JAMES JAMERSON /// Ain't No Mountain High Enough

Marvin Gaye & Tammi Terrell's version of Ain't No Mountain High Enough, written by Nickolas Ashford & Valerie Simpson, bass by James Jamerson, graphic score by Jack Stratton.

[@elixdab]

I never realized how intricate the bass was on this song.

[@Jabulaya]

listen to any motown / funk and focus on the bass. The golden age of bass, in my opinion.

[@notanthony9591]

Me too! In a sense i think that's what makes it great...

[@qwerty123456789043]

Everybody has heard this song at some point but when I came across it again recently, the bass really stood out. Just as brilliant as the other components

[@ignazioacerenza9881]

And the visual representation is incredible. I love how when it says mountain it peaks and then it goes super low for the word valley. Just amazing!

[@glipk]

Same

[@Pladderkasse]

The man literally played constant counter-melodies and kept the groove going without ever over-stepping.

[@rickjeren147]

The greatest counter-melody bass player there ever was !!

[@tomasvanecek8626]

Syncopation is the name of the game 😊 with the groove covered

[@Ghost_Electricity]

Contrary motion is what makes the master's. Bach showed us this. Jamerson is a genuis.

[@mj_dj]

Ain't no mountain high, ain't no valley low enough

[@evilmushroom100]

I love that the visualization is of mountains and valleys.

[@Geshreeyeh]

Technically, it's not, but it so easily could be - this should be changed, or a new version should be created.

[@petegiant]

Very true, that's how true artists play :)

[@HiImSeanIPlayBass]

Yeah Jamerson knew exactly what he was doing. Listen to how his fills fit in with the drum language also. Crazy.

[@barmacidic2257]

Geshreeyeh what are you talking about?

[@jakebramhall3479]

@@barmacidic2257 he's referring to how it's a visualization of the bass line. The thing is that it also looks like mountains and valleys, the combination of these two things makes the music *move* and *groove*

[@wizardmix]

This is possibly one of the best ways to teach and explain James Jamerson's approach I have ever seen. As an ear player, this is a delight to behold.

[@LanceCampeau]

I've been playing for 30 years and this is a great, simple way to visualize a musical riff. I find it intuitive and easy to grasp the overall feel/notes/changes, etc...

[@timothyfrank2880]

Agreed!!! Definitely sounds simpler on the old crappy versions we all grew up with. Glad to hear this as it has helped me tremendously!. And i discovered Vulfpeck and turned on all of my friends to them ! haha

[@silasmarner7586]

Yet it doesn't betray his complexity, razor sharp timing, and creative counter melodies that always seem to me to be a separate song intertwining in the original song. Yep. Nicely done. Jamerson. What an amazing amazing player.

[@robertbright-jc3sd]

Believe it or not this is how some people who play music ear actually visualize music in their heads.This was a GREAT ILLUSTRATION OF THAT THEORY.🎶🎸🎵

[@wizardmix]

@@robertbright-jc3sd You mean like me?

[@pedrobaeztorres4401]

I had the honor to meet J.J. in 1978 while I was the bassist for the Pointer Sisters at a weeklong stint at Six Flags Magic Mountain,he was classy,humble and funny,one of my all time inspirations,thank you Mr.Jamerson

[@vonwaldauer5619]

That’s so awesome that you got to meet him-and the fact that you played with the Pointer Sisters!

[@spicetraders]

Awesome!

[@LaurelCanyon1969]

I'm in awe, you met God 🎸

[@crazyralph6386]

Please tell me you played “Happiness” at 6 Flags?

[@TenThumbsProductions]

If a James Jamerson bass line was your heart beat I would recommend going to the doctor right now. #Legend

[@sondrestrmme4006]

And if it was your average bass player, it would be considered flatlining

[@micahmadore]

When there's 420 likes and you don't want to ruin it

[@grapejam1735]

Wait, wouldn't you recommend not going to the doctor?

[@maskcollector6949]

@@grapejam1735 Ahaha they don't understand some people have 40-60 bpm heartbeats, furthermore he goes like 120 lol.

[@alphasalazar2490]

so the doctor can jamout too

[@fourstringandro]

and just 1 finger!

