Uploaded January 2025 | Updated September 2026, 1 week ago
This song is from Level 42’s eponymous debut album, which was released in 1981. A mainstay of the band’s live set to this day, the song features a killer line from Mark King, one that features all elements of his distinctive playing style.
The bassline for this song is predominantly built around a slap bass groove that features a key ingredient in Mark’s playing – fretting hand slaps. In addition to this main part, there are also some complex fingerstyle grooves to get your teeth into, as well as strummed chords and manipulated harmonics.
🎸 Gear Used:
• Bass: GB Guitars Spitfire Bass
• Strings: Rotosound stainless steel (.040, .060, .080, .100)
• Recording: Tech21 SansAmp Bass Driver DI
🎸 Want to learn this piece? A complete video tuition course is available for subscribers at Bassline Publishing. Check it out here: basslinepublishing.com/video-section/level-42-almost-there
A full transcription of this piece can be found in The Level 42 Bass Book – Volume 1.
🎸 Subscribe to my video courses for in-depth lessons and more killer bass content: basslinepublishing.com/video-courses
👍 If you enjoyed this lesson, don’t forget to like, comment, and subscribe for more bass-driven content! 🔥
#bassguitarlessons #learnbassguitar #learnbass #bassguitar #learningbass #funk #funkbass #funkybasslines #slapbass #markking #level42
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Follow Stuart Clayton/Bassline Publishing:
facebook.com/BasslinePublishing
instagram.com/stuartclaytonbass
This song is from Level 42’s eponymous debut album, which was released in 1981. A mainstay of the band’s live set to this day, the song features a killer line from Mark King, one that features all elements of his distinctive playing style.
The bassline for this song is predominantly built around a slap bass groove that features a key ingredient in Mark’s playing – fretting hand slaps. In addition to this main part, there are also some complex fingerstyle grooves to get your teeth into, as well as strummed chords and manipulated harmonics.
🎸 Gear Used:
• Bass: GB Guitars Spitfire Bass
• Strings: Rotosound stainless steel (.040, .060, .080, .100)
• Recording: Tech21 SansAmp Bass Driver DI
🎸 Want to learn this piece? A complete video tuition course is available for subscribers at Bassline Publishing. Check it out here: basslinepublishing.com/video-section/level-42-almost-there
A full transcription of this piece can be found in The Level 42 Bass Book – Volume 1.
🎸 Subscribe to my video courses for in-depth lessons and more killer bass content: basslinepublishing.com/video-courses
👍 If you enjoyed this lesson, don’t forget to like, comment, and subscribe for more bass-driven content! 🔥
#bassguitarlessons #learnbassguitar #learnbass #bassguitar #learningbass #funk #funkbass #funkybasslines #slapbass #markking #level42
--------------------------------------------------------------
Follow Stuart Clayton/Bassline Publishing:
facebook.com/BasslinePublishing
instagram.com/stuartclaytonbass
