Guitar Songs, Tabs & Lessons

Level 42

1 guitar song · Tabs, Lessons & Tone Guide Pop Rock

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Something About You - Guitar Lesson

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Band Overview

Level 42 emerged from London in 1979, pioneering a fusion of funk, pop, and rock that defined the 1980s sound. The band centered on the Mark King brothers, with Mark on bass and vocals, and Paul Jackson Jr. handling guitar duties during the classic era. What makes Level 42 essential for guitarists is their approach to rhythmic precision and groove-oriented playing; they proved that guitar doesn't always need to be flashy to be effective. Paul Jackson Jr. brought a crisp, clean tone and impeccable sense of pocket playing, often locked in with Mark King's syncopated bass lines to create an almost orchestral tightness. The band's difficulty level varies wildly: their funk grooves demand serious rhythmic understanding and dynamic control, while their pop singles are accessible entry points for intermediate players. Jackson's style emphasizes muting, ghost notes, and tight dynamics rather than speed or complexity, making Level 42 perfect for guitarists wanting to develop feel and timing over technical flash. Their influence on session guitarists and funk-rock players throughout the 1980s and 90s cannot be overstated, proving that locked-in groove playing is as demanding as it is rewarding.

What Makes Level 42 Essential for Guitar Players

Paul Jackson Jr. uses aggressive palm-muting combined with rhythmic ghost notes to anchor the low-end groove without overshadowing Mark King's bass presence. Watch 'Something About You' to see how light touch and controlled dynamics create pocket without loss of definition.
Level 42 demonstrates the power of single-note riffing and rhythmic syncopation over chord-based playing. Their guitar lines sit in the midrange frequencies, leaving space for bass, drums, and synths; this teaches clarity and arrangement awareness that studio musicians need.
Jackson employs a clean, bright tone with minimal overdrive distortion, relying on compression and EQ to sit in the mix. This approach demands finger precision and control because every mistake is audible; there's no gain or fuzz to hide sloppy technique.
The band's guitar work is built on locked-in 16th-note subdivisions and tight pocket playing rather than legato, tapping, or complex finger techniques. Learning Level 42 trains your internal clock and groove sense, which translates directly to band playing and session work.
Level 42 shows how a guitar can function as a rhythm section instrument when paired with strong bass and drums. Their arrangements prove guitarists don't need to dominate the mix to be essential; serving the song and locking with the band is the real skill.

Did You Know?

Paul Jackson Jr. played on Michael Jackson's 'Toto IV' album and later became one of the most sought-after session guitarists in pop music, proving that Level 42's tight pocket style is highly valued in professional recording studios.

Level 42 recorded 'Something About You' with a focus on gear clarity and compression rather than gain; the rhythm tone uses multiple layers of compression to maintain that locked, controlled feel even during aggressive playing.

Mark King's bass and Paul Jackson Jr.'s guitar developed an almost telepathic synchronization, with Jackson frequently mirroring the bass line's rhythmic feel while filling harmonic space. This interplay is textbook for learning band dynamics.

The band's gear evolved significantly during their career; Jackson moved from brighter single-coil tones to warmer humbucker-based setups as they shifted toward heavier rock in the mid-1980s, showing how gear choices support songwriting direction.

Level 42's production choices emphasized clarity and separation between instruments, meaning every guitar part sits in its own frequency range. This studio discipline directly influenced 1980s production and remains a lesson in arrangement.

Paul Jackson Jr.'s approach to rhythm guitar influenced countless 1980s session players who needed to play tight funk-rock without overshadowing prominent vocalists or synth arrangements.

The band often used amp and pedal settings that preserved note articulation and attack, avoiding heavy reverb or delay that could muddy their tight grooves. This minimalist approach to effects shaped their signature clean, punchy tone.

Essential Albums for Guitarists

Running in the Family 1987

This album showcases Level 42's mature guitar approach with Paul Jackson Jr. delivering confident, well-structured rhythms and occasional melodic lines. Songs like 'It's Over' and the title track demonstrate how to play aggressive pocket grooves with precision and clarity, teaching groove placement and dynamic control in a commercial context.

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Guaranteed 1985

A sweet spot for learning Level 42's rhythm guitar foundation, with cleaner production that exposes Jackson's palm-muting technique and syncopation. The album balances funk grooves, pop melodies, and rock energy, offering guitarists diverse lessons in pocket playing, tone control, and arrangement awareness.

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Polka Transylvania 1980

The band's early work shows raw pocket playing and a leaner arrangement where guitar sits higher in the mix. Perfect for understanding the fundamentals of their groove-based style before later production polish, this album teaches tight 16th-note work and economical note placement without studio layering.

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Tone & Gear

Guitar

Paul Jackson Jr. used Fender Telecaster and Stratocaster models throughout Level 42's classic era, often paired with humbuckers in later years as the band moved toward heavier tones. Jackson valued bright, articulate instruments that could cut through a dense mix without excessive output pushing the amp into unwanted breakup. His Fender choices emphasized clarity and attack, essential for palm-muted grooves and rhythmic precision.

Amp

Paul Jackson Jr. favored warm, transparent tube amplifiers that preserved note definition and string articulation, often running tube-based combos or head-and-cabinet rigs at moderate volumes rather than cranked for overdrive. The goal was controlled dynamics and responsiveness to touch, with clean headroom allowing subtle palm-mute variations to shine. Compression and EQ were dialed in to maintain tightness across the mix without loss of presence.

Pickups

Single-coil pickups dominated Jackson's early tone, providing the bright attack necessary for funk precision and rhythmic definition. Later equipment sometimes incorporated humbuckers for a warmer, fuller tone as Level 42 evolved toward rock-influenced arrangements. The choice prioritized clarity and responsiveness over high output, allowing his playing touch and muting technique to shape tone rather than amp saturation.

Effects & Chain

Level 42's philosophy emphasized minimal effects processing, relying instead on amp tone, compression, and careful EQ to achieve their signature sound. Occasional use of clean-boosting effects or light chorus supported specific songs, but the core tone came from direct guitar-to-amp connection without heavy reverb, delay, or distortion. This restraint forced Jackson to develop impeccable technique and touch sensitivity, core lessons for any groove-focused guitarist.

Recommended Gear

Guitar

Fender Stratocaster

Paul Jackson Jr. wielded the Stratocaster for Level 42's rhythmic precision, using its bright single-coils to cut through dense arrangements with articulate attack. The instrument's responsiveness to his palm-muting technique and touch dynamics was essential for defining the band's signature funk-rock grooves.

Guitar

Fender Telecaster

Jackson's Telecaster choice emphasized the twangy clarity needed for tight, rhythmic funk parts, with single-coil brightness that let every muted note detail shine without amp-driven tone coloring. The Tele's direct attack and note separation made it perfect for Level 42's clean, groove-focused approach.

How to Practice Level 42 on GuitarZone

Every Level 42 song page on GuitarZone includes a built-in Practice Toolbar. No app to download, no account needed. Open any song, then use the toolbar to slow the video to 0.5× speed, set an A/B loop around the exact riff you're working on, and jump between song sections instantly.

The toolbar appears automatically on every guitar tab, lesson, and cover page. Pick a song below, hit play, and start practicing at your own pace.

Practice Something About You - Guitar Lesson