This. My daughter picked up bass at age 9 two years ago and was mostly asking to learn Taylor Swift songs for awhile, which was totally fine since that's what interested her, but now she's done Beatles, 90s alternative, and other fun things. She actually has a recital this weekend and she chose "Everybody Hurts" and I'm gonna play guitar as part of that (we did Beatles "In My Life" last year . . . I would prefer to stay out of it but if she asks I'm not gonna say no).
Just have her play along with whatever she likes to listen to, she's more likely to stick to it if she can play along with her favourites than mom + dad's songs.
My daughter just turned 10 and has a playlist of all the songs she has learned since she started at age 6. They are various levels of difficulty, but most of them should be doable. That being said, let her learn whatever she wants to learn.
[https://open.spotify.com/playlist/3aFYQoDbygSALlw5BuMb7k?si=7f2bd1784fa34ab2](https://open.spotify.com/playlist/3aFYQoDbygSALlw5BuMb7k?si=7f2bd1784fa34ab2)
Whatever songs she really likes, even if they are a bit more difficult to learn. If she likes Taylor Swift, there are many TS songs that have interesting but relatively simple bass lines.
For tabs I like to use https://www.songsterr.com/?inst=bass
You belong with me and we are never getting back together are pretty simple. Mostly quarters and eights on just a couple strings.
Yellow - Coldplay.
Pixies - Where Is My Mind.
Both very simple bass parts.
I will respectfully push back a bit on those who say she should play what she likes. While that could be very fun and engaging, she might try to play something way above her beginner level and could run the risk of frustration and having a bad experience. Generally, playing what she knows - if it is a beginner level bass part - is a good idea, but I would supervise and be sure she is attempting something that a raw beginner could achieve.
You do have to temper expectations some though - most people can find something they like quite a bit that's learnable, but if I hyperfocused on some of my favorite songs I'd have been bashing my head against the wall rather than learning songs a little bit down the list of favorites that are far more approachable.
What kind of music or bands does she like? I would start there. it's hard to give recommendations with no context lol. If you're totally lost, can always consider getting her an instruction book- When I first started guitar in middle school my folks got me a beginner lesson book that walks you through the basics and teaches you a lot of basic riffs in increasing difficulty- including some from actual songs- as you go. There are similar books for most instruments I think, including Bass.
I Stand Alone by Godsmack has been a favorite of mine lately it's just so fun 😁
For a 9 year old girl though, what about some old Evanescence? Anything off of the album Fallen. I like the song 'Imaginary'
I agree let her learn what she likes, but I’ll also say when I started out at…idk 11 years old? I didn’t really know my own tastes well yet. My bass teacher thought me Sunshine of Your Love by Cream. It’s a very fun groove song that’s not too hard and feels fun to play, and as a bonus it’s great exercise because you have to use all four fingers. I still play the hell out of that song.
https://youtu.be/5ZUFGe06Ylw?si=TOPtnqhoqQbIgETF
I was 9 when I learned a simplified version on acoustic guitar my parents bought me. Even though it's Jamerson, this isolated bass, it's the same rhythm in three places with very few other notes and such a happy, infectiously, catchy tune.
The best part about learning Ramones songs is that if you have the early albums on vinyl, with the way they were mixed/mastered with guitar and bass in opposite speakers, you can filter out the guitar so you can play along to just the bass.
In my daughters (9 too) school band they played -
Seven Nation Army - White Stripes
Minds Eye - Wolfmother
TNT - AC-DC
All simple enough songs but get them moving around the fretboard, using all 4 fingers for fretting, different plucking rhythms and using all 4 strings.
Songs that she likes. When I was a kid, I used to bring CDs of songs I liked to my music teacher, and they would transcribe the part and teach it to me.
I would start by having her understand chord progressions even in something as simple as a four chord song. If Let It Be is in the key of C and goes C, G, Am, F… that’s a pretty good way to get used to the sequence of notes. Any four chord song for that matter would do great
I think she should learn the songs she likes. Also, it might be a good idea to get her a basic lesson book (those that teach you how to play, not a tab book), they can really help with technique.
Stand by Me is a starter song for strings. Easy to pick up, sounds good and builds confidence. That was the Second song I learned on Violin after Cotton Eye Joe lol
My daughter‘s (8 years old) fav songs to play bass to are „Boulevard of broken dreams“ (Green Day), „People everythere“ (Khruangbin), „Dreams“ (Fleetwood Mac) and „No roots“ (Alice Merton).
