What Is & What Should Never Be - Isolated Bass track

John Paul Jones isolated bass track from "What is & What Should never be" from the Led Zeppelin II.
I had a blast transcribing this awesome JPJ bass line, which is, IMHO, one of some of his best work along with all of the other tracks on this album. You can hear every single nuances & inflection in JPJ's playing. So I was able to come up with a pretty accurate bass transcription/tab of John Paul Jones's performance. You can check out my transcription in standard notation & tab at sellfy.com/p/xkG9/
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No Copyright infringement intended.

[@altierianthony01]

I crank this video and other isolated bass vids to make my neighbors think im great at bass

[@baberoot1998]

😂😂😂😂😂 Amazing what our ego will allow us to do.

[@772tsweet77]

Hearty chuckle at your comment! :-)

[@toddplessers2157]

Aaaand!.....so do I!!

[@jeffreyjohn2037]

Kidding aside, I used to play this song with my friends. One night at an open mic, I brought my first amp ever, a Alamo Electronics 2566 Fury amp. Circa 1977. And my Fender P bass with flat wounds. Was a memorable moment.

[@amadeuswolfe7180]

lol

[@trappedintheidiotbox]

his sense of timing, grooviness, phrasing, and serving the rhythm are what made him and Bonham one of the best rhythm sections of all time

[@peeholio3260]

One? The best

[@ThiagodMoraes]

Excuse me, the best in rock music!!

[@luvbasses5487]

...just think about HOW FORTUNATE we all are to have these isolated tracks readily available! I mean, it's like being spoon-fed the milk and honey. Sometimes it's hard to hear exactly what John was doing...amid all the other instrumentation and production tricks by Page. But now...all of us bassists have the goods and JUST the goods. I mean, what more could we ask for, right? Oh, I know...video footage of John laying down the Lemon Song line that was used on LZII. That would be my all-time dream come true!

[@modain47]

It's not JPJ, but Virtual Zeppelin does a cover of The Lemon Song. The bass player nails it, and you can see all the fingerwork glory of the tune. Search KZbin and ye shall find...

[@Fretfeeler]

This bass line is even more Epic isolated, because you can hear just how incredibly awesome JPJ is in the studio... wow.

[@kenduffy5397]

ABSOLUTELY

[@allrequiredfields]

Aside from being a killer bassline, this is my favorite bass tone of all-time.

[@GuyOnTheInternet53]

+allrequiredfields is that a fact, because this is the most generic bass tone, its a just plug and you got it, right away

[@allrequiredfields]

+Skylar Cook Stick to video games and 'metal', and when you finish jr high, you may have a more developed ear - but I wouldn't bet on it.

[@GuyOnTheInternet53]

well no, if anything i have had a developed ear for about 5 years now, thats what 5 years of playing does, you can plug into any bass amp and get this tone, straight lows

[@GuyOnTheInternet53]

and if this was his fender he would have the bridge pickup all the way down, neck full blast, and tone all the way off, its an easy tone to accomplish, this isn't some rush song where your looking on the internet on how to get a geddy lee tone

[@allrequiredfields]

+Skylar Cook Look, you really have no idea what you're talking about. This is clearly his J, with BOTH pickups on. And you think the tone is turned off?? That's hilarious - he's playing flatwounds, with the tone all the way UP. I've been playing bass professionally for 22 years, and own both a '65 Jazz and P bass, both with flatwounds - I absolutely know what I'm talking about here.

[@rodneylee4026]

I'd take an album of nothing but Jonsey's bass parts and listen to it everyday.

[@robwalsh9843]

You can really hear that Motown influence. Such a buttery bass line.

[@jyotishkoray]

It’s the James Jamerson sound. One of the most beautiful bass sounds ever created in my opinion

[@pjfields2382]

I agree about the Mowtown influence..I think an even greater example of this is the chorus or break parts of living loving maid....he really Fries up a greasy groove there.

[@dannepohl62]

JPJ is one killer musician. Period. Mr Zeppelin if anyone.

[@ugtibo]

That's a bassline.

[@gitaaa7740]

JPJ, Jaco, Chris, and Geddy. My favorite bass players. This is one of my favorite basslines!

[@fonzario]

And Mel Schacher. Not sure if I spelled that right.

[@rdhudon7469]

Bonham was such a powerful drummer he can't even be isolated out ! . Lol There will never be another like these guys .

[@anthonyglennmollicasr.425]

John is the man! He and Chris Squire were my inspiration for playing the bass!!!

[@HeroT]

This song and ramble on have great bass lines!!

[@amiahelzeler2170]

HeroT Nice pfp.

