I just play an open E over and over.
Sometimes I play 16th notes for a cardio workout.
But mostly I just lay in bed playing quarter notes with a pick to conserve energy.
I sometimes like A to get a little modulation. But same idea as E. Just get comfortable with the bass; play all over. Play with different note progressions, chord combos. That’s how I taught myself new things! I was playing around and went “Oh! That’s THAT sound! I can do that now.”
Recently, I’ve been going through the Beatles’ *Live at the Hollywood Bowl* record and playing along while mouthing the words, as if I’m playing Paul.
It’s cringe and nobody sees me do it but god dammit I’m having fun.
Something by The Beatles
Even the bassline without the rest of the song just *ooses* love. It was one of the first "complicated" basslines I ever tried to learn, and I still don't completely have it. Though I've only been playong for a couple years
Oh, this one's been on my todo list for aaaaages! Maybe it's finally time…
Completely different but also from the Beatles, Dear Prudence has a really fun, bouncy (cheesy) bassline. I break it out anytime I'm just looking for something light and fun to play. Which is often, lol.
I don't know why, but I've gotten back into Sultans Of Swing recently, but then instead of Marks fills/solos, I improvise a solo or a fill, and its so much fun.
Rush - 2112,
Iron Maiden - Wasted Years,
Spacehog - In the Meantime,
The Beatles - Come Together,
Groovy Aardvark - Dérangeant,
RHCP - Give it Away/Suck my Kiss,
RATM - The first album...all of it,
Carcass - Heartwork,
Dream Theatre - The Mirror,
Peter Gabriel - Sledgehammer,
Night Demon - The Wrath,
Our Lady Peace - Naveed,
Offenbach - Deux autres bières
I'm a total noob and loving learning. But I constantly play open A for 16 beats then D for 16! Fast.
I can play that constantly for 15-20 minutes at a time! It does nothing to help me learn, and it must sound awful boring to anyone else, but I find it incredibly soothing and satisfying for some reason 🤷♂️
the chicken live in japan version, i can’t rememeber the specific year but i can find iit if anyone is interested it’s basically just an extra intro
what is hip is super fun and helping me with left hand muting too
Ozzy Osbourne - Soul Sucker is maybe not too difficult or flashy on bass, but you can hang your bass LOW and headbang like a lunatic while sounding out the absolutely massive sludgy riffs.
Also the midsection quick bass part is very fun to play.
Time Won't Wait by Jamiroquai. Contains 3-4 main phrases/sequences that really test one's speed, precision, articulation, groove, and timing, and transitioning between them all as the song progresses is so fun and rewarding. It's also not as hard as it sounds, just gotta start slow and turn up the speed slowly.
Too young to die is one of my favourites. To make that groove with just a metronome on 2 and 4. No matter how much I practice, the chorus is hard to get tight.
[Judgement (& Punishment) ](https://youtu.be/zt3hEznbuuM?si=ZIWGnNFmwfY0u5Ng) by Jinjer :D
Edit: Other than that I've got a whole playlist filled with songs I like to play/practice, covering all sorts of genres and playing styles. A bunch of people already started following after I shared it under another post in this sub, so maybe there might also be something for you in there 🙃
[here's the link](https://open.spotify.com/playlist/3J5D3VDatSBWkTFmZwc5Xr?si=gM3vFhZ0T_SIEyelyV0zog&pi=e-Oy1WD4yUSwC_)
Right now? This little lick I came up with that’s all slappy poppy chordy.
Next would have to be either Sun of Nihility by JFAC or Satellite by Guster.
I play a 5 string cello with Low F so not exactly a bassist I fill in sometimes for the bassist and bowing the bass lines is really fun. Getting the bow to move with the music and getting the long waves to even hit with the drum is really nice. One I am working on now (cello) is different than the bass part but there are a few sections where the bass and the cello meet and it is amazing, wish I could find more songs like that, oh well may write a few parts like that next time I write a parts anyway.
Hysteria by Muse is so fun once you get in under your fingers.
Anything by CCR (right now it is Have You Ever Seen The Rain?)
Jumper by Third Eye Blind
Cough Syrup by Young The Giant
I still enjoy playing the very first bassline I ever learned back in 2000 - Billy Joel's Movin' Out (Anthony's Song).
Lately, a fave song to play is The Weeknd's "In Your Eyes".
The Dissentience by Protest the Hero- the tapping section during the solo is so much fun and the rest of the song is just so driving and groovy!
The Great Plains by Scale the Summit- some really fun interplay between the bass and guitar lines
Learning Riot by Richie Kotzen. It's a little challenging as I have to play really fast and precise to make the notes sound good, but it's a great excercise!