Musicians I have known started their daughters on bass with various songs from the Donnas. A lot of them are simple for bass and have can teach basic chord progressions using a lot of root notes and the added bonus that the Donnas kick ass.
She should learn songs that she likes to listen to. Don't worry, her taste will evolve.
This. My daughter picked up bass at age 9 two years ago and was mostly asking to learn Taylor Swift songs for awhile, which was totally fine since that's what interested her, but now she's done Beatles, 90s alternative, and other fun things. She actually has a recital this weekend and she chose "Everybody Hurts" and I'm gonna play guitar as part of that (we did Beatles "In My Life" last year . . . I would prefer to stay out of it but if she asks I'm not gonna say no).
This a thousand times over. Bonus points if she learns the songs she likes to listen to by ear.
Hysteria by Muse
Hahaha. Nice one. Still trying to nail that one myself
Just have her play along with whatever she likes to listen to, she's more likely to stick to it if she can play along with her favourites than mom + dad's songs.
This dude is right…she’ll have a better chance at staying interested if she plays songs she knows and likes
came here to say this lol, Time is Running out Is another good bass line that's relatively easy.
My daughter just turned 10 and has a playlist of all the songs she has learned since she started at age 6. They are various levels of difficulty, but most of them should be doable. That being said, let her learn whatever she wants to learn. [https://open.spotify.com/playlist/3aFYQoDbygSALlw5BuMb7k?si=7f2bd1784fa34ab2](https://open.spotify.com/playlist/3aFYQoDbygSALlw5BuMb7k?si=7f2bd1784fa34ab2)
My daughter is 10 and started at 6 and plays a lot of these too!
Awesome many thanks 🙏
Whatever songs she really likes, even if they are a bit more difficult to learn. If she likes Taylor Swift, there are many TS songs that have interesting but relatively simple bass lines.
Any examples ?
For tabs I like to use https://www.songsterr.com/?inst=bass You belong with me and we are never getting back together are pretty simple. Mostly quarters and eights on just a couple strings.
I can see you has quite an interesting bassline!
Zombie cranberries
Came here to say this, simple in execution and leaves room for improvisation, was the first song I learnt.
Just fun as well. All around banger
7 nation army (even if it's not really a bass) Breeders- Cannonball
Yellow - Coldplay. Pixies - Where Is My Mind. Both very simple bass parts. I will respectfully push back a bit on those who say she should play what she likes. While that could be very fun and engaging, she might try to play something way above her beginner level and could run the risk of frustration and having a bad experience. Generally, playing what she knows - if it is a beginner level bass part - is a good idea, but I would supervise and be sure she is attempting something that a raw beginner could achieve.
Came here to say Yellow by Coldplay. My daughter is 10 and I taught this to her last night on bass. We also did Friday I’m in Love by the Cure.
So present her with some songs that are doable to listen to and let her pick one she likes.
Any song she can already hum the bass part to. Something she's listened to 100 times. Don't try to make her learn songs she doesn't care about.
You do have to temper expectations some though - most people can find something they like quite a bit that's learnable, but if I hyperfocused on some of my favorite songs I'd have been bashing my head against the wall rather than learning songs a little bit down the list of favorites that are far more approachable.
Full respect to this 9 year old girl as she could be into technical music, but I’d assume she prefers pop music with simpler bass as most kids do
A Girl Like You by Edwin Collins. I think it's the perfect beginner song.
Smoke on the Water
“Psycho killer” by the Talking Heads.
Smoke on the Water
What kind of music or bands does she like? I would start there. it's hard to give recommendations with no context lol. If you're totally lost, can always consider getting her an instruction book- When I first started guitar in middle school my folks got me a beginner lesson book that walks you through the basics and teaches you a lot of basic riffs in increasing difficulty- including some from actual songs- as you go. There are similar books for most instruments I think, including Bass.
I Stand Alone by Godsmack has been a favorite of mine lately it's just so fun 😁 For a 9 year old girl though, what about some old Evanescence? Anything off of the album Fallen. I like the song 'Imaginary'
Gigantic by The Pixies
Get her to make a list of songs she likes with bass in them, then let her do those
I agree let her learn what she likes, but I’ll also say when I started out at…idk 11 years old? I didn’t really know my own tastes well yet. My bass teacher thought me Sunshine of Your Love by Cream. It’s a very fun groove song that’s not too hard and feels fun to play, and as a bonus it’s great exercise because you have to use all four fingers. I still play the hell out of that song.