[@amiahelzeler2170]

Also, I agree

[@HeroT]

Amiah Elzeler Likewise

[@amorodioamor4388]

Lemon Song my favorite

[@gutbucket260]

I run thru "Ramble On" every time I go thru my warm up routine on my basses. Don't really know why. It was on the first Zep album I heard as a kid. 50 years later the damn thing is stuck in my noggin.

[@jgraz42]

Most underrated bass player of all time.

[@guyseabrook3735]

Ever heard of Andy Fraser?

[@kevintunaley5079]

@@guyseabrook3735 Or John Entwhistle

[@bderrick4944]

@@kevintunaley5079 John Entwhistle and John Paul Jones both consistently make the top 10 lists of greatest bassists of all time, with Entwhistle oftentimes making number 1. I think they are both rated fairly.

[@BenDover-vg9ep]

no he's not, why do people constantly say this? that is just objectively not true

[@luvbasses5487]

The Fender Jazz Bass debuted at the dawn of 1960 and came loaded with individual felt string mutes, mounted behind the bridge PU. These would ‘deaden’ or ‘shorten’ the response of the bass note plucked. These string mutes were discontinued by mid ‘63. Sometimes you see players with a piece of foam or a sponge tucked under the strings close to the bridge to create a similar effect. Jones left these string mutes installed for the better part of the recordings of the first two albums. His was an earlier ‘62 JB featuring the famed “slab RW fretboard.” You can clearly hear the mutes here in this audio clip. Maybe this is why some listeners claim it’s not loud enough.

[@smackythefrog23]

as did the rickenbacker 4001.

[@Apemopo]

listen to the bass on Immigrant Song. Guess he took them off for some of the third album and what a difference it makes, like DAMN

[@luvbasses5487]

I do believe that the stripped '51 Precision Bass was used for Immigrant Song.

[@Apemopo]

that makes sense

[@peanutbutterimfeelinbetter7291]

An awesome information :)

[@aferguson850]

Love how gentle the bass sounds before the chorus - could listen to that all day

[@WhiskerWhippers]

That walk down to the low E at 2:04 is sooooo good

[@fr3rdsky]

Where was this isolated bass when I needed it for covering Led zeppelin?? Awesome bass line!

[@raulduke6394]

Of course I give it up for Bonham and page, hey, I obviously give credit where credit is due. Though I honestly believe that John Paul Jones was the most impressive of the group, he just had the professionalism and good tact to play what was necessary but he played it with a ferocity that is unparalleled by the majority of bass players to come after him. And he aged like wine, not just physically. I mean the guy looks 43 and he's what, seventy years old? He looked younger than Josh Homme on stage with Them Crooked vultures. But what I'm really getting at, is that he can still put it down just as good if not better than when he was with Zeppelin. His bass lines on Them Crooked vultures album were just as impressive as Josh's guitar riffs or Grohl's Drums. the guy truly is a legend, and a master of his craft. And his name deserve to be spoken with just as much reverence as any Of the other three men to form that band.

[@bobbylight5875]

One of the most relaxed chilled bassist ever.

[@ShaZAM514]

Brilliantly crafted bass line. That man knows music. Touch, taste, subtlty, knowledge, creativity and spontaneity. Dang. The drum bleed must be from miking the bass amp rather than going direct. Maybe they did both. Anybody know what amps he used?

[@TeeCeeBee]

Acoustic 360, he had a wall of them for arenas!

[@jyotishkoray]

The perfect motown and James Jamerson tribute from JPJ. This and Ramble on

[@BASSMANN2007]

I was stoned when listening for the very first time LZI and LZII at once, needless to say I fell in love immediately with the music, and this bassline is one of the strongest fever givers of all time for me

[@chadjcrase]

I think this is the best of all John Paul Jones, it's outstanding.

[@scottsmith3593]

Bass is not an instrument likely to lend itself to shifts in dynamics, but here JPJ shows how it's done.

[@johnzeljko4252]

Killer off beats and rhythm also some fantastic dynamics. What a human can do is better than any computer.

[@howardtyler7]

Wonderful! A bass master virtuoso performance. Lovely dynamics. Brilliant.

[@ConnorArchibald]

omg you can hear page's guitar being picked up by the mic on the bass amp

[@Stewkeithmtb]

Just watched an interview with the great man himself. Talks about this melodic bass line but stresses the bass must always 'serve the song' fundamentals, harmony and rhythm. Amen.

[@claresykes7793]

i love these isolated bass tracks. reminds the people who don’t appreciate JPJ just how amazing he is!

[@thecandlebombs]

Agreed! 100%

[@cheveroletllnova2672]

In an interview given back in 2003 JPJ stated that this was one of if not the best songs he enjoyed playing.

[@kenduffy5397]

God he’s sooooo smooth!! He just has that gift from God! Nothing else I can say?

