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"Must Learn" For Any Aspiring Rock Bassist

What 60s/70s Bassist Has Influenced You The Most?

  • Total voters
    360
  • Poll closed .
#41
MacheteJames said:
Jim, I was being facetious, but all that I meant was that I took the route of learning theory, ear training, and technique, rather than learning covers. I still don't know many covers, but I'm able to learn them quickly, because of the work that I put in learning the fundamentals of music. It's like giving a man a fish vs teaching him how to fish himself, that's all. Covers certainly have their role, if you're looking for a steady, paying gig, but I question their role in the development of a musician's ability.
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Here Here
 
#43
Out of that list, definatly Jaco.
He really turned my ways around when I was in a rut, and somewhat gave me hope, not just in the bassin' world.

I don't know much of his stuff, but as far as "must learns" would go it wouldnt just be his solo stuff; weather report!
I'd imagine the grooves such as The Chicken, Havona, Birdland, Reza and probably many more. Of course, when ya just wanna get down and jiggy, Come on Come over, baby!

I personally feel that Portrait of Tracy was a huge milestone for me. I spent weeks working on it, and bugging the hell out of Wrong Robot. really changed my approach to creating lines. :hyper:
 
#45
xsogol said:
Hi Everyone,

I've heard from all kinds of people that there are certain songs from artists that are almost mandatory (not really, but they have been very influential) to learn if one aspires to be a rock bassist.

Here's what I've heard from various people so far about different groups and I'd love to hear additions to this list/additional bands/artists (they don't have to be only rock) and their songs/albums that are "must own" for a bass player.

Here goes:

The Beatles:
"All My Loving"
"Paperback Writer"
"Drive My Car"
"Rain"
"Taxman"
"I'm Only Sleeping"
"Penny Lane"
"Something"
"Eight Days A Week"
"I Want You (She's So Heavy)"
"Oh Darling!"
"Hey Bulldog"
"I Saw Her Standing There"

Wings:
"Silly Love Songs"
"Goodnight Tonight"

The Who:
"Pinball Wizard"
"The Real Me"
"You Better You Bet"
"The Punk And The Godfather"

Led Zeppelin:
"The Lemon Song"
"Travellin' Riverside Blues"

Rush:
"Freewill"
"Fly By Night"
"Distant Early Warning"
"Roll The Bones"
"Tom Sawyer"
"Anthem"

Cream:
"White Room"
"Tales of Brave Ulysses"
"Swlabr"

Yes:
"Roundabout"
"Tempus Fugit"

Queen
"Another One Bites The Dust"
"Dragon Attack"

Sting And The Police:
"Canary In A Coalmine"
"Man In A Suitcase"
"Bombs Away"
"Walking On The Moon"
"Spirits In The Material World"
"Saint Augustine in Hell"
"Every Breath You Take"
"Every Little Thing She Does Is Magic"

Red Hot Chili Peppers:
"All Around The World"
"If You Have To Ask"
"Higher Ground"

Nirvana:
"Lounge Act"
"Sliver"

Anything James Jamerson ever played on

I've also been told that a bassist needs to own Zooma by John Paul Jones, Abbey Road and Revolver by The Beatles, and Regatta de Blanc by The Police....any other albums that are "must own"?

Any other bands like David Lee Roth/Talas, Metallica, Iron Maiden, Green Day, or anyone? Any "must learn" Jaco, Marcus Miller, Stanley Clarke, Phil Upchurch, or Michael Manring songs? Please give me any and all input on songs and albums...who influenced you to play...what are your favorite bass riffs....let the info fly! Thanks!!!! :bassist:

P.S. Please don't flame me for leaving out a song or a band...this is just what I've heard from other bassists and what I've found in my own learning process...if I left anything out, please, put it in :-)
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Under The Beatles You must add Day Tripper.The lead riff works good for alot of other improvisions such as do-whop ,and twelve bar blues to name a couple.
 
#46
I feel very sorry for anyone whose primary influence on bass was Roger Waters, who has dubious skill on the instrument, and a mediocre singing voice. In my opinion of course.

Remember that simpsons episode in which I THINK it was George Harrison who said "I got Paul McCartney out of wings" and Homer says "You idiot! He was the best one!"

Ohhh Wings...where did it all go so wrong.
 
