Wednesday Question: Best Bassline Ever?

This week we're asking you to get your groove on and answer one of the most hotly debated questions available:

What is the best bassline ever?

Post your nomination in the comments. We'll stack up the results and publish them in an epic top 10 list this Friday.

Everyone has an opinion on what is the most memorable, groovy or awesome baseline ever, but you're going to have to use some real musician instinct to nominate the best contenders.

Feel free to go beyond rock and metal songs - there's a tonne of sweet baselines out in the funk, dance and hip-hop worlds too. Of course, if UG readers think rock is best in the sub region, go ahead and vote that way.

Classic bass riffs that come to mind are "Good Times" by Chic, "Taxman" by The Beatles, "Schism" by Tool and "Money" by Pink Floyd. We're pretty confident that Rage Against The Machine will pull a few votes too.

Go ahead an post your nominations in the comments, and remember to share this list to friends with the Facebook and Twitter buttons on the right. Let's make the the best bassline top 10 ever!

Comments

[J-Dawg158]

One of my favorites has always been Dazed and Confused by Led Zeppelin.

[60s&70s]

That one and Higher Ground Cover by the Red Hot Chili Peppers!!!

[dewitt]

Are y'all into the kickass bass line from Hey Joe ?

[Superperfex]

Helter Skelter by The Beatles

[kettmannism]

Technically there wasnt a bass in Helter Skelter. It was one of those Fender VI things that is an octave lower than a guitar. Lennon played it.

[Superperfex]

It's still the bass line. And I'm surprised I was down voted. That's such a great bass line.

[latinromans]

bass is just as much a role as it is a specific instrument

[TheJiveTurkey]

come togeather or higher ground

[JohnRegular]

Higher Ground is the funkiest... but George Baker Selection- Little Green Bag is easily the grooviest.
(It's the opening music in Reservoir Dogs, for the most of you)

[killektrika]

NIB by Black Sabbath

[TJWhonley]

Orion, if you listen to the bass, is actually an incredible bassline, and one of cliff burton's best pieces. also think death to all but metal by steel panther has a really good bassline

[Diony x]

My Friend Of Misery is effective too!

[GhostPlayground]

That's a guitar riff created by James Hetfield that Jason imitated with his bass.

I agree it's a cool riff though, and a very underrated Metallica song.

[mop10893]

Wrong. Jason said himself that he wrote that bassline with the intention of it being the instrumental on the Black Album. He gave it to James and Lars and they had a different vision. But he definitely wrote the bassline.

[Slaytan666]

I liked the live version on 'Binge and Purge'. Badass.

[metalladam97]

yeah dude! i was gonna say that, 3 mad bass parts, 2 of which people mistake for guitar cliff's that cool!

[hotdogs585]

NIB by Primus feat Ozzy...totally outshined the original

[ToastWizard]

Everyone is entitled to their opinion and stuff, but just no.

[hotdogs585]

yes

[hovermethod]

i wasnt thinking of that but yea

[My Last Words]

Omgfgfgf, How could I not think of Sabbath!!?? Hand of doom is great too..

[JMZ08]

This and My Generation by The Who

[JMZ08]

The lack of Les Claypool mentioned astonishes me...

[JMZ08]

Just another thought, Ashes to Ashes by David Bowie. Great fun bassline.

[rockfreak611]

ANYTHING John Paul Jones!

[GhostPlayground]

The Lemon Song.

[Funnybananas]

Couldn't agree anymore. This is my favorite song to play whenever i pick up my bass

[red.guitar]

I love the groove that JPJ and Bonham got going in this tune!

[Vabolo]

Good Times, Bad Times,I just thought I'd share,
John Paul Jones said it himself,this bassline
Is the hardest one of his they put on the air

[satanlives]

Love that song

[hotdogs585]

I thought we already agreed that Joy Division's "Love will tear us apart" had the best bass line.

[EpsilonJSTC]

Thursday by Morphine!

[Bassplay_josh]

Guns N' Roses Sweet Child O' Mine?

[fromzero]

Led Zeppelin - Dazed and Confused
Bush - Comedown
Deftones - Change
Limp Bizkit - Re-arranged
Staind - Mudshovel
Pink Floyd - Money
Beatles - Come Together
Metallica - pulling teeth / sad but true / suicide redemption
Black Sabbath - n.I.b.
Machine Head - Now I Lay Thee Down
Incubus - The Warmth

[hotdogs585]

Terrible. Oh wait your username is based on that abysmal nu-metal band.

[rayven1lk]

Doesn't matter what anyone says...UG's gonna plug hysteria in anyways...its the season to hype muse up lol

[skull78]

1 vote for New Born - Muse for me. Love that bass line. Learned it because it's so kick ass.

[andreschr]

Sweet Child o' Mine by GnR.. The bass line is by far the best thing in that intro.. and thoughout the song, except for the guitar solo ;P

[Mouloudo]

dazed and confused isn't even an original song

[Revocati0n]

its gotta be Wannabe by Spice Girls.

[somebody some1]

Why's everyone forgetting about punk.. in general their bass lines are better. basically anything by Rancid should win

[RoomOnFire03]

More like anything by Operation Ivy (Same bassist & guitarist)

[EpsilonJSTC]

You misspelled Minutemen.

[JelloCrust]

Well, that's why I included Capitalist Casualties and Siouxie and the Banshees.

[Rokodlak]

good times bad times

[thisaradj]

War Pigs by Black Sabbath!
It has the most awesome bassline ever!

[sl1pk0t001]

How Many More Times - Led Zeppelin ?

[TimTheWizard]

The bass in the live version of No Quarter is the best, so subtle yet so supportive and brilliant!

[tompac5]

Cannonball - the breeders?

[notaconotaco]

Another One Bites the Dust

[Jesus_Dean]

...and "Under Pressure"

[electricblue2]

... and Dragon Attack

[Burnzyburns]

Yes! Dragon Attack's bassline is great, I recommend having sex to it.

[GCanuck_39]

This song was playing when I opened this page.

[poomanjones]

Peace sells - megadeth

[killektrika]

I love this bassline and it surely deserves a mention on this page, but just FYI thats a rhythm-guitar part written by Dave Mustaine that David Ellefson followed on the bass.

[pano92]

Malignant Narcissism by Rush. Just awesome...

[FirstMateJepeto]

I'd say La Villa Strangiato!

Also about anything by Rush, Primus or Protest the Hero. Maybe it's just me.

[chazzyfresh33]

YYZ!

[Shadow914]

Yes YYZ or anything by Tool, Justin and Paul are 2 of the very BEST, as well as Geddy.

[Maiden95]

I agree 100% with La Villa Strangaito!

Another one for me is Give It Away by Flea and the Chilis.

[AnnihilationUK]

Higher Ground! MMMMM Dat bass

[NarwhalG2G]

Definitely.

[Cuddles McFluff]

Runaway - Jamiroquai

[KISSmyass666]

Schism
Peace sells,thing that shuld not be,
Money,NIB, and Pulling teeth.

[My Last Words]

I wouldn't really call Pulling teeth a bassline, tho it's cool as hell.

[My Last Words]

Pulling teeth is really cool, but I wouldn't really call it a bassline

[My Last Words]

Double post my bad

[hovermethod]

triple

[AndeR53]

Longview.

[bonjidonk]

Around the World by Red Hot Chili Peppers, or any Chili Peppers song really.

[RoomOnFire03]

Personally, I think Mellowship Slinky In B Major wins that contest

[DickHardwood]

Soul To Squeeze- Red Hot Chili Peppers. Not a flash one but it drives the melody in the entire song.

[mitchy86]

yes! that bassline is amazing.

[Stiers]

Can't give this enough votes

[kagendew]

Also that little classical inspired bass lick flea throws in the last chorus is beautiful. I know it doesnt count as a bass line necessarily but I just hope it's appreciated by some

[DickHardwood]

It's one of my favorite bass licks actually. The whole song is a great bassline.

[jrodgers]

Aeroplane by Chili Peppers, or Bullet in the Head by RATM

[Vermillionpart2]

Definitely Bullet in the Head.

[daniel coogan]

Come as You Are - Nirvana!

[liam_gal]

that's a guitar riff!

[5MinutesAlone]

F**** Moron

[BradTheBluefish]

I know it's a guitar rif, but I always play it on the bass.

[webber243]

You want a medal?

[The_Locker]

Money - Pink Floyd

[60s&70s]

Higher Ground Cover by the Chili Pepperssss!!!!

[theshadow180]

As I Am - Dream Theater

[jose andres]

panic attack, best bass ever

[theshadow180]

How the hell did I forget about Panic Attack!

[sherman316]

Great Pick

[l.u.c.]

BILLIE JEAN

[Noob_Brood]

Not the biggest Tool fan, but Justin Chancellor made me want to play bass after I heard the intro/verse riff to "Schism". For a Tool song it was really gnarly.

[Camron62\m/]

For a Tool song? most of their songs have awesome basslines!

[Noob_Brood]

Yeah, but Schism to me had a sort of bluesy, hard-to-describe something to it that amazed me...it was really different than anything I ever heard and it was super creative. But you are right...Justin is a beast and with Danny on drums they really have something special...all I was saying was that between songs like H. and Pushit on their Aenima album to songs like Schism and Ticks and Leeches...Justin really stepped his game up between albums

[noisewall11]

that's probably because paul wrote alot of the Aenima basslines.. I think they just had him use them instead of him taking the time to write his own interpritation

[EnglishToolRage]

I think it was Justine that wrote a lot of the more intricate lines... The album wasn't written when Paul left... I heard, at least, that Justine came in for H, 46&2, Jimmy, Pushit and Aenima...

[GEBass]

Can't go wrong with Money by Pink Floyd

[R.R.]

YYZ - Rush

[KnotParkDay]

FOR WHOM THE BELL TOLLS!

[h-lividum]

I kept scrolling down thinking, I can't believe know one has said For Whom The Bell Tolls.... Cliff gets my vote for this one.

[Chronologo]

Honey White by Morphine

[jdsmith0405]

Rocket Queen

[Maxu92]

Yes - Close to the edge

[withoutanyname]

Yes - Tempus Fugit

[dhruvd353]

Yes-Roundabout

[FirstMateJepeto]

Yes, yes, YESSSSS!!!

[BenAffleck]

Ice Ice Baby.

[zShockz]

Alice in Chains - Would?

[BlueIceBox]

Yes! Love that intro...

[iommi600]

It saddens me that I can not upvote you enough.

[zalant]

I remember trying to play that when I was first learning. It's a snap now, but at the time, the timing was a bitch for me. I loved the way it sounded, though, so I kept on going.

[I.shower.naked]

For Whom The Bell Tolls - Metallica.
Pulling Teeth (Anesthesia) - Metallica.

[60s&70s]

Thats Flea on the picture by the way!

[killektrika]

...by the way I tried to say I'd be there
Waiting for!

[teknoman]

Chi Cheng's (Deftones) bass line on Change is epic.

[Rockford_rocks]

Yes. Yes it is.

[gray96]

How come every comment with something Deftones-related is minused? It's stupid.

[whywefight]

Agreed. Notice the avatar.

[DeathMetalHub]

Jermaine Jackson - Let's Get Serious....I mean you could make a porno to this bassline

[link55588]

Would? And Jeremy

[Linkerman]

I wholeheartedly agree. Both are simple, yet extremely effective.

