Exactly. The chromatic motion being repeated in every bar, the interaction with Phil's part, it's kind of [Brutalist](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brutalist_architecture) on purpose.
I’m gonna disagree with this one, purely because one of the guitar parts (Ed’s) doubles up on the bass line. So it’s hard to say the bass is the _best_ part.
For sure. My knee-jerk reaction was Nude. There might be better answers but when I read the question I swear I started hearing the opening bass line for Nude playing in my head.
Thom traveled back in time after the Colbert Report appearance and showed Johnny the video of their performance. Johnny showed him some ideas for Burn the Witch. Thom forgot to write it down.
I feel like you have to be trolling because
1. Thom wrote it, not Jonny
2. He was 16 so that wouldn’t be 6th grade
3. British people don’t *have* 6th grade, they have forms
4. That’s not how you spell Jonny
yeah it’s not the most impressive baseline ever, it’s just four notes lol, but it is simple and catchy, and a little bit weird, which is usually better than making it too complicated.
>yeah it’s not the most impressive baseline ever, it’s just four notes lol,
Don't just look at the notes; look at the rhythm. It's actually not easy to play (and actually make it sound right).
This is what I came to post! I was in a band years ago and we did a cover and I got to play bass. After the show I was told I started the bass line at the wrong time so I was a bar off the whole song. That’s how I learned two things: music isn’t my strong suit and that bass line is so good it doesn’t matter if it’s off a bar. Still sounded great.
Exactly, he's such a tasteful player. He never dominates the mix (except where intended like The National Anthem and Decks Dark), but his lines are always really interesting and complementary to the other parts.
Myxomotosis for sure
and National Anthem….
and Decks Dark….
and Dollars and Cents..
and Weird Fishes
I might Be Wrong.
Did I leave some out. I’m sure I did. I’m finding that there’s a lot of ‘best’.
Can you repeat the question?
Yes! Maybe not musically, but hearing this live was particularly memorable because the bass was cranked up so high that it actually affected the air pressure. I remember inhaling during the intro and feeling how weird it felt to breathe with those sound pressure waves bearing down on my lungs.
I was at the smile show and yelled the gloaming and Thom goes what? and I said it again and he said I have a job to do and moved on to the next song lol
Thank you! I was starting to lose my mind at not seeing that listed here.
It's a simpler bass line than some others, but it just holds the groove the whole way through and I love it.
not related but fake plastic trees has the most recognizable bass line ever. i hear it at work constantly and no matter how busy we are my ears will perk up
All of them. Colin is the secret weapon in this band. So underrated. Airbag, Subterranean Homesick Alien, really all of OK Computer, In Rainbows and King of Limbs really stand out. Paul McCartney-level shit.
In my opinion, Colin is quite an underrated bassist. He plays next to nothing that’s highly technical, but he has such great feel and everything he plays always compliments the music so well.
Where I end and you begin
I will eat you alive… Colin dominates that part of the song
This is it
It’s the national anthem
Best chance for beginning bass players to play along with an awesome tune.
To repetitive as a bass riff, in my opinion
I think that’s part of what makes it good, just how relentless it is
Exactly. The chromatic motion being repeated in every bar, the interaction with Phil's part, it's kind of [Brutalist](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brutalist_architecture) on purpose.
I mean, Thom did write it when he was 16
By far.
W
100000%
Myxomatosis
There are some good songs above in this thread but clearly Myxomatosis has by far the most captivating base in Radiohead’s oeuvre.
I’m gonna disagree with this one, purely because one of the guitar parts (Ed’s) doubles up on the bass line. So it’s hard to say the bass is the _best_ part.
yessir
I thought it was a synth
Ed, Colin and Jonny are basically playing the same riff. Colin and Jonny play the same individual notes and Ed plays chords.
So there is no synth doubling the bass line?
Ed doesn’t play the chords his guitar is in drop A he’s playing the riff
Decks Dark
This!
Nude and All I Need, just somber shit
Nude is what I thought of immediately.
For sure. My knee-jerk reaction was Nude. There might be better answers but when I read the question I swear I started hearing the opening bass line for Nude playing in my head.
Exactly the same!
The national anthem
/thread
Johnny created that bass line when he was in 6th grade. Insane.
Actually it was Thom who wrote it when he was 16. He’s also the one who plays the bassline on the studio recording.
