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Wonderful Bassline
In the MLT song “WHY?”, of the many remarkable traits of the song, I love the bass line that stands out from the beginning, that is accompanied by organ, and then the strings. It’s a beautiful masterwork arrangement like a rainbow of sounds. The chord progression you can hear in Make Show is another one that really stands out and pulls you in. There are wonderful and beautiful effects like this throughout the album. One could certainly write a dissertation for a PHD on all the master work music elements this masterpiece album encompasses.
In rock and roll the bass guitar provides a solid rhythmic foundation for the entire band establishing a groove that helps the drummer and other musicians stay in time. The consistent pulse of the bass guitar creates an engaging and even danceable rhythm in rock music. The bassline is also known to outline the harmony and chord progression of a song, hence the bass player contributes to the harmonic structure of the music. In addition to the rhythmic and harmonic functions, the bass also introduces melodic elements and counterpoint, and now we are getting into juicy stuff.
In both rock and roll and Bach’s fugue and counterpoint, the bass plays a crucial role in providing a harmonic foundation outlining a the underlying chords that helps to establish the harmonic structure of the music. The bass line in both styles serve as a rhythmic anchor helping to maintain a steady pulse and providing a sense of groove and stability in the song.
Another song I can think of where the bass line really stands out and adds to the music is Beach Boys “Good Vibrations”
What other songs come to mind that has a stand out bass line?
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175 Replies
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I think it’s going to be a lovely day!
https://youtu.be/bEeaS6fuUoA?si=XlmrTcV2pzMS93og
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This reply was modified 1 year ago by Diana Geertsen.
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This reply was modified 1 year ago by Diana Geertsen.
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A great song Diana, really catchy tune.
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Definitely a lovely day. Bill Withers was special.
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My favorite Bill Withers song Diana.
Thanks
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This reply was modified 1 year ago by
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This McCartney song is one of my sleeper favorites, largely because of how the bass line drives it:
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I love this song. Here’s another great bass line by Sir Paul
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Another great Paul McCartney tune JP, and wonderful video production. One of my faves from Paul McCartney and Wings.
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I haven’t heard this song in ages David, great to hear it again, and great use of the bass.
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Hello Jung,
a beautiful classic with an even more beautiful bass line:
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The following song comes to mind with a pronounced bass line. It’s not exactly MLT Forum mainstream, but I like it. It is a popular hymn at various soccer World Cups.
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Hi Jurgen. Nice I like it, a really effective use of the bassline that drives the song. It reminds me a little of the Knack, My Sharona. Ben E King Stand By Me is another one I didn’t realize it has a wonderful bassline starting the song off.
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Not that long ago, (okay, yesterday), I commented on the Twins cover of My Generation on YT. Which epic version still has a huge smile on my face after I put it on loop for an hour or so. So it didn’t take me long to think of an answer.
From my formative years, I have always considered Live at Leeds the greatest live rock album of all time. Jmo.
Obviously the whole band is inspired, but just check out Thunderfingers. Glad I got to see him play this live once anyways.
This wants headphones. Cheers.
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Chris, that is 14 minutes of pure rock and roll bliss. Listening to the Who’s My Generation here, and then going to MLTs My Generation at the Cavern, MLT sure does the Who proud justice. Mona’s vocals are perfection, and Lisa’s guitar work outstanding!
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“There’s a theory that I maliciously worked Stu out of the group in order to get the prize chair of bass,” Paul McCartney told biographer Barry Miles. “Forget it! Nobody wants to play bass, or nobody did in those days.”
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Jurgen, hearing this it looks like the Beatles wrote the book on effective bassline, among many other contributions to music. Great animated video too!
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Two for one here: a great bass line, and the singer’s name is Bass.
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Ha! Very clever! And yes, one of the best of the classics, on both counts.
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And of course one by the Monkees. The bass was played by Chip Douglas of the Turtles, who also produced the album.
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I can certainly feel that bassline here David, and great bassline in Rescue Me.
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Here’s one where the bass stands out in the song.
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Amazing musicianship Chris, I love seeing musicians get deep into their playing like this. His playing here reminds me a little of Tommy Emmanuel, except this is on the cello.
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Yes, I was wondering if anyone else would think of Tommy Emmanuel, because I was thinking of it too. Percussion on bass.
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Grab that cash with both hands and make a stash
This is the last time the four of them played together.
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Great song JP, and yeah Roger Water’s bass just drives that bassline wonderfully throughout the song! I remember the very first time I heard this song, it was in my grade 5 music class, the teach Mr Stevens brought in the schools record player, and he said “listen to this great sound”, and played “Money”. I didn’t know who Pink Floyd was at the time, but it sounded so cool indeed. I always remember my grade 5 music teacher fondly, he was so passionate about music, felt so many beautiful feelings singing in his class. He also had dozens of ukeleles, so even though none of us knew how to play, he would have all the kids grab a uke and just strum along and sing while he played on the piano and sang, or banged his tambourine as he sang. Music seemed to pour out of his pores. Later in high school I learned Mr Stevens passed away which was really sad. Best music teacher anyone could have, he taught us how to be passionate about music.