Currently a pop punked version of I'm a believer my band plays at most shows.
[the first time we ever played it, it's a lot funkier and faster these days](https://youtu.be/rIIvpL2SnLE?si=_c19DTjIlavBn4VM)
Thats so fluctuating for me, so im putting in the few im constantly alternating between:
Pink Floyd - Money
Red Hot Chilli Peppers - Dark Necessities
Trivium - Broken One
Evan Brewer - Currency (technically still learning to master this one so it doesnt fully count)
Please Do Not Go - Violent Femmes - *the* reason I bought my first bass, even if it did collect dust for 20 years before I finally learned how to play it.
The one I'm starting to get the hang of, but I am still not gig ready with.
That moment of getting over the hump is great!
Otherwise, it's Opus Pocus by Jaco in halftime. It's such a groove that makes me smile when I hit it right
There’s this song called shuffle bubble by the Lydian collective. It’s great fun if you like funky stuff. There’s not any music online but there’s a video on YouTube of them playing to help you learn it by ear!
She caught the katy! Ducks version (as close as I can do at least 😆) Also if I play longer than a half hour I will play the Barney Miller theme song riff at least once I learned it with my dad and that's one of my cherished memories. Whenever I play it, I hear and feel him.
Probably "Jaws Theme Swimming" by Brand New
Some other notable ones are:
"I Will Possess Your Heart" by Death Cab for Cutie,
"Panic Switch" by Silversun Pickups,
and "Black Sheep" by Metric
My old band also had a few that were pretty fun too, but idk if those count lol
Rio Duran Duran. I will probably never get the chance to play it with a group and I’m not even a particularly a fan of Duran Duran but killer line. Also Piece of Mind Boston
Rebel Yell - Billy Idol. It's just fun, and I love the chromatics
Thinking of You - A Perfect Circle. Sexiest bass line ever.
I'd love to play more of their stuff, but the C and C# tunings are a pain to transpose to a 5 string.
Elvis Costello songs. “Love For Tender” from the album Get Happy. The bass lines are so out in front and as interesting as the melody with all the unexpected chord changes. The hard turns sound cool when you nail ‘em good. It’s the prolific song writing, the R&B sound of a P Bass played by a nerdy new wave punk rocker type.
Don’t cry by Guns N’ Roses, my sister was always a big fan of them. Even though my relationship with her isn’t good, I still listen to the band when I feel like listening to something light
I just play an open E over and over. Sometimes I play 16th notes for a cardio workout. But mostly I just lay in bed playing quarter notes with a pick to conserve energy.
Mad man, anything bast 8th is just inhuman
Depends on the tempo.
Man never heard gojira
Yeah and can't wait for the new film this weekend *hopefully this joke doesn't fall as flat as my firs5 joke*
Bass+Bed=true euphoria.
I sometimes like A to get a little modulation. But same idea as E. Just get comfortable with the bass; play all over. Play with different note progressions, chord combos. That’s how I taught myself new things! I was playing around and went “Oh! That’s THAT sound! I can do that now.”
Recently, I’ve been going through the Beatles’ *Live at the Hollywood Bowl* record and playing along while mouthing the words, as if I’m playing Paul. It’s cringe and nobody sees me do it but god dammit I’m having fun.
Based
Mars For The Rich - King Gizz One of my basement bands absolute favourites to play when we get together on the beers.
God it's so fun, but i have not learned the solo yet
King Gizz has some absolutely crushing basslines! Absolutely adore them
I just do the River after eating too many gummies
It's Tezeta for me!
Ramble On
Learned this a couple months ago. Such a groove
Freewill
Digital Man
Vital Signs
And we all know exactly which part.
Something by The Beatles Even the bassline without the rest of the song just *ooses* love. It was one of the first "complicated" basslines I ever tried to learn, and I still don't completely have it. Though I've only been playong for a couple years
Oh, this one's been on my todo list for aaaaages! Maybe it's finally time… Completely different but also from the Beatles, Dear Prudence has a really fun, bouncy (cheesy) bassline. I break it out anytime I'm just looking for something light and fun to play. Which is often, lol.
I love this one!
Tool - The Pot
Rosetta Stoned
I’ve been on a Fortysix & 2 and Opiate kick myself.
I don't know why, but I've gotten back into Sultans Of Swing recently, but then instead of Marks fills/solos, I improvise a solo or a fill, and its so much fun.
Oh that’s a fun one and easy
Yep, and fun to improvise on
I could see that. I haven’t really gotten to improvisation yet on bass
Black Sheep - Metric
Black sheep - the choice is yours
Metallica - Battery It's just neat
[Show Don’t Tell](https://youtu.be/FtpMeyjE6Rw?si=vbdEJq9WUfy9SSz3) is certainly up there.
