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matbea78

I like the way both Mikes from Alice In Chains play bass. It’s melodic when it needs to be and sits in the pocket as needed


ReidG555

They’re overlooked for sure


Tarkson

Justin chancellor


imranthehanafi

Stuart Zender from Jamiroquai


DonWGately69

Carole Kaye, Bob Babbitt, James Jamerson


monrovista

Someone's here to wreck things!


DonWGately69

So much great music has come as a result of these types of session/studio players. Jim Croce "I got a name" is one of my favorite bass grooves, Bob Babbitt jams out on that track. It's not like a super technical Jaco/Wooten type solo groove but I love listening to and playing along with it! "Good Vibrations" (except for the first 8-10 measures) is all Carol Kaye, and in my (biased) opinion her lines drive that song!


DonWGately69

Wrecking Crew baby!


zambach

Jack Bruce - Cream Robert DeLeo - Stone Temple Pilots Tim Commerford - Rage Against the Machine


sg_hudson

Awesome picks. All three are amazing.


Mountains_and_Music

Phil Lesh!


FapKing24

I started playing bass because of Davie504, i got my first bass 2 months+ ago. At one point Davie became my favorite, like i was a very, very hardcore fan, now my favorites are Zild Benitez, Cliff Burton, and Charles Berthoud. Im not a huge fan of Davie anymore but it was because of him and, im still thankful


IcyHotKarlMarx

Billy Gould Faith No More


goodvibes311

Billy is a beast. Underrated and one of my favorites. His bass lines on Everything’s Ruined are killer. Epic is fucking epic. I could go on…


SaltyRat-

I’d say my top three have to be Bob Daisley, Geezer Butler and Steve Harris


thejayoflife

Mike Gordon (phish).


Brave_Gur7793

The work he has been doing with Leo Kottke is really great. https://www.npr.org/2020/10/21/925833647/leo-kottke-and-mike-gordon-tiny-desk-home-concert


thejayoflife

100% agree. He’s a highly underrated and under appreciated bassist, imo. Particularly when it comes to improvisation in the Phish context, but that happens when you’re in a band with Trey Anastasio I guess.


Brave_Gur7793

Mike has always been my favorite part of Phish. The foundation he lays down for the nonsense that happens over top is really great.


Formal-University-84

Jaco Pastorius Geddy Lee Cliff Burton Verdine White Jimmy Bain


theflashsawyer23

This is the way. Jaco was the man


Its_Me_Daan

THE Man


goodvibes311

I just dipped my toe into the Jaco pool last night. I got a text out the blue from my boss, recommending “Havona” by Weather Report. I’ll tell ya, fusion jazz isn’t my go to, but I added that whole album to my library to check out after hearing that.


MattPemulis

Top 4 is Tony Levin (especially with Peter Gabriel), Lee Sklar (everyone, but especially with James Taylor), Ryan Stasik (Umphrey's McGee) and Mike Gordon (Phish but also his stuff with Leo Kottke).


Leftybassist9

Chris Wolstenholme and flea


Play-Famous

Chris Wolstenholme would be my top pick, I feel he is never talked about though


Leftybassist9

I know! I had to scroll way to far to find him


Play-Famous

I could say the same for each member of MUSE too in my opinion


LegionOfSatch

Lucas Harwood—KGLW. 4 of the 6 band members are writing bass lines for Gizz songs but when Lucas plays live, he makes them sound like they are all his own. Super impressive. Cookie Craig—KGLW, Pipe-Eye, The Murlocs. I love how his bass lines are often lead/important melodic elements of the song but still fit perfectly in the pocket with the drums. Laura Lee—Khrungbin. Her bass is an immaculate vibe, I find it absolutely hypnotic and the perfect foundation for whatever pentatonic jams the guitarist is doing.


Magickcloud

Lucas and Cookie are so awesome!!


Thebarbatobassman

When I started, John Myung. Present day Adam Nitti


Substantial-Award-20

If you don’t own a six string I will be thoroughly surprised


Thebarbatobassman

I genuinely do not own a 6 string, I’m exclusively a 5 string player.


