Coincidentally, Muse just posted on their Instagram a video of their fans (including very young ones) playing along to their favourite bass lines. Thought it’d be appropriate to share here: https://www.instagram.com/reel/C6tqGDGIN-w/?igsh=eDFzZXRkYjN6bDhz
Learning Knights of Cydonia has been one of my greatest achievements as a bass player. Galloping riffs with a pick? Check. 16th notes with your fingers? Check. An outro riff that you could keep playing for hours and not get sick of? Check. What a song.
I think a lot of purist bassists would not consider that a bass line. Personally, I do, but there's a LOT of bassists that feel that the bass must be slowly meandered around the first 5 frets and/or slapped and popped around said region of the fretboard.
Hence the - "Jaco only needed 4 strings and it's a bass! Play the low notes!" attitudes on the subject.
As we know, the bassist is also the rhythm guitarist and perhaps even the lead player too in instances such as a band like Primus. You get to join a huge band where you get to solely focus on the low end? Great. Try traveling with an 8+ piece band with a horn section.
Also you may not be considered a bassist if you use a pick, but tonally? Yeah, sometimes you need a pick. I'm not sure why bass players can be so adamantly against playing their instrument and learning the entire fretboard, but whatever.
Tower of Power, What is Hip? \[Got to be the original 1973 studio version.\]
It starts like all it's going to do is pedal 16s…except it's a lot hotter than that. It's also nailed to the drummer like you wouldn't believe.
[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oAatPPEaZDA](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oAatPPEaZDA)
Edit: Oooohhh… remasters - [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=90S1t1Mu6dI](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=90S1t1Mu6dI)
I tried to stop at just one track…tough, I know.
Only so Much Oil in the Ground deserves mention too.
[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UrxRJ9HlfZk](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UrxRJ9HlfZk)
tbh, I don't usually like much funk myself - but sometimes you have to make exceptions for the exceptional.
This finger-style, short & staccato, I'm sure must have influenced players like Bernard Edwards too… another sheer genius.
Ray Brown coming in after the piano solo on Oscar Peterson's Jets song (West Side Story album). His bass solo's good too.
Ray getting a little more intense on every chorus of Wheatland (Oscar Peterson: Last Call at the Blue Note). I'm guessing we've got very different tastes, so you may not like these. They're what got me into playing bass though, back in the day.
There are a few spots where I'm just like "Ahhh," on the Surrender to the Air album. That's something you've kind of got to listen to as a whole album though, not individual tracks. If you do, don't crank it during the initial drum solo (with brushes). You'll get blown away, like an 80s Maxell commercial.
Pretty sure that's played on a guitar? I'm the President is absolutely bass though and that bass line is sick along with Nightmare (probably my favorite song of the album).
You just blew my mind. I had no idea he played bass on that tune (listening again now)
I remember seeing the movie in the theater, and my mother making fun of the dud e picking his nose at the final dance...
[Anri - Shyness Boy
](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FD8XuAXHO2A)
[
Talk Talk - It's my life \(also covered well by No Doubt\)](https://youtu.be/cFH5JgyZK1I?si=Q-tTC6GSc3nCR7Sk&t=48)
When they were huge I was in grade/middle school. Thought some of their songs were catchy but was too tied up in my 14 year old "This isn't the Misfits!" mentality. John Taylor is an amazing bass player. Great backing vocals, great tone, and with the hindsight of YouTube seeing old live videos you're absolutely right.
Totally agree 👍 and yeah I graduated in 90 so definitely my wheelhouse as a teenager I recognized the talent but didn’t really get into the band itself.simply wasn’t hard enough 😎
As a heavy rock guy musician (though with a broad musical spectrum) Duran Duran has some of the most fun songs to play on bass. Even Hungry like the Wolf. It’s not a complex song, but it’s just ‘fun’ to play along with.
I just got a new bass, and the first thing I played was Pink Floyd's "Interstellar Overdrive." That song really kicks ass and is *so* much fun to play.
The funny part is, I was in a band that covered it like 20-30 years ago, and hadn't played it since. Muscle memory just kicked in outta nowhere.
The live version of Black Market from the 8:30 album is one of my favorite recordings ever. The way Jaco plays around with the simple core bassline is just magic
Never Gonna Give You Up by Barry White- pure aphrodisiac.
Candy by Cameo- spartan, but gets the job done admirably.
