"You mean you don't know '_____'? And you call yourself a musician?"

fretlessman71 · #1 09-09-2009, 04:06 PM

Yes, I know I annoy all of you with these threads. Shut up.

Here's a simple question: If you were to read through a list entitled "200 songs you should know as a professional bassist/guitarist", what are some of the songs you would expect to be on that list?

The songs can be from any genre pertinent to cover bands (meaning NOT hip hop or classical or thrash). Blues, rock, country, pop, that sort of thing.

I don't expect you to give me the names of 200 songs; even ONE is very helpful. So I'll start:

BLUES:
Pride & Joy
T-bone Shuffle
Kansas City
The Thrill Is Gone
Mustang Sally
Killing Floor
Sweet Home Chicago
Born Under A Bad Sign

ROCK:
Mony Mony
Brown Eyed Girl
Twist & Shout
Purple Haze
Long Train Runnin'
Paranoid
Crazy Train

COUNTRY:
Honky Tonk Blues
Your Cheatin' Heart
I Can Love You Like That

POP:

..... well, I'm drawing a blank. Drat...

manutabora · #2 09-09-2009, 04:21 PM

"What?! What do you mean you don't know "Tiny Bubbles?!" You don't know TINY BUBBLES?!?!"
Then they say to the event organizer: "This band SUCKS! Don't ever hire them again..."

I still don't know Tiny Bubbles

fretlessman71 · #3 09-09-2009, 04:26 PM

Okay, adding "Tiny Bubbles" to the list, and a mental note to go and find a copy of the song so I can at least say I heard it.

Anyone else?

MysticMichael · #4 09-09-2009, 04:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fretlessman71

If you were to read through a list entitled "200 songs you should know as a professional bassist/guitarist", what are some of the songs you would expect to be on that list?

There is no such list...

MM

fender_funk_man · #5 09-09-2009, 04:28 PM

start me up by the stones should probably be on that list.

BigOldHarry · #6 09-09-2009, 04:29 PM

See, I more or less disagree with this concept: If you know the "form", then you can play a TON of songs in that form... I dont' need to know every classic tune from the '60's / '70s to play that music - I know the form, have heard the tune, so I can hang.

Basic scale/chord training takes care of a great deal of this.

thedude77md · #7 09-09-2009, 04:33 PM

Some Kind of Wonderful
My Sharona
R-O-C-K in the USA
Don't Stop Believin'
Blister in The Sun
Laid
Blue Suede Shoes
We're Not Gonna Take It

And I am sure a ton more.... thsoe are the ones that came to mind right away that every other cover band seems to play

Easy8 · #8 09-09-2009, 04:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BigOldHarry

See, I more or less disagree with this concept: If you know the "form", then you can play a TON of songs in that form... I dont' need to know every classic tune from the '60's / '70s to play that music - I know the form, have heard the tune, so I can hang.

Basic scale/chord training takes care of a great deal of this.

So true.

Our frontman/guitarist/singer moved out of state rather suddenly due to personal issues.

The keyboard player, drummer, and I hooked up with a couple of guys that have been playing together over 30 years.

We blew through over 40 cover songs in a six hour rehearsal and it sounded like we had alll been playing together for years. 200 years of collective experience will do that for you!

fretlessman71 · #9 09-09-2009, 04:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MysticMichael

There is no such list...

MM

And the Lack Of Imagination Award goes TO.......

Really, dude. If this thread ain't your bag, there are thousands of others. Don't be a buzzkill.

lousybassplayer · #10 09-09-2009, 04:49 PM

From the Country world:
"Friends in Low Places"
"You never even called me by my name"
"I'm gonna miss her"

Rock:
"Sunshine of your love"
"Ironman"
"Hold on Loosely"

Derk_Falsco · #11 09-09-2009, 04:49 PM

If I don't hear a perfect rendition of Metropolis, you'll get a beer bottle hurled in your bands direction.

Haha, just kidding. If I had to pick one, I'd say Foxy Lady.

fretlessman71 · #12 09-09-2009, 04:56 PM

You want to hear a perfect rendition of Metropolis while I'm playing Foxy Lady? Guess I'll go on with my body armor and my Squier P-bass.

standupright · #13 09-09-2009, 05:27 PM

Blues-
medium shuffle in A
shuffle in C
slow blues in G from the 5 with a quick 4
boogie in B

i think that about covers 90% of the blues.

Eilif · #14 09-09-2009, 05:39 PM

I saw the title and I immidiately thought "The circle of 5ths" and then I realized that by that standard, I'm not a musician.

On a slightly more serious note, every one should know just enough of Sweet Home Alabama or Freebird to get the attention of the douche that requests it before abruptly stopping together and going into the song you actually want to play.

saxmachine777 · #15 09-09-2009, 05:43 PM

These are tunes that I've had people call with crucial exposed basslines:

War - Lowrider
Bill Withers - Use Me
Just the Two of Us
Charles Wright and the 103rd - Express Yourself
Pink Floyd - Money
Queen - Another One Bites the Dust
Under Pressure
Curtis Mayfield - Pusherman
Charles Mingus - Hatian Fight Song
Miles Davis - So What
All Blues
Golden Earring - Radar Love
The Commodores - Brick House
Stevie Wonder - Higher Ground
Aerosmith - Sweet Emotion
Lou Reed - Walk on the Wild Side
The Beatles - Come Together
Allman Brothers - Whipping Post
ZZ Top - Cheap Sunglasses
Yes - Roundabout
Rick James - Superfreak
Michael Jackson - Billie Jean
Jackson 5 - I Want You Back
ABC 123
Led Zeppelin - Ramble On
Dazed and Confused
The Doors - Peace Frog
Riders on the Storm
LA Woman
Break on Through (for a band without a bassist, that sure seems like a lot)
Jimi Hendrix - Manic Depression
Herbie Hancock - Chameleon
Tower of Power - What is Hip?
Squibcakes
Pearl Jam - Jeremy
Sugarhill Gang - Rapper's Delight
James Gang - Funk #49

And know your area's commonly called Rush, RHCP, and Cream songs. Sorry about the "stream of consciousness" ordering, but it's the order I came up with on the spot. Also, I left out blues tunes because they usually require a walk or riff with/around the guitar, so it's best to come up with those (unless there's a really memorable one, like Born Under a Bad Sign) on the spot.

fretlessman71 · #16 09-09-2009, 06:01 PM

This is BEAUTIFUL. Thanks guys!

foq1978 · #17 09-09-2009, 06:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lousybassplayer

From the Country world:
Rock:
"Sunshine of your love"

+1

Even I know this one.

I would also add:

Hey Joe

standupright · #18 09-09-2009, 06:24 PM

oh.....

cissy strut

Shovelbone · #19 09-09-2009, 06:29 PM

What? You mean you don't know ANYTHING by Bo Donaldson and the Heywards?

cassanova · #20 09-09-2009, 06:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BigOldHarry

See, I more or less disagree with this concept: If you know the "form", then you can play a TON of songs in that form... I dont' need to know every classic tune from the '60's / '70s to play that music - I know the form, have heard the tune, so I can hang.

Basic scale/chord training takes care of a great deal of this.

+1