Creep

Picked up by TB user Bass Player 48. This is simple enough to be considered "easy" - although it is "hard" easy - you have to watch for rhythm, as warned by someone - not jason.
The first big hit by Radiohead, on their debut album.

Song: Creep
Artist / Band: Radiohead
Album: Pablo Honey
Bass: Colin Greenwood
Year: 1992

bass tab (external link)

So Much to Say

DMB has a new single going on (called Funny the Way It Is), which served as a reminder for me to post something played by their great bass player Stefan Lessard. He was just 16 when he entered the band - quite an achievement. His melodies and rhythm are always very interesting and precise.

Song: So Much to Say
Artist / Band: Dave Matthews Band
Album: Crash
Bass: Stefan Lessard
Year: 1996

bass tab (external link)

Pain Lies on the Riverside

I am not sure why or if this is relevant at all, but lots of non-bassist friends of mine love this bassline. I was never a Live fan, but I have to agree that this bass line is contagious!

Song: Pain Lies on the Riverside
Artist / Band: Live
Album: Mental Jewelery
Bass: Patrick Dalheimer
Year: 1991

bass tab (external link)

All Wrong / Whisper

All right!! This is one of the best bass intros I've ever heard. Mark Sandman is a genius. This live performance is amazing. The bass on Whisper is also great, so enjoy it as a bonus.

Song: All Wrong / Whisper
Artist / Band: Morphine
Album: Cure For Pain / Yes
Bass: Mark Sandman
Year: 1993 / 1995

All Wrong and Whisper bass tabs (external links)

U Can't Hold No Groove...

Step back. This is Victor Wooten. You can't hold his groove. Amazing performance.

Song: U Can't Hold No Groove...
Artist / Band: Victor Wooten
Album: A Show of Hands
Bass: Victor Wooten
Year: 1996

Bass tab (external link

Around the World

Yesterday we've listened to Chic's Good Times. Today, we listen to a song that seems to be highly influenced by that one, almost twenty years later. Electronic was possibly the 'new disco', by then. Now, I am not an electronic fan - this is our first post on this style - there are a few electronic bands I like. But I have to admit - this bassline is great - you can play it for hours and not feel tired - and the bass tone, perfect. Even if it is a synth (is it?)

Song: Around the World
Artist / Band: Daft Punk
Album: Homework
Bass: Daft Punk (?)
Year: 1997

Bass tab (external link)

I Will Survive

This one is very fun to play. Damiani's bassline sets the excellent tone of Cake's version of I Will Survive.

Song: I Will Survive
Artist / Band: Cakes
Album: Fashion Nugget
Bass: Victor Damiani
Year: 1996

Bass tab (external link)

Assanhado

Nó em Pingo D'Água is a band that plays a mix of samba, choro and jazz. Their version of Jacob do Bandolin's "Assanhado" is a good example of their style - and of their basslines. Papito, the bassist for the band, is a phenomenal player and musician.

Song: Assanhado
Artist / Band: Nó em Pingo D'Água
Album: Receita de Samba
Bass: Papito
Year: 1991

Everybody (Backstreet's Back)

Yes, it's a boyband. Yes, it's purely commercial. But hey, that's a nice bass riff.
Jaco Pastorius one day, Backstreet Boys the next. We can't get more eclectic than that!

Song: Everybody
Artist / Band: Backstreet Boys
Album: Backstreet's Back
Bass: If you know who plays the bass on this song, drop us a comment!
Year: 1997

Bass tab (external link)

Aeroplane

Another great bassline from Flea. How hard it must be to slap as good as this.

Song: Aeroplane
Artist / Band: Red Hot Chilli Peppers
Album: One Hot Minute
Bass: Flea
Year: 1995

Bass tab (external link)

2:1

Another britpop band), Elastica was never as popular as Blur (let alone Oasis), but they did make some interesting songs. This one, featured in the movie Trainspotting, has a bassline that, as simple as it is, give the song very original feel. You can feel the texture of the strings.

