Enjoy the benefits of a premium membership!
Upgrade Account
-
TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
Join free Log in
Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.
worst bass line ever
- Thread starter WillyPop
- Start date
Lovin' this thread. The "jazz" comment made me spit my coffee out. So, thanks for that.
My all-time most loathed tune to play is "What's Goin' On?" by 4 Non Blondes. Try it some time. It's a real hoot.
Oh, and +1 to Clapton's version of "Cocaine". I occasionally work with a singer/guitard who can't play the riff properly and sing the song. I have, indeed, pointed this out to him and have advised hime to drop the tune. Yet, he still obliviously butchers it at EVERY SINGLE GIG.
My all-time most loathed tune to play is "What's Goin' On?" by 4 Non Blondes. Try it some time. It's a real hoot.
Oh, and +1 to Clapton's version of "Cocaine". I occasionally work with a singer/guitard who can't play the riff properly and sing the song. I have, indeed, pointed this out to him and have advised hime to drop the tune. Yet, he still obliviously butchers it at EVERY SINGLE GIG.
Worst bass line ever ?
One that doesn't fit the song.
If the song needs the bass to be "one note" for the entire song, and it's the "right" bass line for the song, then it's a great bass line...no matter how boring the bass player might think it is.
Only the song matters. Almost nobody goes to the record store looking for a cd of "bass lines".....
Play what fits, and not a note more...or less.
Just my opinion.
One that doesn't fit the song.
If the song needs the bass to be "one note" for the entire song, and it's the "right" bass line for the song, then it's a great bass line...no matter how boring the bass player might think it is.
Only the song matters. Almost nobody goes to the record store looking for a cd of "bass lines".....
Play what fits, and not a note more...or less.
Just my opinion.
Phalex said:
I would have said it's a trait "that ALL truly great musicians have." It doesn't have to always be Emerson, Lake and Palmer to be interesting.
Funny! I heard "The Zoo" at the gym yesterday. As I listened to it I noticed what a boring bass line it has. Now I find this thread.
IMO, a lot of these monotonic bass parts could easily be done with a sequencer and nobody in the audience would tell the difference.
Regarding "the zoo" I like the bass line. Simple,hypnotic pulse. Take a closer look though. One VERY flat note in one of the choruses. Makes me laugh everytime I hear it. can't figure out why they left it in. Really makes me laugh when I play that note and the rest of the band scowls at me! anal retentive bl never shoulda been so literal about playing the songs "verbatim" 
I like playing Stranglehold. Don't forget to alternate your low A and high A. I get kind of a hypnotic groove out of playing that song.
Id say got the time by anthrax boring left, 16th notes all with your right (fingers i will never play with a pick) makes for a slight burning sensation in the forearm
Most of the time I don't mind the boring bass lines. I agree that you don't have to be crazy-all-over-the-place to be good. Sometimes I get annoyed with players who show technique just for the sake of technique. A lot has to do with timing and how well you play something simple. Although I do get bored at times.
My most mundane songs that we do;
-TUSH!!!! Yes, we do this. People seem to love it. Actually, I really like that song, to be honest. I don't sing it.
-"Sweet Home Alabama". We do this, too. Sometimes we choose to do "Werewolves Of London" instead. To me, it's the same song. Our lead player likes "S.H.A.", and since we don't have a piano or keyboard, "W.O.L" kinda sucks.
-"Money For Nothing". If you've played it, you know what I mean.
-"Jailbreak" by AC/DC. This one's not too bad because I sing it. But, actually, most anything by AC/DC is pretty boring.
"Knockin' On Heaven's Door". Ugh. I like the song but I hate to play it. I don't sing that one. G-D-A, G-D-C over and over again. I tried to dress it up but everyone likes it when I just play roots.....except me.
In any case, I don't get too worked up. Overall I'm just happy to play and am thankful I'm with a group that gets along and is focused on the fun.
My most mundane songs that we do;
-TUSH!!!! Yes, we do this. People seem to love it. Actually, I really like that song, to be honest. I don't sing it.
-"Sweet Home Alabama". We do this, too. Sometimes we choose to do "Werewolves Of London" instead. To me, it's the same song. Our lead player likes "S.H.A.", and since we don't have a piano or keyboard, "W.O.L" kinda sucks.
-"Money For Nothing". If you've played it, you know what I mean.
-"Jailbreak" by AC/DC. This one's not too bad because I sing it. But, actually, most anything by AC/DC is pretty boring.
"Knockin' On Heaven's Door". Ugh. I like the song but I hate to play it. I don't sing that one. G-D-A, G-D-C over and over again. I tried to dress it up but everyone likes it when I just play roots.....except me.
In any case, I don't get too worked up. Overall I'm just happy to play and am thankful I'm with a group that gets along and is focused on the fun.
Ha! Never noticed that. Now I'm laughing my ass off.
"Dreams" by Fleetwood Mac. FGFGFGFGFGFGFGFGFGFGFGFGFGFGFGF oops I fell asleep and missed the A.
I was just about to post the same thing and happened to spy your post...
I have no idea why we have to play this song live, I get the feeling our audience asks themselves the same thing.
I third that, as long as the bass line serves the song, then the bass line is fine.
My favorite simple bass line is "With or without you" by U2. Damn so simple bass line, but the song is great and the bass line is part of it.
Just suggest playing Ariana Grande's "Put Your Hearts Up" instead, LOL. It's the good part of "What's Going On" with the rest of the song replaced.
Chrishi87 said:I wondered no one said "Wicked Game" by HIM
Or chris Isaak.
By the way. I don't need, or want, songs to have overly complicated lines at all times. It's true that simple lines is what the song needs a lot of the time, but it doesn't mean that I can't rant about the boredom of playing one single note for 5 minutes.
One of my favourite songs ever is Boring Girls by Pissed Jeans which is only one chord for the entire 3 minutes the song last. 