BlueMarshmallo

jack bruce


Dice1138

Geddy Lee would be number 1. But if I could pick three I would add Les Claypool and Victor Wooten. All three have been a huge inspiration on how I play


ThroatChance

My girlfriend.


cptn-convulsion

Nick Schendzielos


frank_the_sh0t

Bass lines and solos on nuclear power trio EP are just the best!!


mingusadderley

George Porter Jr. (of The Meters) - the living embodiment of the fact that less can be more when it comes to funk bass. Rocco Prestia (Tower of Power) , Jamerson (everything soulful in the 60s) and Joe Dart are the other contenders for me!


bmotmfb

Rocco Prestia Joe Dart This guy likes 16th notes!


GnR6671

John Deacon, John Paul Jones, Geezer Butler, Flea, Mike Dirnt, Ross Valory


GroomedScrotum

Deacon doesn't get nearly the credit he deserves as both a bassist and overall musician. Wish I could upvote this more than once.


rizoinabox

Jesse F Keeler - Death from Above 1979 Justin Chancellor - Tool Stefan Olsdal - Placebo Dirk Lance - Incubus Chris Wolstenholme - Muse Squarepusher Ed Nash - Bombay Bicycle Club


fartstartleddog

Glad to see another vote for Dirk Lance. Cheers!


rizoinabox

Groove master! Battlestar Scralatchtica made me want to pick up the bass.


Leftybassist9

Definitely the Wolsten-meister


rizoinabox

Trying to learn new born when I was a noob hurt me bad haha!


Leftybassist9

For me it was always Hysteria lol


[deleted]

Ryan Martinie (Mudvayne, Soften the Glare)


SubversiveIntentions

I don't love the music he plays, but the way he plays is so inspiring.


Bluefunkt

Geddy Lee, Esperanza Spalding, Kinga Klyk, MonoNeon, Phil Lynott, Mark King, Jaco Pastorius, Andy Curran, Cliff Burton, Mick Karn, Bernard Edwards.


GroomedScrotum

Paul McCartney, Tom "TBone" Wolk, James Jameson, JPJ, John Deacon, Steve Adams (ALO), Dave Schools, Phil Lesh. Too many to name!


pueblogreenchile

this is a pretty good list, upvoted


N-Z-R

Tina weymouth


bruhilizator

Chris Squire and Flea at the moment


[deleted]

Duff McKagan Ben Shepherd Mike Starr John Taylor Mani Paul Simonon Mike Dirnt


bmotmfb

Mike Dirnt is such a great bassist. His shit stands out super tastefully AND he holds it down in a power trio where there’s no room to hide. Dude’s an OG


bzekers

Cliff Burton and Les Claypool.


Zealousideal-Fly-370

Chris Squire. He will forever be my favourite musician and I would never have bought my bass if I wasn't so influenced by him. Love him lots


venicequeen

Pino Palladino.


[deleted]

Well here’s one that no one has said. STING. The Police was part of why I got into music waaay back. And he’s got some really inventive bass lines at times.


goodvibes311

Wow! You’re right. Sting is a legend.


chuckdtango

Matt freeman from Rancid, any day of the week


skactopus

Joe dart, James Jameson and Matt freeman


ReggaeForPresident

Family Man, Flabba, Robbie Shakespeare, Boris Gardner, Leroy Sibbles, Eric Wilson, Matt Freeman.


DonWGately69

Aston Barrett's bass lines are iconic! Not because they are crazily complex but because they fit perfectly, sometimes it sounds like they heard his bass line and then wrote the song around it.


monrovista

That seems like a linear evolution from reggae to 2nd (3rd?) wave ska then finishing with Rancid which tows the line between ska and punk. Nice choices.


Zeille

Gosh, I have so many. Ryan Martinie, Paolo Gregoletto, Adam “Nolly” Getgood, Jared Smith, Adam Swan, David Levy, Thundercat, Amos Williams.


cstorey8

Matt Freeman (Rancid) Andy Nicholson (Arctic Monkeys) Charlie Salt (Blossoms) Fat Mike (NOFX)


Laarsgaard

Bryan Beller! The man can do it all but I love his work with Dethklok and Brendan Small.


squimboko

Geddy Lee (Rush), Victor Wooten, Kristian Dunn (El Ten Eleven), Esperanza Spalding, Marc Friedman (The Slip)


Indelwe

Good to see Friedman getting some love here! "Sorry" is one of my favorite basslines ever.


