This song is one of Earth Wind and Fire’s biggest hits and features a very creative bass part from Verdine White. It was released as a single in January 1975 and reached #1 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. The song was later included on the band’s sixth album, That’s the Way of the World, […]

This song can be found on Marcus Miller’s 2005 album Silver Rain. A cover version of the original Edgar Winter version, this is one of the most popular tracks on the album, and one of Marcus’s finest slapped lines. All of the unison lines from the original are played with the slap technique, and Marcus […]

‘Colibri’ is the opening track from Incognito’s 1992 album Tribes, Vibes and Scribes. This album – like many in the band’s catalogue – is a goldmine of excellent bass work. The bassline from this song was written and programmed by band member Richard Bull. Regardless, it’s a superb bass part and makes for a fantastic […]

This great song is from Level 42’s 1985 album World Machine. This album was a huge success for the band, mainly thanks to the song ‘Something About You’, which was a top 10 hit in many countries including the U.S. ‘A Physical Presence’ is the second song on the album and features a slow-tempo fingerstyle […]

‘Disco Inferno’ is a song by The Trammps, a disco group that were popular throughout the seventies. The song had limited success initially but found widespread popularity after it was included on the soundtrack to the 1977 film Saturday Night Fever. It was covered by Tina Turner in 1993 and remains a disco classic, one […]

‘Come On, Come Over’ is the second track from Jaco Pastorius’ landmark debut album. Released in August 1976, this was an album that changed everything for bass players, proving beyond doubt that the bass guitar was a powerful vehicle for soloists as well as for groove players. This track is an R&B number featuring legendary […]

‘Stone Cold Bush’ is from Mother’s Milk, the fourth album from Red Hot Chili Peppers. Released in 1989, the album gave the band three hit singles: ‘Higher Ground’, ‘Knock Me Down’ and ‘Taste the Pain’. It was this track however that had the bass players hooked: Flea is on top form throughout, combining tight fingerstyle […]

‘Signed, Sealed, Delivered I’m Yours’ is a classic Stevie Wonder track, one that is still played live to this day. The original version was recorded at Motown back in 1970, with session bassist Bob Babbitt holding down the low end. This live version – taken from Stevie’s live album Natural Wonder – has Nate Watts […]

‘Respect’ was originally written and recorded by soul singer Otis Redding, who had a hit with the song in 1965. It was then recorded by Aretha Franklin in 1967 (with some changes to the lyrics) and became a hit song for her as well. Aretha’s version – the subject of this course – features a […]

‘Watermelon Man’ is one of jazz pianist Herbie Hancock’s best-known compositions. Originally written for his 1962 Takin’ Off album, it was revisited in 1973 by Herbie and his jazz-funk group The Headhunters for the album of the same name. This version of the song – covered in this course – features an inventive bass part […]