The Top 10 Rock Bass Players of All Time

[@rogervallve7375]

as a bass player I love them all. Geddy Lee' s musicianship is way above them all.

[@johno4521]

But John Deacon? Meh, he did the job in Queen but he never really experimented with his style or came to the fore.

[@SuperBrictson]

@@johno4521 He is overrated. If we talk about Scott's honorable mentions, I preffer Michael Anthony from Van Halen, at least he made better basslines even if people consider Queen a better rock band. I preffer Van Halen, music, musicians, the only flaw is the lyrics, basically just about scoring with chicks and being a bad boy in the streets!!!

[@jeremycleary2115]

@@SuperBrictson Geddy Lee overrated? Why should anyone value an opinion like that?!

[@SuperBrictson]

@@jeremycleary2115 Dude, it's implicit that I was referring to John Deacon, he is overrated, his musicianship is overrated just for creations like Another One Bites The Dust. I never mentioned Geddy Lee who is great by the way!!!

[@jeremycleary2115]

@@SuperBrictson so sorry, I now see who you were referring to. I thought you were talking to the first commenter. So sorry my friend

[@MIKEHUNT-vi8hx]

This list should be titled “Scott’s favorites”

[@akuso99]

x Deicide Yeah, weird list. I will never think of Flea as a rock bassist.

[@dumpygoodness4086]

@@akuso99 THANK YOU!! This list is Scott's LAST JEDI. He's going to lose many of us due to his revealing how LITTLE Scott knows about bass or music! EX: NO ONE can argue DUFF is a better bassist than PAUL IN THE BEATLES!! Scott's list is THE WORST i've ever seen. (Usually when ppl make lists, they at least KNOW THE GENRE!!!!!) Seems like scott grew up on jazz and knows NOTHING ABOUT ROCK OR OTHER FORMS. Yikes. Not only should FLEA (a great FUNK bassist) not be anywhere on this list, he's THE BEST ROCK BASSIST OF ALL?? ADIOS, SCOTT. You lost more credibility with one video than any human in history. (Also, you can't even MENTION Geddy without mentioning his GOD: Chris Squire!)

[@dumpygoodness4086]

WHOA! I just realized Scott is even MORE incorrect than I thought! EX: a great argument can be made that CHRIS SQUIRE is also one of the best and most innovative FUNK players! (No one noticed when Squire would DECONSTRUCT FUNK, like the first half of "Heart Of The Sunrise" where Squire and Bruford on drums are doing FUNK, but left chunks out so you don't notic it's funk!!!) HOW WRONG IS SCOTT? ALMOST EVERYONE ON HIS LIST SAY CHRIS SQUIRE IS THE BEST THE BEST THE BEST. (Geddy says it all the time, and even FLEA says SQUIRE is a ROCK GOD BASSIST!)

[@piotrjedra9319]

Yeah - but let's face it, all "Top 10 greatest..." list are to some degree.

[@tommaynard_keyoftreeband]

Wheels of Fire live blows them all away.

[@ndkpak]

Prog or not, Chris Squire should be in top 3 with Entwistle and Geddy Lee, can't understand why he is not part of this

[@jpcolindesign517]

Amen!

[@ElChadinotunes]

and John Paul Jones :)

[@SamRoads]

SBL never seems to rate him. I would rate his countermelodies above many of the jazzers SBL likes.

[@WhyKnotTry]

Agreed.

[@i.p.knightly149]

My top 3 also without a doubt. Not even on the list, wtf?

[@jambob942]

It’s nice to see someone giving Chris Wolstenholme the recognition he deserves. He’s the main reason I ever picked up a bass!

[@DimitriPappas]

Chris is just incredible

[@carpediemarts705]

Never heard of Muse before this fall somehow. Ok, he's good but how is he in top 10 of all time?

[@stevec6427]

His bass lines are a lot of fun and really satisfying to play with a ton of distortion. Time is running out is my favourite to play.

[@bassdrummer9849]

@@carpediemarts705 Listen to Muse's albums, especially Origin Of Symmetry and Absolution. A lot of killer basstracks that show his skills. Try songs like New Born, Plug In Baby, Hyper Music, Micro Cuts, Time Is Running Out, Stockholm Syndrome etc. You won't be dissappointed. Actually to be honest; One of the best of all time? Mmm a difficult one indeed, but certainly one of the best from the last two decades!

[@charlie172011]

Yeah, but it's a shame he talks about Hysteria when it's Matt Bellamy who actually came up with that riff

[@petethescalemodeller6130]

Metal = Steve Harris .... Who Agrees

[@tubes5150]

Leedy Scalemodeller Agree 💯 % that Steve is absolutely one of Thee Best Rock Bassist OF ALL TIME !! He was such an inspiration to me . ( but I had a difficult time trying to pay like that , and sing at the same time). Can’t be done ! So that led to me always joining bands that required a lead singer . I sing but I just can’t do both . Sucks because every band I was ever in - since the 80’s , all had one thing in common : Every lead singer we had were complete assholes and all thought they were the best . ( hear the buzzer )??????? They couldn’t be more wrong haha . Hey /-/ Just thought I’d share that with you . Subbed too !! Happy 2020 2U 🤠

[@ChrisPage68]

So is Duff and Les Claypool. He's got his genres mixed.

[@MrDantres]

Of course I agree! Right up there with Geezer Butler! Skills, unmistakable style and sound, amazing writing skills and the musical legacy of a thousand years culture.

[@crusheverything4449]

Geezer Butler = Metal, but Steve is awesome, too!

[@maximo21872]

You all forgot about Cliff Burton

[@philliprussertt3847]

Les claypool and geddy Lee should be the top two on this list imo.

[@unfunnydave5485]

Billy Sheehan should be number 1

[@-Bishop-]

@@jacocharzukanamericanautho2422 no

[@normpetroff5549]

Chris Squire I'm sure has been saved for the prog list.

[@marcbass2949]

The Best.

[@DannyBoi2112]

He better have been

[@luiland2112]

Fantastic

[@farlesh1000]

Absolutely deserves to be in the Top 10, come on! Roundabout?

[@metalmike570]

And he plays using a pick; still was one of the best.

[@jamesmilton8765]

All the bass players I know consider Entwistle was way ahead of the field. Yes, people remember his solo from 'My Generation' but just his normal rhythm playing behind songs such 'Won't get fooled again' shine with an untouchable brilliance.

[@susieq9801]

Boris the Spider :)

[@duncandistortion]

Check sweets my generation cover 'steve priest' townshend thought it was better than the original.

[@jamesmilton8765]

@@duncandistortion A very good performance by Sweet. Listening to that line "I hope I die before I get old" reminds me that only two of the Who survive to this day, and only two of the Sweet also! Kind of ironic!

[@dumpygoodness4086]

@@jamesmilton8765 CHRIS SQUIRE IS TOPS FOR MANY SCIENTIFIC REASONS. EX: unlike most "great" bassists, Squire DID THE OPPOSITE. He didn't care about doing flashy s-o-l-o-s like Billy Sheehan or Victor. WHAT SQUIRE DID THAT WAS REVOLUTIONARY (top 5 revolutions in bass history!): it was like he was soloing 100% of the time, THROUGH THE SONG!! (You can listen to his bass lines over and over for the endless SURPRISES etc!) Ergo, no matter how skilled a bassist you are, if you play BORING during the song (Sheehan, VIctor), then YOU ARE NO CHRIS SQUIRE. You are PRE-Squire. (CS's top innovation was making his bass lines ALWAYS interesting and works of art on their own. It was super-radical, far more so than an Entwistle or any of the others. Even FLEA says he's not 1% the bassist Squire was! THiS IS WHY ALMOST ALL THE GREAT BASSISTS SAY CHRIS SQUIRE IS THEIR IDOL. (Lemmy, Harris, Geezer, Geddy, Flea, and most of them say SQUIRE IS BASS GOD.) In fact, that's WHY Bruford quit the band at the height of their power and fame: he said he couldn't stand how TIME-CONSUMING writing songs were, BECAUSE CHRIS SQUIRE wanted every bass note to be as great as possible, so they'd debate ONE note for 30 minutes! "Should it be an F or F#??" That doesn't happen to Flea or Victor or Entwistle or Geddy or Geezer or ANY OF THEM. Squire is in a class all by himself!

[@wlattkouzd]

Am bass player, think John Entwistle is by far the best bass player in rock history. It is incredible how every time he plays, he playes different, but every time is amazing. I'd give anything to stand in front of his amps in The Who's loud days. One great way to lose hearing.

[@CLanzetta1970-]

Geddy is #1……. Why? He plays 5 instruments very very well, and some at the same time, and is a class act! Nuff said….Geddy is a LEGEND!