AIC's "Would?" has my favourite bassline ever. Dark, moody and powerful.

With "Jeremy" i have a complicated relationship, because it was one of the first Pearl Jam songs i heard, so throughout the years i've associated it with different periods of my life...
But still, its bassline is a close contender for Best Bassline Ever.

[thetoasteroven]

come out and play by the offspring
love buzz nirvana
sober tool

[thetoasteroven]

forgot to add rain when i die by aic

[Slaytan666]

'Rain when I die is a great mention, but 'Love buzz' is a cover, so you can't really give Krist credit for that. He is a great player, though. The bass line from 'lounge act' deserves a mention, for sure.

[thetoasteroven]

i forgot love buzz was a cover thanks for reminding me

[garnchu]

I'm not trying to argue here (I actually agree with you guys), but does the fact that it was a cover diminish its status as a good/bad bass riff? Someone still wrote it, and regardless of who it was, a good riff is still a good riff. In my opinion, the same goes for bass riffs written by guitarists. We aren't necessarily arguing the best BASSIST, but the best BASS RIFFS, which isn't necessarily the same thing. Granted, the best bassists usually write the best bass riffs, but I wouldn't say that it necessarily HAS to be the case. Again, just a little food for thought.

[MyS3lF]

hysteria

[dewitt]

Def Leppard!!! WHOOOO!!!

[a0kalittlema0n]

Maybe he meant Muse...

[dewitt]

Doubt it.

[Xmaniac]

he defenetly meant muse

[darkunderworld]

Any bassline of Peter Hook... Joy Division or New Order...

[DaireBass]

From Safety to Where? has a pretty cool bassline, and is pretty much the only guitar in the track, ignoring the random chords on an electric.

[gray96]

Peter Hook is one of the best bassists ever. "Ceremony", "Blue Monday", "Age of Consent", "Regret"... the list goes on. It saddens me that he left New Order.

[abs_n91]

Fleetwood Mac's "The Chain"

[crystalmonday80]

Beat me to it!

[Rick_Diculous]

Obvious choices: RHCP "Soul to Squeeze" and The Who "The Real Me"

Others worthy of consideration: Arctic Monkeys "Fluorescent Adolescent" and Death Cab for Cutie "Crooked Teeth"

[DaireBass]

Surely From Ritz to Rubble by the Arctic Monkeys has a more impressive bassline.

[RoomOnFire03]

Totally agree

[Rick_Diculous]

I can agree with that. I personally like playing Fluorescent Adolescent better. The Arctic Monkeys in general have fantastic basswork. Any number of songs could be chosen.

[Mikethespud]

Orion is definitely up there

[N1kola189]

Miles Davis - So What?
Green Day - Welcome To Paradise
Queens of the Stone Age - No One Knows
The Who - The Real Me
The Killers - Somebody Told Me

[Deanomachino]

No One Knows, what a great bassline!

[Jakinov]

Roundabout - Yes is pretty good

Tool's got a lot of great ones as well.

[TheThesTony]

Schism for sure

[VLVTRVOLVR13]

Talking Heads Psycho Killer

[poomanjones]

Hysteria-muse

[saulgoodman15]

for whom the bell tolls or orion. Viridian as well, more of a bass solo

[Gessu]

Metallica - Orion

[HowToFly]

Dearg Doom by Horslips

[Mike Quall]

Horslips? hahaha

[spiff-corgi]

Coffee Shop by RHCP. 2 bass solos. Can't go wrong.

[spiff-corgi]

Actually I Want You Back by Jackson 5 has an absolutely kick ass bassline.

[5t4lky]

although it´s not rock i would say rappers delight by the sugarhill gang, common that riff was great.

[kozmo4200]

rancid- maxwell murder
Sweet bass and solo.

[BirdieBoy264]

Agreed. Such an awesome bass solo.

[rmeiss95]

'Orion' by Metallica.

[UtBDan]

2 that haven't been said: Behind blue byes by the Who
Roundabout by Yes

2 that have totally already been said: Around the World by RHCP, Aeroplane by RHCP

[liam_gal]

Anything by Fall Out Boy!!!

[robbie.thecloud]

no.

[goremetal22]

Emphatic No.

[powerfist]

Do you even know what a bassline is?

[ha_asgag]

The bassline provides the rhythmic and harmonic foundation of the music...

[third(-)eye]

*Sees post*
"WTF?!?"
*Sees poster's username"
"Nvm..."

[hovermethod]

ha ha ha sorry man

[ha_asgag]

Nope. Anything by Abe Laboriel, Sr

[mullet1337]

'Runaway' by Jamiroquai
'Sir Duke', 'I Was Made to Love Her', 'I Wish', 'Do I Do' - Stevie Wonder
(there are more great Stevie Wonder basslines, not surprising considering he worked with Jameson and Nate Watts)

Also 'Sweet Child o' Mine' - Guns N Roses. Very underrated bassline overshadowed the guitars and vocals.

[mullet1337]

Also I second 'I Want You Back' - Jackson 5

[iceman2kuk]

Breakthru by Queen and Bullet in the Head by RATM

[the chalky one]

Ozzy osbourne - Crazy train.
Green day - When I come around.
Avenged Sevenfold - Tonight the world dies.

And one of my personal favorites.

Stone sour - Say you'll haunt me.

[iceman2kuk]

Queen - Breakthru
RATM - Bullet in the Head

[Ace Guitarist]

PEACE SELLS!!! MEGADETH

[wylde1994]

or Holly Wars

[Hungry_Hameds]

Biscuit Head by Spin Doctors... check it out!!

[withoutanyname]

Black Dog by Led Zep

[gray96]

I agree with you, but is the bassline any different from the guitar, though? I would say "Immigrant Song" just for sheer speed in the chorus.

[withoutanyname]

It's not different from the guitar, but it just rocks anyway!

[gray96]

Eh, can't argue with that!

[webber243]

It was originally written by Jon Paul Jones on bass mate

[sunnyinphilly13]

green day - longview

[ZeligtheAxMan]

Xanadu by Rush
or A Farewell To Kings...

[udlevi]

james brown - play that funky music white boy
pink floyd - money

[Malchius]

Wild Cherry* - play that funky music white boy

Fixed

[udlevi]

"Play That Funky Music" is a funk rock song written by Robert Parissi and recorded by the band Wild Cherry. The song is commonly mistaken to be originally by singer James Brown, who never even covered the song - wikipedia

i guess you're right thanks

[St. Jimmy609]

"Sliver" by Nirvana

[jebusman]

Anything by Primus!

[mdr9inchnails]

Feel Good Inc. - Gorillaz

[nylescota]

dont go away mad -motley crue

[matt154]

Children of the sea - black sabbath

Not one I would usually choose but it sounds so good cranked with the guitar and it really makes the song...

[vppark2]

Death Cab For Cutie - I Will Possess Your Heart has a sweet one, and The Bravery - Believe

[tennesseehild]

Rage Agaist the Machine: Killing in the Name of

[tennesseehild]

Metallica: For Whom the Bell Tolls

[KingNothing666]

especially the live version where Cliff does the crazy solo fist then blends it into the intro

[Darth_Pietrus]

You mean Robert right? Cuz his is soooo good.

[ImagineTheThorn]

No. He means. Cliff's intro to it on "Cliff 'em All"

[sora0156]

This Charming Man - The Smiths

[DaireBass]

What about Barbarism Begins at Home?

[gray96]

Or "Heaven Knows I'm Miserable Now", "Well I Wonder", "There Is a Light That Never Goes Out"... geez, Andy Rourke is one of the most overlooked bassists ever.

[kmister]

The Queen is dead and Death of a Disco Dancer are two of my favorite Smiths lines.

[suicidalpoptart]

Dawn Patrol - Megadeth

[red_hot_chili18]

Children Of The Grave - Sabbath

[rugby11]

Cant Stop - Chili Peppers

[tennesseehild]

Primus: My Name is Mud

[tennesseehild]

Primus: Wynona had a big brown Beaver

[RndyW0]

After those 2 posts you are still forgetting Jimmy Was a Racecar Driver

[Reign77]

And tommy the cat

[Slaytan666]

Anything by Primus will do, IMO.

[loungeact88]

How has it taken this long for that song to be mentioned? That bass line is insane.

[J...Out]

Jerry not jimmy... dufus

[AzzyAsbourne]

thank god, someone finally mentioned the works of les claypool, i was getting worried

[tennesseehild]

Foo Fighters: Everlong

[iommifn2]

Diesel - Sausalito Summernight

[ZStardust2012]

psycho killer - talking heads
the chain - fleetwood mac
age of consent - new order

[1916]

I think people are mistaking basslines with solos...
Money by Pink Floyd
Slither by Velvet Revolver
White Rabbit by Jefferson Starship
Bad Motor Scooter by Montrose
Tie your Mother Down by Queen
Rocket Queen by GnR
Primal Scream by Motley Crue
Aerosmith have some cool basslines
As much as I hate him, Gene Simmons has come up with some cool shit too.
Anything by John Entwhistle, JPJ and Flea
There are heaps more, I like Sabbath's Paranoid and Heaven and Hell.
Arrrrrggggghhh There's too many!

[Battery Chicken]

White Rabbit was Jefferson Airplane, Jefferson Starship were the clusterf*ck 80's band that followed. That said, that is a rocking bassline.

[Brandon1993]

either
Ruby Soho by Rancid
Blister In The Sun by The Violent Femmes
or Roundabout by Yes

[wylde1994]

I certainly agree with Yes, that bassline is killer

[1916]

Art Of Shredding, too

[ZStardust2012]

psycho killer - talking heads
the chain - fleetwood mac
age of consent - new order
longview

[BjarnedeGraaf]

Hysteria - Muse ofcourse.. what can be better? gotta love fast basslicks

[tallica83x91]

Some odd ones here...faith no more:falling to pieces; alice in chains: would?; metallica: king nothing;

[MesSihrAlmighty]

Muse: Hysteria

[GlacierMan]

Give It Away- RHCP

[Lordyboy]

Longview or Lounge Act, I guess...

[javdoc]

"The Real Me", John Entwhistle, The Who

[Sakke]

The Eagles - Hotel California

[Eirien]

Billy Cobham - Stratus

You know this bassline even if you think you've never heard of Billy.

[Raven_Flight]

Opeth - The Lines In My Hands

[hendrix04]

Iron Maiden-The Clarivoyant

[drmomsen]

I learned to play bass after hearing Maxwell Murder by Rancid. But i also love me some Geddy Lee and Les Claypool

[robo37]

The bass line on Abney Park's Evil Man is actually pretty good. I'm not sure about the best song ever, but I don't usually pay too much attention to bass lines.

[L.T Kickass]

CRY Of THE BANSHEE

[RichieJovie]

Running with the devil.

[Abacus11]

Black Sabbath - NIB

[PoorePlaysBass]

Coming from a bass player, the horn unison post-chorus of Sir Duke. The bass plays the horn part note for note, and it is simply top notch.

[xplosive59]

I don't know why people voted you down the bassline is great, as with most of Stevie Wonder's stuff.

[Izzy-Sweet]

ANY SONG by The Cure.

[Abacus11]

Simon Gallup is awesome! Very underrated bass player.

[iommi600]

Fuck yes! "Screw" is one of my favorite bass bites of all time...

[ptleruuh]

Disintegration is easily the most simple but brilliantly effective bass line I know.