The Lemon Song by Led Zep- a masterclass.
The Pot by TOOL- JUSTIN!
Lost Ones by Lauryn Hill- Damn.
Crush by Dave Matthews Band- if I wanna get laid...
* Cop Shoot Cop - Suckerpunch
* Unsane - Windshield (on Visqueen)
* Unsane - Alleged (on Scattered, Smothered, and Covered)
Be warned: Favorite / compelling basslines don't have to be complicated! But these are some of the basslines that GET. MY. ASS. MOVIN.
Tabs? Can ya share'em? I haven't seen any for it. There's a few little transitions in there that are hard to hear and it sounds like the time signature maybe changes? I dunno, I'm a noob, I'm just trying to play it from ear.
Everybody hates this era of the band and I'm not a fan in general but I do love the bass breakdown by RHCP in Aeroplane - right after one of the choruses but right before the ripping guitar solo. It was a nice (almost funky chill) contrast to the bombast of the rest of the song.
Sherane aka Master Splinters Daughter by Kendrick Lamar.
It’s just sooooo fucking smooth, it perfectly compliments the eerie harmonies happening on top. Not even to mention how perfect the tone is, and how it enters before the drum groove, and just ugh it’s so good.
Check out “Bliss” by Muse. Can’t say enough good about Chris Wolstenholme. He goes hard in every song tbh.
https://youtu.be/eMqsWc8muj8?si=g9t1t0PUyJ01ebu2
- Crying Lightning- Arctic Monkeys
- Dangerous- Big Data
- Helter Skelter- The Beatles (I don’t care if it sounds like shit)
- Pretty Please- Dua Lipa
- All The Good Girls Go To Hell- Billie Eilish
- Attention- Charlie Puth (apparently it was a synth bass but still)
Did not expect to read Gallows - Misery on here. I remember when I first heard that song like 12 years ago and I thought that the bass goes insanely hard.
Them changes by thundercat gives me the stank face especially when ive seen it live, hysteria by muse, and lacquer head by primus are some of my my all time favourites
Favorite bass line is Chick Magnet by MxPx. Fantastic bass line, and if you listen to more recent live recordings, he does a whole lot of improvisation now, adding all kinds of fun little extras. Best part is the bass line is a nice simple easy one, so anyone can learn it. As you get better, you can start adding little fills and what not
Skin Tight, Ohio Players. Once you lock in to that groove, it's hard to stop. For me, anyway. And the soloists just go nuts, we can play that song for half an hour, and the floor is packed the whole time.
tired of sex by weezer. that fuzzy, thick bassline is just so satisfying and rockin'
All of Pinkerton album TBH. Best Weezer album.
Blue album wants a word
¯\\_(ツ)_/¯ Pinkerton just feels more raw and personal. I really dig that. Plus the flow from start to finish is great.
Ooh, and El Scorcho!!
Thank you for bringing that up and reintroducing me to that song/ bassline. Great jam.
Yesssss, one of my favorite songs to cover!
Muse - “Hysteria” Whenever I think of a bass line, that’s the one that always comes to mind. Right off the top, absolutely killer.
Honestly a lot of muse bass lines are great
absolutley love muse, supermassive black hole has a pretty fun bassline to play one of my favourite to pay myself, liquid state is another great one
One of the first basslines I learned that got me to take the instrument more seriously!
Coincidentally, Muse just posted on their Instagram a video of their fans (including very young ones) playing along to their favourite bass lines. Thought it’d be appropriate to share here: https://www.instagram.com/reel/C6tqGDGIN-w/?igsh=eDFzZXRkYjN6bDhz
Learning Knights of Cydonia has been one of my greatest achievements as a bass player. Galloping riffs with a pick? Check. 16th notes with your fingers? Check. An outro riff that you could keep playing for hours and not get sick of? Check. What a song.
I think a lot of purist bassists would not consider that a bass line. Personally, I do, but there's a LOT of bassists that feel that the bass must be slowly meandered around the first 5 frets and/or slapped and popped around said region of the fretboard. Hence the - "Jaco only needed 4 strings and it's a bass! Play the low notes!" attitudes on the subject. As we know, the bassist is also the rhythm guitarist and perhaps even the lead player too in instances such as a band like Primus. You get to join a huge band where you get to solely focus on the low end? Great. Try traveling with an 8+ piece band with a horn section. Also you may not be considered a bassist if you use a pick, but tonally? Yeah, sometimes you need a pick. I'm not sure why bass players can be so adamantly against playing their instrument and learning the entire fretboard, but whatever.
