There are two kinds of bass players: the born ones and the converted ones.
The latter are the guys who start off on guitar and transition to bass later. Born players, on the other hand, start playing bass without any previous music experience or knowledge. And that can be pretty difficult. But don’t worry. If you feel like you’re born to play bass, we’re here to help you get your feet wet. Here are some iconic bass riffs to impress your friends with and make yourself seem like a pro.
1. Queen – Another One Bites the Dust
Why Did We Choose This Song?
You can’t talk about easy bass lines without mentioning Queen once at least. John Deacon’s bass-heavy masterwork is one of Queen’s most successful singles. So much so that the band decided to abandon their signature classic rock sound and step into the disco arena.
Why Should You Play It?
This is easily one of the most recognizable bass lines in recent music history. You should learn “Another One…” because if you learn how to play “Under Pressure” your friends would probably confiscate your bass from you.
2. Michael Jackson – Beat It
Why Did We Choose This Song?
“Beat It” has peak MJ on the vocals. Eddie Van Halen on the guitar. It’s from “Thriller.” Need we say more? No matter how many times you hear the song – and all of us heard it a few million times – it never loses its magic.
Why Should You Play It?
The song is pretty fun to play, which is extremely important if you’re a rookie. The 132 BPM tempo will help you learn to play energetically. You can slow down the tempo on your metronome (or Roadie Bass, which has one built-in) and play at around 120 at first and speed it up later when you learn it by heart.
3. Rammstein – Du Hast
Why Did We Choose This Song?
Enough with pop, let’s get down to something heavier. Rammstein’s industrial anthem is known to everyone by this point. It even received a Grammy nomination back in the day. Just remember to practice it with your headphones on if you don’t want your parents or roommates to kick you out of the house.
Why Should You Play It?
The bass line follows the drums closely, so it’s not really that hard to learn. Besides having one of the easiest bass lines, at 125 BPM it also has a perfect tempo for beginners. It’s not too fast, nor is it too slow. That means you’ll be able to learn to play without too much trouble.
4. Pink Floyd – Money
Why Did We Choose This Song?
As soon as you hear the iconic “cha-ching” at the beginning, you know that it’s time for awesomeness. “Money” is the second single from Pink Floyd’s 1973 masterpiece “The Dark Side of the Moon.” The song is also a great introduction to the bass fingerboard to many young players.
Why Should You Play It?
You should learn how to play “Money” because it will help you understand how significant the bass can be. Roger Waters first came up with the riff and then wrote the lyrics and built the rest of the song, around it. Plus, learning how to play the strange 7/4 time signature will help you advance your skills more quickly.
5. Smells Like Teen Spirit – Nirvana
Why Did We Choose This Song?
This song defined the 90s in a way that nobody could foresee. This is the bass line that made grunge a world phenomenon and moved the epicenter of the music business from Los Angeles to Seattle.
Why Should You Play It?
Because it will show you just how important the bass line is. Although all the credit goes to the guitar, voice and drums, it is the bass in this song that holds it together.
6. Come Together – The Beatles
Why Did We Choose This Song?
Paul McCartney is one of the greatest songwriters ever, but he rarely gets credit for being a good bass player. The bass line in Come Together makes the song what it is, and remains a timeless riff that still rocks today.
Why Should You Play It?
This is a great bass line to shine. You get center stage as the song starts with it, and then moves on to do what the bass always does: hold everything together. This is a great easy bass line to further develop your chops.
Pack It Up, It’s A Wrap!
That’s all folks, time to wrap things up. Those were four easy bass lines for you to learn. Grab yourself a Roadie Bass Tuner, get your bass in-tune, and start learning these songs right now.