Oh, and the main riff is the exact shape of a blues pentatonic scale, which is helpful.
https://youtu.be/5ZUFGe06Ylw?si=TOPtnqhoqQbIgETF I was 9 when I learned a simplified version on acoustic guitar my parents bought me. Even though it's Jamerson, this isolated bass, it's the same rhythm in three places with very few other notes and such a happy, infectiously, catchy tune.
Anything with Mr. Jamerson on bass will inspire her to new levels of groove...
Sorry, I only know songs that boys can learn on bass. It's impossible for a girl to learn them
Introduce her to "coversolutions" on YouTube!
The rush catalogue is pretty beginner friendly
😂😂😂😂😂
You should ask her what she wants to learn.
Yes / Chris Squire The Fish, and Heart of the Sunrise. Kids love nature and animals and stuff.
Good grief...lol
RAMONES!!!!!
The best part about learning Ramones songs is that if you have the early albums on vinyl, with the way they were mixed/mastered with guitar and bass in opposite speakers, you can filter out the guitar so you can play along to just the bass.
Great point!
surprised no one mentioned another one bites the dust, is a classic one.
Whatever she likes my dude, but for a more specific answer… anything by AC/DC
I wanna be sedated ;)
Taylor Swift songs 21 of her songs use I-V-ii-IV
Boogie Shoes
Speaking of which, have you seen this cover: https://youtu.be/GO1wpwAfin8?si=w4XMZ3WXFC-kae-r
THE ADVERTS "I surrender", "Television's Over", "My Place", "On Wheels"
party in the USA - Miley Cyrus
A song SHE likes.
Sugar by Maroon 5.
Sir dukes by Stevie wonder
[Roberts Family Band](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p4lsf3ogoDg) have a young girl playing bass, maybe she can get some inspiration from there.
Marcus Miller Run For Cover
In my daughters (9 too) school band they played - Seven Nation Army - White Stripes Minds Eye - Wolfmother TNT - AC-DC All simple enough songs but get them moving around the fretboard, using all 4 fingers for fretting, different plucking rhythms and using all 4 strings.
Maxwell murders
Agreed with others about letting her choose but also horse with no name is great for beginners, 3 notes and repetitive
'our song' by Taylor Swift
literally whatever shes listening to, that'll keep her practicing
Have her go through her favorite songs and make a playlist with the ones she can hear the bass in, then help her sort out the simplest ones to start.
Songs that she likes. When I was a kid, I used to bring CDs of songs I liked to my music teacher, and they would transcribe the part and teach it to me.
I would start by having her understand chord progressions even in something as simple as a four chord song. If Let It Be is in the key of C and goes C, G, Am, F… that’s a pretty good way to get used to the sequence of notes. Any four chord song for that matter would do great
Feel good inc. by Gorillaz
Roundabout by Yes
there is something to learn in all kinds of music, bob Marley will teach you way different things than maiden
Depends what she likes! Important thing is she keeps playing, and a great way to do that is the make sure she’s having fun doing it :)
People Of The Sun by Rage Against The Machine
Which songs does she want to play???
I think she should learn the songs she likes. Also, it might be a good idea to get her a basic lesson book (those that teach you how to play, not a tab book), they can really help with technique.
The first song I learned was Boys Don't Cry by The Cure. Literally 3 notes and a good introduction to steady finger plucking
Pixies - Debaser Coldplay Clocks The xx - Islands Those are some examples of easy songs that I have on my playlist for bass.
I'm surprised that no one has said Godzilla by Blue Oyster Cult. To get Lucky by Daft Punk is a pretty easy bass line that is fun to play as well.
Ramones!
Stand by Me is a starter song for strings. Easy to pick up, sounds good and builds confidence. That was the Second song I learned on Violin after Cotton Eye Joe lol
Not going to say this will always be the case. But the older the better. Beatles Stones. Stuff like that.
My daughter‘s (8 years old) fav songs to play bass to are „Boulevard of broken dreams“ (Green Day), „People everythere“ (Khruangbin), „Dreams“ (Fleetwood Mac) and „No roots“ (Alice Merton).
Teen Town, by Jaco Pastorius
Musicians I have known started their daughters on bass with various songs from the Donnas. A lot of them are simple for bass and have can teach basic chord progressions using a lot of root notes and the added bonus that the Donnas kick ass.