[CamTheBass]

Funky Ride by OutKast has a great bassline. Also Nobody Weird Like Me by RHCP. Just so fast...

[DaireBass]

I am the Resurrection - The Stone Roses
Baggy Trousers - Madness
Lounge Act - Nirvana
Arpeggiator - Fugazi
Psycho Killer - Talking Heads

[knator22]

Worker bees - Billy Talent
Peace sells - Megadeth
Metallica - My Friend Of Misery

[ComeInnerEar]

Den of the Piquerist - The Black Dahlia Murder
The Anticosmic Overload - Obscura

Quite frankly, I'm upset at the lack of Steve Harris being mentioned.

[JBTheLefty]

Me too, i'm just scrolling through, trying to find some Maiden. Harris kills it everytime.

[Zimwibwe]

Hand Of Doom-Black Sabbath

[!..!_Rock_!..!]

Voodoo by Godsmack

[2ndslash]

Waiting Room - Fugazi

[Bozjoarmstrong]

The Jam - Town Called Malice.
The Clash - Guns of Brixton.
Queen - Another One Bites The Dust.
All simple, all fantastic, all stolen numerous times.

[!..!_Rock_!..!]

Dawn Patrol
Peace Sells
Countdown to Extinction
Hangar 18

[!..!_Rock_!..!]

Rosenrot by Rammstein

[slybacon]

Alice in Chains - Would?
Nirvana - Lounge Act
Red Hot Chili Peppers - Throw Away Your Television
Red Hot Chili Peppers - Hard to Concentrate
Beastie Boys - Electric Worm
Blink 182 - Carousel
Queens of the Stone Age - Mexicola
Metallica - Orion, For Whom the Bell Tolls or King Nothing
Kyuss - Space Cadet
Tool - Forty-Six and Two
Tool - Schism

[tgriffith1992]

How has "Sweet Emotion" not been said yet?

[tennesseehild]

Or Ace of Spades?

[!..!_Rock_!..!]

Livin on a Prayer

[RandomLetters95]

The bassline in Powerslave (the titled song) by Iron Maiden is one of my favourite basslines.

[GuitarBassVoice]

hysteria-muse
another one bites the dust-queen
dani california-rhcp

[SynysterSix]

F.C.P.S.I.T.S.G.E.P.G.E.P.G.E.P.
by the fall of troy.

[twiggy3634]

Dark Trail as well, especially the chorus

[5MinutesAlone]

ORION - CLIFF BURTON.

[AnEvilWalrus]

Sir Psycho Sexy by the Red Hot Chili Peppers has an excellent bassline.

[Abacus11]

Iron Maiden - "The Clairvoyant"

[Thrashfly]

Definitely something by Cliff Burton (e.g. Orion or For Whom The Bell Toll"). Another great bassline is in Dawn Patrol from Megadeth and Flea does some pretty cool stuff too.

[EvilDeadfan1026]

"Mountain Song" - Jane's Addiction
"My Name is Mud" - Primus
"Cemetery Gates" - The Smiths

[iommi600]

In a Jar - Dinosaur Jr.

The bassline makes the whole song.

[clark787]

Let me guess....UG will publish their own list in a few days taking all of the songs people have suggested acting like they made up the list..

[Abacus11]

No, they'll compile the songs that we vote for the most into a list and post it. They're pretty straightforward about the list being based on our votes. They've been doing this for a while.

[dennis.1960]

I started out in some late 70's bands as a bass player, here were my favorite basslines to play:

King Crimson - The Great Deceiver, 21st Century Schizoid Man
Pink Floyd - Money
Emerson Lake & Palmer - Knife Edge
Led Zep - Dazed & Confused, Livin' Lovin' Maid
Beatles - With a Little Help from my Friends
Jethro Tull - Bouree
Procol Harum - A Whiter Shade of Pale
The theme song from the 70's TV comedy "Barney Miller"

[CasseToi]

BWV 582.
IT HAS TO BE SAID

[xplosive59]

Rio - Duran Duran(John Taylor is the master of the ghost note and has such busy basslines that it is a shame he is so under appreciated)

So What - Miles Davis

Voyager - Daft Punk

Cosmic Girl - Jamiroquai (Stuart Zender, amazing bassist, completely under rated)

The Philosopher/Spirit Crusher - Death

NiB - Black Sabbath

U Can't Hold no Groove... - Victor Wooten (I would put classical thump but that is a solo essentially)

Donna Lee - Jaco Pastorius

La Femme d'Argent - Air

The Banishment - Aryeon (amazing bass solo in that)

Viridian - Between The Buried and Me (as well as all of Dan Brigg's Jazz Metal band Trioscapes stuff)

21st Century Schizoid Man - King Crimson

Been a Jazz/Prog/Rock/Funk bassist for 6 years and those are some of the best I have heard, there are alot more but I don't want to have an overly long post!

[Whiteboy_az]

Primus - Jerry was a Race Car Driver

[Death_To_Emo]

Tommy the Cat

[RoadRunner939]

Sweet Child O' Mine of course!

Slither from Velvet Revolver is also pretty awesome

[RoadRunner939]

Sweet Child O' Mine of course!

Slither from Velvet Revolver is also pretty awesome

[Alice2Mudgarden]

Mountain Song - Jane's Addiction

or

Summertime Rolls - Jane's Addiction

[bmy]

peace sells - megadeth!!!

[jhart08]

Rain when I die-Alice in Chains

[JayMichaelRayne]

i know you wil all hate me for saying this, but my candidate for the best bassline ever is longview by green day

[tehbudmang]

Dream Theater - Panic Attack
Coheed and Cambria - Apollo I: The Writing Writer/ The Willing Well III: Apollo II: The Telling Truth
Rush - Circumstances

[Schofey]

I agree with Panic Attack. The bass in that song is fantastic.

[Sparda93]

Meshuggah - Bleed

[MaXiMuse]

Euh, when is there a bassline in Bleed? It's exactly the same as the guitarpart

[Azzerr]

The Who - My Generation !

[Suckerpunchme!]

I know this won't be popular, but the bassline from "Sledgehammer" by Peter Gabriel is pretty awesome in its own right.

[Darth_Pietrus]

Metallica - My Friend of Misery
Brocas Helm - Cry of the Banshee
Disturbed - Asylum
Havok - Morbid Symmetry
Megadeth - Peace Sells
Megadeth - Trust
Michael Jackson - Smooth Criminal

[max96920]

Queens of the Stone Age - Mexicola

[the_resistance]

schism by tool

[Bsoffski]

dazed and confused - Led Zeppelin
Money - Pink Floyd
Orion - Metallica

[GibbonWolf]

Fleetwood Mac - The Chain

[ChamsRock]

Panic Attack by Dream Theater

[Darth_Pietrus]

There has to be atleast one Funk song in there somewhere.

[blackwingbat]

Pink Floyd - Money
Motorhead - Ace of Spades
Yes - Roundabout
Black Country Communion - Black Country
The Beatles - Come Together

[KingNothing666]

'Love Will Tear Us Apart' by Joy Division. So simple, yet so much emotion.

[curly-d23]

Primus - Jerry Was a Race Car Driver
Metallica - (Anesthesia) Pulling Teeth
Green Day - Longview
Nirvana - Love Buzz
Local H - Bound for the Floor
Rage Against the Machine - Take the Power Back
Red Hot Chili Peppers - Readymade
Alice in Chains - Would?
Probably not the best basslines ever but I'm just giving a shout out to these songs

[curly-d23]

I know it's a little bit late now but I forgot to mention '7 Words' by Deftones

[Cheesepuff]

Hysteria

[KonaNuNu]

Queen - Dragon Attack
Primus - Mary Has a Big Brown Beaver
The Beatles - Paperback Writer

How many bass players does it take to screw in a light bulb?
None; the keyboard player can do it with his left hand.


Q: Why can't many bass players get through the door?
A:They either can't find the key or don't know when to come in.

Q: How do you know when the stage is level?
A: When the bass player is drooling out of both sides of his mouth.

Q: What did the bassist do when he was told to turn on his amp?
A: He caressed it softly and told it that he loved it.

Q: What do you call someone who hangs around with musicians?
A: A Bass Player.

Son: "Daddy, I want to grow up and be a bass player."
Father: "Son, you can't have it both ways. "

Q: Why don't bass players ever catch a cold?
A: Even a virus has some pride.

Q: What did the bass player get on his IQ test?
A: Drool.

Q: What's the difference between a bass player and a mutual fund?
A: One matures.

Q: How do you make a bassist's eyes light up?
A: Shine a flashlight in his ear.

Q: Why are there bass solos?
A: So the audience has something to talk over.

[MetalxAnthony]

HAHA GOODSHIT!

Q: What do you call someone who hangs around with musicians?
A: A Bass Player.

Son: "Daddy, I want to grow up and be a bass player."
Father: "Son, you can't have it both ways. "

[Camron62\m/]

it's Wynona's Big Brown Beaver.

[iommi600]

A guitarist and a bassist were fighting like hell. The drummer comes in to make peace between them.

D: "Why are you guys fighting like this?"
B: "This modofacka right here detuned a string of my bass!"
D: "So?"
B: "He won't tell me which one..."

[KingNothing666]

Guessing you're a drummer?

[Slaytan666]

The father/son one is great.

Q: What do you do if you bass player is drowning?
A: Throw him his amp.

It's a little dark, but still my favorite.

[fraberjam]

Q: How many guitarists does it take to screw in a lightbulb?

A: One to screw it in and about a million to talk about how they could have done it better.

[blackwingbat]

Shite, there's like a dozen amazing songs by Morphine that have amazing bass. Honey White, Buena, Scratch, and All Wrong in particular. Though, they're not traditional rock and probably wouldn't make this list.

[Lightning_Ray]

And it's absolutely fantastic that Mark wrote and played them in a Bass... with 2 strings.

[Prog_Metal_Head]

Rush - The Enemy Within
Michael Jackson - Thriller
Symphony X - Domination (the intro riff, anyway)

[harveyhar]

NIB Black Sabbath

[Prog_Metal_Head]

[jimmysaint]

Malignant Narcissism by Rush

[MetalxAnthony]

either Orion, For whom the bell tolls, Cliffs of Dover, or Scar Tissue...

[jonesatuguitar]

I notice that many of you mention songs like Hysteria and Pulling Teeth and such, dont get me wrong I like them as well, but I think that a bassline is something that makes a song complete, and sometimes better, when its accompanied by the guitar. So my favourite bassline is Another Brick In The Wall pt.2

[shred_wizzard]

Seven Nation Army by the White Stripes

[MetalxAnthony]

Damn thats a Legendary Bass line... Every bass/guitarists virginity riff... it was my first played riff on guitar.

[latem yvaeh]

It's not a bass line though...Jack used an octave pedal on his guitar.

[MetalxAnthony]

well obviously. They are a 2 peice band... Its still considered a bass line just the fact that its role in the song is to be the bass guitar.

[gray96]

I was so annoyed when I found that out! That was like one of the first songs that I learned to play on bass! On an upright, no less!

[MetalxAnthony]

Daaaamn, SOULS OF BLACK! TESTAMENT

[morellostheman]

No More Tears and the entire Primus discography

[zalant]

Wow, this is getting long. (That's what she said...)

Anyway, I can't believe no one has said 'No More Tears' by Ozzy. It's very very simple, but I've always thought it was really cool.

