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beginner song suggestions,??

#41
A couple that jump out as fun, but fairly quick to learn...

CCR -- Fortunate Son (even easier than Have You Ever Seen the Rain, although that gets a vote too!)
Blink 182 -- All The Small Things (fast tempo for a beginner, but straightforward for the most part, awesome song)
U2 -- With or Without You (literally eighth notes on the root the whole time)
The McCoys -- Hang on Sloopy (someone mentioned this earlier, but I'm from Ohio so I'm obligated to do so as well; also it's easy on the bass)
George Thorogood -- Get a Haircut and Get a Real Job (fun, simple 8 bar blues)

Probably the best suggestion has been 12-bar blues. Learn the most basic progression (I-I-I-I-IV-IV-I-I-V-IV-I-I), play whole notes first, then quarter notes, then eighth notes, then add some swing, and you've got about a million cool songs covered. Maybe note the actual bass lines, but more than enough to jam with. Add quick-IV and turnaround on the V and you've got about another million cool songs.

Also, I'm biased. I love the blues.
 
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#47
OK, this is a good one when you want to challenge yourself and learn, yet it is both relatively simple and difficult, and a LOT of fun: Suzy Q by CCR. I still remember starting off learning that one from 13 years ago, because it is SO different. I'm surprised how seldomly this one is mentioned.

Listen carefully. The bass keeps a relatively simple, yet very tasty counter-melody running throughout the entire song. When everyone else is on a rest, you're playing a heck of a funky line, and when they're playing more complicated stuff you're just playing a couple of notes. And there are a few nice variations of the pattern during the guitar solo. It will challenger your timing, gives a great feeling for continuity and being the groove master, (or unsung hero) and shows how the bass can play an alternate line to what is the norm. It forces you to "always know where THE ONE is" And when you nail it, wow! I can't tell you how much I learned from this one song!

 
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#54
Running with the Devil by Van Halen.

Pretty straight forward tune that will introduce a beginner to different note lengths in the verse and chorus (quarter notes in the main riff and verse and off hand I can't remember if it's eighth notes or sixteenth notes in the chorus) and the intro should help to get you comfortable playing a little "solo" bass where your sound is front and center.
 
#56
formulaz said:
Sweet Home Alabama.
The basic part of the song can be learned almost instantly, and you can jam with your friends. Later, as you develop, there are more interesting parts to learn and add.
Click to expand...

This holds true for LOTS of Skynard songs. Most never learn them correctly. You can learn the basics of any Skynard bass part and that will get you jamming. But, if you dive deep, many of their bass lines are AWESOME!

Gimme Three Steps is one that I have never seen ANYBODY play correctly (other than myself). ;)

But, yeah, Skynard is a great idea for music you can grow with. You can be "playing Sweet Home" in about 5 minutes. But, if you learn it correctly, there are some great teaching tools in it.
 
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#58
Most AC/DC, Pixies and Clash are easy for beginners to pick up. Rolling Stones are, also, as is much of Jane's Addiction. Lots of blues are simple, as mentioned, and a great way to play your way into a greater familiarity with the fretboard. Neil Young, too. Keep On Rockin' In The Free World is super easy.
 
#59
AndyII said:
Probably the best suggestion has been 12-bar blues. Learn the most basic progression (I-I-I-I-IV-IV-I-I-V-IV-I-I), play whole notes first, then quarter notes, then eighth notes, then add some swing, and you've got about a million cool songs covered. Maybe note the actual bass lines, but more than enough to jam with. Add quick-IV and turnaround on the V and you've got about another million cool songs.
Click to expand...

Heck, that and add a box progression (I-II-IV-V-I in most any order), and a (VIII-VII-V#-VII-VIII) in any order with a V and a I thrown in somewhere, and you're ready to join a cover band!!! Walk the 2nd last I down to a V and you're ready to tour!

Edit; I played them for a decade before I found out what a quick change even was! And an occasional skip the third IV and "Hold the V."

Edit2: And just add a V-V-I-I after the IV-IV-I-I and you've got the 16.
Oops, am I supposed to reveal all these secrets?
 
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