[@roneyrodrigues4321]

Yeah, but the list is about bass. Geddy Lee may use more technique, but Flea is a better bass player overall.

[@CLanzetta1970-]

@@roneyrodrigues4321 Not on his best day!!

[@TraumaddicT]

@@CLanzetta1970-Highly debatable. Fair enough if you prefer others but it’s hard to argue with Flea at #1

[@GregoryAlcorn-o3g]

The hell he is just because we jumped around playing a bunch of funky ass crap get the f*** out of here you know nothing about music​@@roneyrodrigues4321

[@CalebMaSmith]

Notice how scott didn't teach us how to play Tommy the Cat lol

[@beno2233]

Most great songs don't require a genius to play, but playing the bass while singing the vocals of Tommy the cat is definitely one of the hardest things I've seen a bass player do.

[@steinson63]

she came slidin down the alleyway like butter drippin of a hot biscuit

[@CalebMaSmith]

@@steinson63 I read this in Claypool's voice

[@steinson63]

@@CalebMaSmith hehe. claypool's voice is ok but it was tom waits' voice

[@CalebMaSmith]

@@steinson63 oh well lol. It sounds like something claypool would say

[@wcvander]

Lemmy - "We are Motorhead and we play rock and roll"

[@Skelterbane69]

Can't deny that right hand

[@CarlosKTCosta]

Yeah but he is considered more of a metal player than a rock player

[@deathsicon]

He hated being called a metal band

[@Dogwash]

Dam right Lemmy Ace of Spaces, we are the road crew. RIP Lemmy but he had such speed on a Bass. The first Bass player I saw as the lead

[@felipeh.p.rodrigues5015]

Yeah, is Lemmy a metal bass player, or not? He does not consider himself as one. But his band sounds like metal, his vocals sound like metal, his bass lines match perfectly metal songs. So, if he considers himself anything, but almost everyone says the opposite, who seems to be more precise? What I am trying to say is: if I affirm that I am the BEST bass player in the world, this becomes true? Not disrespecting Lemmy, I like him, but I like him in the scope of a METAL bass player. He is probably one of the most important bass players in metal scene. So, analysts are gonna analyse him in the metal spectrum.

[@mitchmaher]

If you’re gonna put geddy in, hes gotta be number one. If not, entwistle needs to be number one. I love flea, but he’s certainly not the best.

[@mitchmaher]

@Davy Crockett respect. I love les too

[@mitchmaher]

@Davy Crockett indeed he does. Same with ged 🤘

[@TheRickyroot]

Squire , Entwistle , Macca

[@mitchmaher]

@Carlostherocker Ol Skool Fool agreed. John Paul Jones definitely provides a great low end in zep

[@DannyBoi2112]

If anyone had to be number 1, the only people who would be good enough would be John Entwhistle, Geddy Lee or Les Claypool

[@MartyWilson100]

Paul McCartney, Geezer Butler

[@marcwiggin8816]

Great shout. Some of Bill Wymans stuff from the late 70s era stones was pretty good as well.

[@TBone14159]

Both of them great bassists, Martin! I hope Scott will discuss Geezer if/when he does a metal bass player video.

[@christianretel1228]

Geezer is metal

[@MartyWilson100]

@@marcwiggin8816 Thank you 😎 Indeed, I think Bill Wyman is an underrated bass player, Keith Richards is also a groovy bass player

[@MartyWilson100]

@@TBone14159 Indeed, two of my favorite bass players. No metal bass player list would be complete without Geezer

[@TaterRaider]

No prog. Puts Rush in. 🤔

[@kavemankarl2588]

Rush is difficult to categorize, "power trio" is a rather generic genre. If fitted in prog Geddy would have scored higher... as he usually does.

[@jacurururur8848]

And not even at number 1

[@knutnskar6796]

It's prog

[@metalmike570]

Yeah but Rush has some non - prog tunes for sure. Like the stuff with Aimee Mann, definitely going for a radio hit then and they got one.

[@chimpansi2]

Flea is fantastic, creating top hits for 35 yeats with his amazing bass playing!

[@metalmike570]

Probably a top 3 bassist in rock / pop. It's a little hard to classify RHCP.

[@kare2much]

John Entwistle will also be my number 1, his tone and playing is out of this world

[@Teddysounds]

He invented rock bass, even down to round wound strings. Everyone else is just footnotes to him.

[@JimMalmPHOTO]

A "Bass Guitarist" as he always referred to himself. Changed the instrument.

[@tubes5150]

One of my absolute favorites and first inspirational bass players . I started in 1980 ( 6 string first but kinda sucked so I switched to the 4 ). Anyway // I remember playing “ My Generation “ for the very first time . That little break with the bass just about knocked me down !! “ what was that “???!!! I mean I never really heard such a prominent bass line ( at age 13 ) . That was the song that started my own bass guitar journey . So here I am 40 years later , and I still never mastered that bass line in MG . Happy 2020 2 U All ❤️🤠🎵

[@DannyBoi2112]

Definetly, he will always be the greatest bass player ever in my opinion

[@arthegon]

Real Me is hard to top. His fingers are everywhere.

[@compsolt]

Les plays things other artists on this list don't even know how to attempt. Geddy is amazing and somehow flea makes 1 ..... Is this real life?

[@andrew3084]

Yeah flea is better

[@drphilsranch6782]

S 69, you literally just disagreed with him

[@JK-dm7xz]

ik most popular doesn’t mean best

[@cjslox]

Les and Geddy are Prog IMO.

[@bishopm4401]

Flea is more along the lines of the kinda music Scott does. That’s why number 1

[@tesslacoell]

I used to almost idolize Flea, and then ... I found Geddy.

[@stephenfiore9960]

..But Geddy was on the radio before Flea ...hmm ? (You must be a younger person)

[@classicrockfansam3639]

YES YES YES

[@Groovegandalf]

Yeah, flea shouldn't be on top really.

[@victorylane2377]

Geddy is the better all around musician but flea is the more talented bass player. Not that any of our opinions really matter. When a player gets to their level it all becomes subjective anyhow.

[@BillPhurnell]

My favorites are Geddy Lee, John Entwistle, John Paul Jones, Jack Bruce, and Chris Squire, in a very general order.

[@welsh_Witch]

Where is paul McCartney

[@BillPhurnell]

@@welsh_Witch paul McCartney, in my opinion, is overrated as a bass player. As a musician, he's one of the greatest, but don't overestimate his bass playing.

[@vingarg71enzo]

les claypool

[@BillPhurnell]

@@vingarg71enzo I do like Les Claypool, and I think he's an extremely good bassist, but I don't really listen to Primus that much. I think he's one of the best bassists, but he's not one of my top 5 favorites.

[@metalmike570]

I like the order you have them; and mine would be Geddy Lee, JP Jones, Steve Harris, Cliff Burton, Chris Squire, Flea, Entwistle, Claypool, aw hell I've mixed the genres so what. McKagen, Louis Johnson, Phil Lynot, G Butler as well!

[@jakesandeen]

Are you brave enough to drink every time Scott says “holding down the low end”?

[@dezthescentlessapprentice]

Crumbo i would...but id be dead

[@zacheryhull3340]

Or his emails say "Low end lovers"

[@fuumax7969]

@@dezthescentlessapprentice win win

[@fuumax7969]

@@zacheryhull3340 or "last chance!"

[@idiosyncraticmushroom3030]

Crumbo people gonna die

[@seanmichalec8247]

Les Claypool!! Just Realy proficiently bass player he’s the most.

[@floouk]

Duff McKagan number 6 while Jack Bruce and Les Claypool are 7 and 8 respectively. Scott, I've been a long time admirer of your achievements online and have been a long time subscriber to you KZbin channel but I must ask, what substances were you on when you came up with this list?

[@jameswarner8038]

simple, He doesnt know anything about rock, he just wants the views

[@lipptech1]

Dito !!.....the #1 ROCKER ....a funk king....flea !!!!

[@yeetmeintotheabyss2893]

I guess it might be that it measures technical ability as well as how good the songs are. And I don't remember who said it but "Les claypools isn't music, it's a form of comedy".

[@dumpygoodness4086]

I knew Scott knew NOTHING about Rock, but leaving CHRIS SQUIRE off this list too, has FOREVER RUINED SCOTT's BRAND, which I liked until he mislead his fans re Squire, THE MOST IMPORTANT ROCK BASSIST OF ALL, easy to prove. (EX: Geddy Lee says SQUIRE WAS HIS GOD.) (EX: Steve Harris said CS WAS HIS GOD.) etc. I liked Scott, but now I no longer trust his honesty or wisdom. His list is NONSENSE.

