Music Favourite Bass Line

[Lionelgee]

Hello All,

I was listening to some music on YouTube and recalled a couple of my favourite bass lines on songs. Two that immediately sprang to mind were
Pino Palladino's introduction into Paul Young's Wherever I lay my hat, accessed 6th June 2021 from, Paul Young - Wherever I Lay My Hat (That's My Home) - YouTube (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ju_a2-Pve4g)
Queen's bassist John Deacon, on Another one bites the dust, accessed 6th June 2021 from, Queen - Another One Bites the Dust (Official Video) - YouTube (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rY0WxgSXdEE)


What are some of your favourite bass lines?

Kind regards
Lionel

[RANDLOVER]

................
What are some of your favourite bass lines?

Kind regards
Lionel

My favourite bass lines are, monofilament, braid, or flourocarbon depending on conditions [biggrin], while listening to The Human League - (Keep Feeling) Fascination - YouTube (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QqqBs6kkzHE) I actually like the juxtaposition of the bass guitar vs the treble of the keyboard, and how it is mirrored in the singer's male vs female voices.

[Tote]

Probably the first time I took any notice of bass lines, Machinations - No say in it


https://youtu.be/rr7gTee_pgI

I then came to realise that most of the music I like has a really strong bass line


Regards,
Tote

[skidrov]

Les Claypool

[Vern]

Les ClaypoolDefinitely the best most innovative and percussive bass player out there, a major influence in my bass playing life.

[Landy Red]

The top 3 bass players ever in my opinion, in no order: Victor Wooten, Mark King and Jaco Pastorius. Cliff Burton and Flea worth a mention too. Oh and Ray Manzarek's left hand! Enjoy YouTubing these guys and tell me what you think. Someone should start a 'show us your bass' thread.

[loanrangie]

Queen - another one bites the dust , always get the volume wound up.

[DieselDan]

Another vote for Cliff Burton - the opening bass line in For Whom The Bell Tolls is pretty awesome (I won't post a link as it's probably full of profanity, but look up YouTube 'Day on the Green' from the Cliff 'em All video) as is all the bass effects in The Call of Ktulu. Orion also has a cool bass line.

The bass line in Hysteria by Muse or in Give it Away by Red Hot Chillis would also be up there as one of my favourites.

[Vern]

Another vote for Cliff Burton - the opening bass line in For Whom The Bell Tolls is pretty awesome (I won't post a link as it's probably full of profanity, but look up YouTube 'Day on the Green' from the Cliff 'em All video) as is all the bass effects in The Call of Ktulu. Orion also has a cool bass line.

The bass line in Hysteria by Muse or in Give it Away by Red Hot Chillis would also be up there as one of my favourites.Cliff, the only real muso in Metallica, sad loss.
I used to love playing the bit on Orion from about the 4min mark to 6.30min, still enjoy playing the basic riff. But what i forgot, was the bit after 6.30, the 'guitar solo', was actually cliff on bass! Killer.

[Vern]

Stevie Wonder, not that he played bass, but his songs have some of the funkiest bass lines ever.
Carol Kaye, probably played on the most #1 hits ever, great session bassist in her time.

[AK83]

Mary Long(Deep Purple), especially the first half.

One of the coolest bass component of any song I reckon. [thumbsupbig]

[TasD90]

Not singling out any particular bass lines but as players you have to admire Jack Bruce, Phil Lynott et.al. who not only played great bass but sang at the same time. Not easy to do.
If we include double bass it has to be Danny Thompson who played superb lines with the likes of Richard Thompson, Nick Drake, John Martyn, Rod Stewart, Donovan, Marianne Faithful and many others.


For a bass line extravaganza check out "32 20 Blues" by Back Door, bassist Colin Hodgkinson. from early 70's ?

[350RRC]

Not singling out any particular bass lines but as players you have to admire Jack Bruce, Phil Lynott et.al. who not only played great bass but sang at the same time. Not easy to do.......................


Even harder for drummers.

DL

[V8Ian]

Why bring up drummers? I thought we were discussing musicians. [bigwhistle]

[Vern]

Why bring up drummers? I thought we were discussing musicians. [bigwhistle]Thats right, they're to busy counting to be able to sing.
How does the Songo? drum solo - YouTube (https://youtu.be/gZR7hv7E9cw)

(Shameless plug of my little brother[emoji6])

[V8Ian]

Thats right, they're to bust counting to be able to sing.
How does the Songo? drum solo - YouTube (https://youtu.be/gZR7hv7E9cw)

(Shameless plug of my little brother[emoji6])
My son and grandson are also drummers.

[loanrangie]

Anything by Primus especially" Winona's big brown beaver".

