the intervals are easy to recognise actually. I never heard the tune but recognized the wrong notes straight away. The fun bit is that probably someone wrote a tab and everybody just reads it and goes for it wrong instead of trusting their own ear and playing on top of the original. You would notice the harmonics dancing all over the place if you put both sounds together
Feels good to know that I found the one tabs video that teaches it the right way in 2023, I consider myself very lucky cause I literally practice and warm up with this song
I remember when we first heard this playing on the radio and many of us in New York purchased the album to hear that bass line better and still couldn't get it right 😄 ... so many thanks!
this is NOT THE BASS PART TO 'CHAMELEON.' Paul Jackson's bass part, the real one, is amazing. you're playing Herbie's left hand part. there isn't an epidemic of players playing it incorrectly, there's an epidemic of people ignoring Jackson's brilliant playing and you caught it.
Dude it is a bass line, no mater what instrument was used, still a bass line. Also some live performances the bass guitar picks up that line and the keyboard shred the guitar ish riff, so what? Remember, a bass line can be played with any instrument that plays in the lowest voice of an arrangement, so no mater if they are playing the moog part using a bass, you can do the same thing regardless. Before talking shit about such nice video at least understand the basics. 😅
@@Just_Ve bass part and bassline are not the same thing. like you said, 'before talking shit about such nice comment at least understand the basics. 😅'
I’m a keyboard player, that’s Herbies part not Paul Jackson’s baseline. It’s not like an “I Wish” thing where the bass is double.. Paul breaks it up and dances around the keyboard part
This is a very simple bass part to learn. I have to question ones ear if they can't hear the correct notes! I can only imagine the difficulty they would have learning the bass part Paul Jackson actually played!
@@anthonybridges584It’s the downside if patterns. Bass players learn patterns, and the ear is not as powerful as the muscle memory! At least that’s what it was for me for a year or two, I doubt I was the only one. Thirty years later I still enjoy videos correcting the mistake :)
I imagine its easy to feel like its right when you listen to it bc its of the same harmony. The ear does a really funny thing when it tries to just fill in what it thinks is necessary, or what is happening. Love your content homie.
I saw them play it live in SF in the 70s. I had learned it off their album the correct way. Seeing it done live reassured me I had got it right. I'll add.. a Mutron III is almost essential for getting that tone. I kick myself for selling mine a few years ago!
@@aceof8S I'm a mid main. Mid and treble for most of the songs I play. But I also just bought a new samsung, so I don't have an aux input and my phone speaker was scarcely helpful. But I rewatched it with my Bluetooth speaker, lol thanks bruv
@@aceof8S I'm wearing my mixing headphones in the studio and he is still so God damn low you can barely hear him compared to the rest of the video. This is a video, not a song. They did him dirty mixing him that way. Can't have him sounding better than the big boss man.
The *actual* electric bass part is staccato notes played high up the neck with some envelope filter. To play the synth bass part, keep your fretting hand in one position and find the notes across the strings between the 3rd and 6th fret keeping your index finger at the 3rd fret and using it to play the B flats on the G string
I saw this live and that’s all keyboard actually! The bass is playing the high wah part up on the highest frets of the G string! (Until the middle of the song) My mind was blown!
My Mom, as she changed my diapers, played a game with me--- Dum, da-da dum dum, she sang, and she taught me to answer her,--dum-dum! Then she changed keys and repeated it, changing keys at random. Before I could walk, I had relative pitch down. Years later, after struggling with guitar, I got a cheap bass- leaned it against a rough wall and broke the headstock. Next bass, same thing. Then I started lobbying for a real bass, since I knew I wasn't doing the college thing. Mom finally broke down and got me a Jazz Bass and a Huge amp. 3x 15"s in one cab. I'm still gigging at 72yrs. R.I.P. Mom.....
Glad I learned this piece by sheet music. Hearing it now I can tell the difference but years ago I would have done the first way if I wasn't given the part and it would have become a habit.
That's right, Scott! Thank goodness, I was blessed to be in a band with all music majors at Virginia State University who made sure I played it correctly. The infamous Nathanial Pops Gatlin was the department head. Trussel "Love Injection"
I played it wrong for a long time myself. But I listened more carefully as I was preparing to do it for one of my shorts and thank goodness picked out the right notes so I didn’t pass along bad info!