[@5amJones69]

What?!

[@ChokDK-bryllupsmusik-duo]

One finger was enough with his technique :) See this vid kzbin.info/www/bejne/bXXYnX96gd-mfJY

[@user-ve9pv2tr4u]

Yup!!

[@funkyduck4743]

The HOOK

[@cammarc]

He was just crazy (in a good way obviously)

[@filipdinevmusic]

James is really a master of timing.

[@TheWolfbass]

Really? I find his performance rather shaky. He's definitely not down there with the drums. I mean, his meldodic approach is fascinating, but timing-wise, it's just not 'in the pocket'.

[@jacasca]

TheWolfbass xDDDDDDDD, hilarius.

[@TheWolfbass]

Javi Castillo Oh my god. Just LISTEN to it! It's more than obivous.

[@LCoty-vj2bj]

TheWolfbass "Not in the pocket" -- Yes, like the Himalayas are not "really mountains"

[@filipdinevmusic]

Yep, I don't know what's with the guy. :D

[@LyonsArcade]

The way he purposefully moves off the beat towards the end is ground shaking! Unbelievable talent.

[@Borey567]

Both James and Jack

[@divinodayacap3313]

what part is it???

[@bronsonyoung]

im so glad other people love this part too. Jamerson makes my knees buckle

[@bronsonyoung]

@@divinodayacap3313 1:55 i believe is what's being referenced

[@carpediemarts705]

Thanks for mentioning. I had to lusten to it again to understand it. Yes, I felt it before, but didn't comprehend the funk.

[@YohAquino2]

listening to this is a bass player's wet dream

[@lietkynes81]

This is our 1 finger porn *_*

[@buggyhuman]

I was listening with headphones and i physically jumped when i suddenly heard him sing from my left ear

[@docgima]

Yeah, same here... it through me for a loop. Crazy hearing the voices isolated like that.

[@Rocketgonzo]

thanks, just found out that my audio output was set to mono lol

[@HarrilMullany]

JJ's melody is as amazingly articulate and heartfelt as the vocal melody, but more astounding is the way it drives the whole record right from the start! This man inhabits/creates the universe of bass in a way that no one else can. Thank you Maestro for illuminating a path only you can tread.

[@TranquiloTrev]

No one comes close.

[@nogets]

Amen!

[@justa_stranger_]

I haven’t looked at the comments, but if someone says how the bass movement looks like mountains u r my friend

[@orbcat1790]

hello friend

[@tokiWren]

Rosie Brennan is ur friend

[@josephstone7229]

Hey friend

[@s.j7423]

hiya friend:]

[@vonwaldauer5619]

And valleys! Spotted what could be a couple wide rivers too at 1:16 hehe

[@bruceleemagomaev9157]

the funniest thing is that when you listen to a normal mix this part doesnt seem so busy and overplayed! i would never ever took away a single note from it! such a great sinergy with the vocals and harmony! true genius!

[@huwgriffiths7271]

Flippin heck, Tammi Terrell is really screaming on that last chorus. Gives yer chills. Like Twist and Shout (Beatles).

[@deanthemachine96]

Who are the Beatles?

[@you_tubeslonelyheartsclubband]

@@deanthemachine96 they're a pop punk band. They're pretty good, great songs too!

[@rezonthe]

watch your language :-)

[@jacobwall9269]

That kick sound brings me back to a 150$ drum set in your friends basement and a drummer with the touch of a elephant

[@kj6qvb]

Proof that even 1960s and 70s bass guitar lines could be beautiful art. Mr. Jamerson could have played the root and the 5th on every chord and taken the check. Instead he put his heart, his soul, and his passion for music into every session - at least, every one I've ever heard. And it shows. No 5 or 6 string bass, no effects, no fancy slapping or popping. Just the right notes, at (almost) the right time (he was famous for being slightly ahead of the beat), and the right spaces between those notes. Gone way too soon, thanks to his demons. RIP.

[@PLively]

Every time I try and play along I think to myself "James Jamerson was a genius"

[@satyrosphilbrucato9140]

Jamerson will always be the immortal god of this instrument.