[@dumpygoodness4086]

HOLY SHIT... I JUST HEARD SCOTT TALKING ABOUT TONE (like Claypools)... WHILE IGNORING THE GOD OF ROCK TONE... CHris Squire?? HIS MONSTER TONE knocked out every other rock bassist and changed the game forever.

[@waynegill8511]

Phil Lynott should have had a mention!!!

[@Markusewitz]

Absolutely!

[@rickycocozza360]

One for the top frontman bassists video!

[@thediseaseisthecure]

No

[@TexTom1981]

damned straight....singing bassman with the immortal Thin Lizzy? ABSOLUTELY.

[@Relic-mt8oe]

@@rickycocozza360 Geddy would win that one hands down. Still like your idea though.

[@greattobeadub]

You've gotta love Geddy Lee, playing savage bass lines, while singing and playing the synthesizer. Amazing list nonetheless.

[@xantaclause12345]

Chris Squire!

[@jaschul]

He's prog. As is Geddy. But Geddy got in somehow. Weird.

[@dumpygoodness4086]

@@jaschul NOPE. CHRIS SQUIRE IS NOT ONLY A ROCK BASSIST, he's quantifiably THE MOST IMPORTANT, and EVERY metalhead cites SQUIRE as #1... from Cliff Burton to Steve Harris to Geddy Lee and ALL OF THEM SAY SQUIRE WAS THEIR GOD.

[@dumpygoodness4086]

SQUIRE IS TOPS FOR MANY SCIENTIFIC REASONS. EX: unlike most "great" bassists, Squire DID THE OPPOSITE. He didn't care about doing flashy s-o-l-o-s like Billy Sheehan or Victor. WHAT SQUIRE DID THAT WAS REVOLUTIONARY (top 5 revolutions in bass history!): it was like he was soloing 100% of the time, THROUGH THE SONG!! (You can listen to his bass lines over and over for the endless SURPRISES etc!) Ergo, no matter how skilled a bassist you are, if you play BORING during the song (Sheehan, VIctor), then YOU ARE NO CHRIS SQUIRE. You are PRE-Squire. (CS's top innovation was making his bass lines ALWAYS interesting and works of art on their own. It was super-radical, far more so than an Entwistle or any of the others. Even FLEA says he's not 1% the bassist Squire was! THiS IS WHY ALMOST ALL THE GREAT BASSISTS SAY CHRIS SQUIRE IS THEIR IDOL. (Lemmy, Harris, Geezer, Geddy, Flea, and most of them say SQUIRE IS BASS GOD.) In fact, that's WHY Bruford quit the band at the height of their power and fame: he said he couldn't stand how TIME-CONSUMING writing songs were, BECAUSE CHRIS SQUIRE wanted every bass note to be as great as possible, so they'd debate ONE note for 30 minutes! "Should it be an F or F#??" That doesn't happen to Flea or Victor or Entwistle or Geddy or Geezer or ANY OF THEM. Squire is in a class all by himself!

[@derekhosie8859]

Squire! The man, the legend.

[@Pancho964]

Squire, por supuesto!

[@josepharmsberger7633]

Geezer Butler and Steve Harris should be 1-2 on that metal list.

[@BassDuchess]

Steve Harris the MASTER, up the Irons \m/

[@zhp500]

Geezer Butler style and influence tops most of the players in the list.

[@maximo21872]

Cliff. Burton.

[@nopenope8348]

It's sad that Geezer wasn't in the list.

[@SuperBrictson]

Both amazing bass players but one is heavy metal and the other started it!!!

[@joshuanoonan8427]

If you're going to put in Geddy Lee put him in the spot he deserves number one

[@matthewdavid3370]

And if you ask Lee he’d say Entwistle is hands down the best.

[@joshuanoonan8427]

@@matthewdavid3370 yeah I could see John entwistle at number one as well he is phenomenal.

[@victorruotolo7521]

@@matthewdavid3370 no, Chris Sqiue

[@tonybmw5785]

Geddy, JPJ and Entwistle In no particular order should have been above Flea.

[@trajan6927]

Search, "Bassist Of The Millennium," and tell me who pops up.

[@metalmike570]

@@trajan6927 Exactly, Flea is the better bassist, him and Les Claypool. As far as the music as a band - yeah Zeppelin, Rush and The Who would be higher than the Chili Peppers although the Peppers are still a great band.

[@maximvolodkin6809]

and Jack Bruce tops them all

[@tonybmw5785]

@@maximvolodkin6809 Actually if you go on the basis of the number of hits and albums played on then Carol Kaye (wrecking crew) probably tops everyone by a country mile. However for me its Geddy or Entwistle....

[@wyvern4588]

Geddy for sure is my favorite, he plays so different, so complex and so hard he's a really hard act to follow. He plays a mixture of guitar and bass.

[@gezi0752]

I would agree but “mixture of guitar and bass” doesn’t make any sense. He’s a bass player. Playing more melodic or lead basslines doesn’t make it guitar, it just makes it lead bass

[@wyvern4588]

@@gezi0752 He plays in the upper registers where guitar also lives- there aren't a lot of bassists that write basslines that lead or follow guitar instead of drums. Oh, and Geddy knows how to play guitar as well :P

[@gezi0752]

@@wyvern4588 yeah but he’s playing a bass guitar. Most instruments are in the same range as guitar bro, does that make a trumpet or a violin a guitar?

[@wyvern4588]

@@gezi0752 I don't know I can explain it any simpler for you...bro.

[@gezi0752]

@@wyvern4588 i understand what you’re saying, I just disagree. He’s playing a bass guitar, so even if his playing slightly resembles how a guitarist would play, he’s still playing bass

[@dantheman5075]

I personally think flea deserves #1, the basslines he writes to compliment John's guitar riffs are always beautiful as well as the rhythm section he forms with chad

[@crr311sux5]

nah les claypool deserves #1

[@prith7900]

@@crr311sux5 he’s definitely better than flea but he’s prog metal

[@donpelayo4496]

Jaco maybe????????????????

[@FrancescoPirrone]

I just want you to interview Steve Harris.

[@Metalbass1979]

I second this! He's a beast on bass and influenced several generations of players.....like me.

[@dumpygoodness4086]

@@Metalbass1979 like Harris... Flea, Geddy, Sheehan, and most of them... THEY ALL SAY YES' CHRIS SQUIRE WAS A SUPER-GOD.

[@Metalbass1979]

@@dumpygoodness4086 ....and I would not disagree! 😎

[@plantpatrol2950]

Steve Harris is one of my favorite bass players to I love his galloping baseline

[@dumpygoodness4086]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/ZqexlJqCbqucatk

[@andywlasniewski6810]

No Paul McCartney? One of the best melodic players of his era.

[@tubes5150]

Andy Wlasniewski So Agree !!!!!!! One of my all time favorites as well as some others . His left handed style was so articulate. He loved jumping those scales - Even in those fun little tunes like “ Penny Lane “. Give that another listen . It’s so fun !!!!! Happy New Year ❤️🤠🎵🙏 I just subscribed to your channel because you are cool 😎

[@claudiofvargas]

@@tubes5150 Don´t forget the amazing playing in Slliy Love Songs with Wings.

[@jackthomson5047]

He still isn't in the top 10 rock bass players...

[@G8GT364CI]

@@jackthomson5047 McCartney started most of the styles that were represented in that list, he should have been right up there.

[@billfraser1491]

Yep wtf the dude star metal/hardrock genre with helter skelter 😂

[@andrewpappas9311]

Honestly, I’m genuinely surprised that Paul McCartney was nowhere in here (even as an honourable mention). He’s influenced countless of players since and his bass playing (not to mention obviously songwriting) is just legendary

[@devinebass]

We 🧡🧡🧡 McCartney - He deserves a full video!

[@dustylover100]

So does Peter Cetera.

[@giolosaberidze3613]

Please next "Top 10 Metal Bass Player of All Time"

[@matteus-]

10. Cliff Burton 9. Cliff Burton 8. Cliff Burton 7. Jason Newstead 6. Cliff Burton 5.Cliff Burton 4. Cliff Burton 3. Cliff Burton 2. Cliff Burton 1. Cliff Burton

[@timluyten8660]

@@matteus- Cliff Burton is overrated. Change my mind.

[@astika81]

@@matteus- Assuming Justin Chancellor doesnt exist ofcourse ;)

[@astika81]

@@timluyten8660 I mean you're wrong, but sure.

[@mustardtitsthemurdermaster3486]

@@astika81 Chancellor might be put on a Progressive Bass Players list, tho.

[@DDELFIERRO]

Wait, Paul McCartney ISN’T considered rock or even get an honorable mention when he was a contemporary of maybe half the players mentioned?!?