[Krieger91]

Take the Power Back intro by Rage is an awesome bassline.

Californication is actually very memorable, ands works extremely well with the guitar.

Hysteria by muse.

Schism.

[zalant]

Dang, got me by two minutes!

[logicbdj]

Although the guitar takes over the melody, check out the intro bass line to Iron Butterfly's In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida.

[mjones1992]

I doubt anyone'll even see this, but

"Those Who Are From The Sun Return To The Sun" - Stardeath & White Dwarfs

[Peres.T.Peanut]

Necrophagist - Stabwound. that bass is rippin. also, Hammer Smashed Face by Cannibal Corpse

[jonathan.keeler]

why would it be anything other than schism by tool?

unless it was domination by symphony x

[The jazz Man]

My Friend of Misery
NIB

[Himynameisben95]

You Can Call Me Al by Paul Simon

[joecobhcmaggot]

Dazed And confused by led zeppelin (John Paul Jones)
N.I.B. black sabbath (Geezer Butler)
Powerslave iron maiden (Steve Harris)
Highter Ground RHCP (flea!!)
Hush and schism tool (Paul D'Amour and Justin Chancellor)
Hysteria muse (Chris Wolstenholme)
The Dark Eternal Night Dream Theater (almighty John Myung)
ORION!! metallica (Mr. Cliff Burton)

[glynn 46]

sure know something-Kiss.so simple,so easy,so cool

[jrob08]

Iron Maiden - Powerslave

I would also second Panic Attack and Billie Jean

[therosa69]

Willing Well: II Fear Through The Eyes of Madness - Coheed and Cambria

[Kerry_King_1990]

How come no one ever says John Entwistle? The Real me is an awesome bassline. everyone is so quick to just say cliff burton, he's good, but Entwistle was one of, if not the first to do bass solos. check out live videos of the Who, and Entwistle's improvisational solos, or just his playing. sure alot of the above bassist are good, but in terms of technicality, Entwistle

[scrymusic]

Janes Addiction = Three Days
Primus = John The.Fisherman
Rush = Limelight
Iron Maiden = Phantom of the Opera
Red Hot Chili Peppers = I Could Have Lied
Tool = Schisim

[Hash4you]

Voyager by Daft Punk

[withoutanyname]

Didn't see this coming, but yeah, this is a really nice bassline!

[latem yvaeh]

How about "Tommy the Cat" by Primus? I don't think I saw this at all on here yet.

[rastan3]

For whom the bell tolls - Metallica

[JFisJC]

Pretty much any RHCP bassline. Flea just churns em out.

[jubass14]

I'm assuming Chili Pepper's cover of Higher Ground already won.
5:15 off of Quadrophenia by The Who.
Entwhistle will always be a god.

[TJ1991]

The correct answer is I Want You Back by the Jackson 5.

[BVBKilljoy]

Lounge Act - Nirvana
N.I.B - Black Sabbath
Another One Bites the Dust - Queen
Loverboy - YM@6

[captainsnazz]

One Better - Les Claypool.
Failing that, Schism.

[maleathe]

Peace Sells - Megadeth.

[frehley freak]

The Bass solo from My Generation

or

Silly Love Songs

[arnolddrummer]

Bombtrack-RATM

[bball_fan01]

What Is and What Should Never Be - Led Zeppelin

[frehley freak]

Paperback Writer is a good one I saw above too.

[BassKid101]

Gorillaz - Feel Good Inc.
Daft Punk - Around the World
The Mars Volta - chorus of Wax Simulacra
Tool - Schism (duh)

And all the obvious ones mentioned already, those are just some of my favorites to play.

[shortylem407]

Higher Ground - Red Hot Chili Peppers

[coco-axeman]

Not sure about best, but one of my favourites is the the bassline for Alice in Chains' Rotten Apple

[ha_asgag]

1] Eagles - Hotel California
2] The Real Thing - You To Me Are Everything
3] Cake - I Will Survive
4] Red Hot Chili Peppers - Can't Stop
5] Abba - Dancing Queen

[ha_asgag]

6] Red Hot Chili Peppers - Higher Ground
7] Gin Blossoms - As Long as it Matters
8] Bellamy Brothers - Let Your Love Flow

others:
35] Muse - Hysteria
36] Metallica - Battery

[ha_asgag]

34]B.O.B feat. Bruno Mars - Nothing On You

[ha_asgag]

37] Deep Purple - Smoke On The Water

[felixramsey]

How about some AC/DC? Haha. But seriously. Obviously, Ramble On by Zeppelin is a great one. A lot of you folks already named a lot of good ones. I guess I got nothing.

[m4ss3 m/]

Not really the best of the best, but for some reason "My Sharona" started to play in my head today. That one is pretty cool.

[sorryatbest]

I am mostly a guitar player but I dabble in bass as well. there are some great bass-lines listed but some of my personal favorites are(not in any certain order)-
Mudvayne-Dig
The White Stripes-Seven Nation Army
Staind-Mudshovel
Primus-My Name Is Mud

[ashers67]

How strange that 3 of the 4 songs/bands you picked had mud in them!

[RJDfan666]

Seven Cities of Gold - Rush

I know it's off the new album they just put out a few months ago, but it's awesome!!!

[hovermethod]

yea man u got it!

[ironman316]

Venom - GS Megaphone.

[Tykus]

Gorillaz - Feel Good Inc.
The Clash - Guns Of Brixton
Billie Jean - Michael Jackson
Can't think of anymore off the top of my head...

[ChuySmit]

Sleep - Dragonaut

[CapnKickass]

yes!

[ToolCreedence]

Anything by The Jesus Lizard

[milanio]

Scar Tissue - RHCP
Love Buzz - Nirvana
Hairspray Queen - Nirvana

That's my three

[jeromvesseur]

MC Hammer- u can't touch this

[hovermethod]

ur joking of course but that would be Rick James-Kinky Girl. i hate myself for knowing that

[Ghost_Dancer]

Rick James - super freak.

[DaveMustaine7]

Peace sells Megadeth

[Spekulus]

We gotta get out of this place - the animals
My friend of misery - Metallica
Come together - Beatles
Track 6 on rammsteins first album (the one about coming in his boot)

[ashers67]

That song would be Seemann...
But yeah, that bass line is really good. Similar to If by Red Hot Chili Peppers, and I don't think they've been mentioned yet...

[ImagineTheThorn]

Black Sabbath - N.I.B., Planet Caravan, Hand Of Doom.
Symphony X - Domination
Type O Negative - Black No. 1(Simple, but classic)
A Perfect Circle - Weak & Powerless
Primus - Eclectic Electric, Southbound Pachyderm
Nick Cave And The Bad Seeds - Red Right Hand

[rushntool]

In no particular order
Metallica - (Anesthesia) Pulling Teeth
Pigs - Pink Floyd or Pigs on a wing whatever the name is
Over the Electric Grapevine - Primus
The Pot - Tool
Around the World - RHCP
New World Man - Rush
Valley of Smoke - Introunaut

[Crimson Ghost]

Under Pressure

[KJP]

'Sledgehammer', Peter Gabriel. Just putting it out there.

[lupinitic]

One Of These Days - Pink Floyd
Town Called Malice - The Jam
Love Will Tear Us Apart - Joy Division
Dance, Dance, Dance To The Funk - James Brown
Torture me - Red Hot Chilli Peppers
So What - Miles Davis
My Name Is Mud - Primus
Sweet Emotion - Aerosmith
With a Little Help from my Friends - Beatles
Seven Nation Army - White Stripes

[kratos379]

There's no bass in Seven Nation Army. It's all guitar.

[lupinitic]

sure?

[alexjep93]

jack uses an octave pedal to make it sound like a bass, so i think it still counts

[Dirtee]

Flea. He is a bassline.

[Dirtee]

Otherwise, Jamiroquai, so many of them, I'll go for Mr. Moon.
Chic - Good times is infectiously good as well.
If I had to choose a Pepper's one, since all's been said nearly, Throw Away Your Television or Tell Me Baby (seriously, get past the poppy intro and BOOM).

[slaytanic666]

Iron maiden Wrathchild.

[qrEE]

Why should I even bother voting? You're not going to pick any of my choices. Anyways, here are my choices -

Jumpman by Buckethead
Suicide Machine by Death
The Clairvoyant by Iron Maiden
Shinsui No Utage by Zigoku Quartet (for those who haven't heard them -

)
Cygnus...Vismun d Cygnus by The Mars Volta
Scarified by Racer X

and those are just for starters.

[the_messenger66]

The bassline in Avenged Sevenfold's Blinded in Chains is pretty kickass (at 4:50 in).

also Schizm by Tool and Feel Good Inc. by Gorillaz.

[FoxAndTheHound]

John the Fisherman by Primus

[chuckleheadfunk]

Isabella - Jimi Hendrix experience

[goremetal22]

NIB has gotta be at or near top of the list, but one of my all-time favorite basslines has got to be in Roundabout by Yes. Such a great groove

[Zeltaok]

Only Ash Remains by Necrophagist!

[goingnowhere21]

Rapper's Delight by Sugarhill Gang. It's classic.

[paul100999]

Anything from the who but specifically
Won't get fooled again-

My generation

[arthursevin]

Tommy the Cat - Primus

[Bass-riffer]

Rise Against-Like The Angel. It's simple, but it's amazing!

[Tonganation]

"Dawn Patrol" by Megadeth should be on the list.

I also nominate "Trampled Under Foot" by Zepplin. Such a powerful, plodding bassline!

[nw24]

Hyper Music - Muse !!

[dakielster]

I always liked anything Krist Novoselic did.

[kratos379]

Tool - The Pot
Iron Maiden - The Clairvoyant
Metallica - Orion
Black Sabbath - NIB
Megadeth - Peace Sells
Rage Against the Machine - Bullet in the Head
Red Hot Chili Peppers - Throw Away Your Television

[pfinnegan]

Schism - Tool
One of these Days - Pink Floyd
The National Anthem - Radiohead
My Own Summer - Deftones

[clandoch]

Rush - "Xanadu"
Rush - "Distant Early Warning"
Led Zeppelin - "Lemon Song"

[Kueller917]

Schism is great. Also the simplicity of Another One Bites the Dust. Muse's Futurism and Darkshines have also been amongst my favorites. I don't think I can pick just one, there's lots of great basslines out there.

[Camron62\m/]

Primus's Les Claypool has a bunch of great ****ing basslines, Jerry Was A Race Car Driver, My Name is Mud, Tommy the Cat, DMV...

Justin Chancellor of Tool-Forty-Six & 2, Schism (Paul D'Amour)-Hush...

Rage Against the Machine (Tim Commerford) - Calm Like A Bomb, Bullet in the Head, Take the Power Back, Vietnow...

Metallica- Pulling Teeth, Orion, For Whom the Bell Tolls (Cliff), My Friend of Misery (Jason)

Alice In Chains-Would?

Megadeth (Dave Ellefson)- Dawn Patrol, Peace Sells, Holy Wars....

