Bass Guitar Lesson: How To Play The Chicken (Jaco Pastorius)

The Chicken was composed by Pee Wee Ellis but made famous by Jaco Pastorius. Learn how to improvise over this common jam session jazz-funk standard. FREE PDF chart and backing track: onlinebasscour...
𝄢 ✉️ Weekly email - get bass lessons, pro tips, industry news, and gear reviews: bit.ly/2KeoYLK [You'll get a FREE ebook with useful fretboard and chord diagrams, scales, modes, and arpeggios]
Buy me a coffee (or donut)! If you'd like to help support these lessons you can do so here: ko-fi.com/onli... Many thanks!!
Creative Bass Technique Exercises: geni.us/bassex...
📸 Instagram: bit.ly/2wP1mV5
🐦 Twitter: bit.ly/2IDfmqF
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
#bassguitarlessons #bassguitar #howtoplaybass #learnbass
✅ If you like this video please like, comment, share and subscribe. It all helps me keep this all going.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Help support Dan's lessons!
If you've ever got something from my lessons and would like to support my channel you can do so here: bit.ly/OBCSupport
It all goes towards helping me create the best bass lessons I can for you!
Many thanks,
𝄢Dan 🙏

[@yoursfalsely]

around 3:30 you name the frets in the "Bb Mixolydian mode" but the frets you say actually make the Bb Lydian mode, you say 6 and 8, then 5 7 and 8 but it should be 5 6 and 8 on the D and A strings

[@OnlineBassCourses]

Thanks for pointing that out. I’m afraid that’s probably not the only error in my videos! I try to get it right but sometimes I slip up. Apologies, and again thanks for pointing that out...

[@MrJodava]

I think Dan is actually right, it is the mixolydian as it is basically the major scale but with a flat 7. Lydian is the same as major but with a sharp 4

[@yoursfalsely]

@@MrJodava no, he says the correct scale name, you can see him playing the fifth, sixth, and eighth frets, but he says seventh instead of sixth fret, which would make the lydian scale if you were to play it how he says. i know my scales and modes, i went to a music school lol

[@patrickhorner8270]

You're both right. He called out a Lydian scale but played a Mixolydian which doesn't have the raised 4th and the major 7th. Frets 6 and 8 on E string, 5, 6, and 8 on both A and D strings make Mixolydian. Dan accidentally said fret 7 on A and D strings making a Lydian with the raised 4th and raised or major 7th. Besides being an incentive and engaging teacher, he is a wonderful player. His improvisational skills, the way he navigates the fretboard - this cat can play.

[@samsonwoods5448]

Thank you teaching us and not showing off like a lot of these other so-called teachers!!!!!!!

[@OnlineBassCourses]

🙏🙏

[@firefighterps2]

Amen

[@ivancheneau]

Great tutorial and a wonderful class. That bassline made Jaco super famous ! It's true 'The chicken ' was originally written by Alfred Ellis but it doesn't change the fact Jaco Pastorius made himself popular with it ! He paved to road for future jazz bass players to follow his incredible technique.. He left too soon. He loved Jazz but was particularly fascinated with music overall. Not only he listened to James Jamerson but noticed gospel lines and developed skills from it. The sad truth is that he was an awful person to work with ! He despised himself and everybody else...It brought him to a sad ending...

[@tigerscott2966]

This makes sense... The greatest bass player ever Should not have been beaten to Death by a bouncer in a night club. Those problems always start in Childhood - the way parents and Grand parents treat those children Can ruin them for life..

[@beeps123]

I’ve been twinkling for years with this. I’m a guitar player basically. I bought a Warwick thumb for fun. But with your lesson here looks like the fun has just begun. Thanks for all the extra stuff also explained here. Very useful for a bass noob like me. God bless.

[@OnlineBassCourses]

No problem. You have a great bass there!

[@warwickdennis4114]

I watch a few KZbin tutorials but I always find myself looking at your channel. Thank You 🙏🏾

[@OnlineBassCourses]

I appreciate that!

[@jimharrow8104]

Thank you for sharing your talent with us...

[@JGSandman38]

Great tutorial on this song mate! I’ve played it many times but have never taken the time to really dissect it to get that Jaco flavor on it. Very cool 😎

[@OnlineBassCourses]

Glad you found it useful! 🙏

[@danielgarciateschner4573]

Great Lesson Dan! Thanks a bunch! All the best!

[@OnlineBassCourses]

My pleasure!

[@bernhardtmitdt2586]

I really envy bass players: What you learn over the first chord you can easily transfer to any other chord by just remembering the finger pattern. Me as a horn player has to practice every chord separately 😮😢

[@Guylangloisartist]

Very cool video. Easy to follow Thanks I am learning this for a gig. This is very helpful

[@OnlineBassCourses]

Glad it was helpful!