[DieselDan]

Cliff, the only real muso in Metallica, sad loss.


Yeah, hard not to wonder how their music would have progressed had he survived.

On another note, I'll wager that no-one picks any tracks from And Justice For All for favourite bass lines... [emoji1787]

[Saitch]

Back to the original intent of this post. Headphones are good![thumbsupbig]


https://youtu.be/X3W7ch0oLeA

[Lionelgee]

Hello All,

Thank you for all your contributions. Apparently there are not many Funk fans who also like Land Rovers out there.

Where Wikipedia describes the following as a major feature of Funk ... It de-emphasises melody and chord progressions and focuses on a strong rhythmic groove of a bassline played by an electric bassist and a drum part played by a percussionist, often at slower tempos than other popular music. Accessed 10th June 2021 from, Funk - Wikipedia (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Funk)

Seems like it is not time to get Funky.


Kind regards
Lionel

[Lionelgee]

Stevie Wonder, not that he played bass, but his songs have some of the funkiest bass lines ever.
Carol Kaye, probably played on the most #1 hits ever, great session bassist in her time.

G'day Vern,

Thanks for posting - your comment about Stevie Wonder not playing bass guitar got me on an internet search. I grew up with Stevie dominating the local radio station. I rememeber a DJ saying that Stevie played every instrument that featured on the album. I found a bass forum and bassmonkeee Sep 13, 2000 wrote this comment...

Yes, Stevie Wonder can play bass. He was taught by none other than James Jameson when he was known as "Little Stevie Wonder."

He can play drums, keyboards, harmonica, guitar--you name it. Accessed 10th June 2021 from, Stevie Wonder did he play bass?? | TalkBass.com (https://www.talkbass.com/threads/stevie-wonder-did-he-play-bass.70071/#post-787236)

There is also this photograph on the forum disregard the third hand.... trainyourhuman posted on Apr 12, 2000 Stevie Wonder did he play bass?? | TalkBass.com (https://www.talkbass.com/threads/stevie-wonder-did-he-play-bass.70071/#post-787150).

Kind regards
Lionel

[spie]

This is what came to mind when I first saw the thread: Jane's Addiction - Three days - Simple but fantastic opening riff

[Poida4x4]

If you're talking about funk the first thing that comes to my mind is Parliament's Dr Funkenstein (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=noqMfTRKNlo). That's my default funk bassline when I pick up a bass, not that I'm much good at playing it. Bootsy Collins is a the funk bass master.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IHE6hZU72A4

Victor Wooten is the greatest bass player of all time obviously, but he's very aware that skill isn't everything


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ruMW7gsuFb0

[Vern]

G'day Vern,

Thanks for posting - your comment about Stevie Wonder not playing bass guitar got me on an internet search. I grew up with Stevie dominating the local radio station. I rememeber a DJ saying that Stevie played every instrument that featured on the album. I found a bass forum and bassmonkeee Sep 13, 2000 wrote this comment...

Yes, Stevie Wonder can play bass. He was taught by none other than James Jameson when he was known as "Little Stevie Wonder."

He can play drums, keyboards, harmonica, guitar--you name it. Accessed 10th June 2021 from, Stevie Wonder did he play bass?? | TalkBass.com (https://www.talkbass.com/threads/stevie-wonder-did-he-play-bass.70071/#post-787236)

There is also this photograph on the forum disregard the third hand.... trainyourhuman posted on Apr 12, 2000 Stevie Wonder did he play bass?? | TalkBass.com (https://www.talkbass.com/threads/stevie-wonder-did-he-play-bass.70071/#post-787150).

Kind regards
LionelI should have said, not that he played bass on his albums.

[DieselDan]

Don't mind a bit of funk, just don't know any tunes well enough to quote a favourite bass line!

Years ago I used to car share to work with a bloke who was into funk, blues and jazz.
Listened to all sorts, from Victor Wooten, Jaco Pastorius and Herbie Hancock.
It was all great stuff and I really like it, but apart from a few Herbie Hancock tunes, I couldn't name any of them!

Another couple of favourite bass lines have come to mind - I Wanna be Adored and Fools Gold by Stone Roses.

[Lionelgee]

Hello All,

Here is a song from 1973 with a pretty good bass accessed 14th June 2021 from, Golden Earring - Radar Love (1973) HD 0815007 - YouTube (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zf53Pg2AkdY)

Kind regards
Lionel

[BradC]

Joan Armatrading-Drop The Pilot





Joan Armatrading-Drop The Pilot - YouTube (https://youtu.be/ifARMmcqhD8)

My favourite bass lines are simple. This one just has a couple of nice runs in it.
Love the bass lines in ABBA stuff too.

