Famous Monotonous Bass Lines

[rogerbmiller]

The whole U2 catalog post Unforgettable Fire.

 

[StraffordMike]

Just about any KISS song. Although I enjoy playing Rock n Roll all night.

That's funny. I feel the exact opposite.
When you consider that Gene sang many of the tunes while playing I find his work far more melodic than what most of hard rock was putting out at the time.
I think it was the weakness of the lyrics that held them back. They did know a good hook when they heard one and although he was no EVH, Ace Frehley played some real pretty solos that always put the song above technical prowess, and if Paul Stanley had sung in a different band , he'd be the quintessential voice of hard rock.

 

[StraffordMike]

and part of every dayyyyyy (misheard lyrics)

That's alright, as a kid I though Jimmy Hendrix was singing
"Scuse me while I kiss this guy!"

 

[InhumanResource]

I think you need to listen to Money again and then try to play through it with a band. There's nothing monotonous about that song.

 

[Flashback Bass]

Draggin' The Line - Tommy James

And The Beat Goes On - Sonny and Cher

 

[Jeff K]

I don't like the "monotonous" term either, since some of the most effective bass lines ever have a lot of repetition. One that jumped into my mind is Rick James' "Superfreak". There's a bit of variation when he sings the "...She's all right..." section; but most of it is repetitious. And VERY effective!!!

 

[Mystic Michael]

So, what songs can you think of?

In a Gadda Da Vida by The Iron Butterfly

MM

 

[MVE]

Can't believe I'm the first to call out Sunshine of your Love.

Sunshine of your love goes up a fourth and then has a chorus that changes to aaa, cc, gg, aaa, cc, gg, aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa.

 

[jad]

Roll With The Changes - REO Speedwagon. An ironic title from a bass line perspective.

 

[bikeplate]

Billie Jean

 

[Biggbass]

Kraftwerk - Autobahn

 

[azureblue]

Bob Segar's "Hollywood Nights"
CCR's "Born on the Bayou"
About half of the bass parts to country music

 

[sevdog]

Riders on the Storm.

7+ minutes of a great, simple bass line.

 

[gjohnson441496]

Every Breath You Take - The Police

 

[madbass6]

Most of motows (60s/70s) music!
james jamersons Bass lines!
The intro music to the
(80s) Sanford and son show !

The eagles : hotel California! !

 

[D M C]

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

Huh?

 

[mkfanforever58]

Dunno if this has been said, but Reflection by Tool. If I'm not mistaken it is repeated over 60 times until he goes to a different riff.

 

[Roland GR 88]

Takin' Care of Business - BTO. It's in F too.

 

[groovaholic]

Stranglehold.
/thread

 

[gjohnson441496]

And what do these songs all have in common? The bassline holding it DOWN. The thing is, I don't know about you guys, but I like the majority of these tunes. Take the James Brown example... monotonous basslines but it's the funk that keeps it groovin. The changes and periodic variations keep them exciting. On the other end of the spectrum you have Deep Purples, Smoke On The Water. What keeps it exciting is the slightly overdriven bassline. Just a thought.