I need a good challenging song.....

"My Girl," The Temptations.

 

John Cage's 4'33"

 

This song kicks my ass
Gajdarsko Oro

 

"Kiss" By Prince

 

While the specific song I mentioned is regarded as relatively "easy" I posted in a sort of tongue-in-cheek way. You see, I feel strongly that sometimes it's important to move away from fretboard pyrotechnics and be sure that we have a mastery of more subtle basslines. "My Girl", to me, represents a bassline that does not contain many notes, nor much movement across the neck, yet still is such a major part of the song, that it still presents a challenge. Think Zen. The bassline reinforces a feel for strong rhythm and time, listening to chordal instruments, strings, melody and harmony vocalists, and is a classic.

Further, James Jamerson was the bassist for a great bulk of Motown's "classic" period, up until 1973. His work is widely regarded as the foundation for much popular music that has followed. Essentially every accomplished bassplayer, every bassplayer worthy of mention in the recording industry, acknowledges Jamerson's genius and influence. Also, his work is considered virtuoso. His basslines present different challenges in different songs: strong sense of rhythm, big ears, syncopation, speed and dexterity, strong sense of harmony, and much more.

You would do yourself a favor, a great favor, a favor that might very well change how you look at and hear bass, by checking out his body of work. This can be most easily done by checking out the book, "Standing in the Shadows of Motown," by Alan "Dr. Licks" Slutsky, with the two accompanying CDs. While yes, you can find this at amazon, support your local bookseller and ask them to order it for you.

You'll thank me, and more importantly, James.

 

White Summer by Led Zeppelin


Pretty difficult

 

+1

 

Yes. Just yes.

 

::cough:: hypocrite ::cough::

 

If you can't beat 'em...join 'em.

or mock them.

 

Damn J-Man, you have such a way with words. Im going to go play "Aint No Mountain High Enough". Well done Jazzbo, Well done.

 

Wait...not supposed to do those either. Damn!

 

Children of the Damned-Iron Maiden.

Still havn't mastered that as of yet.

 

Word. ++++1

 

Stepping away from the simple foundation style of playing (which I happen to agree with), if you're looking for fast finger work, Rush has a couple of instrumentals that are pretty fun on the challenging side: Yyz and La Villa Stringiato. The bass solos are more fills than anything else, but there's a high energy level to these tunes that makes me proud to be a basser.

 

Learn the whole Que Alegria album by John McLaughlin Trio

 

Has anybody said Smoke on the Water by Deep Purple or Twilight Zone by Golden Earring (or was it Rainbow)


Also try I'll Be Here A While by 311