What if I told you that one of the very first metal bass lines wasn’t played by Black Sabbath…

Or Judas Priest…

Or Deep Purple…

Or even a bassist at all?

It may have actually been played by John Lennon.

Yep…John wasn’t even on bass duty most of the time, but during the recording of Helter Skelter, he picked up a strange instrument, pushed it way past its limits, and ended up creating a sound that was years – if not decades – ahead of its time.

And once you hear the whole story: the Beatles vs. The Who feud, the chaos of the recording session, and why this particular bass line is so unique, you’ll probably never hear the song the same way again.

Check out today’s video here:

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Normally, bass in the late ‘60s was warm, smooth, and supportive. Think James Jamerson, Carol Kaye, or even Paul McCartney himself.

But Helter Skelter?

It’s the complete opposite; almost to the point where the bass line commits some ‘cardinal sins’.

But the thing is – it works. At least in the context of this particular song and the result is unlike anything else The Beatles recorded.

Was it truly the first metal bass line? Make sure to download the free tabs above and play along with it for yourself and you can make your own mind up.

Good luck with the lesson and happy playing!

Cheers,