The 1970's- The decade of bass

[Thumpking]

Now I am giving away my age, but as a kid, one of the reasons I chose bass guitar as my main axe were the bass lines of the 1970's, (along with Rush). Many of the greatest bassist hit their peak in this decade. I love learning old disco bass lines, both pizzicato and slap.

For any rookies out there, hit YouTube and listen to themes from 70's TV shows, like Charlie's Angels, Chips, The Love Boat, WKRP in Cincinnati, and many more. For pop music or RB, just about any disco tune and tons of R&B will do.

If you have ever seen MarloweDK, (PlayBassNow.com), he had a tons of videos of him playing along with 70's tunes on YouTube, liek Car Wash, Blame it on the Boogie, etc. but was forced to remove them. Luckily I still have them.

For rookies or intermediate players, work to learn some 70's pop bass lines. It will help your playing immensely.

[Jim Dep]

Originally Posted by Thumpking

Now I am giving away my age, but as a kid, one of the reasons I chose bass guitar as my main axe were the bass lines of the 1970's, (along with Rush). Many of the greatest bassist hit their peak in this decade. I love learning old disco bass lines, both pizzicato and slap.

For any rookies out there, hit YouTube and listen to themes from 70's TV shows, like Charlie's Angels, Chips, The Love Boat, WKRP in Cincinnati, and many more. For pop music or RB, just about any disco tune and tons of R&B will do.

If you have ever seen MarloweDK, (PlayBassNow.com), he had a tons of videos of him playing along with 70's tunes on YouTube, liek Car Wash, Blame it on the Boogie, etc. but was forced to remove them. Luckily I still have them.

For rookies or intermediate players, work to learn some 70's pop bass lines. It will help your playing immensely.

I started out with blues, jazz and hard rock but learned the disco stuff to insure working full time. I liked playing the disco bass lines much more than I liked the tunes as a whole. Much of the stuff was groove/dance oriented that and was good for the chops and timing.

I would have liked to have seen the MarlowDK vids. You couldn't stay working steady in the disco scene, which dominated at that time, without knowing those tunes you mentioned.

[peledog]

Don't forget Barney Miller.

[CrashClint]

The Dirty Harry movies.

[Blacke]

Hey! Hey! Hey! The Fat Albert theme.

[Stanley Pugh]

Ahh the 70's, back when I had hair, LOL

[Thumpking]

Originally Posted by Jim Dep

I would have liked to have seen the MarlowDK vids. .

Luckily I used the RealPlayer download plugin to get those vids before he was forced to remove them. His Car Wash is absolutely amazing.

Yeah, I remembered Barney Miller after I posted.

[peledog]

Originally Posted by Blacke

Hey! Hey! Hey! The Fat Albert theme.

Spiderman (live action TV show) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lMcCt...eature=related

Space 1999 (Season 1) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8WZW4...eature=related

Space 1999 (Season 2) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TqdMm...eature=related

Streets of San Francisco

Starsky and Hutch

SWAT

Ironside

Barnaby Jones

Six Million Dollar Man

Logan's Run

[kudzoorude]

Originally Posted by Thumpking

Luckily I used the RealPlayer download plugin to get those vids before he was forced to remove them.

You've got those videos?! Setup an FTP and let me get my hands on them! I love them...

I completely understand and respect copyright laws. But he was showing us how to play those lines. Educational all the way and no money made.

[foq1978]

you can listen to (some of) my favourite 70s basslines here (with tabs):
http://hearthebass.blogspot.com/search/label/1970s

Walk on the Wild Side - Lou Reed
Let's Spend the Night Together - David Bowie
People Let's Stop the War - Grand Funk Railroad
Diamonds on my windshield - Tom Waits
Lady Fantasy - Camel
Down in the Tube Station at Midnight - The Jam
London Calling - The Clash
Money - Pink Floyd
Roundabout - Yes
Donna Lee - Jaco Pastorious
Good Times - Chic
Queen Bitch - David Bowie

and more!

[foq1978]

By the way, as far as I am concerned, this thread could be entitled

The 1940's, 1950's, 1960's, 1970's, 1980's, 1990's, 2000's and 2010's- The decades of bass

[perkidan]

I LOVE and was deinitely inspired by basslines of the late 60's thru the 70's. So much so I pretty much play in that vein, even when doing other musics. Of course I have gotten fired a couple of times for overplaying but what the hell. lol

[beezerjoe]

Originally Posted by CrashClint

The Dirty Harry movies.

Paul Jackson. Bad dude.

[Thumpking]

I was grooving tonight on some Jackson 5 and Earth, Wind, and Fire, and Ohio Players tunes jamming along in YouTube. Man, those 70's tunes just puts me in a daze as I choke on the groove.

This is why MarloweDK used to have a ton of videos just jamming to Car Wash, Stomp, Blame it on the Boogie, etc.

If you are a new player, pull up some old disco or R&B tunes from the mid to late 70's and jam along, even if you do not know the lines. It will improve you playing.

[Jefenator]

Originally Posted by foq1978

By the way, as far as I am concerned, this thread could be entitled

The 1940's, 1950's, 1960's, 1970's, 1980's, 1990's, 2000's and 2010's- The decades of bass

Well there certainly is brilliant work to be found from every era. But FWIW I concur with the OP.

I find I am very partial to the way bass was often recorded and mixed in the '70s: thick, deep and in your face.

Just about everywhere you look (rather, listen) in that era, the bass tone is absolutely to die for IMHO. I don't find this to be the case with other decades at all.



3 words: The Meter's Rejuvenation.

[SelenaBassGirl]

yes, ITA with this thread!! The 70s music is what got me into bass!

[frisbieinstein]

Originally Posted by Thumpking

Now I am giving away my age, but as a kid, one of the reasons I chose bass guitar as my main axe were the bass lines of the 1970's, (along with Rush). Many of the greatest bassist hit their peak in this decade. I love learning old disco bass lines, both pizzicato and slap.

For any rookies out there, hit YouTube and listen to themes from 70's TV shows, like Charlie's Angels, Chips, The Love Boat, WKRP in Cincinnati, and many more. For pop music or RB, just about any disco tune and tons of R&B will do.

If you have ever seen MarloweDK, (PlayBassNow.com), he had a tons of videos of him playing along with 70's tunes on YouTube, liek Car Wash, Blame it on the Boogie, etc. but was forced to remove them. Luckily I still have them.

For rookies or intermediate players, work to learn some 70's pop bass lines. It will help your playing immensely.

Yeah, today's bass is relegated to a minor supporting role and is being automated away. Then drummers: how can they stand to play that stuff? So boring. Good job for obsessive/compulsives, I guess.

On the other hand playing in a band in the 70's was no picknik either. May I never play Skin Tight again...

[Richland123]

Here are a couple iconic 70s bass songs.

Rock On - David Essex - 1973
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cVaLE4TTbwI

For The Love Of Money -The O' Jays
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ll3uipTO-4A

[Chrisk-K]

IMO, the 70's produced the best bass lines as well as the best songs.

[Gizmot]

Even the now-lamented disco era produced some classic bass lines that modern music (meaning music from the new millennia) can't even get close to. Le Freak so chic!