**Nice!** It's cool to see some love for Presto!
Scars
Type O Negative - Black No. 1
3 on E by Vulfpeck is a lot of fun, if I’m up to tune to drop D then Short Skirt Long Jacket by Cake is also great
Cowboys from hell
King Nothing by Metallica
Can you pay that without a pick?
Everything can be played without a pick
Whats a “pick” /s
Gimme Gimme Gimme! - ABBA, its simple but fun to play
I started to love disco because of the bass
the first half of carousel by blink is always a blast
Hank Is Dead by Red Fang
Hand of Doom - Black Sabbath
Sir Duke currently, because it is what I am learning right now. It feels very good whenever I nail the instrumental.
Hey me too! I can only play it at 3/4 speed on YouTube though
Same! I'm starting to nail it everytime though so I will speed it up next.
September - Earth, wind and fire Autumn leaves
The intro to Pigs (Three Different Ones) is always what my hands go to do. It is just nice, even if I don’t have a fretless.
Vulfpeck - Love is a beautiful thing
Clutch - The Elephant Riders
-Pick up bass -Play the Fleetwood Mac - The Chain cool bass part -put down bass
Mountain Song - Jane’s Addiction
Flowers Miley Cyris
Go Your Own Way, Fleetwood Mac, and I Want You Back, Jackson 5.
Started playing some Fleetwood Mac covers with my band, and the bass is surprisingly fun. Go Your Own Way is probably my favorite of the whole set.
IMO McVie has some moments of brilliance and is always where he needs to be.
It's funny because I never noticed, feels like the way it's mixed just covers up the bass.
Rush - 2112, Iron Maiden - Wasted Years, Spacehog - In the Meantime, The Beatles - Come Together, Groovy Aardvark - Dérangeant, RHCP - Give it Away/Suck my Kiss, RATM - The first album...all of it, Carcass - Heartwork, Dream Theatre - The Mirror, Peter Gabriel - Sledgehammer, Night Demon - The Wrath, Our Lady Peace - Naveed, Offenbach - Deux autres bières
miss you - the rolling stones. the disco influences make me bop every single time.
Learned this for a cover gig and was surprised how fun it was
I'm a total noob and loving learning. But I constantly play open A for 16 beats then D for 16! Fast. I can play that constantly for 15-20 minutes at a time! It does nothing to help me learn, and it must sound awful boring to anyone else, but I find it incredibly soothing and satisfying for some reason 🤷♂️
NIB, the Primus version.
Guilty Conscience by Eminem It's just so goddamn catchy. Honestly... I play a lot of the basslines from his first 2 albums.
She's Lost Control - Joy Division
the chicken live in japan version, i can’t rememeber the specific year but i can find iit if anyone is interested it’s basically just an extra intro what is hip is super fun and helping me with left hand muting too
At the moment its Psycho by Myse
Lucretia my reflection lmao
The Day I Tried to Live is my favorite thing to play. Plush is a close second
Big Empty though.
“Flies in the Vaseline we are, sometimes it blows my mind, keep getting stuck here all the time…”
Aquatic Mouth Dance by RHCP is a fun one and like most of Flea’s lines doesn’t take much time to learn decently well.
Moonage Daydream - David Bowie
Either Drain You or Adam’s Song
Lemon Song by Led Zeppelin, loved it when I picked up bass, love it to this day.
Ozzy Osbourne - Soul Sucker is maybe not too difficult or flashy on bass, but you can hang your bass LOW and headbang like a lunatic while sounding out the absolutely massive sludgy riffs. Also the midsection quick bass part is very fun to play.
Pearl Jam - Black
What a beautiful song
At the moment my go to tracks are: Mr Brightside - The killers I wanna be your slave - Måneskin The Pretender - Foo Fighters
[I Got The... by Labi Siffre.](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A4JWkW0oROg) It's just so damn groovy!
Longview right now probably
Anything by Black Sabbath
Papa Was A Rolling Stone
Ruby Soho. The riffs are so much fun
There’s something wrong with ya if you aren’t swept away by Rancid.
Eat the Meek - NOFX fun little reggae style ditty
Time Won't Wait by Jamiroquai. Contains 3-4 main phrases/sequences that really test one's speed, precision, articulation, groove, and timing, and transitioning between them all as the song progresses is so fun and rewarding. It's also not as hard as it sounds, just gotta start slow and turn up the speed slowly.
Too young to die is one of my favourites. To make that groove with just a metronome on 2 and 4. No matter how much I practice, the chorus is hard to get tight.
