"Proof that you're a bass player" songs

[dbsfgyd1]

‘My Generation’ - by The Who

Which version? When I could nail the solo in the Live at Leeds version of My Generation as well as covering the entire bass part of Summertime Blues 48 years ago, pretty much laid the issue to rest.

I don’t play much of that kind of material these days, but every once in a while I’ll dust it off to show the kids a thing or two.

 

[TjMetalhead]

N.I.B, Peace Sells, and the Trooper but only played fingerstyle. More respect if you can play it with two fingers.

 

[Guild B301]

Which version? When I could nail the solo in the Live at Leeds version of My Generation as well as covering the entire bass part of Summertime Blues 48 years ago, pretty much laid the issue to rest.

I don’t play much of that kind of material these days, but every once in a while I’ll dust it off to show the kids a thing or two.

The original 1965 version.

 

[Bonafide]

Side one of 2112

 

[pcake]

Yeah, I never had to go through this. I started playing bass in a band I was already in so just started learning their songs. Then I was recruited into a couple of other bands and just had to learn their songs. Boring. At parties we'd jam on any old thing, just depended on what some guitarist started to play.

me, neither. i was a guitar player and singer, and one night i played the bass for the first time (mostly roots) for a friend's reunion with his old band. the friend talked to some mutual friends the next day, and when i woke the next afternoon, i had a band offer from a mutual friend whose guitar player said i could use his bass.

 

[Bunk McNulty]

I'm not sure I ever thought that way. In high school, there were like two bass players I knew, because they played in the most popular bands. But I didn't hang out with them, and it's not like there was any "oh, you gotta know this riff."

I will say, from the other end, that the night I first played Ramble On with Redhead (again, I missed Zep when they first showed up, I was a Jeff Beck kinda guy) my BL took me aside, laughing. "All of a sudden people are telling me "Ooh, he can really play." I started laughing, too, and said "You know I'm exactly the same guy tonight that I was yesterday."

 

[AxtoOx]

You’re younger than Geddy Lee by about seven years.

Anyone can we I was born in 61 in my profile, I was joking about that dead serious about the rest I graduated in 79.

 

[BarfanyShart]

Coming up in the 90's it was Bomb Track, Journey to East Bay, Schism, Lithium, Jeremy, The Kids Aren't Alright ... i can't think of any other big ones.

 

[Eon Sky]

Trying out a bass at a shop and playing a few bars of "Killing in the Name of" by Rage Against the Machine got me into my first band when the guitar player overheard me.

 

[Killing Floor]

Hope you found peace, Darby.

 

[Benj-jammin]

For me:

1) Yours is no Disgrace - Yes
2) The Ocean - Zep
3) Tie Your Mother Down - Queen

Great post - brings back good memories!

 

[Killing Floor]

There wasn't one in particular, I remember sending off an audition tape for New Model Army at 19, the tracks were Stupid Questions, Family and another I can't remember. I didn't get a reply, I didn't really have much of a clue of what the band was about at the time, but knowing now, they wouldn't have been looking for someone like me at all. Too '80s, and I wouldn't have blamed them neither.

They were a force of nature back then. Not for everybody but who is? Remarkably full 3 piece.

 

[Gully Foyle]

Whoa! Larks is a high bar indeed

Louie Louie
Green Onions
Lark's Tongue in Aspic Pt. 2

 

[Aidenn7]

My uncle taught me "Money" first.. And that was a master class.. For a noob.. I'm still not a bass player.. Lol

 

[P. Aaron]

The Beatles, Abby Road-the entire album! In '69 if you copped the album, you could get gigs because even the guitar players struggled to get the parts down, George was no slouch. This was actually a great learning experience for a young bassist just starting out. It provided a good example of what melodic feel was kinda all about. The most memorable track that illustrated what I'm getting at is "You Never Give Me Your Money" go ahead and give it a whirl, it's pretty fun once you get it down. I-IV-V it ain't.

1965 - 1969 was a pretty heady time for young bassist's. Motown, Jimi Hendrix, Led Zeppelin, The Who, Cream, and towards the Summer of '69 and onward the prog scene started, and took us through the 70's

At the start of it, The Beatles set the bar in '63 for all that followed bringing us to where we are today.

In broader terms the Jazz & Blues greats & legends of the late '20's to the '50's and then when Rock started to take hold in the early '50's to the early '60's it was during the mid '60's that things really started to progress beyond the I-IV-V.

I’ve been working that whole medley to The End. Very good stuff to learn.

I’ve been playing for a while, grew up with The Beatles as their music was released and only recently have I started to analyze their music. Once you start taking it in and realize the creativity and that they cranked out tunes and rehearsed the hell out of them. It’s impressive. Plus, the singing. Damn!

 

[biguglyman]

Closer To Home (I'm Your Captain) - Grand Funk Railroad

 

[4dog]

red barchetta...then...sister europe by the psychadelic furs...seriously

 

[fretlessman71]

John Cage’s 4’33”. Of course.

Never heard a note of it.

 

[Maluku]

Wrathchild and Phantom of the Opera by Iron Maiden also She’s lost control by Joy Division

 

[REV]

"Blue Eyes Cryin' in the Rain" Willie Nelson
"All Blues" Miles Davis