Jon Liebman
August 31, 2026

How to make a great bassline easier without losing the groove

My favorite Paul McCartney bassline is on The Beatles’ “I Saw Her Standing There.”

It’s a great line, but if you’re not quite ready to play every note Paul played, that doesn’t mean you can’t play the song—and make it sound good.

In this week’s Essence of Groove, I break down McCartney’s original bassline and show you a much simpler way to play the song while still keeping the harmony, feel, and groove intact.

And there’s a bigger lesson here, too. When you come across a bassline that’s beyond your current playing level, you don’t necessarily have to abandon the song. Once you understand what’s essential to the bassline, you can simplify what you need to and keep the groove going.

Watch the video below and see how it works.