The Chicken for 'Beginners' - Jaco Pastorius Inspired Bass Lesson

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In this bass guitar lesson, James will show how to play The Chicken by Jaco Pastorius. You'll learn the basic bassline and how you can improvise on it.
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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.
eBassGuitar is the only video bass guitar lessons website dedicated to helping startup & aspiring bassists develop into the musician of their dreams.
www.ebassguitar.com
#beginners #funk #jaco #jacopastorius #pastorius #peeweeellis #thechicken

[@antoBN]

I’m learning this with my teacher, I’m on my second year. We only just spent 10 minutes on it because it was the end of the lesson. This will surely help. Thanks

[@ConnorArchibald]

Phenomenal lesson. Love how you break down the notes and rhythm. Great work man.

[@ebassguitar]

Thank you so much!

[@drazendragovic2175]

Thanks, James, for the ability to make the complex things simple enough for us to peek into this epic tune! Cheers!

[@ebassguitar]

Glad you like it! Cheers!

[@brandonvice4234]

Jaco is the man, needed to know this song

[@ebassguitar]

Oh yeah!

[@brandonvice4234]

@@ebassguitar thanks for your help, nobody was doing this song tutorial as it's an obscure song to know about. But you had me covered!

[@ebassguitar]

@@brandonvice4234 Glad you like it! Cheers!

[@gabrielvarela1652]

Excelent video!! Thank you very much, you are a great bass teacher !! Thanks so much!!

[@ebassguitar]

Thank you Gabriel - I appreciate that!

[@-my.tv-9931]

Great lesson1 The groove is sliced and explained for every single aspect (notes, rhythm, tempo...)

[@ebassguitar]

Appreciate your kind comments... cheers james :-)

[@davidzedner4286]

Why in God’s name would somebody thumbs down such a fantastic lesson and teacher?!?!

[@ebassguitar]

Thanks David! Appreciate your kind comments... cheers james :-)

[@samspade1957]

Great lesson. Counting out the measures helps. Thank you!

[@ebassguitar]

Absolutely!

[@tadmorargolo8654]

Great bass class bro, one of the best a most objectives I'v ever seen

[@ebassguitar]

Thanks man!

[@Tax2Me]

Thank you man. I had always loved this arrangement of Jaco and struggled (as I don’t read music but i have a 100% accurate ear for it). Cheers

[@ebassguitar]

Fantastic - I’ll never tire of playing it!

[@quisquillatv4329]

Where has been this lesson all my life! Great stuff!

[@ebassguitar]

Glad you like it! Cheers!

[@usomedicinal]

Yeahhh very useful man. Thx. I can play this great song. The best tutorial on this song. Saludos desde Mendoza - Argentina

[@ebassguitar]

Glad you learn something useful from the video! Best of luck!

[@ErixSamson]

Great standard to know for bass players

[@ebassguitar]

Absolutely... :-) such a great groove

[@mariusfourie4642]

you are a fantastic teacher....good on you mate , thank you.

[@ebassguitar]

My pleasure!

[@AZBoxster]

Very good lesson and breakdown of the tune. Thanks!

[@ebassguitar]

Glad the lesson helped you out Doug!

[@pjman63]

Excelente vídeo... el mejor de todos...! saludos

[@ebassguitar]

Fantastic!

[@stevepethel6843]

Thank God for a AWESOME bass instructor...you rock

[@ebassguitar]

Thanks for the kind words! All the best!

[@koostraw3754]

Thanks Hon. that's great tutorials.

[@ebassguitar]

My please kofi!

[@ShineMedia1]

Lovely and simlle breakdown to get started . Thanks!

[@moisesespinosa1632]

Thank you for this! You are a great bass teacher.

[@ebassguitar]

My pleasure!

[@user-dh4lu9mp6l]

Excellent!

[@dierktreber6390]

whow, that was easy. Thank you so much!!!

[@ebassguitar]

My pleasure! Cheers!

[@paulhornbass]

Great lesson! Would not have thought to have a crack at this song without watching this lesson, but now here I am. Cheers James!

[@ebassguitar]

Glad the lesson helped you out Paul!

