Bela Lugosi's Dead

Classic Gothic bass line. A simple bass line where tone and feeling matter a lot.

Song: Bela Lugosi's Dead
Artist / Band: Bauhaus
Album: Bela Lugosi's Dead (single)
Bass: David J
Year: 1979

bass tab (external link)

Some Kind of Wonderful

Suggested by TB user Hankzazoid, this is a song I have actually covered on a gig - and have completely forgotten ever since.

Song: Every Breath You Take
Artist / Band: Grand Funk Railroad
Album: All the Girls in the World Beware!!!
Bass: Mel Schacher
Year: 1974

bass tab (external link)

Play That Funky Music

A cool song with a cool, groovy and simple bass line.
Not that it matters, but would you say that this song does, indeed, sound white to you?

Song: Play That Funky Music
Artist / Band: Wild Cherry
Album: Wild Cherry
Bass: Larry Brown
Year: 1976

bass tab (external link)

Queen Bitch

Another great bassline by Trevor Bolder for a song by David Bowie. The chorus part is particularly good.

Song: Queen Bitch
Artist / Band: David Bowie
Album: Hunky Dory
Bass: Trevor Bolder
Year: 1971

bass tab (external link)

No Woman No Cry

It's been some time since we had some reggae on the blog, so here it is another classic example, also by Bob Marley. The bassline - a classic in itself - is from Aston Barret. Check out the "verse for the more advanced bassists" on the bass tab.

Song: No Woman No Cry
Artist / Band: Bob Marley & The Wailers
Album: Natty Dread
Bass: Aston Barret
Year: 1974

Bass tab (external link)

Good Times

Disco is another musical style where the bass is very important. And here's a bassline from that genre that has become very influential not only to disco, but also pop, rock and hip-hop.

Song: Good Times
Artist / Band: Chic
Album: Risqué
Bass: Bernard Edwards
Year: 1979

Bass tab (external link)

Donna Lee

The first track on the first album by a bass genius who was first in many, many aspects. This is a cover of a Miles Davis song, played with bass and congas only.

Song: Donna Lee
Artist / Band: Jaco Pastorius
Album: Jaco Pastorius
Bass: Jaco Pastorius
Year: 1976

Bass tab (external link)

Roundabout

Eventually you'll find basslines you love in songs you, well, don't like that much. Roundabout, by Yes, is such case for me.
Chris Squire is amazing on this one, though.

Song: Roundabout
Artist / Band: Yes
Album: Fragile
Bass: Chris Squire
Year: 1971

Bass tab (external link)

Money

This song (mostly) in 7/4, written by Roger Waters, was one of the first pieces I've learned how to play on the bass. I really enjoy how Water's bassline makes the exotic time signature sound very natural.

Song:Money
Artist / Band: Pink Floyd
Album:Dark Side Of The Moon
Bass: Roger Waters
Year: 1973

Bass tab (external link)

London Calling

One of the most famous album covers in rock and roll history has a photo of Paul Simonon about to smash his Fender on stage. The album is called London Calling, the third by UK punk rock band The Clash.

This is one of the most recognisable Clash bass lines. I could be wrong here, but I think Simonon's work is much better and much more original than any other punk bassist around. Because of its Reggae influence, maybe. Anyway, this is a bassline that, 30 years later, doesn't sound outdated at all. No wonder Damon Albarn called him to join his supergroup, "The Good, The Bad and The Queen" - but that's material for another post...

Song:London Calling
Artist / Band: The Clash
Album:London Calling
Bass: Paul Simonon
Year: 1979

Bass tab (external link)

Stir It Up

Reggae, at last! This is a musical style that really favours the bass: you can really hear the bass on a reggae song. Bass players such as Aston Barrett, bass player for the Wailers and creator of so many lines, are the ones who gave reggae music a great deal of its sonic identity. Barrett was a great influence on modern bassists like Flea, for instance.

Plus, he has 52 children.

On a personal note, that's one of the first bass lines I've been taught how to play.

Song:Stir It Up
Artist / Band: Bob Marley and The Wailers
Album:Babylon by Bus
Bass: Aston Barrett
Year: 1978(?)

Bass tab (external link) - Warning: the bass tab might reference another version of this song.

Down in the Tube Station at Midnight

Another British bass. This time, a mod one. Bruce Foxton's bassline for this song by The Jam is amazing in its energy. You can feel it driving the song away. Bruce Foxton is one of those bassists we don't hear a lot about, but we should.

Thanks the reader BottomEnd for the reminder on this one!

Song:Down In The Tube Station At Midnight
Artist / Band: The Jam
Album:All Mod Cons
Bass: Bruce Foxton
Year: 1978

Bass tab (external link)

Lady Fantasy

I was never a Progressive Rock fan, but I must admit that there are a few songs (and even bands) that I like. A friend introduced me to Camel, and I really enjoyed the bass from this track from their album, Mirage. The best part, for me at least, is the riff that starts around 9:10. 9:10!!!

Song: Lady Fantasy
Artist / Band: Camel
Album:Mirage
Bass: Doug Ferguson
Year: 1974

Diamonds on my windshield

This is from The Heart of Saturday Night, the second Tom Waits album I ever bought (the first one was Raindogs and the third, Bone Machine. That's quite a range!). I really, really love his work - and he is my favourite artist, so it's just logical that some of his songs should feature here.

I could post one of his songs featuring Les Claypool - and I probably will one of these days - but I think this one, from his second album, ha a great example of a jazzy walking bass that really drives the song throughout its 3:12 minutes. Played by Jim Jughart.

This was played on a double-bass, and it should be hard to play it on a bass guitar and achieve the same sonority (well, a fretless bass could have a better chance). I wish I had taken double-bass classes (I actually had a couple of lessons, but left the music school for an internship - what a shame).

Song: Diamonds On My Windshield
Artist / Band: Tom Waits
Album:The Heart of Saturday Night
Bass: Jim Jughart
Year: 1974

Bass Tab (external link). Warning: looks like this is the transcription from another version.

People Let's Stop the War

If you can't find any other reason to care for Grand Funk Railroad, try listening Mel Schacher's lead bass.

Song: People, Let's Stop The War (24-Bit Digitally Remastered 02)
Artist / Band: Grand Funk Railroad
Album:E Pluribus Funk
Bass: Mel Schacher
Year: 1971

Let's Spend the Night Together

This cover of a Rolling Stones tune by David Bowie features a bassline that gives it a fast-paced rock´n´roll feeling, not so much as the original version.

Song: Let's Spend The Night Together (1999 Digital Remaster)
Artist / Band: David Bowie (Rolling Stones cover)
Album: Aladdin Sane
Bass: Trevor Bolder
Year: 1973

Walk on the Wild Side

This song has one of the greatest bass loops ever recorded. First, because you can recognize the song on the first bass note being plucked. Second for the distinctive sound of the bass (keep reading for a fun fact on that). Third because the bass line is so captivating.

Fun fact: The bass line for this song atually combines two bass recordings: one played on a double bass, another played on a fretless bass guitar (source: Wikipedia).

Song: Walk On The Wild Side
Artist / Band: Lou Reed
Album: Transformer
Bass: Herbie Flowers
Year: 1972

Bass tab (external link)