Giants of Bass - Mark King

This complex, slap-driven piece was written in the style of Mark’s early work with Level 42, and features all of his trademarks: sixteenth note-based percussive slap lines, tenth chords, harmonics, machine-gun slap triplets and funky fingerstyle grooves. I recorded the bass part using my Jaydee Mark King signature, which is also the instrument used in the video.

You can find out more about the Giants of Bass book on the following videos:

Thanks for watching! :)

[michaelb.]

So cool that Mark signed your JayDee !!! I have Level 42 stuff all over and a bunch of signed stuff, too. Great playing and like Mark Woodhouse said, it's like finding a lost track !

[rodoherty]

Downvoted over a hundred times? How can that be possible? This is a fantastic homage to one awesome bass player by another awesome bass player!!

[markwoodhouse]

Outstanding, it's like finding a lost Level 42 track from 1983!

[eyelidman]

Indeed - all of Mark King’s trademark licks and grooves are there. Thanks for the posting.🙏🌞🇬🇧🌞🙏

[robertbramley]

Just about the most refreshing bit of bass playing I've heard in a while

[GeeDee]

Love the Track! Stuart you sound like Mark King. I´m a Bass Player too -since 58 Years. I love Funk & Fusion.

[josenoya-InspirationNation]

Brilliant you make it look so easy!! Excellent work!

[HangsLopsided]

Outstanding. Super clean, tight and plenty of variation.
I thought is was a Level 42 song

[krimoc]

I can't say enough about your contributions to the bass playing community! Thank you!

[RaptureReady]

Gotta love those Mark King triplets and the classic MK sound 😀😂✅🔥🔥🔥

[kevinvicedomini]

This is awesome if I wasn't watching I'd straight away think it's Mark. Absolutely brilliant

[stevewoodward]

Absolutely love it...great technique and tone. Thank you.

[davidartreides]

Great playing, lovely tone! Great stuff! Thanks so much!

[virgilrytaar]

Havnt dipped in for a while but so glad I nailed all of Marks signature trade secrets right there. Superb and a great light touch!

[RastaSaiyaman]

A mistake that many make when trying to emulate King's style is to just slap with all their might when actually he just barely strikes the strings which gives him that speed, also the use of very light strings also plays a key part in the overall sound.

You did a very good job at showcasing how to get it right and kudos for the JayDee Bass, that was the best sound he ever had, I hate that brittle sound he gets from his Status basses.

[joshfossgreen]

Awesome Stuart! Always love hearing you play. :)

[jameswhite]

Really love it as a big MK fan! 1:14 is reminiscent of finger style parts in '88' and more so 'Theme to Margaret'. A really fantastic merging of all this - lovely to listen to! Great job.

[MrToonfish]

Kudos for that perfect tune Stuart ! JD basses and Trace Elliot AH-250 + 1048 4x10" boxes rules at that time and I sincerely regret it, it was the good ol' days of bass and funk.

[theavenger]

Beautifully relaxed, clean and precise playing mate. Very well done indeed 👍

[sideparting]

Excellent as usual Stuart. Time to get the basses out and practice, thanks !