Good songs for beginner's bass

[Chris71]

Right, having got overtaken by events last year, I'm determined I will learn to play the bass properly this time.

Can any of the resident bassists recommend some fun songs to develop technique that are within the grasp of a more or less complete beginner?

[jains15]

Why not have a go at In Bloom by Nirvana, or Smells...

The former is the track that showed me that bass is my calling

[kiteless]

The intro to GnR's Sweet Child Of Mine would seem to be a good start.

[Mr E Driver]

Sunshine of Your Love or maybe Badge?

[davepoth]

With or Without You by U2. Nothing technical at all, but all the basics there are very sound in that song and it will teach you the good basic technique (play the bottom note of the chord a lot, but make sure it's always on the beat).

Get that nailed down, and then maybe go for a second string.

[scumspawn]

how about electric six 'danger high voltage' , van halen 'panama' or korn 'y'all want a single' electric six is simple but will have you using all strings, van halen you'll be playing along in no time and korn is all on one string you'll just need to listen to get the rhythm.

link to tabs

http://tabs.ultimate-guitar.com/e/electric_six/dan...
http://tabs.ultimate-guitar.com/v/van_halen/panama...
http://tabs.ultimate-guitar.com/k/korn/yall_want_a...

[MrDarkBlack]

I used to have a bass years ago, and loved it. May get another soon.

Many songs that I love, are bass driven, so I just had a look at a few tabs to see how easy/difficult they were.

I Wanna Be Adored

An easy one, but that's what you want when you start out.

[Yoda.]

davepoth said:

With or Without You by U2. Nothing technical at all, but all the basics there are very sound in that song and it will teach you the good basic technique (play the bottom note of the chord a lot, but make sure it's always on the beat).

Get that nailed down, and then maybe go for a second string.

I'd go for this too.
Started out with this years ago. When I get another bass I'll be beginning with it again!

[Chris71]

Thanks, shall add those to the list. Currently playing around with:

Offspring - Gotta Get Away
Goldfinger (via whoever it was originally!) - 99 Red Balloons
Rancid - Time Bomb
Reel Big Fish - Beer
Sugahill Gang - Rapper's Delight

[2volvos]

Floyd's Money, Another One Bites the Dust and Psycho Killer by Talking Heads all let you sound good right from the off

[pugwash4x4]

there's loads of stuff by the police which is quite easy to get hold of.

[GetCarter]

Yep... Floyd's 'Money' is good as it'll get you used to moving from string to string and also get you used to a minor 7 scale which you'll come across a LOT.

[Asterix]

Any of the White Stripes Live versions.

[celticpilgrim]

I taught myself by playing to songs i knew fairly well to begin with, so for me it was Lizzy, Rainbow, Schenker and Maiden, and a shedload of practice!!!

[Stu R]

Bombtrack by RATM. Great for getting your fingers working and once you get beyond the opening riff it's a doddle.

[pugwash4x4]

Stu R said:

Bombtrack by RATM. Great for getting your fingers working and once you get beyond the opening riff it's a doddle.

its not really a begginers a track though if you want it to sound properly good!

[dern]

I really enjoyed learning how to play "Start" by The Jam.

Sounds nice and complex but isn't and also sounds good by itself and is recognisable... unless you're 9

Others I liked banging along to were One Step Beyond by Madness, Transmission and No Love Lost by Joy Division and Guns of Brixton by The Clash.

Edited by dern on Sunday 3rd July 20:34

[Bullett]

dern said:

I really enjoyed learning how to play "Start" by The Jam.

Or Taxman by the beatles.

Love Cats, the Cure.
Teenage Kicks
All Along the Watchtower
Desire, U2

[Chris71]

I guess I'm not strictly a beginner. I have had a go at learning the bass before and I've played the guitar for about ten years, so I've got a basic idea of timing etc. But I'm determined to be a proper bassist rather than 'a guitarist playing the bass', so I'm going back to basics.

I've also added Groove is in The Heart by Deelight, Farewell to The Fairground by White Lies and I Feel Fine by The Beatles to the repetoir lately.

I'm conscious that it's quite easy to play the bass badly. I can blast out something which sounds okay playing along to the original track, then going back over it solo I notice the rough edges!

[Asterix]

Listen to, and try and play along with early funk and soul stuff - if that gets under your skin, and you can groove with it - you will be able to play most stuff.

How's this for a simple pounding bass line and groove? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Uc26EFI1_nw

Intro to this song is very good - rest of the song I can leave but this is what bass players should be doing.

Edited by Asterix on Monday 4th July 22:46