Bass Guitar Techniques of Led Zeppelin's John Paul Jones | Reverb Learn to Play

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Treat yourself or find the perfect gift for your favorite music maker. Led Zeppelin bassist John Paul Jones managed to stand out in a band with Jimmy Page, John Bonham, and Robert Plant (which for music fans, is no small feat.) From his life as a session musician, through the Zeppelin years, and more recently with Them Crooked Vultures, his grooving rock basslines inspired Jake to dig into some of the theory and technique that make these riffs and lines timeless.
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[@matthewheinecke2621]

This may be the only video on KZbin where someone picks up a jazz bass and doesn't immediately start slapping.

[@SciFiArtman]

Yeah, it's very sad to me that slapping and popping is reduced to funk ONLY! It's like a cartoon style, and it doesn't have to be! But JPJ was one of the kings of melodic bass, along with McCartney, Squire, Rutherford, and a few others. All too often I see bass players that can slap and pop their way through a wonderful solo, but then drop the ball playing with a band. I fear soloing is killing truly great bass playing!

[@reiniervanzwieten7092]

Dude Good bass playing is still really relevant. just look at some of the best bassist. you have people like joe dart of Vulfpeck. also that guy i don't know the name of that plays in Jamiroquai. and then all rock and metal have some damn fine bass players who basically never slap. i myself am a quite jong bass player. and yhea i do like that showoffy stuff like marcus miller, but only to play not to listen to. I really like to listen (and play in bands) the bass lines that are groovy and simplistic. trust me, i just think there are to many bassist of my generation caring more about technique and speed then groove and timing but i think those people are not as serious about the instrument. and there are enough bass players my age who do think it's really important to set the groove and those are i think the ones that have a chance at getting in some great and popular bands. what i would say is decreasing is jazz soloing(it is something i am working on but it's quite difficult) but when it becomes rare everyone wants to know how to do it again because it's unique.

[@SciFiArtman]

Sure, there are plenty of good bass players out there, I never said there weren't. But I DO think there is way too much focus on creating cool solos, and the art, craft, and skill of playing with band is suffering because of this near obsession with bass soloing focus. That's NOT a bass player's number one job, IMO. Soloing is fun, and cool, and looks cool on KZbin videos, but the art of being a functional bassist in a band isn't progressing nearly as fast as flashy soloing. It's not a popular view, but I think it's one bassists should consider, or not. I've seen this with drummers too! Killer soloists, but only so-so with a band.

[@stevevirginia308]

Matthew Heinecke I hate slapping

[@reiniervanzwieten7092]

Trust me when i say that those people are not gonna be famous the only people who are going to listen to bassists solo are bassists. Same goes for drumming.

[@PocketCloyster]

It’s a shame that JPJ doesn’t get the recognition like the other 3 in Led Zeppelin

[@pjsbulldog67]

Most zeppelin fans absolutely know his worth

[@PocketCloyster]

pjsbulldog67 That’s true

[@davedecker1725]

David Beltz FUCKING A!!! Any band would kill to have him. The most dangerous weapon in the Zeppelin.

[@monarch770]

pjsbulldog67 i wouldn’t call myself a fan (more of a stones guy) but i recognize that he is if not the best bass player ever. Bill Wymans a close third of course :)

[@elliebean1118]

It makes sense, though. The only member I genuinely find less impressive than him in any/all forms is Plant (who seems like a lovely guy with amazing taste in music regardless of decade, including those since). It's a dilemma ranking the members of Zep, which is why you shouldn't bother. I'm not a fan of the "JPJ was the secret weapon" thing. It obviously isn't objectively true, even though he could play a whopping 2.5 types of instruments pretty well.

[@maxmeeder1542]

Ramble On might be my favorite bass line of all time

[@patrickbrown3135]

Played on an 8 string bass. Currently on display at the rock hall.

[@harrisonvos5069]

Patrick Brown oof so wrong... you know that song is from II, right? That’s definitely a 4-string, almost certainly his Jazz Bass.

[@maxegan2398]

Harrison Vos Nevermind Sorry for some reason I thought we were talking about dazed and confused ?? just tired I guess

[@allrequiredfields]

It is *the* greatest bass line in all of rock and roll. Yes, Entwistle and Squire played neat, busy bass lines but the bass on Ramble On is still a *proper* bass part. It wasn't written on bass, so its role was still to support the guitar and vocals - and it *never* gets in the way of either, yet it's the part that *makes* the song; it's really the only part of the song that you can hum - and STILL it doesn't step on the vocals or guitar. The only other bass player in popular music (and I mean that in the broadest sense possible) who wrote bass parts like that was the also legendary James Jamerson.