[@Head318Hunter]

1:50 to 2:12 ...DAMN

[@Zacharilius]

So damn smooth

[@nealbledsoe9302]

MY NEW RINGTONE TY!!!😎 JPJ rules . . .

[@nickv4073]

Aside from knowing how to play, he knew when to go quiet as well. Great instincts.

[@oparazzi53]

Stupid me, one other…Leland Sklar, his accolades are practically unmatched.

[@xerxesxylophone7188]

I like that nice warm tone. Just oozes into your ears without biting your brain.

[@bflo1000]

I agree. Ironically it sounds more like a P bass than a J.

[@Matois1]

sounds way more like a P, 100% agree

[@Knightfriend]

Jamersons tone has a lot of punch to it and isnt quite as soft and padded as this

[@ddbedguy]

Vintage Fender bass, vintage amp , and flatwound strings . Blissful bassline

[@allrequiredfields]

​@@Matois1 Not a chance. He didn't even own a P bass until years later - and it was a fretless.

[@carloseugeniocarlos4287]

Happy Birthday ,John Pul Jones! What a amazing musician!

[@ssdancehiphopcheeseetc]

absolutely beautiful

[@kenduffy5397]

No wonder why he was the most requested Session Bassist back in the day? Just listen 👂 WOW

[@tambeirne1163]

this is heartbeat stuff...

[@floouk]

Pure magic. . . a masterclass in "serving the song."

[@ElSalvador7]

One of my favourites ever! So fun to play too!

[@jerendeb]

Thank you for this! I am currently working on a 5 Led Zeppelin songs for an audition in 3 weeks. This will help immensely. Especially being able to slow it down until I fully grasp it.

[@cloverman9815]

love the groove on these isolated bass tracks

[@jamesreinolds3968]

Bass Legend!

[@melissalemar5372]

JPJ is a master! I’d love to hear Bonham isolated on this track.

[@aarondavis4341]

Being a bass player myself I'll listen to these isolated tracks to learn the feel of the song better dynamics the little stuff you don't hear with the full song but it's crazy because a lot of what John does notes he picks I feel like if I was in his shoes at that time of recording I would picked the same notes exactly the same,I know most aspiring musicians like myself we sit and listen to music and improvise it as if it's up to us to create the respective track, J.P.J is defiantly a musicians musician!

[@Head318Hunter]

oh wow my fav isolated JPJ yet!!

[@connorclarke1218]

The funkiest bass player period

[@TheDoobie76]

So awesome. Love it.

[@DavidSmith-ur1ih]

He's one of my favorite but he seems like he's underrated

[@DTAY45]

The verse in this bass line reminds me of the verse in something by the Beatles

[@kingsecho3351]

I am determined to learn this

[@amorodioamor4388]

Brett Walzer 'll

[@Djoubot]

It's actually easier than it seems(and not at all less genious than it seems)

[@allrequiredfields]

​@@Djoubot It's easy if you don't understand that it's almost entirely about dynamics and touch rather than simply playing the notes - anyone can play notes.

[@cinnamongirl5410]

Amazing.

[@Black5heep62]

I really wish it was possible to have an isolated bass track of JPJ on the live version of Dazed and confused on Zeps song remains the same album. Absolutely mind blowing what he does in that song,but most people miss it because the focus was all on Jimi Page. You have to have patience because it's a long song...but treat yourself and listen to it just focusing on the bass... AMAZING!

[@hoolandthegang]

still one of the best lines in rocknroll!

[@pageluvva]

Legend

[@JoeRivermanSongwriter]

Ace of bassists.

[@WraithMinecraft]

The basslines so good u almost dont need the other instruments

[@ThinWhiteAxe]

My brain just imploded from the awesomeness

[@Olegzyan]

Lonely rocker loves this bass line!

[@Braglemaster123]

Great 👍

[@RedMissou]

Flirting with the strings of one's heart

[@AndrewValkauskas]

After Ramble On this is what I'm learning

[@AndrewValkauskas]

After learning this and Ramble On, I've moved onto James Jamerson bass tunes

[@angelafoxmusic7265]

Oh yeah. So goood.

[@pifpafponto]

Muito discreto. Seu baixo deveria estar mais `a frente. 👏👏👏

[@arbogash1852]

GOAT

[@AS-fn3qk]

Its not loud enough!😄

[@crazeyjoe]

Turn it up to eleven??? lol

[@danielpinto5143]

These isolated tracks are so useful in transcribing lines . . . . If I could ask, how do you get them? Is there some software you use? Any info would be greatly appreciated!

[@MrThiagoide]

Incrível.

[@GestapoPussyRanch]

That flat dead tone that JPJ was famous for in those days.

[@dundaravewine2390]

Walk it home JPJ!