Should also be noted that the first part of the phrase can be played as 6th fret on D, then 3rd on G, it's entirely possible to play both phrases without switching hand positions at all
If i was to tell someone how to play this i would say (ignoring the chromatic walk-ups) it's root b7 root on the Bb and root 5 b7 on the Eb. I find it easier to talk in terms of scale and internal rather than which fret.
The wrong way was the way I was taught to play it before I actually heard the song. I don't feel so badly now 😂I always knew it was Herbie's part, but we never had a keyboardist in the band's in which we'd play the tune, so the bass player laid it down since it's such a recognizable hook. I also had fun playing drums on this song 😁
I was lucky to have a good ear and knew it was that even when I learned it as a younger lad. I heard the second two note ending of the phrase and thought it wasn’t just repeated on the G string because that sounded wrong and cheesy almost haha
That's how I play it. Why on earth would they play it changing positions? And, why would people play those wrong notes from the beginning of the video? It doesn't sound right, at all. I had to go through like 20 comments till I found this being said (by you).
Chameleon is the one time I can honestly say I listened ti and played that line correctly the first go around- normally I play a note or two wrong before I realize "shit I've been playing it wrong for months/years!"...however, it did take me a while to realize that the chromatic walk line on Chameleon was actually played by Herbie on the keys and not Paul Jackson...then when I saw Herbie play that line I realized I really couldn't "play" the line- Herbie throws in all kinds of fills and extra sauce on it...and ehy does no one ever talk about the B section of the tune when Paul and Harvey (Mike Clark, also) go off?- that's the funkiest part of the tune!
The *BASS LINE* which is played on keys, is what they're discussing. On the first part, hitting the upper G# on the D string, 6th fret. On the 2nd part, *I find it a lot easier* to start on the C, walk up chromatically to the D#, then hit the A# on the G string 3rd fret and C# on the G string 6th fret. This way it all stays in a box without you even having to move your hand
Been a long time user of the sbl app. Just recommend it to Brett Papas channel the other day. Found you from John McCordy (probably spelled that wrong). Easily the best practice tool out there. Thanks bro.
I always played it the right way. The drums pattern is very difficult to play. A good friend of mine a marvelous drummer told me that you have to count triplet on the 2 first time of the bar.
I'm actually learning this for my jazz show soon but I already played it the proper way and the other bassists said it was wrong, but I knew I wasn't so I looked it up and would you know it I was right. Surprised me tho a lot bassists got confused on it, always seemed easy to me
Literally, all it is, is chromatic scales. I play the chromatic bass scale on piano, and I love doing a solo after a few measures of playing it. I do the solo in a Bb minor blues key. It works perfectly for the song
Considering that an understanding of pitch is kind of fundamental to playing an instrument…I’m a bit surprised at the number of bassists who are playing it wrong? It’s pretty obvious no?
Thanks for enquiring about the gloves Scott uses. Unfortunately he has to use them as he suffers from a neurological condition called 'Focal Dystonia'. So... before you run out and buy a pair of black gloves - save yourself the money. If he didn't have to use the gloves he definitely wouldn't be using them. If you do have a similar condition - they are simply tight, thin woolen gloves that you can find in most camping stores or on Amazon. www.amazon.co.uk/EDZ-Merino-Wool-Gloves-Red/dp/B009S4QJOA/ref=sr_1_fkmr0_1?s=sports&ie=UTF8&qid=1375953899&sr=1-1-fkmr0&keywords=woollen+gloves+merino+redl Hope that helps
I don't play it that way either! I do third fret fourth fret first string second string open second string first fret. Fourth string first fret third fret . Second string second fret third fret. Third fret open, fourth string third fret sixth fret.
I remember this being one of the first lines I had to play a couple years ago for a school show when I was younger. I could hear that the tab didn't sound like the actual piece and ended up getting in trouble for playing what was actually correct.
