Marcus Miller "Learn To Read Music.....Didn't You Ask Me That Last Year"?

Words of wisdom from Master Marcus Miller.....

"Best of Marcus Miller" Bass Recorded Versions - Book - Tab

23 transcriptions from Grammy winning bassist and session player extraordinaire Marcus Miller, including: Big Time * Blast * Boomerang * Bruce Lee * Could It Be You * Ethiopia * Forevermore * Funny * La Villette * Lonnie's Lament * Maputo * Mountain Dance * Nikki's Groove * Panther * Power * Rampage * Rio Funk * Run For Cover * Scoop * Strum * 3 Deuces * Tutu * What Is Hip.

Just Click Here to purchase the "Best of Marcus Miller".

Marcus Miller "The Wall, Depletion, and the Light That Is Waymon Tisdale

I found this video of the eulogy given by Marcus Miller at the funeral services for Waymon Tisdale this week. This video is a must watch and says a lot about Waymon and Marcus, both amazing men.

The Strangest Bass I Have Ever Seen!

OK, I have seen some wacky custom basses in my time, but this one takes the grand prize. I guess this thing is playable, it does not appear to be a prop.

If anyone knows anything about this bass please leave a comment. I would love to know more details about it.

Stanley Clarke's School Days - Bass Playing History

The 1976 release of Stanley Clarke's "School Days" album and the title track changed the way people looked at the potential roll of bass players forever. While the main riff is not particularly difficult to play, it was ground breaking in that Stanley took the part of bass player playing bar chords and playing the part of rhythm guitarist while still holding done the bottom. This is a great tune to learn if you are into looping as you can play the complete tune with just a drummer. I have only posted the main riff here but check out a reasonably complete tab at 911 Tabs.

|--9--6--4-4-2-2-4/6\-4-4--2-2-4/6\--4-4-5-2---|
|--7--4--2-2-0-0-------2-2--0-0--------2-2-5-2---|
|------------------------------------------------------|
|------------------------------------------------------|

Here are a couple of different videos of Stanley just killing this. Note that he does put a different twist on this depending on who he plays with. Don't let him fool you standard 4 string players as he usually plays this on his tenor bass tuned A-D-G-C.

This first video is from the David Letterman Show with the Will Lee Band....I mean Paul Schaffer's Band.



Here is a version from the 2007 North Sea Jazz Festival. Check out how he does a different opening giving us a lesson in chord inversions.



And of course the most popular version with well over one million hits on You Tube is this one with Marcus Miller and Victor Wooten. This is where SMV got it's start.

Marcus Miller - Jaco's Teen Town Slap Bass Style

What am I working on this week? Jacos "Teen Town". This is one of those songs that I have always struggled with. The section right after the opening theme has always given me fits. So I have used it for years as a string skipping exercise for myself as well as students. So I come upon this video [see video below] of Marcus Miller doing it live and he freakin' thumbs the part! He makes it look effortless to boot. So if you give this a try remember to go slow [sick of hearing me say that yet!] and make sure to limit your motion. When most players struggle with this kind of technique they have a tendency to flail their thumb and hand about. Keep it close and tight and you'll get it! Let me know how you do.



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SMV - The Wait Is Almost Over

I don't know how many times I have viewed this video myself but after over 1 million views on You Tube I thought it was time to post it on my Blog. Especially after receiving the new copy of Bass Player Magazine this weekend only to find out the album is almost done.......The Album! SMV "Thunder" Stanley, Marcus & Victor. Really now, what more could we ask for.