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Need help compiling a list of albums to learn

A

Alejandro Q

Jun 16, 2017
24
16
#1
Hello again guys!

I've been playing bass on an off for three years more or less and i am tired of not having a good practice habit. One of my objectives is to learn as many bass lines and styles as I can so for that I need some help. I want to compile a list of some albums for each genre (excluding jazz because that has a hole other place in my practice) in order of difficulty. I would say that my skill level is medium or even low, so that's why i want to start for the bassics.

I want to hear your suggestions for easy-medium bass difficulty, let's see if we can do this:

Blues: I can think of stuff by cream, which is medium difficulty, but i was looking for some classic blues first. Also, Completely well by B. B. King is the main objective here, but first I need to get down to it with some easier ones.

Country: All I can think of here is electric bob dylan, sick basslines as I remember them but can't say I am a fan of the genre in general.

Funk: I thought of some classic James brown to get started, but maybe there is some other options.

Heavy: I'm lost here. Everything seems impossible with my actual skill level and I'm not too into it, honestly

Prog: See above, with the exception that I like the genre.

Pop: Early Beatles may be a good option. I think the problem here may be to find a scaling difficulty. Maybe some Michael Jackson?

Punk: Probably starting with London Calling. My problem here is the speed.

R&B: love james jamerson. Tried to play some of his lines. Get so frustrated trying. The objective is playing his lines. I don't know where I could start

Reggie: Not too fan of it, but I love his groove. Obviously Aston barret is the man here.

Rock: Probably the music I've listen the most. So many names: John Paul Jones, Entwistle... How do I reach half what this guys are? Hell if I know

Okay, some disclaimers. I know this is a huge project. I don't expect to learn be able to play all of this tomorrow, not even close. I am happy and hungry to learn as much as I can, and I appreciate every little help I can get from you guys.

Thank you for your time
 
#5
Nashrakh said:
For Blues, get your hands on Albert King's "Born under a bad sign". Duck Dunn on bass.

So much fun to play along, and features some of THE most classic blues patterns you can think of, plus some real tasty playing by all involved. The music is easy enough that you can play along by the second listen.
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That was my first thought for blues too.

OP, for funk, try some Meters.

For R&B, check out some stuff on the Stax label. Duck Dunn was on a lot of that stuff too. Also David Hood. Both are creative, grooving bassists that tend towards simpler lines than Jamerson.
 
#6
Blues: Check out Albert King ( especially Born Under A Bad Sign) and Albert Collins. Their material has great bass parts on them.

Rock: You'll never go wrong with the first four Zeppelin albums. At the very least, Led Zeppelin II--a virtual "how to do rock bass the right way".
 
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#7
ONYX said:
Blues: Check out Albert King ( especially Born Under A Bad Sign) and Albert Collins. Their material has great bass parts on them.

Rock: You'll never go wrong with the first four Zeppelin albums. At the very least, Led Zeppelin II--a virtual "how to do rock bass the right way".
Click to expand...

Maybe led zep is on the hard side right now for me. I'll try it anyway
Nashrakh said:
For Blues, get your hands on Albert King's "Born under a bad sign". Duck Dunn on bass.

So much fun to play along, and features some of THE most classic blues patterns you can think of, plus some real tasty playing by all involved. The music is easy enough that you can play along by the second listen.
Click to expand...

How could I forget about dunn duck? Definitely will check all of his works both for blues and R&B
 
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#8
I don’t know if you are a Sabbath fan, but Geezer plays some tasty stuff that can bridge the blues/rock/heavy genres.

His body of Work puts him in my top 10.

Rick Danko from The Band deserves some respect.

I like Sting’s work for the most part. He does some great counter melody stuff.

I have some more, but the TB dogpile will keep you busy for the next year or two.
 
#9
charlie monroe said:
I don’t know if you are a Sabbath fan, but Geezer plays some tasty stuff that can bridge the blues/rock/heavy genres.

His body of Work puts him in my top 10.

Rick Danko from The Band deserves some respect.

I like Sting’s work for the most part. He does some great counter melody stuff.

I have some more, but the TB dogpile will keep you busy for the next year or two.
Click to expand...

No, please. Go ahead and tell me everything you can. I like the police option, Sting mix up some Reggie with rock.
I am not too familiar with the band, any recommendations?
I like black sabbath a lot btw, same deal with led zep. I'm afraid it may be too hard
 
#10
This isn't an album, but Girls/Girls/Boys by Panic! At The Disco has a pretty cool bassline. The same guy also wrote a song called Do It All The Time by iDKHOW which is also fun to play for beginner/intermediate players.
 
#11
When I decided I wanted to play in a blues band, but had to learn it having come from mostly a 80s college rock background, and metal before that, I dove into The Fabulous Thunderbirds (the awesome Keith Furguson on bass), SRV & Double Trouble (Tommy Shannon on bass), as well as the Kings (BB, Albert, Freddy).

That should keep you busy for a while.
 
#12
sarahtg said:
This isn't an album, but Girls/Girls/Boys by Panic! At The Disco has a pretty cool bassline. The same guy also wrote a song called Do It All The Time by iDKHOW which is also fun to play for beginner/intermediate players.
Click to expand...

Ah, your talking about Dallon Weeks. My daughter is a big Panic fan, and I always thought the stuff they wrote while he was in the band was interesting.

When iDKHOW came to DC, she and I went to see them. I knew maybe two of the songs, but let me tell you, it was a great show. That guy owned the stage, just oozed charisma. I was exceedingly impressed and entertained. No real shock to me that maybe there wasn't room for him and Brendan to be in the same band.

The songs were great, and he had some very cool tones and bass lines.
 
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#14
I used to put on a vinyl album that was all killer, no filler, and just play one track after another in order. When I exhausted Side 1, I'd flip it and exhaust Side 2.

Now, this reflects my particular vintage, but I would do this with Greatest Hits compilations and solid releases from bands like Eagles, Doobies, Guns n Roses, Queen, etc.

I think you need to find those titles that move you and get your hands on them, and just let the record play while you try to keep up. Eventually you'll have learned every trick on the collection. I can still play every track on those albums I picked with a high degree of accuracy, and that really bumped me in the right direction.
 
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#16
Allman Brothers Live at the Filmore.

Lynrd Skynrd first two albums

Beatles Hits

Miles Davis. Kind of Blue. Yes, this is jazz, but its an essential and the basslines are easy.
 
#17
Alejandro Q said:
No, please. Go ahead and tell me everything you can. I like the police option, Sting mix up some Reggie with rock.
I am not too familiar with the band, any recommendations?
I like black sabbath a lot btw, same deal with led zep. I'm afraid it may be too hard
Click to expand...

You may not know the band but you know the bass player rick danko! You mentioned you like electric bob Dylan. He hired the band to be his backing band.

If you can find the website of a local cover band you like and they list their songs, learn the list.
 
#18
Government Mule "The Deep End Vols. 1 & 2". The bassists on there range from Willie Weeks, to Alphonso Johnson, to Jack Cassidy, to John Entwistle, to Rocco Prestia, to Flea etc....

Pretty much the greats of any genre you choose.

C/S,
Rev J
 
#19
I was in a band many years ago that played every song from Steely Dan’s Aja album. We played all of those songs live as well.

I learned more than I can adequately say from doing that. It covers many genres and techniques.

Hope that helps.
 

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