Sky Arts ,Worlds greatest Basslines .28/11/25

[Misdee]

4 hours ago, tauzero said:

 

It works well within the context of U2, but would you describe him as a virtuoso?

No not a virtuoso, but he makes the most of his abilities in a really musical way. Adam Clayton knows how to play to the strengths of the instrument, and that's something that can elude some very technically-able players. 

[Misdee]

17 minutes ago, chris_b said:

Greatest bass lines? Try those played by James Jamerson, Larry Graham, Bernard Edwards, Duck Dunn, Nathan East, Carol Kaye. . . . You can almost guarantee none of these players will be included!

Great basslines can also be one-off phenomena, like Slave To The Rhythm by Grace Jones, played by Luis Jardim (RIP). You couldn't really point out much of a body of recorded work as a bass player for multi-instrumentalist Luis, but he was obviously a terrific player and that track alone must be one of the standout bass parts of the 1980's, and that was the decade of the standout bass part.  Players like that will most likely be overlooked, as will session musicians who were guitar and bass doublers, like the late great Tommy Cogbill.

 

But like I keep saying, I'll be watching avidly and enjoying whatever crumbs of comfort and inspiration this series has to offer. Bear in mind I regularly spend an hour  or more watching brain dead British couples deciding if they want to sell their pre-war semi in Slough and move to Post-war semi in Swindon with a bigger garden and sufficient room to add an incontinence-themed extension ( pending planning permission). I'm sure I'll be glued to this bass fest.

Edited 11 hours ago by Misdee

[BigRedX]

I think if you weren't interested in music in 1979, then you probably won't appreciate just how ground breaking Peter Hook's bass playing was when Unknown Pleasures was released. By the early 80s most bass players who weren't playing fretless or slap were influence by his playing. He may only have one style and be a self-avowed non-musician but he's been massively influential for a whole generation of musicians. Mick Karn was had similar traits - single style, non musician - and is IMO equally influential, but he doesn't get anything like the same stick as Hooky.

[SteveXFR]

I think bassists are the worst people to pick the three best bass lines as it'll most likely be some virtuoso nonsense like Joe Dart or Jaco Pistorious or some million note a second slapper.

Here's my possibly terrible pics.

Peaches - The Stranglers

Rotten Apple - Alice In Chains 

Turnover - Fugazi

 

[iainbass]

Its Sky Arts which I do like a lot, but which also means its producing content which is easily understood by everyone. This means there idea of a "Greatest bassline " will discuss work that the general public can easily understand.. ie something like Pink Floyds Money...or the Cures A Forest. Not necessarily clever in the bass sense but immediately recognisable as a very good  ....'Bassline'.   

 

 

[Linus27]

1 hour ago, BigRedX said:

I think if you weren't interested in music in 1979, then you probably won't appreciate just how ground breaking Peter Hook's bass playing was when Unknown Pleasures was released. By the early 80s most bass players who weren't playing fretless or slap were influence by his playing. He may only have one style and be a self-avowed non-musician but he's been massively influential for a whole generation of musicians. Mick Karn was had similar traits - single style, non musician - and is IMO equally influential, but he doesn't get anything like the same stick as Hooky.

 

I totally agree and he certainly influenced me a lot. His melodic approach and use of playing an open root note while playing a melody on another string is something I learnt from him and an integral part of my playing.