Top 100 bass lines

Which is your favourite? Or .... Have I left your favourite out? Please leave a comment. Here are 100 of my favourite bass lines. They are in no particular order other than tempo. I begin at 94 bpm and end at 140 bpm.

I had originally planned to record just the bass and drums but I soon began to add, keyboards, guitar, effects etc. Giving myself the enormous task of creating 100 separate backing tracks! I ordered the tracks by tempo, created 6 arrangements and used a staggering 840 tracks in Logic X.

Most of this recording (Bass) is live but I had some issues when filming/recording, Logic kept freezing half way through so I ended up using two live takes. The bass was recorded without effects. During production I used the Line 6 Helix plus the effects in Logic X. Some of the bass is slightly distorted but I preferred to use the live takes rather than start over dubbing.

Thinking of 100 classic riffs wasn't easy and I have tried to include as many bass players as I could think of. Regrettably I didn't have time to learn any Les Claypool (He's one crazy cat). I did originally have a Dream Theatre bass line but I played it so badly that I had to edit it out.

A special thanks goes out to my good friends Alex Poole and Booga for helping me out with some of the keyboard and guitar parts.

Running order

1. The Police - Beds too big without you
2. Jah Wobble - Visions of you
3. Air - la femme d’argent
4. Marvin Gaye - Inner city blues
5. The Stranglers - Nice and Sleazy
6. The Beatles - Come together
7. Lou Reed - Walk on the wild side
8. Curtis Mayfield - Freddie’s dead
9. Billy Cobham - Stratus
10. The Meters - Sissy strut
11. Gorillaz - Stylo
12. Muse - Hysteria
13. Rush - Tom Sawyer
14. Led Zeppelin - Black Dog
15. Manowar - Guyana
16. Dre Dre/Snoop Dog - Nuthin’ but a ‘G’ thang
17. Level 42 - Kansas city milkman
18. The Cure - Love cats
19. Omar - There’s nothing like this
20. Groove Armada - Suntoucher
21. Yes - Leave it
22. Ohio Players - Fire
23. Parliament - We want the funk
24. Sly and the family stand - Thank you f l m b y f
25. Grover Washington Jnr - Let it flow
26. Stanley Clarke/ Louis Johnson - We supply
27. Level 42 - Love Games
28. Marcus Miller - Run for cover
29. Kool and the gang - Jungle Boogie
30. Graham Central Station - Earthquake
31. Cameo - Single life
32.The Source - You got the love (Erins bootleg mix)
33. S.O.S Band - Just be good to me
34. Kendrick Lamar - King Kunta
35. RHCP - Can’t stop
36. Sly and the Family stand - If you want me to stay
37. Stevie Wonder - I Wish
38. O’Jays - For the love of money
39. Tool - Schism
40. Rage Against the Machine - Killing in the name of
41. The Gap Band - Oops up side your head
42. Luther Vandross - Never too much
43. The Commodores - Brick house
44. Chic - Good times
45. Queen - Another one bites the dust
46. Kajagoogoo - Too Shy
47. Patrice Rushden - Forget Me Nots
48. Cameo - Candy
49. The Whispers - And the beat goes on
50. Sister Sledge - He’s the greatest dancer
51. Spinal Tap - Big Bottom
52. Paul Young - Tear your Playhouse down
53. RHCP - Hump De Bump
54. Stone Roses - Fools Gold
55. Herbie Hancock - Chameleon
56. Gil Evans - So What
57. Sister Sledge - We are family
58. Jamiroquai - Deeper Underground
59. Rose Royce - Car Wash
60. Jackson 5 - I want you back
61. Ian Dury & the Blockheads - Hit me with you rhythm stick
62. Donna Summer - I feel love
63. Jaco Pastorius - Come on Come over
64. Led Zeppelin - Whole lotta love
65. Jaco Pastorius - The Chicken
66. D’Angelo - Brown Sugar
67. Grace Jones - Pull up to the bumper
68. Parliament - Flashlight
69. Michael Jackson - Get Off the floor
70. Chic - Le Freak
71. Michael Jackson - Billy Jean
72. Chic - I want your love
73. Rush - Leave that thing alone
74. Earth Wind and Fire - Let’s groove
75. Weather Report - Teen Town
76. Level 42 - 43
77. Al Jarreau - Raging Waters
78. Pleasure - Glide
79. Nicka Costa - Til I get to you
80. Bad Manners - Walking in the sunshine
81. The Police - Spirits in the material world
82. Duran Duran - Rio
83. Rush - Time stands still
84. Joy Division - Love will tear us apart
85. Stanley Clarke - School Days
86. The Damned - Smash it up (part 1)
87. The Police - Walking on the moon
88. Gorillaz - Feel Good Inc
89. The Who - Won’t get fooled again
90. Bob Marley - Burnin’ and shootin
91. Damien Marley - Welcome to Jamrock
92. Pink Floyd - Money
93. Yes - roundabout
94. Iron Maiden - The Trooper
95. The Tramps - Disco Inferno
96. Madness - Bed and breakfast Man
97. New Order - Blue Monday
98. Fleetwood Mac - The Chain
99. Level 42 - Dune Tune
100. Jaco Pastorius - Continuum

