This week we’re going to have a quick look at a bass riff that lots of people get wrong… and no it’s not Billie Jean by Michael Jackson!
Whole Lotta Love – The Wrong Way!
So, this is a rock classic that we all get wrong especially when we play fingerstyle. I played this riff wrong for years and years and it’s only with the advent of Youtube I got to discover how John Paul Jones really played it.
The common way people play this bass riff is as follows:
I played it that way for years and years. When you listen to the original recording, you’ve got that huge Jimmy Page guitar riff and then it sounds like the bass enters, doubling the main notes up there before holding down that big low E underneath.
Well, that’s what I thought until I saw two hugely popular videos on Youtube. The isolated bass track and the John Paul Jones lesson (where he plays the actual riff).
The Correct Way!
So the key to this is the pick. It’s hard to really get the same tone and chords with fingers. You can do it but it’s just not the same.
Here we have the correct method for playing the riff:
You can play along with the following backing track:
Tip: Practice Your Strumming
As I show in the video, be sure to practice strumming that E and A string. Start out by simply strumming ghost notes as continuous 16th notes and then start to add the extra octaves gradually.
You can use palm muting with the heel of the picking hand near the bridge to get more of a ‘chug’ but you don’t have to. Keep the hand nice and loose and, most importantly, feel that groove!
Great lesson!! Always wanted to learn this one !!
Hi Mark,
I am a beginner and have been watching your videos for about a month or so. I’m a little confused about the Whole Lotta Love riff. You quickly mention the Open D string as part of the riff but you don’t mention it again. After reading the tab, it appears it’s plucked on the up stroke with the 5th fret of A string. Is this correct?
Yup. Exactly right!
I’m a guitar player using your lessons to improve my bass playing. This lesson is the first one I watched – brilliant! Exactly! Now why don’t bass players listen to ME when I show them how to do it right? LOL! Now I don’t have to show them – I’ll direct them to your website. I think you are doing a public service for guitar players! ;-) Thanks and in all seriousness really great teaching style, step by step but not talking down – just quality all the way through. I’m sending your link to every bass player and wanna be bass player I can think of! And getting better myself! Cheers!
Beautiful lesson. But I think you are missing a slide from the A to the B on the E string at the beginning of each phrase. JPJ does that on the second clip you showed.
This lesson is great. Refreshing! Backed by logical, factual examples. I think some of the claimed “incorrect” media i.e. youtube videos are OK for an easier versions… perhaps. Like anything – start basic – practice – then take it as far as you desire! And… have fun. I can hardly wait to try this at my local Guitar Center on a $2,000. Bass Guitar. (I have a beginners Rogue 100B – $89.00. + a used Fender 25 Rumble amp) Music is a journey, and I find it a great way to break up the daily routine.