"Proof that you're a bass player" songs

[GregC]

Luckily for me, nuthin'. My first band was started with friends who were just learning as well. Plus, we were in the punk/indie scene of the late 70s/early 80s and chops were less of a focus. We started off doing a mix of originals and Ramones and early Clash covers, nothing too complicated at all. After being in three bands, I took the time to study greats of that scene such as Bruce Thomas and Mike Watt, which helped me learn to develop more interesting (at least I hoped) bass lines.

 

[Raider Rudy]

Monterey by Eric Burdon and the Animals.
When I can play the bass line of that song, then I’ll know I’m good!

 

[gazzatriumph]

Never been asked to play note for note in covers band, just did my thing added some bits took some out, as long as it sounds good with the band it's all that matters.

 

[el murdoque]

Jerrry Was A Racecar Driver.
#1 Song to play during soundcheck.

 

[Meghans Dad]

Yeah, I know. Not the same genres. That's cool. Come at me, Bro!






and sad but true...

I love the bass line for "Express Yourself", but the Seinfeld Theme was originally recorded on a synth keyboard.

 

[Daniel Piper]

For me:

I want you back
War Pigs
Sledgehammer
Ground on down
Hysteria
Orion
Sir Psycho Sexy

 

[Bret Music]

For me people were impressed if you could play Anesthesia pulling teeth by Metallica or anything Cliff Burton or Geddy Lee. I enjoyed learning songs like that, but i was always turned on by different bass lines that everyone else i hung out with thought was stupid. Example would be Edie Brickell and new bohemians song What i am or Icehouse Stay close tonight. Look how young Guy Pratt is. LOL

 

[vvvmmm]

"Live With Me", what is Keef, not Bill.

 

[teh-slb]

So what songs were the "proof" songs when you were growing up?

Growing up? Probably something from the RHCP repertoire which, although I listened to it a lot, never really felt inclined to play.

Nowadays? I had some friends over for dinner a few weeks ago. They asked me to play along to something and I walked along with this for three or so heads:


One of the friends mentioned that I reminded her of her father who earned his money playing bass, so I guess that I at least sound (or look) like a bass player.

 

[biguglyman]

War Pigs
Sledgehammer

+2

 

[FritzM]

"Heart of the Sunrise" Yes.
this was it when I was a teen. I'm old though.

 

[LanEvo]

I remember non-players always “requesting” Sweet Emotion and the intro to Sweet Child o’ Mine.

 

[Planespotter]

I worked in a music store for a few years, so it was all about knowing a ton of familiar licks to whip out when demoing gear for customers. As far as the bar for being a “real bass player” goes, in my own experience it’s been about how well you do coming in cold and playing with people on the spot, usually with music that’s outside of your wheelhouse.

 

[HardNHeavy]

Anything Zeppelin or maiden

 

[13bass]

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.

Well have fun and play along with these folks...

 

[Valvehead]

Nothing. Lots of punk going on in my area in that era. Being able to really play was a disadvantage.

 

[Admiral Akbar]

I never have a hoot as to what people expected.

but where I was from and when I was there it was anything by Rush, RHCP, Primus, Cream, police/Sting, Stanley Clarke, Jaco, Paul Chambers.

 

[fishdreams]

Id say anything of the 1 st album of Level 42. Mark King was certainly the bass god in my highschool...that he was the singer too probably helped. Gave up quickly in despair trying to play this, i discovered Jack Bruce and his stuff i could figure out, which gave me a sense of much needed pride and fullfillment

 

[Watchootognbout]

No one ever asked me to prove I was a bass player,but for me it was the opening to "School Days"

 

[JimB52]

Carry on my Wayward Son - Kansas
Here I am playing it In a basement. Proof enough?