Challenging Songs

[spaZm0lytik]

I usually play bass when i have nothing to do... so I play it a lot... do you guys know any songs that would be challenging or something? Something fast or fun to play... you know? I'm up for any genre of music

 

[Herman]

Just to get an idea of your skill level - what songs can you already play well? How long have you been playing bass? Do you read music?

 

[BassChuck]

"Spain" by Return to Forever.

 

[BassinJay]

N.I.B by Black Sabbath has a super sweet solo I can't quite play yet. You may be able to learn it quick.

 

[seanm]

"Honky Tonk Blues" by Hank Williams. Simple bass line... BUT ...Hank stretches a couple of the words so you have to finesse the timing to get it to work.

So the line is easy, but the timing is hard if you want to keep that simple root/fifth feel. At least IMHO.

 

[ZombieGhosTrain]

N.I.B by Black Sabbath has a super sweet solo I can't quite play yet. You may be able to learn it quick.

+1. If you are looking for challenging songs from (many) people on this board who are quite skilled, this shouldn't be too much of a challenge, however I think this solo (titled Bassically) has room to grow. I learnt it about a year ago, but to keep things interesting I played it faster, different accents and changed it up. So the skill can be what you make it. Primus covers the song/solo, and it sounds harder, but I dislike it heavily, but hey I'm mainly into Black Sabbath, not Primus. So check out both.

 

[BassinJay]

Also look at some Primus songs. Most of them are very complicated. Some songs I like: Kalamazoo, DMV(difficult song), Fish on (fun song to play at any time), My Name Is Mud.

 

[Marcus]

"Spain" by Return to Forever.

I have to play that tune for a local ensemble.

It's a lot of fun to play, but then again that's Clarke for you.

 

[flatwoundfender]

Try some Jamerson lines like
I was made to love her - Stevie Wonder
Bernadette - The Four Tops
What's Going On -Marvin Gaye
I'm Wondering - Stevie Wonder
Home Cookin' - Jr. Walker and the All Stars

If you can pull that last one off I'd be amazed. Jamerson does some crazy stuff there.

 

[spaZm0lytik]

Just to get an idea of your skill level - what songs can you already play well? How long have you been playing bass? Do you read music?

I've been playing bass about 2 years... but guitar for 7... I play mostly metal, I can play Damage Inc. and Four Horsemen by Metallica, Mouth for War and Domination by Pantera, Raining Blood and Mandatory Suicide by Slayer... I can play the Cliff Burton Bass solo (Anesthesia) also

 

[astronauts_suck]

Try Bombshell by Operation Ivy. It's not too complicated, but the way it's played and speed make a good warmup for all of your fingers.

 

[Slink]

A fun song to learn and very quick and heavy would be "Rock and Roll Hoochie Coo" by Rick Derringer.

I just heard this song the other day and it would be a challenge for me to learn note for note, your results may vary.

 

[Herman]

I've been playing bass about 2 years... but guitar for 7... I play mostly metal, I can play Damage Inc. and Four Horsemen by Metallica, Mouth for War and Domination by Pantera, Raining Blood and Mandatory Suicide by Slayer... I can play the Cliff Burton Bass solo (Anesthesia) also

Ok, so if you can read music, I'd recommend you try a few Yes and Rush tunes some of which have sheet music readily obtainable.

From Yes:
- Heart of the Sunrise
- Siberian Khatru
- Tempus Fugit

Sheet music for these three is available from Chris Squire's website - Invalid Link Removed - there's also mp3s of each of these song's bass lines so you can hear just the bass.

From Rush (there are many, but here's a few):
- Tom Sawyer
- Red Barchetta
- 2112
- Distant Early Warning
- Limelight
- Freewill
- Closer to the Heart
- Where's My Thing?

Sheet music for all of these Rush tunes is avaialble at:
Link Removed

If you don't read music, I'm sure you can find tab for some or all of these but it probably won't be nearly as good as the sheet music. Hope this helps

 

[BassinJay]

I've been playing bass about 2 years... but guitar for 7... I play mostly metal, I can play Damage Inc. and Four Horsemen by Metallica, Mouth for War and Domination by Pantera, Raining Blood and Mandatory Suicide by Slayer... I can play the Cliff Burton Bass solo (Anesthesia) also

Dude all these songs are the top of my list for each band you listed. Good musical Taste.

 

[BassinJay]

A fun song to learn and very quick and heavy would be "Rock and Roll Hoochie Coo" by Rick Derringer.

I just heard this song the other day and it would be a challenge for me to learn note for note, your results may vary.

Rock and Rool Hoochie Koo is a killer song. Rick Derringer is the man!

 

[Mark Wilson]

La Villa Strangiato- Rush



-Mark

 

[bassistjo]

Teen Town, School Days, Classical Thump or any thing eles jaco stanley or wooten

 

[canadian bass]

Try Big Money buy Rush from Power Windows, it's a killer groove and has a small bass solo.

 

[f'nar f'nar]

Try some Tool songs like Schism, H., 46 and 2, Parabola, Hush and Part of Me.

 

[basspunk2005]

What's Going On -Marvin Gaye .

Yea thats a good bass line, I had to learn it from reading from music then perform it in a band at uni, All in a WEEK!!

Also try learning Roundabout by Yes. I also had to learn that from music then perfom it in a week. Good bass line