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When it comes to TV theme songs, is there one with a more iconic bass riff than this?
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And the Seinfeld show, the opening …lol…clearly distinctive in its own right… 🤘😉😎🎸
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Hey David,
here’s another TV theme with a catchy riff. I don’t know if the series was ever shown (broadcasted?) in our country, but everyone knows this cool title.
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Great example of a bassline David, it makes the theme music. This sitcom sure takes me way back, haven’t seen these familiar faces in a long time. Thanks!
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My buddies — Canadian Band Glass Tiger… while all their songs have awesome bass lines ( whether it’s Wayne Parker playing or Tom Lewis who is filling in for Wayne when they’ve been on tour because Wayne took an indefinite hiatus to focus on his portable Astronomy Observatory Dome-Shed business ) , the one song that stands out the most…. Don’t Forget Me , I’m sharing 2 different videos , a Canadian version and a USA version they did eons ago, and yes, Bryan Adams guest -vocalled on it, and their buddy I think, Jim Creegan co wrote it, or at least had some collaboration input into the Thin Red Album to which this song comes from …. ( Mona and Lisa gave a link to Jim’s son music on here or it was YouTube …. that was a cool connection for me )
Just to be clear, Glass Tiger stuff like this song, doesn’t define/pigeonhole them musically, as sadly some critics have done so over the years , they are different when live, started out as a bar band under a different name at the time :Tokyo …. so they’re actually more rock …lol… but over recent years, their music has evolved still in their own style, but not quite as sappy as Don’t Forget Me, but more edgier/rock-ish, reminiscent of their Tokyo days … their album ” Simple Mission ” , to me clearly established of what their sound in the future would become. As I say, many are surprised when they see/hear GT live and/or of their more recent stuff because, in people’s minds , they still see/hear that sappy sound of GT of the past, and dwell on that as how GT sounds instead of opening their minds and actually listening to All their music and are surprised by what they hear, perhaps, hopefully, changes their pre- conceived notions of how GT’s music is defined …..
Okay here’s the 2 video links :
The Canadian one :
https://youtu.be/JG2IFsz_n5c?si=5DqhCx0c5Vmm6ISx
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This reply was modified 1 year ago by Jacki Hopper.
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Wow, I don’t remember this version. Probably never saw it. Those haircuts are to die for. I remember how kool and popular that look was. GT is pretty kool. I really like that song. ☕️☕️
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What a great song Jacki, this was huge back in the 80s. I don’t think anyone who grew up that decade would not know this one. I didn’t know Bryan Adams sang some parts in the song, I see a real young looking Bryan in the video. I like Glass Tiger’s Thin Red Line too.
And those 80s hair cuts JP, they sure look dated today, but were kool indeed back then. I remember the look in my mom’s face when I got one of those kool hair cuts on a trip to the hair salon in the day!
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This reply was modified 1 year ago by
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And here’s the USA version of GT’s Don’t Forget Me video from YouTube …
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McCartney’s early bass lines are competent, if rather conventional roots and fifths. His work from Rubber Soul on is inspired. I might pick “Nowhere Man” or “Rain” as my favorites, but “Dear Prudence” and “Come Together” are also certainly very special.
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Jung, here’s one I am posting for fun. I discovered this rockabilly group a couple of years ago on You Tube. They are a young couple from Wales that learned from their elders who had a band called Black Cat Trio. The drummer from that band is playing here with the kids. I just wanted to highlight young Donna Meszar on the double bass. She is a good singer and a fine bass player and her partner Paul Wilmott is a pretty good guitar player. Hope you all enjoy The Discoveries.
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I definitely enjoyed that, thanks. That girl can play.
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Yeah Chris, Jung and Jurgen, they have a lot of good songs on YouTube including some with Donna playing and learning from her relatives rockabilly band The Black Cat Trio. I do have one cd that Donna and Paul produced that is really good. I did hear they got married and haven’t seen any new stuff from them in a while. I hope they continue to play music.
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Hi Tim, wow what a stand out bassline on the cello. It’s hard not to tap your feet or hands along to this one.
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Hi Tim,
I always find the combination of rock music and cello or double bass fascinating. Thanks for the contribution. A groovy song, that gets right into your feet.
Here’s another great one:
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Even if the „bass“ line here only serves as an intro: a very nice arrangement:
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Jurgen, this is a very nice rock classical instrumentation work with a great bass line. The Police Every Breath You Take is another great one with effective bassline. Thank you for posting all these! ❤
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