[@inazuma9361]

I was utterly shocked, I mean it was pop in the 60s but pop in the 60s was rock. He is probably one of the most influential bass players in the world, and from the most influential band in the world to boot. Makes me wonder what genre Scott thinks he plays :P, guess he could've excluded him cause they went psychedelic rock for two years, but that's missing the other 8 years of his work with the Beatles and all his work after. Hell when he said "you guessed it" for number 1 I was like "yep of course it's McCartney, wait... fucking Flea, you what?" Not saying Flea is bad, but not mentioning McCartney in a list of the best rock bass players at all is fucking blasphemy at best

[@jimquicksilver442]

Agreed. Geddy is my favourite, but should've probably been left for the prog list. Paul certainly deserves to be here.

[@slipknot95maggot]

He really isn't that great of a bass player.... You are certainly welcome to love what he's done and love his musical contributions. He really wasn't that great of a bass player. Some of his riffs can show up on a 'greatest bass riffs' if that makes you feel better. But again, really not that great of a bass player. Also, being a contemporary...? What incredibly flawed logic... www.ecosia.org/search?q=contemporary+definition You sure you wanna say being a contemporary should be a qualification..? Might I suggest a different word..? XDDDDDDDDDDD

[@stephen5601]

slipknot95maggot but if we’re going for best with technical abilities, flea wouldn’t be number one. The guy is amazing, but claypool is definitely better.

[@comcasthawk]

slipknot95maggot , and what a “great bass player”....??

[@maceutke]

Cliff burton inspired me to play bass, i was born 20years after he past away but hes still my hero... That means alot

[@metalmike570]

Should be on the Metal bassists list, and Scott said he'll make one for these guys.

[@aarontheman9196]

Me too

[@vinaychhetri6023]

1.John Entwistle 2.Chris Squire 3.Jack Bruce 4.Geddy Lee 5.John Paul Jones 6.Geezer Buttler 7.Les Claypool 8.Flea 9.Roger Glover 10.Lemmy Kilmister

[@DrJetty]

That's more nearer the to listing...

[@kesleycottrell1416]

Geddy Lee! End of story case closed. Because most of those bass players you mentioned would agree. Number 5 is a frickin insult.

[@jmmacb03]

Well said. Geddy is a virtuoso in a 3 man band of virtuosos! And he _sings w/o auto-tune and plays foot pedals and keyboards..._

[@carlpeterson8182]

@@jmmacb03 and he uses his nose. He could not do it all without his great nose! (Bassist for Rage Against the Machine about Geddy Lee)

[@michaelalguire419]

You're right. It is an insult.

[@adityatyagi4009]

Geddy has stated exactly the following: "I have huge respect for Les Claypool as a bass player..."

[@metalmike570]

@@adityatyagi4009 I'd like to see Les Claypool's version of YYZ. In fact there is one here on KZbin. The reverse is true too Claypool respects Geddy you better believe it!

[@DannyBoi2112]

Do you realize how happy I am that you mentioned Cliff Williams of AC/DC, he really is a helluva bass player and damn underrated. Forget that AC/DC basslines are basically just holding down the groove for a minute, Cliff has great control and stamina in his picking hand, almost always uses down strokes. And has a great ability to improvise and jazz up basslines when playing live. There is isolated bass tracks on youtube of him playing live at the classic AC/DC concert Live at Donington. Check them out and see how good he really is.

[@bobcarn]

Geddy! Not only is he incredible on the bass, he's so freaking versatile with it. The only problem with putting Rush in a genre is that they're almost their own genre. Their songs are all over the place.

[@tubes5150]

Robert Carnevali Such a great comment !! I’m not a Rush fan however I never seem to turn them off when I hear them on the radio . I’ve been rocking the bass since the 80’s . I also sing . And Geddy has Mastered Both extremely well ! I could never do that !! Too complicated to hit that vocal and try to play those notes at the same time . Yeah - Geddy blows me away !! Now I want to go listen to some Rush . ( I just subscribed to your channel to show support- Hope to connect) Happy 2020 🤠

[@bobcarn]

@@tubes5150 Ha! I didn't even know someone could subscribe to me. LOL! All I've done so far is just flag videos so I can find them later. It's pretty boring in my "channel" :)

[@randypeal2255]

Robert Carnevali They were considered hair metal at the time.

[@bobcarn]

@@randypeal2255 "Hair Metal"? I don't think so. They only had long hair in the 70s, and everyone had long hair in the 70s. By the 80s, they had much shorter hair. They weren't heavy metal, and while they were rock, they were more often prog-rock, but not quite as prog-rock as other bands because they not only kept the rock feel, but had other elements added in.

[@randypeal2255]

@@bobcarn I respectfully disagree, Progressive Rock wasn't even a thing until later, Night Ranger was Heavy Metal, Rush was Heavy Metal, Zebra was heavy metal, Saga was Heavy Metal, Van Halen was Heavy Metal, lumped all in with DIO, Scorpians, Iron Maiden, Black Sabbath, Kiss, RATT and more.In the 80's they still had long hair, Hair Metal isn't really about hair it's about a Genre of music. At the turn of the 80s, Rush were at a crossroads. They were, as Metallica’s Kirk Hammett later put it, “the high priests of conceptual metal”. But in the wake of punk, in an era dominated by new wave, it was time for Rush to move on. On this article there is a photo of RUSH in 1980 long hair and all especially Getty Lee www.loudersound.com/features/the-history-of-rush-by-geddy-lee-alex-lifeson-moving-pictures-and-the-1980s

[@conorkeane4665]

Geddy Lee is my all time favorite bassist!!

[@dumpygoodness4086]

and that will CHANGE as soon as you listen to a bunch of 1970s music by YES, starring Geddy's TOP HERO: the mighty CHRIS SQUIRE, whose TONE alone changed the world! (He played bass like a WEAPON!) IRONY ALERT! Anyone on these comments who doesn't know Chris Squire MIGHT SEARCH ON YT AND GET CHRIS's meh SOLO ALBUM, which doesn't show off his bass playing!

[@dumpygoodness4086]

THEN THAT MEANS Chris Squire is your all time favorite, b/c GEDDY says his goal was to impersonate Squire every day! CHRIS SQUIRE IS TOPS FOR MANY SCIENTIFIC REASONS. EX: unlike most "great" bassists, Squire DID THE OPPOSITE. He didn't care about doing flashy s-o-l-o-s like Billy Sheehan or Victor. WHAT SQUIRE DID THAT WAS REVOLUTIONARY (top 5 revolutions in bass history!): it was like he was soloing 100% of the time, THROUGH THE SONG!! (You can listen to his bass lines over and over for the endless SURPRISES etc!) Ergo, no matter how skilled a bassist you are, if you play BORING during the song (Sheehan, VIctor), then YOU ARE NO CHRIS SQUIRE. You are PRE-Squire. (CS's top innovation was making his bass lines ALWAYS interesting and works of art on their own. It was super-radical, far more so than an Entwistle or any of the others. Even FLEA says he's not 1% the bassist Squire was! THiS IS WHY ALMOST ALL THE GREAT BASSISTS SAY CHRIS SQUIRE IS THEIR IDOL. (Lemmy, Harris, Geezer, Geddy, Flea, and most of them say SQUIRE IS BASS GOD.) In fact, that's WHY Bruford quit the band at the height of their power and fame: he said he couldn't stand how TIME-CONSUMING writing songs were, BECAUSE CHRIS SQUIRE wanted every bass note to be as great as possible, so they'd debate ONE note for 30 minutes! "Should it be an F or F#??" That doesn't happen to Flea or Victor or Entwistle or Geddy or Geezer or ANY OF THEM. Squire is in a class all by himself!

[@dumpygoodness4086]

@Outrageous Accent! GEDDY HIMSELF said he wanted to be Chris Squire!! And he said the REASON he bought a Rickenbacker bass was SOLELY TO BE MORE LIKE CHRIS SQUIRE. Come on, man. I didn't say that Geddy is just a wannabe, did I? Of course Geddy developed his own style [which is very CHris Squire-esque]: CS plays with a pick, Geddy plays with fingers.

[@ΝικοςΡαπτης-ξ2ψ]

Black Sabbath with Ozzy was a rock band and bass work of Geezer in MOR is the best ever.With Dio the 2 LPs was metal and again he was fantastic.Unique bass player

[@samuelponechal3240]

Do you know what has Black Sabbath invented?

[@samuelponechal3240]

Do you know what has Black Sabbath invented?

[@metalmike570]

@@samuelponechal3240 Sabbath invented what is heavy metal. Of course they are using jazz techniques especially in the rhythm section.

