Hear the Bass!

End of Year Hiatus

2009-12-22T09:12:00.004-02:00

Let's have a break, shall we? During this time of year, is harder to post updates. See you in 2010. Happy holidays, everyone!

Above, a bass lesson with Sir Paul McCartney (in case you haven't seen this yet).

Come Together

2009-12-18T17:00:00.002-02:00

In a rush, but just for the record: this is a great bassline!

You know the band. You know the album.

(The Beatles, Abbey Road. Yes. Paul McCartney)

1973

2009-12-17T06:16:00.003-02:00

This song, bassline included, sounds like it was released in the year-title. However, it's a recent recording by James Blunt.
I like the way the bass sounds low and deep on this one.

Song: 1973
Artist / Band: James Blunt
Album: All the Lost Sould
Bass: Malcom Moore
Year: 2007

bass tab (external link)

Blue Monk

2009-12-16T06:18:00.000-02:00

Here's another bass trio. I remember when I bought this cd. Ray Brown, Christian McBride and John Clayton simultaneously playing their double basses.

The cd was very appropriately called Superbass. Blue Monk was one of its songs.

Brown + Meyer + Wooten

2009-12-15T06:17:00.000-02:00

Amazing video! Three legends - Ray Brown, Edgar Meyer and Victor Wooten playing together. a jazz bassist, a classical bassist and an electric bassist. All of the, top of their categories.

If anyone knows where to find this recording, please drop a comment.

Sunny Afternoon

2009-12-14T07:12:00.001-02:00

Don't you love chromatic scales? Great song by The Kinks - a band that was missing here.

Song: Sunny Afternoon
Artist / Band: The Kinks
Album: Face to Face
Bass: Pete Quaif
Year: 1966

bass tab (external link)

Bela Lugosi's Dead

2009-12-11T06:35:00.001-02:00

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

2009-12-10T11:25:00.001-02:00

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)

Every Breath You Take

2009-12-09T06:15:00.002-02:00

You see, easy bass lines and root notes are, sometimes, the best solutions to songs. Even the most celebrated bass players use them. Here's an example of that. Suggested by TB member Elrend.

Additional note: Perhaps you can make this line harder by playing it, as Sting did, on a double bass.

Song: Every Breath You Take
Artist / Band: The Police
Album: Synchronicity
Bass: Sting
Year: 1983

bass tab (external link)

Creep

2009-12-08T05:54:00.002-02:00

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)

Louie Louie

2009-12-07T06:34:00.005-02:00

Ok, I'll call this week "Easy Week". Nice songs with really easy basslines, selected by myself and a couple of other Talk Bass members. I'll start with my own pick, Louie Louie - only root notes on this bass line.

Song: Louie Louie
Artist / Band: Richard Berry and The Pharaohs
Album: Louie Louie (single)
Bass: The bass player for The Pharaohs (if you know his name, please post a comment)
Year: 1957

bass tab (external link) Not that you really need it...

Embarrassingly Empty Poll #1: Which genres would you like to see more here?

2009-12-04T12:54:00.002-02:00

Carregando...

Something

2009-12-04T05:50:00.001-02:00

Another one from Abbey Road, this time by George. Something is one of the most beautiful songs by any Beatle, and McCartney's line is fantastic and, in my opinion, very underappreciated. Melodic as ever, and never clashing with George Harrison's guitar. The solo part is almost like two solos in one (guitar and bass).

Well, there'll be a day when every Abbey Song will have been covered by this blog. The bass of every song in that album is fantastic.

The very rare promo video is quite a finding, as well.

Song: Something
Artist / Band: The Beatles
Album: Abbey Road
Bass: Paul McCartney
Year: 1969

bass tab (external link)

So Much to Say

2009-12-03T06:43:00.002-02:00

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)

Glamour Boys

2009-12-02T06:27:00.002-02:00

I remember when this one was released. Suddenly, everyone was talking about how great the bass line was.

I am not sure exactly why, and I am quite sure it was not intentional, but this song has a Brazilian music feel. No wonder they were/are so popular over here!

