You’ve probably heard this bass line even if you’ve never looked up the song. It’s one I recently discovered, even though I grew up hearing it in both car commercials and sports broadcasts. It’s about four seconds of upright bass, and it comes from a very unlikely source.
Quick answer
It’s an upright bass line Black Sheep sampled from a very unlikely source, and the bass player on that source is Ron Carter. The version with the line wasn’t on the original LP release of A Wolf in Sheep’s Clothing. It was remixed and added later, because the song would be improved by this great, iconic bass line.
The song is “The Choice Is Yours” by Black Sheep, from their album A Wolf in Sheep’s Clothing (1991). The version with this bass line, released as “The Choice Is Yours (Revisited),” wasn’t on the original LP release. It was remixed and added later, because they discovered the song would be improved by this great, iconic bass line.
Where does The Choice Is Yours bass line come from?
Black Sheep didn’t use a live upright bass player. They sampled the line, and the bass player on the record they took it from is Ron Carter.
In the lesson I play you that original record so you can hear it for yourself. You hear it yet? You hear the sample? Just kidding. It’s not there yet. I’ll save the reveal for the lesson.
Ron Carter getting sampled isn’t a fluke, either. When you hear Ron Carter playing an open solo, it’s incredible, and that’s why he was sampled so frequently in hip-hop. But they’re actually not open solos, because they’re over the form. The best bass players can feel entire forms, not just two bars at a time. They feel full forms. That’s why Ron Carter’s bass lines sound like compositions. If you want more of his playing after this, start with these Ron Carter bass lines.
Upright bass belongs on hip-hop records
I believe that every record should have an upright bass player on it, and clearly Black Sheep does as well.
I love upright bass and hip-hop. I think it should happen more often.
Cole Davis
I actually think upright bass should be involved in all music: popular music, indie rock, everything. Black Sheep clearly agrees with me. They didn’t hire an upright player for this one, but they went and found an upright bass line, and the song got better for it.
What’s in the transcription
This is a short one, because the bass line is about four seconds long. The full transcription has the line written out, and this one comes with tab. With it you get the 3-minute video lesson, where you hear the Black Sheep track and then the original it was sampled from.
I hope you can appreciate this great bass line.
It’s only about four seconds long. Go hear where it came from.
Go deeper
Ron Carter x Black Sheep: The Choice Is Yours
The bass line from The Choice Is Yours, the one you heard in car commercials and on sports broadcasts growing up, written out with tab.
FAQ
What album is The Choice Is Yours on?
Black Sheep’s A Wolf in Sheep’s Clothing (1991). The version with this bass line, The Choice Is Yours (Revisited), wasn’t on the original LP release. It was remixed and added later.
Is the bass on The Choice Is Yours a real upright bass?
It’s a real upright bass line, but Black Sheep didn’t use a live upright bass player. They sampled it from another record, and the bass player on that record is Ron Carter.
Why was Ron Carter sampled so often in hip-hop?
When you hear Ron Carter playing an open solo, it’s incredible, and that’s why he was sampled so frequently in hip-hop. But they’re actually not open solos, because they’re over the form. He feels the whole form, which is why his bass lines sound like compositions.
How long is The Choice Is Yours bass line?
It’s about four seconds long, so it’s a short lesson. The transcription has the line written out with tab.
