Seeking song suggestions

[Lefty Geek]

What are some good songs to learn the basics of bass? For example, something with a good clear example of a walking bass line or chord changes.

I am a bass player of one year, a convert from guitar. I've been playing out with a band, even recording some songs next week, but I want to improve my playing more. Right now, I've been playing mostly roots, but it works (and is normal preferred) because I play rock.

Looking for songs in the rock realm. Rock being stuff from Elvis on. Jamerson is great, some funk tune is not. I love soul as well. Not interested in learning songs that merely have an interesting unique bassline. Looking for basslines that fit the song and you can learn bass techniques with. Even if the song has one bass note the entire song, if it fits the song and I can learn from it, I want to hear it.

[stuart clayton]

Well, I don't know if this is of any use to you, but Donald Fagen's 'Walk Between The Raindrops' is a cracking example of a walking bassline used in the context of a pop song. Aside from that my advice would be to study the Jamerson repetoire from the 'Standing In The Shadows of Motown' book - fantastic stuff.

Hope that helps,
Stu

[fearceol]

IMO listening to the blues is a great way to learn walking bass lines. A lot of times it's played slow so you dont have to strain to hear the bass ( I'm fairly new to bass myself ). There is a great varity of blues artists to choose from, two of my favourites are Buddy Guy and the band "Roomful of Blues". Hope this was some help
Elvis played a lot of blues - based music.

[Lefty Geek]

Originally Posted by stuart clayton

Well, I don't know if this is of any use to you, but Donald Fagen's 'Walk Between The Raindrops' is a cracking example of a walking bassline used in the context of a pop song.

Thanks, it is exactly what I am looking for. I would never have listen to that song, but I will learn it to learn something new.

Originally Posted by stuart clayton

Aside from that my advice would be to study the Jamerson repetoire from the 'Standing In The Shadows of Motown' book - fantastic stuff.

I was thinking of getting that book, but the fact that it is in standard notation turned me off.

Also, I am not looking into just walking bass lines, but anything in general. I mentioned walking bass lines as an example.

And I hate blues. Can't stand it. I-IV-V over and over again. Argh! Some "blues" artists actually sound more rock/pop to me, such as Freddie King. But the guitar-blues thing definitely annoys me after 10 minutes.

[stuart clayton]

Don't be put off by the fact that the Motown book is in notation! Those basslines are fantastic stuff, and are well worth the time and effort involved in learning them - trust me on this! Jamerson's playing is full of cool licks, tasty fills, and the lines are just so damn good every bass player should study them!

I'm no blues fan myself, but be aware that not all blues tunes are just I IV V. why not take a look at some jazz blues tunes? They have more interesting chord changes, and usually not so much endless guitar soloing.

As regards to other basslines, I'd say check out some Disco and Funk tunes. Have a listen to the following:

Stevie Wonder - I Wish, Sir Duke, Master Blaster, Do I Do
The Trammps - Disco Inferno
McFadden & Whitehead - Ain't No Stopping Us Now
Jocelyn Brown - Somebody Else's Guy (Killer slap line!)
The Whispers - And The Beat Goes On
Anything by The Brothers Johnson, and check out Louis Johnson on Michael Jackson's 'Off The Wall' album. Great stuff.

Hope that helps!

Stu

[Lefty Geek]

Thanks again. I will look up as many of those as possible.

I don't want to get to far away stylistically, because what I hope to accomplish is to use the ideas learned into my own music. I will probably never have to slap, so I will not take too much effort learning songs with slap bass. Etc...

I should add that I don't own any recordings with Jamerson playing. That's why I would like to limit myself and not look into funk and jazz tunes: there is so much in the rock/pop realm, why venture further?

[Pruitt]

Originally Posted by Lefty Geek

there is so much in the rock/pop realm, why venture further?

Because you will learn more about music and bass. Just because it's music from a different genre doesn't mean you can't translate those lessons learned to an altogether different genre.

Best of luck and have fun!

[tZer]

I feel like I did myself a disservice by focusing so much on Rush, Yes, Zeppelin and other "power rock" stuff. Not that I regret the chops I ended up developing, but I realized that I was sort of "blinded by the flash" and missed the groove thing. Like children learning a language at an early age, I feel like it is more important to learn about groove and the pocket than it is to learn licks and tricks.

Ok... enough of my regrets... Listen to the Jackson 5 (I want you back - ABC, etc...), Aretha Franklin (Rock Steady, Respect), P-funk (holy crap... anything they did!), and then go visit John Paul Jones (The Lemon Song), Paul McCartney (Rain, Penny Lane), John Entwistle and so on.

[K2000]

Originally Posted by tZer

Listen to the Jackson 5 (I want you back - ABC, etc...), Aretha Franklin (Rock Steady, Respect), P-funk (holy crap... anything they did!), and then go visit John Paul Jones (The Lemon Song), Paul McCartney (Rain, Penny Lane), John Entwistle and so on.

Yup. Try and get some Motown and Beatles lines down. Then work on some Zepplin, Who, Sabbath, and Yes.

The best thing is to find songs you know as a listener... rather than trying to learn a totally unknown song. That just makes learning bass more complicated than it needs to be. So pick songs you already know as a listener.

[Lefty Geek]

Originally Posted by Pruitt

Because you will learn more about music and bass. Just because it's music from a different genre doesn't mean you can't translate those lessons learned to an altogether different genre.

I knew I would get in trouble with that statement.

What I should have added was: why venture further ... for now

I am looking for an initial set of 10-12 songs to learn and practice with. Learning is life-long, we must constant educate ourselves, and I certain will listen to all genres and learn from them in my lifetime. Right now I want to focus myself on the "rock/pop" genre. Rock doesn't have to be Led Zeppelin, it could be a song by Otis Redding.

Originally Posted by tZer

I feel like it is more important to learn about groove and the pocket than it is to learn licks and tricks.

Exactly! It is why I specified I wasn't interested in songs with unique basslines. Sure, they sound cool, but I am looking to learn how the bass and the song fit together.

I would appreciated if someone mentioned song titles. Simply saying "the Beatles" doesn't make the choice easy. (but I will add Rain and Penny Lane to the list)

[Wespe]

I can double what stuart clayton said about Louis Johnson. I reccomend learning the song Stomp!. It has a very catchy, but simple bassline in the verse and the chorus that molds to the song perfectly.