[@piscesman54]

Yes, it is an absolute masterpiece. It carries it all the way through and sets the mood for both the folk part and the rock part with such class. The guy is a freaking genius.

[@Wayne_Robinson]

Between bass, keys, mandolin, arrangement ideas and more, he's truly an outstanding rock musician and definitely a big part of The Zep's massive success.

[@SneedBass]

Jones was a highly sought after session player. I'm glad he decided to play in Led Zeppelin. He was my inspiration into playing bass. Now I seek to be a multi instrumentalist like him. Jones was a genius.

[@johngeiger3770]

So good that he is also known as the "invisible fifth Led Zeppelin member" because of how he skilfully transitioned between bass and organs/keyboard.

[@santosmadrigal3702]

John really starts cookin when the song starts fading out .

[@dlm9293]

Absofuckinglutely

[@wulf67]

Maybe the most underrated musician in history.

[@vinorama58]

JPJ puts the pick vs fingers controversy to bed by allowing both techniques to live together in harmony.

[@pjmuck]

There is no pick vs. fingers "controversy" to any true musicians, only ignorant idiots.

[@cinesilenziosa8750]

Round 2: flats vs rounds FIGHT!!!

[@crimfan]

The "controversy" is really more about the fact that there are guitarists who show up saying "well I can play guitar so I can play bass too" and inevitably bring their picks. Um... no, no you can't actually play bass if you haven't put in time on a bass!

[@davidmckean955]

@@crimfan - most decent guitarists can play with their fingers anyway.

[@crimfan]

@TheGreaterGood80 Oh definitely some of the greats made use of plectrum playing exclusively or in part.

[@paulsummerside]

For JPJ, its not simply just technique that is important, but the tone he gets and the sheer feel and timing that he gives to each tune. Something that is probably even harder for some to get than technique alone. Infact for the JPJ sound, as with most artists, tone and feel for a piece will go further than technique.

[@johngeiger3770]

Absolutely. He never let his ego get in the way of producing great music and he made it for his listeners. There is not a grain of pretentiousness in JPJ.

[@ZigbertD]

The bass part in “The Song Remains The Same” is phenomenal. I think his playing is probably overshadowed by other rock bass heroes because even when when he was playing incredibly difficult and musically sophisticated lines, even very busy ones, they were always serving first and foremost as rock solid rhythm section support, and furnishing harmonic interest without getting in the way.

[@mgmg3561]

J. P. Jones ... the name of the best bassist of all times. Never flamboyant, never ignored, never borring ... GENIUS.

[@ZacCostilla]

JPJ is amazing! The Mt. Rushmore of Bass would be James Jamerson, JPJ, Flea, and Geezer Butler

[@trajan6927]

John Entwistle since 1965 has been voted number 1 or number 2 bass player in every music magazine poll. Bassist Of The Millenium.

[@etidancal]

I would love to see about John Deacon from Queen, he has very unusual bass lines worth to look into!

[@Pierfra007]

one of the greatest and underrated artists out there.

[@etidancal]

Look at any of his basslines from The Fairy Feller's Master-Stroke, The Millionaire Waltz, You're My Best Friend, or even the late years with These are the days of our lives, he takes the bass to the front and using it as a voice in most cases.

[@Pierfra007]

I think he's one of the hardest to imitate. anyone can play like Entwistle, JPJ or Geddy Lee, but playing with the same taste as Deacon is almost impossible!

[@etidancal]

He has a very special touch and very precise on the tempo, what's also difficult is to apply his technique on an original or another song. Look at Jealousy, that's a very soft song and besides Freddie's piano (which people really have to look into it) the bass is what makes the song

[@markkeneson6806]

@@Pierfra007 , while I agree that John Deacon is underrated, I don't think that just anyone can play like John Entwistle, as you said. Check out some videos of his right hand technique.

[@mikevonhohenstein5587]

JPJ is definitely one of my favorite bassists, maybe #1. Just a genius player and composer.

[@ZeaNeth-pm3rc]

Same here, I had that realization when I was watching this

[@SneedBass]

When I was 12-13 so about 2004, my friend's brother was introducing me to Led Zeppelin. When I heard Jones play, he inspired me to take up bass playing. So I saved up my lunch money from school everyday and combined it with my birthday money to get my first bass. 18 years later and I'm still learning how much of a genius that Jones is. The man is spectacular.

