Top 10 Bass Lines Players Learn

SOULFUL GROOVE WITH A STORY

The bass here is pure vintage soul: a warm, walking groove that locks straight into the beat and never lets go. It is repetitive in the best possible way, pulling you into the song's hypnotic, hand-clapping swing.

Released in 2010, it became the theme to HBO's "How to Make It in America", and its lyrics about being broke during the recession struck a chord worldwide. For bassists it is a perfect lesson in feel: simple notes, played in the pocket, can carry an entire hit.

THE HEARTBEAT OF REGGAE

In reggae the bass is king, and Aston "Family Man" Barrett's line here is a masterclass. It is deep, melodic and full of space, sitting just behind the beat to create that unmistakable laid-back sway.

Stir It Up helped introduce Marley to the world after Johnny Nash's cover became an international hit. Learning it teaches you something most styles do not: how the notes you leave out can matter just as much as the ones you play.

CLASSICAL DRAMA ON FOUR STRINGS

Originally written for pipe organ, this is one of the most dramatic pieces in all of music, and it sounds astonishing on bass. Those sweeping, ominous opening notes show off the instrument's power in its lowest register.

It is a reminder that bass is not only for groove; it can carry melody and high drama too. Tackling it is a brilliant workout for finger control and phrasing. Fun fact: scholars still argue about whether Bach actually wrote it.

THE GROOVE THAT RULED 2013

Laid down by session legend Nathan East, this bassline is pure disco-funk joy. Syncopated, bouncy and endlessly danceable, it locks with Nile Rodgers' guitar to create one of the catchiest grooves of the modern era.

The track won multiple Grammys and dominated airwaves worldwide. For bass players it is the ideal funk study: tight fingerwork, a steady sixteenth-note feel, and a groove that proves restraint and repetition can be irresistible.

ROCK-POP WITH A TIGHT POCKET

Beat It fused pop and hard rock, and the bass is the glue that holds its driving energy together. Played by Toto's Steve Lukather, it is punchy and relentless, pushing the song forward beneath Eddie Van Halen's famous guitar solo.

From 1982's record-breaking album Thriller, it shows how a disciplined, locked-in bassline can give a pop song serious muscle. It is great practice for steady eighth-note drive and playing tight with the drums.

FAST, HEAVY AND INFLUENTIAL

Geezer Butler is one of metal's most important bassists, and Paranoid is his calling card. The bass charges along with the guitar, adding weight and urgency to one of the heaviest songs of its day.

Amazingly, the band wrote Paranoid in a matter of minutes as last-minute album filler, and it became their biggest hit. For bassists it is a thrilling test of fast, accurate fingers and locking tightly with a driving riff.

FUNK-POP YOU CAN'T SIT STILL TO

Joe Jonas's band DNCE built this 2017 hit around a bright, bouncing funk bassline that sits right up front in the mix. It is the song's hook as much as the vocal, slinky and instantly danceable.

Featuring Nicki Minaj, the track shows how a groovy bass part can define a modern pop song. It is a fun, approachable line for learning syncopation, slides and that all-important pop-funk bounce.

MAYBE THE MOST FAMOUS BASSLINE EVER

That gentle, rolling bass figure is so iconic it practically is the song. Built on the classic doo-wop progression, it opens the track and carries it from start to finish, instantly recognisable to almost everyone.

A 1961 classic co-written by King with Leiber and Stoller, it has been performed countless times and powered the beloved film of the same name. It is often the very first line new bassists learn, and for good reason.

DARK, FUNKY AND HYPNOTIC

After that famous cackling intro, the bass takes over with a deep, melodic groove that drives the entire verse. It is moody and funky at the same time, and it is one of the most requested basslines for players to learn.

The 2005 hit, featuring De La Soul, helped make Gorillaz global superstars. Its bassline is a perfect example of how a simple, repeating figure played with the right attitude can become the unforgettable centre of a song.

THE ULTIMATE ROCK POCKET

Cliff Williams' bassline is a lesson in power through simplicity. Locked tight with the drums, it creates the enormous, swaggering pocket that lets the whole song swing and hit like a freight train.

From 1980's Back in Black, one of the best-selling albums in history and a tribute to late singer Bon Scott, it proves the bassist's real job is feel and timing. Nail the groove and you are playing the heartbeat of rock itself.