[@arneberg9072]

I sitt like for three hours with ten minutes from yr learning video : sooo inspiring. Thank you ---

[@OnlineBassCourses]

Thanks so much for watching! Keep practising...

[@julioredondolamas8255]

Thanks so much, Dan! You make it so easy! Thanks from Spain.

[@OnlineBassCourses]

Thanks, Julio! 🇪🇸

[@nicolaspaterno2067]

thanks! great information. That jazz bass sounds great

[@OnlineBassCourses]

Thanks very much. I love that bass!

[@florepletsier2165]

Merci 🙏

[@ItaloMalloni]

thank you Dan, excellent!

[@MrChwizz]

You're crystal clear, thank you very much!

[@OnlineBassCourses]

You're welcome. Thanks for the comment!

[@MixaholicwithDjOnes]

Thanks

[@jeremymura-g7r]

Hi I love the way explain the theory and practical and what video clip s to look for mate you a faarrkn awsme bass player I seen a lot I mean a lot of video clips of this chicken song your my best video I've seen

[@OnlineBassCourses]

Thanks so much! I appreciate your kind words.

[@markdenzilfinnerty6453]

Thanks. Nice lesson.

[@markdenzilfinnerty6453]

Thanks. Your welcome.

[@funkstermak]

Hi Dan .. love to see you let rip over this one day .. Jaco-esque.. would make a fab 5 min video .. best wishes always!

[@OnlineBassCourses]

I’ll have to get practising! 😂

[@guyomtest6378]

thanks a lot, it seems very easy ... but ... i have to work a lot !!so, thanks for your help, it will be easier ! (from France)

[@OnlineBassCourses]

🙏🙏

[@nicolasurteagabriceno3388]

Very useful. Thank you.

[@OnlineBassCourses]

Thanks for watching, Nicolas.

[@kathyfoster3177]

I’m need help on the thumb position right hand while playing different tempos , any recommendations ?there no place to rest it

[@OnlineBassCourses]

You can rest the thumb in a variety of different positions depending on what and where you’re playing. If you’re not playing on the E string, you can rest it there. If you’re playing on the D string, you can rest it on the A string. That can make plucking easier. You can also use the floating thumb technique where you rest your thumb against the strings, muting them and keeping your plucking fingers close to the strings. kzbin.info/www/bejne/h2LOfndvfcZ_ia8si=Rp6NXeIK0q0y1XPL

[@stanwellback]

Thank you for this lesson. I am grateful for all the variations you have shown, evolving from the basic Jaco bassline. I have learned a few new tricks (and new licks) by copying your improvisation. Very well-explained and well-played. 👍🏻 I’ve now subscribed!

[@OnlineBassCourses]

Thanks Duncan! Let me know if you have any other video ideas.

[@stanwellback]

@@OnlineBassCourses Hi there... funny you should ask. 😀 As someone relatively new to slapping, I would like to learn more about ‘ghost notes.’ There is lots of instruction online about slapping and popping strings, but very little about the nuance of ghost notes, which appear to add so much to the technique. Any instruction would be gratefully received. Thank you.

[@OnlineBassCourses]

Sorry for the late reply! I’ll do a more specific video but check this one out: kzbin.info/www/bejne/fKbTpWNve5KNic0. My latest video also touches on ghost notes.

[@stanwellback]

@@OnlineBassCourses I just had a look at the link you mention... that’s a perfect place to start, thank you. Just so you know, I’m not new to bass-playing. I’ve been playing bass for many years, but in cover bands... so I’ve only ever learned specific bass lines to songs to get by (just enough education to perform, to quote Stereophonics). Now that I’m a bit older, I’m attempting to learn the bass in a more nuanced way. Your instruction is helping a lot, and I look forward to watching more of your KZbin videos. Thanks again for directing me to the relevant link. It’s appreciated. One more thing... is it possible for you to do a breakdown of the slap solo you do at the beginning of the video? Thank you.

[@OnlineBassCourses]

@@stanwellback once you learn a few key principles, I promise that it will open up many musical doors! So, keep going. I'll take a look at that slap solo. To be honest, I never remember what I play in these videos but I do a lot of breakdowns in my videos so you'll learn by going through some of them.

[@Gastafarr]

Hey 👋 thank you for you amazing channel. You are the man! ✌️

[@OnlineBassCourses]

Thanks very much for the comment!

[@ianmacdougall8812]

I could be wrong but it looks like Jaco plays it in the first position? Also is that a 72 ? Great job!

[@OnlineBassCourses]

Thanks! I’m not sure where he played it. This is a 1975.

