Bass Chords in songs

[Khaer]

Hello all,

I am looking to improve my knowledge and (mainly) practical application of using chords on bass.

Yes, I am aware that the role of the bass is different in 99% of cases, but I am looking for some good examples of "chords" played by bass in the context of full song. Some kind of doublestop sequences underlining chords or even full chords played up on the neck on the higher frets.

NOT looking for bass lines playing appregios of the guitar chords.

Song names / Links will be great.

I hope that this makes sense, sorry if it sounds a little chaotic. I appreciate any feedback!

 

[FatStringer52]

Will Christmas songs work for you? There's a few of them on YT . . .

 

[SteveCS]

How about this one - Peter Gabriel and Kate Bush - Don't Give Up
The bass is the song...


This is the intro and first verse - you can probably get the rest quite easily under your own steam. I don't know if you read standard notation, so I've added some TAB just in case. For simplicity I've also left out the nuances and articulation:

 

[Khaer]

That bassline is exactly the example I am looking for, thanks!

Looking forward to more, cheers!

 

[Groove Doctor]

Three Amazing bass players. Check out their channels








Plus Heaps of voice & bass duos too.

 

[JonathanPDX]

There are lots of examples of bass players covering the chords either without a guitar or in addition to other instruments. I'm a little unclear if you are looking for traditional 5+ piece bands where the bass happens to be filling lots of space, or examples of situations where the bass is filling that space, usually because the other instruments aren't there to do so.

This is a great example of a bass player (Victor Wooten) doing all the work and showing how a bass can cover melody, bass, and chords at once:

 

[g-dude]

Hello all,

I am looking to improve my knowledge and (mainly) practical application of using chords on bass.

Yes, I am aware that the role of the bass is different in 99% of cases, but I am looking for some good examples of "chords" played by bass in the context of full song. Some kind of doublestop sequences underlining chords or even full chords played up on the neck on the higher frets.

NOT looking for bass lines playing appregios of the guitar chords.

Song names / Links will be great.

I hope that this makes sense, sorry if it sounds a little chaotic. I appreciate any feedback!

 

[12BitSlab]

Listen to what Rocco plays on this live version of “What is Hip?” In the middle, he doubles the horn parts with chords.



(edited for typos)

 

[bass12]

Some double stops in the verse sections:

 

[bass12]

More tenth double stops:

 

[bass12]

I used some double stops in the B sections of this:

 

[EngrSorenson]

Interesting post- if you listen to Weather Report’s “the chicken” I believe you’ll get to hear that classic Jaco tritone slide for the Bb7 if you’re looking to just add some color.

I’ve been playing chords and bass line alternately for my own home use on “just the two of us”, which works great in triple stops, particularly with a 5 string for open voicing.

I also use chords to fill in the missing organ part* when my band plays “Better Man” by Pearl Jam. ETA: *in the beginning of the song.

 

[Barmy]

Mr. Rainey

 

[conttador]

Chuck Rainey again with some tastefully executed double stops

 

[zubrycky]

Double stops of my own through the entire song.

 

[Rib 13]

 

[Bill Murray]

 

[BassBrass]

Hugo Largo -- 2 bass playing chords, violin and vocals, some guitar. Excellent summer listening.

 

[SteveCS]

...
I’ve been playing chords and bass line alternately for my own home use on “just the two of us”, which works great in triple stops, particularly with a 5 string for open voicing.
...

That's cool, and I'd like to see/hear your take. I do a bit of nifty chord stuff at the end of that song, like this: