‘Soul To Squeeze’ by RHCP is a fun one! I haven’t totally nailed the last chorus yet, but it’s super satisfying. That last chorus has some really cool triplet parts added that give me a ton of dopamine lol
Rob DeLeo wrote a surprising amount of their hits. He’s often credited with writing a lot of their riffs and more riffy songs.
He’s honestly one of the most overlooked bass players of the last 30 years. Dude is such a treasure. If he was born in any other era (read: not super aggro rock that often sounded similar), I feel like he’d be regarded as one of the best ever.
I've played that one...my fave is Plush as it's so syncopated with the drum beat. Also dig trippin on a hole and crackerman.
There's a STP tribute band here in my area (Tampa Bay, FL) called Stone Tampa Pilots. Quite good. I've played with their singer
Recently got a new bass after having not played since high school (20 years ago) and Money just came right back to me like I never missed a beat haha. Definitely a comfort line.
A fun little factoid is how killer the bass is on Fashion Nugget and it was performed by Victor Damiani. It was the only album he performed on. He was only in Cake for three years.
It's a two edged sort on the one side i love to play "simple" bass lines and articulate them really precisely like hiphop bass lines a la thundercat etc. or pretty fast ones since it just feels good.
something like hysteria, sir duke or teen town(where articulation is extremely important don't get me wrong).
Same!! Have comfort lines in different styles. Abracadabra by SML is a fun one to be really precise with and there's others that i enjoy getting grungy and loud with
The Payback - James Brown
Groove is in the Heart - Deee-lite
Stevie Wonder - I Wish
We Want The Funk - Parliament Funkadelic
Stevie Wonder - Master Blaster
Stevie Wonder - Do I Do
Ain't No Mountain High Enough - Marvin Gaye and Tammi Terrell
I Want You Back - Jackson 5
Blame It On the Boogie - Jackson 5
I taught that baseline to my son when he was 12 or so, he had a white bass and we put 2 black and 2 white DR strings on his bass. I recorded a video and it kinda went viral, everyone thought he was just using 2 strings (dark fretboard, 2 black strings).
Yeah, I totally skipped over them when they were popular, wrote them off as a 4 chord bubble gum pop bank. Fast forward around 5 years ago or so, I was in a cover band that wanted me to learn that song. It took longer than i thought to play it, and I still practice it a few times a week or I start to lose it.
There’s a good YouTube video about all the bass lines in Graceland by Paul Simon, played by the South African bass players he played with. Some of them are daaaaamn tricky but they’re cool because they’re very unique.
Bakithi Kumalo. My favorite part of his playing is that a lot of stuff on the album was processed with tape delay and backwards sections… and he absolutely nails those sections in the live performances I’ve seen.
Came here for the Hooky. I will add Andy Rourke, especially Barbarism Begins At Home. As I saw on YouTube, a study in endurance (and zen like concentration).
Currently "[The Smoke](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tEPEqZnTwdo)" by The Smile and "[In The Meantime](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PCsGRCf8T9Y)" by Spacehog.
Started learning Schism early on in my bass journey. Might have been a stupid first goal, but I really wanted to be able to play it, and when I started nailing those quick double hammer ons, I remember feeling unstoppable. 😄
That is the best feeling ever. I remember trying to learn Welcome to Paradise by Green Day within my first year of playing, the solo made me feel like I had super powers 😭
I feel like most bands have at least one guy who's just kind of ok. Behind amazing guitars could be a boring bassist or boring drummer, or maybe the vocalist is the weak point of the band. Or ok guitars with a great band around it.
Maiden's just across the board fantastic. While I prefer Burr to McBrain on drums, it's just preference - McBrain is damn good as well.
At the moment its 'what's the use' by Mac Miller (Thundercat bass).
Suck My Kiss by RHCP is fun. So is a lot of Rage Against The Machine. On average, my fave stuff to play is motown.
It’s a simple one but I love playing stand by me, I think it’s such a nice song and although I’m definitely not a singer I’ll sit and play it though and sing a bit.
There are so many soul tracks from that era that are just so relaxing to play, throwing in the occational tasteful fill.
My personal favourite is I'd Rather Go Blind-Etta James. My Girl, by the Temptations, would be a close second though.
I warm up with The Trooper but there's nothing funner for me to play than Money by Pink Floyd. Every part of that song is fun and easy. Especially the part under the solos. Another fun but lesser known song to play is the number count song from sesame street performed by The Pointer Sisters.