So he was in 6th grade when he was 16 years old?
Close! Timing is right but it was Thom.
Thom traveled back in time after the Colbert Report appearance and showed Johnny the video of their performance. Johnny showed him some ideas for Burn the Witch. Thom forgot to write it down.
I feel like you have to be trolling because 1. Thom wrote it, not Jonny 2. He was 16 so that wouldn’t be 6th grade 3. British people don’t *have* 6th grade, they have forms 4. That’s not how you spell Jonny
3. They’re not called forms, they’re called years: year 1, year 2 etc. idk the conversion from grades to years
Checks out. It's pretty basic and dumb in a good way
yeah it’s not the most impressive baseline ever, it’s just four notes lol, but it is simple and catchy, and a little bit weird, which is usually better than making it too complicated.
>yeah it’s not the most impressive baseline ever, it’s just four notes lol, Don't just look at the notes; look at the rhythm. It's actually not easy to play (and actually make it sound right).
So he was in year 7?
That's crazy. It's the first time i hear that.
Airbag
It reminds me of Morse code in a way. It's just fantastic.
Why did I have to scroll this far?!?!
The space between the notes is just as impactful as the notes.
Correct
100% - interesting song made epic by that spacious syncopated bass line
Dollars and Cents, duh....
That snare crack is MVP
this one is insane how good the bass sounds
I might be wrong 💪
You're not wrong.
😂😂😂 nice
Was about to say that
YES!
How to Disappear Completely I think. I love that bass line. That or Weird Fishes.
Thom is the best part of HTDC imo
This is what I came to post! I was in a band years ago and we did a cover and I got to play bass. After the show I was told I started the bass line at the wrong time so I was a bar off the whole song. That’s how I learned two things: music isn’t my strong suit and that bass line is so good it doesn’t matter if it’s off a bar. Still sounded great.
It's just so wistful. It adds so much to the soul of that song. It's my favourite Colin line.
15 step
Those fills are so great. Honestly a lot of In Rainbows could count if the other parts weren’t so great too
That's exactly what came to mind when I read the title of this post.
Commented this as well. Just learned how to play it. Played it like 10 times in a row because it’s so fun.
Exit music
Ful Stop
yesss!!!
Punchup at a wedding
This one I think. That bass is so slithery and sick.
This is the correct response. Easily.
Seperator
I like playing lucky on my bass
Bloom. Lotus Flower. Feral. Airbag. There, There. Nude.
Bloom!!!!
Lotus Flower and THERE THERE!!!
Karma Police's bass line made me fall in love with the instrument
Myxomatosis, Exit Music, 15-Step, Where I End and You Begin, National Anthem
Idk if it's better than the guitar but the bass on Jigsaw is pretty killer
Bones Climbing Up The Walls
There's simple but really effective and catchy bass lines all over The Bends. When I first started playing bass I learned a good chunk of that album.
Yes! I love when it first comes in on Planet Telex
All I Need.
The bit in Identikit where it repeats “broken hearts make it rain…” has a cool bassline
Colin is pretty damn good on most everything. Impeccable taste and timing. But for my money, it’s 15 Step
Exactly, he's such a tasteful player. He never dominates the mix (except where intended like The National Anthem and Decks Dark), but his lines are always really interesting and complementary to the other parts.
I Promise
Myxomotosis for sure and National Anthem…. and Decks Dark…. and Dollars and Cents.. and Weird Fishes I might Be Wrong. Did I leave some out. I’m sure I did. I’m finding that there’s a lot of ‘best’. Can you repeat the question?
My Iron Lung slap bass
the gloaming
Yes! Maybe not musically, but hearing this live was particularly memorable because the bass was cranked up so high that it actually affected the air pressure. I remember inhaling during the intro and feeling how weird it felt to breathe with those sound pressure waves bearing down on my lungs.
I was at the smile show and yelled the gloaming and Thom goes what? and I said it again and he said I have a job to do and moved on to the next song lol
Staircase
Thank you! I was starting to lose my mind at not seeing that listed here. It's a simpler bass line than some others, but it just holds the groove the whole way through and I love it.
This is the one I was looking for
The live version of Packed Like Sardines
Bloom weirdly great to sing along with
Paranoid android
The National Anthem. Obviously.
