| If you are a bass guitar beginner learning how to play | | | | this both in the original Bob Marley style, and also in a |
| bass, once you've started to get your left and right | | | | 'smooth jazz' style similar to saxophonist Grover |
| hand technique co-ordination together you should | | | | Washington's great version of the tune. |
| graduate immediately to songs. Bob Marley tunes are | | | | 3. Get Up Stand Up |
| great ones for bass beginners - they combine simple, | | | | Great song. Great bass line. Again this is not too |
| melodic bass lines with an interesting rhythmic | | | | complex, but mastering the rhythm will help develop |
| sensibility. | | | | your rhythmic sensibility. And the line in the verse is oh |
| The bass player for Bob Marley was a guy called | | | | so simple, but so melodic. This is one of those tunes |
| Aston Barrett, often known by his nickname of 'Family | | | | that just flat out feels good to play. |
| Man.' | | | | 4. I Shot The Sheriff |
| Here are 5 great Bob Marley tunes you should learn to | | | | This isn't one of my favourite Marley tunes. But I |
| play that will help develop your song vocabulary, and | | | | decided to include it because it can be played in |
| are a heap of fun to play too. | | | | several different ways so you should learn it. I've |
| 1. Stir It Up | | | | gigged it as a reggae tune, faithful to the Bob Marley |
| This is a really simple bass line. But playing through the | | | | version, as a rock tune - like Eric Clapton's version) and |
| song will teach you a great lesson for bass guitarists - | | | | as a reggae flavoured smooth jazz tune where the |
| which is to learn the parts of a song and then deliver | | | | format of the song lends itself to alternating melodies |
| them time after time with verve and feeling. | | | | with solos, all punctuated by the G Minor Pentatonic |
| Sometimes as bass guitarists we are called upon to | | | | Riff that closes each cycle out. |
| play simple and repetitive lines. It's a good habit to get | | | | 5. Is This Love |
| into to start learning to do that now and make those | | | | This IS one of my favourite Marley tunes. Again it has |
| lines groove like crazy. | | | | a loping, shuffle feel. Learning this one will teach you |
| 2. Jamming | | | | some interesting rhythms (swing 8th notes, quarter |
| Jamming is a shuffle or 12:8 feel bass line. Again it's not | | | | note triplets) and help develop your melodic sensibility. |
| particularly complex, but is great fun to play. I've gigged | | | | This is another great fun tune to play. |