Both books are excellent resources. But if you really want to learn Jamerson then, IMHO, your primary focus should be SITSOM. Break it down to smaller chunks, the sections as notated. Heck, if you have to, break it down to a bar at a time. Not only will you be learning Jamerson, but your reading should improve also. And I would also echo @DirtDog to have the recordings on-hand to ensure you get the rhythm correct. If you don't have the CD that came with the book, you can access them thru Hal Leonard (at least you could last time I checked - some time ago).

Good luck on your endeavor . . .

 

I might actually practice with some easy beginner stuff for reading before I tackle either one. Maybe do the easier ones in each book.

 

I take it you are also familiar with Jim Stinnett's youtube channel. I myself am looking forward to being able to spend more time on his Motown related lessons. Yes, I think they are more style and language related than specific songs, but they are all things Jamerson might do and they quote familiar licks.

 

I picked up SITSOM about 4 years into my playing, when I was not at all a reader
I recommend buckling down and decoding the notation anyhow.
you can understand it long before you can sight read it

Start with igor’ s chromatic exercise
Then pick a tune and make the effort to decode

I swear I spent a week decoding that double dotted half note that starts What's Going On
translating it to a bunch of tied eight notes and counting it out
converting complex 16ths to half time 8ths to get the feel then speeding back up
really trying to understand the subdivisions

sure I could have just listened and mimicked
But replaced my frustration with a curiosity and determination for learning
I did the work and my understanding deepened