Post

Kate Armstrong
@brainchain.ca

I feel like we all need a universal coping mechanism. So let’s share your favourite bass guitarist or bassist. 

21 reposts319 likes

Rough Guess Music
@roughguessmusic.bsky.social

That track has one of my favourite bass lines! I believe it was Rustee Allen who played bass on this one. Allen was selected by Larry Graham to act as his replacement for all of the "Fresh" sessions.

Derek Gray
@derekgray.bsky.social

Flea for sure is the first person that should come into anyone's head and it's amazing to scroll nearly to the end to find him. You want someone who revolutionised an instrument rather than just accompanying the drummer.

Gre-Gory Weird
@gdub1972.bsky.social

Kim Deal Tina Weymouth John Stirrat Cait O’Riordan John Entwistle Kim Gordon Laura Lee Gerry Lee Mike Mills MCA Lou Barlow Mike Watt Bootsy Collins Phil Lynott Rick Danko Krist Novoselic Lemy Kilmister Ron Carter Donald “Duck” Dunn

Pegboo 👻
@ironyleg.bsky.social

Gotta be Larry Graham of Sly and the Family Stone and Graham Central Station. He made everything more funky and then made it funkier by giving us the slap style of playing!

Matt Wall
@mattwall.bsky.social

Loads of great suggestions but can't see anyone mention McCartney? Obviously a general musical genius but his bass-playing is sublime.

Spanky Quigman, Esquire, LLC
@spankyq.bsky.social

I read an interview with him once where, when they were touring constantly, he'd go through four Fender Precision basses a year. I've seen P basses literally dropped three stories and only have scratches in the finish and that mf'er destroyed them just by playing them 😂

Sandeha Lynch
@sandehalynch.com

ADDENDA Billy Rich (played with McLaughlin, etc) Spartacus R (Osibisa) Ric Grech (Family, etc) Steve York (Vinegar Joe, etc) Christian Tritsch (Gong, etc) Dave Pegg (Fairport Convention) Trying to learn bass taught me so much ... about my limitations 😆

garwoyt.bsky.social
@garwoyt.bsky.social

Stanley Clarke Marcus Miller Charlie Haden Ron Carter Jack Bruce John Entwistle Donald Duck Dunn Geddy Lee John Paul Jones Paul McCartney ……….can’t narrow it down any more than this!

alecmcelcheran.bsky.social
@alecmcelcheran.bsky.social

i have too many. Different people, different voices. i'll just namecheck the New Wave bassists i copied when i started playing; Bruce Thomas, Graham Maby, Tina Weymouth, Sting, Colin Moulding, Pete Farndon, Paul Simonon...

Victoria Byers
@vixnbox.bsky.social

A few favorites Mike Mills (REM) and Benjamin Orr (The Cars) also wrote great songs and arguably sang better than the front men of their respective bands.

Ben 🔔🧛‍♂️🎃🦇🍬
@beninquiring.bsky.social

Mike Dirnt!!! But to expand: Erik Applegate, upright jazz bassist. He teaches at the university in my hometown where I attended jazz camp, and MY GOD. There is no musical experience quite like a live jazz upright bassist with talent pouring out of their ears.

s*w*a*c
@swac.bsky.social

I listened to the first couple of Graham Central Station albums recently, I can't believe I've been flipping past these in record bins for soooooo long, especially since I have every Sly Stone record. When he was playing with Prince, pure magic.

Frank Hudson
@frankhudson.bsky.social

Bass players get overlooked—so no way I’m going to make a list & overlook one or more. How about I just list one who’s been overlooked so far: Scott LaFaro.

Tom
@kiwiteej.bsky.social

Awesome thread! Haven't seen any of Nathan East, Guy Pratt or Stefan Lessard mentioned, so dropping them here for completeness 😀

Sandeha Lynch
@sandehalynch.com

Nate's mentioned in the thread, though I didn't get to see Marcus Miller or James Genus, and only a few notes on Jack Casady and Phil Lesh.

hwyst4r.bsky.social
@hwyst4r.bsky.social

I prefer to think in terms of "most influential" rather than favorite. Sorry, I can't choose just one. One's musical taste is a most personal and subjective opinion. This is not a competition, please no wagering.