[@bluehighway3361]

Steve Harris from Iron Maiden, John Wetton King Crimson, Phil Lynott from Thin Lizzy, Sting, Chris Squire from Yes are missing....

[@metalmike570]

Yes because he's not including any progressive rock and metal style bassists, he says so in the beginning of the video. Except he thought some of the progressive and metal style bassists are hard rock so he included them here. Examples are Geddy and Duff, he included them but said he wouldn't include progressive and metal bassists.

[@andresfelipemerchanloza3102]

Can we have a video talking about Sting, I really think he is a good musician and bass player, and I also happened to like The Police and his solo stuff!!

[@bbb462cid]

In the '70s, the Punks were amazed at his technique and ability to hammer complex lines

[@TheDaaazer]

Totally agree - very underrated as bassist. With a jazz back ground he played some fantastic spare, perfectly suited bass lines on the fretless. Huge technique married with economy and simplicity - exactly what the Police songs needed. The knock against him is that his lines were "simple" - but they were perfect for the music. And how busy do you want to be playing against Stewart Copeland? It wouldn't have worked! It isn't that he couldn't, it's that he didn't. HUGE lesson for all bass players.

[@AverageHuman7026]

I've heard he used to record his bass lines while jumping on one of those small aerobic trampolines

[@metalmike570]

@@TheDaaazer I know at least put him at number nine and bump one of the others off the list. Better yet expand the list to 25 because there's too many that are great and never got on.

[@halilbakilan]

I thought it is not gonna mention about Flea. I was very bewildered until 16:16. But then he talked about Flea for some minutes. I can say, My life is shaped with Flea. Thank you for the video.

[@metalmike570]

Flea kicks ass!

[@burakozaslan4672]

Totally agree man

[@michealdemattia]

Geddy Lee has musical skills beyond the others, Scott didn't mention he very rarely plays in 4/4 time signatures the easiest of all time signatures to find a groove to play bass, playing bass in odd and multiple time signatures is another ball game altogether it takes time to master and to perfect he' also plays Flamenco style and not to mention when seeing him playing live you can appreciated the level of musicianship he plays and changes as much as three instruments in the one song keyboards, bass pedals, bass guitar and not forgetting vocals that's why i place him at NUMBER 1

[@metalmike570]

The title is best bass player though; I like Rush's music better than Primus and the Chilli Peppers, but I don't think he's a better bassist than those guys. I guess it's the way they pop / slap their basses. Funk bass is just insane those guys are the best. I guess they're the best bassists but I like the classic prog music more - that's not the title of the list though.

[@michealdemattia]

@@metalmike570The title is Top 10 Rock Bass Players of All Time read it again ! stick to the script Les Claypool is a very good friend of Geddy Lee and is always asking him how he played this part and and that part of Rush song and Flea doesn't even rate as funk player there's many better go and google search

[@metalmike570]

@@michealdemattia Geddy has musical skills beyond all the others - you're referring to him as a singer and keyboardist (as well as a bassist) is how that comes across. Flea is known only as a bassist and the Chili Peppers are a rock band that is very versatile. Flea may be the best bassist as many people have heard of him - his playing is influential. I think you're impartial to Geddy because you've seen him in concert, and number two is you probably like Rush better than RHCP. I do happen to be a Rush fan, and a bass player myself. Right now I'm working on playing YYZ, I'm also in a local band. In time I will master it. I will not be able to master some of the playing that Flea does; give Aeroplane a listen, higher ground, perhaps because they merge rock and funk but this is very impressive. Also Geddy is not supposed to be included here because of what Scott says in the beginning of the video that there will be a separate list for progressive rock and metal players. It's a fluke that Geddy and Duff McKagen are on this list. And in that case the Flea has it. Ok the title is Top 10 best rock bass players; well they're all rock bassists but different types of rock. The list really doesn't matter we know who we like the best, Bandwise it's Rush, The Who, then RHCP, and G'N'R, and it doesn't mean the bassists would be in that order. It becomes apples and oranges and just people's opinions too.

[@michealdemattia]

@@metalmike570 I disagree with Flea at number 1 and beside oranges and apples he plays Funk style in a rock band other's way better doing that style of playing for years before Flea commercialised it Check out Stanley Clarke early to mid 70's and again Prog Rock is rock as far as i'm concerned and as i said before Geddy lee also plays Flamenco Style that Scott has never had a tutorial on

[@metalmike570]

@@michealdemattia I guess fame and relativity (to today) have apart of the data, I've heard of Stanley Clarke and will see if there's something on KZbin on him. Well Flea is in this category cause RHCP is a rock band; rock / funk /pop band. Clarke is a master I'm sure but about 10% as popular as RCHP (Flea). And Scott says in the beginning of the video heavy metal and progressive rock bassists will be on a different list. I'd like to see a top 25 bassists list across ANY pop and rock band list, but it would be hard to rank them.

[@mrel1450]

Geddy Lee gets my vote. He sings while playing a complex bass part, and . . . oh yeah, he might be playing a foot synthesizer at the same time. I'm a bass player, and singing a song when the bass line is going in a completely different direction is extremely difficult. I like Flea a lot; he may be technically better, but I think Geddy is the whole rock package.

[@metalmike570]

There should be an award just for Geddy Lee - The Geddy Lee multi-talented Icon award.

[@TomLutonUK]

Phil Lynott deserves a mention, he wrote killer bass lines and was cool as f**k 🔥

[@Vince_Tasciotti]

The Number One Rock Bassist of all time, John Entwistle. He inspired just about every bass player I know. The greatest Heavy Metal bass player of all time, easy, Geezer Butler.

[@tubes5150]

Vince Tasciotti Can’t argue with that my friend . Great taste !!

[@lesshrubb203]

John Entwistle is also responsible for roundwound bass guitar strings. He didn’t like the sound of the tapewound strings, the only type available, so he went to Rotosound in S.Wales and developed the string we use today. A great bass player.

[@tubes5150]

I think I knew that about him ?????? Way back when . Because of his playing , I have a little memory of when I bought my very first pack of bass strings ( I was like 14 years old in 1980 ). This little music store that I would walk about 40 minutes to . ( that seemed like a life time ). When the sales rep helped me pick out a pack of stings , and then rang me up , my jaw hit the glass counter when he said they were like ( I don’t really remember but they were like $25 to $30 ). Of course I had only like $10 on me . So that was a long walk home haha . I think I finally got them a month later . But at age 14 , spending $30 on stings was just insane ! I knew I’d better not quit !! I still play 40 years later . I’m 53 now and I will never forget that time in the store - just to try and buy a pack of bass strings . Thank you for reading all this . Sorry so long but I just thought I’d share that little memory . Have a great day 🤠❤️🙏

[@lesshrubb203]

You too, my friend.

[@keysersoze657]

I think John Deacon should be top 10 not just a notable mention he is better than some of the others on the list in my opinion.

[@fredrikstadwhite]

Homur Simpsin 100% agree

[@starlinyn9292]

Nah he's kinda overrated the again if Im honest queen is too

[@harpapmac]

@@starlinyn9292 just listen to another one bites the dust and Under pressure bass lines, there are many many more but just listen to those two or maybe you need 200 notes per second.. You and the guy who made this video need ten lives to maybe reach the musicianship of John Deacon.. And even then I'm sure you will be overrated.. Do yourselves a favor and try learn more about him and his music, listen first of all, listen you overrated human being who criticize a f@cking legend.. Hahaha that's all, peace and love

[@starlinyn9292]

@@harpapmac calm down don't get angry over an OPINION, I never questioned his music abilities he had written some good songs and basslines I'm used to love queen before the movie, after the movie though i feel he is extremely overrated compared to other bassists.

[@starlinyn9292]

@@harpapmac also I've probably listened to Queen for longer thay you have so don't tell me to listen to them as I have and can make my jusdgement on how I feel he is as a musician, he is good but not top 3. Also you don't know anything about me so don't judge me he is a bassist, I am a bassist, guitarist and pianist so I think I have an understanding of music and what a bassline is made up of, under pressure is simple but iconic definetley top 10 queen track, another one bites the dust is not as impressive to me as its too simple so don't judge before you know peopl

[@bradstemmler4673]

Johnny Myung should be on every rock, metal, and/or prog list

[@metalmike570]

What band is he in?

[@stephen5601]

Metal Mike dream theatre, amazing band

[@maximvolodkin6809]

no

[@OnPointFirearms]

DT is the nerdiest band ever. Suck. They have no groove. They just make complicated and needlessly technique songs.

[@normpetroff5549]

Nope. Love ya Scott but putting flea before Geddy or JPJ is crazy talk!

