The Greatest Bassist of All Time

blobb · August 2017

Richard Sinclair.

What do you mean, you don't know who he is?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AZrLGybwTuU

rico · August 2017

What is this strange, oversized guitar with strings missing?

impmann · August 2017

Thunderfingers redefined it - "I'm not a bass player. I'm a bass guitarist"
McCarney - melodic, clever and always interesting
Donald Dunn - Mr Walking Bass Line
Carole Kaye - defined the 'clack' bass line
Stanley Clarke - spaceman playing bass
Bernard Edwards - the grooviest player ever?
Bootsy Collins - yeaaaaaahhhhhhhhhh boy!
Mark King - famous for his 'stunt' playing, but a really solid and funky player
Flea - insanity aside, he's off the scale

But for me... it'll always be between Thunderfingers and McCartney as they both made bass playing 'cool'.

Sassafras · August 2017

The one with the longest bass.

BintyTwanger77 · August 2017

Norman Watt-Roy

Jack Bruce

Bootsy Collins

markv · August 2017

breakstuff said:

Sid Viscous.

Wasn't he really thick?

Blueingreen · August 2017

guitars4you said:

Just heard Aretha on the radio and made me think Blues Brothers - And totally surprised no one has yet said Donald Duck Dunn - awesome bass player

You mentioned I Wish - the incredible Nathan Watts, long time with Stevie. The Aretha bass line I always think of first is the Chuck Rainey one on "Until You Come Back to Me", much busier than the Duck Dunn stuff of course. Masterclass in doing that thing some old style r'n'b bassist do of playing 8th notes straight but 16th notes with a swing feel. Chuck better known for the Steely Dan stuff, lots of fantastic playing, Kid Charlemagne comes to mind, famous for the guitar solo but the bass part is just as inspiring.

Talking of outros, another of my absolute favourite bass parts is Robbie Shakespeare on Grace Jone's Slave to the Rhythm. There's some editing so it's not totally a one-take performance (there's more than one bass playing at time) but the original playing has fantastic groove and melody.

bigjon · August 2017

Got to page 3 before Mark King got a mention! He gets my vote, combining the 16th-note funk of Bernie Edwards with the Slap flash of Larry Graham and Stanley Clark, with a dash of Jaco-style melodic lyricism overlaid. I've seen him three times live and he's always absolutely rock-solid in his timing. AND he sings AND chews gum at the same time! :-0

hairboy · August 2017

No mention of Billy Sheehan?

Strangefan · August 2017

Not one person has said les claypool you're heathens!

proggy · August 2017

bigjon said:

Got to page 3 before Mark King got a mention! He gets my vote, combining the 16th-note funk of Bernie Edwards with the Slap flash of Larry Graham and Stanley Clark, with a dash of Jaco-style melodic lyricism overlaid. I've seen him three times live and he's always absolutely rock-solid in his timing. AND he sings AND chews gum at the same time! :-0

I mentioned Mark King on page 2.

CMills · August 2017

Either Gary Willis or Roscoe Beck

Alterlifeson · August 2017

Got to Geddy for me! Not a 'classic' bass tone on this one but its sure fits with the time it was recorded!

Jonathangus · August 2017

Well, it's my first proper post here. This seems as good a way to start as any...

Image: https://static.independent.co.uk/s3fs-public/thumbnails/image/2015/12/29/09/1280x720-y3X.jpg

fandango · August 2017

Jonathangus said:

Well, it's my first proper post here. This seems as good a way to start as any...

Finally someone gives Lemmy some recognition. When he passed away, someone posted a short video of him mocking ordinary bass players...and then proceeded to let rip with his Rickenbacker and a Marshall amp, but not before turning everything up to 10... now that's playing bass guitar!!!

scrumhalf · August 2017

McCartney
Jack Bruce
James Jamerson
And because no-one else will mention him, Martin Ace.

RandallFlagg · August 2017

Not technically flash in anyway but Peter Hook's playing with Joy Division and then New Order was a little different and he had a unique sound with New Order

blobb · August 2017

scrumhalf said:

And because no-one else will mention him, Martin Ace.

good shout.

viz · August 2017

Al Caldwell, erstwhile bassist for Greg Howe. Plays an 11-string bass

KKJale · August 2017

Not to detract from any of the great players mentioned but I'm going to add to the chorus of those who nominate Motown’s great James Jamerson.

It's the sheer relentless flow of his ideas, so fluid and effortless. He was a master at hooks and inventing lines which drove the song, and a perfect example of the way great bassists link the drummer to the singer with a foot in both camps, rhythmic and harmonic. His timing was bonkers: you could spend weeks learning just one of his parts and still be discovering tiny but all-important subtleties of grace notes.

The fact that all this stuff was improvised on the spot from head charts and recorded live with the rest of the band in a handful of takes, at most – and probably pissed – makes it all the more amazing.

Howdy, Stranger!

Categories

In this Discussion

Become a Subscriber!

The Greatest Bassist of All Time

Comments