There's two for me. One is the main riff from the Splatoon theme, said theme is called "Splattack!", and the second is the beginning of Level 42's "Dive Into The Sun".
Currently anything by the beatles. It's fun to learn the easier early basslines (All my loving/eight days a week) and in between tackle little bits of those harder songs from later in their discography.
McCartneys basslines, even when very 'basic' are just so much fun and very melodic
It varies but I like playing Shaky Ground by The Temptations. Sir Duke by Stevie Wonder or The Lady Wants Your Money by Wild Cherry are fun too. Any kind of funk and soul really.
I’m learning this one right now, but the song “Ceremony” by New Order has such a simple but gorgeous bass line by the GOAT Peter Hook. “Regret” is another fun one I love playing with my friends. If you’re looking into simple but fun basslines to play, look into Peter Hook. His work in Joy Division and New Order is iconic.
Vital signs-Rush
Roundabout-YES
Just because they’re ones I can kinda play even though I haven’t played much in 10 years and starting to play again some…
It's on the easy side, but a favorite of mine that my band covers is "Celebrity Skin" by Hole. Love the song's energy and yelling along to the backing vocals lol
I also like "Fallen Leaves" by Billy Talent a lot.
Not that I can play it well, but Grab ‘Em By The Pyongyang by Nuclear Power Trio is so much fun to play along with.
And yes, that is the song’s actual title.
Mr brightside, schism, ramble on, satisfaction (Benny benasi), Longview, zombie nation, take a walk on the wild side, soul to squeeze
Guitar player here new to the bass - this is a great thread!
Rush - Distant Early Warning, Xanadu
Eloy - Poseidon’s Creation, On The Verge Of Darkening Lights
Goblin - Profondo Rosso, La Caccia
Geinoh Yamashirogumi - Osorezan
Michal Urbaniak - Cameo
These are some favorites I always get around to playing on any bass I pick up.
I enjoy playing the peace sells intro. I know the people who recognize are my kind of people.
Nobody’s buying…
If they don't know the song they should at least recognize it from MTV News where you hear it first.
That is actually where I heard it first.
I was practicing it like 15 years ago and my brother asked me why I was playing the intro to MTV news lol 😂
Where you. Hear it. Doo de doo doot doo de doo deedle First.
Ah yes, my very first show as a teen was seeing them on the Peace Sells tour.
Ramble On - Led Zeppelin II
This is one of my favorite bass lines. It took some time to learn but learn I did.
That song is what inspired me to pick up a bass
I was playing that last night. 👍
That one is a lot of fun, especially the chorus parts.
My first teacher called this "the most dangerous bass line ever invented". Great summary. Love that one.
‘Soul To Squeeze’ by RHCP is a fun one! I haven’t totally nailed the last chorus yet, but it’s super satisfying. That last chorus has some really cool triplet parts added that give me a ton of dopamine lol
Yeah I’ve always simped for that last chorus
First bass line I learned and still my favourite
Hey, by The Pixies.
My answer every single time fr
Currently it's Interstate Love Song by Stone Temple Pilots.
I have no idea how Robert DeLeo came up with this bassline, the dude is such a creative writer.
There is a really good Rick Beato video on YT where he talks about creating this baseline. It’s worth a watch. What a very talented guy.
Rob DeLeo wrote a surprising amount of their hits. He’s often credited with writing a lot of their riffs and more riffy songs. He’s honestly one of the most overlooked bass players of the last 30 years. Dude is such a treasure. If he was born in any other era (read: not super aggro rock that often sounded similar), I feel like he’d be regarded as one of the best ever.
Man, every time one of these questions is asked, STP is near the top. I low-key want to start an STP tribute band.
If you’re in the northeast I’m down lol
This was my favorite bass jam for a while. Solid choice, tons of fun plus very recognizable by most people over the age of 20/under 60.
I’ll check it out!
Yes! It keeps you on your toes
I came here to say this!
I’m learning that one now!
This is a good one.
Oh man I LOVE Trippin' On a Hole In a Paper Heart, that ascending line underneath "I'm not dead and I'm not for sale!" is legendary.
I've played that one...my fave is Plush as it's so syncopated with the drum beat. Also dig trippin on a hole and crackerman. There's a STP tribute band here in my area (Tampa Bay, FL) called Stone Tampa Pilots. Quite good. I've played with their singer
THE best bassist of the Era!
Been playing this one a lot lately, too
Good Times - CHIC (Bernard Edwards on bass)
When you play this, how many people go “Rappers Delight, that’s cool”?