I'm a passable guitarist but I also play drums and bass (adequately). I tend to subscribe to the "as simple as possible and as complex as necessary" school, mainly because I have the feel but not the skills. Due to arthritis in the knuckles I moved from guitar to bass about 6 years ago as I couldn't get through a 3 hour gig without handfuls of ibuprofen.

Another of my all time favs. Nivram

The Shadows - Nivram - YouTube (https://youtu.be/kZla1n5VPm8)

[Tote]

Hello All,

Here is a song from 1973 with a pretty good bass accessed 14th June 2021 from, Golden Earring - Radar Love (1973) HD 0815007 - YouTube (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zf53Pg2AkdY)

Kind regards
Lionel


Another good one from Golden earring is Twilight Zone, Golden Earring - Twilight Zone (HQ) - YouTube (https://youtu.be/HTTAPCUtbc8)

Regards,
Tote

[Saitch]

Bass guitar adapted to Bach.


https://youtu.be/pqxwXla3-Bw

[V8Ian]

Bass guitar adapted to Bach.


https://youtu.be/pqxwXla3-Bw
What do you call that bit of pipe he's blowing into and do you have to stand on one leg to make it work? [bighmmm]

[Homestar]

What do you call that bit of pipe he's blowing into and do you have to stand on one leg to make it work? [bighmmm]

Standing on one leg helps yes. 😆😇 I play the Flute and could play this when I was younger. Used to try and emulate Ian Anderson but he’s a friggin genius and I’m not. 😁. He’s got better balance too. wonder if that’s the Shiraz that’s holding me back...

[BradC]

I play the Flute and could play this when I was younger. Used to try and emulate Ian Anderson but he’s a friggin genius and I’m not. 😁. He’s got better balance too. wonder if that’s the Shiraz that’s holding me back...

Mate, if you play an instrument and you *don't* sound better after Shiraz then you're doing it wrong. The more I drink the better I play and sound (to me anyway).

[Saitch]

Mate, if you play an instrument and you *don't* sound better after Shiraz then you're doing it wrong. The more I drink the better I play and sound (to me anyway).

Spot on, Brad. It definitely makes one's playing more fluid!

[Saitch]

Very simple, but very effective.

https://youtu.be/nXiQtD5gcHU

[jerryd]

Very simple, but very effective.

https://youtu.be/nXiQtD5gcHU

My kind of music Steve [smilebigeye]

Written by Norman Whitfield in the ''psychedelic period'' of mowtown, it would be the Temptations' last number one hit and would win them their second and final Grammy Award in a competitive category.

Here's the 12 minute version

The Temptations - Papa Was A Rolling Stone (Album Version) - YouTube (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e-RVs5Z6uYs&t=1s)

[Lionelgee]

Hello All,

I forgot about this one... the original version ... not the Santana one... the original has a definite bass Accessed 24th August 2021 from, The Zombies - She's Not There - YouTube (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_2hXBf1DakE).

Kind regards
Lionel

[Lionelgee]

Hello All,,

Then there is a home grown classic - Reckless by Australian Crawl, accessed 24th August 2021 from, Australian Crawl - Reckless (1983) - YouTube (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JIrUqsB-0vw)

Kind regards
Lionel

[Landy Red]

I once learned the bach cello suites (on bass) by ear, and had a friend tell me where to turn the pages, (which I memorised.) so I could pretend to read music in order to pass a year 12 music pre tertiary exam. Decided against keeping up that trick for the conservatorium of music audition as I would have been found out sooner or later... Turns out you don't really need to know how to read music in order to hear it and play it.
Bass guitar adapted to Bach.


https://youtu.be/pqxwXla3-Bw

[350RRC]

.................... Turns out you don't really need to know how to read music in order to hear it and play it.

That's right! Hendrix couldn't read music.

He could play part of the bass line with his thumb whilst playing lead.....live.

Jimi Hendrix - Johnny B. Goode - YouTube (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ss_rk-RITts)

[Lionelgee]

Hello All,

Oh I forgot about this opening bass line - shame on me .... Plus, the same track features David Gilmour ripping along a lap-steel slide guitar; it is pretty hard to beat!

Accessed 9th of June 2022 from, David Gilmour - One of These Days (Live At Pompeii) - YouTube (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ABPQdXertbs)

Kind regards
Lionel

[PerthDisco]

Intro to “I Wanna be Adored” by Stone Roses so so good. You cannot play this too loud.

