Good songs that improved your playing

[guitarflinger]

Good Times Bad Times

Led Zeppelin

 

[bearfoot]

The Beatles "Drive My Car" is a subtly difficult bassline that upped my game, particularly when you try to play and sing it.

"Living in the Past", not as difficult as "Drive My Car", but starts fairly high on the neck, and is a very interesting bassline.

 

[LBS-bass]

The Door's "Riders on the Storm" was the song that I used to build pinkie strength and independence. Seven minutes of the same riff over and over, played a couple of times a day, and over the course of a couple of weeks will really get your pinkie in shape. And, believe it or not, I still enjoy playing it. Played like this (not me) . . .

Playing this song gave me a ganglion cyst on my left wrist that I still have to this day. Most painful song ever.

 

[Julian G]

Kansas's "Carry On Wayward Son" is another good one, especially the bridge section.

Carry on Now Wayward Son is great for breaking a song into sections, learning each section then fitting them together. So agree with MonetBass as I found that helped me with more difficult compositions.

Smooth by Santana was always one that I felt improved my playing. There's a lot going on and it's great for getting your timing and groove together.

 

[Spin Doctor]

 

[BobW61]

I want you back...Jackson 5, Sir Duke....Stevie Wonder, Signed, Sealed, Delivered....Stevie Wonder all these improved my playing and great basslines to boot

 

[bderivan]

I want you back...Jackson 5, Sir Duke....Stevie Wonder, Signed, Sealed, Delivered....Stevie Wonder all these improved my playing and great basslines to boot

This! I totally agree.

In addition, playing Iron Maiden songs really helped get me over a hump in my bass playing early on. While not a genre I would typically gravitate to, the songs are great for increasing speed and stamina.

 

[Clark Dark]

Lots of Motown, Sly, Graham, Cold Blood W/Lydia Pense, Santana, Herbie, Chick Corea, and many others...still evolving

 

[vancamp]

Much simpler (I'm only 3 mo. into playing), but I'm enjoying "Ripple" by the Grateful Dead as a good workout on basic things... octave, 1-5-8, walking up and down partial scales and keeping the beat constant, while avoiding open strings (currently transposed up a step for the singer).

 

[JPaulGeddy]

September by Earth, Wind & Fire has a lot to offer. #1, don't overplay it. #2, learn your octave jumps (while singing, for added difficulty). #3, groove groove groove. And fun as hell.

If you want a total clinic in a song, try Peg by Steely Dan.

 

[Groove Master]

Teen Town from Jaco !!

Lots of great intervals right from the beginning, nice phrasing, chops, pentatonic runs, chromaticism, etc..