Friday, April 25, 2008
All Time Great Bass Lines
When thinking of great rock performances, Grinderswitch Quot Honest To Goodness Quot 1974 Capricorn Johnny Depp Or Orlando Bloom not its Best Of Little Rock Jams March 2008 guitarist or the vocalist who get the plaudits Latest News typically with Learn How To Play The Blues Guitar band situation they tend to have the more in-your-face personalities the pyrotechnics the flashiest gear or technique often its left to the drummer and bass player to hold the fort making sure everything hangs together. However when it comes to the music bassists more than hold our own were renowned for inventing some of the most compelling hooks and melodies in music as this list of Eagles Music time great bass lines shows.
1/ New Years Day U2
Adam Clayton tour-de-force simple pounding riff the key element to an all time classic taken from U2s 1983s War album
2/ The Chain - Fleetwood Mac
Classic Fleetwood Mac all burning guitars and energy but there in the middle eight building up for the finale - John McVies simple but incredible hook.
3/ Walk on the Wildside Lou Reed
Over 30 years old but still has that incredible sliding bass hook that everyone knows produced by Bowie Perhaps Lou Reeds finest and underpinned by that fabulous Herbie Flowers riff.
4/ Pink Floyd Money
Roger Waters in his prime great riff to start the song again an all time classic that everyone remembers for the bass part.a
5/ Stand by me Ben E King
Originally a hit in 1961 this soul classic with its repetitious (but instantly recognizable) 16-4 5 note bass riff is a lesson in Blues Guitar Lick Mixolydian Scale a simple but great groove.
6/ Give it away Red Hot Chili Peppers
Flea cut loose loads of punk slap and slide a single brilliant take on why Flea is one the best bassists ever
7/ Penny Lane The Beatles
Brilliant walking melody from Paul McCartney released in 1967 a fantastic lesson in how the melody and song structure Free Guitar Lessons Country Blues Fingerpicking All be derived from a brilliant bass line.
8/ Sunshine of your Love - Cream
Jack Bruce repetitious thundering bass line from one of heavy rocks first great anthems Creams finest hour.
9/ Under Pressure - Queen
John Deacons finest pulsating riff sampled often but never beaten
10/ Burning Blues Guitar Solo give up Peter Gabriel
Tony Levin showing that Bass parts arent just about storming riffs - Levin uses a repeating hook to create the mood of the piece a lesson in delicate playing!
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