[@richmanhaile6041]

fantastic so easy to understand

[@jimm0802]

Great teacher

[@jacksonguitariste1449]

Best teacher of all time😊 Thanks bro

[@ebassguitar]

My pleasure! Thanks for the kind words! All the best!

[@carlogarneri7873]

You are an amazing teacher. Now it's a lot easier to me

[@ebassguitar]

Thanks so much Carlo Very happy to hear that

[@itongujile9955]

Excellent breakdown

[@ebassguitar]

Thanks man!

[@joeblues5515]

Great stuff,mate.Thanx a million.

[@ebassguitar]

My pleasure! Cheers!

[@peterschnoor4611]

great lesson , thank you very much

[@ebassguitar]

Cheers Peter!

[@sethowusu345]

Woow woow I love this tutorial thank you so much

[@ebassguitar]

You're very welcome!

[@WILLIANSOUTO]

Thanks man for lesson ! greats

[@ebassguitar]

My pleasure! All the best!

[@stuartmaxwell8917]

Great lesson James!!

[@ebassguitar]

Cheers Stuart!

[@deepanshusharma7165]

great lesson. thank you.

[@ebassguitar]

Cheers!

[@vonalxao1]

Now that's how you teach bass. Bravo!

[@ebassguitar]

Thanks man!

[@garyferguson9934]

I got told off for playing the E note in the main riff during an open Mic last night. So having researched further (ultimate guitar and another two KZbin vids) it does seem that the Eb is played actually played twice. Will listen more closely to the original but is this your take and you've thrown in the passing note? And if so, interested to know how much the difference it would make to the whole dynamics? Though will say, other than that it's a great lesson. Thanks.

[@ebassguitar]

I’m going to have a listen and double check! It’s one of those ‘interesting’ points that’s definitely worth clocking... but I’m the bigger plan of things doesn’t alter things that much. As a transcription exercise it’s definitely worth notating accurately... but on a gig feel free to do what sounds best to you Gary!

[@Saxyct]

you're right, I noticed the same thing immediately. The E note is wrong, it doesn't sound nice or right... Jaco was not playing that either. instead Eb is played twice in the main pattern.

[@EvilSean62]

@@Saxyct that E is PAINFUL!!! ...Eb twice and note the little variations at the end kzbin.info/www/bejne/ipjRpZ59mJqceNE

[@reginaldblogwith6015]

@@ebassguitar I think the E natural is used on the James Brown and Maceo Parker versions (both are played by the guys who wrote and played on the original tune, including Pee Wee Ellis and Fred Wesley) but not on the Pastorius version, on which the Eb is played twice. How does that sound?

[@johnhennesseysantos4774]

Thanks man this is very helpful i love you 😘❤️

[@ebassguitar]

My pleasure!

[@robster6820]

Awesome work James

[@edna_m]

Thank you, u saved my mind!🤩💪

[@ebassguitar]

Welcome! Hope the lesson helped you out a great deal :)

[@PaulaBean]

Dude, you're GOOD, and you INFLUENCE me! Keep up the stufff, I have subscribed.

[@PaulaBean]

How would you call this an supscription?

[@ebassguitar]

Subscribing to the channel Paula? Maybe even my membership over EBG too

[@Kyomeimei]

I finally understood about the rhythmic chicken. 🐔

[@ebassguitar]

Glad to know you learn something from the video! Cheers!

[@raulquijano352]

Gracias, muchas gracias!!

[@ebassguitar]

You're welcome Raul!

[@christianperez2771]

This lesson in amazinngggg🔥

[@ebassguitar]

Thanks man!

[@raulrichards412]

The Best Explanation and Breaking down of a tune that is Understood in It's entirety . I was also able to transfer this Bass Guitar info and play it on My Double Bass. (Today, Sunday ,September 6th.,2020) 7:pm. Eastern Standard Time. New York City.♫♪♫♫ THANK YOU.♥

[@ebassguitar]

My pleasure Raul!

[@AdventureDriver]

James, this is great! I tried Josh's but he transcribed Bb Bb D D Eb Eb F which doesn't make sense but your Bb Bb D D Eb E F does. Thanks.

[@ebassguitar]

Glad it help you! Cheers!

