Labelle – ‘Lady Marmalade’

‘Lady Marmalade’ was written by Bob Crewe and Kenny Nolan and was originally recorded by Labelle back in 1974. It was a number one hit for the group and is now regarded as a funk/soul classic. Since its original release, the song has been covered many times, by artists such as All Saints, Christina Aguilera, and Pink. The rhythm section on the original Labelle version of the song featured members of The Meters, including George Porter Jr. on bass.

This song has a simple bass part, but it’s one that demonstrates how valuable chord tones are when crafting a bassline. It’s also a great introduction to the minor pentatonic scale. Because the main bass motif crosses all four strings, it’s a great workout for the picking hand.

To download the transcription (with TAB and without), please visit the Free Stuff page.