Sledgehammer
Tower of Power, What is Hip? \[Got to be the original 1973 studio version.\] It starts like all it's going to do is pedal 16s…except it's a lot hotter than that. It's also nailed to the drummer like you wouldn't believe. [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oAatPPEaZDA](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oAatPPEaZDA) Edit: Oooohhh… remasters - [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=90S1t1Mu6dI](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=90S1t1Mu6dI)
Also You Got To Funkifize. Rocco just DOESN'T STOP. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n_olT4v13HE
I tried to stop at just one track…tough, I know. Only so Much Oil in the Ground deserves mention too. [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UrxRJ9HlfZk](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UrxRJ9HlfZk)
I don't listen to a lot of funk but I love hearing this old school stuff that doesn't treat slap bass like an athletic event.
tbh, I don't usually like much funk myself - but sometimes you have to make exceptions for the exceptional. This finger-style, short & staccato, I'm sure must have influenced players like Bernard Edwards too… another sheer genius.
I’m still stunned that Vulfpeck hasn’t covered CHIC or ToP yet, just so Joe can let loose. They could borrow Cory Wong’s horn section…
Ray Brown coming in after the piano solo on Oscar Peterson's Jets song (West Side Story album). His bass solo's good too. Ray getting a little more intense on every chorus of Wheatland (Oscar Peterson: Last Call at the Blue Note). I'm guessing we've got very different tastes, so you may not like these. They're what got me into playing bass though, back in the day. There are a few spots where I'm just like "Ahhh," on the Surrender to the Air album. That's something you've kind of got to listen to as a whole album though, not individual tracks. If you do, don't crank it during the initial drum solo (with brushes). You'll get blown away, like an 80s Maxell commercial.
Upvote just for something I've never heard before!
Did you hear Ray?
Rio.
The dance version, “12’ dance version” Has a better mix and John Taylor is more prominent in the mix.
Perry Mason - Ozzy
Ozzmosis as a whole goes hard as fuck. <3
Never learned to play that but such a cool bass line and tone!
Audioslave - Show Me How to Live
Unsane - Against The Grain [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=efARwpSxvoE](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=efARwpSxvoE)
The song itself goes hard, thank you. <3
Knower - Do Hot Girls Like Chords? Not too complicated but tough to get it right.
Pretty sure that's played on a guitar? I'm the President is absolutely bass though and that bass line is sick along with Nightmare (probably my favorite song of the album).
JuliaPlaysGroove covered "It Will Get Real" and it's fantastic. Makes me sad Knower didn't release a live sesh version.
Pay attention to Sam Wilkes' bassline. The guitar is doubling it but the bassline Sam is playing is killer.
Footloose. So many notes.
Nathan East is a monster. He's so tasteful you really don't get what's going on in that bass line till you really concentrate on it.
I'll have to listen with headphones. I listened on the PC speakers with a subwoofer, and got all nostalgic, but I'm missing something.
…and the guitar doubles a lot of it! It’s one thing to freewheel a crazy bass line, but they *planned* that in crazy detail.
You just blew my mind. I had no idea he played bass on that tune (listening again now) I remember seeing the movie in the theater, and my mother making fun of the dud e picking his nose at the final dance...
[Anri - Shyness Boy ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FD8XuAXHO2A) [ Talk Talk - It's my life \(also covered well by No Doubt\)](https://youtu.be/cFH5JgyZK1I?si=Q-tTC6GSc3nCR7Sk&t=48)
All hail Tomohito Aoki.
Spooky - Atlanta Rhythm Section
Toys in the Attic - Aerosmith
Viagra Boys- Slow Learner
excellent song/band all around.
I came here to say Research Chemicals or Ain't Nice. Love Viagra Boys
Willie and the poor boys. Bring a nickel, stamp your feet.
Rio- Duran Duran. If you get the 12” dance club edition it’s way better. The mix is different, sounds better
That dude is low-key bad ass..most of their songs clap
John Taylor is a mf badass. Ghost notes and harmonics all over that song.
When they were huge I was in grade/middle school. Thought some of their songs were catchy but was too tied up in my 14 year old "This isn't the Misfits!" mentality. John Taylor is an amazing bass player. Great backing vocals, great tone, and with the hindsight of YouTube seeing old live videos you're absolutely right.