Rush- Freewill, YYZ, Limelight

RHCP- Around the world, Higher Ground

Geezer (Black Sabbath, Ozzy)- NIB, No More Tears

Smooth Criminal, Billie Jean

Nirvana-Sliver, Lounge Act

Beastie Boys-Sabotage, Gratitude

Brocas Helm-Cry of the Banshee

Another One Bites the Dust

Rapper's Delight

KoRn (Fieldy) - Freak On A Leash, Blind, Falling Away From Me

Pink Floyd-Money

Pantera-Floods

Hideki Naganuma-Funky Dealer

[dsperez88]

In no particular order:

The Mars Volta-- "Take The Veil Cerpin Taxt"
Rage Against The Machine-- "Killing In The Name of"
Tool-- "Lateralus"
Muse-- Hysteria
Incubus-- "Look Alive"
Marilyn Manson-- "The Beautiful People"
Red Hot Chili Peppers-- "Around The World"
Joy Division-- "New Dawn Fades"

[Camron62\m/]

also Rush's Distant Early Warning (pretty much any Rush) and Around the World by Daft Punk

[maziuzzz1994]

Anything by RHCP.

[animemetalhead]

Got the Life by Korn, anyone?

[megaslaythrax]

"Bassically/NIB"- Black Sabbath
"Riding the Snake"- Testament
"Peace Sells"- Megadeth
"The Trooper"- Iron Maiden

[megaslaythrax]

"Bassically/NIB"- Black Sabbath
"Riding the Snake"- Testament
"Peace Sells"- Megadeth
"The Trooper"- Iron Maiden

[megaslaythrax]

"Bassically/NIB"- Black Sabbath
"Riding the Snake"- Testament
"Peace Sells"- Megadeth
"The Trooper"- Iron Maiden

[maziuzzz1994]

Red Hot Chili Peppers- Charlie.

[Marcus 90]

Beyond Creation- omnipresent perception

[phayzze]

"Roots Radicals"-Rancid
"Longview"-Green Day

[Osir1s]

Muse - Hysteria

[twistedsister]

What's Goin' On- Marvin Gaye

[Jmoarguitar]

Anything by RHCP. One that sticks out for me is the chorus riff for Right On Time.

[robo37]

Muse - Futurism

[mcmuffin999]

Sacred Serenity - Death

[Lightning_Ray]

No one even mentioned Pink Floyd's Have A Cigar? That's probably Roger Water's best bassline!

[Jacob_Spartan]

Primus! Jerry Was a Racecar Driver, Tommy the Cat, My Name is Mud, John the Fisherman, or any song actually

[dixon247]

Hardly anyone has said come together or taxman by the beatles, why?

[hovermethod]

great bass

[Braykah]

Of so many great basslines to choose from, I'd still have to go with Roundabout by Yes as my favorite one. Followed by Wrathchild by Iron Maiden.

[EoinOwnage]

hysteria
around the world
money
schism
peace sells
calm like a bomb
higher ground
pulling teeth

[GuitarDomen]

Muse - Hysteria
Green Day - Longview

[JoshWillson]

It's gonna be Hysteria , I don't think it should be, but it is. I'm as huge a Muse fan as they come, but Hysteria is not that iconic bass riff that everyone, not just rockers, remember.

[hotdogs585]

Maxwell Murder by Rancid....it basically just states "**** les claypool here's me being honest about the bass guitar"

[M.V.]

sunshune of your love

[Braykah]

Also, David Ellefson has got a ton of great basslines alongside Dawn Patrol and Peace Sells. To mention just a few; My Last Words, Five Magics, Holy Wars... The Punishment Due, The Conjuring, Poison Was the Cure and Bad Omen.

[MajorIron]

Wake up dead!

[helsem997]

muse-hysteria
helmet-unsung
rancid-Maxwell murder
between the buried and me- the prequel to the sequel
The agonist- The Tempest
machine head-halo
sixx am- life is beautiful

[Blackdog71]

How Many More Times - Led Zeppelin
Black Dog - Led Zeppelin
Wrathchild - Iron Maiden

You're So Vain - Carley Simon (for the Klaus Voorman intro and bass)
19th Nervous Breakdown - The Stones
Iron Fist - Motorhead
Stone Dead Forever - Motorhead
Red Barchetta - Rush
Substitute - The Who
Hysteria - Muse

[*Stranger*]

Pink floyd-Pigs (three different ones)

[gray96]

Actually, Gene Simmons has come up with some really great basslines. The one in "Let Me Know" is simply awesome.

[daheck1210]

Machine Head- Now I Lay Thee Down
Rush- Malignant Narcissism
Anthrax- Caught In A Mosh
Disturbed- Overburdened

[starbreaker]

Black Flag - Six Pack. Strange that nobody mentioned it.

[CapnKickass]

and TV Party why not.

[blssdful1]

Stranger in a strange land- Iron Maiden

[DimeBatteryDrrl]

such an amazing tune

[ash__h]

rappers delight- sugarhill gang

[nickdohle]

Incubus- Deep Inside/ The Warmth
Tool- Disposition/ Forty Six and 2
The Pixies- Hey!
So much more. But these are my current favorites

[Dr. Knox666]

Metallica - Orion
Megadeth - Peace Sells
Anthrax - Caught in a Mosh

[starbreaker]

And Iron Maiden - Killers, of course.

[MountApple]

Dawn Patrol by Megadeth

[strictly-diesel]

SOULS OF BLACK - TESTAMENT

should be an easy one

[SergioA20]

Metallica - Orion
Red Hot Chili Peppers - Give it Away
Aerosmith - Sweet Emotion
The Offspring - Self-Esteem
Queen - Another One Bites the Dust

[zoizma]

I love how UG-readers "slam" every top-list made by some other site or magazine, but when UG-readers get to make a top-list the results are just as hilarious and bad as any other list. Often even worse.

[Smartyrock]

Tool - The Pot, Schism and/or Jambi

[KerNeL_KLuTcH]

Sanctified - NIN
Bullet In the Head, Take the Power Back, No Shelter, Township Rebellion, Settle For Nothing - RATM
For Whom the Bell Tolls, Ride the Lightning - Metallica
Peace Sells, Dawn Patrol - Megadeth
46 & 2, Schism, The Pot - tool

[Slaytan666]

I can't believe no one has mentioned NOFX. They've got some great bass work going on.

[punxpunxpunx]

EXACTLY What i thought. obviously i don't think many people on this site are pro punk. lotta people living in the past.

[triviumfan2080]

dirty drowning man primus
john the fisherman primus
Panic attack dream theater

[fuzzpedal]

Only in Dreams - Weezer
Possessed to Skate - Suicidal Tendencies
Debaser - Pixies

[soul_enshrouded]

Anything by Necrophagist or Iron Maiden.

[saberrocks]

Marcus Miller - Power Of Soul!

[one-dead-cop]

Barbarism begins at home.

[iseldur]

the prodigy - breath

[bluesal]

Under Pressure by Queen and all Jamiroquai tracks!!

[lunaticgreiver]

Waiting room-Fugazi

[iseldur]

pulling teeth metallica

[Metalfan20]

Got the Time - Anthrax
Peace Sells - Megadeth
NIB - Black Sabbath

[Darth Wader]

Queen: Under Pressure
Green Day: Longview
RHCP: Around The World
Rancid: Maxwell Murder
White Stripes: Seven Nation Army
MXPX: Chick Magnet
The Clash: Guns Of Brixton
The Breeders: Cannonball
Rick James: Superfreak
Yes: Roundabout
Michael Jackson: Billie Jean
Muse: Hysteria
The Who: My Generation
The Killers: Jenny Was A Friend Of Mine

[one-dead-cop]

cool story bro

[Darth Wader]

I forgot some more:
RATM: Killing In The Name Of
Violent Femmes: Blister In The Sun
Rush: Freewill, Malignant Narcissism
Rancid: Journey To The End Of The East Bay

[alexjep93]

i think we should just use your list

[Darth Wader]

Thanks!

[Elderer]

Im disturbed by the lack of Achilles Last Stand.

And his solo Shibuya Bop blows my face off.

Feel Good Hit of Summer - QoTSA

[striggs7]

Bakithi Kumalo on Paul Simon's You Can Call Me Al, released 26 years ago today, Sept. 5

[JAEX370]

metallica-for whom the bell tolls

[smouch3]

ALL MY FRIENDS DRIVE A LOW RIDER . DA DA DA DA DAT DAT DA DAT DAT DAT DA.
IT IS THEY BASS LINE HAHA

[citizens]

Commodores - Brick House

[Guns N' Chains]

Guns N' Roses - Rocket Queen
Alice In Chains - Would?

[stickmanXP]

Every RHCP song has a sick bassline...but the best is Dazed and confused

[dennis.1960]

I forgot "No. 13 Baby" by the Pixies. The bass part is really simple but when it kicks in the song gets bada$$

[keiron1985]

Hardest button to button. White stripes.

[RDSElite]

Muse - Hysteria

[josh.more]

Jaco Pastorius "come on come over"
Jamiroquai "runaway"
Duran Duran "RIo"
Paul Simon "call me Al"
iron maiden "Phantom of the opera"
Metallica "Orion"
the who "my generation
Rush "YYZ"

that's my top whatever number there is there

[Seternes]

Megadeth - Peace Sells
Megadeth - Hook in Mouth
Anthrax - Got the Time
Pink Floyd - Money
Iron Maiden - Wrathchild

[Ottmeister]

White Zombie - Black Sunshine definitely.

[metalladam97]

Metallica - Orion, anesthesia, the end of the line, all nightmare long, my friend of misery
Rush - leave that thing alone, yyz
Dream theater - voices, octavarium, panic attack
Anthrax - Caught in a mosh, lone justice
Iron Maiden - Hallowed be thy name, killers, wrathchild, wasted years, the trooper
Red Hot Chilli Peppers - by the way, dani california
Municipal waste - Sadistic magician, unleash the bastards
Slayer - stain of mind, hate worldwide

[Sk8rat843]

Rush-YYZ
RHCP-Higher Ground
AWB-Picking up The Pieces
Led Zeppelin-The Lemon Song
Primus-Tommy The Cat
Yes-Roundabout
RATM-Take the Power Back or Killing in the Name
Chic-Good Times
Rick James-Super Freak
Michael Jackson-Smooth Criminal

[metalladam97]

PLUS: Metallica - for whom the bell tolls, seek and destroy, the call of ktulu
Rush - tom sawyer, passage to bangkok
Lamb Of God - Pathetic, Broken hands, Black label, Laid to rest, as the palaces burns

[magnum1117]

ELO: Last Train to London (even if you don't like disco you have to admit this one is a killer bass line)
Queen: Another one bites the dust
Queen: Under Pressure

[HAZ-121]

Van Halen - Runnin' With The Devil

'Cause it brought Dave and Dave together to form Megadeth. Also it's an awesome song.

[Mikeyrox3162]

Orion
For Whom The Bell Tolls
My Friend Of Misery
all by Metallica

[ottyk]

Without a doubt For Whom the Bell Tolls

[MikeBTE]

I'm not going to rush into a decision, so for now I'll just Leave that thing alone

[RobotSamurai]

The Call of Ktulu. It is basically a 10 min bass solo

[mdr9inchnails]

Sic Transit Gloria - Brand New

[a7xb4d]

Yes!!!!! I love the bass in that one. And if we're going for bass parts BTBAM's Viridian, which isn't really a bassline as much as a solo.

[ClaytonRush]

Primus - DMV
Alice In Chains - Would?
Incubus - Are You In?
Pearl Jam - Porch
Black Sabbath- N.I.B
Iron Maiden - The Trooper

[LightxGrenade]

I love/hate questions like these because my opinion can change from day to day on this. For now (and since I just learned it about 2 days ago) the bassline for Around the World by Daft Punk is pretty badass.

