The Whispers – ‘And the Beat Goes On’
‘And The Beat Goes On’ was one of the biggest hits for The Whispers, thanks in no small part to Leon F Sylvers’ memorable bass part. Leon, a talented multi-instrumentalist who also co-wrote the song, had previously been successful with his own group The Sylvers. He later went on to enjoy a successful career as a producer, working with acts such as Shalamar, Dynasty and Gladys Knight and the Pips.
Be sure to hit the Download Resources button above to download the PDF transcription for this piece (available to subscribers only). The transcription is available WITH TAB and WITHOUT. Please note that a backing track is NOT included with this course.
This course contains the following videos, each of which can be selected from the video player above:
1. ‘And the Beat Goes On’ Play-Through
In this video I will be playing through the song using a Fender Custom Shop ’67 Precision bass.
2. Course Overview
In this video I’ll be giving a brief overview of the song and its bassline. I’ll also be giving you some advice on how you can find an appropriate tone.
3. Intro and Chorus Sections
In this video we’ll be covering the Intro and Chorus sections of the song, both of which are built around Leon’s famous bass groove. This is essentially a repeating two-bar line, with some subtle variations.
4. Verse Sections
This video covers the bassline heard during the song’s two Verse sections. This is a syncopated line that’s harder to play than it sounds.
5. Bridge Sections
In this lesson I’ll be talking through the Bridge section of the piece, which is a short four-bar section that moves the song towards the Chorus.
6. Breakdown and Final Chorus
This final video covers the Breakdown sections and the final Chorus, which has just one small additional part.
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