why this SIMPLE bass line is actually GENIUS (Mr Brightside)

[@acledfloyd]

Jenny Was a Friend of Mine has a KILLER bass line. Watching the live at Albert Hall concert shows it off really well.

[@rickfromthecape3135]

Yes! One of my fav's to play!

[@matthewbanton7077]

my first thought when I saw the thumbnail, was confused by the "UK" in the title until I clicked the video

[@robs7163]

Somebody Told Me as well. Genuinely might be my favourite song to play on bass

[@brianlivingston886]

Couldn't agree more. What a fun line to play!

[@abject_ladder]

That song will always remind me of Amsterdam. And it's ALL about the bass

[@Anonymous-o6t6p]

Even as a bass player i’ll be honest, i think the drums are what make this song so amazing, bass players are great and we carry most of the song but we don’t do it alone, always day thank you to your drummer and make sure you’re a team

[@Vykk_Draygo]

It's the bass for me. I never cared about this song until I started playing bass.

[@businesspins5825]

combo of both - they need each other

[@sebg2086]

nothing amazing with that bass line lol

[@callebergqvist8071]

@@sebg2086 Amazing maybe not but it still makes a something big out of something very simple.

[@Superterrestrial]

This is one of those songs where every single piece makes the song tbh. The arpeggios on the guitar, the tortured vocals, driving drums, bass offering a melodic counterpoint when the vocals are monotonous and kind of acting like a rythm guitar during the chorus when the vocal is taking centre stage. It's just a masterpiece! Everything has its place. Maybe the only thing that doesn't do a lot for me is the synths, but it's kind of their signature isn't it 🤷‍♂️

[@duncan_parkinson]

This is one of those songs that never stops being fun to play at weddings. Especially because crowds in the UK seem to never be able to get enough of it!

[@beaudure01]

It’s so funny that it’s become a wedding standard given that it’s about a relationship disintegrating!

[@montraix]

Rob DeLeo is the master of the “secret sauce” bass line. Interstate Love Song is genius, as is Trippin’ On A Hole In A Paper Heart. A breakdown of either would be great!!!!

[@indasonic9470]

Such an underrated genius. His lines and fills are up there with the best. A true master of his art. Not to mention his actual songwriting ability itself.

[@SO-ym3zs]

Check out Beato's interview with him. Great stuff. Killer bassist and songwriter

[@arieltz23]

Interstate Love Song is an amazing song and the bass line of Robert DeLeo is magical! One of my favorites for sure!

[@bantam757]

Down int Tube Station at Midnight and pretty much every Jam song,bass makes the song,salute Sir Bruce of Foxton

[@alguitarchristie]

Love that song. This is pedestrian!

[@danh5664]

Yea mate Bruce needs some more recognition

[@User-jk8wq]

The bassline on Going Underground is nothing short of genius

[@abstractholiday]

‘It’s my Life’, by Talk Talk has perhaps the best pop baseline ever. Full stop. Effective, memorable, complex. Easy to listen to, but hard to play right.

[@finianday-lewis9769]

Yes, yes, yes. It’s absolutely beautiful.

[@SamRoads]

I agree! SBL - worth a look into? (Don't do the No Doubt version, he plays one note down an octave and it's such a WHYYY? moment.)

[@abstractholiday]

I agree. The song itself is beautiful, but the bass playing in the pre-chorus is particularly beautiful and really humbling to play. So much melody packed in there!

[@justinhanson8898]

Great call

[@SO-ym3zs]

Definitely. A classic, and no matter how many times I've played it, I still tend to stumble. It just doesn't fall under the fingers easily but works so well

[@beaudure01]

I feel like the bass line captures the emotion of the song so well. The prechorus sounds mournful. The leap to a higher register in the chorus sounds defiant. Love it.

[@philipschrevelius]

ABBA - Money, Money, Money. That bass recorded by Rutger Gunnarsson would be pretty nice if you guys made a video on. Think people truly would enjoyed that

[@bungus49]

Sassafras Roots or When I Come Around on Green Day's Dookie. Mike was a beast throughout that album

[@pitpride1220]

Fell on Black Days by Soundgarden. Bass line is often ignored. It is sophisticated and unorthodox.

