The Greatest Bass Line of all Time - Progressive Rock Music Forum

Golden Earring Radar Love

Keep pumping out marvelous base licks. I adore bass...especially in unexpected songs.

Chris Squire "Roundabout" is pretty great.

The bassline in this lesser known prog gem is really stunning imho.

“On the day of my creation, I fell in love with education. And overcoming all frustration, a teacher I became.”
— Ernest Vong

Hie

This is not a thread about facts but more about bold opinion. As a bass guitarist and as a listening and analytic music opinionated nerd. Thoughts about the greatest, no matter instrument is a tall order and important privilege to have a firm opinion about.

Whatever constitute a great bassline is an impossible task or a great instrumental feat no matter art form or performance is not a task for objectivity but pure subjectivity. Yet to my mind and gut feeling and listening experience. "I Want You Back" with Jackson 5 is the best bass guitar line of all time, it’s the nr 1 bass guitar line to which every new beginner of the bass, ought to know, have tried to learn or just be aware of. This has nothing to do about anything Jackson, but that a bassline of such fame is also attached to Jacson 5s early career is pure bonus.

In the school of bass this line is in between the James Jamerson and Bob Babbit, yet the bass-player and one of the major key reasons I think it’s the greatest, is that it is a line played by a random dude. Mr Wilton Felder who is never mentioned ever as one of the key guys in the development of bass playing technique nor in the top bass players lists, yet to me he is the creator and player of the greatest and most recognizable "in the pocket" bass line.

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this is not to say this is fact based, this is purely made to create a discussion about taste, and can you ever have an argument about anything you believe is quintessential yet having a slightly concept of that it might in some aspect be truthful, to me what makes this bass line the greatest. is purely based on the opinion that this is a song every bass player to my opinion must learn, and it is all about the pocket.

I just want to celebrate perhaps my favourite bass player whom I never remember the name of whom played my favourite bass line in a song ever. I will always say this is the greatest bass line of all time.

a) is this a valuable song also for prog bass players to know

b) do you rate this bass line

c) have you ever had any opinion about this bass line

Also here is a video were you can learn how to play it

Edited by Icarium - February 14 2025 at 16:54

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BasedProgger Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Reviewer page Forum Groupie Joined: January 26 2025 Location: Cyberia Status: Offline Points: 90	Post Options Post Reply Quote BasedProgger Report Post Thanks(1) Quote Reply Posted: February 15 2025 at 08:25
	Wishbone Ash "Sometime World" Martin Turner

mellotronwave Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Reviewer page Forum Senior Member Joined: January 30 2021 Location: Belgium Status: Offline Points: 11577	Post Options Post Reply Quote mellotronwave Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: February 15 2025 at 07:59
	Golden Earring Radar Love

Valdez Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Reviewer page Forum Senior Member Joined: September 17 2005 Location: United States Status: Offline Points: 929	Post Options Post Reply Quote Valdez Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: February 15 2025 at 07:41
	peaches!!
	https://bakullama1.bandcamp.com/album/sleepers-2024

omphaloskepsis Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Reviewer page Forum Senior Member Joined: October 19 2011 Location: Texas Status: Offline Points: 6800	Post Options Post Reply Quote omphaloskepsis Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: February 15 2025 at 07:39
	Keep pumping out marvelous base licks. I adore bass...especially in unexpected songs.

MortSahlFan Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Reviewer page Forum Senior Member Joined: March 01 2018 Location: US Status: Offline Points: 3075	Post Options Post Reply Quote MortSahlFan Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: February 15 2025 at 06:27
	Roger Waters' riff on Pink Floyd's "Money" or Paul McCartney on The Beatles' "Come Together" but if you want the entire package (instead of just a memorable riff), I highly recommend checking out Chicago - Something In This City Changes People... When you can listen to the isolated track and enjoy it, I'd say it's great.
	https://www.youtube.com/c/LoyalOpposition https://www.scribd.com/document/382737647/MortSahlFan-Song-List

Grumpyprogfan Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Reviewer page Forum Senior Member Joined: July 09 2019 Location: Kansas City Status: Offline Points: 12395	Post Options Post Reply Quote Grumpyprogfan Report Post Thanks(1) Quote Reply Posted: February 15 2025 at 04:56
	Chris Squire "Roundabout" is pretty great.

