obligatory bass songs

[thor16]

I feel like for every instrument there are certain songs that a musician should learn. What do you think are some staples for bass?

[seanm]

What genre?

For country you have to know "Folsom Prison Blues" in E (the original is in F).

For a Canadian bar band you have to know "Takin' Care of Business" and at least one Tragically Hip tune.

And you might as well learn "Mustang Sally", you will have to play it

And, at a bare minimum, be able to do a standard twelve bar blues in E, G, D, A, and C.

[Jiggybass]

Money - Pink Floyd for sure! Everybody can recognize that riff....I hope

[tzadik]

Good question. Definitely depends on the genre.

In jazz, what you really have to do is be able to read any chord chart. Also, So What, All Blues, Footprints, Tokyo Blues, and other such songs with little ostinatos and such...you need to have those happening.
Also songs with popular intros and outros -- Blue Bossa, Black Orpheus, etc.

Other tunes that every bassist is expected to know, mainly thanks to Jaco --

The Chicken
Teen Town
Donna Lee

Plenty to work on :>

[Incognitus]

I'd have to agree with seanm that you should know how to do a basic twelve bar blues.

[invader3k]

Originally Posted by tzadik

Other tunes that every bassist is expected to know, mainly thanks to Jaco --

The Chicken
Teen Town
Donna Lee

Plenty to work on :>

I don't know any of those, and don't plan to learn them. Does that make me a bad bassist?

[trog]

Yes

[tZer]

Originally Posted by seanm

...be able to do a standard twelve bar blues in E, G, D, A, and C.

+ Bb and Eb Sometimes you gotta play with them horn players...

I'd say other then specific songs there are 'styles' you should get to know - through songs, sure, but it is the 'style' that will get you places:

• Blues (8 bar/12 bar - delta, chicago, st. louis, memphis - slow and dergy (Babe I'm Gonna Leave You), upbeat and thumpin' (Crossroads) Allman Brothers, BB King, Wilson Pickett, Led Zeppelin, Etta James
• Reggage - (not my strong suit, but there are many varieties, just like the blues) - Marley (of course), UB40, Burning Spear, Jimmy Cliff ...
• Ska - The Specials, The Beat, Madness, The Mighty Mighty Bosstones
• Punk - The Ramones, The Clash, The Sex Pistols
• Pub Rock/Punk/New Wave - Elvis Costello, Nick Lowe, Squeeze
• Rock (prog. blues-based, hard, hair, glam, southern, latin) - The Beatles (<==A must learn group!!) Zeppelin, Pink Floyd, Boston, The Who, David Bowie, The Allman Brothers, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Santana, Rush, Yes...

Ok... I guess that is the equivalent of saying, "Just start putting everything that you like to listen to on and start learning!"

[Matt Till]

Originally Posted by thor16

I feel like for every instrument there are certain songs that a musician should learn.

Well, maybe it's just my opinion... but you are wrong. I've heard of plenty of people making it without playing other people's songs. The only thing that makes a bass song obligatory is if you need to learn it for a band job.

Yes there are more popular basslines. Basslines that John Q. Moron would notice. But I say, learn what you want to learn. What is your favorite band? Who is your favorite bassist? Start from there, THEN, learn your favorite bassists influences, then the influences influences. Keep going back, then no matter what, you'll end up at Jamerson, and you'll be screwed.

Bass

[iplaybassguitar]

Originally Posted by tzadik

Good question. Definitely depends on the genre.

In jazz, what you really have to do is be able to read any chord chart. Also, So What, All Blues, Footprints, Tokyo Blues, and other such songs with little ostinatos and such...you need to have those happening.
Also songs with popular intros and outros -- Blue Bossa, Black Orpheus, etc.

Other tunes that every bassist is expected to know, mainly thanks to Jaco --

The Chicken
Teen Town
Donna Lee

Plenty to work on :>

do you mean that every bassist should know them by ear or should be able to play them?...im working on donna lee and teen town...but i dont think every bassist out there can handle those...in fact, many great bassists are not that technically gifted...i dont think its reasonable to say every bass player should know those songs

[tzadik]

Ooo, tZer has a good list... and a good point: if people like listening to it, you might want to learn to play it. It's nice to have a little something up your sleeve that is recognizable. Just in case your totally awesome experimental music doesn't suck them in.

Invader -- you tell me! These are tunes that, in my limited experience, a versed player should at least be familiar with. You don't have to have them down pat, but you should be able to work through them. Why not? If something is too hard, slow it down. Just beginning is the hardest part.


iplay - I respect your disagreeing with me, and I also agree that many great player aren't techinically gifted. But gifted is one thing... and able to learn is another. Pretty much anyone can learn these tunes if they really set their mind to it.

I honestly hope I don't sound cocky here -- hell, my Teen Town could use a hell of a lot of work too -- but why SHOULDN'T bassists play these tunes? Are these not pivotal standards of the bass?

Just because they are difficult, should we assume they are out of reach? I don't think so. Personally, I think high standards are just fine. And they'll keep me busy for a lifetime, that's for sure.

[dangnewt]

Sunshine of Your Love has an instantly recognizable bass line.
Stand By Me is pretty much all bass - gotta like that.

[iplaybassguitar]

tzadik - i totally agree with you about trying to learn them...i guess i was under the impression that you were saying your not a good bassist if you cant play those...i agree that everyone should push their limits and try to learn either those or something like those songs...as it will push them further into what they love, bass.

[morf]

Black Sabbath songs are also a must