Bob Babbitt’s Bass Line From ‘Inner City Blues’

[greghagger]

Inner City Blues (Make Me Wanna Holler) by Marvin Gaye is a really poignant song with a smooth funky bass line that was originally recorded by Bob Babbitt.

 

This song is from Marvin Gaye's iconic album, 'What's Going On'. Most of the bass lines on the album were recorded by James Jamerson but Bob Babbitt was also on a few tracks.

 

There's a main 2-bar groove that Bob Babbitt varies throughout the bass line and because it's a pretty high part it has to be played around the 12th fret, making it a little tricky to get the fingers around! But it's really fun to play once you've worked out the pattern.

 

There's also something very interesting that I've found out about the recording session(s) for this bass line and I share that with you and teach you the bass line in my latest YouTube video.

 

Free bass line transcription in notation and Tab in the video description. 

 

Enjoy!