Apologies if you feel I've left any of your favourites out, please leave a comment, cheers Davey

[cambridgebasslessons]

Running order

1. The Police - Beds too big without you
2. Jah Wobble - Visions of you
3. Air - la femme d’argent
4. Marvin Gaye - Inner city blues
5. The Stranglers - Nice and Sleazy
6. The Beatles - Come together
7. Lou Reed - Walk on the wild side
8. Curtis Mayfield - Freddie’s dead
9. Billy Cobham - Stratus
10. The Meters - Sissy strut
11. Gorillaz - Stylo
12. Muse - Hysteria
13. Rush - Tom Sawyer
14. Led Zeppelin - Black Dog
15. Manowar - Guyana
16. Dre Dre/Snoop Dog - Nuthin’ but a ‘G’ thang
17. Level 42 - Kansas city milkman
18. The Cure - Love cats
19. Omar - There’s nothing like this
20. Groove Armada - Suntoucher
21. Yes - Leave it
22. Ohio Players - Fire
23. Parliament - We want the funk
24. Sly and the family stand - Thank you f l m b y f
25. Grover Washington Jnr - Let it flow
26. Stanley Clarke/ Louis Johnson - We supply
27. Level 42 - Love Games
28. Marcus Miller - Run for cover
29. Kool and the gang - Jungle Boogie
30. Graham Central Station - Earthquake
31. Cameo - Single life
32.The Source - You got the love (Erins bootleg mix)
33. S.O.S Band - Just be good to me
34. Kendrick Lamar - King Kunta
35. RHCP - Can’t stop
36. Sly and the Family stand - If you want me to stay
37. Stevie Wonder - I Wish
38. O’Jays - For the love of money
39. Tool - Schism
40. Rage Against the Machine - Killing in the name of
41. The Gap Band - Oops up side your head
42. Luther Vandross - Never too much
43. The Commodores - Brick house
44. Chic - Good times
45. Queen - Another one bites the dust
46. Kajagoogoo - Too Shy
47. Patrice Rushden - Forget Me Nots
48. Cameo - Candy
49. The Whispers - And the beat goes on
50. Sister Sledge - He’s the greatest dancer
51. Spinal Tap - Big Bottom
52. Paul Young - Tear your Playhouse down
53. RHCP - Hump De Bump
54. Stone Roses - Fools Gold
55. Herbie Hancock - Chameleon
56. Gil Evans - So What
57. Sister Sledge - We are family
58. Jamiroquai - Deeper Underground
59. Rose Royce - Car Wash
60. Jackson 5 - I want you back
61. Ian Dury & the Blockheads - Hit me with you rhythm stick
62. Donna Summer - I feel love
63. Jaco Pastorius - Come on Come over
64. Led Zeppelin - Whole lotta love
65. Jaco Pastorius - The Chicken
66. D’Angelo - Brown Sugar
67. Grace Jones - Pull up to the bumper
68. Parliament - Flashlight
69. Michael Jackson - Get Off the floor
70. Chic - Le Freak
71. Michael Jackson - Billy Jean
72. Chic - I want your love
73. Rush - Leave that thing alone
74. Earth Wind and Fire - Let’s groove
75. Weather Report - Teen Town
76. Level 42 - 43
77. Al Jarreau - Raging Waters
78. Pleasure - Glide
79. Nicka Costa - Til I get to you
80. Bad Manners - Walking in the sunshine
81. The Police - Spirits in the material world
82. Duran Duran - Rio
83. Rush - Time stands still
84. Joy Division - Love will tear us apart
85. Stanley Clarke - School Days
86. The Damned - Smash it up (part 1)
87. The Police - Walking on the moon
88. Gorillaz - Feel Good Inc
89. The Who - Won’t get fooled again
90. Bob Marley - Burnin’ and shootin
91. Damien Marley - Welcome to Jamrock
92. Pink Floyd - Money
93. Yes - roundabout
94. Iron Maiden - The Trooper
95. The Tramps - Disco Inferno
96. Madness - Bed and breakfast Man
97. New Order - Blue Monday
98. Fleetwood Mac - The Chain
99. Level 42 - Dune Tune
100. Jaco Pastorius - Continuum

