What's Going On: Easy Bass Tab

The bass line in "What's Going On" is instantly recognizable yet remains musically rewarding to learn and play. Students will recognize this classic immediately, which builds motivation, while the tab arrangement makes the groove accessible without oversimplifying the pocket and feel that makes the original sit so perfectly in the mix.

Smooth, contemplative, and grounded in the pocket. The bass line carries a gentle insistence, laying down the harmonic and rhythmic foundation while leaving room for the song's message to breathe. Playing this will give students a feel for how restraint and deliberate phrasing can be more powerful than constant activity.

Bass students who are ready to move beyond basic static lines and explore groove-based playing. This works equally well for students exploring soul and funk foundations, or those building repertoire in popular music.

• Lock into the laid-back pocket of the groove rather than rushing ahead; the bass line works because of its restraint and space, not busy playing
• Let the rhythm sit slightly behind the beat to capture the deliberate, reflective character of the original recording
• Pay attention to the dynamic shape across the tune; vary your attack and tone to avoid playing at one consistent volume throughout

Assign this when students are learning to support a vocal or melodic voice rather than compete with it. It's an excellent choice for a concert that bridges classic soul and contemporary music, or for a lesson unit on how bass lines function within different genres. The two-page length makes it ideal for inclusion in a mixed-repertoire performance or student recital.

• Reading and executing tab notation with musical phrasing
• Developing pocket awareness and groove sensitivity
• Understanding bass line function in soul and funk contexts
• Controlling dynamics and tone color within a single groove
• Listening to space and silence as musical elements