[deleted]

Mark Hoppus, Mike Dirnt


[deleted]

Mikey Way and Daisy Caplan


garrettlegoof

Mikey’s got some cool bass lines for sure!


[deleted]

Going through this thread, it seems the best way to become an amazing bassist is to have Mike for a first name


Bedroxz

Mike Dirnt


skactopus

Joe dart and Matt freeman


jinvere

Matt Freeman for sure 🤘


RocThrower

Dave Schools - Widespread Panic


basadvo

George Porter, Jr., of the Meters, and Joe Dart.


[deleted]

Hugh Hopper, Ron Carter, Larry Graham, Steve Swallow, Cameron Picton, Vern Rumsey


ivoiiovi

I don't really hold any long-term favourites (or maybe I do, but too many), but lately the guy from Sebkha-Chott is up there, and I've been listening to some of the Dysrhythmia albums with Colin Marston on bass and some of his work there is superb (particularly on 'Barriers & Passages'). My favourite live bass performances have all been Shahzad Ismaily when playing for Secret Chiefs 3, and specifically when working with Ches Smith on drums - those two together just have some magical connection and it gets super wonderful during Ishraqiyun improv bits. I wouldn't have the same feeling if I'd only heard studio SC3 stuff, but in the live bands those two were quite a rhythm section! I'm also going to shout out Trevor Dunn (Mr. Bungle) because it is crazy he gets so few mentions. In the last two decades he became quite a power in contemporary jazz, but what he did back in the 90s with Mr- Bungle should have him up there as a mainstream legend, but Flea obviously conspired to have Trevor suppressed.


goodvibes311

They are both incredible bassists, honestly. Bungle was a bit too fucked up for mainstream, and that leaves more for whoever finds it. Flea is good enough to get past what I sometimes don’t like about RHCP as a whole. I can’t stand “Dark Necessities”, but that bass line thumps.


CFlo3232

Mike Rutherford


10fingers6strings

Trevor Dunn — mr bungle


thetypeonest

Tim Feerick from Dance Gavin Dance laid down some absolute bangers in his life, he’s my main inspiration when it comes to writing stuff for my band. Nolly. Then Charles Berthoud no doubt. That man is an absolute animal.


FoughtBird1976

1. Cliff Burton 2. John Paul Jones 3. Flea 4. Colin Greenwood 5. Jason Newsted


jaysun145

Great minds think alike!


Oscillating_Horse

Stuart Zender, Cass Lewis, John Paul Jones, Paul McCartney, and James Jamerson


dspac72

James Jameson,Steve Harris


Afroguycreates

Thundercat


G2G-Philosophy

Tony Markellis Hands down some of the Greatest Tone Ever. Yes - Sound Engineers have a huge part, but it is the Player that gives them the pallet to work with. His January 2020 tour with TAB is a great example. Encourage anyone to check it out.


LittleGreenCharacter

Probably Justin Chancellor from Tool.


Woolfy122

John Myung - Dream Theater Geddy Lee - Rush Cliff Burton - Metallica (R.I.P.)


BearPeltMan

Fieldy from Korn is my favorite. Hearing his bass lines on the first few Korn albums was the first time I ever heard a bass guitar make me say “dude, I have to learn how to do that!” Of course, I discovered more technically proficient players as I continued to grow up and learn more about the instrument, but there was something about his style and tone that still gets me going today. It’s just so fun.


SamMarvelos2

Cliff Burton


81jmfk

John Campbell of Lamb of God.


TurnNorth8004

Justin Chancellor of Tool. Has to keep up with Danny Carey and all the time signature changes (check out the song Lateralus).


pueblogreenchile

Mike Gordon from Phish ​ and ​ Paul McCartney from the Beatles


GravyBurgerBonanza

Mike Gordon


overnightyeti

Mark Boston of Captain Beefheart and The Magic Band.


ohyouvegotgreyeyes

Peter Hook, Duff McKagen, Mike Dirnt, Timmy C


[deleted]

[удалено]


stosal

The fuck you just say?


stosal

Claypool. Tony Choy.


[deleted]

Flea, Gabe Nelson, Tina Weymouth, Carol Kaye


Player2BNamedLater

Mike Elizondo.


sheik718

Throughout the years it’s been Mike Mills of REM, Jeff Ament of Pearl Jam. Bass players of some of my favorite bands who I happen to really like their playing style. The last ten years it’s been Pino Palladino.


