[quote name='leschirons' timestamp='1444808274' post='2886135']
If I need to learn a song, the first thing I do is write down all the chords for intro, verse, bridge, mid 8, etc then sort out the bass line. I find being able to play the song on guitar or keyboards gives me a clue as to why the bass is doing what it does and what it should be doing if I can't hear it properly (actually, more like what I can get away with)
Also, being able to play all the chords usually means I can correct our guitarist who's only listened to it in the car on the way to rehearsal
[/quote]
Being able to check harmonies is invaluable, but don't allow it to distract from actually [i]listening[/i] to the bass line.
I often come across situations where a guitarist or keyboard player have written a lead-sheet based on what they've heard harmonically without paying attention to the bass-part. The upper part of the harmonies is accurate but you sometimes come into conflict with the keyboard player's left hand. Then ensue patronising looks from said keyboard player until you can bend his ear to actually listen to the bass on a recording (sorry, thread-hijack and mini-rant are hereby over)