Greatest Bass guitarist

[Mulambo]

no poll, just say who you like, and ffs, what band they are in.

Some I appreciate are

Matt Freeman, Rancid

Billy Gould, Faith No More, Brujeria, etc.

Les Claypool, Primus, etc.

Gene Simmons (haha, jk).

[Mr.LichTwitch]

My two favorites are Les Claypool: Primus and Eric Wilson: Sublime.

[Vanno]

Probably Jaco Pastorius. Although I prefer the stylings of Les Claypool or Stu Hamm.

[Dazarthas]

Les Claypool puts all others to shame. He's the only person who's made me think "Whoa, this song has a great bass line."

[itza]

Victor Wooten, Béla Fleck and the Flecktones.

[Surly]

Is playing a bass guitar even very hard?

[Temet nosce]

Eric Wilson: Sublime.

I had no idea who in Sublime did it but I love Sublime's sound so I'll go with this (I just don't really care one way or the other for celebrities particularly, no matter how much I like the actual music)

[Barbarossa]

No Stuart Hamm, Billy Sheehan or Tony Franklin yet?

Fail....pure fail.

[DrGreenThumb]

flea.

[Vanno]

Victor Wooten, Béla Fleck and the Flecktones.

I always seem to forget to mention Wooten; that guy is a beast.

No Stuart Hamm

Fail....pure fail.

Hey guy, I mentioned him in like the second or third post.

[Tiarilir]

Is playing a bass guitar even very hard?

It's like a guitar, only simplest.

[Vanno]

It's like a guitar, only simplest.

Not really.

[DrGreenThumb]

It's like a guitar, only simplest.

it's as simple or as complex as you wish to make it.

[Tiarilir]

it's as simple or as complex as you wish to make it.

Just like my relationship with your father

[Jinpachi]

Just like my relationship with your father

Oh snap :D

[shnedit]

Is playing a bass guitar even very hard?

Alot of bass players are guitar players too.

[DrGreenThumb]

Just like my relationship with your father

do you like fucking corpses then?cos well,my father passed along time ago.

anyhows,i play bass and guitar,both are diferent in many ways,and diferent roles.the bass you get used to the scales more,the larger frettings to stretch,whether you want to go finger stlye,or use a pick,often you hold a tight line with the drummer and the groove of the sound.4 strings (you can get 5,6 stringed basses etc.. too)doesn't always mean easier,just a diferent style.

[Tiarilir]

do you like fucking corpses then?cos well,my father passed along time ago.


Oh, even better. I'm a secret necrophilian too. And I'm psychic and can talk to the dead. Your daddy says "Hi son, I'm disappointed in you".

[DrGreenThumb]

Oh, even better. I'm a secret necrophilian too. And I'm psychic and can talk to the dead. Your daddy says "Hi son, I'm disappointed in you".

then i lost 40lbs porking your wife.

hell id rather have a crack habit than do that,but whatever floats your boat lol.

[Kagetora8151]

Steve Harris of Iron Maiden.
John Deacon of Queen.
Geddy Lee of RUSH.
Victor Wooten.

[ClownFoot]

Is playing a bass guitar even very hard?

Usually the bass player also plays multiple other instruments in a band.

My fav is John Paul Jones from Led Zeppelin. That man had class, was definitely underated(people only talk about Plant, Page, and occasionally Bonham when they talk about Zeppelin), and was a snazzy dresser.

[Kagetora8151]

Usually the bass player also plays multiple other instruments in a band.

My fav is John Paul Jones from Led Zeppelin. That man had class, was definitely underated(people only talk about Plant, Page, and occasionally Bonham when they talk about Zeppelin), and was a snazzy dresser.

I agree with this also.

[Nexus]

William Murderface.

[kehmesis]

Les

[kehmesis]

Is playing a bass guitar even very hard?

Of course. I mean there's a lot of crappy bass players that play crappy riffs that most guitar players could pick up in an instant.

