Top of the week, fellow low-enders!

Do I feel a whisp of Spring in the air? Are we another week closer to the time when we don't have to wear five layers of sweaters each time we go to the store?

This week's groove is in the style of one of the undisputed early Masters of Electric Bass, James Jamerson. You can find out a lot of his history by checking out his website (the link is on my site: www.sourkrautmusic.com). A great book on his bass lines is "Standing In The Shadows Of Motown," which is simply outstanding.

This week's groove is the first one of the series that has the root not as the lowest, but as the highest note. For those of you who like to transcribe the grooves by ear, here's the root:



This groove is very versatile (and funky, mind you), because you only need two strings to play it (you do need to keep it above the fourth fret if you want to avoid open strings, though). It's a 16th note groove, so once again we have to hear the click in 8th notes. My (strong) recommendation: Start this groove on the pinky, that way you can reach all of the notes in one position.

Another new feature this week is the use of a note outside of the mode. The notes fit over a Dorian or over a Mixolydian mode...except for one: the last note of the groove is a half-step away from the root, which makes it a Major 7th (it's in neither of the two modes). Does it alter the tonality? Not really! It acts as a Leading Tone and "leads" back to the root. It's a very common device. Usually a leading tone appears within a half-step of the next note (usually the root) and is on a weak beat, leading to a strong one.

OK, this is getting a bit technical, so let's just play!

Settings

Tempo: 150

Sound: Elec Fing

Click: Always

Loop: 4 times



Groove Skeleton: 1, a (dotted 8th followed by 16th)

Tonality: Dominant/Minor

Style: R&B (Motown)

Enjoy, and please let me know if any questions creep up! Give your drummer a workout with this!

Peace,

Patrick

If you're playing the "TAB" version, reduce the Tempo Setting to 80!