In this lesson, we’re looking at the song Rio by Duran Duran and the amazing bass riffs played by the hugely underrated John Taylor.

Rio

This bass line is a total workout and study piece for bass players from beginner to advanced level (yes, even advanced players might even struggle with some aspects of this tune!).

You’ll be working on syncopated 16th notes, ghost notes, left hand muting and right hand fingerpicking.

Verse Riff

This incredibly funky verse riff is in E minor and flies at a whopping 140 bpm! There are many syncopated and ghost notes littered throughout in an almost Jaco style, so be sure to take your time and work though it bar by bar as shown on the TAB and notation below.

I’ve also included backing tracks at a range of speeds to help you build up to the original: 100 bpm 120 bpm and 140 bpm.

100 bpm

120 bpm

140 bpm

Chorus Riff

For this section we’ve moved into the parallel key of E Major. Bars 1 and 5 have a simpler rhythm to them, but as we progress through the chorus there’s more syncopation and ghost notes to contend with.

In bar 4 on beats 3 and 4 we have a very brief slapped segment with a hammer on from the & of 2 to beat 3, so watch out for this bit!

100 bpm

120 bpm

140 bpm

Sax Solo Riff

This is an even busier segment, but it uses the same chord progression and rhythm as the verse so the backing track is the same. Again, we work up in tempo from 100 bpm to 140 bpm.

The ghost notes of the verse are the same, except in this segment the notes are switched around in places. Take you time and remember to work through every part slowly!

100 bpm

120 bpm

140 bpm

Playing Tips

Use my tried and tested ‘Home Position’ in other to have as much control as possible, this is a more comfortable way of playing and allows you mute easily.

This will also help you utilise ghost notes far easier which you can then implement in your own playing and bass lines.