Can't believe Gloria by Van Morrison hasn't been mentioned.
Just Like Me by Paul Revere.
Just Like Me by Paul Revere.
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Famous Monotonous Bass Lines
- Thread starter BassFishingInAmerica
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mo·not·o·nous
məˈnätnəs/
adjective
- dull, tedious, and repetitious; lacking in variety and interest.
"the statistics that he quotes with monotonous regularity"
synonyms: tedious, boring, dull, uninteresting, unexciting, wearisome, tiresome,uninvolving, repetitive, repetitious, unvarying, unchanging, unvaried,humdrum, ho-hum, routine, mechanical, mind-numbing, soul-destroying;
if somebody calls the bass lines to "everyday people", "walking on the moon" or "good times" monotonous, i tend to stop paying any more attention to their opinions about music
"I'll Take You There" by Staple Singers (not their own bassline, but oh well). Also great groove, but very tiring (at least for me)
I think these are great songs, but as not changing riff positions and key, these one does. Bass riffs that is monotonous doesn't neither change pattern nor key through the entire song. There may be some electronica, club, techno things that repeats ad naseum but it's mostly "performed" on synths. If you stretch these rules a bit, and have some changes thrown in within the tune my favorites are, the more simple, the more effective and hypnotic it is:
1. Stratus - Billy Cobham (bass line performed by Lee Sklar, maybe even invented by him)
2. Walking in the Rain - Flash'n'the Pan, Grace Jones
3. Peaches - Stranglers
4. Several reggae tunes, too many to mention here.
I don't know how popular those above are. You also have tedious disco hits from the 70s
5. My baker - Boney M
6. Daddy Cool - Boney M
Repeats ad naseum. The number one above - Stratus- is a premium stamina/patience practice for any bassist. Very very few, can keep that simple pumping line up at 86 BPM for any amount of time. Even Jeff Becks latest female bassist Rhonda Smith couldn't keep it up when I saw them perform it live last time in 2010. She skimped on the 8ths and put in a period, a pause. Didn't sound that good to me. If it was a deliberate artist interpretation of a line or not I don't know. Personally I think it was that she didn't cut it. Most people can cut it for like 32 bars, but not 6-7 minutes as the duration is originally (sans the synth drum solo noodling at the intro). Billy Cobhams different live bands throughout the years, which can be seen live shots from on YT always has a bass player that nails it. They even plays it in Bb on a 4 string bass, and that is a real feat. And on top of that, the line isn't that hard.
Well, you beat me to it. The bass just plays D, all the way through the song...
But IMHO it's a classic line that relentlessly drives a great song
Ball Of Confusion
..........And the band played on........
Love that song. Great groove.
On the other hand, one that I would have thought would be fun to play but is just plain monotonous and boring is A Whiter Shade of Pale.
..........And the band played on........
Love that song. Great groove.
On the other hand, one that I would have thought would be fun to play but is just plain monotonous and boring is A Whiter Shade of Pale.
I have enjoyed reading through these posts and intend to relisten to several songs mentioned here. These kinds of posts inspire me and often ignite or reignite my interest in bands that I have passed by or shelved long ago. Sorry for the one or two negative replies out there that take away from this well-intended and fun topic. Whether the "m" word was the best choice or not is beside the point. Thank you for opening this up.
Dream theater basslines. The monotony of over stimulation 
Running with the devil. One of the most recognizable basslines ever.
Running with the devil. One of the most recognizable basslines ever.
EdwardofHuncote
I Still Dream of Jeannie
- Aug 21, 2013
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Sometimes it's a challenge to remember, what's required for a song is monotony. It's not necessarily a bad thing.
Fleetwood Mac's hit "Dreams", McVie played only the roots, because he claimed it needed no other support.
Fleetwood Mac's hit "Dreams", McVie played only the roots, because he claimed it needed no other support.
Ha! My cover band loves this song. It is my least favorite of our setlist, but it does allow me to really listen to and appreciate my other band members while I try and look cool hammering away this bass line.
pretty much every popular music have a bass line that repeat itself over and over again till the end while the guitar have various line over the same bass line.
It is pretty much a modern "bourdon" ( French world for a drone ), the band play the same thing over and over while the singer act like a solo instrument... just like in middle age classical music ... they played melodies over a drone.
It is pretty much a modern "bourdon" ( French world for a drone ), the band play the same thing over and over while the singer act like a solo instrument... just like in middle age classical music ... they played melodies over a drone.
