Top 10 Rock Bass Lines of All Time

It isn’t easy to pare down 50 years of rock and roll to a top 10 list, but we’re feeling brave, so in today’s new video I run through the 10 greatest rock bass lines ever committed to record, and show YOU how to play them. From Pearl Jam to Pink Floyd, what’s truly the greatest rock bass line of all time?

As always, see you in the shed…

Scott :)

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Video Breakdown:

00:00 - Intro
00:37 - Paul McCartney Bass
01:24 - Chris Squire Bass
02:11 - Roger Waters Bass
03:03 - Bruce Foxton Bass
03:57 - Queen Bass
05:00 - Bon Jovi Bass
06:55 - Flea Bass
07:39 - Jeremy Bass
08:57 - Mike Dirnt Bass
10:19 - Muse

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[thealrightestguitarist]

I'd add Tom Hamilton's bassline from "Sweet Emotion" and The Buzzcocks' "Why Can't I Touch It".

[minusminus]

Interesting how two of the rock bass lines are variations on r&b/soul bass lines. Town Called Malice is "You Can't Hurry Love" and "Another One Bites the Dust" is a very simplified "Good Times." A good groove can't be denied and of course both bands loved soul music.

[lorenzovascotto]

One of my favourite is Led Zeppelin "Ramble On"

[guero_mocoso]

Give It Away was recorded in 1991 (April-June, I believe). It was on Blood Sugar Sex Magik, released in Sep 1991.

[evanjones]

Taxman is a big candidate for my top 10. An eraly example of a bass-driven rock song. Killer bridge to go with the iconic verse riff (and the legendary Macca lead guitar line).

[mongofan]

So many played with a pick. I didn't realize so many rock bassists used picks. My favorite Chris Squire is Heart of the Sunrise.

[giuliogiacomel]

The Top 10 lines that represents my alma mater:
- Primus - Tommy The Cat
- A perfect circle - Weak and Powerless
- Alice in Chains - Rotten Apple
- Tool - The Pot
- Dream Theater - Scarred
- Porcupine Tree - Halo
- Rage Against The Machine - Take The Power Back
- Peter Gabriel - Steam
- Nine Inch Nails - Sanctified (with Pino Palladino)
- Ozzy Osborn - No More Tears

[pseudonymeantipersonnelle]

Some of my best rock best lines in no particular order (not mentioning the ones in the video):
Fudge tunnel - Grey
Tool - Sober
Infectious grooves - Violent and funky
Primus - Southbound pachyderm
PJ Harvey - Teclo
Beastie boys - Sabotage
Prong - Snap your fingers snap your neck

[pepperguy]

John Wetton's bass on Lament by King Crimson ... a bit obscure, but phenomenal from start to finish.

[MichielvanEttinger]

Great list and some great suggestions in the reactions! Songs I always play when testing a new bass:
Tool - Schism
Tool - Forty six & two

[RedLeader]

I loved your picks, but I would have loved to see John Paul Jones from Led Zeppelin on the list. “Good Times Bad Times” or “In My Time of Dying” are always good picks!

[joshuabrice]

Nice List Scott.
Just Rock - I'd go:
Anesthesia- pulling teeth by Cliff Burton
Throw Away your television- RHCP
46&2 -Tool
Would? - Alice in Chains
Dumb or Lithium- Nirvana
YYZ - Rush
Jerry was a race car driver - Primus
Calm like a Bomb - RATM
Radar Love - Golden Earing
Fool in the Rain - Led Zeppelin

[GoofyJamal-jtph]

My top 10 favorite bass lines (In no particular order)
I want you-The Beatles
Roundabout-Yes
What going on-Marvin Gaye
For once in my life Stevie wonder
Spirit of the radio-Rush
Around the world-RHCP
What is and what should never be-Led Zeppelin
Ain’t no mountain high enough-Marvin Gaye and Tammi Terrell
Welcome to paradise-Green day
My generation-The who

[MartyWilson]

Great list. If I am going to add ten great rock bass lines:

Rain - The Beatles (1966)
Badge - Cream (1969)
Ramble On - Led Zeppelin (1969)
N.I.B. - Black Sabbath (1970)
The Real Me - The Who (1973)
Rebel Rebel - David Bowie (1974)
London Calling - The Clash (1979)
Ace of Spades - Motörhead (1980)
Aces High - Iron Maiden (1984)
Roots Radicals - Rancid (1995)

[NotoriousBJP]

Great list. I think Rio by Duran Duran is one I would add/change. Ghost notes make it so beast!

[silvester.art_]

Thanks for making all the workbooks free!! It really is of great help to me

[ia]

I think you have to add a Police bassline, Message In A Bottle is particularly wicked. It's a great fretless P-Bass sound and the stop-start reggae style bass in the chorus is awesome while the verses really give the song it's muscle. My additional picks would be:
1. Message In A Bottle - The Police
2. In The Meantime - Spacehog
3. Aeroplane - RHCP
4. It's In The Way That You Use It - Eric Clapton (holy bass groove!)
5. No Shelter - Rage Against The Machine
6. Society - Pennywise
7. Fuck The Bullshit - 311" (honestly, any 311 song, P-Nut is ridiculous underrated)
8. Carousel - Blink 182
9. Gloria - U2 ("New Year's Day" is a close 2nd here)
10. Rio - Duran Duran

[chelseabellamy]

Some of my favourites that weren't on the list:
Sweet Child of Mine - GunsNRoses
Carry on my Wayward Son - Kansas
Sure Know Something - Kiss
Black Dog - Led Zeppelin
Black Knight - Deep Purple
Dear Prudence, Taxman, Day Tripper or Dig a Pony - The Beatles (my gosh there are a lot)
A Kind of Magic - Queen
The Chain - Fleetwood Mac
Come and Get Your Love - Redbone
Runnin Blue - The Doors
Carousel - Blink 182

[brucedcollections]

Some of my favorites:

Three Button Hand Me Down - The Faces
Come See Me - The Pretty Things
Lost Woman - The Yardbirds
I’m The Man - Joe Jackson
Pump It Up - Elvis Costello

[marcpuyuelograndas]

I think that "Rain", "Something", "Hey Bulldog" or "I Want You (She's So Heavy)" are better Macca bass lines, but I understand that when the world thinks of an iconic and historical McCartney line, it is the one you chose.