Multi-instrumentalist bassists

[SubSpec]

Maybe I'm biased (I am), but it seems common that when I look up something like who is playing mandolin, flute, sax, or some other random instrument out of the blue on some song it's often the bassist. Keyboardists are another common one, but it still seems bassists are what I see most often.

Some of the big obvious names are McCartney, John Paul Jones, Claypool, Thundercat, Flea, and Marcus Miller. Any other notable ones that come to mind? Am I simply looking at this through a bass players lens, or does it seem bassists tend more towards multi-instrumentalism than others?

 

[Michedelic]

Jack Bruce played harmonica, upright bass, cello, guitar, and was an excellent keyboardist…

 

[Michedelic]

Fretless bass icon Mick Karn played all manner of woodwinds and horns, plus keyboards.

 

[mahsidivad]

In addition to Bass and vocals, Nick Beggs (Kajagoogoo) has credits for keyboards, Chapman stick, percussion, spoons, producer/ mixer, and programming.

 

[Killing Floor]

This cat is a fabulous winds player.

 

[bassobrutto]

Ray Shulman of Gentle Giant. Off the top of my head--bass, trumpet, violin, recorder, acoustic guitar. Could switch well on stage too:

 

[MonetBass]

I believe certain people strive to play multiple instruments. Steve Winwood, Stevie Wonder, and Sting come immediately to mind.

 

[Bass-ball]

Maybe I'm biased (I am), but it seems common that when I look up something like who is playing mandolin, flute, sax, or some other random instrument out of the blue on some song it's often the bassist. Keyboardists are another common one, but it still seems bassists are what I see most often.

Some of the big obvious names are McCartney, John Paul Jones, Claypool, Thundercat, Flea, and Marcus Miller. Any other notable ones that come to mind? Am I simply looking at this through a bass players lens, or does it seem bassists tend more towards multi-instrumentalism than others?

I believe Boney James sometimes plays keys on his albums, possibly bass too (though he's been collaborating with Alex Al off and on through the years).

Steve Wilson plays bass on Porcupine Tree's latest album, iirc. He's done it off and on in the past (I think he played bass on "Home Invasion" from the HCE album).

 

[jimmydean]

i THOUGHT THE FIRST TO BE MENTIONED WOULD BE GEDDY LEE ; BASS , KEYS AND GUITAR .

 

[Fialka]

John Entwistle played french horn and various other winds on The Who albums.
Flea is a trumpet player too.
Allen Woody played Les Paul guitar with his side project Blue Floyd.
Berry Oakley was originally lead guitar player.
Could go on and on.

 

[Michedelic]

i THOUGHT THE FIRST TO BE MENTIONED WOULD BE GEDDY LEE ; BASS , KEYS AND GUITAR .

Not everybody is a fan.

 

[CryingBass]

Stephen Stills

 

[Dincrest]

Carol Kaye is a session multi-instrumentalist, but bass is her favorite and she's most known as a bass player.

James "Cap'n" Cook is a Nashville session multi-instrumentalist, but is best known for being Luke Bryan's bassist from 2010- 2022.

 

[GwenOnBass]

Este Haim is a multi-instrumentalist who plays bass, drums and guitar.

 

[Altitude]

Rick Beato. He's originally a bass player, but he plays just about everything he gets his hands on in those videos.

 

[jerry]

All the guys in The Band, they all switched instruments on stage. Incredible band!

 

[Grinderman]

This might be a matter of semantics.

Mick Harvey - Vocals, guitar, bass, piano, organ, synthesizer, xylophone, glockenspiel, harmonica, drums, percussion

Tony Visconti - Bass guitar, guitar, piano, flute, recorder, mandolin

John Cale - Keyboards, vocals, guitar, bass guitar

 

[Giraffe]

Jack Bruce played a lot of keys. Doublebass and cello, doesn't really count.

 

[Michedelic]

This might be a matter of semantics.

Mick Harvey - Vocals, guitar, bass, piano, organ, synthesizer, xylophone, glockenspiel, harmonica, drums, percussion

Tony Visconti - Bass guitar, guitar, piano, flute, recorder, mandolin

John Cale - Keyboards, vocals, guitar, bass guitar

With Cale, don't forget viola, a crucial element of the early VU sound, and was prominent on various other sessions like this…

 

[Michedelic]

Jack Bruce played a lot of keys. Doublebass and cello, doesn't really count.

Why not? Entirely different technique and approach, and in many instances, application. Bowing? Different tuning altogether with cello. Find a run-of-the-mill fretted bass player, hand them either instrument, and see how far you get.