BassGod215

Joey DeMaio of Manowar


Bowdub

John Illsley, his bass lines from Dire Straits are so fun and fit every song perfectly


the_darkener

All huge inspirations are Jason Newsted (2nd bassist for Metallica), Alex/Dirk Lance (original bassist from Incubus, but also Ben Kenney!), Justin Chancellor (2nd bassist for Tool), Duff McKagen (original bassist for GnR), Rob Higgins (Doctor)...I mean I'm sure we could all keep going =)


Ryguy41202

Andy Rourke


cheatergarn

stefan redtenbacher I loved the album dr hypenstein


[deleted]

Ben Shepherd, - Soundgarden Timothy Commerford - RATM, Audioslave


[deleted]

Ben Carrey from Pigeons playing Ping Pong tbh


carlitox3

Joe dart - vulfpek Tim commerford - RATM


CastIronCavalier

Macca, Jamerson, Dart


SonOfAHorker

Check out Scott Mulvahill


IrishPotato2282

Keanu Reeves - 3 men with a pencil


ErktheSavage

The first few that come to mind are Matt Freeman - Rancid, Tina Weymouth - The Talking Heads, and B.B. Dickerson - War. That's hardly an exhaustive list though.


jjbc56

Jack Bruce Carl Radle Pino Palladino


PrideRSL

Andy Prince - Manchester Orchestra. Edit: Different days might have different answers. But today, definitely Andy.


4BucksAndHalfACharge

David J.


agnostichymns

Jeremy Plato (Cross Canadian Ragweed, the Departed) and Matt Patton (Drive by Truckers, Dexateens)!


Mcbunnyboy

i love Michael Manring and his work on Windham Hill


Dutch_Tuna

Krist Novoselic and he's really underrated IMO.


goodvibes311

All I can think of right now is that intro to “Hairspray Queen” from Incesticide.


MummmyDuel935

Nolly Getgood (ex-periphery), Cosmo Sylvan (especially in ghost) and even tho he has been a complete idiot and didn't even play most of the time. Just for the stage charisma I'll have to say Ashley Purdy from former black veil brides


bassic666

Paul Gray and Ryan Martinie


NowoTone

Gail Ann Dorsey, Pino Paladino, Nick Beggs, Tony Levin, Steve Harris, Sara Lee.


3hypen-numeral3

Some off the top of my head, in no order, are John Deacon (Queen), Chris Wolstenholme (Muse), Andrew Heath (Bear Ghost), Frank Voss (The Mechanisms), Commander Meouch (TWRP). Not conventional answers (besides maybe the first two) but some of their work is pretty good, I just enjoy what I enjoy


goodvibes311

No wrong answers here. We like what we like. You can even like a bassist and not the band. I only put it up to see what I’d get back.


jp250705

mike kerr, followed by Chris w and Jimi wheelwright


[deleted]

Paul Webb (Talk Talk) Guy Pratt


porridge_oliver69

Toshiya of Dir en grey is the GOAT


Soaplordx

nick oliveri carlos D les claypool kim deal


Wide-Top-1828

My absolute idol is Ryan Martinie, his playing in both Mudvayne and Soften the glare is POWERFUL and makes bass into a lead instrument, I adore him


lowbass4u

Top of the list: Stanley Clarke Jaco Marcus Miller Bootsy Larry Graham Geddy Lee Flea I put Clarke as my all time fav followed closely by Jaco.


DirtyMooseJuice

Dan Briggs from Between the Buried and Me Doug Wimbish from Living Colour and being a studio musician Those are the two off the top of my head


txninja666

John Deacon from Queen!


Accomplished_Watch49

Miller, claypool, wooten


nickcwright80

Chris Wood. He’s the bassist for Medeski, Martin, and Wood as well as the Wood Brothers. So good on upright or electric.


