MartinJ Posted October 3, 2003 Share Posted October 3, 2003 Originally posted by Petethebassman: The most basic I've seen was a guy who just played a 4/4 time c/a/f/g over and over. I guess most of you guys would call that bad. IS IT????? As others will probably say it depends on whether the said bassline serves the song. here's a similar example: D/A/B/G played as steady 8th notes, over and over throughout the song. (The song: With Or Without You by U2) I liked that line, perfect for the song.So Pete got me to thinking. What other "good" songs feature very, very simple basslines? Now I've been playing U2's With or Without You over and over, and it sounds GREAT! I've also been playing Bitter Sweet Symphony (The Verve) with its - more or less - E|Bm7|D|A repeating pattern, and I'm groovin' here, too. My first song that I learned was The Police's Roxanne, but it's just a tiny bit more complex. So, the question to all of you is: In your opinion(s), what other "good" songs have very simple basslines? In other words, what songs can a novice bass player like myself easily learn, and get the biggest bang (maximal coolness) for my buck (learning and practicing)? Martin C.V.: Snowboarder (1983-), Bass Owner (1996-), Chemistry Teacher (1997-) & Serious Bass Student (2003-) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jeremy c Posted October 3, 2003 Share Posted October 3, 2003 Papa was a Rolling Stone by the Temptations and its bastard nephew Walking on the Moon by the Police Low Rider by War Comin' Home Baby by Herbie Mann Green Onions by Booker T. and the MG's I Can't Stand Myself by James Brown Free download of my cd!. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dan South Posted October 3, 2003 Share Posted October 3, 2003 Well, I would think that MOST songs have relatively simple bass parts, so if you like a song for the SONG and not just the bass performance, it's likely to fit into this category. Here are a few that come to mind, but there are thousands more. Boom Boom - John Lee Hooker Hey Bartender - covered by the Blues Bros. and Duck Dunn!!! Same Old Song - The Four Tops (simple but HARD to play well) All My Loving - The Beatles (nice, relaxed walking pattern) Deacon Blues - Steely Dan Message In A Bottle - Police Roxanne - Police (how much simpler can it get?) Just What I Needed - The Cars Bad To The Bone - George Thorogood (gives you a cramp after a while) Dreams - Fleetwood Mac (two freakin' notes!) You Can't Hurry Love - The Supremes (simple, but not necessarily EASY) Uptight Alright - Stevie Wonder The Black Knight always triumphs! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mike H. Posted October 3, 2003 Share Posted October 3, 2003 "Where is the Love?" - Black Eyed Peas "Stand by Me" - Ben E. King http://www.identity5.net Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Basshappi Posted October 3, 2003 Share Posted October 3, 2003 Hi MartinJ, Here are a few I like that are pretty straight forward: Money - Pink Floyd The Bed's Too Big Without You - The Police How Many More Times - Led Zepplin Lakeside Park - Rush Misty Morning - Bob Marley Nothing is as it seems but everything is exactly what it is - B. Banzai Life is what happens while you are busy playing in bands. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Basshappi Posted October 3, 2003 Share Posted October 3, 2003 Hi MartinJ, Here are a few I like that are pretty straight forward: Money - Pink Floyd The Bed's Too Big Without You - The Police How Many More Times - Led Zepplin Lakeside Park - Rush Misty Morning - Bob Marley Nothing is as it seems but everything is exactly what it is - B. Banzai Life is what happens while you are busy playing in bands. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scoot Posted October 4, 2003 Share Posted October 4, 2003 "Everyday People" - Sly and the Family Stone One note makes the whole thing bounce for 2:22 Ah, nice marmot. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
... Posted October 4, 2003 Share Posted October 4, 2003 "Dance to the Music" - Sly & The Family Stone It's practically all one note, 'G'. But man... what he does with that one note. Ka-pow. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tedster Posted October 4, 2003 Share Posted October 4, 2003 Come Together by the Beatles. So much of McCartney's bass lines...how do I say it...they were rather subliminal. Sir Paul is a master of playing so that you don't immediately notice the bass line...you hear the song...and then when you do notice the bass line, you realize just how much it contributes to the whole picture. Heck, listen to that whole "Abbey Road" CD...it's a class in functional "bass for the song". And then the rest of the Beatles catalog too. "Cisco Kid, was a friend of mine" Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shakedownstreet Posted October 4, 2003 Share Posted October 4, 2003 Stir it Up - Bob Marley Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Drahnoel Posted October 4, 2003 Share Posted October 4, 2003 The All-Time Classic: "My Girl" - the Temptaations Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thingus Posted October 4, 2003 Share Posted October 4, 2003 "dead babies" by Alice Cooper Im just a dreamer Dreaming my life away Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
onamission Posted October 4, 2003 Share Posted October 4, 2003 Here's one nobodies mentioned, kinda on the metal side though. Ozzy - Crazy Train - I believe that's Bob Daisley - Jon ----- You have the right to remain in the groove, any solos cannot be used against you, you have the right to snap and pop, if you cannot snap and pop, two fingers can provide the funk just fine. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ayatollah Watts Posted October 4, 2003 Share Posted October 4, 2003 Yeah, alot of Sly's bass grooves are simple...yet so damn on point another one thats pretty easy is the 2nd part of Diana Ross's "love hangover"... and Pain teaches what pride won't let you learn... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dcr Posted October 4, 2003 Share Posted October 4, 2003 Anything & everything by Duck Dunn. Tasty. And as I've said many times, one of my favorite bass lines is on "Once in a Lifetime." Two notes never packed such a punch. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jode Posted October 4, 2003 Share Posted October 4, 2003 "Another One Bites The Dust," Queen. And I had to say this one: "Running With The Devil," Van Halen. Lots of people get down on Michael Anthony for playing so many root notes, but hey - he's got the easiest job in the world. How hard is it to make Eddie Van Halen look good? That song is a perfect primordial rock bass line: quarter note E's pumped out like an assembly line. It does what it's supposed to do: RAWK. "I had to have something, and it wasn't there. I couldn't go down the street and buy it, so I built it." Les Paul Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bassplayer5217 Posted October 4, 2003 Share Posted October 4, 2003 how sweet it is (to be loved by you)? great line, pretty easy .~. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dcr Posted October 4, 2003 Share Posted October 4, 2003 Dan, I'm glad I'm not the only one who found "Same Old Song" & "You Can't Hurry Love" challenging, despite their simplicity! Other simple-but-killer Jamerson lines include "Love is Like an Itching in My Heart," "This Old Heart of Mine," "Ain't That Peculiar," "Ain't Too Proud to Beg." Too too too cool. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wally Malone Posted October 4, 2003 Share Posted October 4, 2003 Originally posted by jeremyc: Papa was a Rolling Stone by the Temptations and its bastard nephew Walking on the Moon by the Police Low Rider by War Comin' Home Baby by Herbie Mann Green Onions by Booker T. and the MG's I Can't Stand Myself by James BrownSaw a great video clip of Booker T & the MG's on the Blues Series last night. It was amazing watching Duck at such a young age. He was working that line. Wally I have basses to play, places to be and good music to make! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Beermouse Posted October 5, 2003 Share Posted October 5, 2003 The bass line to Chameleon by Herbie Hancock is pretty chillin'. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tedster Posted October 5, 2003 Share Posted October 5, 2003 Originally posted by bitterling: The bass line to Chameleon by Herbie Hancock is pretty chillin'.Ooooh! Yeah! "Cisco Kid, was a friend of mine" Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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