[@waynegiroux7192]

According to the criteria at the beginning Geddy and JPJ shouldn't be on the list. No prog and no session players. Both rules broken with these greats.

[@marcos3874]

I love Geddy Lee and Rush, but I have to admit Flea is a more unique bass player, mixing in several music styles. Flea is the reason I wanted to learn to play bass and join a band. Geddy Lee is the reason I wanted learn more about prog rock.

[@mikejanke2690]

agreed

[@edwardestep970]

I love Flea! But he's not above les Claypool

[@collinsrijayanta4199]

How did Duff get ahead of Claypool HAHA

[@brainyskeletonofdoom7824]

We as a species are still trying to figure out Les

[@fortj3]

Les is superhuman. We can never figure him out.

[@melinabozorgmehr6503]

Ooooooooh my goodness, thank you so much for this video series, I cried, I rocked out, I absolutely loved it! Please keep these up!

[@incidentalist]

Sheehan on a whole other level tbh!!

[@linusmorgan-jones5246]

Thought John Deacon should've made the top 10 but I'm glad you gave Chris Wolstenhome recognition

[@christianstolina7792]

My number one is Gary Thain from Uriah Heep. Sadly forgotten and underrated. Listen to the bass on Uriah Heep live 1973: virtuoso, nevertheless always useful for the song and always present in the mix

[@chrissutton927]

Glad you mentioned Gary. In my opinion the greatest there has ever been. UH live 73 is the best live bass playing I have ever heard and I have played bass myself for 50 years.

[@dogcowrph]

John Entwhistle, Chris Squire, Geddy Lee, Les Craypool,

[@EIYH58]

Agreed with you man........!

[@egobuilders415]

John Paul Jones

[@mrcatz4311]

Jaco Pastorius

[@sadhankumarbanerjee3557]

Agreed with you.

[@PapaDudeness]

Paul McCartney & Sting.. I guess they belong in this genre, so, there are some huge omissions right there.

[@tubes5150]

PapaDudeness I agree 💯. I don’t think I have an absolute favorite due to so many styles . I’ve always liked the bass player who can sing while playing ( I can do it just as long as it’s a 2 - 3 note song haha ). Been playing since the 80’s in various bands from Pop To Heavy Metal. So it’s just hard to pick an absolute favorite as I’ve been inspired by so many . I just subscribed to your channel. Hope to connect .

[@brismike56]

Both of the dudes you mention are overrated.

[@BillPhurnell]

@@brismike56 totally agree. They're outstanding musicians, but in terms of bass playing, they're top 20 material at best.

[@dennislindqvist8443]

@@brismike56 Sting is sloppy but McCartney is stellar.

[@ProfessorGroyper]

Sting is a good frontman but he never did anything spectacular with that bass. Paul did, especially in the song "Another Day"

[@paulneeds]

Hi Scott. Entwistle no 1 for me, but might I ask what your glove is for? Hi had a spinal cord injury a few years back, which left me with hypersensitive fingertips. This is mostly controlled by meds, but it does making building up any level of callus on either hand difficult - and very painful. Any ideas?

[@GuerinBarry]

When I think of Flea's bass, I think of his first. He and my son, Keith, were High School friends and Flea was a virtuoso, classical trumpet player with orchestra's all over LA. When he decided to play bass (and impress the girls), he bought my old Gibson bass. I was getting a Precision to play with Sha Na Na. I found Flea and his friends (soon to be the RHCP) in my living room, hacking at it with scissors, knives, screwdrivers, etc. I asked WTF they were doing. Flea turned to me and yelled, "It's too clean!" Important note...aside from being a really nice guy, Flea was a really good musician before he ever picked up a bass.

[@tubes5150]

Guerin Barry I just went to your channel and left a nice message. Hope to connect .

[@timyarber9936]

That's super cool!

[@davidfox7983]

Brilliant

[@LordStompyHarpLoonyTunes]

You just have to hear Flea's trumpet playing on RHCP, Jane's Addiction etc to know he's a really good player.

[@downsouth420]

Glad to see Commerford get a mention. He loves doing weird, experimental stuff with bass you never hear anywhere else, and it’s a shame not many lists want to mention him when he is so talented.

[@ObzzorRock]

Geddy Lee is prog, but should have won this one too :D Amazing tone and basslines (not to mention he sings at the same time, which is crazy!)

[@Lightningspiner]

Looking forward to Top 10 Prog and Metal Bass Player vids 👌

[@nievesofficial]

Chris Wolstenholme, yesss. He's extremely skilled, has extreme precision and even that's putting it lightly. He's awesome

[@ryantube3954]

Les Claypool and Jaco Pastorious are my favorite bass players of all time

[@metalmike570]

Pastorious was so damned technical, but I haven't heard much of his work. RIP Jaco.

[@laurieharper1526]

Flea's bass part on Give it Away is reminiscent of Macca's on Come Together

[@robgreene1776]

Top 10 All Time Rock Bass Players, and not even an 'Honourable Mention' for Paul McCartney ?

[@dumpygoodness4086]

EXACTLY. CHRIS SQUIRE IS TOPS FOR MANY SCIENTIFIC REASONS. EX: unlike most "great" bassists, Squire DID THE OPPOSITE. He didn't care about doing flashy s-o-l-o-s like Billy Sheehan or Victor. WHAT SQUIRE DID THAT WAS REVOLUTIONARY (top 5 revolutions in bass history!): it was like he was soloing 100% of the time, THROUGH THE SONG!! (You can listen to his bass lines over and over for the endless SURPRISES etc!) Ergo, no matter how skilled a bassist you are, if you play BORING during the song (Sheehan, VIctor), then YOU ARE NO CHRIS SQUIRE. You are PRE-Squire. (CS's top innovation was making his bass lines ALWAYS interesting and works of art on their own. It was super-radical, far more so than an Entwistle or any of the others. Even FLEA says he's not 1% the bassist Squire was! THiS IS WHY ALMOST ALL THE GREAT BASSISTS SAY CHRIS SQUIRE IS THEIR IDOL. (Lemmy, Harris, Geezer, Geddy, Flea, and most of them say SQUIRE IS BASS GOD.) In fact, that's WHY Bruford quit the band at the height of their power and fame: he said he couldn't stand how TIME-CONSUMING writing songs were, BECAUSE CHRIS SQUIRE wanted every bass note to be as great as possible, so they'd debate ONE note for 30 minutes! "Should it be an F or F#??" That doesn't happen to Flea or Victor or Entwistle or Geddy or Geezer or ANY OF THEM. Squire is in a class all by himself!

[@kurtbaechler9696]

It says greatest not most overrated. 😂😂

[@kavemankarl2588]

"One of the most talented power trio in rock history" Mmm... I'm not even a Rush fan (I like them, but I don't worship them like most of their legions of fans do) but I feel I must take exception to that statement. In my opinion they were not "one of the most talented", they were THE most talented power trio in the history of rock music. In fact they were immensely gifted and not just as a trio, but as a rock band period. The number of albums sold, the supreme quality of their sound on stage, the showmanship, they had it all. They embodied the dream every young teen-aged budding rock/prog musician live with: to make the big leagues with a pzazz so unique it raises passions good and bad, but never unnoticed.

[@mitchmaher]

Well said karl

[@johnharvey4496]

Agree 99%, but where was the showmanship with Rush? Maybe you mean that their talent and delivery was so outrageous it seemed like showmanship. OK 100% agree.

[@mitchmaher]

@John Harvey exactly this. Rush wasn’t particularly showy or flashy, but they had fun on stage between em. I don’t care for a flashy band, so I’m glad they spoke more through their music.

[@metalmike570]

Cream was good too; a power trio but I think they only had a couple years together. I know over-all Rush tops Cream. They should have had Nirvana's bassist on the list before Duff Mckagen because G'N'R is a metal band. Krist Novoselic from Nirvana is a great bassist, under-rated and could have made the list.

[@NeoArmstrongJetArmstrongCannon]

No matter what anyone says, John Entwistle Will always be my favourite, Jack Bruce on second place.. Crossroads is in my opinion the Best bassline of all time..

[@paulhb]

Radovan Ostrodický Entwisle could do it all and he was very musical. I’m with you on him. He wasn’t quite the acrobat that some of these guys are, but he was really incredible. He didn’t show off much, but he could absolutely rip in multiple techniques.