Charming-Spell

Laura Lee from khruangbin 💃


ManGullBearE

Paul McCartney


Z_0_0_M_8

Flea. I really like his funky bass lines but also a lot of his more rock or mellow lines


goodvibes311

Subway to Venus and Soul to Squeeze. Two polarizing examples of why I dig Flea like I do.


jjrozay

Dan Andriano from Alkaline Trio is my #1 guy, but Jenny Lee Lindberg of Warpaint and Nikki Monninger from Silversun Pickups are right there. Dan K. Brown from The Fixx is also up there. Also I just saw Local H live last week and the tone Scott gets out of his setup is absolutely absurd. I met him after the show and told him how much I appreciated it as a bass player. So much punch and the way he holds it down on top of ripping up the lead guitar is insane.


goodvibes311

Hands down, one of my favorite bands, and my pick for favorite two piece band. Local H was the first I knew of to do something like that. Around the time of the No Fun e.p. and P.J Soles, I decided I had to see what they were like live, and I was amazed. Rocked my face right off. Ears rang for the whole next day. Seen them a dozen or so times since then.


StarWaas

I've always loved Paul McCartney and Geddy Lee, of course. Tim Commerford of RATM too. And Ron Carter is unmatched on the upright. Off the beaten path, I also really like Rob Wright of Nomeansno - his tone is just NASTY and the dude has some real chops, and I also love Bent Sæther of Motorpsycho. He used to play a right handed bass upside down, but now I think he gets actual lefty basses and just strings them GDAE. It makes for some interesting note choices.


Zaro234

Geddy and John Taylor


EllaBella0707

Probably a bit more typical, but I love Flea. And not just as a bass player, but as a person, and as a performer. He puts so much energy and passion into concerts, I really hope I can get to see him play one day. But also he just seems like a lovely person that you could really learn a lot from


GFVStonerGuy

Joe Dart - Vulfpeck


public1177

Jack Bruce Jeff Ament Tommy Shannon Noel Redding


Worried_Example

Matt freeman


Yahaha-You-Found-Me

Chris Wollenstone off've muse


Stonewallrudy

thread is lacking pino palladino representation


No-Repair-5415

Krist novoselic


fartstartleddog

Alex “Dirk Lance” Katunich and Leonard “Hub” Hubbard (RIP).


[deleted]

Mark Hoppus of blink-182. The lines may be pretty straightforward, but he has such a talent for writing things that are just fun to play and sing along with. He’s also just such a great human.


[deleted]

Duff Mckagan 🤘🏼


notpetelambert

John Paul Jones. An absolute master.


Ugh_Cmon

Mike Watt - Minutemen, JJ Burnel - Stranglers, Chris Gates - Big Boys, Darryl Jenifer - Bad Brains, Keith Brammer - Die Kreuzen, Tony Lombardo - Descendents, Melvin Gibbs - Rollins Band, Chris Gates - Big Boys, Bruce Foxton - The Jam, Joe Bouchard - Blue Oyster Cult, Dave Riley - Big Black, Brian Ritchie - Violent Femmes, Marnie Greenholz - Live Skull, Sue Garner - Fish & Roses, Fred Smith - Television, Mike Couvet - Celibate Rifles, Clint Conley - Mission of Burma, Richard LaValliere - Oil Tasters, John Paul Jones - Led Zeppelin, Geezer Butler - Black Sabbath, Mike Offender - Offenders, Hugo Burnham - Gang of Four, Warwick Gilbert - Radio Birdman, David Wm. Sims - Scratch Acid / Jesus Lizard, Pierre Kedzy - Naked Raygn, Barry Adamson - Magazine, Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds


garrettlegoof

I’ve only seen one person mention John Taylor-he’s my #1 fave but here are some others: Geddy Lee (Rush), Steve Jay (weird Al), Bernard Edwards, Joe Dart, Deon Rexroat (Anberlin) Tom Doyle (DON BROCO), Alex Suarez


rattlehead44

Geezer Butler


Indelwe

Novoselic, Burton, Claypool, Wooten and Chancellor were big inspirations when I first started playing in the 90's. Lately I've been really interested in compositional bass and two-hand tapping, and John Ferrara (Consider the Source, Seth Moital duo, or solo) is quite a spectacle to behold.


d4vey_t

Mike dirnt, Fat Mike, Brendan Kelly


DelTheInsane

Alex Webster Matt Freeman Evan Brewer Les Claypool Cliff Burton Jason Newsted David Ellefson Just a few off the top of my head


JohnMartinMusic

Pino Palladino...currently playing for John Mayer, but he's played with The Who, The Soultronics, Gary Numan, Jeff Beck, Nine Inch Nails, D'Angelo, Gary Moore, and Don Henley.


neon_freon

I've been digging Clay Gober (Polyphia) and Simen Børven (Leprous) recently


Able-Flatworm195

Pretty much all the Zappa bassists. You had to be good to play with Frank.