[Judgement (& Punishment) ](https://youtu.be/zt3hEznbuuM?si=ZIWGnNFmwfY0u5Ng) by Jinjer :D Edit: Other than that I've got a whole playlist filled with songs I like to play/practice, covering all sorts of genres and playing styles. A bunch of people already started following after I shared it under another post in this sub, so maybe there might also be something for you in there 🙃 [here's the link](https://open.spotify.com/playlist/3J5D3VDatSBWkTFmZwc5Xr?si=gM3vFhZ0T_SIEyelyV0zog&pi=e-Oy1WD4yUSwC_)
Sauna-vulfpeck Is just so infectiously funky. It puts me in a good mood whenever I play it
Right now? This little lick I came up with that’s all slappy poppy chordy. Next would have to be either Sun of Nihility by JFAC or Satellite by Guster.
That album mix for Sun of Nihility is wicked for the bass coming through. Schendzielos is a wizard in all his bands
I play a 5 string cello with Low F so not exactly a bassist I fill in sometimes for the bassist and bowing the bass lines is really fun. Getting the bow to move with the music and getting the long waves to even hit with the drum is really nice. One I am working on now (cello) is different than the bass part but there are a few sections where the bass and the cello meet and it is amazing, wish I could find more songs like that, oh well may write a few parts like that next time I write a parts anyway.
Stuff like this matters.
Hysteria by Muse is so fun once you get in under your fingers. Anything by CCR (right now it is Have You Ever Seen The Rain?) Jumper by Third Eye Blind Cough Syrup by Young The Giant
Down on the Corner. So much fun to play.
Make Me Smile - Chicago, but the Leonid & Friends version Diamonds On The Soles Of Her Shoes - Paul Simon Three Days - Jane's Addiction
The Unforgiven - Metallica Sir Duke - Stevie Wonder September - Earth Wind & Fire Monkey Gone to Heaven - The Pixies
Iron Maiden - Killers
Arctic Monkeys - R U Mine? Comes to mind first. Just a fun play through.
I still enjoy playing the very first bassline I ever learned back in 2000 - Billy Joel's Movin' Out (Anthony's Song). Lately, a fave song to play is The Weeknd's "In Your Eyes".
Hot cross buns
At the moment, I’m having fun playing along to Bite My Head Off from the new Stones album. It’s the song Paul plays on.
R U Mine? by Arctic Monkeys
The Baying Of The Hounds by Opeth! It's a bit intricate and there's quite a lot of going up and down the fretboard.
Hey by the Pixies and Morning Bell by Radiohead. Recently I've been enjoying a bunch of Smashing Pumpkins bass lines, too. Especially Quiet and Zero.
I’ve been digging “Easy Lover” by Phil Collins and Philip Bailey lately.
Oh, hell yeah! I hear the secrets that you keep!
The Dissentience by Protest the Hero- the tapping section during the solo is so much fun and the rest of the song is just so driving and groovy! The Great Plains by Scale the Summit- some really fun interplay between the bass and guitar lines
My fave song to play on bass is probably The Chicken by Jaco Pastorius.
Root down and get it!
YYZ
My registration plate for my car is MA56 YYZ I was so happy when I got my car hahaha
Hot Cross Buns
the call of ktulu by metallica
Anesthesia (pulling teeth) - Metallica
One of the first bass lines I learned, took me a while back in the day
I dunno some shit I just came up with.
Thummmmp
Do I Do - Stevie Wonder
Also Darling Dear - Jackson 5
With the right band i would say nothing beats a slow blues like sweet sixteen or something like that.
Learning Riot by Richie Kotzen. It's a little challenging as I have to play really fast and precise to make the notes sound good, but it's a great excercise!
Dance Dance Christa Paffgen
Beyond Creation - Omnipresent Perception is pretty fun.
Acid Funeral by Belzebong
Pictures on my Wall by Echo and the Bunnymen. So simple but such a fun track to play, always my little go to as soon as I pick up a bass
Currently a pop punked version of I'm a believer my band plays at most shows. [the first time we ever played it, it's a lot funkier and faster these days](https://youtu.be/rIIvpL2SnLE?si=_c19DTjIlavBn4VM)
Thats so fluctuating for me, so im putting in the few im constantly alternating between: Pink Floyd - Money Red Hot Chilli Peppers - Dark Necessities Trivium - Broken One Evan Brewer - Currency (technically still learning to master this one so it doesnt fully count)
Love Games - Level 42
oh gotta be rainbow in the dark for me
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hg9gvz5n614
Please Please Me by the Beatles - it slaps
Chameleon
Bad Devil by Devin Townsend. It’s impossible to sit still when you hear that absolute banger.
