Okay so I'm not really looking for mediocre bassists, but I am a long time guitar player and shorter time bass player wanting to go all bass and get better. I'm just looking for some guys/bands with good bassists (not awesome) to pick up on their style etc. I'm mostly interested in funk stuff right now, maybe some rock, but I'm slowly learning slap and pop so funk seems to fit that more. Obviously I could listen to Victor Wooten et al., but that's insanely over my head and I can't even tell what he's doing. I'd like to be able to sorta hear what the bassist is doing and get a feel for their style etc. Sorta like trying to use a stepping stone between where I am now and where i'd like to be later. Any bands or artists etc to listen for that fall under this general idea would be greatly appreciated. Thanks! Also this is my first post, so go easy.
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Mediocre Bassists to Listen to?
- Thread starter bassbrizzle
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Get some Earth, Wind, and Fire, Chic, Graham Central Station, Brothers Johnson, an Slave CDs. Look for Pleasure CDs too. That should give you a great funk foundation.
A bassist is not mediocre just because he plays simple basslines. 
In fact, you'll find that some of the catchiest, most grooving bass parts are extremely simple and just played with a lot of style, conviction and "feel". That's one of the things I love about bass... if it's rhythmically solid and it FEELS good, it doesn't need to be excessively complicated.
I know you mentioned funk but there are a lot of rock bassists who manage to incorporate deeper grooves into the context of rock music. They're a lot of fun to play and a good place to start if you need simple but powerful bass lines with good groove foundation. Grab any old-school Rage Against The Machine album and learn all of Timmy C's parts. That's incredibly good practice and you don't need a degree in advanced music theory to pull it off. He has tremendous technique but is not such a show off that his parts are impossible.
In fact, you'll find that some of the catchiest, most grooving bass parts are extremely simple and just played with a lot of style, conviction and "feel". That's one of the things I love about bass... if it's rhythmically solid and it FEELS good, it doesn't need to be excessively complicated.I know you mentioned funk but there are a lot of rock bassists who manage to incorporate deeper grooves into the context of rock music. They're a lot of fun to play and a good place to start if you need simple but powerful bass lines with good groove foundation. Grab any old-school Rage Against The Machine album and learn all of Timmy C's parts. That's incredibly good practice and you don't need a degree in advanced music theory to pull it off. He has tremendous technique but is not such a show off that his parts are impossible.
For funk n' stuff, I like jeff beck blow by blow, and wired are two great albums with a world of knowledge in the bass lines and song content. good luck=).
A bassist is not mediocre just because he plays simple basslines.
You're absolutely right, it was bad wording, simple explains it much much better. Thanks for the responses so far.
By all means the Bassist is one of my faves before you bash but I want your love by Chic is a simple bassline but it's a great amazing how such a simple bassline affects the song so much for me. So that is one song I like to mention I think you mean the mediocre bassist who only play the root note of a chord I think it is all the time and I agree I'm not a fan of them unless in the right context.
Chickenfoot might be a good band to have a look at,
YouTube - Chickenfoot - Sexy Little Thing
Also Electric Boys
YouTube - Chickenfoot - Sexy Little Thing
Also Electric Boys
Check out some of Bernard Edwards stuff with CHIC. Very strong groovy bass lines with fat tone. Chic was the Led Zeppelin of disco bands
I don't think you can go wrong with Paul McCartney. Great songs, which you know already. Great lines, admired to this day for their pioneering contribution to electric bass history.
Check out some early Police. Catchy lines and not too complex - leaves some room for improvisation.
