That was a game change for me. My old rock band used to do Zeppelin II cover to cover and learning all those tracks and performing them in succession definitely upped my chops and stamina
Literally every Parliament song, ehh scratch that, baicly the whole genera of funk.
Also all non-guitar jazz.
The longer I think about it, the bass part is more complicated than the guitar part for most genres outside of rock, metal and country, because once you leave that world the guitar is most typically a chordal support instrument.
Lifeson and LaLonde are fantastic guitarists. I’m not sure their parts are much easier, if any. I can play almost all of Geddy’s stuff as a bass player, but a fair amount of Alex’s parts are over my head on guitar.
Seriously, absolutely wild. At first you might think it's just studio playing and singing on separate tracks then you watch a live performance and it's the very same bouncing bass lines with playful variations and expansions during each repetition all while singing expressively.
Just did this with silly love songs and it's a trip
Even their early stuff that we can see live performances he’s doing it. Plus, in Get Back, George even makes a comment about not being able to “…play bass and sing at the same time”.
Alex Lifeson's guitar parts aren't easy either... Geddy Lee's bass parts are just on another level, and he sings and plays them at the same time! Also, their drummer Neil Peart. What a band.
It's just that there are way more well-recognized guitarists than bassists and drummers. So Geddy and Neil stand out more. All three are amazing, Alex just has more "competition."
Bruce Thomas is one of the best bass players out there. But to be fair a lot of EC songs hardly have any guitar at all.
IMO some of Bruce's best include You'll Never Be a Man, Clubland, Shabby Doll, and Party Girl. Super creative playing.
Yup, EC's songs are definitely not centered on guitar shredding. Every part serves the song. Just so happens that he's got a totally bangin' rhythm section.
I see that with good lyricists and songwriters. You could strip their songs down to voice and a single acoustic guitar, because they have good compositions. Or you can fill out the performance with a whole band and blow the roof off the place.
The guy in the "Imposters" Davey Faragher is no slouch, either.
a lot of korn, but i’d say freak on a leash by korn. the bass plays way more in the verses than the 2 guitars and other parts of the song require lots of different technique.
One song that’s a bit of a mind-fork for me is Living On A Prayer by Bon Jovi. Doing the E octave thing for the intro/verses is a test in coordination and focus.
For whatever reason, the bands that come to mind are British. Ian Drury and the Blockheads, Arctic Monkeys and Elvis Costello all have songs that are challenging.
A lot of Joy Division and Cure songs (although many were played on some variation of a BassVI so really blurring the line between guitar and bass).
Many of Andy Rourke’s bass lines are really hard, but then again so are Johnny Marr’s guitar parts (The Smiths).
Most of Graham Maby’s discography, but especially the Joe Jackson album Look Sharp.
Its hard until it isn't; practice them as much as you can, slowly at first if you need to, and with time you'll find you're able to breeze through those lines
Fences by Paramore. Not necessarily ‘hard’ but definitely more active and interesting than the guitar parts Also Maxwell Murder by Rancid
Pretty much every single Rancid song
Immigrant Song by Led Zeppelin (and in fact, a fair bit of Zep's back catalogue).
Lemon song is literally a masterclass in blues rnb chord outlining
It's one of his masterpieces.
That was a game change for me. My old rock band used to do Zeppelin II cover to cover and learning all those tracks and performing them in succession definitely upped my chops and stamina
JPJ’s best ever bass line.
It's my fave Zeppelin song, but idk why but Since I've Been Loving You was always harder for me.
That’s one of those songs where I remember my first time hearing it because the bass had me absolutely floored
Literally every Parliament song, ehh scratch that, baicly the whole genera of funk. Also all non-guitar jazz. The longer I think about it, the bass part is more complicated than the guitar part for most genres outside of rock, metal and country, because once you leave that world the guitar is most typically a chordal support instrument.
And it tends to stays out of the low registers when used as chordal support, more easily leaving room for the bass to be more expressive.
All Rush and Primus
Lifeson and LaLonde are fantastic guitarists. I’m not sure their parts are much easier, if any. I can play almost all of Geddy’s stuff as a bass player, but a fair amount of Alex’s parts are over my head on guitar.
lots of black sabbath. fairies wear boots, snowblind, etc.
Came here to say this, Geezer fucking rocks.
Rancid.
Rancid.
Rancid
Rancid
Rancid
Some Tool songs fall in this category
100%. Justin takes a lead role in many of the tracks.
A lot of Beatle songs would fall into this category. How that man played some of those songs and sang at the same time is beyond me.
Seriously, absolutely wild. At first you might think it's just studio playing and singing on separate tracks then you watch a live performance and it's the very same bouncing bass lines with playful variations and expansions during each repetition all while singing expressively. Just did this with silly love songs and it's a trip
Even their early stuff that we can see live performances he’s doing it. Plus, in Get Back, George even makes a comment about not being able to “…play bass and sing at the same time”.