[@fatkidinabucket]

Turn it up

[@brianbaker5640]

In the last part of the song, around 3:40, does it sound like a fretless bass to anyone else, where it goes up then goes down? Little glissandos.

[@flash001USA]

It almost sounds like he is playing a fretless on this song at least for this recording. That would explain the smooth note transitions on some of the runs without the fret sounds. Maybe I'm wrong. I don't know.... Update: I am now listing to the studio song itself and the bass line is a bit different where on this isolated track he hits only one C# with a small rest after the first first verse where on the studio recording with the full band he is playing cromatic with the following notes C#-D-D#-E. after the first verse. Interesting. Now I wonder if these isolated tracks are from multi takes some got their hands on where he or the band choose what they felt worked the best for the song while mixing it down for production. I do like how he lets the notes breathe in the intro on these isolated tracks before he gets a bit busier in his playing. Here is a link to the studio cut. Is this not the original released track? kzbin.info/www/bejne/oKPUfpeglpmYj9U

[@bobeichvalds6608]

That link is the BBC Sessions, different than what in on Zeppelin II. I'm always too impatient to wait till the second verse for the chromatic walk-up myself.It's a Fretted Jazz Bass with Flat Wounds. I once heard an interview where he said he wouldn't use the flat-wounds live 'cause they wouldn't resonate long enough for Plant's unpredictable style.

[@flash001USA]

Hey thanks for that bit of info. At first I thought I was losing my mind until I figured out the released recording with the band was different. Yeah I like to play a mixture of letting the notes breathe or the chromatic walk-up just depending on what hits me at the time. I've been learning a lot of his riffs through the album releases over the last couple of weeks just for the fun of it. Yeah the guy can play!

[@rickoursler2583]

The real talent in LZ

[@bigjohn1227]

Mr jones is a god

[@ralphcozzino2796]

God damn........

[@scottcooneymusic6736]

This man was the god of bass in his time. The Claypool or flea of his era

[@MBH5587]

After yrs of following Zep...I found out that JPJ was heavily influenced by the great Mr James Jameson...of Motown...I can definitely hear that in his playing....

[@abelincoln5698]

How does a white English kid in his mid 20s have that much soul? He's classically trained but as funky as any of the Motown or Stax players. He can play anything and could and has conducted orchestras and composed film scores . But he prefers to play and create heavy rock . Which makes him even cooler . Jones is a total musician . He knows how to write , arrange , produce and play ,and he does them all expertly

[@Olegzyan]

круто!

[@Cap683]

There has to be a foam must underneath those flatwounds.

[@jgfunk]

1:50 to 2:10 🤯

[@Alchemyrecordingstudioatl]

Sounds like it’s DI strait into a console ..

[@ingwevanyarin3839]

Forget all those wacked up bass tones and that stupid guitar like ultra-fast wankery that in no way serve the song or the feel. I want tastefullness groove and a nice huge thumpy sound. JPJ is the most musical and effective bassist rock has seen. Plays maturely and with versatility. Im just so tired of prog rock lovers/metalheads worshiping bassists for speed loudness and slapping/tapping. Give me a break. JPJ out grooves the lot of them.

[@JM-ik9kw]

Good words, I totally agree!

[@arbogash1852]

he reminds of eddie van halen on this track, or mozart, because he's always going somewhere with an explicit sense of purpose. jpj has the jazz swing and timing which contradictorily adds the ying to the yang and is one reason these early albums in particular have that special edge, with the bass forward in the mix.

[@sergio3713]

Please, let me stole your words!

[@lartensgrill6106]

Bassists should never forget that their main goal is to stay in the pocket and lock down the groove.

[@Djoubot]

THANK YOU

[@oparazzi53]

Too Me, the top bass players in the world, not necessarily in this order…Chris Squire(RIP), JPJ, John Entwistle(RIP). Jaco Pastorius(RIP) Les Claypool I’m going to be hated for saying this but, honourable mention to Paul McCartney and James Jameson.

[@GeoZeppelin1979]

eat your heart out Phil Mccartney

[@SciFiArtman]

This isn't JPJ! It's a very good performance, but it lacks many little touches, including the way it's recorded. I basically learned to play from this album (and a few others), and therefore studied it like a beast over 100s of play-alongs, and this lacks many grace notes throughout. Off-timings, dragging the beat, lack of playing confidence, doesn't sound like a Jazz bass, and a few simple clams don't give me much hope either. Plus, the original 1969 version fades out. And yet, it's still fun to hear the brilliance of JPJ's basic writing ideas isolated!

[@NautilusGuitars]

This is from the BBC Sessions.

[@nesbittheisman10]

It’s most definitely JPJ it’s been isolated from a studio session