Song: 2:1
Artist / Band: Elastica
Album: Elastica
Bass: Annie Holland
Year: 1995

I'm Losing You

The great Tony Levin (more about him on future posts) playing with folks from Cheap Trick, on top of John Lennon's I'm Losing You along. This is a 1998's version of a 1980's song.

Song: I'm Losing You
Artist / Band: John Lennon
Album: Wonsaponatime
Bass: tony Levin
Year: 1998

Early To Bed

Since we've had lots of melodic lines, here's a very simple one: a single note throughout the whole song. It's all in the rhythm.

Only a genius like Mark Sandman could pull that off and make it work so beautifully.

Song: Early To Bed
Artist / Band: Morphine
Album: Like Swimming
Bass: Mark Sandman
Year: 1997

Entertain Me

The only bassline I've ever transcribed into bass tabs and submitted to the internet. The song it's a bit too much similar to Girls and Boys - which features another amazing line by Alex James - but I dare say this bassline is even more thrilling.

Song: Entertain Me
Artist / Band: Blur
Album: The Great Escape
Bass: Alex James
Year: 1995

Jeremy

Ok, so what about grunge?

Did you know that Jeff Ament practically built this song around his 12-string Hammer bass? I really enjoy listening to songs that were actually written by the bassist, specially when the song comes from him playing around with his bass.

Song:Jeremy
Artist / Band: Pearl Jam
Album:Ten
Bass: Jeff Ament
Year: 1992

Bass tab (external link)

V Centenario

A hit by Argentinian rock/ska/much more band Los Fabullosos Cadillacs, this song has a very contagious bassline by Sr. Flavio that really carries the song. A very festive song with an ironic take on the celebrations for the 500 years of America (from north to south).

Song:Quinto Centenario (Remasterizado 2008)
Artist / Band: Los Fabulosos Cadillacs
Album:Vasos Vacios
Bass: Sr. Flavio
Year: 199?

Tommy the Cat

Ok, since we have already posted a Tom Waits featuring Les Claypool, here's a Les Claypool (well, Primus) featuring Tom Waits.

Funny thing: I love Les Claypool bass playing - this particular bassline is extraordinary, out of this world really -, but I was never a big Primus fan. However, there's no way of denying the power of Les Claypool as a bass player. Really groovy, really percussive. And quite complex, too. These are not simple basslines, and require a lot - a LOT - of practice. Yes, Les Claypool is an unbelievable player.

Oh, Tom Waits is the voice of Tommy the Cat, by the way.

Song:Tommy The Cat
Artist / Band: Primus
Album:Sailing the Seas of Cheese
Bass: Les Claypool
Year: 1989

Bass tab (external link)

Big in Japan

Here's the Tom Waits + Les Claypool entry that I've promised earlier. The opening track for the album Mule Variations has a bass line that, if not as acrobatic as most Les Claypool stuff (especially with his band Primus), it's just as good. Overall, it sounds like Les Claypool and it sounds like Tom Waits. Must be good, then!

Song:Big In Japan
Artist / Band: Tom Waits
Album:Mule Variations
Bass: Les Claypool
Year: 1999

Boys and Girls

There are some interesting basslines in britpop too, and this song by Blur - one of their biggest hits before Song 2 - has a very good one, very very pop indeed. Alex James was really inspired on this one: only 8 bars repeated over the whole song, but it is fun!

Song:Girls And Boys
Artist / Band: Blur
Album:Parklife
Bass: Alex James
Year: 1994

Bass tab (external link)

Maracatu Atômico

It was about time to post something from my own country. This one is called Maracatu Atômico, a song played by Chico Science & Nação Zumbi. The Brazilian band from the state of Pernambuco is one of the most important names of the mangue beat - a music genre combining traditional, folkloric rhythms and international rock and hip-hop styles. This song, originally composed by Jorge Mautner, is a great example of that genre.

Alexandre Dengue's bass line is groovy, funky, and somehow very brazilian!

Song: Maracatu Atômico
Artist / Band: Chico Science & Nação Zumbi
Album: Afrociberdelia
Bass: Alexandre Dengue
Year: 1996