[@RashidLanie8]

@@benstolz6503 From Jaco onwards, they all copied JJ!!!...PERIOD!!!

[@SubbParProductions]

This visual is amazing and makes me wish that audio platforms had this for each layer of all their songs. Thanks for making this!

[@bradenraines1637]

This is actually what goes through my head anytime I listen to any given song. I’m so glad someone could visualize it.

[@MrOliver250]

Anyone else prefer the way this is remastered to the original? Almost like a trio between Jamerson, Gaye and Terrell

[@zbr76]

This is easily the superior mix of the song, and it shows just how amazing James Jamerson was as a bass player, to be playing the rhythm in perfect harmony with the vocal phrasings. Exquisite!

[@AfferbeckBeats]

The multitracks are great! You can hear Marvin tapping his foot through the whole song

[@mootbooxle]

Vulf omg. I wondered. It was really nice to hear this track with no fadeout, so thanks for that :) I have a keen interest in what happens in tracks when the players know there's going to be a fade. I usually just ride a groove till the wheels fall off, and decide at what point I need to be out before the janky-ness happens. Which is usually pretty amusing to listen to! I imagine there are things like this at the end of a lot of tapes. I love how Sly left it all in at the end of "Sing a Simple Song". "ok....ok now."

[@BigMike422]

@@zbr76 This isn't mixed. I've got the stems and teach with them. All they did was open the session in Pro Tools, throw the faders to 0, and roll tape. That's all normalized tape levels

[@crnkmnky]

@@mootbooxle *Moot!* I almost left this thread without seeing who wrote this neat comment. And now I see/realize this is by no means a freshly uploaded video. 😅 The first time I heard raw tracks from a Michael Jackson recording session was back when Questlove remixed “Rock with You.” I was like, “yeah I’d probably do a similar ad-lib after the song was over…” How do “mere mortals” get access to classic multi-tracks, other than cracking videogames or seducing a Hollywood engineer? I have a couple hideous mashup ideas… Al Green vs PiL, Roberta Flack & Donny Hathaway vs NIN. 😄

[@marcus.guitarist]

Jamerson: a musical fucking genius.

[@nicholascristoforo7429]

James Jameson did all of this with just one finger

[@egancurry]

What are your toools ?!?!

[@massiveBallsX]

The tears well up in my eyes at the joy and beauty in this bassline.

[@spandrel1858]

This is absurdly great. Unbelievable groove. If there's no groove, there's no funky music.

[@NickPanoutsos]

This is why we love Vulf. And James Jamerson.

[@martinmartinmoone3104]

My hero, I'm from Liverpool and without Jamerson, there is no McCartney

[@gliblyaware]

Hallmark of genius. When its jumping all around, creating a groove and feel, room for the melody and you never even really notice it's there conciously. Its just a part of the song. Yep, genius!

[@cyril_jq]

When in primary school we had music textbooks with melodies "visualised" like this, really helpful for young students to understand music

[@guitarvocs]

Such a work of art! One thing I never noticed before was at around 2:08 when they begin the final vocal repeat, there is no note on the four beat, adding to the melodic flow of this bass line. What a genius.

[@sundok1]

Oh man I'm somuch enjoying to watch this holy crap you can follow the line so well this graphic depiction is marvelous

[@unc1589]

TGE! His mind was beyond that of mortal men. Abstract yet conventional. He would read the sheet once then toss is. All he needed was the changes and he took care of the rest. Master of the song within the song technique. The courage to even attempt some of this was valiant. His ability to play anything gave him the freedom to think far ahead into the arrangement. The guy is doing call and response against his own riff. I can name countless songs where he uses this technique. A sort of musical conversation with himself. But very articulate. Hans Zimmer says music is a question and answer session. He plays the first part, pauses, then answers with the second. James does this relentlessly on every song. Even "simple" songs like "still water runs deep". Never plays it the same way twice. That's so boring to him. Like someone saying the same thing over and over in a intimate conversation. Unless the song called for it. He's as much of a genius as any other genius. It's fun to watch

[@davidholloway6950]

Not only does this visual representation show the pitches and rhythm of notes, but it also shows which beat he emphasizes through the sizes of the dots. Love it.