[@davidendriss]

"The Ocean" walking bass line at the end

[@DFWTF]

That's "how many more times "

[@RobotequeMusic]

Achilles Last Stand is interesting because JPJ plays the snare accent hits in the chorus to cover for Bonham and keeps the horse gallup line together. The whole song has incredible bass playing

[@Severinate]

People say JPJ is underrated, when you're in a band with arguably the greatest rock drummer and greatest rock guitarist, that's not being underrated. It's being recognised by exactly the people you want to be recognised by.

[@LittleBrotherEli]

John Paul made me want to pick up the bass! What a legend :)

[@flatsix666]

Four master musicians came together and created the fabulous music we hear today as Led Zeppelin. What an ever lasting legacy !

[@Mwversaci]

One of the greatest bassists in Rock. His parts are often difficult to play at the same time sounding amazing and doing the job. You are a great player man. Your playing on this video is flawless.

[@theOneTheHunter]

The Lemon Song....bass solo?

[@TrowbridgeSounds]

I was just gonna put this! The entire middle section where he just free floats and makes the blues sound like orchestral parts in a funky way. Aahhh

[@marshall881]

TheHunter my absolute most favorite part out of any Zep song. Iconic

[@henrynoel3336]

same

[@relayer43]

Also Travelling Riverside Blues. British Jamerson for sure!

[@mr.yellowstrat3352]

Yeshhh

[@johnberg1326]

I have been mesmerized by John’s savvy since I heard LZ1 when I was 9. Thanks to your great work I love him even more. Thank you.

[@hughes2397]

Love that Jazz Bass! JPJ was always absolutely amazing to me. His influence has always played a HUGE roll in my style of bass playing.

[@jamiebruner8463]

This video is solely responsible for me getting a bass. Thanks, Jake.

[@MonkyMonk729]

John Paul Jones is a musical beast. I"m a guitar player and I love Jimmy Page but there are so many Zeppelin songs where I always key in on and marvel over the bass part not only as a stand alone track of technical wizardry, but also how brilliantly it relates in different ways to both what the drums are doing and what the guitar is doing. Lemon Song is one where I always focus on the bass track the entire song and it just makes me realize how insane his chops really were. You can tell he's improvising through those jam sections and he's hitting so many god damn notes and not a single one of them is a brick and it never muddles up what the guitar and drums are doing whatsoever. He's still that good. His bass parts for Them Crooked Vultures are just amazing. That album is easily the most rockin' album any of the members have done outside of Zeppelin. Long live JPJ!

[@timhays332]

Was hoping someone would mention the Lemon Song. Absolutely spot on. Killer ideas on a "Killin Floor" - reference deliberate!

[@grahamcharlton9704]

Thank you SO much for this. As a huge JPJ fan, I've been chasing some of these licks for years. Well done Reverb.

[@albertrd.9342]

Thank you. I have always been a fan of John Paul Jones, but I have a greater appreciation for him after this video.

[@Doones51]

I really like Jake's bass sound, and he plays this stuff fluently. JPJ's bass lines are really superb, too. Great video.

[@donthompson1768]

John Paul Jones is my favorite musician. Long ago, I heard an interview with Jimmy Page where he said that JPJ was the best musician he has ever worked with. This comes as no surprise to me. It is not just his bass playing skills, the man is artistically much deeper that . He is a musicians musician, an artists artist.

[@Ikkipepsi]

Do you remember wich interview is this? I would love to see it

[@cybrunel1016]

Great lesson and background on one of the greats. Kudos, very well done & thank you.

[@victorb656]

So well done! Thanks for this. Great tribute/lesson all in one.

[@TheRover1977]

I hope you guys can come around for a part two of JPJ! I'd love to see you guys go through a few songs that he used his Alembic 8-string bass on (Nobody's Fault but Mine, Achilles Last Stand, etc.) as well as a few songs from Them Crooked Vultures! The bass line that the guitar plays with in the last part of No One Loves Me & Neither Do I is insane. Elephants, Scumbag Blues, and Spinning in Daffodils are all excellent candidates for a part two as well!

[@boogiewoogit5597]

Best bass vid I’ve seen in a long time, thx. Yer a great player and teacher

[@filipsak9913]

would love to see some of his them crooked vultures riffs, cause he is really rippin it there

[@ferriswill4929]

Filip Šak yeah he does some weird, amazing shit with them, especially if you watch live footage of TCV

[@andrewpappas9311]

Heck yeah, his playing on New Fang is funky as hell and it’s awesome

[@bass420man1]

Such a great video…you picked my fav’s as well, played them spot on and really explained his genius on the bass 👏🏻👏🏻

[@JollyWillard]

What a great video! Jake makes the theory so easy to understand. That Jazz Bass sounds great. Beautiful playing with clear articulation. I’m a subscriber now.