[marty mc]

me and my bass guitar victor wooten!!

[ibanez124]

Jerry was a Racecar Driver, DMV, ah hell . . .anything by Primus

[502Megadeth1320]

Megadeth - Five Magics

[BOYERxBREAKDOWN]

Come Together
Money
Under Pressure
Dazed and Confused.
My personal favorite has got to be Longview, that bassline is part of why I picked up the bass.

[JohnnyApplecore]

Weather Report - Teen Town

[Pepc619]

Toto - Georgy Porgy
Cheryl Lynn - Got to be real
The Trammps - Disco Inferno
Toto - Can You Hear What I'm Saying
...

[SaturnFive]

Om - Unitive knowledge of the godhead. If you dont know who Om are. Check them out...They are unbelievably underrated.

[iwannabesedated]

Lounge Act- Nirvana

[RATMfan420]

damn, where to begin?
AIC- Would?
RATM- Take the Power Back, Killing in the Name
RHCP- Higher Ground cover, Suck My Kiss, Give it Away
Dead Kennedys- Holiday in Cambodia, Forest Fire, We've got a bigger problem now
Jello Biafra & Guantanamo School of Medicine/NO WTO Combo- Electronic Plantation
Street Sweeper Social Club- Promenade
The Clash- Train in Vain, Clampdown

[biff022]

Jane's Addiction.

Three Days

or

Mountain Song

or

Ain't No Right

or

No One's Leaving.

Anything by Les or Tool.

[nonsenseguy]

You're lost little girl - The Doors

[JPMann]

Primus have the most killer bass riffs. Geddy Lee from Rush also has some killer bass riffs.

[DeadstarScarred]

Jamiroquai - Every bassline Stuart Zender wrote and played!

[PrimalScream91]

NIB - Sabbath
Radar Love - Golden Earring
Rocket Queen - GNR

[PrimalScream91]

Legs/ Under Pressure - ZZ Top

[PRSTremontiSE]

We're the Same, by Sum 41... probably the only vote they're going to get, but oh well, It's a kick ass bass line

[LastBaron]

Sic Transit Gloria... Glory Fades- Brand New sweet bassline

[ScarletToSnow]

The Pot - Tool

[cccp2006]

The Buggles - Video Killed the Radio Star

[wangchowder86]

Thin Lizzy - the Boys are Back in Town
Don Maclean - American Pie
Marvin Gaye - Ain't no Mountain High Enough
the Four Tops - Reach out
Pixies - Hey
Muse - Time is Running Out
Modest Mouse - Third Planet or Trailer Trash
Nine Inch Nails - Closer
Led Zepplin - Ramble On
Pink Floyd - Have a Cigar

[JokerJoe88]

Dragon Attack - Queen
My Last Words- Megadeth
Torture Me- RHCP
Rime of the Ancient Mariner - Iron Maiden

[The Man Himself]

Longview - Green Day
Right on Time - Red Hot Chili Peppers
Gimme Gimme Gimme - ABBA
Sabotage - Beastie Boys
Come Together - Beatles
I don't know which I would say is the best but those are my favourites.

[gateway01]

Red Hot Chili Peppers - By The Way
Tool - Schism (had too)
Rage Against the Machine - Calm Like a Bomb
System Of A Down - Sugar\
Primus - Jerry Was A Racecar Driver

[PrimalScream91]

Sweet Emotion

[BurlingtonRock]

Waiting Room-Fugazi

no question

[kettmannism]

I was actually just about to post that!

[gateway01]

Green Day - When I Come Around
Red Hot Chili Peppers - Falling Into Grace
Yes - Roundabout
Phish - Llama

[getawaygman]

longview ...green day
three days...janes addiction
21 century....rhcp
coma...gnr
come together

[Joe-Floyd-lover]

Aerosmith - Sweet Emotion

[whywefight]

Tool: Forty Six and Two / Schism.

[whywefight]

Apparently I only loaded part of the comments section, so I'm sorry for the repeats.

[theAttackBison]

Hysteria- muse

Panic attack- dream theater

For whom the bell tolls- Metallica

Adventures of rain dance Maggie- RHCP

[rockerwannabe]

The O'Jays: For the Love of Money

[smittyanthrax]

I love the bass in John the fisherman by primus.great bassline.

[Vabolo]

So how has no one mentionned the Who's "My Generation" yet?

[Vabolo]

Okay, so upon retrospect, some people HAVE mentionned it, apparently my ctrl+F search wasn't thourough the fisrt time around for some odd reason that may or may not be typing in "generation" wrong.

[Mouloudo]

Queen- another one bites the dust

Queen- under pressure

Pink FLoyd- Money

Dont even talk about that white stripes crap

[fleaonnj4]

Every single Red Hot Chili Peppers song.

[5angelo5]

Aerosmith Sweet Emotion.

[NBarry19]

Lounge Act - Nirvana.

other votes:
Sober - Tool
Love Buzz - Nirvana

[tmiam0720]

Dawn Patrol - Megadeth

[maksiknirken]

Another One Bites The Dust.
From Whom The Bell Tolls.
War Pigs.

[missmastermind]

Little Green Bag- The George Baker Selection (it's the opening song from Reservoir Dogs)
Dawn Patrol- Megadeth
Another One Bites the Dust- Queen
Schism- Tool

[KILO of KAOS]

Hands down, london calling by the clash
you can hear the bass clearly throughout the song.

the thing that surprises me here is nobody has put down any reggae songs, if your looking for the best bassline it has to be in the raggae genre, (i'm not saying the clash are reggae but they've been influenced by that music style.) and if you listen to london calling (the album) you'll see how they've been influenced by raggae.

[webber243]

stone roses - i wanna be adored

[BlackRebelMC85]

I'm seeing alot of Tool songs but nobody mentioned one of Justin's coolest bass lines: 46 & 2

[webber243]

the clash - guns of brixton

[webber243]

MJ - Billie Jeans

[webber243]

Quiet Riot - Metal Health now thats a cool bass line

[pranzo]

Jane's Addiction - "Three Days"

[Dynamight]

Money
Orion
Peace Sells (intro)

[kmitchell74]

It's gotta be Bullet In the Head by RATM

[supergohan931]

Droid, Spacegrass, 7 Jam, or Big News I by Clutch

[Sockerjam]

Parliament - Give up the funk
Zechs Marquise - Mega Slap
Red Hot Chili Peppers - Funky Monks
James Brown - Sex machine
Primus - Tommy the cat

[Darktael]

Factory of Faith by Red Hot Chili Peppers

[powerfist]

The Lemon Song by Led Zeppelin.

easily one of the best if not THE best.

[Vahi786]

Charlie - Red Hot Chili Pepppers

You can never go wrong with Flea

[damian745]

Metallica - For Whom the Bell Tolls
Muse - Hysteria
Rage Against the Machine - Bombtrack

+ Anything by Alter Bridge

[GasPipe]

A few of my favourites:

Soul To Squeeze - RHCP
21st Century Schizoid Man - King Crimson
Pow - Graham Central Station (so goddamn funky)
You Could Be A Hot Dancer - Incubus
The Pot - Tool
Call Me Al - Paul Simon

[Thrill-house]

Black Sabbath: Lady Evil

[GasPipe]

Oh, also "Simple Boy" or "Goliath" by Karnivool!

The tone in those songs makes me go crazy!

[AndreWanderer]

Strange World by Iron Maiden on the Iron Maiden album

[JelloCrust]

"Violence Junkie" by the Capitalist Casualties
"Blue Delight" by Sun Ra
"Jigsaw Feeling" by Siouxie and the Banshees
"The Next Movement" by the Roots
and Under Pressure. . . ya'll already know who wrote this.

[JelloCrust]

I said it below, but "California Uber Alles" by the Dead Kennedys. . . also now that I think about it "New Feudalism" by Jello Biafra and the Guantanamo School of Medicine.

[Zeptallica666]

love buzz by Nirvana

[Zeptallica666]

and anything by John Paul Jones

[jesse1994]

Peace Sells- Megadeth

[TheHawkdaddy]

Brian Jonestown Massacare - Whoever you Are

[CapnKickass]

How bout
Death From Above 1979 - You're A Woman, I'm A Machine
or
The Faint - I Dissapear

[Sir9ToeSexy]

Sir Duke by Stevie Wonder has to be right up there, and Superstition. Also just about anything by RHCP, especially Give it Away, Aeroplane, Get on Top and Around the World , i also really like the bass run in the chorus of Changes by David Bowie... And lets not forget The Air is Getting Slippery by Primus!

[Necrotise]

Minicipal Waste - Sadistic Magician

[SpectorGuy]

Led Zeppelin - The Lemon Song

Earth Wind & Fire - September

[ElvenLord]

Hysteria by Muse !

[fraberjam]

Probably gonna be the only guy to say this, but "Metal Shock" by Flotsam and Jetsam. Perfect proof of how badass Jason Newsted is and how Metallica only held him back as a musician.

[AmalgamOfMeat]

Pretty much any bass line from Paul McCartney in any Beatles song sounds like the best bass line ever. Especially in the later albums.

[bassisfun]

Hysteria

[TheRealEffect]

I'm surprised Untitled by Interpol hasn't been mentioned yet.

[AmalgamOfMeat]

I've always thought that Krist Novoselic from Nirvana was a very underrated bassist, maybe because his bass lines tend to be kinda hidden or overpowered in the mix. A couple examples where the bass really adds to the songs are "Blew", "Hairspray Queen", "Lithium","Lounge Act", and "Stay Away".

[jthm_guitarist]

Junior's Eyes - Black Sabbath

[Fourgiven]

Boll Weevil by Presidents of the USA
Every RHCP song by RHCP, Higher Ground is my fav though

[tyler_j]

It's been said, but 'Waiting Room', Fugazi

[darksidemustang]

ANY bass line by Eric Avery!! But if I had to choose just one then opening riff for "Three Days"

[Irondevil]

Necrophagist - Only ash remains
Rammstein - Seemann

If you havent heard them you need to check them out NOW!

[clazyhobo]

Superstition - RHCP/Stevie Wonder
Tire Me - RATM

[Afterburner666]

Metallica-Orion

[Clago]

Any Bass line that Les Claypool has played ever especially Tommy the Cat

[Niamorg]

Testament - Souls of Black
Megadeth - Dawn Patrol
Pink Floyd - One of these Days
Michael Jackson - Billie Jean
Tool - The Pot
Korn - Dirty

[Heideck]

iron Maiden run to the hills
queen dragon attack, anotherone bites the dust, under presure

[Pearl Jammer#1]

Lou Reed- Take a Walk on the Wild Side
Charles Wright & the Watts 103rd Street Rhythm Band- Express Yourself
Nas- N.Y. State of Mind

[hellboy1028]

It's just called walk on the wild side.

[theused101]

THE END OF BALACLAVA by the arctic monkeys comes to mind

[Campbell2727]

Take the power back, thats some heavy funk

[lickmyhairyball]

Longview by Green Day
Carousel by blink-182
Smells Like Teen Spirit by Nirvana
Snow(Hey Oh) by RHCP

[joelisonfire]

Matt Freeman- anything he plays on bass is damn amazing!