[@dumpygoodness4086]

@@paulhb CHRIS SQUIRE IS TOPS FOR MANY SCIENTIFIC REASONS. EX: unlike most "great" bassists, Squire DID THE OPPOSITE. He didn't care about doing flashy s-o-l-o-s like Billy Sheehan or Victor. WHAT SQUIRE DID THAT WAS REVOLUTIONARY (top 5 revolutions in bass history!): it was like he was soloing 100% of the time, THROUGH THE SONG!! (You can listen to his bass lines over and over for the endless SURPRISES etc!) Ergo, no matter how skilled a bassist you are, if you play BORING during the song (Sheehan, VIctor), then YOU ARE NO CHRIS SQUIRE. You are PRE-Squire. (CS's top innovation was making his bass lines ALWAYS interesting and works of art on their own. It was super-radical, far more so than an Entwistle or any of the others. Even FLEA says he's not 1% the bassist Squire was! THiS IS WHY ALMOST ALL THE GREAT BASSISTS SAY CHRIS SQUIRE IS THEIR IDOL. (Lemmy, Harris, Geezer, Geddy, Flea, and most of them say SQUIRE IS BASS GOD.) In fact, that's WHY Bruford quit the band at the height of their power and fame: he said he couldn't stand how TIME-CONSUMING writing songs were, BECAUSE CHRIS SQUIRE wanted every bass note to be as great as possible, so they'd debate ONE note for 30 minutes! "Should it be an F or F#??" That doesn't happen to Flea or Victor or Entwistle or Geddy or Geezer or ANY OF THEM. Squire is in a class all by himself!

[@NeoArmstrongJetArmstrongCannon]

@@dumpygoodness4086 I guess I'm not competent enough to argue. I do, however, admit, that Roundabout is a sick bassline and, as you said, it's like a bass solo all throughout the song..but I'm sure you're familiar with basslines like Jack Bruce's Crossroads or John Entwistle's The Real Me.. sure it's just one example but both sure do feel like a bass solo throughout the entire song.. I guess the biggest difference between Squire and Entwistle (and many others mentioned in the video) was that Entwistle wanted to stray away from the role of a bass player in a band, leaning more towards a lead intrument, while Squire wanted to stay true to a bass guitar, filling it's role, just in an interesting and fun way.. This is frankly why Ian Hill is loved and looked up to by so many bass players (namely metal bassists like Ellefson or Belo), because he stays true to the role of the bass and fills it perfectly..

[@paulhb]

Dumpy Goodness - did you just say that a subjective opinion is science? You lost me. Glad you enjoy Chris Squire. I prefer John Entwhistle.

[@dumpygoodness4086]

@@paulhb COOL LAZY THINKING, BRO. ex: ADULTS know that even most "subjective opinions" are FALSE. It's HUMAN NATURE (Duh 101) for humans to BE COPYCATS. Watch a Comedy show on KZbin and NOTICE how often the audience TURNS TO LOOK TO SEE IF OTHER PPL ARE LAUGHING. Humans are COPYCATS. Their alleged "Opinions" are, more often than not, GROUPTHINK. They're just following the crowd and NOT having their "own" "opinion", duh. THE INVERSE has you TOTALLY WRONG as well, oh LAZY THINKER: ART IS OBJECTIVE, ya PARROT Groupthinker. EX: my whole life, lazy thinkers said 'ART IS IN THE EYE OF THE BEHOLDER; it means different things to dif people, blah blah" AND I SAID "NOPE". Everyone said you can't DEFINE what is and what is not art, and I said "HOLD MY BEER: ART IS DEFINED AS ANY CREATIVE EXPRESSION. Period. You're welcome." ....and 100% of you lemmings would be speechless...think about it...and THEN admit "okay, you just PERFECTLY defined ART. It's not ANY expression... just Creative Expression." I GET THAT YOU LAZY THINKERS DON'T KNOW WHAT SCIENCE IS (that's why you think like Rudy GIuliani).... BUT CREATIVITY IS SCIENTIFICALLY QUANTIFIABLE ETC, obviously. EX: EITHER YOU ARE DOING SOMETHING ON YOUR INSTRUMENT THAT NO ONE ELSE DOES, and you came up with it ON YOUR OWN... or else YOU ARE NOT CREATIVE and you're stealing other ppl's ideas. (I make my own tunings, guitar picks, etc, b/c I hate the crap you ppl use, cuz you're all CopyCats.) DO TELL US HOW IT IS OPINION (not FACT) of what is RARE OR WHAT IS CLICHE. I predict you will decline like Giuliani!

[@mariuszjasinski1243]

Where is Robert De Leo?

[@doctordogtoffee3832]

Great player

[@bricedean9618]

So under rated.... gotta be my top 3 faves

[@joelciaccio62]

Seriously!!! Didn’t even make the honorable mention lists! I feel very strongly about this.

[@nicolas.grisanti]

Yeah!!! Robert is amazing!

[@robertherrick6703]

@@nicolas.grisanti Duff is cool but I would've put De Leo in his spot on the list.

[@gregorysgarrison]

You could never satisfy anybody else with lists like this. In the end, it's not a competition, and totally subjective.

[@giuseppemaggio5894]

My top 10 : 1 Chris Squire 2 Entwistle 3 Pastorius 4 Claypool 5 Flea 6 JPJ 7 Sheehan 8 Gedy Lee 9 Commerford 10 Davide Biale AKA Davie504 (Yes, I think he is THAT good)

[@felipeh.p.rodrigues5015]

Interesting that you mentioned Davie. So, give a chance to know Charles Berthould, the PRO that Davie mentions in several of his videos. Charles is most likely the most double hand virtuosi in the world! I've never seen a guitarrist so amazing in tapping as Charles. Davie is awesome, however Charles Berthould is disruptive, he invented a different way of play the bass!

[@mikefields4136]

This is good

[@metalmike570]

Some of them are progressive metal bassists. They should be on the Progressive rock bassists list, and Scott said he'll make one for these guys.

[@cutchopweld5717]

Rick Danko from The Band! Killer Bass, Killer Vocals, Killer guitarist and a pretty dam good fiddle player!

[@AnthonyMonaghan]

Rick redfined the instrument. A brilliant player who influenced a whole generation of musicians not just bass players. His right hand technique and unique tone changed how music sounded in the late 1960's. This list is utter crap.

[@Axisbold]

Duck Dunn as well. And McCartney was no slouch!

[@rickdabass]

1. jaco pastorius 2. Richard Bona 3. victor wooten 4. Marcus Miller 5. Thundercat 6. Flea 7. Davide Biale 8. Charles Berthoud 9. Justin Chancellor 10. Futoshi Uehara ❤

[@a.wagner7985]

Finally a video with les Claypool. Please could you dedicate one to him?

[@matty4941]

I'd love to see him on

[@Oddball-dc2qt]

Please?

[@beno2233]

Yeah, we need more Les Claypool!

[@jabo109]

I would rather not to see a video with Les Claypool specially if the guy puts him on number 7... WTF

[@j.ericsmith]

14:00 I disagree about Jone's sound. Led Zep ll had perhaps the most solid bass sound of all time. Truly like a Led Zepplin would sound. Insanely solid.

[@T_L_D]

Just gonna say, Robert DeLeo is so underrated it's insane.

[@donovanscoggins9637]

Came really just to see if he was on the list. Really underrated.

[@thediseaseisthecure]

AGREED.

[@shipsahoy1793]

Hey Scott, it’s a big world, so it’s hard to come up with the top 10 of anything, but I like these videos man, keep up the good work !!! Cheers, brother. 👨🏻Gary

[@tubes5150]

I am a Navy veteran- Rocker - Bass player since 1980 . Just had to sub to your channel because of your name ( Ships Ahoy ) and your comment here . One of the best I’ve read on here . You are so invited to my channel as well. Happy 2020 2 U 🤠🎵🔪🙏

[@megajay7065]

Great with Geddy Lee / Steve Harris and Mark King would be great to see. Now subscribed. Great video with great bass knowledge. Cheers

[@devinebass]

All of them would be so damn goo!

[@Matthordika]

As we started getting up there, I was like “oh, Paul McCartney must be number one, cause how could he not make the list?”

[@robertherrick6703]

I'm not even a Beatles fan and I was surprised McCartney wasn't mentioned. Geddy Lee's is The Man no fuckin doubt, but it would've made more sense to leave him off this list (since Prog was supposed to be excluded) and put McCartney in there somewhere.

[@zoomynumie7344]

John deacon

[@dangerspouse4741]

I think in terms of influence on the composing and recording of bass lines early in the rock era, Carol Kaye really deserves to be on any Top-10 list. I'd argue Matt Freeman is certainly the equal of many of these luminaries as well. Of the new crop, having heard Mohini Dey perform with Guthrie Govan I'd have a hard time justifying keeping her off any list, any era. And I've gotta think "MISA" from Band-Maid is going to become more well known in these circles at the rate she's progressing also.

