Songs every bassist should learn

[mb17180116]

I looked around but couldn't find a thread on this. The idea came about from decided to devote more of my time to ear training and figuring out songs by ear. So heres the idea:

List a few songs that in your opinion, every bassist shoud learn at some point, and also, what level of difficulty.

NO extremely obscure songs that nobody has heard of
NO ultra fast bass solo piece that God himself couldn't play

[Yvon]

It's a good idea,
But the list will be different in diffent country/town/state
Also the list will be different if you want jazz song, top 40, classic rock etc...

[latkingz781]

Dazed and Confused

[jefkebass]

Rapper's Delight

[hoey222]

in no particular order

tom sawyer - rush
roundabout - yes
higher ground - RHCP
the lemon song - ledzep
Come together - beatles
jeremy - pearl jam
crossroads - cream
whipping post - allman bros

[secombs]

Money - Pink Floyd

[latkingz781]

Sympathy For The Devil-Rolling Stones
Bulls On Parade-Rage Against the Machine
Paranoid-Black Sabbath
Sweet Emotion-Aerosmith

[Hellbastard]

Rock Oriented
Smoke On The Water - Deep Purple
Rock standard, very nice bassline that provides a nice/solid foundation to one of the most classic rock tunes ever.
Higher Ground - RHCP (I can't believe I'm saying that, I don't even Like them, but yeah that song)
Even if I don't like RHCP this cover is a nice entry to the world of slap bass
N.I.B - Black Sabbath
THE INTRO!
Cities On Flames , Burning For you- BÖC
BÖC is one of my favourite bands and this two songs show how you don't need to have a flashy bass line to make a song groove
Cold as Ice - Foreigner
Simple line but very powerful, helps with stacatto technique (spelling)

[waynobass]

Follow your heart and learn songs that you like.

[latkingz781]

Originally Posted by waynobass

Follow your heart and learn songs that you like.

+1

[JTE]

This would be useful if people stated WHY they think it's important to learn a specific song, otherwise it just becomes a list of people's favorite songs, doesn't it?

So, I'll say...

A. "Badge" by Cream, bass by Jack Bruce. Becasue of the way Jack outlines the chords and displaces the rhythm. And extra points for comparing the way Jack does it live (RAH Reunion) to the original recording from "Goodbye", and to how Nathan East has reinterpreted it on various live Eric Clapton recordings. Teaches one to dispense with the notion that there's only one right way to play any song.

B. "My Girl" by The Temptations, bass by James Jamerson. Basic, simple line. Root and fifth, with a bit of rhytmic displacement again (starting the riff on the "and" of four using the 5th to the root, and you have an instantly recognizable pattern. Even before the signature guitar bit comes in, everyone knows what the song is. Bonus because as cool as the guitar riff is, the bass does NOT double it!

jte

[waynobass]

...as cool as the guitar riff is, the bass does NOT double it!

Good point. In that case, Satisfaction by the Rolling Stones.

[Hellbastard]

Originally Posted by JTE

This would be useful if people stated WHY they think it's important to learn a specific song, otherwise it just becomes a list of people's favorite songs, doesn't it?

So, I'll say...


jte

+1
I think this a very important pointer to create a list of songs which should be in a bassist repertoire.

[knarleybass]

Brown Eyed Girl
Sweet Home Alabama
Blister In The Sun
Stray Cat Strut

[hublocker]

Green Onions

[cowsgomoo]

Originally Posted by mb17180116

I looked around but couldn't find a thread on this. The idea came about from decided to devote more of my time to ear training and figuring out songs by ear. So heres the idea:

List a few songs that in your opinion, every bassist shoud learn at some point, and also, what level of difficulty.

NO extremely obscure songs that nobody has heard of
NO ultra fast bass solo piece that God himself couldn't play

it's been done fairly recently...

[Gubna]

I'll just list a few cover's I've played. Maybe they'll work for you, maybe they won't.

Sunshine Of Your Love - Cream
She's Not There - Boxtops
Time Has Come Today - Chamber Brothers
Bad Reputation - Joan Jett
Hard Days Night - The Beatles
Bad Moon Rising - Creedence
Sin City - ACDC
Bad Bad Leroy Brown - Jim Croce
God Save The Queen (The Sex Pistols)
I Want You To Want Me (Cheap Trick)
She (Green Day)
Feel Like Making Love (Bad Company)
Just What I Needed (The Cars)

[MarkTAW]

I'll Take You There - The Staple Singers
Instantly recognizable riff & if you know the riff + the interlude, you know the whole song.

Another One Bites the Dust - Queen
Ditto

Groove is in the Heart - Dee Lite w/ Bootsy Collins
Ditto

Atomic - Blondie
Ditto

The Theme from Shaft - Isaac Hayes
While the intro is very recognizable and memorable, the rest of the song is just about the bass supporting the song.

Anything James Brown - James Brown
All his stuff is funky and groovalicious. Learn it. I Feel Good is a good place to start.

Rescue Me - Fontella Bass
Instantly recognizable, grooves, and show show two put together a bassline



+1 this has been done fairly recently, there's a thread titled, something like "100 greatest bass songs of all time"

[bkbirge]

Smoke on the Water - only because it is required in order to receive the official "I play bass" card
The Barney Miller Theme Song - because it is simple, funky, and (if you are of a certain age) instantly recognizable

[mikethecannibal]

under pressure- queen because everyone knows that little opening part, although most people think it was made by vanilla ice