Simple, but hypnotic bass lines

[JimK]

...and if not mentioned earlier-
"Riders On The Storm"

 

[JimK]

...in case no one has mentioned "Smiling Faces Sometimes".

 

[Thomist]

I've played a lot of covers and adaptations over the years.
I have a soft spot for simple bass lines that especially need steadiness and intensity. Those bass lines that induce a hypnotic state when done right.

Here are some examples, drawn from my own history:












Please add more!

Hey RAMAN and fellow bass groove lovers, groovers and grovers. This is a great thread, and here's an onslaught of tunes which have bubbled up, from Lord knows where in the brain, since this thread began:

artist: Jan Hammer,
song: Mayday (album: Melodies)
bassist: Fernando Saunders

Excuse me for not putting audio links up. Don't want to break the internet/server.

 

[Thomist]

Hey RAMAN and fellow bass groove lovers, groovers and grovers. This is a great thread, and here's an onslaught of tunes which have bubbled up, from Lord knows where in the brain, since this thread began:

artist: Jan Hammer,
song: Mayday (album: Melodies)
bassist: Fernando Saunders

Excuse me for not putting audio links up. Don't want to break the internet/server.

Allman Bros. "Dreams I'll Never See"

Jesus Jones "International Bright Young Thing"

Mahavishnu Orchestra "Sanctuary"

plus, today was a very pleasant day, weather/whether wise, automobile windows open capability, and so, after I retrieved my car from it's garage appointment, after having to walk there on such a beautiful day, and filing the receipt in the glove box, it made so much sense to play the Living Color cassette that was in there (my automobile has a CD player AND a cassette player). The song that came up was "Open Letter to a Landlord".

plus plus, if you liked those then you might like this: Joe Jackson "Steppin' Out".

Do you ever feel like you ought to change your name, to Austin Atto? I do. Dibs.

 

[Thomist]

Hey RAMAN and fellow bass groove lovers, groovers and grovers. This is a great thread, and here's an onslaught of tunes which have bubbled up, from Lord knows where in the brain, since this thread began:

artist: Jan Hammer,
song: Mayday (album: Melodies)
bassist: Fernando Saunders

Excuse me for not putting audio links up. Don't want to break the internet/server.

Please excuse for replying to my own thread again (do not know my way around here, interactively), the song title is actually "Who Are They?". Hope that helps.

 

[The Owl]

 

[Thomist]

Allman Bros. "Dreams I'll Never See"

Jesus Jones "International Bright Young Thing"

Mahavishnu Orchestra "Sanctuary"

plus, today was a very pleasant day, weather/whether wise, automobile windows open capability, and so, after I retrieved my car from it's garage appointment, after having to walk there on such a beautiful day, and filing the receipt in the glove box, it made so much sense to play the Living Color cassette that was in there (my automobile has a CD player AND a cassette player). The song that came up was "Open Letter to a Landlord".

plus plus, if you liked those then you might like this: Joe Jackson "Steppin' Out".

Do you ever feel like you ought to change your name, to Austin Atto? I do. Dibs.

is bass primordially hypnotic, yet not primarily, any more? more suggestions for this keep coming to mind; they're everywhere.

April Wine "Bad Side of the Moon"

 

[Titch]

Have a listen to The Scientists and PIL with Jah Wobble... anything by Jah Wobble.

 

[Thomist]

Have a listen to The Scientists and PIL with Jah Wobble... anything by Jah Wobble.

picked up Rising Above Bedlam in a discount bin. one of my faves!

 

[FilterFunk]

Synth bass, but still hypnotic, IMO. This is one of the most repetitive songs I've ever heard, and it doesn't bother me a bit, because this groove hits so hard!

"More Bounce to the Ounce" - Zapp:

 

[Nick von Nick]

The Jah Wobble references have made me wicked happy. The man lives on another plane of being. This one is the foundation of my ideas of hypnotic basslines:


Another favorite as of late:


...and because bass is not about an instrument, but rather a state of mind and an approach to music:

 

[TheBass]

Did somebody already mention 'Stratus' form Billy Cobham er. Le Sklar ? If not, here it is:


Leland Sklar is a great ressource for hypnotic bass tracks. For instance take 'Red Baron' from the same album:

 

[BlueTalon]

The Jah Wobble references have made me wicked happy. The man lives on another plane of being. This one is the foundation of my ideas of hypnotic basslines:


Another favorite as of late:

I could listen to those first two all day.

 

[D to the C]

Traffic - Low Spark of High Healed Boys!

 

[WG Plum]

 

[PeaveyPlayer]

I would have said

 

[fhm555]

Here’s another hypnotic tune with a well suited bass line.

 

[ardgedee]

So many YLT songs would qualify! McNew's basslines are always simple and clean.

 

[Dincrest]

How about "Hella Good" by No Doubt. That basslines is pretty much just two notes, but the way it throbs and pulses... that's a song that I think every budding bassist should study, because it's all about the groove and the feel. Any imbecile can play those notes, but playing them with "stank" is a whole 'nother story:



EDIT: "Do Something" by Macy Gray is another one. That bassline is only, like, two notes but so good and so hypnotic. That's another bassline that's all about the groove and the feel. Anyone can play the notes, but can you play them with that level of flow?

Along with these, I also present the simple-yet-hypnotic bass line to the song "Don't Be Afraid" by Love/Hate


(Such a criminally overlooked band. From what I understand, their bassist Skid was their primary songwriter. Good stuff).

 

[roccobass]

Played by the the late great James Dewar. This bass line just takes me to dreamland. Not a bad vocalist either.