Stupid-easy songs we love to play

[MaxHeadroom]

OK, there's at least one song in everyone's repertoire that's stupid-easy. We're talking a maximum of five notes played for bassists and that's about it. Some of these are boring as all hell, some of them give us an opportunity to be a little more expressive on stage. What stupid-easy song do you love playing with the rest of the band?

For me, it's Judas Priest's "Turbo Lover." Funny on a number of levels, good rocking and literally two minutes of open E for starters. This dude nails it, though.

 

[Afc70]

Back in the day, I used to love playing "turn up the radio" by autograph, very simple, solid bass line.

 

[Jools4001]

She sells sanctuary...easy bass line, but I always enjoy the way the band plays it when it's on our gig rotation.

 

[Gaolee]

Most rockabilly songs are knuckle headed thump. Played on an upright bass with prehistoric abandon and energy makes them a blast.

 

[SanDiegoHarry]

Brick House.

 

[erikro]

Message in a bottle

 

[Ironbar]

Tush.

 

[filmtex]

La Grange, Mustang Sally, Pride & Joy

 

[Killed_by_Death]

What the heck is Squire playing in this video?

 

[MaxHeadroom]

What the heck is Squire playing in this video?

According to this, it's a '70s custom Jim Mouradian bass.

Rig Rundown - Yes' Steve Howe and Chris Squire

 

[Treadstone71]

What I Like About You. E-A-D-A for the whole song.

That's my "use my left hand to eat a sandwich" song.

 

[BD Jones]

Every Breath You Take
With Or Without You
Where the Streets Have No Name
Stand By Me

 

[gingerbassist]

Love Shack has always been pretty easy for me. Running with the Devil is probably the definition of easy basslines. A lot of Nirvana is pretty easy and fun to play.

 

[Matthew Fisher]

This song's one note over the line, but close enough. That 4-note bridge is a mind-bender.



But these guys were the all-time masters. Mostly 2 chords, and the other 2 make them sound like friggin' geniuses.

 

[Rolling Thunder]

My first song (also MANY people's 1st song) I played completely on accident: the one and only "Smoke on the Water". I mean, I played that on one (1) string!

 

[tangentmusic]

Rocky Mountain Way

 

[lsabina]

American Woman

 

[rhopper]

XYZ... just kidding!

Should I stay or should I go - The Clash

 

[FirewalZ]

A whole bunch of Tom Petty tunes....always feels great to nail that "feel".....3 chords and the truth.

 

[FatStringer52]

Breakdown