Crazy how such a simple bass line can be very hard to learn by ear when synth bass is used
the intervals are easy to recognise actually. I never heard the tune but recognized the wrong notes straight away. The fun bit is that probably someone wrote a tab and everybody just reads it and goes for it wrong instead of trusting their own ear and playing on top of the original. You would notice the harmonics dancing all over the place if you put both sounds together
I don't think people were learning it by ear. I think they were learning it by poor memory, or copying someone else who effed it up.
🙌🏻🙌🏻🙌🏻
How? Just play the notes you hear.
@@blarghblargh this
Feels good to know that I found the one tabs video that teaches it the right way in 2023, I consider myself very lucky cause I literally practice and warm up with this song
I thought it was played on a keyboard.
@@Artax-jv8zt fuck
omg me too
I pointed this out once to the “experts” in the group I was playing with but since I am “just an amateur drummer”, I was obviously wrong.
As someone who played this song in jazz band in highschool, I didn't think anyone would play it this way.
Fair enough dude!
I remember when we first heard this playing on the radio and many of us in New York purchased the album to hear that bass line better and still couldn't get it right 😄 ... so many thanks!
🙌🏻🙌🏻🙌🏻
It’s a killer bass line but the wicka wicka on the rhythm guitar is probably most underrated part
Wicka wicka! 🔥🔥🔥
You mean clavinet? There's no guitar in that record
there’s no guitar part, that’s the bass guitar part playing right up at the highest frets
@@machinegunlicks TIL 🙏🏼
@@felentelechythis is the true answer
Love this song! As a trumpet player, this song comes up, you are revved up and ready to go!!
A funk classic! 🕺🕺🕺
YESSSSS so many good memories playing this on horn. and now that I'm learning guitar and bass, I get to enjoy some of the other parts too
So simple and I can't stop playing it now!!!! Super addictive bass line.
💯💯💯 Killa!!
this is NOT THE BASS PART TO 'CHAMELEON.' Paul Jackson's bass part, the real one, is amazing. you're playing Herbie's left hand part. there isn't an epidemic of players playing it incorrectly, there's an epidemic of people ignoring Jackson's brilliant playing and you caught it.
Yeah, the bass actually sounds and acts like a guitar
Absolutly righ
Dude it is a bass line, no mater what instrument was used, still a bass line. Also some live performances the bass guitar picks up that line and the keyboard shred the guitar ish riff, so what?
Remember, a bass line can be played with any instrument that plays in the lowest voice of an arrangement, so no mater if they are playing the moog part using a bass, you can do the same thing regardless.
Before talking shit about such nice video at least understand the basics. 😅
@@Just_Ve bass part and bassline are not the same thing. like you said, 'before talking shit about such nice comment at least understand the basics. 😅'
It's a ARP Odyssey Mk 1 with the 12 db/Oct filter. There's a great live performance that shows the ARP.
I’m a keyboard player, that’s Herbies part not Paul Jackson’s baseline. It’s not like an “I Wish” thing where the bass is double.. Paul breaks it up and dances around the keyboard part
This is a very simple bass part to learn. I have to question ones ear if they can't hear the correct notes!
I can only imagine the difficulty they would have learning the bass part Paul Jackson actually played!
the real right way to play chameleon's bass line is on a synth :'(
@@anthonybridges584It’s the downside if patterns. Bass players learn patterns, and the ear is not as powerful as the muscle memory! At least that’s what it was for me for a year or two, I doubt I was the only one. Thirty years later I still enjoy videos correcting the mistake :)
It makes me happy how much Scott loves other bass players and their signature lines.
I imagine its easy to feel like its right when you listen to it bc its of the same harmony. The ear does a really funny thing when it tries to just fill in what it thinks is necessary, or what is happening. Love your content homie.
I saw them play it live in SF in the 70s. I had learned it off their album the correct way. Seeing it done live reassured me I had got it right.
I'll add.. a Mutron III is almost essential for getting that tone. I kick myself for selling mine a few years ago!
"I always played it this way":
*proceeds to play the quietest notes possible*
Good time for headphones mate - he doesn't have his mids cranked
@@aceof8S I'm a mid main. Mid and treble for most of the songs I play. But I also just bought a new samsung, so I don't have an aux input and my phone speaker was scarcely helpful. But I rewatched it with my Bluetooth speaker, lol thanks bruv
@@aceof8S I'm wearing my mixing headphones in the studio and he is still so God damn low you can barely hear him compared to the rest of the video. This is a video, not a song. They did him dirty mixing him that way. Can't have him sounding better than the big boss man.
