by Beginner bass lines are quite different than beginner guitar riffs or piano licks, right?
If you’re a beginning guitarists or pianist, you have a ton of options to choose from if you want to play something that people know, recognize and get excited about.
For a guitarist, it might be something riff-y like Smoke On The Water.
For a pianist, it might be something like Imagine by John Lennon (or any of the piano-based Beatles stuff).
But what happens when you play the bass line to most of these songs? People look at you and ask, “What the hell was that supposed to be?“
When you play a lot of bass lines by themselves, they’re usually not super exciting. Some of them are downright boring. So what’s the solution?
Play Beginner Bass Lines That People Actually KNOW!
There are dozens of great bass lines that people know, recognize, and are easy to play. So in this video, I want to show you just five beginner bass lines that will make you look like a bit of a badass.
If nothing else, they’ll get people excited about YOUR playing so check it out here:
Video Not Showing Up Here? Watch On YouTube
FREE - Download The Tabs To These 5 Songs
Get the free tabs and notation from this lesson and start playing these songs - TODAY!
These bass lines are absolute gems. These are the kind of beginner bass lines where the bass carries the whole song. If you took everything away and you only had the bass, people would still ‘get it’.
There are plenty of other bass lines that you can play as well. Some of the other ones I thought about putting in here were Feel Good Inc. Come Together, Sunshine Of Your Love, or Everyday People, plus some others that I can’t remember any more!
There are hundreds of great bass lines that would have all been great ideas.
Good luck with the lesson and happy playing!
Cheers,
Great stuff!!
Thanks Tony! Really appreciate it.
Thanks Luke. I have learnt so much about the bass from you. You are a great inspirator.
Excelente lecciones
Nice. Do you have tab somewhere please? Could not find it in BAB post or in youtube description. Thanks again.
Hey Neil – A few people asked for the tabs so I made them available underneath the video.
I checked underneath the video and all I got was the words no TAB.
If you’ve filled out the form Hobert, the tabs will be sent to your email. If you have any troubles, just let me know and I’ll sort it out for you.
Thank you Sir!! I need to get back to practicing.
You’re welcome Vaughn! I hope it’s inspired you to get back into it!
Thank you
Been watching a few of your posts and I like that for one thing that you’re an aussie and close second that you know your stuff. Look forward to seeing more.
Haha! Can’t hide that accent! Thanks for watching Ken.
Great info please more.
Thanks Carmine – and don’t worry. There’ll be plenty more on the way soon.
Woow great jod !!!
Very interesting, the way to your lessons. I have learn having fun.
Thank you.
V/r, Mr. Villalba
Hi Luke
I am looking for the shape of the guitarist hand when playing a chord. I think you made a PDF of all the chord hand shapes to help the bassist recognise chords for unknown songs.
Regards
Dawn
Hey Dawn – not a worry. I think you’re looking for this lesson here:
https://becomeabassist.com/how-to-play-bass-with-guitarists-the-glance-method/
Let me know how you go with it!
Thanks Luke, this is really handy.
Thank you so much. I am a complete beginner and your have a clear and soothing way in demystifying playing the bass. I am very excited to begin this musical journey.
Awesome to hear John! I’m glad I can help you along the way.
All the stuff from your videos are absolutely epic. It’s so much fun, even though I practice with a classical guitars bottom 4 strings. 12 – year olds like me dont only love lead.
Also, is there a better way to learn the modes than just memorizing them? Thanks
I found for me, the best way to learn the modes was to actually use them in the context of real music. If you just have the shapes in front of you and you go through them – up and down – you’ll learn them eventually, but it’s a shallow kind of knowledge. I tried this for a while, but it was super dry and boring. But when I took those same shapes and played around with them with some backing tracks, I learned them on a much deeper level. It’s the difference between reading a Spanish dictionary vs. living in Spain for 3 months. You’ll learn so much more if you’re actually using the vocabulary in ‘real’ situations. I talk about this and give some examples in this lesson:
https://becomeabassist.com/how-and-where-to-use-the-modes-on-bass/
Thanks a lot.
My bass arrives this week and these will be my first lessons I’ll use. Awesome stuff and VERY easy to take in. Many Thanks, Luke.
Thanks Luke! I’ve always loved the solid foundation and gut thumping feeling of the BASS! Something about it feels “real” or for lack of a better word, the origin of sound. Whether it’s Tibetan throat singing to the jammy, funky compositions of Stefan Lessard.
I totally know what you mean! There’s something really organic and ‘earthy’ about the bass. It doesn’t get any better!
Perfect for begginers
Got a bass on a whim with no musical experience outside of choral singing and just being a music lover- been just messing around but found this video on YouTube. I’ve always loved Seven Nation Army so being able to do that song got me HYPED to practice and play more! Thank you Luke!
Awesome Lailani – let me know how you go with it all!
Hi luke, awesome tutorial, newbie here so your video helps a lot.. Btw, can I ask, what do you think of a short scale bass, is that OK,? Or better to get a full scale instead.
Thanks,
Fernando
Hey Fernando – good question! The best bass is the one that provides the least barriers to picking it up and playing. If a full scale bass doesn’t feel good in your hands or makes you stretch in ways that you’re not comfortable with, then that’s putting up a barrier to practice, right? In this case, a short scale bass might make sense because it removes a barrier.
But if it’s not that big of a deal or you just love playing some other full scale bass and every time you pick it up, you’re just ecstatic, then there’s nothing wrong with starting on a full scale.
Neither is better or worse – they’re just different. Try and get your hands on both and see which one feels best to you and which one you can imagine playing every day.
Thank you.
l am a beginner from China and was much inspired by your videos.
Thanks Luke for the basslines
Thare are so many songs I want to learn. Just to give a few and is there a way you can get them.
December. By collective soul
Stranger. By jefferson airplane
Wall flower. By one head light
Under the scars. by godsmack
NIB. By ozzy
I’m new at the bass so I’m picking it up some what quick
Your videos help me a lot
Thank you for that I was having some trouble. Like I was missing something
Thanks again
Melissa
Thank you for your videos, Luke, help me a lot as a beginner. I have a Harley Benton short scale. One of my dificulties is posicioning my right hand in the fretting board (i’m lefhanded). Any advice ot good video?
Thanks one more time.
Pedro
Thanks Luke. I have learnt so much about the bass from you. You are a great inspirator.
Post more bass lines with tabs please because I learn really fast from those
I know I’m only 9 yes old but bass is very fun I hope one day I’ll become a bassist
Thank you so much for your guidance
you inspired me by playing the bass really well
Awesome … after 20 years of wanting to play the bass I finally got round to buying one and got confused with learning the notes and not making any sort of music except a noise I found your videos like send now can enjoy some real music this has inspired me to continue and really learn thus fantastic instrument
Luke you rock
Thank you so much for all information provided
Awesome and aspiring. Thanks, Luke
Thank you very much Luke.You are great,I finaly can to play a lot beter.You inspired me ,I really learn and play well now.Thank you!