Please :)

I'm in a rut for fun songs to learn. Any and all suggestions are welcome, but I'm looking more for cool songs than solos.

definitely look into some Rush songs if you haven't already... some of my favorites are The Enemy Within, Circumstances, Digital Man, Cinderella Man... they all have really cool basslines... although I guess just about all Rush songs do... :D

How's your sight reading doing these days?

"Rocket Queen" by Guns n Roses. Simple with a cool groove. Classic hard rock.

To be honest, the sight reading isn't there. I've been saying I'm going to learn for years...

Learn La Villa Strangiato

anything mudvayne is good i know alot of them and they never get old

maxwell murders by rancid. my favorite bass solo

The first thing I should ask is, “what kind of music do you like?” But I won’t.

A lot of funk and R&B bass lines can be fun. I find the syncopated grooves of a lot of reggae bass lines fun to play. Check out some of the bass lines performed by Aston "Family Man" Barrett – maybe Concrete Jungle or something else from Bob Marley and the Wailers’ Catch a Fire.

To be honest, the sight reading isn't there. I've been saying I'm going to learn for years...

Then you should be busy instead of bored...

Most never learn a song to perfection you could pick a song you already like and learn it to prefection. Time, feel, technique, tone, if song has a solo analyze what you're doing and why you like or don't like your solo. If you transcribed a solo then analyze it and create you own solo based on the results.

Just playing should be enough fun.

anything by the meters.

i particularly like funky miracle, pungee, same old thing, tippi toes, and groovy lady

Play with other people.
Work on your improv.

S.

Then you should be busy instead of bored...

I know, I know....and I kick myself for not learning earlier. I know hundreds of songs and have been gigging constantly for 11 years, but not reading still makes me feel like a charlatan.

I do know theory like the back of my hand, but actually tackling the dots intimidates me for some reason.

Here's a good lesson that may be interesting for you.

http://www.cliffengel.com/bass_lessons/online/free_bass_lessons/jazz_improvisation/passing_notes/

Then you should be busy instead of bored...

+1

Follow these bass players to their recordings (samples below):


James Jamerson. Jr. - Motown/Funk Bros
Cloud Nine: Temptations http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uR8Z7mPGCkw&feature=related
What's Goin' On: Marvin Gaye http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y9KC7uhMY9s

Bob Babbit - Motown/Funk Bros
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=blU-GhK6hDI Interview
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Standing_in_the_Shadows_of_Motown_(film) Standing in the Shadows of Motown

Chuck Rainey - Various artists
http://www.chuckrainey.com/ with discography
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chuck_Rainey
http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewProfile&friendID=122705513

Donald 'Duck' Dunn - Booker T and the MG's, Blues Bros.,
http://www.duckdunn.com/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Donald_%22Duck%22_Dunn
Green Onions - Booker T http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IM6MEb2xnLk
Walk the Dog with Rufus Thomas and the Blues Brothers Band http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hKqLWbRNSXo&feature=related


George Porter Jr. - The Meters
http://www.georgeporterjr.com/audio.html
Collection of Meter bass lines: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wyLAi4kLVmY&feature=related

Willliam 'Bootsy' Collins - James Brown (69-71) P-Funk, Parliament Funkadelic
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mtE3EDxmAKY with James Brown
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=msNgZ2nexC0&feature=related
I Got A Thing http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BJk9ZLjsl3U&feature=related
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bootsy_Collins

Billy Bass Nelson - Parliament Funkadelic
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Billy_Bass_Nelson
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Out_of_the_Dark_(Billy_Bass_Nelson_album )
I Got a Thing http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BJk9ZLjsl3U&feature=related

Rocco Prestia: Tower of Power.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Francis_Rocco_Prestia
http://www.roccoprestia.com/
Only So Much Oil in the Ground: lesson/video http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N_5txk-Y9EM

Bernard Edwards - Chic (Best of Chic album or 'Diana' by Diana Ross).
Everybody Dance http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RFQcOrqQLN8
Forbidden Lover http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5nIj7Rq0uco&feature=related

Stevie Wonder - funky synth bass in his albums: Innervisions, Songs In The Key Of Life, Talking Book.
Superstition http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wDZFf0pm0SE
Higher Ground http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4wZ3ZG_Wams&feature=related

Flea - RHCP - BloodSugarSexMagik.
Sir Psycho Sexy http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VOsvup_Yx2k
Naked in the Rain http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=39eiWhMm15A

Pino Palladino
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pino_Palidino
D'Angelo's "Voodoo" and some songs on The RH Factor
DAngelo http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6CMR6ASVt6Q

Louis Johnson - Brothers Johnson
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Louis_Johnson_(bassist )
"Get the funk out of my face" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J7_lhfpN1vg&feature=related
Strawberry Letters 23 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JKJw1h4KQuw&feature=related

Larry Graham - Graham Central Station, Sly & the Family Stone
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Larry_Graham
POW (funniest funk song around) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z1IuD6F3R5I

Rick James
http://www.rickjames.com/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rick_James
Standing On Top: Temptations http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q_Acu4cdEOY&feature=related
Super Freak: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=75qXUfp4wtw

Willie Weeks (Donny Hathaway, Stevie Wonder, Eric Clapton, etc.)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Willie_Weeks
http://www.bassplayer.com/article/willie-weeks-does/Jul-05/11378 Interview
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T5X6juXuook with Donny Hathway Live