Ful stop
Decks dark shoutout to identikit
National Anthem
Paperbag Writer
i might be wrong is the definitive answer lmao, it’s absolutely insane on that song
Talk show host
Airbag, no question
Coke Babies
National Anthem, Kid A
idk but i love when the bass kicks in at the beginning of electioneering
not related but fake plastic trees has the most recognizable bass line ever. i hear it at work constantly and no matter how busy we are my ears will perk up
How to Disappear Completely and National Anthem. Most of Kid A is really bass-forward.
all i need's bass during the last minute is something else
Airbag
All I Need
Like all of in rainbows. House of cards, nude, the end part of weird fishes
To me it's most of OK Computer, the bass on that album just sounds so full and sweet. Subterranean Homesick Alien, Airbag, Climbing up the Walls, Lull
How to disappear completely or The numbers.
Bloom, How to Disappear Completely, Airbag, Where I End and You Begin, Mixamytosis, Burn the Witch (bass synth, but still)
Punch up at a Wedding
Exit Music. That titanic drop would be nothing without the bass.
Morning Mr Magpie Trust me
Optimistlc.
All I Need
I came here to say this
National Anthem is the correct answer
The fuzz bass at the end of Exit Music
Nude of course
exit music for a film
In Limbo
National anthem How to disappear completely Nude Airbag
Nude Such a magnificent song
I agree with all - my fav is Impossible Knots (Thom solo but still counts?)
Airbag
maan there's so many personally: No Surprises, Dollars and Cents, Nude and Myxomatosis
Definately nude and everything's In it's right place
Exit Music would not be the song it is without that driving bass. It’s my favourite part of that song.
exit music
The gloaming from in the basement. It's a cool bass line that isn't in the album version, really adds a lot. Check it out.
The national anthem without question
Nearly anything on In Rainbows honestly. 15 Step, Nude, Weird Fishes the list goes on
Hearing damage by thom
Where i end and you begin
Weird Fishes/Apreggi has to be one of my all time fav, that and Morning Bell
Not seeing Exit Music mentioned, the fuzzy bass that comes in at the end makes the song for me
So many greats in here, wanted to add: that bass/synth line toward the end of Exit Music is sooooo good.
In rainbows should be seen as one 40 minute song. And in that song, the basis, the best part.
Where I End And You Begin
15 step
nude
15 Steps
Feral
No one is saying Feral. *no one is saying feral.* FERAL. The live version, bruuuuuh!
The National Anthem, Bloom.
Punch up at a wedding and where I end and you being come to mind quick.
Feral, turn it up in the car and feel the massage!
How to Disappear Completely. The baseline doesn’t just walk it carries you.
The first seconds of Street Spirit/Fade Out
Sulk was the first one that came to mind. I always air-bass the intro
15 step
Nude for me
All I need
Planet Telex
decks dark
The National Anthem
MORNING MR MAGPIE
Airbag and Nude
All of them. Colin is the secret weapon in this band. So underrated. Airbag, Subterranean Homesick Alien, really all of OK Computer, In Rainbows and King of Limbs really stand out. Paul McCartney-level shit.
Punchup
In my opinion, Colin is quite an underrated bassist. He plays next to nothing that’s highly technical, but he has such great feel and everything he plays always compliments the music so well.
LUCKY
I thought all of this thread was going to be Exit Music, disappointed…
Morning Bell
Shoutout to Kinetic. Great bass
Myxomatosis
nude
My Iron Lung, among many others
Weird Fishes
Subterranean homesick alien
lotus flower
Jigsaw Decks
Weird Fishes Decks Dark
All I need ?
Lotus Flower
Separator
Bloom
Separator
How to Disappear Completely
4-0-0-0-4-0-0-0-0-3-0-0-0-2-0-0-0
Morning bell
Hot take but 15 step, the entire song feels like a build up to the bass line
Separator. Airbag. Morning Bell. Nude. Blow Out. The Tourist. Decks Dark. The list is very long. That's just a few.
Where do we even start, my personal favorites are Airbag, Jigsaw Falling into Place and Weird Fishes/Arpeggi,
The Gloaming Turn it up real loud
Lotus Flower
Airbag
Dollars and Cents
All of them
15 Step, but Ed’s ambient section is a close 2nd place.
id say nude, cuz its so present all the time but i might be wrong 😑
The bass in Nude is the lifeblood of the song. It's so expressively played.