Simple-ish Bassists Who Kicked Ass!

[stratovani]

Ron Blair
John Lodge
Andy Roarke

 

[bikeplate]

Some guys know what notes not to play. Those are the greatest players

 

[Goatrope]

Boz Burrell

 

[bassbrad]

I like all kinds of bassists from stylists, technical players to simple players that play perfect for their given band and music.

 

[Eikari]

I have not been so long here on the TB forum. Irregardless (pun intended), have never seen Chris Hillman named. Solid bassplayer. fits the songs all the time.

 

[I Need a six...]

My favorites are guys like Jaco, Wooten and les claypool who really take the bass to the next level. Not saying simplicity isn't a good thing, but I can only digest the simple lines for a little while.The technical complex bass players keep me hooked.

 

[Relsom]

Roger Waters

 

[ahc]

Duck Dunn

 

[Mr_O'B]

Meshell Ndegeocello
Sting
Paul McCartney

Bootsy Collins
Louis Johnson
Larry Graham

 

[dave64o]

Dave Hope of Kansas, Chuck Panozzo of Styx, Ed Gagliardi of Foreigner, previously mentioned John Deacon of Queen and (though not necessarily simple) Chris Squier of Yes. These are the guys who I listened to growing up and shaped the way I play.

Heyyyyy, another there's another Dave Hope fan here?!?! Who'da guessed!

I can't say I generally prefer a simpler player over a busier player because it really depends on the band. Sometimes a simple, solid groove is what's needed (for a song or for a band) and sometimes a busier bass is called for. Of course, considering my skill level as a bass hack, I definitely appreciate the guys who can hold down a simple, solid groove that provides perfect support without overdoing it. I can play that stuff.

Lots of great examples of those players have already been mentioned but let me throw out Sting, at least for his work with the Police. Most of it isn't that intricate or too difficult to play by itself. But I love the way his bass lines weave around the guitar and vocals without trampling over either. Plus, when you factor in that he's also doing the vocals, I think his bass work is even more impressive. I've tried singing some Police songs and the bass line is often SO different from what the vocal line is doing that I find it deceptively hard to both play and sing a Police song at the same time.

Meshell Ndegeocello and Sting come to mind.

Doh, beat me to Sting by a few seconds!

 

[Snaxster]

It's a bit of a trick question since the player plays what the music demands. Thus what the player plays for a given date is not necessarily representative of their natural sensibilities. Also, there are legion early players who now are all or mostly unknown; they held the bottom with the simplest of lines. Anyway, these players came to mind:

Cachao

Aston "Family Man" Barrett

Michael Henderson (with Miles Davis)

Terry Lewis

 

[Smooth_bass88]

I like Adam Clayton and Cliff Williams just as much as I like Jaco and Geddy Lee. If it sounds good, then it is good!

 

[squirefan]

Rick Danko

 

[Fishyfishfish]

I like just about everybody but Will Lee is my "perfect example ". I know the dude can play just about anything but instead of making the song about the bass player, he does his job of holding down the song. As my old bosses would say: "Play it once so people know you can do it, then play the F-ing song!"

 

[Tom Howland]

Pino
Carl Radle
George Porter Jr.

 

[G-MonRV5]

There are many great examples already listed - Sting, 'Family Man' Barrett, Paul Denman.

Dude from Radiohead also gets a nod in my book. Tasty simplicity is almost always churnin' from his P-bass.

 

[Lazylion]

Two guys who deserve mention here:
The incomparable Lee Sklar! Always plays appropriately, in any style, behind dozens of artists.
Rick Laird of Mahavishnu Orchestra. He may not have displayed the massive chops like the other guys, but he was able to provide a rock-solid foundation for them to go nuts over.

 

[selowitch]

Someone else’s guitar teacher, a great educator, once told fourteen-year-old me to “play the rests.” For a while, I couldn’t grasp what he was telling me. ”What do you mean, ‘Play the rests’” I thought. “Rests are where you don’t play ... right?” Once I did understand, it immeasurably improved my playing. Thanks, WG!

 

[cnltb]

I like them on point and tasteful.
Those whose playing is guided by their choices and not by their limitations.

 

[jamro217]

Bill Wallace (The Guess Who), Dee Murray (Elton John), Fred Turner (BTO), Mel Schacher (Grand Funk Railroad), Mike Urso (Rare Earth) and Tiran Porter (The Doobie Brothers) never seemed to get the recognition they deserved.