[The_Greylist]

The new- interpol

[FooCards]

Queens of the Stone Age - Better Living Through Chemistry
Paul Simon - You Can Call Me Al
Mini Mansions - Monk

[exodusgfx]

Yes-Roundabout is completely sick, Chris Squire is amazing.
Pink Floyd- one of theses days just cause it really drives the song and catches you up in it.
Rush- Damn near anything.

[maltore]

RHCP: Right on time (chorus) -> mind blown

other favs for your enjoyment

New order
blue monday (it's on repeat)

RHCP:
Around the world (verses)
Bunker Hill (intro/verses)
Nobody weird like me (intro/verses)

Muse:
Hysteria (intro/verses)

Metallica:
Orion (the whole thing)

[xijack]

glad someone mentioned new order

[Irondevil]

Even if noone voted for Hysteria theyd still put it on the list

[xHellbound]

Black Sabbath
Master of Insanity
Buried Alive (bass solo)

Tool
Schism (or any song really)

Manowar
Guyana Cult of the Damned

Deep Purple
Sail Away

[6-String_Madman]

ANESTHESIAAAAA!!!!

[lul]

Gn'R - SCOM
AiC - Would
APC - pEt

[gquady09]

How about "To Bid You Farewell" by Opeth?

[Theo1967]

Lowdown - Boz Skaggs

come on people...classic with great bassline.

[QuantumInfinity]

Metallica - The Call of Ktulu
Children Of Bodom - Towards Dead End
Red Hot Chili Peppers - Californication
The Eagles - Hotel Califorina
Blue Oyster Bult - Cities On Flame With Rock And Roll
Dire Straits - Sultans Of Swing
My Little Pony - Winter Wrap Up

[beelzebub515]

Black sunshine by white zombie for me

[garnchu]

Roundabout - Yes
YYZ - Rush
Sunshine of Your Love - Cream
Jerry Was a Racecar Driver - Primus
N.I.B. - Black Sabbath
Around the World - RHCP
Beat It - Michael Jackson
Ramble On - Led Zeppelin
Break On Through - Doors
Spirit of Radio - Rush

[HabsFan4916]

Guns N' Roses - Rocket Queen/Sweet Child O' Mine
Led Zeppelin - Dazed & Confused

[cronaldo86]

Cream - Sunshine of Your Love

[BigHeadClan]

Hmm for nerdy choices I have to choose:
Cait Sith's Theme - FF7 (Nobou Umatesu)

Onto real music people actually know:
Peace Sells - MegaDeth
Rain When I die or Rooster - Alice In Chains
Johhny Tetsu Pipe - Maximum The Hormone

[HabsFan4916]

Guns N' Roses - Rocket Queen/Sweet Child O' Mine/
Led Zeppelin - Dazed & Confused
Metallica - Orion/For Whom The Bell Tolls
Megadeth - Dawn Patrol/Trust
Black Sabbath - N.I.B.
Pantera - Floods
Anything by Tool
Can't think of anything else right now. Didn't put Peace Sells because Mustaine actually wrote that line/riff. Ignore my earlier comment i accedently pressed "Post Comment"

[HabsFan4916]

O and Revolution by Judas Priest

[rgt42dx]

Schism - Tool
Billie Jean - Michael Jackson
Come Together - The Beatles
Tidal - John Paul Jones

[samueltownson]

Becoming The Dragon (bass solo at the end) - Trivium

That solo outshines ALL of your guys' favorite basslines!

Here come the trolls! -.-

[Rokodlak]

good times bad times by Zeppelin

[satanlives]

Innocent Exile-Iron Maiden one of my favoritesto play anyway

[nylescota]

Primal Scream Motley crue

[nylescota]

rancid- journey to the end

[10bag]

lounge act by nirvana

[kettmannism]

Weezer - Tired of Sex or Why Bother

[mylanta2837]

The bass under the solo for Pantera's "Floods", Megadeth's "Dawn Patrol", Cliff Burton's Anesthesia (Pulling Teeth), and that crazy part in the middle of Cannibal Corpse's "the Strangulation Chair"

[alx305]

Come Together - The Beatles

[Catharsisaurus]

D is For Dangerous by Arctic Monkeys.

Or maybe I will just re-post something that everyone has already said for the tenth time.

[Sammy Mantis]

Anything Primus of course. If I had to pick one I'd say Jerry was a race car driver.

Also:

Teen Town - Weather Report

Dead Goon - Mr. Bungle

Strip Search - Faith No More

[simpsonofadown]

Won't get fooled again

Also Skid Rock by a wilhelm scream

[Firehawk2410]

It's between "Come Together" by the Beatles and "Sweet Emotion" by Aerosmith

[hellboy1028]

Walk on the Wild Side - Lou Reed...?

[burnummaster]

Broken One by Trivium has a cool tapping bass intro I like.

[bobmarley_fan]

One of my all time favorites has always been "Blister In The Sun" and "Good Feeling" By the Violent Femmes.
Brian Ritchie is such and underrated Bass Player.

[headbang123]

sic transit gloria by brand new
mudshovel by staind
breed by nirvana
come togather by the beatles

[mercury23]

YYZ- Rush

[Homestyle_Joe]

Don't Eat The Yellow Snow by Frank Zappa

[ihartfood]

Pumped Up Kicks. I just love that line. Or RHCP's version of Higher Ground. NO WAIT!

Would?

[kagendew]

Jackson 5 - I want you back

[juanfeanor]

Everything composed by David Ellefson is pure gold!

If you want me to pick one, I'll say My Last Words, amazing bassline

[marcusthewise]

Although it's shortlived, my favorite bassline comes from He Is Legend's "The Creature Walks" during 2:10-2:14. So groovy.

[JonnyRG]

Panic Attack- Dream Theater

[bobathin]

(RUSH)YYZ, La villa
(TOOL)Schism
(MEGADETH) Peace sells, Dawn patrol
and best for last ANVIL WINGED ASSASSINS!!!!

[theacousticpunk]

Well, there's another poll that Muse will win. What Is and What Should Never Be deserves a spot though.

[mralexforbes]

Peace sells - megadeth
wrathchild - iron maiden

[JoryL]

Good Friends and a Bottle of Pills, Throes of Rejection, - Pantera

Only Ash Remains - Necrophagist

[MR.ParKs]

I hope I'm not the first to say The Rage - Judas Priest

[VampireSpaceHog]

The Real Me - The Who

[Metalxorxdie]

-Anything from Stu Hamm (particularly the main riff in "The Country Song")
-Necrophagist - Only Ash Remains

[BeerMan5000]

Metallica's whole ...And Justice For All album, greatest bass lines ever!

[SLOBaron]

Nirvana - In Bloom?

[mitchellpreske]

Anti Flag- We Are the One

or This is the new sound

[joupajou]

Rush - The Enemy Within
Absolutely brilliant bassline!

[MRoby]

Close to the Edge by Yes (and Roundabout too) have some of the sickest basslines.

Also, Daft Punk's Voyager and Around the World. Dear god are those mind blowing.

[mini_cooper1701]

Longview and Devil's Dance

[thrill606]

Would? by AIC
Sabatoge by the Beastie Boys

[italian1217]

Elimination by Overkill

[powerstorm]

Dream Theaters John Myung's bass line in Home

[Vitooch]

Pigs (3 different ones) - Pink Floyd
Silly Love Songs - Paul McCartney

[Phila457]

Paranoid Android - Radiohead
Two Step - DMB
Holiday in Cambodia - Dead Kennedys
Ramble On - Led Zeppelin
One of These Days - Pink Floyd
Right on Time or Around the World - RHCP

[Jasonbts]

Rush - Leave that Thing Alone
Look up the Time Machine tour version on Youtube.
Killer!!!

[Iaroslav]

Queen - Another One Bites The Dust
RATM - Township Rebellion
Chic - Everybody Dance
Chic - Good Times
Pink Floyd - Money
Muse - Hysteria
Megadeth - Peace Sells
Tool - Any song by them
Red Hot Chili Peppers - Tell Me Baby
Cannibal Corpse - Hammer Smashed Face, especially the bass solo

[kevindm215]

Dark Light by John Frusciante, so good!

[Rands2113]

Willing Well 2 : From Fear Through the Eyes Of Madness - Coheed and Cambria

[TopHatCharlie]

Billie Jean, anyone?

[sl1pk0t001]

How Many More Times - Led Zeppelin

[gintareforever9]

Is Simon Gallup not getting any love here?
So many great baselines from The Cure
And I'll name the ones I really like:
The Holy Hour
The Same Deep Water As You
Fascination Street
Seventeen Seconds
Other Voices
The Funeral Party
Play For Today
The Hanging Garden
Lovesong
Closedown
Last Dance
Disintegration
The Lovecats
Let's Go To Bed
The Baby Screams
Siamese Twins
Charlotte Sometimes
thats just to name a few

[Shuei5]

I can only say I agree that Simon Gallup has made some of the best basslines ever written

[alexjep93]

i think robert smith wrote the bassline for lets go to bed (not sure though)... he might of written a few more of those songs too, he did write some bass

[gintareforever9]

You're right. Robert played bass on that and on the songs that had 6 string bass so I apologize for forgetting that fact

[ndrummerc]

When Doves Cry

[barbquebutt]

Iron Maiden - The Trooper
Iron Maiden - Phantom of the Opera
Megadeth - Peace Sells
Reverend Horton Heat - Psychobilly Freakout
Stray Cats - Rock This Town
MxPx - Chick Magnet
Queen - Another One Bites the Dust
Queen - Under Pressure
Rush - Tom Sawyer
Rick James - Superfreak
Primus - Jerry Was A Racecar Driver
Aerosmith - Sweet Emotion

That's all I can think of right now. It's late and I'm tired.

[Dimefromhell12]

superstition - Stevie wonder. really groovy.

[mop10893]

Red Hot Chili Peppers-Higher Ground
Muse-Hysteria
Dream Theater-Panic Attack
Queen-Another One Bites The Dust
Pink Floyd-Money
Racer X-Scarified
Metallica-(Anesthesia) Pulling Teeth
Black Sabbath-N.I.B
Led Zeppelin-Dazed And Confused
A.F.I.-Miss Murder

And for the top spot. I'm torn between two songs.
Metallica-Orion
Rush-YYZ

I think I have to give the nod to YYZ. Orion is amazing and Cliff is my all time favorite bassist, but YYZ is just catchy, slightly difficult, and a lot of fun to play.

[uncletobycolour]

Children of the grave

[Kyuzo15]

Alice in Chains-Would? is one of my favourites

[Shuei5]

Probably coming in too late for this:

The Cure - Fascination Street, Love Song,

And it surprises me that Peter Hook from Joy Division and New Order isn't mentioned more - Classic memorable basslines "She's Lost Control", "Disorder", "Digital", "Love Will Tear us Apart" etc.

[gintareforever9]

I would have mentioned joy division and new order if I didn't make my choices strictly songs by the cure. New Dawn Fades has a great baseline

[hurleyboyc58027]

Around The World - Red Hot Chili Peppers
Purple Stain - Red Hot Chili Peppers
By The Way - Red Hot Chili Peppers
Mic Check - Rage Against The Machine
No Shelter - Rage Against The Machine
Tire Me - Rage Against The Machine
Drive My Car - The Beatles
Would? - Alice in Chains
My Name is Mud - Primus
Dazed and Confused - Led Zeppelin

[Sanze]

Black Sunshine - White Zombie

[BradTheBluefish]

Foo Fighters - "Stacked Actors"

[hovermethod]

As I Went Out One Morning-Bob Dylan-Charlie McCoy on bass

[CJMusics]

Megadeth - Mastermind! Awesome Bass line or something like Shake hands with beef - Primus!

