Search results
- YYZ – Rush (Geddy Lee) Geddy Lee has spoken before of his efforts to augment his game, adding funk patterns and more rhythmic je ne sais quois, playing with his fingernails in a pseudo-flamenco style.
- Freewill – Rush (Geddy Lee) Freewill is a prime example of Geddy Lee's melodic sensibility and restraint sweetening an entire composition. Rush are celebrated for what they bring to the table intellectually – in playing around with time signatures, key changes, they appeal to the brain.
- The Real Me – The Who (John Entwistle) Legend has it that John Entwistle tracked this bassline in one take, that he was just fooling around. When you listen to his part isolated in the mix, you might even be forgiven for thinking that it was for the wrong song, but somehow it works, an alchemy that guilds a song that’s among the finest the Who ever wrote.
- Another One Bites The Dust – Queen (John Deacon) Here, John Deacon threw the band for a loop, write something on his own steam and giving Queen their biggest-selling hit.
- Another One Bites the Dust – Queen. Written by Queen’s bass player John Deacon, this bass line is iconic. Deacon actually recorded most of the instruments on the track too.
- Money – Pink Floyd. Cited widely as one of the best songs for bassists to learn, “Money” was released on Pink Floyd’s Dark Side of the Moon album in 1973.
- Give it Away – Red Hot Chili Peppers. Released in 1991, the song is based on the mantra “The more you give, the more you receive, so why not give it all away?”
- Hysteria – Muse. The bass line in “Hysteria” by Chris Wolstenholme was voted the best bass line of all time by a MusicRadar poll in 2011. It was followed by “YYZ” by Rush and “Another One Bites the Dust” by Queen, both of which are featured on this list.
People also ask
What is the most famous Rock bassline ever?
Which song has the best bass line of all time?
What is the most famous bass riff of all time?
What is the best hip-hop bassline of all time?
- Chic - Good Times. (from Risqué, 1979) It would be cheap to suggest that Good Times represents Bernard Edwards’ finest playing, as his career was full of moments of pure genius such as this one.
- James Brown - Sex Machine. (single, 1970) Never known by its full title – Get Up (I Feel Like Being A) Sex Machine – James Brown’s ineffable recruitment drive for the funk was driven by the playing of Bootsy Collins and his brother Catfish, whose guitar line accompanies the bass.
- Stanley Clarke - School Days. (from School Days, 1976) Throwing everything into the mix and changing the face of bass playing in doing so, Stanley Clarke’s legendary School Days features superfast pizzicato, razor-sharp pops, huge string bends and his usual disregard for convention.
- The Stranglers - Peaches. (from Rattus Norvegicus, 1977) Two seconds into Peaches and you’ll know what song you’re listening to; five seconds later, you’ll be cursing Jean-Jacques Burnel for his talent and wondering how you can get that tone yourself.
- Nick Wells
- My Girl - The Temptations (1965) Written by Smokey Robinson and Ronnie White from The Miracles, 'My Girl' became an all-time classic thanks to Jamerson's instantly recognisable bassline.
- Going to a Go-Go - The Miracles (1965) This next bassline doesn't necessarily indicate the work of a future revolutionary, but listen carefully to the rhythmic counterpoint between the bass and the toms of drummer Benny Benjamin.
- You Can't Hurry Love - The Supremes (1966) This is a prime example of how Jamerson would drive a track from the bottom while the vocalist drove it from the top.
- Road Runner - Jr. Walker & The All Stars (1966) A hit song for Junior Walker & the Allstars in 1966, 'Road Runner' opens with a classic drum fill followed by eight bars of James Jamerson at his very best.
- Hysteria - Muse. Though it certainly doesn’t have the same historical icon status as many bass lines on this list, Chris Wolstenholme laid down what might be the best bassline in modern years in Muse’s 2003 hit, “Hysteria.”
- Give It Away - Red Hot Chili Peppers. The iconic bassline in "Give It Away" is a prime example of Flea's distinctive funk mastery, earning it a well-deserved spot on the list.
- Money - Pink Floyd. Roger Waters' bass work in this iconic 1973 track was and still is one of the most creative and innovative bass lines in popular music.
- Ramble On - Led Zeppelin. The bass guitar in "Ramble On" by Zeppelin flows like water, blending intricacy and intimacy, and no one could have done it quite like John Paul Jones.
The Beatles are often regarded as the best band of all time. Thus, when one of their biggest hits is centered around a bass riff, you know it`s going to be one of the most famous bass lines of all time. A big part of what made Paul McCartney’s bass playing so smooth was how he slid from note to note.
Apr 4, 2024 · The emergence of hard rock and metal gave us memorable basslines from Led Zeppelin’s John Paul Jones, Iron Maiden’s Steve Harris, and Primus’ Les Claypool. And the most recent two decades have offered some of the greatest basslines in history, with countless musicians capitalizing on strong, active rhythm sections in the rock and pop worlds.