Robert Wilson - The Gap Band
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gap_Band
You Dropped a Bomb on Me http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F5lIYpV8b54

Verdine White - Earth Wind & Fire
http://www.earthwindandfire.com/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Earth,_Wind_&_Fire
Got To Get You Into My Life http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hBBN0T5PYXY
September http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nfLEc09tTjI&feature=related

Robert "Pops" Popwell - The Crusaders, Aretha Franklin, etc.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_Popwell
"Street Life" Jazz Crusaders http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C_ZvDI7XGFU&feature=related

Joe Osborne - Ricky Nelson Band, Bob Dylan, a zillion others, session recording bassist
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joe_Osborn
I Won't Last a Day Without You - Paul Williams, recorded by The Carpenters
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g3oD8cKHu3c (transcribed by Jason Long)

Rod Ellicott - Cold Blood
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TE5U5DK5rjw Kissing My Love, Thriller 1973
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FBXQA...eature=related Down to the Bone, First Taste of Sin 1972
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cold_Blood
http://www.coldblood.biz//pages/home.html

Andrew Gouche - major Funk,Gospel,R&B
http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewProfile&friendID=64857544
http://www.epifani.com/artists/artist.php?id=10
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z6SLbKE_tHw&feature=PlayList&p=01A2FD87D6CC9D17&playnext=1&index=63
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G2q-Df7cxrk&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZKPWbf4CvZU&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=06C1QDrLQto&feature=related

Bobby Watson - Rufus
http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewprofile&friendid=410619546
Tell Me Something Good http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SJIVyqbQTXg
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rufusized

To be honest, the sight reading isn't there. I've been saying I'm going to learn for years...

I know people have been recommending his recordings already, but if you want to get into sightreading with some fun stuff (assuming that you know the basics?) I highly recommend the book Standing in the Shadows of Motown, with dozens of notated James Jamerson basslines, and a Cd that is great fun to play along with. For some simpler reading stuff (I think I sort of started with these), try some of the Bach cello suites, assuming you're at least somewhat into classical music and wouldn't kill yourself playing them. I used the Josquin des Prez book (not the composer, the writer), and taped over the tablature, which really helped.

Anything from Dave Matthews Band.

First, go get yourself a Real Book. Learn to walk on every tune. You could choose styles and go that way. Like, start with Bossa Novas and learn those, then go on to the swing tunes, then the bebop, maybe just do the 3/4 tunes, then just the 6/8, etc. Then, learn to play the heads of every tune. Then, after you've played every tune and head and really know the changes by heart, then learn all those songs in every key, (it doesn't have to be in that order, learn each song in every key before going on nstead). Get yourself several different versions of the recordings.

Now, get Standing in the Shadows of Motown. Learn all of those songs. Really appreciate the feel. Don't let them sound too mechanical. Musical musical! Make them sing!

Then, you're going to need a tour through latin music. This will be very important. You're going to need to find the Eddie Palmeiri's, Oscar Hernandez's, etc. I would get Oscar Stagnaro's Latin Bass Book, then get CD's by people like Palmeiri and Hernandez. Maybe a little Paco de Lucia to really stretch your range would be nice.

I would then pick up Arban's Trombone Conservatory. Learn all of those etudes. What a great way to learn bass clef reading, scales, fingering, and melody all at once. Your trip through jazz has taught you a lot about harmony (as well as rhythm and melody of course). Your tour through latin music has taught you a lot about rhythm. Your tour through SITSOM has taught you chops and technique, along with melody.

Then, pick up Bach's Cello Suites and learn those. There will be some tough fingerings so good luck.

Then, it's time to learn the blues. Pick up some BB King, Albert King, and more.
Then, take a trip down to New Orleans and learn the R&B/Blues of Dr. John, James Booker, Professor Longhair, and others.
Then, it's time to play along with James Brown, the Meters, Ohio Players, Parliament-Funkadelic, and others.
Then, it couldn't hurt to know tunes from the Beatles, Buddy Holly, and the Rolling Stones.
How about then learning some Zeppelin and the Who, some Hendrix, Clapton, Stevie Ray Vaughan. That might be helpful.
And I"m talking discographies here. Don't just learn the popular song, learn an entire album.

So, you've got R&B, Jazz, Classical, Latin, Rock, Blues. That should be a good start. Once you've got all that down, maybe we can come up with some new ideas. :D

I do have Standing in the Shadows; Jamerson is up there for me in the heroes department, but haven't really tackled his style.

I know people have been recommending his recordings already, but if you want to get into sightreading with some fun stuff (assuming that you know the basics?) I highly recommend the book Standing in the Shadows of Motown, with dozens of notated James Jamerson basslines, and a Cd that is great fun to play along with. For some simpler reading stuff (I think I sort of started with these), try some of the Bach cello suites, assuming you're at least somewhat into classical music and wouldn't kill yourself playing them. I used the Josquin des Prez book (not the composer, the writer), and taped over the tablature, which really helped.

I just posted this elsewhere, IME it's waaay more fun than learning someone else's tunes (although that's obviously a ggod tool as well).

One thing that's helping me a lot is using a looper to make my own tunes. Pick a chord progression, either from a tune or your your own head. First play the chords high up on your bass, either plucked in unison or individually in a cool rhythm, then add a beat by layering ghost notes (plucked or slapped), then let the loop play and improvise your baseline underneath it. This is fun because you're making your own tunes, and will make you practice many facets at once. Limitless possibilities...