[@frankruss4369]

This is a beautiful way to illustrate Jamerson's playing. Masterpiece.

[@Kayrenar]

Seeing the peaks and valleys of the song is simply amazing!

[@JonHop1]

and it was all played with 1 finger.. He only used his index finger.. Its incredible

[@tycho_m]

I like how the bridge looks like a bunch of mountains

[@choppedghoti]

looks kind of like a mesa... a black mesa

[@stuksy4321]

so cool. visualizing the bass line like this makes so easy to follow.

[@joscha2355]

James Jamerson used ONE FINGER!

[@HighlightRiel]

Came here to see what the number 1 bassist of all time was all about. I only wanted a sample, but damn! I couldn't stop listening and finished it all lol. That was awesome!

[@IndigoBassNotes]

Congrads ! You paid attention to 2:37 of music ! Thats almost 3 minutes ! Sorry you couldn't reduce a legend to the 8 second tictok length though.... Perhaps you might listen to Motown hits from the Early 60's one day and get to know the sound a generation grew up on & influnced the World with viberations felt to this day.

[@silentbloodyslayer98]

thanks vulf, i've learned how to play the bassline just watching your vid

[@itsjunlee]

it is the easiest way for me

[@Trenchant463]

My brain will never conceive how he came up with this.

[@ozzie-sk9dh]

The best duet of all time. Tammi was so great. Watch the video of them singing this. It’s very cute. Thanks for this. JJ is the best for me.

[@samuelbrooks7854]

detroit michigan great bass player james jamerson of motown that want be forgotten

[@revlo1557]

Jameson was so intricate. Wow! 🤯

[@aphextriplet6850]

James Jamerson, forever Godly.

[@Langharig_Tuig]

As someone who can't read notes but still plays pretty decently I'm gonna use this to explain how I manage to do so. This is literally how I, and other people who can't read but can play I assume, visualize music.

[@etamlak8199]

No shit, notes are frequencies dude. It's a simple unidimensional variable. No mystery we use the words high and low. Have you never figured it out seriously ?

[@paulturnet4572]

....and keep in mind, that he played with one finger,....JEEEZ !!

[@orb3796]

@@etamlak8199 You edited your comment yet still didn't realize that the smartest thing for you to do is to delete this. Did someone piss in your coffee that morning?

[@etamlak8199]

@@orb3796 Lol dude are you triggered cause you're too stupid to figure it out too ? Too bad little boy :'(

[@benstolz6503]

Jamerson is the 20th century GOAT, along with Jaco

[@arebereeta1831]

Thank you for creating these brilliant graphics, to accompany James Jameson's brilliant basslines! 👍👏👏👏

[@nikkijewel1285]

this bass line makes me so happy

[@garthfielding2197]

If James was still with us he would still be the most in demand session bass guitarist across many genres. ✌

[@HaasSpitta]

This displays complete mastery of the bass guitar instrument

[@beeonthyme5760]

I love the visualization period! This is fascinating

[@jamesbowen8960]

Paul McCartney's favorite bass player. The same with Jack Bruce. That's all I need to know. What a phenomenal talent.

[@jerrythemagicalllama]

After watching this I honestly think this is a great way to learn the song

[@robinmiller7958]

Keeping the artistry of James alive for new generations!

[@KiatHuang]

Rhythmic and melodic genius! His basslines are outstandingly beautiful - just sheer perfection that no other bass composer gets even close to. And he played so very well too - countless bass players have tried to play these exquisite works of art like Jamerson but can't.

[@rafanj824]

Oh my God, that is why James Jamerson is so praised by basslovers, incredible bassline!!!

[@mattpowers8930]

How could anyone not like this???

[@afj617]

He was a genius. A line cannot capture a mucician playing. Great musicians have the magic touch of human emotion

[@Stiglr]

I loved this graphic approach to displaying the masterful playing and taste of the great James Jamerson!!!! Well, well done!!

[@TheKandrasman]

Watching this video just makes me truly marvel at the mind of musicians. This one in particular. This was awesome to see.