The *actual* electric bass part is staccato notes played high up the neck with some envelope filter.
To play the synth bass part, keep your fretting hand in one position and find the notes across the strings between the 3rd and 6th fret keeping your index finger at the 3rd fret and using it to play the B flats on the G string
I saw this live and that’s all keyboard actually! The bass is playing the high wah part up on the highest frets of the G string! (Until the middle of the song) My mind was blown!
This song also has a 2nd bass part that everyone forgets
the real bass part yes
Bro I’ve been plying this riff on my guitar for months and had no idea where I got it from. Finally I get my answers!
The greatest riff of all time? Some seriously iconic sh. ☮️❤️🎵
Believe it or not, I played by ear - could not sight read when that song came out, but I played it right. Wish I played everything else that way...
Me too.
My Mom, as she changed my diapers, played a game with me--- Dum, da-da dum dum, she sang, and she taught me to answer her,--dum-dum! Then she changed keys and repeated it, changing keys at random. Before I could walk, I had relative pitch down. Years later, after struggling with guitar, I got a cheap bass- leaned it against a rough wall and broke the headstock. Next bass, same thing. Then I started lobbying for a real bass, since I knew I wasn't doing the college thing. Mom finally broke down and got me a Jazz Bass and a Huge amp. 3x 15"s in one cab. I'm still gigging at 72yrs. R.I.P. Mom.....
Solid work dude! Easy to trip up on this one!
This is a keyboard riff, played on a moog synthesizer tuned to a low octave. It sounds killer on bass though! 🔥
It’s a bass line, the instrument that plays it doesn’t really matter.
It's an ARP Odyssey Mk1 with the 12 dB/Oct filter. There's a killer Headhunters live video that shows Herbie playing it.
I didn't even know people struggled to do this 😂 one of the earliest songs my teacher taught me!
🔥🔥🔥
Glad I learned this piece by sheet music. Hearing it now I can tell the difference but years ago I would have done the first way if I wasn't given the part and it would have become a habit.
can't believe I taught it to myself right by ear then, nice.
How an instrument can get 2 grown men so excited, look at how he’s bouncing while Scott plays… music is for the soul😊
That was a good time!
so I learnt my first bassline correctly like 7 months ago
🙌🏻🙌🏻🙌🏻
That's right, Scott! Thank goodness, I was blessed to be in a band with all music majors at Virginia State University who made sure I played it correctly. The infamous Nathanial Pops Gatlin was the department head. Trussel "Love Injection"
🧡🧡🧡
I played it wrong for a long time myself. But I listened more carefully as I was preparing to do it for one of my shorts and thank goodness picked out the right notes so I didn’t pass along bad info!
Please do an entire video of Paul Jackson. Criminally underrated
I actually used to do 3rd fret of G string (Bb) up to that Db bcuz it let my hand have the same basic shape as the walkup!
Nice!!
My first chameleon was Brian Bromberg's one. And I think I've learned it the right way by sheet music.
Should also be noted that the first part of the phrase can be played as 6th fret on D, then 3rd on G, it's entirely possible to play both phrases without switching hand positions at all
Love this tune… I don’t care about the frets and the strings or what flat!♥️👍
This was the first song I learned on bass. Ninth grade stage band.
Was lucky enough to have played this in jazz band in high school so got to read the actual written music for it
🔥🔥🔥
This tune is so good... Love me some Herbie Hancock.
If i was to tell someone how to play this i would say (ignoring the chromatic walk-ups) it's root b7 root on the Bb and root 5 b7 on the Eb.
I find it easier to talk in terms of scale and internal rather than which fret.
Josh Cohen does the best cover of this I've EVER SEEN!!!
Sick! Thanks for the recommendation Justin!
The wrong way was the way I was taught to play it before I actually heard the song. I don't feel so badly now 😂I always knew it was Herbie's part, but we never had a keyboardist in the band's in which we'd play the tune, so the bass player laid it down since it's such a recognizable hook. I also had fun playing drums on this song 😁
Agree many bands don't have a keyboard player.
