Choosing the right groove for the song


Jon Liebman
March 2, 2026

Ever feel like you have to play more notes to sound like a better bass player?

It might seem logical, but in most cases, the opposite is true.

In this week’s Essence of Groove video, I show you how the same basic groove can work at different levels of complexity — from simple and solid to much busier — and how to know which one actually serves the song.

Sometimes you need more.

Most of the time, you don’t.

The key is learning to listen and make the right musical decision.

Watch the video, then leave a comment below with your takeaways.

Let’s play bass!

— Jon