[@madmac66]

Amazing chops. I had completely underestimated JPJs bass lines. Thank you

[@fernandogarajalde4066]

BEST rendition I've seen of these riffs EVER, and I've been playing these songs for over 46 years. You did your homework, son!

[@classicaljames]

Actually he got a few things wrong...

[@johncurley8617]

Been waiting for this feature on JPJ for a while! So good! Easily the most influential musician in my life

[@zepandguns]

Achilles Last Stand, you forgot this one !

[@leaveyofairarmy185]

Mr J the 8 string bass should be issued as a new world's wonder

[@michaeldoerksen2841]

Their best song! Especially from a technical standpoint

[@Braglemaster123]

Yes

[@JohnPrince80]

That bassline always gets me too!

[@suzukishogun1192]

JPJ is the most versatile musicians I ever known. It was a blessing for Led Zeppelin to have him in the band. His works on No Quarter, Ramble On, The Lemon Song, Achilles Last Stand, Immigrant Song, Going to California, Kashmir, etc were amazing.

[@evananddanny]

I tear up every single time I hear Ramble On, one of the most beautiful songs ever played on a bass

[@sumika80]

Best appreciation of JPJ's bass playing I have seen. Thanks for your accuracy.

[@nicholastrombley7283]

Custard pie. So simple yet so funky. One of my favorites.

[@AutomaticBadger]

This teacher is awesome. I don't even play the bass - I'm a guitarist - but this totally helps me understand where and how good bass drives a song.

[@lpspinners8736]

I have a new appreciation for the arranging and playing of John Bonham!

[@robmac6508]

Thanks for a great video dedicated to one of my all time favourite bassists: John Paul Jones. Very well played and explained, thanks for opening with "Good times , bad times" , probably my all time favourite JPJ bass line. I would add to the list of all time favourite/classic JPJ bass lines not included due to time constraints: "Dazed and Confused" & his 8 string alembic work on " "Achilles last stand"

[@hectornoguerbonetti5172]

Thanks!! I loved this video! Great contribution!!

[@mauricelaidler4789]

Excellent! Well put together and explained. John Paul is a great inspiration to me playing bass.

[@skaterdude7277]

Support the people and just release those quality tabs. Best tabs i've ever seen for it. Having it written on the staff is so helpful

[@buzzbabyjesus]

Excellent video. Nice attention to detail. JPJ deserves credit for sheer musicality. He and Jimmy were both killer arranger/ producers.

[@andrelotter9590]

This was awesome!Most excellent dude!

[@jeffmorrison5695]

Yep. You're right there was a lot of Jameson in JPJs playing. Probably why I love both players and what they bring to the music.

[@karmajarrule]

I love the way he plays whole lotta love, using the open strings while playing the riff

[@25headbanger]

Awesome production and information! Loved this vid!

[@ultramanj]

This is an awesome lesson, thank you for the details.

[@BlueSkies32]

Heck of an insightful, helpful, lesson, thanks!

[@johnhowardnardine6815]

I have always contended that LZ was essentially a funk band, in the way that they used interlocking riffs in such a groove-oriented way. So it's nice to hear about Jones' Motown inspirations. By the way, it would be helpful on these bass player overviews to know what amps you're using, and what strings you're using, and anything in your signal chain we should know about. I really enjoy these: keep 'em coming!

[@rocksoff731]

Not sure there is a cooler bass line than The Song Remains the same. It’s obviously not the most difficult thing he played but it just sounds so good!

[@wmkennard]

This guy is thumping that Bass between learning from Dan Hawkins n this guy sure does motivate me to play n practice more than ever. Thank you

[@decko87]

Good Times Bad Times is super hard to play

[@och70]

Practice it in pieces, then put the whole thing together. It's much easier to break it down into sections than to try and tackle the whole thing at once.

[@jakskejajajajaa4283]

och70 that’s right Can you say how experienced player you should be to play this sing because i’am practising this song and i have played bass now 8months

[@Md75897]

@@jakskejajajajaa4283 that song will be quite a challenge if you have only been playing 8 months

[@jakskejajajajaa4283]

onehung lo well i can play that song pretty good

[@jakskejajajajaa4283]

gheddi hey i can play it and bunch of other songs like dark necessities and take the power back!

[@Cascademenace]

Love these bass presentations. Great presenter!

[@tommymccracken487]

Great video! Thank you very much for sharing!