Love this. Pls do Actual Proof starting at about 2min mark!!
I was lucky to have a good ear and knew it was that even when I learned it as a younger lad. I heard the second two note ending of the phrase and thought it wasn’t just repeated on the G string because that sounded wrong and cheesy almost haha
🙌🏻🙌🏻🙌🏻
proud of myself for learning this correctly on my own 💪🏼
Nice dude! 🙌🏻🙌🏻🙌🏻
That's a keyboard bass by Herbie. The bass guitar plays the middle section.
When I first played this about 14 years ago, I had sheet music in my schools big band, so I didn't have that issue 😅
Ive always played this staying in one position. Hit the Ab on the D string, the Bb on the G string, and the Db on the G string
That's how I play it. Why on earth would they play it changing positions? And, why would people play those wrong notes from the beginning of the video? It doesn't sound right, at all. I had to go through like 20 comments till I found this being said (by you).
Every time this comes across my feed. Just play it in one position. No shifts
How could a bass player not heart that. I’ve always played it right,
Chameleon is the one time I can honestly say I listened ti and played that line correctly the first go around- normally I play a note or two wrong before I realize "shit I've been playing it wrong for months/years!"...however, it did take me a while to realize that the chromatic walk line on Chameleon was actually played by Herbie on the keys and not Paul Jackson...then when I saw Herbie play that line I realized I really couldn't "play" the line- Herbie throws in all kinds of fills and extra sauce on it...and ehy does no one ever talk about the B section of the tune when Paul and Harvey (Mike Clark, also) go off?- that's the funkiest part of the tune!
The *BASS LINE* which is played on keys, is what they're discussing. On the first part, hitting the upper G# on the D string, 6th fret. On the 2nd part, *I find it a lot easier* to start on the C, walk up chromatically to the D#, then hit the A# on the G string 3rd fret and C# on the G string 6th fret. This way it all stays in a box without you even having to move your hand
There is no C#
@@grantkoeller8911 What would call the last note of the riff? Bb? Sharps go up the scale, flats go down the scale.
Been a long time user of the sbl app. Just recommend it to Brett Papas channel the other day. Found you from John McCordy (probably spelled that wrong). Easily the best practice tool out there. Thanks bro.
Thankyou man! 🧡🧡🧡
I always played it the right way. The drums pattern is very difficult to play. A good friend of mine a marvelous drummer told me that you have to count triplet on the 2 first time of the bar.
This is the first time I’ve seen both of them in the same video. Whoa.
I’ve have music for this write out. It was correct. I feel great
That’s way I been playing it all my life 😮the right way
Good work!
I've always had a good ear and I've gotten better but something about that synth tone made it trippy
I like to play it trying to stay on the first frets for the main riff
🙌🏻🙌🏻🙌🏻
Makes me happy to know I was always playing it right lol
I'm actually learning this for my jazz show soon but I already played it the proper way and the other bassists said it was wrong, but I knew I wasn't so I looked it up and would you know it I was right. Surprised me tho a lot bassists got confused on it, always seemed easy to me
You must have a great ear dude! 🙌🏻🙌🏻🙌🏻
First bass line I learned, learned it correctly too
Yes dude! Such a killing line! 🦎🔥
i learned this in jazz band in hs i didnt know so many people didnt know it was like that
I used a MuTron pedal to play it back in the 70's. What pedal will give me that sound today?
An envelope filter could get you pretty close to that!
i play oll in 1 position left hand:
4str^3,4,5,6 - 2str^4 - 1str^3
3str^3,4,5,6 - 1str^3 - 1str^6
Sorry for my very bad english
Literally, all it is, is chromatic scales. I play the chromatic bass scale on piano, and I love doing a solo after a few measures of playing it. I do the solo in a Bb minor blues key. It works perfectly for the song
I never messed this up. It's pretty clear.
I tune my bass down 1/2 step so I can use open notes and use my MuTron to get That Phat Bass Sound.