[newchannel]

The backing tracks make this video 100 times better I appreciate the time you have sacrificed in order to bring us this fantastic video.

[mambamusic]

Fender Jazz well played. What a pleasure. Listen & learn people. This man has skill and feel and SOUND

[janicewinn]

This is just mind blowing the funk on the bass. All my life I have always enjoy the sound of the bass. I think its one of the most soulful sound. Thank you for this tutorial

[vaultdweller]

You're a beast, always groovy as hell. Thank you very much for the inspiration.

[alessandroazara-bass]

I'm in awe! How seamlessly you go from one song to the next. Respect!

[Wachnin]

I think this is an amazing accomplishment! You play so well it inspires me to learn a lot of the bass lines you played, even in styles I don't like. Thank you!

[darrencarter]

This is very well put together thus ensuring the quality is high and your musicianship to flourish. Great playing...and discipline too when changing riffs as you clearly enjoy getting in the pocket. Great stuff!

[mickgatz]

that was so awesome, i so much enjoyed how much you play the bass, and are so dedicated to it.
thank you so much for sharing your experience on youtube.
Mick (Australia)

[goran.]

This is probably the best bass video I've seen. Great songs and truly awesome and inspiring playing!

[dsutkin]

I was so psyched to see you add "Spirits in the material world" .... the rhythmic interplay between Sting's bass line, the single note piano melody and Sting's vocal melody sound like they shouldn't work together but they do and they do so well! Thanks for this video, I'm a big fan of your skills.

[salyons]

Thank you for adding Pleasure’s Glide, one of my favorite bass lines. However, my all-time favorite r&b bass line is Slide by Slave.

BTW, thanks for the video! You’re fantastic!

[reubenphil]

What an inspiration..Great service to music..!Thank you..

[stevegarton]

Thank you. That was inspiring. Great job!!

[davidfox]

Unbelievable what a video
Super player

[brianwarner]

wow that earthquake one was totally awesome!! my favorite was the Air L'emme baseline because i love those guys…..Great job, this was very entertaining!!

[nyatella]

i listen to your music while working, thanks mate!

[ilyaromanov]

just can't believe what i just saw... It's incredible!

[Moratoetje]

Youre one of those few that rwallt inspires me to be good at bass. Thanks for the help!

[myklsorrells]

i bet you never have a problem gettin gigs. great compilation man.