Albums that helped you learn bass

Neel · #1 02-21-2007, 08:39 PM

About a half year after I started learning the drums (which is about four years ago), it got to a point when I could hear music and coordinate myself well enough to start learning music just by listening to cd's (and this would make it easy to remember). I then started to attempt to play (and eventually, succeed at playing) certain cd's pretty much every day as I formed what would be the foundation of my drumming ability.

These cd's happened to be "Songs for the Deaf" by The Queens of the Stone Age (gave me some sweet rock licks), "Is This It" by The Strokes (built up my early speed quite a bit), The Red Hot Chili Peppers Greatest Hits (Chad Smith is practically the definition of a solid rock drummer) and the Smashing Pumpkins Greatest Hits (probably took longer to figure out, but Jimmy Chamberlin is the reason I picked up the drums).

There were other songs that I would play to, and my ipod on shuffle was a neat thing to have, but I would really jam out to those cd's. I would put them on and not put the sticks down until the cd ended.

I am learning the bass now, and have been for around 2-3 months, and I am in the process of looking for similar cd's. I have started learning a couple of the Stadium Arcadium basslines, and they are neat, and I have also learned quite a few tool basslines.

Did you guys do anything similar to this? If so, what cd's were instrumental to your learning/practicing routine when you were just getting off of the ground?

jsbass · #2 02-21-2007, 08:42 PM

A lot of Zeppelin and Hendrix for me. Metallica and the like just for kicks. JPJ and Noel Redding, excellent bassists.

Rattman · #3 02-21-2007, 09:13 PM

All the early Allman Brothers LP's. ZZ Top's 1st three, Eagles's first 5 LP's and Led Zepplin's early stuff as well.

All the forementioned were a BIG help understanding 'groove' and 'counter melody'.

Freaky Fender · #4 02-21-2007, 09:29 PM

I can honestly say that "Blood Sugar Sex Magik" was the album that helped me become a real bass player. I played along to it when I was taking lessons, and just starting out. I had the "official" tab book and worked my way through that. And when I thought to take a chance, I would improvise short little fills at the end of bars, seeing what would work, what wouldn't work. It pretty much help me become a bass player in the respect of listening to what needs to be played in the context of a song and a band.

Basshappi · #5 02-21-2007, 09:41 PM

Zepplin, Cream, Sabbath, CCR, UFO, Rush, Pat Travers' "Go For What You Know" (with Mars Cowling),Jethro Tull, Weather Report, Stanley Clarke's "School Days". Bach

jonly · #6 02-21-2007, 09:48 PM

I got started with Walk Among Us.

Atoz · #7 02-21-2007, 10:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Basshappi

Zepplin, Cream, Sabbath, CCR, UFO, Rush, Pat Travers' "Go For What You Know" (with Mars Cowling),Jethro Tull, Weather Report, Stanley Clarke's "School Days". Bach

Cool!

The "No Heavy Petting" and "Lights Out" albums by UFO were two of my early influences! "Highway Lady" "Too Hot To Handle" and "Lights Out"... loads of fun!

Basshappi · #8 02-22-2007, 12:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Atoz

Cool!

The "No Heavy Petting" and "Lights Out" albums by UFO were two of my early influences! "Highway Lady" "Too Hot To Handle" and "Lights Out"... loads of fun!

Yep! The first band I was in played a lot of UFO. Too Hot To Handle, Rock Bottom, This Kids, Love To Love. Pete Way was a great player.

bassicinstinct · #9 02-22-2007, 04:39 AM

Free's "Tons of Sobs".

BassChuck · #10 02-22-2007, 04:52 AM

Sgt. Pepper

Philbiker · #11 02-22-2007, 06:40 AM

"Regatta De Blanc" by The Police.

dougjwray · #12 02-22-2007, 07:01 AM

"Wheels of Fire" (the "studio" portion), and, to a slightly lesser extent, "Fresh Cream" and "Disraeli Gears" by Cream.
"The Morning After" by the J. Geils Band.
"Monterey Pop" by Otis Redding/Jimi Hendrix Experience.
"Are You Experienced" by the Jimi Hendrix Experience.
"Live at the Regal" by B.B. King.
"Bluesbreakers with Eric Clapton" and "The Turning Point" by John Mayall.

buzzbass · #13 02-22-2007, 07:58 AM

the 1st 2 Zeppelin Albums
Kiss - Alive
Sgt. Pepper
All Ozzy era Sabbath

how's that ?

jomahu · #14 02-22-2007, 08:08 AM

i listened to a LOT of stereolab and bob marley. oooo, and los fabulosos cadillacs. if you like RHCP, you'll like flavio from los fabulosos cadillacs.

these days, i've taken some time away from flashy bass players. really diggin julieta venegas and aterciopelados. simple playing, but not simplistic.

Bryan316 · #15 02-22-2007, 08:09 AM

Ozzy - Blizzard of Ozz
MetallicA - ...And Justice For All, Kill Em All
Iron Maiden - Number of the Beast
HammerFall - Legacy of Kings

davetakis · #16 02-22-2007, 08:11 AM

IN THE LAND OF SALVATION AND SIN- georgia satellites

superbassman2000 · #17 02-22-2007, 08:11 AM

when i first started playing bass I learned a lot from the first three deep purple albums (Shades, Book of Talisyn, and Deep Purple) and also Machine head (the one with smoke on the water on it), and also the first 3 RATM cds, Beatles "one" and weather report's Heavy Weather

G · #18 02-22-2007, 08:45 AM

Motown Box Set.
Dick Dale Anthology.
SRV anything.

Sundogue · #19 02-22-2007, 09:46 AM

I played Paul McCartney's bass lines along with my brother's Beatles 45's. But I played them on an old acoustic guitar my brother gave me, not knowing what a bass was.

invader3k · #20 02-22-2007, 10:59 AM

Ramonesmania. I learned how to play fast and in time, and basic chord changes. That's probably the only album I've ever consistently played to.