[@chegadesuade]

This is one of the best musical visual illustrations I've ever seen. If you would've told me James Jamerson recreated the mountains and valleys in this song I wouldn't have understood, but seeing it like this makes it so beautifully clear. This is a work of art.

[@windowmaker525]

And he did this all with one finger.

[@allegronontroppo1]

🐐🐐🐐🐐🐐Happy Birthday!!!🐐🐐🐐🐐🐐

[@marvinlohman4403]

Best of all time.

[@sateejj]

Actual footage of my heart rate when I hear James Jamerson

[@jfjoubertquebec]

This helps understand a bit more... but a lot of this is still magic. Pure magic.

[@booognish]

Just Incredible. This is what you show someone that doesn't understand the significance of a truly brilliant bass player playing a brilliant bass line.. So many little intricacies in this that do much to the song as a whole...

[@benbauer3426]

Normal brain: yeah this is cool Big brain: Mountains and valleys!!!!! Galaxy brain: Heartbeats.

[@aaronfinkle7905]

All with one finger!

[@brajkraft]

Never has a few squiggely lines been so beautiful.

[@Yardman74]

The range this man had is unimaginable on this song! Wow!

[@MurphyKargesBass]

UNREAL..... GENIUS....... MIND BLOWN.....

[@dbo514]

What a freakin legend honestly.

[@jasonkilley]

What an amazing way to understand bass!

[@pauljurgen-romrig9616]

Hypnotic to the ears, and eyes. A truly beautiful bass line.

[@JonathanAlvarezC]

that was awesome !!!, it's pretty visible how Mr Jamerson played with chromatic approaches and turns around I - V combinations. So, so good indeed

[@GunnarPhilipp]

That's just pure inspiration

[@RubyBandUSA]

really great bass lines, really great video. Thank you.

[@mootbooxle]

I've always liked these animations. Jamerson bass lines were the perfect choice for this! I'd watch a whole channel of just this. It's amazing how closely this resembles what I see in my head, so it's actually a great way to learn these things! I don't need tabs or a chart. I have ears, and these wonderful animations you took the time to make. Thanks Jack and everybody!

[@amandateoh1164]

This made me appreciate and marvel at this classic in a whole new light... Wow the intricacy 😳

[@Coizerino]

One of my favourite songs of all time ❤️❤️❤️

[@Luckyhat66]

That classic P-bass sound we all know and love. :D

[@sirenwavemtv8334]

James Jamerson: The best bassist who ever lived or will live.

[@jpsalis]

this is a really good way to visualize basslines, surprised I don't see this more often

[@haakiiify]

Been waiting for this for years, one of the all time greats. Cool too see it visually

[@Prince_Sharming]

I'm learning this for my first bass cover. Not very hard to play, but it just works so incredibly well with the song. Truly a master.

[@stephensmith799]

What a great bass line all those soul songs had!

[@arleanwest]

The most incredible visual of music I have seen.

[@alexgurr2118]

The bass line paints the mountains and valleys🤯

[@ObraBass]

This is complete spontaneous perfection!

[@MRcharliekendall]

JJ is a legend! We need your help finally getting him in the SC hall of fame

[@VFusco]

I agree with Evan, I am an ear player too - this diagram method is just great fir someone like me, and like Dab, I never realized how intricate this bass line. Well I'm the one who has been pushing the band to do this tune, thank God for this tutorial or I'd have been eating crow. I am not confident that I will knock their socks off at the upcoming rehearsal...thank you Jack Stratton...this is Amazing!

[@zandraxofnebulon]

absolute god tier bassline

[@gabrielsfolkexplosio]

This is awesome! Great way to see just how amazing Jamerson is!

[@fionabirkmire2874]

He’s too good! Love the visualisation, and love this audio mix of the two unfailingly beautiful voices; you can’t fail to be moved, or to move!

[@LunaFunk70]

He’s like a melody machine on that jazz bass. The touch and feel. Amazing.

[@rickstadel5285]

The Mark Leggatt (except I thought it was '-ett', though) that once played guitar for a band by the name of "Justus"?

[@YippeeSkippie426]

Precision Bass

[@GaragebandandBeyond]

I love this

[@charleyit]

This is really helpful in understanding the genius that was James Jamerson