Good ones will play sick stuff and it's quite another story.

[Tzacharu]

I find Victor Wooten plays some of the best bass I've ever heard, he's not in a band however.

As for bass guitarists in a band, gonna have to say Cliff Burton.

Is playing a bass guitar even very hard?

Yes, it is difficult. I don't care what anyone says. The thickest strings are about four times as thick as guitar strings and the traditional bassist plucks and doesn't use a pick. Any bassist that does use a pick should burn for going against tradition. Also, its a lot harder to pull hammer ons and offs with a bass.

Also, plenty of bassists play real guitars. Guitarists don't always know how to play bass.

Makes me want to drive six hours to grab my bass guitar I left home. Damn thing broke, that's what I get for buying a $200 bass.

[Marelt]

Geddy Lee is god

[jonyak]

bass is easy to play but hard to master....

you have to think of it this way. playing a bass is like soloing on a guitar for the whole song.

my favorite bass player... victor wooten.

I am a bassplayer. but I also play guitar, drums, keys, mandolin, banjo, steel guitar and a bit of flute.

anyone can pick up a bass and play some simple root notes over 4 chords, not many people can play AROUND those four chords.

the bass is what gives different kinds of music its feel.

I hate les claypool.

[odd_rhodes]

Geddy Lee of Rush

Lemmy Kilmister of Motorhead

Cliff Burton was amazing.

[Kagetora8151]

Geddy Lee of Rush

Lemmy Kilmister of Motorhead

Cliff Burton was amazing.

Damn I forgot about Lemmy. I should hurt myself in some way.

[Dragonfly]

Robert Trujillo is pretty fucking sick.

I don't like Metallica, but I liked the stuff he did with Suicidal Tendencies and the stuff he did with Infectious Grooves.

I can shred it up on guitar a bit, but on bass the most I can do is hold a simple groove. Guitar skills don't equal bass skills and vice versa.

[Paganini]

Steve Harris of Iron Maiden

[Rhailith]

Jon Fucking Entwistle, The Who

[Daccus]

Les Claypool, I saw him in Portland with his sideband a few years back. They covered the entire Animals album by Pink Floyd. Fucking amazing! I also saw Primus at a Washington radio station's yearly concert.

[Blodpls]

Les Claypool for sure

[Zadok]

John Paul Jones. Zeppelin.

[lemmingsoup]

Jon Fucking Entwistle, The Who

QFT, got some DVDs with a retarded amount of extras on of which include a couple of songs with only the bass feed audible. Damn the man has talent.

[Strangia]

Coming from a bass player, my favorite is Geddy Lee.

And why has no one mentioned Stanley Clarke?

Also, props to the guy who mentioned Jaco Pastorius and John Entwistle.

Also, Victor Wooten is godly!

Playing bass is a lot different from guitar, you have to care more about arpeggios and scales. You also need to have some good finger strength if you want to play it well.

[tonyv911]

Les Claypool is a bass virtuoso, he is amazing and totally the best bassist of all time.

[Traep]

I always hate how these threads are full of mentions of players from everyone's favorite bands that aren't actually exceptional at their instruments. I like a lot of the bands mentioned, and I can't blame non-musicians for not realizing which players have a great deal of skill, but it is a bit upsetting.

Anyway, I'm glad people like Wooten and Stanley Clarke have been mentioned. How about a little Michael Manring too though, eh people?

[jonyak]

I always hate how these threads are full of mentions of players from everyone's favorite bands that aren't actually exceptional at their instruments. I like a lot of the bands mentioned, and I can't blame non-musicians for not realizing which players have a great deal of skill, but it is a bit upsetting.

Anyway, I'm glad people like Wooten and Stanley Clarke have been mentioned. How about a little Michael Manring too though, eh people?

oh shit ya, manring is awesome... he plays that zon custom bass.

I saw a great video of him playing in some guys basement for a bunch of people. just him and his bass. it was wicked.