Hosydi Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Reviewer page Forum Senior Member Joined: December 25 2024 Location: Rolling Hills Status: Offline Points: 713	Post Options Post Reply Quote Hosydi Report Post Thanks(1) Quote Reply Posted: February 15 2025 at 00:59
	These bass-related treasures are numerous. Just for the topic, I'd like to nominate this jaw-dropping 1970 live rendition (ft. The Tony Williams Lifetime) of Jack Bruce's song Smiles and Grins (the video title gives the wrong song title).

Hrychu Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Reviewer page Forum Senior Member Joined: November 03 2013 Location: poland? Status: Offline Points: 5689	Post Options Post Reply Quote Hrychu Report Post Thanks(1) Quote Reply Posted: February 14 2025 at 21:40
	The bassline in this lesser known prog gem is really stunning imho.
	“On the day of my creation, I fell in love with education. And overcoming all frustration, a teacher I became.” — Ernest Vong

Valdez Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Reviewer page Forum Senior Member Joined: September 17 2005 Location: United States Status: Offline Points: 929	Post Options Post Reply Quote Valdez Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: February 14 2025 at 20:32
	I tried to find out who played Bass on Papa was a rolling stone… seems like it’s undecided between 3 bassists. Great bass line though ! Was it Babbit? https://forums.stevehoffman.tv/threads/will-we-ever-know-who-played-bass-on-papa-was-a-rollin-stone-and-masterpiece.300059/ Edited by Valdez - February 14 2025 at 20:45
	https://bakullama1.bandcamp.com/album/sleepers-2024

Icarium Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Reviewer page Forum Senior Member VIP Member Joined: March 21 2008 Location: Tigerstaden Status: Offline Points: 34083	Post Options Post Reply Quote Icarium Report Post Thanks(1) Quote Reply Posted: February 14 2025 at 16:42
	Hie This is not a thread about facts but more about bold opinion. As a bass guitarist and as a listening and analytic music opinionated nerd. Thoughts about the greatest, no matter instrument is a tall order and important privilege to have a firm opinion about. Whatever constitute a great bassline is an impossible task or a great instrumental feat no matter art form or performance is not a task for objectivity but pure subjectivity. Yet to my mind and gut feeling and listening experience. "I Want You Back" with Jackson 5 is the best bass guitar line of all time, it’s the nr 1 bass guitar line to which every new beginner of the bass, ought to know, have tried to learn or just be aware of. This has nothing to do about anything Jackson, but that a bassline of such fame is also attached to Jacson 5s early career is pure bonus. In the school of bass this line is in between the James Jamerson and Bob Babbit, yet the bass-player and one of the major key reasons I think it’s the greatest, is that it is a line played by a random dude. Mr Wilton Felder who is never mentioned ever as one of the key guys in the development of bass playing technique nor in the top bass players lists, yet to me he is the creator and player of the greatest and most recognizable "in the pocket" bass line. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ this is not to say this is fact based, this is purely made to create a discussion about taste, and can you ever have an argument about anything you believe is quintessential yet having a slightly concept of that it might in some aspect be truthful, to me what makes this bass line the greatest. is purely based on the opinion that this is a song every bass player to my opinion must learn, and it is all about the pocket. I just want to celebrate perhaps my favourite bass player whom I never remember the name of whom played my favourite bass line in a song ever. I will always say this is the greatest bass line of all time. a) is this a valuable song also for prog bass players to know b) do you rate this bass line c) have you ever had any opinion about this bass line Also here is a video were you can learn how to play it Edited by Icarium - February 14 2025 at 16:54