[@felicemariani4795]

WONDERFULL. tks VERY MUCH......

[@ebassguitar]

Cheers felice

[@TheMightyKingzuru]

The only part missing from this lesson is Jaco's trademark shuffle ruffle dance. Otherwise, the lesson is spot on!

[@ebassguitar]

Superb!!

[@wyntube07]

very nice !

[@ebassguitar]

Thanks man!

[@mojoleon2]

HIhihi , Love that smile on your face when you're playing :D

[@ebassguitar]

Glad you like it! Cheers!

[@MichaelWrightRealtor]

Awesome leason...

[@ebassguitar]

Glad you found it helpful michael!

[@JesusChrist5000]

Thank you friend. All this time I was doing the chicken wrong. I was doing it in G and not the accents on the first two nontes.

[@ebassguitar]

My pleasure! Glad you learn something useful from the video! Best of luck with your bass playing!

[@deermeadowhomes]

James, I think your awesome!!!

[@ebassguitar]

Thanks man!

[@Kostik270]

Спасибо!!!

[@Foiarty]

Thanks 👍👍👍👍👍👍

[@gerardthompson1]

YOUR REALLY GREAT

[@ebassguitar]

Thank you!!!

[@tumimotjopi8409]

❤🔥🔥thank you

[@ebassguitar]

My pleasure!

[@markdenzilfinnerty6453]

Awesome lesson . Correct me if i'm wrong , that turn around sounded like " I shot the sheriff".

[@falschnehmung]

woooooooooooooow - I thought it would take me years - with your LIITLE ;-) HELP it took me minutes ... TNX !!! The crux of the bisquit (quote FZ) imho is not to play it as ExAct as possible - but to HIT THE GROOVE as groovy as possible - and to be able to throw in your own variations ...

[@ebassguitar]

Happy to have helped you get your breakthrough with this song :)

[@stevesharief7]

this dude is very good

[@ebassguitar]

Thanks man!

[@Anorexiaification]

Papapapapapapapa :) Thank you!

[@ebassguitar]

Pleasure!

[@samhardingham5591]

you teach well

[@ebassguitar]

Cheers Sam - I appreciate that!

[@marguitvaldez4792]

Great lesson, my two cents: Jaco used to alternate between the neck and bridge pick up when playing the bars, also adding a note on the third verse of the second bar.

[@ebassguitar]

Cool... this lesson is just helping students start to approach playing this tune. Once you dig into it there are loads of Variations and approaches that can work!

[@marguitvaldez4792]

@@ebassguitar I agree, didn't see you had a second part with the fillings. Cheers!

[@gerardthompson1]

YOUR GREAT. PLZ TEACH US BARBARY COAST BY JACO. GOD BLESS YOU RICHLY

[@ebassguitar]

Will definitely consider that for future content! Thanks for the request, Gerard! Cheers!

[@castelodosarcanos9981]

Excelent

[@oldestgamer]

How are you liking the Sire MM PJ? Been thinking about getting one of those..

[@ebassguitar]

They’re very good basses… gigged it plenty - works nicely :-)

[@aricy1]

Now I understand!!!

[@ebassguitar]

Glad to know! Cheers!

[@aidoxD]

eyyy I use the same Rig setup \m/

[@ebassguitar]

Awesome! Cheers!

[@hongmingxu7708]

u had quite a few in between fills at the beginning of the video, care to share on what you did?

[@ebassguitar]

I think I’ll do another video on that soon! I’ve been asked a couple of times to share that...

[@alpo44]

"The Chicken" or simply "Chicken" is an instrumental funk tune composed by Pee Wee Ellis that was the B-side to James Brown's 1969 single "The Popcorn". The tune gained greater exposure with versions by jazz bassist Jaco Pastorius.

[@ebassguitar]

Great share! :-)

[@daleclutterbuck9763]

All I could think about during the intro was the movie American Pie.

[@ebassguitar]

Love the reference! My eye brows beat his ;-)

[@garethevans2650]

Wondering why the tab writes chord Bb7 yet the bass line goes from 6 to the octave?

[@soundscaperecordings1111]

Killer eyebrows bro respect

[@ebassguitar]

Thanks man!

