‘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 ‘Something About You’, which was a top 10 hit in many countries. ‘A Physical Presence’ is the second song on the album and features a slow-tempo fingerstyle groove from bassist Mark King. […]

‘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 Saturday Night Fever. It was covered by Tina Turner in 1993 and remains a disco classic, one that’s required study […]

‘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 […]

‘Don’t Start Now’ is a disco/funk song from English singer Dua Lipa’s second album, Future Nostalgia. It was a big hit when released as a single in October 2019 and has since become a staple in many cover band sets. Although it has a live feel, the bassline for this song was programmed by producer […]

‘About Damn Time’ is a song from Lizzo’s fourth album, Special. Featuring an inventive bass part, the song was a worldwide hit when it was released as a single in April 2022. The bassline was performed by producer/bassist/singer/songwriter Eric Burton Frederic (under the name Ricky Reed). This song is in the key of Eb minor. […]

‘She Caught the Katy’ is an old blues song written by Taj Mahal and James Rachell. It has been covered by many different artists, but the best-known version is probably this one, which comes from the soundtrack to the 1980 film The Blues Brothers. This song features Stax legend Donald ‘Duck’ Dunn on bass and […]

‘Running in the Family’ was one of Level 42’s biggest hits, reaching #6 in the UK charts in February 1986. The song features a relatively simple slap bass part from Mark King, but it’s a line with several hidden treasures: fretting hand slaps, sixteenth note-based licks and major/minor tenths are all put to use here, […]