Reggaebass Posted December 6, 2023 Share Posted December 6, 2023 Following on from my easy funk basslines thread ,which btw I’ve picked up some really good songs to play thanks to your suggestions , I’m looking for some relatively easy Motown grooves to play to widen my bass vocabulary, I know some of you here play some so any suggestions would be greatly appreciated 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lozz196 Posted December 6, 2023 Share Posted December 6, 2023 Def gonna keep an eye on this thread, love Motown 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bassybert Posted December 6, 2023 Share Posted December 6, 2023 (edited) Not Motown specific but a lot of Stax basslines by Duck Dunn are great fun to play, some of them are easier and more groove orientated than Jamerson style stuff. A few personal favourites I play regularly for practice are… Sitting on the dock of the bay Tramp Born under a bad sign Some of the easier Motown tracks could be… What becomes of the broken hearted Ain't too proud to beg You’ve really got a hold on me Shotgun Edited December 6, 2023 by Bassybert 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Reggaebass Posted December 6, 2023 Author Share Posted December 6, 2023 1 minute ago, Bassybert said: Tramp Born under a bad sign Thanks Bb, that’s 2 I don’t know already, I’ll take a look 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EssentialTension Posted December 6, 2023 Share Posted December 6, 2023 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EssentialTension Posted December 6, 2023 Share Posted December 6, 2023 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EssentialTension Posted December 6, 2023 Share Posted December 6, 2023 The previous two are Bob Babbit on bass, but this one is Jamerson ... 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EssentialTension Posted December 6, 2023 Share Posted December 6, 2023 2 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EssentialTension Posted December 6, 2023 Share Posted December 6, 2023 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Reggaebass Posted December 6, 2023 Author Share Posted December 6, 2023 These are great and just what I needed, thank you Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
paul_5 Posted December 6, 2023 Share Posted December 6, 2023 (edited) Easiest Motown bassline (from a non-syncopated, treading perspective) is probably "Baby Love" by Diana Ross an the supremes - just a steady crotchet note line throughout. Edited December 6, 2023 by paul_5 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
itu Posted December 6, 2023 Share Posted December 6, 2023 Buy the book! A must have: it's more than excellent including CDs, stories, and scores! https://www.amazon.co.uk/Standing-Shadows-Motown-Legendary-Jamerson/dp/0881888826 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Japhet Posted December 6, 2023 Share Posted December 6, 2023 Papa Was a Rolling Stone - The Temptations 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Reggaebass Posted December 6, 2023 Author Share Posted December 6, 2023 10 minutes ago, itu said: Buy the book! A must have: it's more than excellent including CDs, stories, and scores! https://www.amazon.co.uk/Standing-Shadows-Motown-Legendary-Jamerson/dp/0881888826 Thanks for that itu, I’ll have a look 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Skin Lewis Posted December 6, 2023 Share Posted December 6, 2023 Stax, not Motown, but this is a good one for stamina. Both David Hood's bassline and the intro shamelessly stolen from Harry J's The Liquidator (with no credit ☹️) 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Reggaebass Posted December 6, 2023 Author Share Posted December 6, 2023 8 minutes ago, Skin Lewis said: Stax, not Motown, but this is a good one for stamina. Both David Hood's bassline and the intro shamelessly stolen from Harry J's The Liquidator (with no credit ☹️) Thanks for that skin, I’ve actually played the Harry J Allstars one but I’ll give this one a go Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
upside downer Posted December 6, 2023 Share Posted December 6, 2023 This video has a pretty good explanation of James Jamerson's methods and has a PDF attached with his 'cheat code' exercise. Might be useful? 2 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
super al Posted December 6, 2023 Share Posted December 6, 2023 Tears of a clown was one of my favourites when I played in the Flotonics (local soul band), such a cool groove. 3 hours ago, EssentialTension said: Motown basslines are great fun to play 👍🏻 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EssentialTension Posted December 6, 2023 Share Posted December 6, 2023 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
itu Posted December 6, 2023 Share Posted December 6, 2023 You can't hurry love Baby love Heat wave These seem to be on the "fewer notes" side, although, as always, the feel is the thing. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EssentialTension Posted December 6, 2023 Share Posted December 6, 2023 This one is comes after Gladys Knight left Motown but still has the excellent Bob Babbit on bass ... 2 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EssentialTension Posted December 6, 2023 Share Posted December 6, 2023 Another straightforward track with fewer notes ... 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The fasting showman Posted December 6, 2023 Share Posted December 6, 2023 I love the attitude in the playing from the band. I'd always considered it a lighthearted track but there's energy in the layers to make a great pop song. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bagman Posted December 7, 2023 Share Posted December 7, 2023 Four Tops ”Still Waters” 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
miles'tone Posted December 7, 2023 Share Posted December 7, 2023 (edited) Not Motown, but James Jamerson played bass on this: So simple, so clever... Edited December 7, 2023 by miles'tone 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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