Easiest covers to play on bass

[Matthew Bryson]

Easy songs:

Pink Floyd - Money
Primus - Toys Go Winding Down
Black Sabbath - Sweet Leaf
Black Sabbath - Iron man
Clapton - Sunshine of Your Love
Sex Pistols - Anarchy In The UK
Van Halen - Ain't Talking About love

[Stingraymund]

"Relax" by Frankie Goes to Hollywood:

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[seanm]

Originally Posted by The Golden Boy

I don't think it was radio, and I don't think it was Rockin in the Free World. "This Note's For You" was banned from MTV because it PO'd a lot of MTV sponsors.

You're right that it was "This Note's For You" You're also right about MTV. But I am pretty sure it was banned from at least one of the large AOR chains for the same reason it was banned from MTV.

[whatsinaname]

Easiest rock song ever for a bass player has to be Led Zep's Going to California....not one note of bass in the whole she-bangy.

[Schwinn]

My band does 'Rockin' in the Free World' and 'Come as you Are'. Both are very easy indeed.

So far the hardest to nail has been RATM 'sleep now in the fire'. I actually tune my A string down to G so I can make use of the open string. Try it, it works and your arm won't cramp up!!

[Zirc]

Anything by Blink
Fortunate Son
And most anything by Tom Petty

[Rick Blanc]

Anything by George Thorogood.

One note all the way through with the Ellington ending.

[Schwinn]

Originally Posted by Lefty Punk Bass

And most anything by Tom Petty

Yeah, we also do Refugee, which is completely easy on bass.

[Tyler Hole]

AC/DC - Simple but fun to cover
Offspring - Anything from them.

[Matt Till]

Kiss by Prince... or was it Prince by Kiss... I stopped paying attention.

[the ombudsman]

"You Really Got Me" gets my vote.

Rick Blanc mentionned George Thorogood. Simple to the point of being boring. Ah, guitarists' music...

[Ayatollah Watts]

Everyday People by Sly and the Family Stone (Larry Graham)

has to be the simplest bassline ever... but so so suiting

[Matt Till]

Golden Earring has some pretty driving basslines that are easy, Twilight Zone and Radar Love.

[bmc]

Anything by White Stripes

[nonsqtr]

Smoke on the Wa-Ter (Fi-yer in the Sky-I)

[Gabe]

Originally Posted by bmc

Anything by White Stripes

True, although Seven Nation Army is fun. At least in my band, I do the repetitive line on bass.

[Woodchuck]

"High Times" - Jamiroquai
"What Would You Say?" - DMB
"Don't Slander Me" - Rokie Edwards
"When The World is Running Down" - Police
"Spanish Bombs" - The Clash
....and THE easiest song in the history of bassdom -"Everyday People" by Sly and the Family Stone. Just crawl up in that "G", and make yourself at home. Although, you could throw a sparatic "E" in from time to time.


Write in vote - "When Doves Cry" - Prince

[jammadave]

Actually, When I Come Around by Green Day doesn't qualify. It may be easy for some of TB regulars to play, but it's a fairly interesting and complex line, and I dont even like Green Day most of the time!

these are super-duper simple:

RHCP - Suck My Kiss
Primus - Too Many Puppies, the Family and the Fishing Net (never heard the original though)
Jerry Reed / Primus - Amos Moses (my band does this one)
Metallica - Sandman
REM - Superman (my band does this too and I hate it)

[the ombudsman]

"Suck My Kiss"?!? I don't see this song as being so simple! The feel and groove of the song can be pretty hard to reproduce accurately for a beginner, IMHO (and no, I have no problem playing it, personally ).

[Mike N]

Dont Tell Me You Love Me - Night Ranger
Deny - Default
I Need to Know - Tom Petty
Open Up Your Eyes - Tonic
Bad Day - Fuel