All-Time Best Basslines

Other than Pearl Jam, who else is there?
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Ms Harmless
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Re: All-Time Best Basslines

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tattooedeverything wrote:
Ms Harmless wrote:The Sugar Hill Gang, "Rapper's Delight"
Which is, in actuality, the bassline from "Good Times" by Chic. Tasty bassline all the same...
ah yes, you are correct!
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Ello Sailor
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Re: All-Time Best Basslines

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LoathedVermin72 wrote:soulseek 4 lyfe
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Re: All-Time Best Basslines

Post by Ello Sailor »

Pino Palladino on Sanctified by Nine Inch Nails

LoathedVermin72 wrote:soulseek 4 lyfe
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wease
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Re: All-Time Best Basslines

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bodysnatcher wrote:Probably at least 10 Stevie wonder songs
How many have I named so far?
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Ello Sailor
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Re: All-Time Best Basslines

Post by Ello Sailor »

RM names the 5 best Stevie Wonder basslines:

1. Sir Duke
2.
LoathedVermin72 wrote:soulseek 4 lyfe
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wease
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Re: All-Time Best Basslines

Post by wease »

Ello Sailor wrote:RM names the 5 best Stevie Wonder basslines:

1. I Was Made To Love Her
2. I Wish
3. For Once In My Life
4. Signed, Sealed, Delivered
5. Sir Duke
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Re: All-Time Best Basslines

Post by Ello Sailor »

wease swings a huge dick here. full credit.
LoathedVermin72 wrote:soulseek 4 lyfe
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Ello Sailor
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Re: All-Time Best Basslines

Post by Ello Sailor »

Flea, great playing



Geddy Lee, machine gun. He only ever uses 2 fingers. Which is insane to me, because I love my triplet. Anyway...

LoathedVermin72 wrote:soulseek 4 lyfe
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wease
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Re: All-Time Best Basslines

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Ello Sailor wrote:wease swings a huge dick here. full credit.
:thumbsup:
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tattooedeverything
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Re: All-Time Best Basslines

Post by tattooedeverything »

Just thought of another one: "Lucretia My Reflection" by The Sisters Of Mercy
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Re: All-Time Best Basslines

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tattooedeverything wrote:Just thought of another one: "Lucretia My Reflection" by The Sisters Of Mercy
:nice:
LoathedVermin72 wrote:soulseek 4 lyfe
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Re: All-Time Best Basslines

Post by Jorge »

What are some good basslines that incorporate chords? Love what a well-placed bass chord can do
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Re: All-Time Best Basslines

Post by Ello Sailor »

Hmm, I don't know of many examples unless we're counting root + fifth struck. Bass chords sound beautiful but there's a reason we flesh out a full band!
LoathedVermin72 wrote:soulseek 4 lyfe
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Re: All-Time Best Basslines

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Last edited by tragabigzanda on Mon January 12, 2026 11:39 am, edited 1 time in total.
liebzz
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Re: All-Time Best Basslines

Post by liebzz »

5 pages in and no one name checks the GOAT bass line:

The Who - My Generation

*mic drop* next thread please.
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Re: All-Time Best Basslines

Post by Ello Sailor »

Thread is great, let's keep it open.
LoathedVermin72 wrote:soulseek 4 lyfe
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Jorge
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Re: All-Time Best Basslines

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Ello Sailor wrote:Hmm, I don't know of many examples unless we're counting root + fifth struck. Bass chords sound beautiful but there's a reason we flesh out a full band!
Yeah. Or tenths, which are nice and resonant, like on "Take a Walk on the Wild Side". Thinking about bass chords last night sent me down a rabbit hole and I found some info about this concept called "low interval limits" that might explain why bass chords aren't used very often; the general rule is that if the top note of an interval is above the middle D of a bass clef, that interval and all the notes in the chord are going to sound muddy and kind of ugly. And since bass is a transposing instrument, that D transposes to the D above it... which in effect means that any chord you make on about half of the fretboard is going to sound ugly and unappealing. But I was listening to Medeski, Martin & Wood and I just love the way a bass chord can feel like it lifts the song, it's such a rich sound when done right
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Re: All-Time Best Basslines

Post by Ello Sailor »

Great post.

Also, "Jorge's Rabbit Hole" is a great band name.
LoathedVermin72 wrote:soulseek 4 lyfe
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Re: All-Time Best Basslines

Post by Ello Sailor »

Rules for chords is a bit of a stretch. It's about dynamics and mixing at the end of the day. When to play, when not to play, and when the bass kick strikes.
LoathedVermin72 wrote:soulseek 4 lyfe
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Jorge
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Re: All-Time Best Basslines

Post by Jorge »

Yeah I shouldn't have said rule, more than a "rule" it's an arrangement theory attempting to explain why certain chords can sound "unfocused" or indistinct to the ear
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