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Giants of Bass – Billy Sheehan

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'Workin' Like a Dog' was written to showcase the virtuosic playing style of legendary rock bassist Billy Sheehan and is a great workout for your fingerstyle and tapping techniques. This piece has a very quick tempo and is typical of the kind of music that Billy has played with bands such as Talas, The Dave Lee Roth Band, Mr Big, and The Winery Dogs. In keeping with Billy’s unique playing style, this piece features riffs and fills built on the pentatonic and blues scales, the use of natural and artificial harmonics, and the use of the tapping technique. It also features some string and neck bending and should be played with a distorted tone.

For bassists who wish to learn the piece but require additional assistance with some of the techniques required, the following courses (all included in the monthly subscription cost) should prove useful:

Don’t forget to hit the Download Resources button above to get the PDF transcription and the audio files for this piece (available to subscribers only).

This course is 1 HOUR & 6 MINUTES long and contains the following videos, each of which can be selected from the video player above:

1. 'Workin' Like a Dog'

This video is a full demonstration of ‘Workin’ Like a Dog', performed on a Yamaha Attitude Ltd bass running through the EBS Billy Sheehan signature drive pedal.

2. Course Overview

This video gives a brief overview of this challenging piece. It also covers some important tuning considerations and offers advice on achieving a suitable tone.

3. A Word on Tuning

In this video the tuning requirements of the piece are briefly discussed.

4. A Section

This lesson covers the A section, which features a complex, descending unison riff that ends with a tapping lick. This lesson covers bars 1-10 in the transcription.

5. B Section

This part of the track features the main bass riff, which is based the D minor pentatonic and blues scales. This lesson covers bars 11-26 in the transcription.

6. C Section

This section of the track utilises tapped artificial harmonic lines interspersed with the bass groove from the previous section. This lesson covers bars 27-42.

7. D Section

This section acts as a bridge and features several major and minor pentatonic licks. This lesson covers bars 43-58 in the accompanying transcription.

8. E Section

This section features the main riff from the B section again, along with some added chord changes. This lesson covers bars 59-74 in the transcription.

9. F Section

This section is a short interlude during which the bass plays more tapped artificial harmonics. This lesson covers bars 75-82.

10. G Section (Bass Solo)

This section is the bass solo which begins with some fingerstyle licks before culminating in a descending tapping sequence. This lesson covers bars 83-92.

11. H Section

The bass plays a more supportive bass part beneath the guitar solo. Pentatonic and blues scale licks are once again used here. This lesson covers bars 93-120.

12. I Section

In this video you'll learn how to play the I section, which is bars 121-140.

13. Tone

This section is based on the E section, but with many different fills and variations. This lesson covers bars 121-140 in the transcription.