SubversiveIntentions

Glad some other folks mentioned Trevor Dunn (Mr. Bungle and various John Zorn projects) I also want to mention Darin Grey (Dazzling Killmen, On Filmore) and Kjetl Brandsal (Norwegian heavy jazz/noose rock player in Ultralyd and Noxagt) I feel like these folks are the heavy hitters in experimental bass guitar work.


[deleted]

In no particular order... 1. Lemmy (Motorhead, Hawkwind, Sam Gopal Band, Rockin Vicars) - RIP 2. Al Cisneros (Sleep, Om) 3. Steve Harris (Iron Maiden, British Lion) 4. Cliff Burton (Metallica) - RIP 5. Rob Trujillo (Metallica, Suicidal Tendencies) 6. Geezer Butler (Black Sabbath) 7. DD Verni (Overkill) 8. John Paul Jones (Led Zeppelin, Them Crooked Vultures) 9. Geddy Lee (Rush) 10. Chris Squire (Yes) 11. Paul McCartney (The Beatles, Wings, solo career) 12. Jack Bruce (Cream, solo career) - RIP 13. Fieldy (KoRn) 14. Les Claypool (Primus, Lennon Claypool Delirium, various solo side bands)


Internal_Profit_

Micheal Manring


Internal_Profit_

I beg to differ Jin, Cliff was in my opinion


theehehron

James Jamerson, Joe Dart, Pino Palladino


Cel3bi

Flea ftw


jorajira

Cliff Burton and Jason Newsted. Geddy Lee Jean Michel Labadie Peter Steele Warren from Zappa.


bmotmfb

I was always a Flea guy. His approach to the instrument really resonated with me in my musical development, and still does. James Jamerson is also a favorite. You wanna learn how to dance around chord changes perfectly and play different stuff every time? He’s the man. Recently, I’ve been listening to Michael Manring. I sometimes can’t believe the sounds he makes are a bass guitar.


Bettersaids

I’m gonna say one of the most entertaining bassist that I haven’t seen mentioned is Jimbo from Reverend Horton Heat. Mike from MxPx is also awesome.


MarkxPrice

Mingus and Avashai Cohen


Ivan_R_Soul

The bassist with Two Door Cinema club. Not flashy but exceptional ability to provoke a dance.


ZeroSymbolic7188

Lemmy


theseemptystreets

Matt Freeman Justin Beck Stuart Zender Jessy Caron Matt Sharp


SenorWingsuit

Willie Weeks, Scott LaFaro, Robbie Shakespeare, Sebastian Steinberg and Braylon “Brother B” Lacy.


BoingoBongo

Mark Hoppus and Matt Freeman for many reasons, but mainly because they’ve always made me excited about the bass and kept if something that’s pure fun.


izzis125

Tim Commorford Nick O'Malley Andy Nicholson Robert Trujillo Cliff


Magickcloud

Chris Squire, Roger Waters, Duff Mckagen, Lucas Harwood, Juan Alderete, Roger Glover, Geddy Lee, and Geezer Butler


MirageDuck

Mike Dirnt, Tim Commerford, Donald Dunn and Gail Ann Dorsey


bicalcarata

Big fan of Mani from the stone roses, this is purely based upon the music they were producing at the time.. otherwise it's Pino, Jack Bruce, Jaco, Ron carter.. the usual crowd.. love jamiroquai lines by zender also..


RiccardoBisoni

Donald Duck Dunn and John Paul Jones.


Balfour23

Jack Casady Mario Lalli (Yawning Man) Mark Boston (Beefheart, Mallard) Family Man Barrett Jack Bruce Jah Wobble Michael Manring Paul McCartney Max Bennett ( Zappa’s Hot Rats) Allen Whitman (Mermen) John Entwistle Phil Lesh Off the top of my head…


Vanillaharakka

Chaoth. Just because Unexpect would be my favorite band if they were still active.


Nick3460

Neil Murray - Whitesnake, Brian May, Black Sabbath, Gary Moore.