Bass lines which helped you grow

[Accurmi]

Hello all,

I'm in the market for some bass lines which will help me grow as a player. My slapping has improved markedly and am polishing up "Hair" by Graham Central Station, as a point of reference. I've also been working on "John The Fisherman" and starting on "Tommy The Cat" by Primus, which are really stretching my abilities.

So, which songs really stretched you and helped you grow as a player? I'm open to anything. Simple, complicated, technical... doesn't matter Anything you think is good to help one grow and improve. I tend to lean towards funky lines as they are so much fun to play.

 

[jallenbass]

The Who - Won't Get Fooled Again. Not funky but an outstanding lesson.

 

[pellomoco14]

Herbie Hancock-Actual proof, cantaloupe island, chameleon
Janek Gwiezdala- Mana

 

[GlennRH]

"Emergency On Planet Earth" by Jamiroquai - the tune and the album.

I enjoy getting Zender's tone, and mastering all of the bass parts to all of the songs on this album took me places I'd never been as a bassist. I appreciate the growth that I underwent in learning to play along, nailing every note from the beginning of the first tune to the end of the last. It's all just fun to me now.

For me, this is more important than any particular bass line: What example of what bassist's work (i.e. what album) can I grow as a bassist by learning to replicate it?

I've found some interesting learning from playing along with a variety of recordings. Even eighth-note, mostly-roots bass parts often involve more sophistication than initially meets the ear.

Likewise, most bass lines that really sound challenging or technical at first often turn out to be simple once I figure out how to pick the lock, so to speak, of how the original bassist tends to play (e.g. Bootsy Collins on "The Groove Is In The Heart" by Dee-Lite).

 

[SteveCS]

Not so much individual tunes, but working through albums over the years, including memorable highlight such as...

Talk Talk - 'The Colour Of Spring' and 'It's My Life'
John Martyn - 'Solid Air' and 'Sapphire'
Japan - 'Quiet Life' and 'Gentlemen Take Polaroids'
Brand X - 'Moroccan Roll'
Nazareth - 'Malice In Wonderland'
Carpenters - 'Carpenters'
David Bowie - ''Diamond Dogs', Aladdin Sane', 'Scary Monsters' and 'Hunky Dory'
Peter Gabriel - 'So' and 'Scratch'
Pretenders - I and II
Pink Floyd - 'The Wall'
Al di Meola - 'Tiramisu'
Toni Childs - 'Union'
Bob Marley and The Wailers - 'Exodus'
Frank Zappa - 'Broadway the Hard Way'

As you can see, these are all of a certain 'vintage', from a time when I had more time, but they cover a range of styles and genre. Even a tune from each would give a good spread of exposure and learning opportunity, IMHO.
YMMV.

 

[Chickenwheels]

"Easy" Nik Kershaw
"Joyride" Bob James
"Small Talk" Scritti Politti

 

[SteveCS]

"Easy" Nik Kershaw
...

'The Riddle' is another good one. I like how the bass line weaves its own way around the chords.

 

[Groove Master]

Jaco"s stuff is great. Teen Town, Birdland and Come on, come over are stellar basslines

 

[Wisebass]

Hi Accurmi

I tend to lean towards funky lines as they are so much fun to play.

Have some fun!!!











greetings

Wise(b)ass

edit: slapping is out! but it is

 

[Spin Doctor]

 

[DWBass]

I'm a play by the numbers kind of guy but when I started getting into contemporary jazz in the late 80s, early 90s, it opened up my eyes to play more open and add some improv. I now intentionally inject some of myself into basslines. I still play by the numbers but not 100% but I play what works.

 

[smartinson]

For me it was when I discovered 70s funk & soul. I Wish & Sir Duke by Stevie Wonder, Good Times by Chic and Thank You (Falettin' Me Be Mice Elf) by Sly & The Family Stone.

Those songs changed the way I approached the bass. Before then it was mostly just classic rock and metal.

 

[SteveCS]

For me it was when I discovered 70s funk & soul. I Wish & Sir Duke by Stevie Wonder, Good Times by Chic and Thank You (Falettin' Me Be Mice Elf) by Sly & The Family Stone.

Those songs changed the way I approached the bass. Before then it was mostly just classic rock and metal.

Yes, the revelation that the rests are as important as the notes was a game-changer for me too. Happy days!

 

[micguy]

Although it seems really simplistic on the surface, put on ACDC Back in Black. Until you can play something that simple that moves the song along that well, and do it for song after song, you have something to learn about groove. I play a lot of stuff that's "more complex", but I go back to that from time to time to build my groove chops and see if I've still got some of it happening.

 

[bassinplace]

I learned a lot from these two particularly.