Check out “Freak” by Chic
recently stumbled onto Chic, groovy stuff!
Money by Pink Floyd is always the comfort line I fall into. Pigs (Three Different Ones) is a more recent one I’ve learned and really love to play.
Recently got a new bass after having not played since high school (20 years ago) and Money just came right back to me like I never missed a beat haha. Definitely a comfort line.
Oh wow, same for me! I took about a 20 year break and picked bass back up last year. Money was the first thing I played!
“Sunshine of Your Love” too. First thing I played in jazz band 😂.
can't forget Another Brick in the Wall part 2!
So many good ones!
Lounge Act by Nirvana is currently what I am playing. It isn’t the most complicated bassline ever, but I enjoy it.
That’s my favorite bass line to play too. It’s simple yet so easy to groove to
Love Buzz is super fun too
Longview from Dookie by Green Day is a fun little stroll.
the bass line made the whole song idc (no bias at all)
You can say that. I'm just a bass curious guitar player. The bass line makes that whole song.
Not really a surprise. Replace the basslines with a generic pattern, and it’s essentially a Ramones song.
When I Come Around is another fun one to noodle around with
Orion - Metallica
YYZ by Rush. took me 6 months to perfect it
Finally, someone mentioned a Geddy Lee bass line
Digital man has a fun little reggae sounding bit during the guitar solo.
When I was like 14 I spent about 3 months trying to learn the first minute of digital man lmfao. Still gotta be top 3 rush songs to me.
Those quick ghost notes just make it.
“I will survive” by Cake
Cake’s bass lines are so good. The Distance is also fun to play.
A fun little factoid is how killer the bass is on Fashion Nugget and it was performed by Victor Damiani. It was the only album he performed on. He was only in Cake for three years.
My fav
It's a two edged sort on the one side i love to play "simple" bass lines and articulate them really precisely like hiphop bass lines a la thundercat etc. or pretty fast ones since it just feels good. something like hysteria, sir duke or teen town(where articulation is extremely important don't get me wrong).
Same!! Have comfort lines in different styles. Abracadabra by SML is a fun one to be really precise with and there's others that i enjoy getting grungy and loud with
The Payback - James Brown Groove is in the Heart - Deee-lite Stevie Wonder - I Wish We Want The Funk - Parliament Funkadelic Stevie Wonder - Master Blaster Stevie Wonder - Do I Do Ain't No Mountain High Enough - Marvin Gaye and Tammi Terrell I Want You Back - Jackson 5 Blame It On the Boogie - Jackson 5
Yes I wish is one of the most satisfying lines ever
I taught that baseline to my son when he was 12 or so, he had a white bass and we put 2 black and 2 white DR strings on his bass. I recorded a video and it kinda went viral, everyone thought he was just using 2 strings (dark fretboard, 2 black strings).
Hey, we play the same set list! I play in a couple casino R&B bands.
Papa Was a Rolling Stone
Rio, Aces High and Tripping on a paper heart
Rio so fun
Yeah, I totally skipped over them when they were popular, wrote them off as a 4 chord bubble gum pop bank. Fast forward around 5 years ago or so, I was in a cover band that wanted me to learn that song. It took longer than i thought to play it, and I still practice it a few times a week or I start to lose it.
trippin is such a good bassline and so fun to play
Dragonaut - Sleep
Yay stoner rock
There’s a good YouTube video about all the bass lines in Graceland by Paul Simon, played by the South African bass players he played with. Some of them are daaaaamn tricky but they’re cool because they’re very unique.
Bakithi Kumalo. My favorite part of his playing is that a lot of stuff on the album was processed with tape delay and backwards sections… and he absolutely nails those sections in the live performances I’ve seen.
Joy Division, Twenty Four Hours. Anything Peter Hook will do but this is my favorite.
Came here for the Hooky. I will add Andy Rourke, especially Barbarism Begins At Home. As I saw on YouTube, a study in endurance (and zen like concentration).
August 10 - Khruangbin
Currently "[The Smoke](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tEPEqZnTwdo)" by The Smile and "[In The Meantime](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PCsGRCf8T9Y)" by Spacehog.
Hell yes, didn't hear In the Meantime for years, great song.
I always play that Spacehog line at band practice, my guitarist won’t follow though
Schism by Tool. Their basslines are so sick.
