Jaco Pastorius Bass Techniques

This bass tutorial is all about the incredible bass techniques of one of the greatest bass players of all time: Jaco Pastorius.

These techniques include:

  1. Fast alternate plucking
  2. Raking
  3. Rolling
  4. Hand shifts
  5. Ghost notes
  6. Articulations

I'll also show you how to take the five bass lines from the lesson (they're in the style of Jaco) and create some of your own fills and lines.

Scroll down for the free PDF and backing track.

Jaco Pastorius Bass Lines

These five bass lines are in the style of Jaco Pastorius. Download the PDF and the backing track but be sure to start slowly and piece together the lines in your own time.


If you don't know much about Jaco Pastorius, you should check his playing out. Even if you're not into jazz and fusion, there's so much to learn from and be inspired by!

Here are a couple more lessons:

Jaco Pastorius - Bass Lessons From "Black Market"

Jaco Pastorius – Player Profile

Bass Guitar Lesson – How To Play The Chicken (Jaco Pastorius/Pee Wee Ellis)


Related Bass Guitar Lessons

Want to hear about my next free bass lessons? 

  • Stay up to date with one bass lesson every day: sign up to my free newsletter (form below)
  • I'll send you The Bass Guitar Resource Book for free which contains tons of important and useful bass information
  • Subscribe to my YouTube channel to improve your bass playing

I send 1 email every Sunday with free lessons, pro tips, gear, gig advice and more. Your details will not be passed on or shared with any other party. Privacy policy.

Online Bass Courses Dan Hawkins Bass Store


If you get any value from my lessons and would like to help keep this site running and the weekly lessons flowing, click the button below for a small donation. Even something small really helps me cover running costs!

  • Yes Dan! thank you very much, my only problem is that I cannot keep up with all the top level content you always deliver, my day should be 36hours 🙂 to enjoy all this lessons while I’m struggling to play regularly at least 10 minutes, too bad!
    F

  • {"email":"Email address invalid","url":"Website address invalid","required":"Required field missing"}
    >