When it comes to bass lines, simplicity can be deceiving. I’ve played bass for a few years now, and I’ve stumbled upon three tracks that, on the surface, seem like a walk in the park. But, these seemingly simple lines turn out not to be not as simple.

First up is the iconic bass line from Rage Against The Machine’s “Killing In The Name.” At first glance, it might seem like a repetitive series of notes, but the magic lies in the groove, baby. Tim Commerford’s bass serves as the backbone of the song, driving the energy that makes Rage Against The Machine. I didn’t notice the ghost notes in between the bass line and because of it, it was throwing me off a bit. I had to mentally prepare for it every time I did the bass line. Without those ghost notes, I feel like the song’s groove gets a hit, not from an outsider’s view but from the musicians playing the song.

Next on the list is the legendary Michael Jackson’s “Billie Jean.” The bass line, crafted by the legendary Louis Johnson, is simple but incredibly effective. Its infectious groove is the heartbeat of the song, and it’s so well known that once you play it, everyone knows it’s Billie Jean. And the kicker for this one is the stamina needed to pull off the song. Sure, the bass line is simple, but you have to keep tempo for the entire song, and if you don’t have the hand stamina for that, your hand will cramp so bad, that it’ll make you look like a dinosaur with that claw lol.

Lastly, let’s talk about Nirvana’s “Smells Like Teen Spirit.” – okay you might be wondering, isn’t this a really easy song to play?

How dare you.

Krist Novoselic’s bass line is often overshadowed by Kurt Cobain’s guitar riffs, but it’s a hidden gem in its own right. The bass line mirrors the raw, grungy energy of the entire song. If you listen to any song, any song has a time measurement, how fast or how slow the songs are but for this song, you have to play the bassline a tad bit slower and play it sloppily and it’s so hard to do when you’re used to playing on time, on the count. Imagine you’re forced into dancing to a song you know but a few milliseconds slower.

As a bassist myself, these tracks have not only surprised me but also inspired me to really go into the notes of the song to see how it’s really played. So, the next time you find yourself underestimating a bass line, take a closer listen—there might be more to it than meets the ear.