[@wildepascal]

You're right, there's an (unconscious) "male bias" here, even though I can't imagine Scott being a sexist guy... Tal Wilkenfeld could have been listed here too, I guess. But maybe the whole music scene is still lagging a bit in terms of "feminist" progression... I'm a boy by the way, and I remember being in charge of the music in a shared workspace for a street art project, and one day a musician said he hadn't heard a single female voice in the records I played... I must admit I felt ashamed ;-)

[@raphaelcote3577]

Hi Scott! Very Nice Video! It would be very nice if you do a top 10 Prog Rock Bass Players List in the Future! So many great players from this scene! :D

[@crumpred805]

Paul McCartney and Bill Wyman or it didn't happen!

[@beantown78]

I can't think of one nasty McCartney solo on bass or bassline..🤷🏾

[@whitest__dad]

Crumpred McCartney wasn't even that good of a bass player, he just played melodies with a muddy tone and everyone thought it was mind blowing

[@markrodgers2976]

@@beantown78 That's because "nasty" isn't the main criteria for defining musicianship. There's a (whole) lot to be said for restraint, subtlety, nuance, context, etc. Pointlessly burning the frets of the fretboard often just makes a player a selfish, obnoxious bore that someone needs to toss a brick at.

[@susieq9801]

@@markrodgers2976 - Well said. It seems loud, fast and obnoxious wins over melody and style. Showing off doesn't necessarily equal ability.

[@Chavezoid]

Oh well, he's the most successful and most famous bassist of all time, but I guess this list is about virtuosity. Paul McCartney is a musical genius but not a virtuoso player such all on this list.

[@fretless05]

Listening to Jack Bruce made me get my first fretless bass... he was amazing.

[@harryf2705]

Cream’s extended jams is where it’s at. Clapton said Cream was 3 musicians soloing all the time.

[@traviswilliams]

I’ve seen some backwards lists on KZbin but this takes the cake. Yeah, Flea can slap the same note super fast, but throw in anything interesting AND lyrics and he’s toast. Geddy, Wooten, Jaco and Les and the true innovators.

[@funkearlfunkearl]

I think Sting (The Police) deserve to be on the list

[@roman14032]

sting is not a great bass player, hes not even good, hes not even ok he IS a great singer and front man and a great song writer his bass playing is "adequate" for the songs

[@noahpwsc9505]

@@roman14032 my thoughts exactly

[@sobornes239]

He can play bass AND sing perfectly. So he deserves it. People forget that a singer/bass player plays two instruments.

[@coinraker6497]

@@sobornes239 , he doesn't deserve it just because he's also the singer. That would be like like saying Don Henley is a great drummer because he's also the co-lead singer. Ones got nothing to do with the other.

[@TheDaaazer]

Lol...keep regurgitating tired comments about Sting's playing. With a jazz background, it's not that he couldn't, it's that he didn't - exactly what the Police music needed. Add to that playing on fretless on the early albums... and singing? Iconic bass lines perfectly suited to the songs. He's not a good bass player? Please.

[@MrHSkywalker]

Hope you'll put David Ellefson in the metal top 10, he's the definition of what a metal bass player should do, glueing the drums to the guitars.

[@MrHSkywalker]

@SkyVenomZeroTM yes! he's an alien who makes his bass sing!

[@ollieroe4525]

And Steve Harris

[@metalmike570]

Should be on the metal bassists list, and Scott said he'll make one for these guys.

[@jonstephenson5436]

Thank you for recognizing John Entwistle. Very underrated as far as I’m concerned. Only a few punk players credit him it seems, but still in my top 3 all time.

[@geddylee2736]

Geddy always credits John Entwhistle, Jack Bruce, Chris Squire, John Paul Jones, and Jack Cassidy as his primary influences.

[@jamesmoriarty579]

John Entwistle is the best of all time, a technical genius!

[@pauldelsignore]

How is this Duff guy on the list? I never even knew his name until you just mentioned him :) Need Paul M and John Deacon on here - legends

[@tubes5150]

And Chris Squire . ( YES ) One of the Great Rock Gods 🤠❤️🎵 Happy New Year 🤠

[@patepulkkinenvtec2403]

John Deacon in the honorable mentions? Should definitely be on the list. Created so many legendary bass lines and such a versatile player that it was quite of a shock when he wasn't on the list.

[@BuccaneerOverland]

Best bass player ever. John should be #1!

[@pinkled4429]

@@BuccaneerOverland you probably watched the movie and know nothing about music

[@BuccaneerOverland]

@@pinkled4429 absolutely incorrect. Fan of Queen since 1975 seen them twice with Freddie Mercury. These lists are opinions and that is mine.

[@amber_kitty8782]

@@pinkled4429 nobody likes a hipster gatekeeper…

[@welshboyonabike]

Great vid, really enjoyed it, keep it coming

[@DelDuio]

My favorites are Geddy Lee, Les Claypool, John Myung, Paul McCartney, and Peter Gifford.

[@b2tall239]

1. Entwistle 2. Squire (a "prog" excluded from this list) 3. Lee 4. Flea 5. Bruce

[@tubes5150]

B2Tall Great Choices 🤠( I just subscribed to your channel to show support). You are so invited to my channel as well. Happy New Year 🤠

[@shawncollins1423]

This would have been my list, only I would have led with Squire. I admit I am not as familiar with the bassists as the poster, but these were my rock favorites.

[@cmonster67]

Back in the 80's in either "Guitar Player," "Guitar World" or "Bass Player" magazine they'd each year put out their list of best bassist and each time John Entwistle would beat Geddy.... This list just brought back those horrid memories.

[@mrosilvR7]

12:50 Bass player plays one of the most iconic solos in history. Camera focuses on guitar player and drummer spinning his sticks. Usually how it goes.

[@2112gothmog]

That clip has bugged me forever

Cliff Burton, Geezer Butler and Steve Harris out of this top 10????

[@tubes5150]

Márcio Almeida Crazy , right ?? I’m having fun with this though . I’m still reading the comments Happy New Year 2 U 🤠

@@tubes5150 Haappy new year for you too

[@tubes5150]

I never heard of Metallica in 1984 / 85 . Went to see them open for WASP at the Tower Theatre in Philly . When Metallica was on stage , my seat was almost in front of Burton . All I said was “ I thought I was a Bass Player -- Boy do I have a lot to learn “!!! He blew me out of my seat !! Incredible!! Happy 2020 2 U 2 ❤️🎵❤️🎵

[@CJMcMullet]

All three of those... And don't forget John Myung!!

[@kopanvezer]

He literally started the video with claiming he will exclude metal and prog bassists. Cliff Burton, Steve Harris and Geezer Butler are metal, John Myung prog.

[@Rick_Petrone]

This vídeo is awesome! And your cool accent too! Greetings from Brazil 🇧🇷

[@CJM8615]

Leemy, Geezer Butler, McCartney, Phil Lynott, Sting, Roger Waters.

[@dumpygoodness4086]

CHRIS SQUIRE IS TOPS FOR MANY SCIENTIFIC REASONS. EX: unlike most "great" bassists, Squire DID THE OPPOSITE. He didn't care about doing flashy s-o-l-o-s like Billy Sheehan or Victor. WHAT SQUIRE DID THAT WAS REVOLUTIONARY (top 5 revolutions in bass history!): it was like he was soloing 100% of the time, THROUGH THE SONG!! (You can listen to his bass lines over and over for the endless SURPRISES etc!) Ergo, no matter how skilled a bassist you are, if you play BORING during the song (Sheehan, VIctor), then YOU ARE NO CHRIS SQUIRE. You are PRE-Squire. (CS's top innovation was making his bass lines ALWAYS interesting and works of art on their own. It was super-radical, far more so than an Entwistle or any of the others. Even FLEA says he's not 1% the bassist Squire was! THiS IS WHY ALMOST ALL THE GREAT BASSISTS SAY CHRIS SQUIRE IS THEIR IDOL. (Lemmy, Harris, Geezer, Geddy, Flea, and most of them say SQUIRE IS BASS GOD.) In fact, that's WHY Bruford quit the band at the height of their power and fame: he said he couldn't stand how TIME-CONSUMING writing songs were, BECAUSE CHRIS SQUIRE wanted every bass note to be as great as possible, so they'd debate ONE note for 30 minutes! "Should it be an F or F#??" That doesn't happen to Flea or Victor or Entwistle or Geddy or Geezer or ANY OF THEM. Squire is in a class all by himself!

[@metalmike570]

​@@dumpygoodness4086 He should be on the Progressive rock bassists list, and Scott said he'll make one for these guys.

[@svenraudzus8951]

Well, I'm kinda late... but I'm missing Robert Trujillo... I love him and his Bass a lot...