Dang…Scott’s tone is very tasty. What kind of bass/rig is he running?
sadowsky
sadowsky name please😢
Well fortunately, I've always played it correctly
Good work! 🙌🏻🙌🏻🙌🏻
Considering that an understanding of pitch is kind of fundamental to playing an instrument…I’m a bit surprised at the number of bassists who are playing it wrong? It’s pretty obvious no?
Sheet music helps you get it right every time (if you have access to it). ✌️
Just curious. What's up with the the glove? Not hating by the way I've always thought it looked unique.
You should listen to High Fade's version of Chameleon
It's way more funky
What is the glove for?
If I were to assume anything it would probably be from preventing calluses and reducing friction from having his finger on the frets
Safe-Bass Finger Condom 5-Round Clip!!! LOLOL Or maybe some weird nerve damage in the left hand effected by a bad ground plug on the amp… maybe
He's got a condition that causes his fingers to twitch and wearing the glove stops them from twitching
@@Deakin_74why not wearing on both then it’s just one hand?
Serious question. What's with the gloves?
Thanks for enquiring about the gloves Scott uses.
Unfortunately he has to use them as he suffers from a neurological condition called 'Focal Dystonia'.
So... before you run out and buy a pair of black gloves - save yourself the money. If he didn't have to use the gloves he definitely wouldn't be using them.
If you do have a similar condition - they are simply tight, thin woolen gloves that you can find in most camping stores or on Amazon.
www.amazon.co.uk/EDZ-Merino-Wool-Gloves-Red/dp/B009S4QJOA/ref=sr_1_fkmr0_1?s=sports&ie=UTF8&qid=1375953899&sr=1-1-fkmr0&keywords=woollen+gloves+merino+redl
Hope that helps
Proud to say I never once played this line wrong.
Good work dude!
The first is dominant 7 - root and the next is kvint 5 and 7
This is the way I’ve known it forever, just always played it correctly
Which one of Kevin Wendell Crumb's alters is this?
I was never wrong, nice
What is the glove for on his fretting hand ✌
He's got a condition that makes his hands shake uncontrollably. Strangely enough the gloves stop the shaking. He made a video about it a while back.
@@lllStanlll thanks buddy ✌️
The line is played over, or implying Bbm7 to Ebm7. The Db is the 7th of the Ebm7.
try playing the main riff of Godzilla by BOC over the chameleon bass line
I don't play it that way either! I do third fret fourth fret first string second string open second string first fret. Fourth string first fret third fret . Second string second fret third fret. Third fret open, fourth string third fret sixth fret.
Love me some Herbie.
I remember this being one of the first lines I had to play a couple years ago for a school show when I was younger. I could hear that the tab didn't sound like the actual piece and ended up getting in trouble for playing what was actually correct.
Damn man! 🤦🏻♂️
The A.R.P. synthesizer bass part can be entirely played in the third position
Oh my god! I have been playing it correctly, I love you ………… in a totally headro way! Lol
For once in my life I'm watching a SBL vid and not one of the people playing it wrong. Ok, back in the shed for all the other tunes I DID learn wrong.
🤣🤣🤣
Ngl, I've never played it the wrong way shown here. Must have learned ot right the first time
I want that gloves too. Is that a new product for playing? Or he just found a glove thatbis used for another thing?
Yeah why the glove
Hold on, wasn't that a Moog or ARP synthesizer doing the bass parts?
yoo ive been playing it right the whole time
I HAVE THE SAME BASS GUITAR AND AM LEARNING THIS SONG IN MY JAZZ BAND THAT I GOT FOR FREE CUZ THEY THOUGHT IT WAS BROKEN
Cool. La Doh!
What bass is Scott playing here
wow this is sooo crazy….same thing happened to me….i played it the first way for years until i tried actually play along with the recording!!!
The music teacher brought this in for us to listen to Fox Middle School Hartford CT 1973
Wait, what's the difference between the right way and the wrong way? Just the last two notes?
Please what is the name of the artist or on what album can I find this song?
Herbie Hancock - Chameleon!
@@devinebass thank you sir, I appreciate your reply.
Ok somehow this was in my recommendations I’m a guitar player not a bass player so what’s up the the glove?
What’s the glove about? I’ve never seen a guitar player wear one before.