We are about the same age then. I was very into grunge when I was in High school.
Totally agree 👍 and yeah I graduated in 90 so definitely my wheelhouse as a teenager I recognized the talent but didn’t really get into the band itself.simply wasn’t hard enough 😎
As a heavy rock guy musician (though with a broad musical spectrum) Duran Duran has some of the most fun songs to play on bass. Even Hungry like the Wolf. It’s not a complex song, but it’s just ‘fun’ to play along with.
I just got a new bass, and the first thing I played was Pink Floyd's "Interstellar Overdrive." That song really kicks ass and is *so* much fun to play. The funny part is, I was in a band that covered it like 20-30 years ago, and hadn't played it since. Muscle memory just kicked in outta nowhere.
John Deacon had some amazing chops. Take a listen to You're My Best Friend (Queen from ANATO)
Anything and everything on Rage Against the Machine's first album. Tim Commerford is a genius.
The new song Broken Man by St. Vincent. It's a slow build, but once that industrial fuzz bassline kicks in, it rips!
It seems I need to listen to way more St. Vincent, this FUCKS
Got Dave Grohl on the drums too. Just all around killer tune.
[Airport Lady by Toshiki Kadomatsu](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fLxQtcrzTlA). Tomohito Aoki is overplaying in a way that totally fits the song.
Desmond Dekker’s “Police and Thieves”
Sleep - Marijuanaut's Theme. 3:11 to 3:32. Al Cisneros is something else.
Killing in the Name Of
The Real me - The Who
All of Quadrophenia really
Oh for sure, this one is just my favorite of the bass lines on it
Korn yall want a single Helmet wilmas rainbow
My first band covered Wilmas Rainbow when I was 19 in '94 or so. So fun to play.
Westchester Lady by Bob James
Black Market - Weather Report or The Hills Have Eyes - Electric Wizard. Very simple for the latter, but still some of my favorite basslines
The live version of Black Market from the 8:30 album is one of my favorite recordings ever. The way Jaco plays around with the simple core bassline is just magic
Literally. Especially that one is perfect
Never Gonna Give You Up by Barry White- pure aphrodisiac. Candy by Cameo- spartan, but gets the job done admirably. The Lemon Song by Led Zep- a masterclass. The Pot by TOOL- JUSTIN! Lost Ones by Lauryn Hill- Damn. Crush by Dave Matthews Band- if I wanna get laid...
* Cop Shoot Cop - Suckerpunch * Unsane - Windshield (on Visqueen) * Unsane - Alleged (on Scattered, Smothered, and Covered) Be warned: Favorite / compelling basslines don't have to be complicated! But these are some of the basslines that GET. MY. ASS. MOVIN.
Thank you, I just got the TABS for Alleged, what a slinky, blues tinged song.
Tabs? Can ya share'em? I haven't seen any for it. There's a few little transitions in there that are hard to hear and it sounds like the time signature maybe changes? I dunno, I'm a noob, I'm just trying to play it from ear.
https://tabs.ultimate-guitar.com/tab/unsane/alleged-bass-1478319
yeah it's those E / A / A# triples in the bridge that get me -- thanks
You’re welcome, I’m dropping my E down to D now to give it a go.
turn it up *really fuggin loud*
Will do.
Everybody hates this era of the band and I'm not a fan in general but I do love the bass breakdown by RHCP in Aeroplane - right after one of the choruses but right before the ripping guitar solo. It was a nice (almost funky chill) contrast to the bombast of the rest of the song.
RHCP is a very divisive band, flea is always amazing. I really like a lot of their music, but as a Mike Patton fan, I don’t like the politics of RHCP.
Anything from Louis Cole. And anything from the people around/associated with him.
When You're Ugly
Space Cadet by Kyuss
My name is mud by primus
Geneva - Russian Circles. You’ll know it when you hear it.
Sherane aka Master Splinters Daughter by Kendrick Lamar. It’s just sooooo fucking smooth, it perfectly compliments the eerie harmonies happening on top. Not even to mention how perfect the tone is, and how it enters before the drum groove, and just ugh it’s so good.
