“The bass is for people who aren’t good enough to play the guitar” is what my guitar teacher once told me. Being 11 or 12, I was ignorant enough to believe it. It wasn’t until years later, after exposure to different types of music and seeing the instrument in various contexts, that I realized how silly that statement was. The bass guitar does not have the sheer diversity or voice-like expressiveness of its six-string counterpart. Instead, it can help anchor the song and push it forward with a resonant authority that the lead guitar does not have.

Think of the bass as the foundation of a building. The hard blue-collar work that has to get done or everything else fails. You don’t look at towering skyscrapers and first admire the rebar, electrical, or carpentry work. But you sure will notice it later if those jobs weren’t done to a high level when the building has issues further down the road. In the same way, the bass guitar is rarely the first thing you notice when listening to a song, even though it is hard at work laying down the foundation for the other instruments to succeed. Sometimes though, the humble worker does such a good job that you can’t help but notice.

 

These are ten songs where the bass guitar did more than round out the rhythm section. These songs gave me a new appreciation for the instrument and how it can be so much more than just a support role.

 

Another One Bites The Dust – Queen

No introduction needed here. You know the song for its  cheeky bass-line as much as you do for Freddie’s vocals.

Guns of Brixton – The Clash

How about a reggae bass line in a song about police brutality by an English Punk Band? This bass line isn’t just cool, it grooves.

Roundabout – Yes

This bass line sort of takes you around. It almost sounds circular. 

Ramble On – Led Zeppelin

Listen to how busy the bass is during the chorus. Its like he’s doing his own solo. 

 Psycho Killer – Talking Heads

Just three notes and a thumping beat is all it takes for one psycho iconic bass line

Good Times – CHIC

Best bass line ever? 

 

 Walk On The Wild Side – Lou Reed

Listen to how the bass is doing its own melody underneath the verse. 

 The Chain – Fleetwood Mac

Most iconic outro of all time? It’s up there, and it all starts with that bass line.

 Less I Know The Better – Tame Impala

You know this song about one second in when that bass comes in.

 The Boss – James Brown

If there ever were a song that epitomizes “cool” this is it. Behind that horn section and jangly guitar, the bass lays it all down with just a few notes.