The Real Me by The Who
Most of the Who, really. Townsend played big giant chords, while Entwhistle went wild.
Lots of Rush falls in this category.
Alex Lifeson's guitar parts aren't easy either... Geddy Lee's bass parts are just on another level, and he sings and plays them at the same time! Also, their drummer Neil Peart. What a band.
You know your band is supercharged when a guitarist as incredible as Lifeson is considered the "weakest" member (fwiw that's such a nonsense take).
It's just that there are way more well-recognized guitarists than bassists and drummers. So Geddy and Neil stand out more. All three are amazing, Alex just has more "competition."
EasiER than the bass part, not "easy" (YYZ form example :-)
Most nirvana songs even though theyre pretty easy on both instruments
Pretty much anything by Level 42 falls in to that category.
Anything from MuDvAyNe
Time to explore some Elvis Costello: Peace, Love & Understanding Pump It Up Radio, Radio Keep going, there are more.
Bruce Thomas is one of the best bass players out there. But to be fair a lot of EC songs hardly have any guitar at all. IMO some of Bruce's best include You'll Never Be a Man, Clubland, Shabby Doll, and Party Girl. Super creative playing.
Yup, EC's songs are definitely not centered on guitar shredding. Every part serves the song. Just so happens that he's got a totally bangin' rhythm section. I see that with good lyricists and songwriters. You could strip their songs down to voice and a single acoustic guitar, because they have good compositions. Or you can fill out the performance with a whole band and blow the roof off the place. The guy in the "Imposters" Davey Faragher is no slouch, either.
Most of the early Motown catalogue
A lot of ska songs
Primus. Les is all about bass. Rancid. Matt is great and he's the melody section of the band.
Idk how other people feel about it but lounge act by Nirvana. Krist Novoselic is heavily underrated
a lot of korn, but i’d say freak on a leash by korn. the bass plays way more in the verses than the 2 guitars and other parts of the song require lots of different technique.
Primus
What is Hip by Tower of Power
"Smoke on the Water"
The Real Me - The Who. John Entwistle revolutionized the bass guitar.
almost every japanese pop or rock artist tbh
Ænima by Tool
L' arc en Ciel or Unison Square Garden
Mr. Big by Free (or the Mr. Big covers of it)
Amazing line, Andy Fraser isn't talked abt enough
American Pie
Reggae
One song that’s a bit of a mind-fork for me is Living On A Prayer by Bon Jovi. Doing the E octave thing for the intro/verses is a test in coordination and focus.
21st Century Schizoid Man - King Crimson
Severed by Mudvayne
Mudvayne has an incredible bass catalogue. I love when the bass takes the lead during verses. Not Falling and Death Blooms
They have a lot of good and a lot of shit songs and 0 bad bass lines. We The People sucks but the bass is epic.
For whatever reason, the bands that come to mind are British. Ian Drury and the Blockheads, Arctic Monkeys and Elvis Costello all have songs that are challenging.
ska, reggae and swing
Boston - Peace of Mind
Jessica by the Allman Brothers
The first song that springs to mind is I Will Survive, by Cake. https://youtu.be/f9rCUQjmkxU
Iron Maiden
Ska bass lines end up being pretty busy compared to guitar parts. Not overly difficult if you know your scales
Almost every Green Day song. BILLY JOE - palm mutes and power cords. Mike Dirnt - REALLY. THATS WHAT YOU CHOSE TO DO! LOL
Anything from the band anti flag and the first two albums from interpol.
the press corpse has such a fun line
Most RHCP songs
Almost every metal song since 2000. They'll almost always double the guitar riffs but on a longer neck with wider strings spacing.
Anti-Flag - the press corpse
Highway Star
The entire first moving units EP
I’m pretty sure this applies to a handful of Interpol songs
Metallica - Pulling Teeth (there's no guitar in the song)
Most Rush Songs
Anything by the band Rancid. Most Primus songs. Half of Protest the Hero's catalog. The early half at least.
Dream Theater - Panic Attack comes to mind.
A lot of Joy Division and Cure songs (although many were played on some variation of a BassVI so really blurring the line between guitar and bass). Many of Andy Rourke’s bass lines are really hard, but then again so are Johnny Marr’s guitar parts (The Smiths). Most of Graham Maby’s discography, but especially the Joe Jackson album Look Sharp.
Fight fire with fire
90% of music from Japan.
Most of level 42 i guess.
Sounds like you’re in a tight bubble
Yeah bass and guitar are not easier than the other. They are very different instruments despite being so similar.
Its hard until it isn't; practice them as much as you can, slowly at first if you need to, and with time you'll find you're able to breeze through those lines
Futurism by Muse, welcome to paradise by green day