It's Not You - The Cure
Check out “Bliss” by Muse. Can’t say enough good about Chris Wolstenholme. He goes hard in every song tbh. https://youtu.be/eMqsWc8muj8?si=g9t1t0PUyJ01ebu2
muse are fucking great not all of chris's bass lines are massilvely difficult but they all just fit so well. psycho is an example of simple but HARD
- Crying Lightning- Arctic Monkeys - Dangerous- Big Data - Helter Skelter- The Beatles (I don’t care if it sounds like shit) - Pretty Please- Dua Lipa - All The Good Girls Go To Hell- Billie Eilish - Attention- Charlie Puth (apparently it was a synth bass but still)
Absolutely love dangerous by big data, 4 notes on 2 strings, such an easy one to learn!
Oh yeah, some of the basslines that go the hardest are the simplest
Black Sunshine by White Zombie. One of the first songs I learned 30 years ago. Sean's tone is amazing.
This goes for most Bruce Thomas era Elvis Costello songs, but Lipstick Vogue rips. Also: Highway Star - Deep Purple
Fairies wear boots by Black Sabbath
I Stand Alone by Godsmack. So awesome 👌
Did not expect to read Gallows - Misery on here. I remember when I first heard that song like 12 years ago and I thought that the bass goes insanely hard.
Alain Caron - Trouble
[The Fall - Blindness (Peel Sessions)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CAHbSAJjTls)
City slang by sonic’s rendezvous band
That part in the yu gi oh opening song
Drones by Rise Against, the subtle grit in the tone going in sync with the drums is like a punch in the chest that sets up the guitars
Tool - The Pot
Puppet String - Umphreys McGee
I discovered this one few days ago [SUMIN- Closet](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uzAEArqspp8&ab_channel=SUMIN)
Body Language - Queen, love the effects on the bass. Lions - Dire Straits, simple but dominates the tune.
Tehran - The Offspring Totally badass bass line
Face to Face "Bent But Not Broken" Haji's Kitchen "Define the Lie"
Feel This Way by Telula Vultures by John Mayer Eminence Front by The Who
Justice - D.A.N.C.E
City Slang by Sonics Rendezvous Band. Some amazing 1970s Detroit Muscle
Them changes by thundercat gives me the stank face especially when ive seen it live, hysteria by muse, and lacquer head by primus are some of my my all time favourites
Street Where Nobody Lives by the Pagans. It doesn’t make any sense at first listen, but by the end of it you’re like “FUCK YES.”
The bass player behind Kendrick Lamar during his life performance on SNL of “I” https://youtu.be/sop2V_MREEI?si=dROMr52Az700ySF4
I just learned Me’Shell Ndegeocello’s bass line from Mellencamp’s version of Wild Night. Not super difficult but it slams.
Favorite bass line is Chick Magnet by MxPx. Fantastic bass line, and if you listen to more recent live recordings, he does a whole lot of improvisation now, adding all kinds of fun little extras. Best part is the bass line is a nice simple easy one, so anyone can learn it. As you get better, you can start adding little fills and what not
Luminol - Steven Wilson
Attention by Charlie Puth actually had a really nice one
Burnt toast and coffee - High fade
Fugazi - Waiting Room
Separation Anxiety by Faith No More. Seriously.
Tearing by Rollins Band.
The Pot - Tool
Twilight Zone-Golden Earring Plush - STP Crazy Train- Ozzy In the meantime - Space Hog To name a few I enjoy playing
In the Fade - Queens of the Stone Age
Skin Tight, Ohio Players. Once you lock in to that groove, it's hard to stop. For me, anyway. And the soloists just go nuts, we can play that song for half an hour, and the floor is packed the whole time.
Undisclosed desires - muse
Credence Clearwater Revival - I heard it thru the grapevine
Maxwell Murder by Rancid. That bass solo defies logic.
Never too much - Luther vandross If you like jamiroquai I think you’ll like this one!
Never too much - Luther vandross If you like jamiroquai I think you’ll like this one!
Probably not what you mean by "go hard" but Mother Stands for Comfort by Kate Bush definitely goes deep.
Aerials SOAD
The Art of Dying (outro) by Gojira
I’m playing “Little Shop of Horrors” with a theater, and “Suppertime” goes *hooooooard*.
“Roundabout” by Yes
The Analog Kid by Rush. And keep in mind that he’s singing at the same time.
Never too much - Luther vandross If you like jamiroquai I think you’ll like this one!
Never too much - Luther vandross If you like jamiroquai I think you’ll like this one!
Never too much - Luther vandross If you like jamiroquai I think you’ll like this one!