[AlmostTheMan]

Metallica - Orion

When i think of bass, i think of those tabs!

[Thatguy89]

Longest Line-NOFX or Tommy the Cat-Primus

[Thatguy89]

actually The idiots are taking over by NOFX that one is good too

[jigain]

I like almost all the songs and bass mentioned above in the comments. But, just for fun, I want to add this classic song, by Boney M. - "Daddy Cool " Bassline which is cool though, nice groove.

[Cliptose93]

Primus Tommy the Cat.

[ha_asgag]

99] Green Day - When I Come Around

[kmister]

The Pixie's "Hey" is a good one. Nice and simple, holds it all together.
Also Club Foot by Kasabian is a crazy line.

[ResidentSkumfuk]

"Carousel" Blink 182

[cyco_bob56]

Definitely
Muse - "Hysteria" because it's so fuzzy and fun to play.
Brocas Helm - Cry of the Banshee
but also
Hey Ocean - Turn Up the Stars

[bullseye187]

Halo - Porcupine Tree

[WantsLesPaul]

Hollywood Swinging By Kool And The Gang.

[jayden453]

Alice in Chains - Rain When I Die.

Perfect.

[jayden453]

Talking Heads - Psycho Killer

So good.

[Klepa]

Radiohead - The National Anthem
King Crimson - Starless(!)
The Clash - London Calling
Nine Inch Nails - Head Like a Hole
Tool - Forty Six and two
Radiohead- All I Need

and mentioned before

Muse - Hysteria
Primus - Tommy the Cat
Led Zeppelin - The Lemon Song
Pink Floyd - Money
Queen - Another One Bites the Dust

My personal favs

[emil_sej]

Incubus - "Are You In?"

So damn sexy!

[roaddawg07]

lowrider-War

[MGroos]

Factory of faith by the peppers. sounds great

[PsiGuy60]

In order from 3rd best to all-time best:

Aeroplane by RHCP.
Another One Bites The Dust by Queen.
Money by Pink Floyd.

[mr.speaker]

I doubt anyone else will vote for this but
Good Feeling (live) by The Violent Femmes
also:
Jerry was a racecar driver - primus
Seinfeld Theme

[El_Bozo]

"Flight over Rio" - Al Di Meola
The opening Bassline is just fantastic - by the great Anthony Jackson!

Also, many of the mentioned above are awesome.

[logicbdj]

As odd as this sounds, the opening bass to Running with the Devil really caught my attention. I bought the album upon the first week of its release because of an article in Cream magazine. At the time, very few people heard of Van Halen outside the Los Angeles area (I'm up in Northern Ontario, Canada), and so I bought the album on faith of the music critic who frequented the club where they played. I put the album on with some friends gathered around... when it first started up, with that repeating one note base line, I got weird looks and a few chuckles ("ya bought a lemon!)... and then when Eddie kicked in with the guitar everyone stopped frozen. For me, that simple bass line lead in so well to one of the greatest moments in rock album history.

[Emilym80]

David Sanborn (Marcus Miller, really, he wrote the tune)- Run for Cover
Larry Graham- Pow
The Killers- Jenny Was a Friend of Mine

[MariKaz]

Rolling Sly Stone by RHCP.

[theotherguy7145]

There's too many Primus songs to name, but I'd nominate Tommy the Cat because it's pretty well known.

Believer by Ozzy Osbourne.

Sweet Emotion by Aerosmith.

And Dance On Your Grave by Sebastian Bach.

[AllroyPA]

OMG, my first comment: what is with the comment box not being accessable til all the tabbed responses are open ? Arrgh ..
Heart of the Sunrise by Yes is amazing sound and pace

[smellslikefish]

bury me by smashing pumpkins. pretty simple but well driven

[blancobros]

Five Magics- Megadeth
The Ancient Covenant- The Faceless
Hook In Mouth- Megadeth
Chosen Ones- Megadeth
The Pot- Tool
Energetic Dissassembly- Watchtower
Me and My Bass Guitar- Victor Wooten
the intro to Alison Hell- Annihilator
Never, Neverland- Annihilator
and I can keep going but must add For Whom the Bell Tolls, you can variate the intro and use the original line as a foundation to what you can make your own by going up the scale and playing octaves and chords as the song goes on

[motortallica]

seven nation army - white stripes

[Naikon96]

Metallica - My friends of misery

[logicbdj]

The bass line at the end of Pink Floyd's 'Dogs' was good enough to be ripped off by Kiss (as the chorus melody of 'I was Made for Loving You').

[rg350ex:)]

stuart zender has got some good bass lines..

[74SLIP26KNOT]

Tool - Schism

[GuitarBassVoice]

Hysteria should be on the list... But it probably wont be since UG users dont like muse :-/

Oustanding song and bassline(and very fun to play)

[GuitarBassVoice]

outstanding*

[FallenDestiny]

There are some really cool basslines worth mentioning.

RHCP - Around The World
Megadeth - Take No Prisoners/Five Magics/My Last Words/Bad Omen
Metallica - Orion
Symphony X - Domination (Really underrated bassists)

Not saying they're better than the numerous classics mentioned above, just some worth considering!

[FallenDestiny]

Underrated as in only of Symphony X, sorry.

[stef warwick]

GOROD : "Blackout" !

[stef warwick]

also IRON MAIDEN : "2 minutes to midnight" !

[kings_of_leon]

pumped up kicks

[VanCricken]

Not to repeat any of the above mentioned, I would say:

Blood Culture, by Essence.

[EmperorKrauser]

I would recommend Earth, Wind and Fire's That's the Way of the World.

[TimTheWizard]

Don't Forget Me by The Red Hot Chili Peppers

[KingBeans22]

lou reed - walk on the wild side!!!

[xerox594]

Big Bottom - Spinal Tap

[xijack]

Cream version of crossroads

[Jas0n]

Leave That Thing Alone!

[zachbchico]

any tool song or evan brewer's alone album

[shreddymcshred]

III from electric counterpoint by steve reich

[7Raff6Riff5]

The 20 Best Bassline ever :

- Primus : Tommy the Cat
- Graham Central Station : Pow
- Jaco Pastorius: Come On, Come Over
- Infectious Grooves : Violent & Funky
- Beastie Boys : Pow
- Frank Zappa : Titties n' Beer
- Morphine : Good
- Curtis Mayfield : Freddie's Dead
- Joy Division : She's Lost Control
- Stevie Wonder : Superstition
- Einstürzende Neubauten : Nagorny Karabach
- Sly and the Family Stone : I Want to Take you Higher
- Jamiroquai : Too Young to Die
- Pink Floyd : One of these Days
- James Brown : Soul Power
- Kyuss : Asteroid
- Jane's Addiction : Ted Just Admit it
- The Cure : The Love Cats
- Faith No More : Evidence
- Fun Lovin' Criminals : I Can't Get with That

[Farbeyondfuked]

Layne from BLS is a cool one, maybe not best ever but cool

[Strat-Cat]

How about Muse: Hysteria, Time is running out, Starlight.

[imtiaz3]

rolling stones miss you, biatches

[Garland41]

The best bassline that most people won't know of because they don't listen to prog is Roundabout by yes. No bassline is better. I don't care for anyone else' bs.

[Studebaker Hoch]

Whipping Post by The Allman Brothers Band

[KamikazeKozgof]

Surprised no one has mentioned DFA 1979 here. Keeler is killer on the bass. You're a Woman, I'm a Machine maybe?

[younghatter]

Fleetwood Mac - The Chain....
Megadeth - Peace Sells..

[antibat]

I like how flea is on the picture for the article!!

"I'll Be your domino" by the red hot chili peppers is one of my fav basslines

[metaldalz]

RHCP - Parallel Universe
Tool - Schism
Metallica - Orion

[The Judist]

Walking on the Moon - The Police
Bed's Too Big Without You - The Police
Christmas Wrapping - The Waitresses (SERIOUSLY, CHECK IT OUT)
Sunshine of Your Love - Cream
Le Freak - Chic
My Girl - The Four Tops
Blame It On The Boogie - The Jacksons
Whinging - The Oaks

[bobjmarks11]

Mexicola- Queens of the Stone Age
Only- NIN
Crawl- Kings of Leon (as much as I hate to admit this)
Kyuss- Gardenia
Love Spreads- The Stone Roses

[jhbworldwide]

I'm a big fan of Aeroplane by Red Hot Chilli Peppers.

[JelloCrust]

California Uber Alles by the Dead Kennedys.

[CJSchecter96]

sweet child of mine

[TwisterAce]

Rage Against the Machine - Bullet in the Head
Tool - Schism
Green Day - Longview
Rush - YYZ
Dead Kennedys - Holiday in Cambodia
Metallica - For Whom the Bell Tolls
Muse - Hysteria
Red Hot Chili Peppers - Around the World
Megadeth - Peace Sells
Pink Floyd - Money
Blink-182 - Carousel
Iron Maiden - The Wicker Man
Primus - Tommy the Cat
The Cure - Fascination Street
The Who - My Generation

[RHCPFleabag]

WHERE THE HELL IS MY GENERATIONS BY THE WHO!!!!!

The bassline in that is amazing, three solos

others:

The Real Me by the Who
Ramble on By Led Zeppelin
The Ox by The Who
The Punk and the Godfather by The Who
Soul to Squeeze by RHCP
Higher Ground by RHCP
Funky Monks By RHCP
Me and My Friends by RHCP

[Offworld92]

I know that this isn't a huge band, but whenever I think of bass, I think of Parasites by Ana Kefr.

[doomsdayscottie]

My Friend of Misery
Orion
Anesthesia (Pulling Teeth)
For Whom The Bell Tolls
-Metallica

Kill All Your Friends
Planetary (GO!)
- My Chemical Romance

Longview or Long View
-Green Day

[alexjep93]

my generation bass solos - the who
another one bites the dust - queen
seven nation army - the white stripes (I know its technically not a bass guitar but most people would play it on bass)

[devilzdj4]

If Y'all know what's good, You will know why my vote is "Come Dancing" by Jeff Beck!

[Reload316]

25 or 6 to 4 -Chicago

[Napalm7]

My thoughts exactly!!!

[Napalm7]

Green Days' Longview, that is!!!

[The Judist]

You Can Call Me Al by Paul Simon. Monster bass parts.

Seems most people here aren't very groovy in their taste.

[ptleruuh]

Radiohead's Where I End And You Begin is brilliant, Bay of the Baphomets by TMV has the sickest bass I've ever heard (especially the intro) and maybe Superstition by Stevie Wonder (if that is an actual bass line..)
And some others that have been mentioned too many times already

[vonWerra]

Lot of good ones here. For me it's Peaches by the Stranglers.

[Beatnik1710]

Lowrider - war

[chuckleheadfunk]

Who is giving out all the negative comments? Roundabout is a great bass song. Minstrel in the Gallery by Jethro Tull is another one.

[Tonngfr]

Almost every song of the firts albums of Grand funk Railroad

Paranoid, Into the sun, Closer to home, I come Tumblin, Inside looking out
Mel Schacher is one of the greatest bass players ever !

[vinc3nt]

master blaster by stevie wonder or money by pink floyd

[hak_hap]

thx for deleting my productive post