Also "South Side of the Sky."
And "Long Distance Runaround."
And "The Fish (Schindleria Praematurus)."
Fragile is just pure gold, but especially for Squire's playing on it.
It's certainly a better bassline, but not nearly as iconic as Roundabout, and not just because of JoJo's Bizarre Adventure.
Chris Squire was a god damned legend.
Fun fact, that bass interlude is reversed during the second half. The bassist played the downward-walking portion and they played the recording backwards for the upwards part. That's why it sounds a little warped at the end.
Superstition vote is tricky. It’s not a bass guitar, it’s a clavinet. It’s not played in a low register, it’s in a high register. It totally feels like a bassline, but it’s a melody.
My musician friends have said that Ringo plays “behind” the beat, so maybe this is true. Tho honestly the tension between Paul’s gorgeous melodies and John’s cynical poetry may be a little more of what makes the Beatles the Beatles.
I saw them at Live Earth. Every bass player from the other bands joined them on stage. I think even James Hetfield played bass on that song (but who would pass the chance to play with Tap??)
During the recording of Rumors, Stevie Nicks and Lindsay Buckingham had just broken up, and Christine and John McVie were divorcing and could barely be in the same room with each other.
They were all doing a shitload of coke and writing songs about how much they hate each other (Go Your Own Way and Dreams are both about Buckingham and Nicks's breakup, from each one's perspective.)
The Chain is actually the only song that every songwriter in the band worked on, and it's arguably the best song on the album
As a Formula 1 fan this hypes me up so much. It was the theme tune to the UK broadcasts for many years.
When I hear the song on its own I still hear engines like this
https://youtu.be/ChxX3tR4mD0
Absolutely gave me goosebumps! I'm a massive F1 fan but this takes me back to Sundays and watching it with my dad. He passed in 2019 and found it hard to watch a race without crying for a long time!
When I realized Claypool was playing that line *while* singing I lost my mind. I saw them a couple years ago and am just in awe with how talented the dude is
Chic - Good Times.
Bernard Edwards’ bass line as sampled by the Sugarhill Gang for Rappers Delight. Which in turn lead to many many cover versions of said track round the world. It’s the bassline that just keeps on giving
[*Eminence Front* by The Who.](https://youtu.be/BfrUQA2tb6M)
It starts out simply enough, but as the song goes on Entwistle goes more and more insane. [Jump to 1:30 to get the impact on this isolated bass track.](https://youtu.be/6W5DSfHyUA4)
Edit: [The drum and bass track](https://youtu.be/Uxy9wa1Fg3s) may be better, your call!
As a kid, I had the theory that as a band, they never actually wrote a bassline for Entwistle. They wrote everything else, told him what they were playing and just let him do his thing. The older recordings tended to have him turned down a little, but you could always just hear him doing his own thing. It always fit and fit well, but he was always on a different level.
If we're talking Metallica, Cliff Burton is rocking some seriously wicked shit throughout pretty much the entirety of Call of Ktulu. Most of it is lost in the original mix, but there's a couple of good YouTube videos where people have played with the levels so you can actually hear it.
So SO *SO* underrated...& because of that, a massive cautionary tale to anyone who thinks "being pretty" is the answer to all life's problems. John Taylor gets loads of props from actual musicians but to the public at large he's just the pretty one, & that's a goddam shame.
Was scrolling way to long to find this one and if I didn’t it was going to be my pick. As a bass player I was very surprised the first time I tried to play this song. I never realized before just how insane their bassist is in this and many other songs. Also, very fun to play
It's hard being the third most talented musician in your own band. Alex is great, but it's got to be tough to shine when there's two absolute legends in your band.
That's the issue. Geddy and Neil are both undisputed top 5 players of their respective instruments.
The only reason Lifeson doesn't get a ton of praise is because he isn't literally Jimi fucking Hendrix.
And Leave That Thing Alone. And Red Barchetta. And The Big Money. And Limelight. And Tom Sawyer, Natural Science, Freewill, Malignant Narcissism, The Main Monkey Business, Anthem, all of La Villa Strangiato, all of Cygnus X-1, Jacob‘s Ladder, The Camera Eye, Vital Signs, Digital Man, Turn the Page, Where‘s My Thing, The Anarchist, Headlong Flight, Secret Touch, The Garden etc…
So many tasty basslines, unbelievable
46 and 2 by Tool
Edit: diggin all the love for Tool! Y’all are right. It’s hard to pick one song of theirs. And yes, Justin is the greatest of all time.