#49
I was most heavily influenced by 60's/70's era rock. Albums (too many songs to list):


Led Zeppelin: any, but the first four in particular
Black Sabbath: first four
Rush: all their 70's albums (and some after, but that's OT)
The Who: Live At Leeds, Kids Are Alright
King Crimson: the Fripp/Wetton/Bruford lineup
Deep Purple: Blackmore/Gillan/Glover/Lord/Paice
Grand Funk Railroad: Live
Queen (John Deacon should've been mentioned!): the first three albums in particular
ZZ Top (Dusty "I Don't Get No Respect" Hill): first four or five
Blue Oyster Cult: first four
Ramones: first four
AC/DC: through Back In Black (1980)


I also have to mention Beatles, Cream, Doors, Hendrix, Foghat, Nazareth, Uriah Heep, Aerosmith, Pat Travers Band, Montrose, Mountain, Free, Edgar Winter, Johnny Winter, Rick Derringer, Jethro Tull, UFO, Bad Company, David Bowie, T*d N*gent, early Scorpions. Hell, I'm even going to name Kiss: cool songs, especially the first four albums. I know I'm forgetting a lot.......
 
#53
xsogol said:
Hey Hammer,

Same question I keep asking folks....what songs/albums inspired you to play bass...what are your favorite Grand Funk songs or albums? Thanks!
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From their live stuff:
Are you Ready
Heartbreaker
Into the Sun

On Time
Time Machine

The "Red Album"
Mr. Limousine Driver

Closer To Home:
Aimless Lady
I'm Your Captain
 
#54
simpy1 said:
I feel very sorry for anyone whose primary influence on bass was Roger Waters, who has dubious skill on the instrument, and a mediocre singing voice. In my opinion of course.

Ohhh Wings...where did it all go so wrong.
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David Gilmour claims to have played many of the bass lines on their albums. It wouldn't surprise me, I think he is by far the most talented of the two.
 
#55
hammer2748 said:
From their live stuff:
Are you Ready
Heartbreaker
Into the Sun

On Time
Time Machine

The "Red Album"
Mr. Limousine Driver

Closer To Home:
Aimless Lady
I'm Your Captain
Click to expand...

"The Red Album" is GFR's debut, right? ;)
Back then I had Mark, Don, & Mel(a 'Greatest Hits' double album), Live, E Pluribus Funk(cool cover), Survival, Return of The Phoenix, & We're An American Band. I only recently added Closer To Home(finally!).
In one of my first garage bands, I do remember doing/attempting "Heartbreaker".
I also liked "Paranoid", "Footstompin' Music", & "I'm Your Captain".

Could GFR's Live album be any more raw?
 
#57
JimK said:
"The Red Album" is GFR's debut, right? ;)
Back then I had Mark, Don, & Mel(a 'Greatest Hits' double album), Live, E Pluribus Funk(cool cover), Survival, Return of The Phoenix, & We're An American Band. I only recently added Closer To Home(finally!).
In one of my first garage bands, I do remember doing/attempting "Heartbreaker".
I also liked "Paranoid", "Footstompin' Music", & "I'm Your Captain".

Could GFR's Live album be any more raw?
Click to expand...


Actually, I think On Time was their 1st, and The Red Album followed not too long afterward (for those days anyway).

Good point on Footstompin' Music, I forgot that one. Love to play that one. Very simplistic, but hell, it drives hard!

I wish there was a copy of Mark, Don & Mel on CD somewhere. It had a great package of their music. But I did pick up their Anthology disc a couple years back. It contains stuff pre-GFR (The Pack) all the way through their career right up to some previously unreleased material (nothing I found particularly noteworthy, personally). Their best stuff was definitely as a power trio.

Cheers,
Hammer
 
#58
Hey everybody....this thread's been idle for a while and I think the topic is still a good one for discussion....let's start talkin' again!

What songs are "must learn" for an aspiring rock bassist? What songs by what artists inspired you to play? What song are your favorites (most fun) to play? Thanks! :bassist:
 
#59
I don't think there's any "must play" song or "must listen to" bassist. Compositions, I think, tend to be homogenized when we bassists slavishly adhere to an established bassist's sound/style.

I think we should listen and learn from the bassists we admire, but we should all strive to develope the unique sounds and musical identities that reside in us all.

That said, some really fun songs to learn come from AC/DC, Rush, Yes, The Who, Led Zepplin, Tool, SRV, Dave Mathews, Yes, Kansas, Aerosmith, George Clinton, James Brown, and Motown, just to name a few :)
 
#60
I started playing bass because of RUSH so Geddy Lee (A great Canadian eh!) was my biggest influence early on. John Paul Jones, Chris Squire and Tony Levin were also early influences on me because I liked their music and enjoyed learning their bass parts.

When I wanted something more challenging to learn, I went to Jaco, Mark King, Stanley Clarke and Marcus Miller. Jaco would be my main influence now for left-hand technique and right-hand fingerstyle and Marcus Miller for slap style.

I'm currently learning some classic Earth, Wind and Fire, Kool and the Gang as well as Jamiroquai. Always trying something new!
 

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