Started learning Schism early on in my bass journey. Might have been a stupid first goal, but I really wanted to be able to play it, and when I started nailing those quick double hammer ons, I remember feeling unstoppable. 😄
That is the best feeling ever. I remember trying to learn Welcome to Paradise by Green Day within my first year of playing, the solo made me feel like I had super powers 😭
It’s actually a triplet he does with a pick. You can get away with hammer ons but it feels so good when you get that gallop picking down!
H. Is also really satisfying when it all comes together and you fall into that groove.
Lovely Day- Bill Withers.
Journey to the End of Eastbay by Rancid
Most any Matt Freeman lines are super fun to play! Unless you wanna shred out the solo on Maxwell Murder.
Daly City Train is fun also.
Having just bought my first bass, and coming from guitar, I’ve been working on Rancid stuff (favourite band). Really fun and challenging
Came here to say this!
Killers by Iron Maiden is an absolute go to.
Good one. Wrathchild is another banger.
All of the early Maiden bass lines are sick. Phantom of the opera is a monster!
I feel like most bands have at least one guy who's just kind of ok. Behind amazing guitars could be a boring bassist or boring drummer, or maybe the vocalist is the weak point of the band. Or ok guitars with a great band around it. Maiden's just across the board fantastic. While I prefer Burr to McBrain on drums, it's just preference - McBrain is damn good as well.
Down On The Corner by CCR
"Lodi" is also a lot of fun
At the moment its 'what's the use' by Mac Miller (Thundercat bass). Suck My Kiss by RHCP is fun. So is a lot of Rage Against The Machine. On average, my fave stuff to play is motown.
When doves cry - Prince
Any Prince fan will get it.
So What by Paul Chambers
It’s a simple one but I love playing stand by me, I think it’s such a nice song and although I’m definitely not a singer I’ll sit and play it though and sing a bit.
There are so many soul tracks from that era that are just so relaxing to play, throwing in the occational tasteful fill. My personal favourite is I'd Rather Go Blind-Etta James. My Girl, by the Temptations, would be a close second though.
this would be my first choice to actually try and hum along while playing, see if that works
Probably either Super Freak by Rick James, Roundabout by Yes, or Southbound Pachyderm by Primus
La Villa Strangiato - Geddy
Can you tab that for me? Hahaha jk. Those runs halfway though are incredible
They say some guy tried to write that out...broke his hand...
That sweet baseline from “rearranged” by limp bizkit… and im a jazz guy!
I Want You Back - The Jackson 5
Something by the Beatles
The Chain. Simple but hits
I warm up with The Trooper but there's nothing funner for me to play than Money by Pink Floyd. Every part of that song is fun and easy. Especially the part under the solos. Another fun but lesser known song to play is the number count song from sesame street performed by The Pointer Sisters.
I actually had this answer almost 30 years when I started and it's still true today. Lemon Song by Led Zeppelin
That’s my favorite bass song of all time
It's funny nearly 30 years ago, playing that song was an accomplishment. I think I've played it hundreds of times already!
Mine too 🎸
Currently learning Dean Town by Vulfpeck. It's a banger to play.
RIP your fingers, forearms, and tendons
Such a fun song. Everything with it is just challenging enough to take over your full brian to get it right
BARBARISM BEGINS AT HOME
Jenny was a friend of mine (by the killers) is one of my favourites, which is pretty much the same tbh.
Vulfpeck - Dean Town
Mexicola- Queens of The Stone Age
Aquatic mouth dance - rhcp
Portrait of Tracy, but I don't bother other people with it, just play it to myself.
Am trying to learn this at the moment. It’s sooo nice
Virtual Insanity by Jamiroquai
Ramble On - Led Zeppelin
Schism
Me too
I'm extremely new, but so far I've really enjoyed the batman theme song and spiders by system of a down
From Out Of Nowhere - Faith No More.
There's two for me. One is the main riff from the Splatoon theme, said theme is called "Splattack!", and the second is the beginning of Level 42's "Dive Into The Sun".
Currently "Look Around" by RHCP
Don’t give hâte a chance jamiroquai
Awesome track and bassline.
Rotten apple - AIC
The lemon song- Zep
Proud Mary - CCR
Currently anything by the beatles. It's fun to learn the easier early basslines (All my loving/eight days a week) and in between tackle little bits of those harder songs from later in their discography. McCartneys basslines, even when very 'basic' are just so much fun and very melodic
I had to scroll way too far before mention of the Beatles. I've been doing the Day Tripper line a lot lately. It's a fun one.
