Good songs to teach a beginner?

[BurnOut]

AC/DC - Live Wire

 

[BigBatch]

TNT - AC/DC

 

[macmanlou]

Nothing good to learn, all song the same, primitive.

Groove first, changes later. Best for a beginner IMO.

 

[sandman357]

I am 50 years young, but if you want something from this century, Crazy by Gnarls Barkley has an interesting groove but simple to play.
Sunflower by Post Malone also is very easy to play.




Good luck!

 

[IamGroot]

Beatles... Get Back

Only two notes...A and D, 8th notes., and it rocks.

 

[bass-icly me]

My fist choice would be a simple 12 bar blues.
Then Stand By Me.

+1 for 12 bar blues.

Song would be "Killing Floor" by Howlin Wolf. Led Zep used this for their "Lemmon Song". Simple chromatic progression ascending with a turn around. Good finger exercise, too. I like to mimic the guitar beat versus standard bass run. Sounds neat.

 

[Remoman]

I'd suggest a couple super dead simple songs to help focus on time and build confidence. Social D - Ball and Chain, Ramones - Blitzkrieg Bop for instance. Another easy song that might appeal to her is Prince - I Would Die For You.

 

[JamesNC]

I remember “Little Sister” by QOTSA was like the first bass song you encountered on Rocksmith. Cool tune.

AC/DC anything
Betty Blowtorch “Shut Up & F**k”

 

[buldog5151bass]

How about the basic blues box (Johnny B Goode, Your Mama Don't Dance)? It is used for dozens of songs.

 

[Artman]

Another vote for asking what songs she likes, then breaking down the easiest ones for her. If not that, then many or any of the classics suggested here by everyone else would do. I'll add Walking on the Moon by The Police to this list of classics that are great for a novice. The bass line is not too busy, and the song is great for teaching a novice how important the space between the notes can be and also how to really feel a groove.

 

[Tim Skaggs]

First three Grand Funk albums. Bass lines she can REALLY hear well.

 

[JoeWPgh]

Definitely 12 bar blues. Find a few songs that are that and let her see how they are the same. Then something of the 1/4/5, 1/6/2/5, 1/4/2/5 vein. Those are the cornerstones of pop music.

 

[factory presets]

Only read the first post so far. But why not ask her what she wants to learn. Then rule out all the Billy Sheehan solos. Least you know she'll be motivated that way.

Edit: Then add a couple of songs that have lessons to teach. Keeping it fun but focused

 

[pbass74]

I couldn't like this enough times.... the first song I learned.

One of my first as well.

 

[MCF]

CCR Bad moon and Fortunate Son fun to play simple to follow

Down On The Corner and Booker T and the MGs Time is Tight. Same progression. Similar, but different rhythm and timing. Both fun to play.

 

[kevindahl]

Yet another vote for asking her what she wants to learn or finding out what type of music she enjoys listening too. If you want a new student to stop practicing then give them music they don't care for. I have some suggestions but then I would be ignoring my own advice.

 

[DJ Bebop]

Another Pixies

 

[DJ Bebop]

Remember though, she's in her 40s not her 80s

 

[Ggaa]

Brown eyed girl.
My Sharona

 

[NoSlapForYou]

seeing your avatar, it seems the only answer is Waiting Room

I might have to wait a month or so on that. The picking would be fast for her. I guess she could do it at a very slow tempo.