[@gerardthompson1]

GREAT GREAT GREAT. PLZ TEACH US TO PLAY BARBARY COAST BY JACO

[@geografiacomtiosan3802]

PERFECT LESOON ..... BRASILLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL

[@ebassguitar]

Thank you!!!

[@josedarioleandro1538]

Hi, dude! Unfortunately, I haven't received the PDF sheet yet in my email.

[@ebassguitar]

Have you checked your spam / promotions? If not, email [e-mail] and we’ll get it sent to you. Also double check you put the right email address in with no typos - we see that quite a bit

[@floouk]

There's no E natural. It goes from Eb to F, then to open G and then to a Bb octave.

[@ernier9609]

Can we have the tabs for this riff please

[@ebassguitar]

Link in the description below the video!

[@davidcudlip6587]

Great. Now I'm hungry for chicken.

[@ebassguitar]

Haha! Glad you like it! Cheers!

[@viclobocga2615]

❤

[@jacksonguitariste1449]

Please do for us SPAIN too I will be happy

[@ebassguitar]

Will definitely consider that for future content! Awesome request! Cheers!

[@sigurd2530]

You look like an NPC from Oblivion after being successfully persuaded

[@nicelynoise6457]

...one, two, three,..far!

[@henryfreeman7748]

Still practicing and I will get it or I will find out what these strings taste with like with catsup and onions. I saw an 11year old boy plays the chicken very very well on one of these channels with other bassist he's a progedy and can play most anything it seems, any way back my bass and catsup I enjoy this channels content thank you. This chicken is about to get fried😳🐔🐔

[@ebassguitar]

Haha! Thanks for sharing that Henry! Cheers!

[@scienceandspacetube9723]

use TABs man. it is not so hard and it goes long way for the students (now looking for a TAB one)

[@ebassguitar]

Download the free PDF - its all there :-)

[@richie2075]

JACO DIDNT WRITE THE CHICKEN

[@ebassguitar]

I’m drilling into the bass line jaco played here :-)

[@MattGOG666]

Man 3 minutes to get to the point was rough

[@ebassguitar]

But when we got there was it worth the wait?

[@henryfreeman7748]

Your lessons are good, however please SLOW IT DOWN some I have to keep back tracking brother😌

[@ebassguitar]

That’s what the forward and back control on the player are for ;-)

[@henryfreeman7748]

@@ebassguitar I heard that I did, I was not trying to be a wise guy Im trying to learn, your lesson are great, I don't want to get lost I find these lessons fun as well as challenging I love playing bass, I just purchased a brandy new fender mustang I want to be better than good with this investment Im 63 years of age this is something I have always wanted to learn. Thank you for understanding.

[@PhillipAlcock]

Henry - You can also change the KZbin playback speed which might help.

[@henryfreeman7748]

@@PhillipAlcock thank you for your suggestion will do.

[@CharisHopeMusic]

Are you a hobbit?

[@ebassguitar]

Yes I am!

[@paulevans4334]

Only Jako never plays it strait like that. I don't think he plays the same line more than twice anywhere........R I P Jako

[@ebassguitar]

Absolutely Paul... Jaco wasn’t a beginner or intermediate bassist tho!

[@freshchill]

WOW ! never Hire the guy for a gig ... boring as this video ... He does smile more Coz you're paying

[@ebassguitar]

I’m not attempting to get hired for a gig I’m just sharing some information which will help beginner to intermediate folks along. What would you change about the video?

[@KrackDaddy]

you're actually playing it wrong

[@ebassguitar]

Why’s that kracken?

[@KrackDaddy]

@@ebassguitar the 2nd thret on the D string is a variation on the original. Check out BennyTheBassman's cover you'll see what i mean. I've been trying really hard to get the groove down and your video has helped me but yeah. What do you reckon?

[@ebassguitar]

I’m glad this video has helped you... there are plenty of variations you can play on it. In my view there no ‘wrong’ as long as the bass line fits with the harmony. What I’m sharing is just a starting point

[@KrackDaddy]

@@ebassguitar the second video is great

[@ebassguitar]

The second video is probably more of what you’re expecting to hear! Cheers :-)