[DocGonzo]

started playing bass in 76...stopped in 96

as in most Things...there can never be any single "best"

so, let us expand our Definition instead to those Players who have not only demonstrated an established virtuosity with their Instrument...but have also created their own unique Style...something above and beyond the vast majority of just great musicians

chronological order...

John Entwistle (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hKUBTX9kKEo) brings bombastic agility as well as thunderous bottom end

Geddy Lee (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nhcM_hx0zxw) has all the chops, staccato flamenco style attack and unerring compositional sense all while singing and playing in 7 count time

Lemmy (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QKrwvr0dbec), if i have to say anything else, you have no soul...

Robert Trujillo (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_7-0yatN1gc) is a complete fucking monster, total command of his Instrument, precision speed and laid back hyper funk with a perfect ear

Les Claypool (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yn3uiLZY9Jg) is a fret board acrobat that can make a bass pour forward whatever sounds he wants however he wants...and what he wants is usually weird, but awesome to hear

there's a lot of great bass Players out there... from Mingus to Stanley Clarke to Bootsy Collins....and to quote Geddy Lee, "when Jaco died all the rest of us moved up one notch"

keep your ears open, you will be amazed at what you can find sometimes...

me...i've been listening to a lot of this band (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tja6_h4lT6A) for a while now, the latest album (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UUXBCdt5IPg) was the best thing out in '07, imo

thus endeth the Lesson

[Commuted]

COMON GUYS
That dude from KoRn is like..totally the best bassist EVER

But seriously
Justin Chancellor from tool is pretty sweet

But then again I havn`t really listened too many bands with amazing bassists

[heroshade]

Errrr, the guy from Muse?
Whoever made 7nation army.
Queen.

Who cares about bass anyway? It's all about drums and guitar.

[Paganini]

Whoever made 7nation army.




He didn't use a bass, but it was Jack White.

I also agree with Justin Chancellor from Tool

[Parabola]

Justin Chancellor - Tool

Victor Wooten - Victor Wooten

[5%Luck]

Roger waters is supreme!


The guy from primus is good too

[Paganini]

Roger waters is supreme!



Great lyricist but by his own admission not a very good bass player

[TubeSock]

No one's mentioned Jack Bruce.

Easily my favourite bassist.

[Drunkenork]

Victor Wooten, Béla Fleck and the Flecktones.

Have to back Victor too, Les Claypool is a badass no doubt about that, but Victor is crazy good.

[Signus]

John Deacon of Queen.
Geddy Lee of RUSH.


This, end of thread. With one addition. John Entwistle of The Who

Only person that even comes close is perhaps Flea. But these are the legends.

[Parabola]

Have to back Victor too, Les Claypool is a badass no doubt about that, but Victor is crazy good.

Yea as far as technical ability goes no one comes close to Victor Wooten.

[Ankh]

Chris Squire of Yes.

/thread.

[TubeSock]

Chris Squire of Yes.

/thread.

Everyone else in this thread is too mainstream.

/huddles

[Sargon]

James Jamerson of The Funk Brothers

[Wufiavelli]

James Jamerson of The Funk Brothers

Godfather of bass guitar

Outside of him i would say Jaco, Victor wooten, and marcus miller.

Les claypool and all these other rockbands wannabes can normally be outplayed by anyone with 2 years into a music degree.

edit: Victor Bailey from the whether report after Jaco left is damn good. he has probably one of my favorite playing styles.

[Titus Ultor]

No mention of Entwistle in this whole thread? You guys fail.

The bass is probably the only dispensable part of a rock band, alongside a dedicated frontman (as opposed to one of the others singing). Even the talented ones are usually forced into playing something simpler than their skill level, simply because a complicated bass riff just muddles up the relatively straight-forward composition of a rock song. That said, a good bass line adds much more to the drive or feeling of the song than is readily perceptible.

[Barbarossa]

I always seem to forget to mention Wooten; that guy is a beast.



