Famous Monotonous Bass Lines

[Juan Hiribarren]

Is Chic - Good Times repetitive enough? Because that is a famous line!

 

[BassAt33]

Monotonous, yes...but a great song imo

 

[samson3382]

Beat me to it.

Ouch

 

[samson3382]

We have so many old weekend warriors here. I'm amazed that Billy Jean hasn't made the list yet.

Billy Jean is not my lover, it's just a line... that I will play till I'm dead. Is the soooong still not done?

I actually turned down a gig recently because Billy Jean was the first song on the setlist. I just can't anymore.

I from time to time will accidentally play the line from Bush "Comedown" when playing that with my cover band. Drives em crazy.
It's hard to switch back, too.

 

[SongySan]

Lickin' Stick
In A Gadda Da Vida

 

[walterw]

not reading all 6 pages, but calling some of the greatest bass lines ever recorded "monotonous" because they're simple and don't vary a lot is immature musicianship IMO.

i think this thread title needs to be changed.

 

[frostyone]

Cissy Strut - The Meters
At least the guys I play with are cool enough to know we always throw an extended improv jam on this one, otherwise I'd have to reject it

 

[BassFishingInAmerica]

not reading all 6 pages, but calling some of the greatest bass lines ever recorded "monotonous" because they're simple and don't vary a lot is immature musicianship IMO.

i think this thread title needs to be changed.

You should look up the definition of monotonous: repetitious and unvarying. So, how does that say, "bad" or "awful?" You are assuming too much. I've even mentioned that many of the songs I've listed are classics.

I think the biggest point is that many songs can be repetitive and be great songs.

 

[Pilgrim]

I mentioned this in post #77 but it deserves a video as well...some of the really great tunes listed here have repetitive bass lines. This is one of the most repetitive and powerful!

 

[Illini10]

"Low" by Cracker

 

[Kmonk]

Every bass line, guitar part, drum part, keyboard part, vocal part (phrasing), melody and rhythm repeat over and over. Its called verse, chorus, verse, chorus, bridge chorus. What's your point?

 

[BassFishingInAmerica]

Every bass line, guitar part, drum part, keyboard part, vocal part (phrasing), melody and rhythm repeat over and over. Its called verse, chorus, verse, chorus, bridge chorus. What's your point?

The point is the number of times a single bass part repeats.

 

[covermego]

I thought it was, Dum da-dut

Maple or Rosewood? Fisher or Altec-Lansing? Pioneer or Kenwood? Flats or rounds?
You may be absotively posolutely right. I dutted when I shoulda dum'd.

 

[Bodeanly]

C... C C.... C C.... filly filly fill... C.... C C....

Good song though...

 

[Mantis Tobaggan]

We have so many old weekend warriors here. I'm amazed that Billy Jean hasn't made the list yet.

Billy Jean is not my lover, it's just a line... that I will play till I'm dead. Is the soooong still not done?

I actually turned down a gig recently because Billy Jean was the first song on the setlist. I just can't anymore.

I can play billy jean but i wouldnt call it simple. Not for most

 

[twinjet]

For the Love of Money - The O'Jays

Mr Anthony Jackson on the contrabass guitar...alright.

How about Low Rider, by War?

 

[jmverdugo]

Mony Mony, the Billy Idol version

 

[joebar]

I actually turned down a gig recently because Billy Jean was the first song on the setlist. I just can't anymore.

to make that line sound seamless and smooth for 5 minutes straight is anything but mundane and boring.

id be sh**ting bricks opening with that song. the whole thing hinges on that groove

 

[carldogs]

Really great repetitive phrasing.
Time is tight Booker t and the mg's, and i can't believe Funky Broadway by Wilson Picket has not come up yet...

 

[D M C]

I haven't got the patience to read through the whole post, so I'm adding Everyday People by S&TFS even if it's been included before.