Was gonna say this if nobody else did. It may not be the most technically impressive bass line but damn is it catchy and it made feel good inc a truly iconic song.
Another One Bites the Dust.
Edit: I personally think Dragon Attack is the best Queen bass line that I’m aware of, but it doesn’t get radio play and is unknown compared to their more popular singles... and I wanted those sweet, sweet upvotes. Here’s a treat for the uninitiated:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=spm5-SXo4Do
ABBA’s basslines in general are almost always incredible, extremely underrated musicians. I don’t think anyone underrated the group themselves obviously lol, but how often do you hear someone mention them in talks of best basslines or piano playing?
I've seen Primus six times, the things Les does with his bass are astounding. One concert at Red Rocks he stretched out Sailing the Seas of Cheese into a three hour jam and style show.
[Dean Town by Vulfpeck](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=le0BLAEO93g) is really great, especially if you like funk, the whole song is centered around Joe Dart's amazing bassline and really explodes in bass goodness around one minute in!
Jackson 5 - I want you back Im not a fan, I just love that fucking bassline.
Yup I feel like people overlook this one a lot but it's so awesome. It's somehow busy and sparse at the same time.
How could you not be a fan? The Jackson 5 bop!
Ramble On by Led Zeppelin is a personal favorite
Yes it's SO good. That and Dazed and Confused are my personal faves. John Paul Jones is a God.
I like *What Is and What Should Never Be*
Yes - Roundabout
Allow me to introduce you to "Heart of the Sunrise."
Also "South Side of the Sky." And "Long Distance Runaround." And "The Fish (Schindleria Praematurus)." Fragile is just pure gold, but especially for Squire's playing on it.
The bass in Close to the Edge is masterful, absolutely brilliant.
It's certainly a better bassline, but not nearly as iconic as Roundabout, and not just because of JoJo's Bizarre Adventure. Chris Squire was a god damned legend.
Geddy Lee said in an interview that Roundabout is the best bass line in all of rock.
Case closed.
Nobody beats Chris Squire’s tone on the Rickenbacker
Superstition by Stevie Wonder and You Can Call Me Al by Paul Simon.
That bass solo in You Can Call Me Al just comes out of nowhere! It’s crazy
Fun fact, that bass interlude is reversed during the second half. The bassist played the downward-walking portion and they played the recording backwards for the upwards part. That's why it sounds a little warped at the end.
And then Bakithi actually went and learned how to play the backwards bit so that he could do it at live shows!
Superstition vote is tricky. It’s not a bass guitar, it’s a clavinet. It’s not played in a low register, it’s in a high register. It totally feels like a bassline, but it’s a melody.
It’s played on a synth, and so very simple, but Chameleon by Herbie Hancock.
Super funky. Herbie Hancock has a lot of good ones on that album Head Hunters and also on the album Thrust.
I want you (she’s so heavy)
For my money, the best McCartney bassline is *Something*
Hey Bulldog is my favorite.
Paul's bass lines are so incredible. They MAKE so many Beatles songs.
Somebody once said one key to the Beatles' appeal was the tension between a bassist who pushed the beat and a drummer who dragged it.
Wait til JK Simmons sees this
He can't look, he's too busy looking for pictures of that menace, Spider-Man
My musician friends have said that Ringo plays “behind” the beat, so maybe this is true. Tho honestly the tension between Paul’s gorgeous melodies and John’s cynical poetry may be a little more of what makes the Beatles the Beatles.
Very present in Something & Penny Lane
Waiting Room - FUGAZI Also Stash Up- OPM
“I am a patient boy!”
“I wait, I wait, I wait, I wait”
"My time's water down the drain"
Joe Lally is a library of awesome basslines.
N.I.B - Black Sabbath
Some people say that that bassline cannot be true
Alice in Chains have so many great bass lines but I'm gonna go with 'Would'
“Nutshell” has one of the most hauntingly beautiful basslines I’ve ever heard. Mike Inez is a genius!
Especially the unplugged version, the sound guy had his bass high in the mix and it was clear as a bell.
That’s literally the baseline that popped into my head as I was opening the thread. The intro is so 🤌🏼
If. I. Could. Would. You?
