Donna Lee was recorded by legendary bassist Jaco Pastorius in 1978. It was at this point that the perceived role of the bass guitar was changed forever! And, when I first heard this groundbreaking recording my life was also changed forever!
Because the electric bass guitar is such a new instrument, as yet there aren’t really any true ‘study pieces’ within the ‘bass repertoire’. For this reason I love to get my students to use be-bop heads as study pieces. Because they were originally composed for horns such as saxophone and trumpet they can be challenging on so many different levels. Fingering position, speed, technical fluidity and dynamics all need to be taken into account.
Within this tutorial I discuss why we, as bass players need to use ‘study pieces’ within our practice time, and how they can have a huge affect on your overall technical ability and fluidity upon the bass.
Now grab your bass and get in the shed! ;)
Want the tab and notation for this lesson?!… Click here to find out!
love it thanks .
Awesome website man!
Man I like this piece… Have been wanting to learn this piece for quite some time. Now with your system of approach I believe it’ll work out for me.
Pure genius…thanks for resurrecting my interest in bass playing….cheers..
Great piece, thank you very much.
Thanks Scott. You’re awesome!
Great playing Scott, you’ve really got it swinging. Great lesson too…
very nice lesson…are you going to include the entire transcription for the “bebop tune”…Donna Lee!
Great as usual…
Gracias Maestro. Un gusto recibir sus clases. Saludo
I believe I wrote this tune..
Thank you Scott great lesson !
Patrik.
As a donator from some time ago, let me first encourage everyone to chip in to Scott’s amazing bass school.
I have done this with Bach cello pieces on the bass, which improved my playing immensely. For me the best part is that by breaking things down, I can practice playing with my eyes closed as well. I don’t know why this has been important for me, but doing so has improved my feel for the fretboard substantially.
I think it can also help for people like myself who need to look active on the stage. Concentrating without concentrating. Or something like that.
And so:
Thanks, Scott!
Aww man, Great lesson Scott. At first it sounded kinda difficult, but once u broke it down for us i understood it a lot better… Thanx! Fred….
scott, you`re the best…thanx for all !!!
is this the Jaco or Charlie Parker version (or are they identical ?)
Thanks Scott. This is where I want to be: Jaco! Will you be doing a lesson on Continium as well?
great lesson! anyone know the name of the song at the beginning and end of these videos? i’m assuming the playing is done by Scott? awesome sound.
Scott! A Bass Player’s bass player – Magical !!!
Great lesson….God bless you Scott
Hey Scott,
Great Lesson!!
Nailed Donna Lee going at 180 bpm and rising.
Got any more recommendations of some cool study pieces?
Teen Town lol! ;)))… I’m having a Jaco month ;)
wow man,i just don’t know where to begin,but love this stuff,i’ll keep trying
Hey Scott, I am very, very, very curious as to how you get that nice rich, deep tone. The real Jaco-tone! Is te secret in your bass, strings, amp, besides the technique ofcourse?
Mmmm… not sure man… I just set everything pretty much flat… it’s an active bass too – but I do back off the tone a little. Glad you like it man! Scott ;)
Thanks Scott i like this piece, and i want to learn the whole thing
this is the best site I’ve ever seen in my life!!
but my computer for some reason cant open the PDF file /:
i still love this site and i am really greatful for your teachings (:
Hey Felipe… try opening it through a different browser… firefox/chrome/safari etc… sometimes that does the trick! ;))) Scott
Thanks for this great lesson, Scott. I do need the tab and notation. I cannot find it on your website. Please let me know where to find and print it. Thanks so much.
Great to hear you enjoyed it man! You can find out how to get all the pdf’s right here… http://scottsbasslessons.com/why-donate Have a wicked day in the shed! Scott
Fantastic work man I have been trying to get lessons to do certain things I hear and you are the first one to finally give me wht i’VE BEEN TRYING TO GET. Will be sending money soon. thanks agan. Dok
LOL @ BASSDUM.
I always looked at Teen Town as a big “study piece”.. Like every bass player can learn from it. I’m gonna try Donna Lee after I learn Teen Town the rest of the way.
In line with the previous lesson, can you recommend some good slap study pieces?
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Donna_Lee states, that Miles wrote it, although “authorship is often credited to saxophonist Charlie Parker”.
BR
Great stuff here Scott !