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

[LawrenceH]

Think this fits what I was saying about our bubbles - I could do the 'Good Times' one as could probably millions who've heard 'Rappers' Delight' (137 million Spotify plays) but no clue about the Thin Lizzy one (106 million plays), though I know I've heard it - don't even remember it being bass-led! Edit to add I haven't a clue about Brown Eyed Girl bassline despite knowing the song! Is that iconic?!

 

Isn't the Zep one guitar and bass in unison? Presumably that still counts.

 

Meanwhile 'So What' played by Paul Chambers is probably the most iconic jazz bassline of all time (125 million plays), the whole song hinges round it and it led off the album that transformed jazz for the next 70 years... Different bubble again though!

Edited November 19 by LawrenceH

[Woodinblack]

1 hour ago, tauzero said:

I couldn't bum-bum the bassline to Good Times or any Motown stuff, and I am a bassist. Sort of. Whole lotta love is a guitar riff. I'll give you Another one bites the dust.

 

If you know another one bites the dust you probably could get Good Times as it was inspired by that (John Deacon was in the studio when good times was made), or rappers delight, same bassline, or many many other songs. In fact, on whosampled, 254 other songs. So whatever bucket you are in, you probably have heard it somewhere!

[visog]

On 16/11/2025 at 21:44, itu said:

These cats are alive. 

fretless: Bunny Brunel and Gary Willis 

4-string frets: Jeff Berlin and Jonas Hellborg 

5-string frets: Tom Kennedy and Jimmy Haslip 

6-string frets: John Patitucci 

DB: Edgar Meyer and Steve Rodby and Marc Johnson 

 

(Where are all excellent European players, my list is too Americain.) 

 

Stewart Copeland should be here, because I would like to learn more about drummers' rhythmic approach to songs. 

 

I admire you faith in the producer's intent in finding the objectively-best players. I'm confident none of these players will be mentioned. The criteria will almost certainly be 'World's Greatest Basslines (your Mum would recognise)'

[chris_b]

39 minutes ago, visog said:

 

I admire you faith in the producer's intent in finding the objectively-best players. I'm confident none of these players will be mentioned. The criteria will almost certainly be 'World's Greatest Basslines (your Mum would recognise)'

 

Won't be the best bass lines. It'll be the bass lines from the producers favourite songs!!

[Stub Mandrel]

On 19/11/2025 at 12:10, tauzero said:

I can think of very few genuinely iconic basslines, as in basslines that would be recognised and sung (or gone bum-bum-bum to) by people who aren't bassists. The Chain by Fleetwood Mac, Dancing in the moonlight by Thin Lizzy, Brown eyed girl by Van Morrison, Peaches by The Stranglers.

 

Just thought of a few more songs defined by their basslines:

 

My Sharona

Let's Dance

Gimme Some Loving

We Gotta Get Out Of This Place

 

I think most ordinary folk who know those songs would recognise them from the bass alone.

Edited Saturday at 12:50 by Stub Mandrel

[Woodinblack]

47 minutes ago, Stub Mandrel said:

Gimme Some Loving

 

I think most ordinary folk who know those songs would recognise them from the bass alone.

 

Would they? Gimmie all your loving is pretty well one note all the way through (ok, yes, its 3 one note riffs)

I would imagine almost noone who wasn't a bass player could recognise that song from the bass line.

 

Maybe 'Take a walk on the wild side'. 

[Geek99]

By the late herbie flowers.
Set to record 

[Stub Mandrel]

1 hour ago, Woodinblack said:

Would they? Gimmie all your loving is pretty well one note all the way through (ok, yes, its 3 one note riffs)

I would imagine almost noone who wasn't a bass player could recognise that song from the bass line.

 

 

No "Gimme Some Lovin" 😁

 

 

 

I've seen audiences react as soon as the intro starts just bass and drums.

[Woodinblack]

4 hours ago, Stub Mandrel said:

 

No "Gimme Some Lovin" 😁

 

Ah - thats fair then!

[bass_dinger]

On 17/11/2025 at 11:11, BigRedX said:

I hope that program makers also remember that some of the most memorable bass lines ever weren't written or played by bass guitarists - cf I Feel Love or Der Mussolini.

 

... or Air on a G string, by Bach. 

 

And Pachelbel's Canon.  Sampled dozens of times by modern musicians, and he practically invented looping! But will he get a mention? Not a chance.   

 

Sķy Arts, pull your socks up, and make a programme for basschatters.  "My 10 favourite pickup windings". "The Story of the Plectrum". 

 

 

 

[tauzero]

22 hours ago, bass_dinger said:

 

... or Air on a G string, by Bach. 

 

And Pachelbel's Canon.  Sampled dozens of times by modern musicians, and he practically invented looping! But will he get a mention? Not a chance.   

 

Sķy Arts, pull your socks up, and make a programme for basschatters.  "My 10 favourite pickup windings". "The Story of the Plectrum". 

 

"Top Tonewoods", "Best basses for metal".

[Pat2019]

And coming next week “ To tort, or not to tort? That is the question” 

hint: the answer is torte

 

[Terry M.]

On 19/11/2025 at 01:01, LawrenceH said:

I'd never heard of the 3 bassists pictured and don't recall being particularly taken by any New Order/Joy Division basslines, though I'm sure they do a great job if you're into that sort of thing. Mick Karn is another one who I don't actually know who he is/was. Having just looked him up I don't know of anyone in real life who listened to Japan. But again I'm sure he was great.

 

What I think this illustrates nicely is how much we all live in our own tiny little bubbles as to what was 'important' or 'influential' back in the day (or indeed now). And the music critic part of the modern media seem to exist in an even tinier bubble - see various critics/radio DJs (men) of a certain age (gen X) who all fawn over particular (punk/new wave) bands from their youth as though they were incredibly important in the entire history of Western music despite a very limited output for a very short time that anyone outside of their very narrow age bracket (or different racial background) would barely recognise much less care about.

 

Could be wrong but I don't think anyone has mentioned Robbie Shakespeare, for example. Or Leon Sylvers, Aston Barrett, Oscar Alston, Louis Johnson, etc etc. Which is fine, but objectively they have all sold an awful lot of records with very recognisable basslines!

 

 

Best post I've read on here for ages.

[Musicman666]

this is one of those subjects that you have lost before you have even started ...everyone has their favourites ...currently listening to visions of you by jah wobble. 

[Leonard Smalls]

On 24/11/2025 at 18:28, Pat2019 said:

the answer is torte

The answer is always Torte! Especially if that's preceded by the words Schwarz, Walder and Kirsch...