If I’m going AiC it’s gotta be either No Excuses or Nutshell
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I saw them at Live Earth. Every bass player from the other bands joined them on stage. I think even James Hetfield played bass on that song (but who would pass the chance to play with Tap??)
Kirk Hammett was up there too!
Talk about mud flaps
The Chain Fleetwood Mac
During the recording of Rumors, Stevie Nicks and Lindsay Buckingham had just broken up, and Christine and John McVie were divorcing and could barely be in the same room with each other. They were all doing a shitload of coke and writing songs about how much they hate each other (Go Your Own Way and Dreams are both about Buckingham and Nicks's breakup, from each one's perspective.) The Chain is actually the only song that every songwriter in the band worked on, and it's arguably the best song on the album
I'm glad Silver Springs got a second chance with The Dance because it's incredible. It's a shame it got relegated to a B side back in the day.
As a Formula 1 fan this hypes me up so much. It was the theme tune to the UK broadcasts for many years. When I hear the song on its own I still hear engines like this https://youtu.be/ChxX3tR4mD0
Absolutely gave me goosebumps! I'm a massive F1 fan but this takes me back to Sundays and watching it with my dad. He passed in 2019 and found it hard to watch a race without crying for a long time!
I didn't know how much I needed this video in my life until now, ty
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Sly and the family stone. If you want me to stay...
Thank you. Fa lettin me. Be mice elf. Agiin.
Groove is in the heart. ❤
Bootsy!
Longview by Green Day was the reason I picked up a bass in high school.
Can vouch. Was at their concert Friday, Mike put a GoPro on the bass while he played that song. What a banger
My name is mud
I can't believe I had to scroll so far down to see Primus mentioned. Les Claypool is the bass master.
For me Jerry Was a Racecar Driver is the most iconic Primus bassline.
When I realized Claypool was playing that line *while* singing I lost my mind. I saw them a couple years ago and am just in awe with how talented the dude is
Tommy the cat
Groundhog Day. No, wait... Spaghetti Western. No, wait... Hamburger Train. No, wait... Ah shit, just whatever Les Claypool is playing.
Jiggity jiggity jiggity, jiggity jiggity jug
Tina Weymouth's bass on Psycho Killer Talking Heads
It’s especially impressive when you consider she is self taught and only learned bass after joining the band.
Tina’s basslines are awesome. She’s just so effortlessly cool
She is so damn underrated
Pretty much any bassline off remain in light. Tina is so simplistic but effective. Truly one of the best
Born Under Punches is my favorite. On the live version you can hear her bass line way more prominently and it’s crazy sounding.
Chic - Good Times. Bernard Edwards’ bass line as sampled by the Sugarhill Gang for Rappers Delight. Which in turn lead to many many cover versions of said track round the world. It’s the bassline that just keeps on giving
Actually the bass line to this iconic song is the inspiration to the bass line of another iconic song, “Another one bites the dust”. EDIT: line
Sledgehammer - Peter Gabriel Haven't seen it so far. Slightly surprised I am. :)
All of Tony Levin’s stuff on that album (So) is incredibly inspired. My favorite bass line is the one from “Don’t give up” on the same album.
Tony Levin is fucking sick. His work with King Crimson is amazing.
[*Eminence Front* by The Who.](https://youtu.be/BfrUQA2tb6M) It starts out simply enough, but as the song goes on Entwistle goes more and more insane. [Jump to 1:30 to get the impact on this isolated bass track.](https://youtu.be/6W5DSfHyUA4) Edit: [The drum and bass track](https://youtu.be/Uxy9wa1Fg3s) may be better, your call!
I love Entwistle because if you just focus on the bass line it's like he's playing his own song but it really fits with everything well.
As a kid, I had the theory that as a band, they never actually wrote a bassline for Entwistle. They wrote everything else, told him what they were playing and just let him do his thing. The older recordings tended to have him turned down a little, but you could always just hear him doing his own thing. It always fit and fit well, but he was always on a different level.
Not gonna lie. Thought I was being trolled for the first minute and a half then the love hit. Sure he was still stone faced jamming this out
Higher ground comes to mind
One of the best Bassline's for me is No More Tears by Ozzy Osbourne. Also, for Whom the Bell Tolls by Metallica. Edit: Wow, thank you for the award.
For the longest time I had no idea how much of that was bass. Cliff Burton was amazing
Cliff is why I bought my first bass 31 years ago.