Song: Glamour Boys
Artist / Band: Living Colour
Album: Vivid
Bass: Muzz Skillings
Year: 1988

bass tab (external link)

Pain Lies on the Riverside

2009-12-01T06:08:00.007-02:00

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)

I Heard It Through the Grapevine

2009-11-30T05:50:00.000-02:00

Marvin Gaye's version of a Motown classic. Bass performed by legendary James Jamerson.

Song: I Heard It Through the Grapevine
Artist / Band: Marvin Gaye
Album: In the Groove
Bass: James Jamerson
Year: 1967

bass tab (external link)

Seven Nation Army

2009-11-27T06:34:00.001-02:00

Ok, this is the most controversial post so far. Yes, I know that The White Stripes are Vocal + Guitar + Drums. No bass nor bassists. Everytime a bass player says he has been playing "the bass intro" of this song on the bass, another one will claim that this song hasn't got one. And I beg to differ.

The sound range of bass and guitar (specially one using an octave pedal) might overlap (see http://www.integracoustics.com/MUG/MUG/bbs/musrange.gif), so it's not a complete absurd to call that intro a "bassline". In fact it is a bassline, played on guitar. What if it was arranged on a keyboard, or as VST, wouldn't it be called "bass line" as well?

Performed on a bass or not, this is a bassline, I say!

Song: Seven Nation Army
Artist / Band: The White Stripes
Album: Elephant
Bass(well, guitar actually): Jack White
Year: 2003

guitar tab (external link)

2 Minutes to Midnight

2009-11-26T06:07:00.003-02:00

Isolated Bass Track:

Steve Harris is, undoubtedly, one of the driving forces behind Iron Maiden. This song is a great showcase of his style, tone and technique (he also uses flatwound strings). I have embedded an extra video for the isolated bass.

If you like the isolated bass track feature, please drop a comment so I'll remember to do it more often.

Song: 2 Minutes to Midnight
Artist / Band: Iron Maiden
Album: Powerslave
Bass: Steve Harris
Year: 1984

bass tab (external link)

New Fang

2009-11-25T06:41:00.000-02:00

This one is new material from a legend: John Paul Jones (from Led Zeppelin) is now playing with Dave Grohl and Josh Homme. The name of the supergoup is Them Crooked Vultures.

JPJ really deserves a post here - he made history with Zeppelin, and his work on TCV is as solid as ever.

Song: New Fang
Artist / Band: Them Crooked Vultures
Album: Them Crooked Vultures
Bass: John Paul Jones
Year: 2009

If anyone knows where the bass tabs for this song can be found, comment!

Play That Funky Music

2009-11-24T06:13:00.001-02:00

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)

Power

2009-11-23T07:00:00.000-02:00

It was about time to have some Marcus Miller around here. This is one of the most complete musicians around (clarinet, sax, keyboards and guitar). He has played with giants such as Miles Davis - in fact he has produced an Davis album (and won a Grammy for it).

Power is one of my favourite Miller songs.

Song: Power
Artist / Band: Marcus Miller
Album: M2
Bass: Marcus Miller
Year: 2001

bass tab (external link)

Fake Tales of San Francisco

2009-11-20T07:02:00.000-02:00

The Arctic Monkeys seem to like to lock in their instruments - in fact that probably is one of their trademarks. But even with guitars, bass and drums accentuating the same beats, there is still space to Andy Nicholson do their fills. Great energy!

Song: Fake Tales of San Francisco
Artist / Band: Arctic Monkeys
Album: Whatever People Say I Am, That's What I'm Not
Bass: Andy Nicholson
Year: 2006

bass tab (external link)

Queen Bitch

2009-11-19T06:28:00.000-02:00

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)

Gimme Shelter

2009-11-18T06:22:00.000-02:00

Ok, I admit I am a little prejudiced against The Rolling Stones, and I shouldn't. Here is an amazing bassline by the Renaissance man Billy Wyman. It must be said that he and drummer Charlie Watts have formed one of the most solid rhythm sections in the history of rock.

Song: Gimme Shelter
Artist / Band: The Rolling Stones
Album: Let It Bleed
Bass: Billy Wyman
Year: 1969

bass tab (external link)