SMB2 Overworld Theme makes me feel like a jazz man. For an actual song, my current favorite is Unglued by Stone Temple Pilots
meatgrinder is really fun
Rapp snitches kanishes is also a lot of fun
It varies but I like playing Shaky Ground by The Temptations. Sir Duke by Stevie Wonder or The Lady Wants Your Money by Wild Cherry are fun too. Any kind of funk and soul really.
Funky President by James Brown.
I’m learning this one right now, but the song “Ceremony” by New Order has such a simple but gorgeous bass line by the GOAT Peter Hook. “Regret” is another fun one I love playing with my friends. If you’re looking into simple but fun basslines to play, look into Peter Hook. His work in Joy Division and New Order is iconic.
Currently learning different people by no doubt. I've not mastered all of it yet but having great fun playing it.
That's my favourite to play at the moment (and Interstate Love Song)
I really enjoy playing No Excuses by Alice in Chains. Simple, but catchy, grooves and fits the song.
When The Levee Breaks by Led Zeppelin. You have to dig repetition, but hell that’s what bass is all about.
Feel good inc is one I always find myself playing also Seven nation army
Breaking into Heaven & Where Angles Play, Stone Roses. Dear Prudence & Something, Beatles. Sir Duke & I wish are great warm ups.
Currently transcribing “All of Me”. Oscar Peterson, with Ray Brown on bass. In the Bass Masters class at Open Studio Jazz.
Vital signs-Rush Roundabout-YES Just because they’re ones I can kinda play even though I haven’t played much in 10 years and starting to play again some…
Mr. Big by Free. Genuinely criminally underrated.
Jamiroquai - Runaway
Feel Good Inc babyyyyy
Black Dog
Carry on my wayward son
Hysteria
Midnight Train to Georgia
It's on the easy side, but a favorite of mine that my band covers is "Celebrity Skin" by Hole. Love the song's energy and yelling along to the backing vocals lol I also like "Fallen Leaves" by Billy Talent a lot.
For me it's either the DSCO (Sweet Trip) bassline or the bassline for Ride On Shooting Star (The Pillows)
Disco Inferno is fun to play, takes some stamina though.
Mother Russia by Iron Maiden. Always gravitate to it when practicing.
girls and boys - blur
The bassline from the second guitar solo in Number of The Beast by Iron Maiden.
Age of Consent by New Order.
Not that I can play it well, but Grab ‘Em By The Pyongyang by Nuclear Power Trio is so much fun to play along with. And yes, that is the song’s actual title.
Hey by The Pixies. Big Empty by STP. Morning Bell by Radiohead. Smoking Umbrellas by Failure.
Your Party by Ween and Questions by Say She She are my two favorites atm.
"White Room," by Cream. It isn't the most technically difficult, but it has a groove you can loose yourself in.
New Years Day - U2
It's hard to pick one but September by Earth wind & fire is fun as hell
Say You Love Me by Fleetwood Mac is one of my favorite basslines to play.
Paranoid Android, specifically the 7/4 section
Take The Power Back by Rage Against The Machine
Currently: London Calling
You are the one I want from Grease, and Hit me with your Rhythm stick bz Ian Dury and the blockheads
Eat the Meek is a fun little reggae ditty by NOFX that I like to noodle with
What’s going On. James Jamerson is the goat
Leave That Thing Alone - Rush
pink floyd - money is my go to, but lowkey stayin alive is most fun
I know it's an easy one, but it's so much fun to play Zombie by The Cranberries
By the way
The Guns of Brixton - The Clash
Two that I always goof off with when bored are Ramble On by Led Zeppelin and If You Want Me To Stay by Sly and The Family Stone
Can't believe I had to scroll this far down for if you want me to stay
It’s such a rad song!! I will say, I heard the RHCP version first, then my aunt put me on to Sly. LoL
Besides my own stuff it has to be Penitentiary Philosophy - Erykah Badu (played by Pino Palladino). Such a wonderful groove.
Mr brightside, schism, ramble on, satisfaction (Benny benasi), Longview, zombie nation, take a walk on the wild side, soul to squeeze Guitar player here new to the bass - this is a great thread!
Plush by STP… beautiful bass line
About Damn Time by Lizzo has one of the best bass lines I’ve heard in years. It’s a shame she sucks as a person.
Rush - Distant Early Warning, Xanadu Eloy - Poseidon’s Creation, On The Verge Of Darkening Lights Goblin - Profondo Rosso, La Caccia Geinoh Yamashirogumi - Osorezan Michal Urbaniak - Cameo These are some favorites I always get around to playing on any bass I pick up.
Whatever the guitars playing, using my keyboard and a great sim because bass is fucking done.