Jon Liebman
September 7, 2026

When playing something other than the root can actually make the music better

Bass players are taught from day one: Play the root. That’s your job.

But does the bass player really have to play the root every time the chord changes?

In this week’s Essence of Groove, I look at some situations where playing something other than the root can actually enhance the music.

You don’t have to be a theory whiz to explore the idea, but you do need to understand some basic harmony.

I’ll show you a simple example of how a different chord tone can create movement and lead naturally into the next chord.

I’ll also share some thoughts on the subject from Chuck Rainey, Ron Carter, Victor Wooten, and Harvie S—including some very different perspectives on just how important those roots really are.

Watch the video below and see how it works.