Bass Guitar Magazine Top 40 Bass Lines

[Baryonyx]

The problem with these lists is...no one will ever agree about them! They are utterly pointless!

[Eublet]

It depends on who your listening audience is. Bass players would probably argue over one list, while the average listener would select something entirely different. In terms of easily recognizeable bass lines that are engraved in everyone's mind, I don't know that you could pick anything higher than Another One Bites or Super Freak. But I wouldn't put them on my list of greatest bass lines.

[Green727]

Agree... i looked up the number 1 song... ive never heard it before... but i thought it was terrible/boring...

[J. Crawford]

That Peaches song really isnt anything to brag about. You would think with some of the biggest bands of all time coming from their country, they would have it perfected... Wow.

[Atoz]

Where's Seven Nation Army?

[debassr]

Actually, I agreed with the Peaches tune. I think it's brilliantly simple which is also something that I think is waaay underrated here on TB.

[ashleysfyoung]

Originally Posted by debassr

Where the HELL is "I'll take You There" by the Staple Singers?

David Hood KILLED it on that track.

Hi, I just checked out that track cz never heard it before, and just wondering does anyone know who borrowed that line? I know I've heard it before on a reggae track I think, but really can't place it!

Cheers

[xtorrak]

This is probably the top 40 bass lines of songs that made the top 40 charts. When you look at it in that perspective, it makes sense.

[gonzilla]

Don't want to necro, but the point should be made-

With the exception of 40 Greatest Pop Songs, "I've never even heard of it" isn't a good excuse to complain about a song's addition to a list.

[Tumeni Notes]

All you have to do is listen to their number one pick to realize that the poll is totally meaningless. Since I had never heard of the song, I checked it out and was totally unimpressed. Although you stated that the Bass magazine polled their editoral team and contributors, my question would be, "Do these people even play the bass?"

I have yet to see a poll that I believe truely represents what they are trying to poll. Last poll I saw for a guitar magazine rating the best guitarists of all time did not have Steve Morse, Malmsteen, or Vai; enough said.

[DeanT]

Originally Posted by Disappear

Maybe they should write about bass lines to check out. Do a section every issue.

Exactly. I get the magazine and when I saw it I said, it would have been so much better if that would have at least had the main riff from each bass line transcribed and in TAB.

As for The Stranglers being #1. Well, Jean-Jacques Burnel is a great bass player, but Peaches is not such an amazing song that it should be #1, considering all thecompetition.

[excane]

+1000 to a load of crap

Just one Beatles song??

[SteveC]

Did the Doors even have a bass - it was organ wasn't it?

[RexNFX79]

These superlative lists, no matter where they come from, are always a big disappointment. I don't know who decides this stuff but this one really stunk.

[ceedj]

Originally Posted by Eublet

It depends on who your listening audience is. Bass players would probably argue over one list, while the average listener would select something entirely different. In terms of easily recognizeable bass lines that are engraved in everyone's mind, I don't know that you could pick anything higher than Another One Bites or Super Freak. But I wouldn't put them on my list of greatest bass lines.

You bring up an interesting point, which makes me wonder, being a BASS GUITAR mag, what audience were they going for with this list?

There are some good picks in here, but a large number of song choices (not artist choices, most of these are fine) are making me go ***?

[RBrownBass]

Originally Posted by ceedj

You bring up an interesting point, which makes me wonder, being a BASS GUITAR mag, what audience were they going for with this list?

There are some good picks in here, but a large number of song choices (not artist choices, most of these are fine) are making me go ***?

+1000

Stupid, stupid list. Bass GUITAR mag releases a list of their Top 40 basslines, somehow manages to include ONE jazz standard recorded on double... and it's So what, not John Coltrane's Greensleeves? Okay, that's a matter of opinion, but it seems that since they found one jazz tune and veered away from the BG for it, that they could have included what IMO is one of the coolest intros ever played.

And a list of great non-jazz basslines (it appears that they were trying to focus on non-jazz music) ought to include Dazz by Brick and One Of These Nights by the Eagles and... hey, is that intro to Blister In The Sun done on bass or guitar?

Mags like People have a special role in doing popteen polls like this. A musician's mag like Bass Player, with something of a natural following, could go a bit further in educating its readership without losing customers, I'd think. I'd hope, anyhow.

[Kgoodrich]

Originally Posted by tareh

where's Matt Freeman?

I know.