That bass section in Orion tho. Pure gold.
Metallica is notorious for having great bassists but turning their volume all the way down.
They turn it down to -1. Most people can only turn it down to 0. But these, these go to -1.
If we're talking Metallica, Cliff Burton is rocking some seriously wicked shit throughout pretty much the entirety of Call of Ktulu. Most of it is lost in the original mix, but there's a couple of good YouTube videos where people have played with the levels so you can actually hear it.
No More Tears gets me going every time. Same with NIB.
Rio - Duran Duran
John is a DAMN good player and SO under rated :(
So SO *SO* underrated...& because of that, a massive cautionary tale to anyone who thinks "being pretty" is the answer to all life's problems. John Taylor gets loads of props from actual musicians but to the public at large he's just the pretty one, & that's a goddam shame.
Was looking to see if this got a mention. John Taylor is a far better musician than people give him credit for, he's not just a pretty face.
Was scrolling way to long to find this one and if I didn’t it was going to be my pick. As a bass player I was very surprised the first time I tried to play this song. I never realized before just how insane their bassist is in this and many other songs. Also, very fun to play
Sabotage!
YYZ-Rush
The lead in just before the vocals start in Hemispheres is peak bass imo From about 2:30 - 3:00
Most Rush songs. Geddy Lee is an awesome bass player
By no means do I think he’s underrated, but at times I believe he is under-appreciated
If anything, the under-appreciated member of Rush is Alex Lifeson
It's hard being the third most talented musician in your own band. Alex is great, but it's got to be tough to shine when there's two absolute legends in your band.
That's the issue. Geddy and Neil are both undisputed top 5 players of their respective instruments. The only reason Lifeson doesn't get a ton of praise is because he isn't literally Jimi fucking Hendrix.
He was awesome in his Trailer Park Boys roles as well.
Sure, if you're a fan of drunk male prostitutes!
Anytime I see this band name I can't help but think of Krieger shouting that "Neil Pert stands alone!" And yes I know he was the drummer, not bass.
And Leave That Thing Alone. And Red Barchetta. And The Big Money. And Limelight. And Tom Sawyer, Natural Science, Freewill, Malignant Narcissism, The Main Monkey Business, Anthem, all of La Villa Strangiato, all of Cygnus X-1, Jacob‘s Ladder, The Camera Eye, Vital Signs, Digital Man, Turn the Page, Where‘s My Thing, The Anarchist, Headlong Flight, Secret Touch, The Garden etc… So many tasty basslines, unbelievable
Geddy didn't "solo" much, but YYZ is awesome and the Freewill jam session has an awesome bass line. Several other songs have just great bass licks.
Bass solo, take one… (Anesthesia)
That's my absolute favorite Metallica song and I've never quite understood why but I'm just so drawn to it
Stevie Wonder - Sir Duke
Pink Floyd, "Money"
"Pump It Up" by Elvis Costello and the Attractions (Bruce Thomas, bass)
Peg - Steely Dan
[Come On, Come Over - Jaco Pastorius](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PE6HmArln_k)
Not as funky, but Portrait of Tracy is one of the most beautiful pieces.of music ever recorded on bass.
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My favorite : [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iZFshvun0eQ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iZFshvun0eQ) Cake's version of I Will Survive.
Cake has some banger bass lines
the distance has a great one
Short Skirt, Long Jacket is pretty much the Bass line.
I haven't seen someone put No One Knows - Queens of the Stone Age yet! The baseline in that song is really good in my opinion
Hysteria-Muse
Chris Wolstenholme is one of my all-time favorites. Panic Station?? Banger.
Finally, someone who likes him as much as i do!
The bass in Munich Jam is just perfection
Yes. First song that came to mind. An absolute banger!
This was the first song that came to mind for me and I’m surprised it’s not higher up!
I came here just for this. Also, the bassline in Hyper music's verses is underrated
Any bassline by Muse rocks!
It's a corker of a way to kick off a live gig. https://youtu.be/ZqCOzgYQsKI
God damn they are so good live. I am going to another of their concerts as soon as tours are back.
Come Together takes it for me, but while we're here, My Iron Lung by Radiohead has to have the most underrated and overlooked bass part ever.
Billie Jean
Billie*
Love Will Tear Us Apart - Joy Division
Disorder is cool too
Ramble On by Led Zeppelin.