[@bernhardtmitdt2586]

good advice at the beginning: "try not to sound like Jaco". Well, I'll do my very best 😂😂😂

[@OnlineBassCourses]

😂

[@kazman29]

Is it possible that the unison lick in bar 17 is just Fm? I'm a classical player, not a jazz guy but I think that is the outline of the notes and would make the chord structure from bar 13 to 18 a II-V-I progression. Or maybe the first half of the bar is Bb7 and the second half is Fm. If you add an F at the end of the lick I think you can feel that Fm. Again, I am not sure about it, just asking. Thanks!

[@OnlineBassCourses]

True about adding the F at the end but since it's not there, it's Bbm. Loads of chords are similar to others by one or two notes (that's the basis of chord substitution). I definitely hear that as Bbm anyway! 👍

[@alfieharries]

Nice tone, what strings u using?

[@OnlineBassCourses]

Thanks! Elites Players.

[@alfieharries]

@@OnlineBassCourses thanks never heard of them! Sound great

[@OnlineBassCourses]

@@alfieharries check them out! Sold on the Bass Centre website and ship worldwide.

[@alfieharries]

@@OnlineBassCourses yea they are nice and cheap too! They sound kind of like flats, are the ones you're using pretty worn in or do they start without much zing?

[@OnlineBassCourses]

@@alfieharries I like old strings. The stainless steels start out zingy and the nickels a bit warmer. Either way, I like to keep them on a while.

[@glennselwitz1377]

Jaco plays B Flat on the A first position not the low E to start the tune

[@luigi.zanini]

19:23

[@pimen65]

Sou Brasileiro 🙏🏻 Muito obrigado

[@OnlineBassCourses]

Thanks for watching. 🙏

[@ashenpall]

This was bit confusing to me because the 7th in a B flat Dominant 7th should be Ab but the song clearly uses G, but you kept referring to that as the 7th.

[@OnlineBassCourses]

I don’t really know which bit you mean. Ab is the b7 in Bb7 but I was probably referring to something else.

[@ashenpall]

@@OnlineBassCourses Ya ok, maybe I misheard and you were talking about playing the 6th.

[@OnlineBassCourses]

@@ashenpall that would certainly make more sense. Although I do misspeak every now and again!

[@grigorisntamaras6709]

Hello!!!What bass key is this song?

[@OnlineBassCourses]

It’s based around Bb but moves around a bit.

[@BenuaTV]

Amazing!! ❤️

[@Borgz34]

❤❤❤❤❤

[@gliese667cc-band3]

I need to slow it to half speed and play it a gazillion times to get the ghost notes down.

[@OnlineBassCourses]

Sometimes that’s the only way…

[@EvilSean62]

as a reward for your gift of this ..which was almost correct ( i`m being awkward) ... but yes you were wrong ... im going to let you teach me how to play 16th`s for so long without cramping up ..?

[@OnlineBassCourses]

Thanks very much! But wrong about what?? Misleading title on my part I think. This video is more about how to navigate, learn the progression and be able to play a line over it in Jaco’s style. Maybe that’s too long a title though. But playing 16ths without cramping up? That’s tough but you need to do it a little bit every day. Then increase the time as you go and as you get more comfortable. No other real secret than that!

[@apollo244]

im the thousandth like lol

[@OnlineBassCourses]

Congratulations! 😂

[@emekanwoye4951]

this caption to this video is wrong you not teaching your just teaching scales and modes ...

[@OnlineBassCourses]

There’s a chart to download (link in description) with the form of the song, a backing track to practice to, and I mention some patterns to play over the chords as well as a basic groove to stick to. I don’t agree with you that the caption is ‘wrong’. Out of interest, what is missing that you would have liked?

[@emekanwoye4951]

Well sorry if that came out off..... but then just that there were lots of scale explanation than the actual notes played by jaco...

[@OnlineBassCourses]

No, I honestly didn’t read it as off. I’m just very keen to keep my lessons improving on KZbin (I don’t find it massively easy!). I see what you mean though. I’ve made a decision not to (in general) spoon feed students but, instead, give some of the tools behind music so that someone can understand and apply ideas themselves. Jaco’s bass line is stellar on this. It would also just take me way too long to transcribe and teach the whole thing! I really do recommend sitting down and figuring it out though. I know it’s not helpful to say this but the best way to learn any bass line is to learn it by ear yourself. You’ll get lots out of it if you do that.

[@emekanwoye4951]

I really appreciate your effort in clarifying this, and thanks you for the advice, I guess the job lies on me like you've clearly said, which is true .. nonetheless thanks once again ...and please don't get offended by my earlier comment

[@OnlineBassCourses]

No offence taken at all. It was a fair comment!