[@Johnporteriv]

Great break down of how he played those riffs. Thank you

[@alvarotorresmestre]

I enjoy it,many many thanks Soy un perro viejo de 55 años que llevo más de 40 años escuchando Led Zeppelin Mallorca-Spain Well done man

[@voronOsphere]

This presentation of JPJ's work is wonderful! Thanks!!!!!

[@Philtration]

Nice job. Bonham and Jones worked off of each other to perfection.

[@Svatopluk]

Well done. You are the first person I've seen on KZbin to get the slurs/slides correct on 'Ramble On'. You have a nice clean and efficient technique.

[@stephenpan4520]

great vid. thank you so much reverb!

[@yuckphooey]

I love this series, guys. Jake is crushing it.

[@Andybaby]

Thanks for a fantastic, inspiring video.

[@gringochucha]

One of the things I've learned playing Zeppelin on bass is that, just like Jimmy Page, John Paul Jones wasn't always super "clean", but in the context of the song, what he played rocks so hard. Plus, he wouldn't play exactly the same line over and over again, but add a lot of subtle variations. So I try to not obsess over playing the exact same lines every time either, but play around with them a little as well and focus on the rocking :)

[@pittsbull]

Nice job and great playing! JPJ-one of the very best.

[@zuke55]

Fantastic video. Thank you!

[@bassistdc]

Great stuff!

[@dickgreyson5766]

Fantastic!

[@Solelova67]

Definitely enjoyed this Jake

[@donstevens7847]

This is a great video! Love JPJ, love his bass sound too!

[@westonmohr374]

One of the most underrated musicians, what a monster player.

[@zappasoul]

Good work. Thanks.

[@pensatorseven1898]

Great tutorial video.

[@bdaley60657]

Well done! That fill on GTBT has been a source of much frustration for me over the years.

[@Johnny_Vox]

What a great teacher!

[@CanguruConje]

John P J é Buxo! é de arrepiar o groove total!!

[@hemelhempsteadherts]

Excellent Sir

[@peeholio3260]

Bass line on in my rime of dying is one of my faves. The live version is killer

[@hofitpeer175]

One of my favorites is The rover from Physical Graffiti.

[@jasonbryant.bassguitarplay3641]

nice lesson.. love it... J.P.J. 🎸🤘🤘

[@WDeeGee1]

Lovely vid! Well done!

[@andrewpappas9311]

I'd love to see one of these for Krist Novoselic, he's such an underrated bassist and he's written such awesome bass lines with Nirvana like In Bloom, Lithium, Love Buzz and Lounge Act

[@wildchild01ok]

?

[@gr1m805]

He didn't write love buzz but yeah good suggestion that'd be cool

[@andrewpappas9311]

Grim Right, I forgot. Still, awesome bass line though

[@sho-nuffmadrigal6857]

I agree he is an underrated bass player but does anyone know if he wrote those bass lines?

[@glockteau______twins]

please yes. so criminally underrated

[@OutnBacker]

I saw LZ back in the day with their first three albums out. Jones was the only one of the four that wasn't stumbling and off que. Rock solid bassist and the absolute foundation of LZ's groove. I loved that jazz bass through three Acoustic 360's.

[@kevinoliver4166]

Love his playing great player big zeppelin fan

[@sawman3364]

JPJ and John Entwistle. My two fav's. Absolute thunderous brilliance.✌️

[@Braglemaster123]

Excellent

[@jameshem]

Great vid. Great playing.

[@ralphharris4062]

John Paul Jones is a master bassist Par Excellent that help shape the Zeppelin Sound and is the main reasons why I have a Fender Jazz Bass 🎸 . I'm a black guy from south central Los Angeles that grew up during the 1960's listening to Chuck Berry to the Beatles and Rolling Stones and then i heard Led Zeppelin on radio like 1969 while in 5th grade .. been hooked to their music since..

[@handgunner1911]

nice job im a little older than you i had the chance to see jonesey play this live thru a pa and it was killer this is a killer bass line one that i think everyone hums it in their mind as soon as they hear it!!!!!

[@sebmorrell]

I forgot how groovy his feel is. Thanks!

[@harrymills2770]

Well done.

[@MikeCindyWhite]

Awesome bro! JPJ is the man! The killing floor part of the lemon song is pretty rocking!

[@vansullivan236]

Great, thanks!

[@aleistercrowley7594]

Great Man

[@sanwin17]

Nice job covering the (relatively) unknown hero of one of the great rock bands of all time. Like Jamerson, it's not until you start trying to play those parts, that you really appreciate the brilliance of what he contributed. I would like to hear your take on The Lemon Song but not just the bass solo section.Thanks

[@nandocorrea5178]

Técnica incrível, raiz!