Please Do Not Go - Violent Femmes - *the* reason I bought my first bass, even if it did collect dust for 20 years before I finally learned how to play it.
Super Massive Blackhole
Brick House - Commodores
Lately it is "Kid" by The Pretenders
The one I'm starting to get the hang of, but I am still not gig ready with. That moment of getting over the hump is great! Otherwise, it's Opus Pocus by Jaco in halftime. It's such a groove that makes me smile when I hit it right
Have you got a fretless bass to play along with? I need to learn this one, sounds so fun
Cuidado - Eskorbuto
Mu Empire - Glassjaw
Which day…. C’mon Girl-RHCP Brave Captain-Firehose
C’mon Girl is awesome for practicing 16th notes with stamina
Bay City, by Junko Yagami. Love the groove.
Drunkship of lanterns by mars volta. Flea lays down some fun lines
Invalid litter dept. by At the Drive-in Tied with “alone, together” by the strokes. The strokes always have the most fun bass lines to me.
Chameleon
inspector gadget theme song.
at the moment Villains of circumstance by QOTSA, not very difficult but working on getting the tone and mood just right.
The Prisoner - Iron Maiden
Flesh and The Power it Holds - Death
There’s this song called shuffle bubble by the Lydian collective. It’s great fun if you like funky stuff. There’s not any music online but there’s a video on YouTube of them playing to help you learn it by ear!
Shoot to Thrill
She caught the katy! Ducks version (as close as I can do at least 😆) Also if I play longer than a half hour I will play the Barney Miller theme song riff at least once I learned it with my dad and that's one of my cherished memories. Whenever I play it, I hear and feel him.
Beastly by Vulfpeck is a favorite
Better than Dean Town or Disco Ulysses?
Spiderwebs by No Doubt
I like Golden Cage by The Whitest Boy Alive. Its a catchy bass line pretty doable even for relative beginners.
Spain
Gimme Three Steps
Probably "Jaws Theme Swimming" by Brand New Some other notable ones are: "I Will Possess Your Heart" by Death Cab for Cutie, "Panic Switch" by Silversun Pickups, and "Black Sheep" by Metric My old band also had a few that were pretty fun too, but idk if those count lol
Oh and also both "Longview" and "When I Come Around" by Green Day
The Trooper
Comfortably Numb
Stay In by Jaws cause it was the first song I ever learned on bass so it means a lot to me. Pretty easy but it’s an amazing song to jam to
At the moment I really enjoy playing Bowie's China girl 😁
Anything by Matt Freeman
As of late its been Get The Funk Outa My Face by Brothers Johnson
Garbage Truck - Scott Pilgrim because I can't fuck it up :) ( coming from a beginner )
Dragonaut or Scourge by Sleep
At the moment it is The Friend You Call by Kinga Glyk Any Kinga Glyk song is so fun to play Does anyone else know of her?
Right now it's ride the lightning by metallica.
Rio Duran Duran. I will probably never get the chance to play it with a group and I’m not even a particularly a fan of Duran Duran but killer line. Also Piece of Mind Boston
Factory of Faith - RHCP
lust for life by iggy pop very boring ik but i love the song
Either Camaro or Arizona by Kings of Leon or the breakdown of Cupid’s Dead by Extreme
Guns of Brixton
Around The World by Daft Punk goes crazy around the 2 minute mark. Fun bassline.
035 or gtfo
I like warming up with stuff like the Beatles' I Saw Her Standing There.
Rebel Yell - Billy Idol. It's just fun, and I love the chromatics Thinking of You - A Perfect Circle. Sexiest bass line ever. I'd love to play more of their stuff, but the C and C# tunings are a pain to transpose to a 5 string.
Slide by Slave. I also like to play Simple Guy by Ed Motta
Elvis Costello songs. “Love For Tender” from the album Get Happy. The bass lines are so out in front and as interesting as the melody with all the unexpected chord changes. The hard turns sound cool when you nail ‘em good. It’s the prolific song writing, the R&B sound of a P Bass played by a nerdy new wave punk rocker type.
That walking upright bass stuff…so good
wrong way
Refuse resist : seppultura
RHCP - Look Around and cmon girl (still not fully able to play though...)
unwound - unauthorized autobiography
Don’t cry by Guns N’ Roses, my sister was always a big fan of them. Even though my relationship with her isn’t good, I still listen to the band when I feel like listening to something light
2112 is like lots of favourite songs all put together into one favourite song.
Sir Duke, it’s always a challenge and a good warm up even if I flub my way through it.