Jon Liebman
September 21, 2026

When should you stick to the original bass line—and when should you make it your own?

Some bass lines become such an important part of a song, it’s hard to imagine playing anything else.

But what happens when you’re the bass player who has to play that song?

In this week’s Essence of Groove video, I share some thoughts from bass players who’ve faced that question while playing music associated with Brian Wilson and the Beach Boys, Alice in Chains, Chicago, Pat Metheny, and others.

I’ll also play a few examples of classic bass lines and look at where there may be room to make them your own—and where there may not be.

You don’t necessarily have to copy every note. But you do have to understand the essence of what made that bass line great in the first place.

Watch the video below and hear for yourself.