what songs to learn improve bass playing?

[Tombolino]

Of course, learning anything does but looking for those songs that help A LOT.

I was thinking for example, of Dry Cleaner from Des Moines (Jaco).

Any other suggestions?

 

[Camaro69]

Of course, learning anything does but looking for those songs that help A LOT.

I was thinking for example, of Dry Cleaner from Des Moines (Jaco).

Any other suggestions?

Anything that you like and listen to, play along

 

[Mushroo]

Best use of practice time in my opinion is to learn songs you love by ear. Ideally you should choose songs that are challenging but not overwhelming. I try to choose songs easy enough that I can learn 4-5 songs per 1 hour practice. This pace gives me a good sense of accomplishment and forward progress. Many beginners make the mistake of choosing songs that are too difficult and will cost many hours to learn; in my opinion this creates a counterproductive sense of frustration and slow progress.

 

[DiabolusInMusic]

"U Can't Hold No Groove" by Victor Wooten.

Once you have that down you'll have chops.

 

[Lee Moses]

It depends on what aspects of your bass playing you're trying to improve.

If you're working on speed/string crossing, Teen Town would be a good one.

If you're working on slapping, just about anything by Mark King, Marcus Miller, or Louis Johnson would be a good place to start.

If you're working on walking bass, pick something (pretty much anything) by the masters--Ray Brown, Ron Carter, Paul Chambers, etc.

If you're working on endurance and consistence with a repetitive pattern, Vital Signs by Rush is a good choice.

If you're working on soloing, pick a solo that jumps out and grabs you....I'd put Havona by Weather Report (Jaco) in that class.

If you're working on tapping, Terminal Beach or several other tunes by Stu Hamm would be good to learn.

If you're working on chordal playing, Jeff Berlin's arrangement of Dixie is a good one.

If you're working on lines incorporating harmonics, I'd go with Tree by Randy Coven or Portrait of Tracy by Jaco.

As Mushroo notes above, you want to adjust your choices to fit your skill level.

 

[nzscott]

Master Blaster (jamming ) by Stevie Wonder . the bass line was composed by Nathan Watts . imo one of the great bassists of all time .

 

[mambo4]

basic 12 bar blues.
If you're a beginner it would certainly help you cover many basics
If you are at a point where basic 12 bar blues is "boring" it will give an opportunity forget what-notes-how-fast and explore more subtle areas of expression.

 

[pacojas]

Super Mario Theme & Für Elise really opened my ears recently! helped my playing technique as well.

 

[BassFishingInAmerica]

A good groove for beginning bassists is Disco Inferno. Teaches how to groove, with a continuous flow of notes. Incorporates a simple major scale on the chorus into something that sounds much more complex.

 

[chrism2sych]

I'm a big fan of picking an artist or a player that you like, picking out about 10-15 songs that you like(I make a youtube playlist) and learn them all. It's a great way to pick up on a lot of licks and learn the style of a player that you like and admire.

 

[Coolhandjjl]

Beatles stuff.

 

[Smooth_bass88]

If you want to learn how to play like the pros, land the best gigs and lay in the pocket like a real player does, learn songs by AC/DC, the Foo Fighters, Judas Priest, and U2. And Motown too. Also, write your own basslines!!

 

[LordOfWalrus76]

If you're into heavy metal, you could go for stuff like Symphony of Destruction and Enter Sandman. Mid tempo, chugging 8th notes, and the lines themselves aren't hard. Really helps with endurance.

 

[PortlandBass77]

YYZ I feel was for me a song that really helped improve my playing. Also a very fun jam to play.

 

[Mikey F]

Play stuff you like and is fun for you. There are great bass players in every style and genre.

 

[comatosedragon]

Best use of practice time in my opinion is to learn songs you love by ear. Ideally you should choose songs that are challenging but not overwhelming. I try to choose songs easy enough that I can learn 4-5 songs per 1 hour practice. This pace gives me a good sense of accomplishment and forward progress. Many beginners make the mistake of choosing songs that are too difficult and will cost many hours to learn; in my opinion this creates a counterproductive sense of frustration and slow progress.

Is this really what a lot of people do? Learn 4 or 5 songs, in one hour?
And here I was, getting impressed with my learning over the last year or so. I usually play a song for a few days to a week or so until I feel that I have "learned it". (I'm not talking complicated songs either; Down on the Corner (CCR), Sunshine of your Love (Cream); and Modern Day Cowboy (Telsa) are three that I am focussing on right now, for example). And of course, once I feel I have learned it, I need to re-learn it in a band setting (downtuned guitarists playing almost all songs at 150% or more the tempo of the originals; giving me the evil eye if I ever reach above the 7th fret (Iron Maiden songs being the exception) I'm sure some of you know what I'm talking about).

Wow ... back to the woodshed for me I guess.

 

[M Sterling]

If you can hang with it, "Actual Proof" by Herbie Hancock and the Headhunters will improve your dexterity, string skipping, counting, counting, counting, and ability to hold it down while the drummer is going insane.

 

[caligula]

Of course, learning anything does but looking for those songs that help A LOT.

I was thinking for example, of Dry Cleaner from Des Moines (Jaco).

Any other suggestions?

Without more detailed info, this is hard to answer.
How long have you been playing?
Have you had any lessons?
Have you gigged yet? If yes, what type of music do you play and how often per week / per month?
What's your favorite type of music, what do you listen to at home?
What are you trying to improve in particular when learning new songs?
Song vocabulary? Your technique? Slapping? 16th note funk chops? Reading? Your pocket?

This is what I usually discuss with any new bass student, so that I can get a better picture of where exactly they are atm and what they would like to achive.
Been teaching for many years now, and this has always worked for me.

Im my opinion, it's usually not very beneficial to learn songs that you absolutely don't like, but might be good for your progress ... unless you have to learn them for your band. I always pick songs that I really like.


An example list could look like this.
Slapping:
1. easy: any song with a typical octave line (Lenny Kravitz's Fly Away or Jamiroqai songs).
2. a bit more complex: Sly & Family Stone / Graham Central Station songs (mostly old - school style), or
a couple of Louis Johnson songs.
3. get your hands on a good slap book.

Fingerstyle Funk:
1. Jaco's Come On, Come Over, Teen Town (both advanced imo).
2. a couple of Tower of Power songs (What is hip, Only so much oil, Souled Out, Soul with a capital S)
3. British band Incognito have fantastic fingerfunk bass lines (Colibri, Talking loud, Changes, etc.)
4. Stevie Wonder's Master Blaster, I wish and Sir Duke.

This list could expanded with ...
Reading
Jazz Standards
Rock
Metal
Ballads
Pic songs
etc....

 

[braud357]

I have always liked playing "Your Smiling Face" by James Taylor. Lee Sklar's line in that song covers a lot of the fretboard. The song changes key several times, so it is good exercise for your hands and mind, and getting the proper feel. And, of course - any James Jamerson bass line !

 

[Twocan]

"Ain't No Stopping Us Now" and "Carwash" IMHO