Written on 2 December 2025 - 343 views
The bass line of Master Blaster remains one of the most striking in Stevie Wonder’s repertoire. Paolo Coccina reveals how it is built, combining root notes, arpeggios, and pentatonic patterns. Dive into the analysis of an iconic groove, reinforced by its doubling on keyboards for a unique power.
In his video, Paolo explains why the bass line of Master Blaster became a classic. It is played by Nathan Watts, Stevie Wonder’s longtime bassist, and doubled on keyboards, which gives it a powerful foundation.
The piece is in C minor. The bass line begins with the root notes of the chords, doubled at the octave, creating a simple and solid groove. In the next section, Stevie uses the chord arpeggios (C minor, B♭, A♭, G, F), sometimes incomplete to let the rhythm breathe.
The chorus tightens around three chords: C minor, G, and F7. The latter brings a richer color thanks to a few characteristic notes such as the 7th and the 9th. Another section then makes use of the C minor pentatonic scale, typical of the reggae-funk aesthetic of the track.
Paolo thus shows how Stevie Wonder combines roots, arpeggios, and pentatonic patterns to craft one of his most memorable bass lines.
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Chrys