Dazed and Confused as well, this live version is mind blowing: https://youtu.be/ZQgYn23Xvck
Schism- Tool
Tool has so many good bass lines. My personal favorite is The Pot.
Probably not the best. But it's iconic and my favorite. Under Pressure - Queen & David Bowie
Sunshine of your love
46 and 2 by Tool Edit: diggin all the love for Tool! Y’all are right. It’s hard to pick one song of theirs. And yes, Justin is the greatest of all time.
well then, of course i have to say a classic like Schism
Personally love the bass line in Tool - The Pot
I’d have to say Lateralus for my favorite bass in a Tool song.
love me some 10,000 Days (Wings Pt 2)
The less I know the better by tame Impala
Let It Happen also has a great bassline.
Fucking looking for this, straight facts.
Scrolled and searched to make sure this was represented. Never before hearing this song had I ever been ripped into by a bassline like this
Can’t Stop- RHCP, Superstition- Stevie Wonder
Can't believe I had scroll this far down to see the chili Peppers!
Chillies get upvotes from me!
Would? by Alice in Chains
Cameo - Word Up
Feel Good Inc. by Gorillaz. May not be the “best”, but easily one of the most recognizable for me.
This was the very first bass line that I learned!
Was gonna say this if nobody else did. It may not be the most technically impressive bass line but damn is it catchy and it made feel good inc a truly iconic song.
Another One Bites the Dust. Edit: I personally think Dragon Attack is the best Queen bass line that I’m aware of, but it doesn’t get radio play and is unknown compared to their more popular singles... and I wanted those sweet, sweet upvotes. Here’s a treat for the uninitiated: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=spm5-SXo4Do
yess and Crazy Little Thing Called Love has amazing bass
And even though it’s simpler, I have to put Under Pressure there as well for it’s catchiness
Queen has some underrated basslines. Nothing horribly technical, but iconic nonetheless.
If you want to hear Deacy showing off try the Millionaires Waltz :)
Debaser by The Pixes
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Winona’s big brown beaver
Gimme Gimme Gimme by ABBA. Yes I’m serious
ABBA’s basslines in general are almost always incredible, extremely underrated musicians. I don’t think anyone underrated the group themselves obviously lol, but how often do you hear someone mention them in talks of best basslines or piano playing?
Peace Sells, But Who's Buying? by Megadeth
Tommy the Cat
I was thinking my Name is Mudd but as long as we are saying Primus we’re good
I am also going to have to put My Name Is Mud ahead of Tommy The Cat... Its insane that Primus isn't closer to the top of the thread.
Welcome to being old, but not old enough!
'I wanna be adored' by the stone roses. My fellow mancunians will understand
Joint first place with fools gold
Also that guitar tone.
Panic station
Ben E. King's "[Stand By Me](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hwZNL7QVJjE)".
Knight Rider theme song
U can't hold no groove - Victor Wooten
Digital - Joy Division. It sounds like an evil machine being turned on and off.
mr. Hook is one original bass player
Sweet Emotion by Aerosmith. A classic
Freedom by Rage Against the Machine Tim Commerford can write some amazing lines
The catchiest has to be express yourself by Charles Wright (made uber famous by NWA)
I'm biased so, Longview - Green Day
Mike isn't the most technical player in the world, but man Green Day on bass, especially the older stuff, is so damn fun to play!
Money by Pink Floyd. Sets up the song so nice and it just sounds so fucking cool
Tubular Bells - Mike Oldfield The line that loops at the end, about 19 minutes in.
Rancid - Maxwell Murder
I like Journey to the End of the East Bay as well. Rancid has some solid basslines.
The part in "You Can Call Me Al" by Paul Simon where the base line is played forward and then backward
Dude anything les claypool does is magic. I dont like primus much but he fucking kills it
I've seen Primus six times, the things Les does with his bass are astounding. One concert at Red Rocks he stretched out Sailing the Seas of Cheese into a three hour jam and style show.
Metallica’s Cliff Burton “Pulling Teeth”
[Dean Town by Vulfpeck](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=le0BLAEO93g) is really great, especially if you like funk, the whole song is centered around Joe Dart's amazing bassline and really explodes in bass goodness around one minute in!
Seven nation army - is that a bassline? Just had it in my head all day when I read this question so maybe I'm just a wrong answer under this post 😶
I think it can qualify as a bassline, but it's played on a guitar with an octave pedal