Most Iconic (not best/most technical) basslines

[Dincrest]

When I think "iconic bassline" my first thought is "Longview" by Green Day. Multiple generations have this bassline etched in their memory.

I had a friend who's jokey little thing to annoy bassists was to say, "Play Longview!" And 100% of the time, they/we did!

 

[Kukulkan61]

 

[MYLOWFREQ]

Sabotage - Beastie Boys

 

[r_bnks]

 

[berlihe]

A few dead simple icons:

My Girl
Stand By Me
Live With Me
La Bamba
Barney Miller Theme
Six Pack (intro)
A Love Supreme Pt. 1 (Acknowledgement groove)

Yeah, from among the many iconic Motown bass lines, "My Girl" was the one that came to mind as recognizable by non-bass players. Not Motown, but "Dock of the Bay" would be similar -- starts with the bass line, and people recognize it by the bass line.

 

[Michedelic]

Disco Stu sez…



I don’t care that it’s synth, a bassline is a bassline…

 

[Hues]

This has to be the very definition of Iconic and Non-Technical....Hold Your Head Up - Argent

 

[Michedelic]

This is just “Gimmie Some Lovin” backwards-

The chord climb on the choruses are roughly the same, they’re both in G, hmmm…

The most primal boogie woogie line, but it’s forever associated with this tune in particular…


A decade later…

 

[littlebun]

If you ask a bunch of bass players for the greatest bassline of all time you're bound to end up with some The Chicken on the list or things like YYZ, and rightfully so both are great.

But, I'm looking for most iconic basslines of all time, the basslines that start to play and even people who don't listen to music know it and start tapping their foot. So on this list 'The Chicken,' wouldn't crack the top few hundred, but 'Feel Good Inc,' might end up in single digits. On this list Paul McCartney > Victor Wooten.

If there is a good thread on this, please lead me to it. I have found a bunch of 'best bass line,' threads, but they all seem to include a lot of things that only deep dive music fans or bass players would be super into.

I've got a few faves:

Want You Back
Another One Bites the Dust
Under Pressure (Ice Ice Baby)
Stand by Me
Come Together
Feel Good Inc
Bill Jean
I'll also say there are like 15 Motown hits that could make the list so I'm just

I know I'm missing tons.

Space Oddity by David Bowie, featuring the genius of Herbie Flowers.

 

[Kipp Harrington]

Elvis: Burning Love

 

[coyote1]

London Calling
White Rabbit
Money

I almost hate to add this one because, well, you’ll understand when I say it:
Smoke On The Water.

 

[MichelD]

If you ask a bunch of bass players for the greatest bassline of all time you're bound to end up with some The Chicken on the list or things like YYZ, and rightfully so both are great.

But, I'm looking for most iconic basslines of all time, the basslines that start to play and even people who don't listen to music know it and start tapping their foot. So on this list 'The Chicken,' wouldn't crack the top few hundred, but 'Feel Good Inc,' might end up in single digits. On this list Paul McCartney > Victor Wooten.

If there is a good thread on this, please lead me to it. I have found a bunch of 'best bass line,' threads, but they all seem to include a lot of things that only deep dive music fans or bass players would be super into.

I've got a few faves:

Want You Back
Another One Bites the Dust
Under Pressure (Ice Ice Baby)
Stand by Me
Come Together
Feel Good Inc
Bill Jean
I'll also say there are like 15 Motown hits that could make the list so I'm just

I know I'm missing tons.

I cannot resist "I can't help myself (Sugar pie honey bunch" but "Time is tight" comes a close second.

 

[Michedelic]

This has to be the very definition of Iconic and Non-Technical....Hold Your Head Up - Argent

Funny how that’s basically a makeover of this one…

I guess Rod didn’t want to waste a good line.

 

[vvvmmm]

Some faves I don't think were mentioned:

Love Her Madly
Sympathy for the Devil
Live with Me
I'm a Man
My Generation
Summertime Blues
Walk on the Wildside

 

[ProbablyTooLoud]

For those not in the know. You can try but you’ll have a hard time finding a cooler bass line from the 80s.

That's some choice pre-REM Athens right there. I was crazy for this when I was 13.

 

[ProbablyTooLoud]

Y'all are all forgetting all about that perfect Vanilla Ice bassline.
Hero.

 

[DwaynieAD]

The answer is another one bites the dust and it's not even close

 

[Deleted member 165050]

I can't possibly read through 3 pages so in case no-one's already said it:

Thin Lizzy - Dancing In The Moonlight

has the most iconic bass line ever. Imho of course.

 

[dave hope]

Contrary to the style I played. The KISS is a great rule of thumb.
Bass lines that set the whole tone and atmosphere of great songs, are like:
Uptown Funk
So What
Peter Gunn
Take Five
I’ll take you There
Billie Jean
Funky Broadway
Talking Heads bass lines

But there are some great bass break lines like.
Tighten up (Archie Bell)
Midnight Hour (how much mileages have those triads seen)
Cool Jerk/LoveShack
Dance to the Music
My Generation
Joe Dart

Or even as simple line like in “The Beat Goes On.” It gives it such great movement.
wow don’t know where to stop

 

[bholder]

I can't possibly read through 3 pages so in case no-one's already said it:

Thin Lizzy - Dancing In The Moonlight

has the most iconic bass line ever. Imho of course.

I was tempted to name that one too. The Cowboy Song ain't bad, neither.