This week we’re going to take a look at an absolute bass classic in the shape of Teen Town by Weather Report played and written by the legendary Jaco Pastorius.
Teen Town
This is one of those tunes that has become the standard for any bass players looking to develop their playing and technique.
It’s a pretty difficult line, especially for beginners and it’s one of those pieces you can be working on for months and months or even years, but in all that time you’ll be developing almost every area of your bass playing to such a level that most other pieces you previously struggled with will seem without your reach.
Practice Track 98bpm:
Practice Track 108bpm:
Practice Track 118bpm:
Practice Track 128bpm:
I’m an old guy just picking up bass after 27 years sitting in closet. Of the many instructional video sites, yours surpasses them all! Thanks so much-PJS782
Great job on this one. You really nailed it…I’ve got a lot of work to do! Thanks!
Great job on this one. I’ve got a lot of work to do! Thanks!
I’ve got a lot of work to do! Thanks!
AAAAAAAAAAARGH!!!! I knew it!!!There had to be a better way to play it. Having learnt the all too ubiquitous fretted version I struggled endlessly with positional changes where timing/rhythm are concerned. This is a tough one to nail. Using this open string variation may well enable me to finally nail it. Ta Mark. Merry Xmas and A Happy New Year. Portrait of Tracy and The Chicken would be cool if you feel inspired.
Hi Mark,
thank you for for this nice tutorial, made me want to give it a try.
Here is my take.
https://youtu.be/uerr2vpZ0BA
You really are a good teacher!
Hi Mark,
thank you for this nice tutorial, made me want to give it a try.
Here is my take.
https://youtu.be/uerr2vpZ0BA
You really are a good teacher!
Think I’ll leave that 13th bar/section as i played it previously. Perhaps that 10th too. Other than that it seems smoother vis a vis timing. Have to dampen strings though. Ta.
Hi talkingbass,
bravo for your work, I’m a french bass player and really obsessed by Pastorius, so I suggest a correction in your transcription; after really watched the weather report video I think Jaco play an open D string instead of the fifh fret on the 14th measure. What do you think about it?
And sorry for my english…
Cheers
Seb
Thanks, I really appreciate it.
Hi, thanks for the transcription and explanations.
B.t.w. you skipped bar 2 in the explanation, and in Bar 14 the last four sixteenth notes should spell: G / Eflat (instead of E natural) / D / C /
It’s just in the score, you played it right (of course)