Essential licks for the bass guitarist

[Nicko]

We've all seen them on Yootoob, you know the thing, ten must know licks. So I got to wondering what BC would come up with. Although I play mainly alternative heres a few. These are not my fave bass tracks, just songs I think every player whatever style should be able to play

1. Chic - Good Times
2. The Jam - A Town Called Malice
3. The Clash - London Calling
4. Pink Floyd- Money
5. Michael Jackson - Billie Jean
6. Green Day - When I come Around
7 RHCP - Under the Bridge
8. Walking bass line
9. Aerosmith - Sweet Emotion
10 The Doobie Bros - Long Train Runnng

[Happy Jack]

Taxman - The Beatles
Come Together - The Beatles
Cissy Strut - The Meters
Dazed & Confused - Led Zeppelin
Funk #49 - James Gang
One Way Out - Allman Brothers
Peter Gunn Theme

[Hobbayne]

The Chain - Fleetwood Mac
One Of These Nights - The Eagles

[Barking Spiders]

I don't listen to classic rock, punk, prog or metal so can't come up with any suggestions from these genres. I mostly play stuff from funk, soul, reggae, disco, New Wave, pop and post punk. So from these I'd say

Peaches - Stranglers
Disco Inferno -Trammps
For The Love of Money - O Jays
Another One Bites The Dust - Queen
Taxman - Beatles / Jam
Exodus - Bob Marley
Under Pressure - Queen
Fools Gold -Stone Roses
Ball Of Confusion - Temptations
Good Times -Chic

[discreet]

Not my favourites, not necessarily essential, even... just a random selection from the lines I've been obliged to learn over the years. When playing in covers bands, obviously...

I Want You Back - Jackson 5
Blind Man - Black Stone Cherry
Soul Man - Sam and Dave
Reach Out (I'll Be There) - Four Tops
Unchain My Heart - Ray Charles
Sex Type Thing - Stone Temple Pilots
Vertigo - U2
Canned Heat - Jamiroquai
Tonight I'll Be Staying Here With You - Bob Dylan
What Is And What Should Never Be - Led Zeppelin

Edited September 6, 2016 by discreet

[4stringslow]

No love for 'Rhythm Stick' then? ( no, I can't play it either!)

[lowdown]

All Blues.
So What.
Night In Tunisia.

[Barking Spiders]

I guess we're nomming stuff that are among the best known riffs but also less tricky to suss than famous but harder to master lines like Rhythm Stick, I Wish, The Real Me etc?

[discreet]

[quote name='Barking Spiders' timestamp='1473162295' post='3127500']
I guess we're nomming stuff that are among the best known riffs but also less tricky to suss than famous but harder to master lines like Rhythm Stick, I Wish, The Real Me etc?
[/quote]

I don't think 'Want You Back' or 'Reach Out' are particularly easy to learn. They're quite famous songs.

[lowdown]

[quote name='Barking Spiders' timestamp='1473162295' post='3127500']
famous but harder [/quote]

Maybe that would be down to the individual players and level of skill ?
(And the Actress and the Vicar, of course).

[BigRedX]

TBH I don't know any "licks" I haven't written myself. I might possibly be able to half recall a handful of the songs played during my brief stint in a covers band a few years ago, but I spend all my playing time working on songs in originals bands, so that's what I know and can play.

[FuNkShUi]

Higher and Higher

[Dood]

I created a Spotify playlist that is now 100's of songs long thanks to the collaborating of BCers. I'll get a link in my signature and here later!

[Dood]

Found the thread!

http://basschat.co.uk/topic/246416-spotify-best-bass-lines-evaaar-playlist-get-involved/page__fromsearch__1

[Dood]

P.s you can still add your own songs to the playlist if you want. Really enjoy listening to this playlist too!

[Barking Spiders]

I'd say that the lines for Reach Out and Want You Back are for the more advanced player than what 'every' player should be able to manage

[Jaykingfunk]

I Want You Back is one of my favourites, as is Sir Duke and I Wish.

[Marvin]

I've only ever learnt Come Together out of the ones listed.

I simply don't remember bass lines I no longer play. I could play you my bands songs

[lojo]

[quote name='Hobbayne' timestamp='1473161178' post='3127475']
One Of These Nights - The Eagles
[/quote]

Oh one of my fav all time songs

[steantval]

Free -
Mr Big
The Stealer
Walk in my shadow
I'm a mover
I'll be creepin

[Dood]

[quote name='dood' timestamp='1473168507' post='3127592']
I created a Spotify playlist that is now 100's of songs long thanks to the collaborating of BCers. I'll get a link in my signature and here later!
[/quote]

I've added the playlist link to my signature now. Feel free to add the above songs if you haven't already!

[RhysP]

[quote name='BigRedX' timestamp='1473166984' post='3127573']
TBH I don't know any "licks" I haven't written myself. I might possibly be able to half recall a handful of the songs played during my brief stint in a covers band a few years ago, but I spend all my playing time working on songs in originals bands, so that's what I know and can play.
[/quote]

I'm the same.
Apart from the first few years when I was first learning I've never really learned any "Famous" bass parts - I never saw the point of wasting time learning something that I'd never ever have to play.
A lot of these "essential" bass lines are from songs I can't stand anyway (Rhythm Stick, Town Called Malice, pretty much all Soul & Motown stuff). I always found it far more enjoyable to just play stuff I enjoyed rather than what was thought of as essential.

[EssentialTension]

[quote name='Nicko' timestamp='1473159554' post='3127448']
... just songs I think every player whatever style should be able to play ...
[/quote]

Why should 'every player whatever style' be able to play them?

[blue]

Read all the posts. I'll go with all the major Chic stuff and I Want You Back.

There's tons if other licks, but for now those listed above are pretty cool.

I still struggle with the cadence of "I Want You Back".

Blue

[blue]

[quote name='EssentialTension' timestamp='1473192678' post='3127936']


Why should 'every player whatever style' be able to play them?
[/quote]

Because that's the way this bass playing stuff works. There's a certain licks you should know.

It's not art.

Blue

Edited September 6, 2016 by blue