The Stone Roses - I Wanna Be Adored (Official Video) - YouTube (https://youtu.be/4D2qcbu26gs)

[Saitch]

Good old Tom. This is sooo cool.


https://youtu.be/ONYNMU527D0

[Vern]

Good old Tom. This is sooo cool.


https://youtu.be/ONYNMU527D0Speaking of Tom Waits, here he is featuring in one of Primus' classics.
Primus - Tommy The Cat - YouTube (https://youtu.be/r4OhIU-PmB8)

[towe0609]

Infectious Grooves - Punk It Up - YouTube (https://youtu.be/Ob3buKk6ALc)

[Saitch]

It's only for the music now.


https://youtu.be/aLnZ1NQm2uk

[Lionelgee]

Hello All,

I have just been reminded about how fluid, uncomplicated yet sophisticated the bass is on this song... Then again look at the artist singing - synonymous with smooth... Accessed 13th April 2023 from, Sade - Why can't we live Together ? - Montreux Jazz Festival ( 1984 ) - YouTube (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=clbqKFM5oQY)

Kind regards
Lionel

[ChookD2]

Heard this today and thought of this thread.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WYv3pjFr5oA

[Johnno1969]

I've just looked at the first five pages of this thread. I may have missed something, but it appears that there hasn't been a single mention of John Entwistle yet. Gosh.

[Cambo_oldjaguar]

Alright, for me it's not just a "bass line" but a combination of the right tone, in a song where the bass makes it all come together, might not be the most technical or flashy playing, not everyone is Claypool, but a song where the bass is prominent, and done just right.

So here is my top five, and like Rick Beato says in the top five they are all interchangeable...

Billy Gould, Faith No More, Evidence


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7lvMNLhJrb0

It's a tight, modern, compressed tone, locked in with the kick, but the most prominent sound in the song, the only thing that really moves up & down. Not overly complicated but it's just hot, one of my favourites.

Victor Damiani, CAKE, The Distance


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F_HoMkkRHv8

The tone is FAT, and it's a slick groove, right in the pocket, moves around to keep the song driving along without being too wild. Probably one of the most overlooked bass tracks from the 90's.

Lenny Kravitz, It Ain't Over Till It's Over


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TmENMZFUU_0

Despite what you see in the music video, Lenny actually played all the instruments on this track; drums, guitar, piano, and the bass. And the bass, man this is such a cool groove, you can just picture him smiling as he played it, just nailed it.

Tony Levin, Peter Gabriel, Sledgehammer


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OJWJE0x7T4Q

I don't know if there's anything I can say about this that hasn't already been said. For me this is one of the iconic bass performances of all time.

Nick Seymour, Crowded House, Don't Dream It's Over


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J9gKyRmic20

What gets me about this one is the space he leaves; like play nothing on this beat, empty, it'd be so tempting to fill the gaps but he leaves them. The tone with a pick is also kinda jarring, but somehow suits it perfectly. And again the bass very prominent, in your face which is also kind of jarring with the pick tone and empty spaces. This is a classy performance for me.

Honorable mention!

Joe Chemay, Shania Twain, You've Got a Way (international)


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mMZwrCP1tCs

Well think it's Joe Chemay. The fretless bass on this track was kind of lost in the mainstream mix releases, but somehow back in the day 97 or 98 I think, I had the "international" release of this CD and the bass on this track, was just, wow.
This international version of the song is very different, less over-reaching production, a bit simpler than the version you'd normally hear on the radio. But this fretless playing is just slick, nailed it.

Don't forget to like and subscribe, and put your top five down in the comments LOL

[ozscott]

My favourite Bass line is a good braid at about 10lb and then either fluoro or nylon leader depending on whether I am fishing top water or sub-surface.

Cheers

[Lionelgee]

Hello All,

Another one for a smooth bass line that just mellows you out: Timothy B. Schmit of The Eagles I can't tell you why. Accessed 24th April 2023 from Eagles - I can't tell you why (Original Video) - YouTube (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iP97m8jwRfE).

From an Australian source - just as equally as mellow - Accessed 24th April 2023 from Australian Crawl - Reckless (1983) - YouTube (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JIrUqsB-0vw) .... Australian Crawl Reckless

All chilled out now?

Kind regards
Lionel

[NavyDiver]

I am more a braid line type now, Tuna lines get a mix of Mono [biggrin]



https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EhZWQ5_dcNY


A bit of Meghan rocks it for some


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7PCkvCPvDXk

[Lionelgee]

Hello All,

A good example provided by Steely Dan... Rikki Don't Lose That Number, accessed 14th October 2023 from, Rikki Don't Lose That Number - YouTube (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3tvRSFAVAqU)

[Lionelgee]

Hello All,

I figured I might dust off this old thread.... good close up of a base string vibrating away too. Plus, it is home grown Australian talent. One of the few of their songs that the lyrics can be fully deciphered too.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yEPp5gJaCXM

Enjoy

Kind regards
Lionel