How To Play Papa Was A Rolling Stone On The Bass Guitar

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In this video, James of eBassGuitar will share some very useful tips on how to deal with a problem that a lot of bass players have: timing! In this lesson, you'll be able to learn more about timing and counting while playing along with the popular The Temptations song Papa Was A Rolling Stone.
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About eBassGuitar
Hi, I’m James Eager, a professional musician & online instructor. Over the past 15 years I’ve taught 1000s of students.
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[@Ken_E_Winnit]

Apparently Bob Babbit played on at least 2 versions by the Temptations of this, although Eddie Watkins has also been mentioned. Apparently on the first version for undisputed truth, both Babbit and James Jamerson were booked to play. Jamerson played the riff, and Norman Whitfield asked him to play it all through the song, and he got up and walked out....... Great song, great lesson. Goes to show that sometimes, less is more!

[@kevingavigan7883]

Bob Babbitt played on The Undisputed Truth version. For The Temptations version, however, James Jamerson, Bob Babbitt, Eddie Watkins and Leroy Taylor have been mentioned as having played on various takes. In the liner notes of The Temptations album All Directions (which features their version), James Jamerson, Bob Babbitt and Leroy Taylor are all credited as bassists on the album as a whole (it doesn't specify which ones played on which songs). Considering that The Temptations version doesn't appear in Jamerson's discography, nor does it appear in Babbitt's discography (i.e. process of elimination) I think the bassline for the final cut is Leroy Taylor. Not to change the change the subject, but I know that Aaron Smith played the repeating hi-hat figures, Melvin "Wah Wah Watson" Ragin and Paul Warren played the guitar parts, Johnny Griffith played the electric piano, Maurice Davis played the trumpet solos, and Paul Riser arranged/conducted the strings. But back to the bass part, considering that The Temptations version doesn't appear in James Jamerson's discography nor Bob Babbitt's discography, and Eddie Watkins isn't listed on the All Directions album (and this is me using the "process of elimination") I'm convinced that the Leroy Taylor played bass on the final cut.

[@ebassguitar]

Great share Kenny! Truly appreciate that! Glad you like the lesson!

[@ebassguitar]

@@kevingavigan7883 Thanks for sharing that!

[@cindybucholz8092]

Hi James, This lesson is very cool! I have tried repeatedly to download the PDF for Papa Was a Rolling Stone, but nothing is being sent to my email to print out the tabs. Is it past the time that it can be downloaded?

[@Efcblues]

Awsome tracing there .thank you

[@kevingavigan7883]

Hey James! The bassline on this song has been the subject of much debate, for James Jamerson, Bob Babbitt, Leroy Taylor and Eddie Watkins have been mentioned as having played on different takes. However (and it's far from conclusive, but this is just me using the so-called "process of elimination") this song doesn't appear in James Jamerson's discography, nor does it appear in Bob Babbitt's discography, and Eddie Watkins isn't listed in the credits for The Temptations album "All Directions" (the album on which this song appears), I'm convinced that the bass player is Leroy Taylor.

[@ebassguitar]

Great share!

[@hans-joachimbierwirth4727]

Really good job on this one. Thanks for that!

[@ebassguitar]

Thank you Hans!

[@MrFouky]

Cool..! Thank you for posting..! (from France).

[@ebassguitar]

My pleasure:-)

[@upptynegro8473]

i was looking for the waka sound

[@bevtaylor5750]

Great lesson. your dog looks so funny LOL!

[@ebassguitar]

Haha! Yes I wish we still had her now...

[@bevtaylor5750]

@@ebassguitar Arr, Im so sorry James.

[@JayDeeChannel]

AND ‘1’ / 2 / 3 / 4 1 / ‘2’-‘2’ / - - ‘4’ ‘1’ / 2 / 3 /4 1 / 2 / 3 / 4 I’m hitting the notes 2 &2 & 4 in the 2nd bar. Then back to 1. Does this sound right?

[@ebassguitar]

Yeah, I think you’re on the right road... why don’t you share a video to basslabgroup.com of you playing it?

[@rogvoyce4014]

Many thanks James!

[@ebassguitar]

You're very welcome Rog!

[@picusfera]

The best puppy face

[@jfc49q]

that dog behind you is so cute looking like whats up

[@LemuelMarshall]

🤣🤣🤣

[@Vffr1]

Yeah I'm a beginner! It would be so much easier to follow you if you said which fret/string you were playing. Also makes it so hard to follow when at the best part your "subscribe" banner is way. I just think you could do a much better job presenting this.

[@ebassguitar]

Thanks for the feedback. That video is now about 2 years old... why don’t you watch some of the more recent ones? Also most of the lessons have free downloads so you see this stuff written out...