Great Bass on TV

[Introvox]

Of course I think the first great TV bass line that really intrigued me was:

Barnet Miller theme....actually it was quite challenging back then. Now 25+ years later it's still part of my regular warm up regiment.

I still tell all my bass students, this is one of those rifs every bassist should know.

***Anyone know the theme's real name, or the bassist/band?

Believe it or not there is a kids show, my 2.5 year old likes called "Between The Lions"...theme starts out slow and melodic (brilliant harmonies). Once the chorus kicks in, the bass player lays down a simple groove for 1 bar followed by really slick triplets for 1 bar, and so on.

***Any info on this one?



I've heard some cool bassing in Blues Clues (fretless) during the credits, but I also notice they use some keys bass too.

I have a ton more, but I have a feeling it won't be long before they're listed....bring em on

[DigMe]

Sanford and Son theme song with Chuck Rainey on bass. Nice chords.

S.W.A.T.

Fat Albert and the Cosby Kids - I want to say this is someone famous playing bass on this song. The bounciness reminds me of Jemmott. I mean the bounciness of the main bass line, not necessarily the slides at the beginning.

bc

[Woodchuck]

Abe Vigoda, Fish on "Barney Miller", had a short lived spinoff show called "Fish". That was some SICK bass playing! BTW, someone told me that that was Rainey playing the Fat Albert line as well. I also like the Scooby Doo, Sesame Street (Naughty Number 9), and Schoolhouse Rock (Verb) lines as well.

[bassguitar]

I always liked the Night Court Theme

[DigMe]

Originally Posted by Woodchuck

BTW, someone told me that that was Rainey playing the Fat Albert line as well.

I think I've heard that too, Woody. I could buy it.

bc

[Alvaro Martín Gómez A.]

Originally Posted by Introvox

Of course I think the first great TV bass line that really intrigued me was:

Barnet Miller theme....actually it was quite challenging back then. Now 25+ years later it's still part of my regular warm up regiment.

I still tell all my bass students, this is one of those rifs every bassist should know.

***Anyone know the theme's real name, or the bassist/band?

As far as I understand, the tune was made for that show, so it should be called "Barney Miller", recorded by a bunch of session musicians. About the bassist, here's a quote from Carol Kaye's website:

" Q. Is that you on the Barney Miller Theme?

A. Many people have asked me this question as it sounds like my style. That's actually the fine Chuck Berghofer on elec. bass, plus I understand he made up that line which later was written as years afterwards, Jim Hughart (former student of mine btw, great talent and had elec. bass hits of his own too) did some of the Barney Miller things too. But definitely that's mainly Chuck, who used to play string bass on the Nancy Sinatra and Jody Miller things we'd record together -- Chuck is also on the movie soundtrack "Bird", he OD'd some string bass on that fine film. He's a fine jazz string bassist -- Pete Jolly lps, etc. "

[Introvox]

Wow....great posts...some are a real "blast from the past"

[Thunderthief]

Seinfield. Scooby Doo. Ghostbusters. Fresh Prince of Bel-Air. The Price is Right. Gilligans Island. Cheers. Batman. Pink Panther (its a movie, so sue me)

[Eric Perry]

Originally Posted by Thunderthief

Seinfield.

Ahhh, but Seinfeld is a synth, and not a bass. Cool lines, nonetheless.

[Chili]

Everybody hates chris has alot of funky slap bass lines, also plays good funky music aswell, strawberry letter 23 and some bootsy stuff

[Basshole]

I used to tune in some silly Nickelodeon kid's show, Roundhouse (~1992), just to watch the bass player; John Peña.

Sick tone. Great player.

[tZer]

Man! I love it!

• I forgot all about that killer 'Fat Albert' theme! "Hey, hey, hey!!!"
• Barney Miller - I have found another reference that says Jim Hughart played it and Chuck Berghofer wrote it.
• Fish
• Sanford and Son - of course...
• Good Times
• The Jeffersons
• The Flinstones - used to play this in my high school jazz band
• The Jetsons - really fun upright bassline on this one
• Northern Exposure
• Blue's Clues

[steve_man]

I agree there that are some good kid shows out there that have some really good bass lines.

This is one of my fav's

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3c4Pf...ch=barnacleboy

[John Webb]

I have searched the internet to no avail...........who is playing the bass solo in the Law and Order theme?
Sounds like Stanley to me.
....or what group is it?

[Alan Vorse]

Originally Posted by Chili

Everybody hates chris has alot of funky slap bass lines, also plays good funky music aswell, strawberry letter 23 and some bootsy stuff

That's because Marcus Miller is the music supervisor (that's him playing bass in the theme).

[Alan Vorse]

I think Chuck Rainey is on the theme from M*A*S*H. Its not as up front as Sanford and Son but it sounds like him.

Hogan's Heroes had a mean sounding VI string in its theme (the guitar tuned EADGBE but down an octave).

[NecroticImbecil]

ALF, season 1 theme.

[Introvox]

Originally Posted by Thunderthief

Seinfield. Scooby Doo. Ghostbusters. Fresh Prince of Bel-Air. The Price is Right. Gilligans Island. Cheers. Batman. Pink Panther (its a movie, so sue me)

Not sure, but my guess is that Seinfeld was a keyboard, sounds to me like a Yamaha DX7

Anybody know for sure?

btw...Pink Panther was also a cartoon tv show....so no need to sue

[Introvox]

Originally Posted by tZer

Man! I love it!

• Blue's Clues

Yes, Blues Clues has some awesome music in some episodes, one I saw the other day had a wicked fretless only line during ending credits.

[chantezlebas]

EVERYBODY HATES CHRIS IS THE ULTIMATE TV SHOW FOR A BASS PLAYER MARCUS MILLER PLAYS/WRITES ALL THE STUFF THERE...