Hey guy, I mentioned him in like the second or third post.

Sorry. I stand corrected!


John Deacon of Queen.

No.

But these are the legends.

In regards to John Deacon, hell no.

He stole everything he knows from this guy: Bernard Edwards (http://www.nndb.com/people/826/000092550/)

[Signus]

No mention of Entwistle in this whole thread? You guys fail.



Oi! Read it sir!

This, end of thread. With one addition. John Entwistle of The Who

Only person that even comes close is perhaps Flea. But these are the legends.






No.

In regards to John Deacon, hell no.

He stole everything he knows from this guy: Bernard Edwards (http://www.nndb.com/people/826/000092550/)


That's a pretty heavy accusation there. Perhaps INFLUENCE is a better word?

I don't know, seems damn good to me.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DKEqY8LERmc&feature=related

Listen behind the piano
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CpBAEZVZ3eA&feature=related

[Barbarossa]

That's a pretty heavy accusation there. Perhaps INFLUENCE is a better word?

I don't know, seems damn good to me.




Sorry, Deacon lifted the bass line from Good Times by Chic for Another One Bites The Dust by Queen, in fact the whole song other than Mercury's vocals sounds exactly like a Chic song.

Good Times 1979

Another One Bites The Dust 1980

Stolen riff? The dates kind of prove who was first.

I am not questioning that Deacon is good, but a legend?

Hardly.

[Whisky Bob]

James Jamerson of The Funk Brothers

This.

Plus:
- Cliff Burton (R.I.P) Metallica
- Martin Mendez - Opeth
- Juan Alderete - The Mars Volta.

[Signus]

Sorry, Deacon lifted the bass line from Good Times by Chic for Another One Bites The Dust by Queen, in fact the whole song other than Mercury's vocals sounds exactly like a Chic song.

Good Times 1979

Another One Bites The Dust 1980

Stolen riff? The dates kind of prove who was first.

I am not questioning that Deacon is good, but a legend?

Hardly.

Judging a bassist off of their big mainstream(and simple) hit is a bit unfair. Queen had much better songs, with a lot more bass than a simple similar riff beating repeated over and over again.

[Barbarossa]

Judging a bassist off of their big mainstream(and simple) hit is a bit unfair. Queen had much better songs, with a lot more bass than a simple similar riff beating repeated over and over again.

Let me type it slowly so maybe you'll understand.

J o h n D e a c o n i s n o t a l e g e n d.

Better?

[Aragoni]

Flea is king.

[Harijan]

claypool is my fav. Lots of good ones mentioned.

Lots of really bad ones too. Alot of people don't understand what the base guitar is.

[holychicken]

Probably Jaco Pastorius. Although I prefer the stylings of Les Claypool or Stu Hamm.
+1

Except for Stu Hamm, I am not quite familiar with his stuff . . . although I will certainly check it out now.

[Barbarossa]

+1

Except for Stu Hamm, I am not quite familiar with his stuff . . . although I will certainly check it out now.

You won't be disappointed.

[Jezrith]

Probably Jaco Pastorius. Although I prefer the stylings of Les Claypool or Stu Hamm.

What this guy said, Jaco was Claypool biggest inspiration.

[Simon]

The most impressive imo are definitely :
- "Buddha" Bill Dickens
- Billy Sheehan
- John Myung
- Victor Wooten

[Tiarilir]

The most impressive imo are definitely :
- "Buddha" Bill Dickens
- Billy Sheehan
- John Myung
- Victor Wooten

Nice name. Simon is my IRL name. Can you feel the connection?

[trichlor]

no poll, just say who you like, and ffs, what band they are in.

Some I appreciate are

Matt Freeman, Rancid

Billy Gould, Faith No More, Brujeria, etc.

Les Claypool, Primus, etc.

Gene Simmons (haha, jk).

Me : no band

[Simon]

Nice name. Simon is my IRL name. Can you feel the connection?

Heck no. ;)