[@Sean_thompson_bass]

Ben Shepherd is criminally overlooked

[@deuce0609]

This is a very McCartney-esque bass line. I love the subtle ‘Ode to Joy’ feeling this song gives

[@Anonymous-o6t6p]

Honestly Another Bites the Dust is a song that doesn’t exist with the bass, i know everyone knows the main riff but the whole song has a lot of interesting psuedo modulations with an amazing funky rhythm and classic blues style bass lines, i’ve only people notice the main riff but i wish we could hear a FULL song bass breakdown

[@BobbyKewley]

Another absolute stormer (pun intended!😊) on that album was his line on SOMEBODY TOLD ME. So very melodic!! Particularly in the intro and chorus - absolutely brilliant bass line 👌

[@MarcioBaron]

Where the streets have no Name. A simple and genious Bass line

[@rpatter7]

Tension and release in the bass lends to the same tension and release in the vocals. Perfect song all around. So happy you guys covered this.

[@alfdmusic6978]

You guys should check out some of Jared Followills stuff from kings of Leon! I love his approach to the bass and how he also creates a lot of tension and release similar to Mark. So many of his lines are so melodic and singable too! Loved the video btw :)

[@NatalieBransgroveBassist]

Tony Butler of Big Country deserves a mention. His basslines were very interesting; adding another melodic element whilst keeping the low end particulary in Wonderland, Fields of Fire etc.

[@bassimprovjams3772]

Off the top of my head “soul to squeeze” by the peppers absolutely would not be the same without that bassline

[@pauljacques2278]

London Calling , The Clash. Paul Simonons classic line. Plus coolest bass image ever on the cover

[@rickfromthecape3135]

We covered a LOT of Killers songs (what band wouldn't?) and Mark's approach to bass line totally transformed my own. I absolutely love his bass playing!

[@devinebass]

🔥🔥🔥

[@SamThredder]

i heard this song so much in the mid 00s but only just started really appreciating it, its a fucking wicked tune

[@firstname_rene]

- Ned's Atomic Dustbin TWO BASS PLAYERS!!!!! - maybe grey cell green - anyThe Smiths, Andy Rourke was such a subtle beast - maybe heaven knows i'm miserable now - peter hook with joy division / new order - straight up would steal the show in songs with his bass lines - the drums - money - bass part is so damn catchy

[@Tatterdash71]

I had a bright orange Ibanez RD707 and never thought to wear my equally bright orange tuque with it. You two have the best energy.

[@RON4RC]

Ian's comment like just after 8:10 min or so on how and why he plays in that way in that song I think was just on point man.. like so well put. And yes what an incredible bass line in this track. This bass line get right into my soul when I hear that song, you guys always pick the best and exploit every note..... I just love ya's. ❤

[@joeclark149]

As far as underrated Rock bass lines, I think you have to cover Simon Gallup from The Cure. That melodic bassline style that really invented Shoegaze bass playing. Pictures of You is a great example, he’s playing off against an already low-end Fender 6 guitar part, and his melodic choices underneath whilst keeping the Rhythm are just killer. Love the channel btw, as someone who doesn’t have time to do the online courses because of working away from home, these 15 min vids are a great resource, and really varied in style/genre etc. great work!

[@SO-ym3zs]

Well said. Post-punk and 80's alternative rock in general is heaven for bass lovers. It plays such a key part for so many bands and is often very forward in the mix.

[@RichardJohansson]

I've always loved the Bass in "Go your own way" by Fleetwood Mac.

[@alexmacleod3728]

Another Great UK Bassist is Bruce Thomas, you guys should do a video about him coz his basslines are exquisite like Pump it up, Human Hands, B-Movie, and King Horse.

[@fredblogd8448]

I think the whole of "This years girl" is pretty awesome

[@Mudfunk75]

I played this Song with a band and i absolutly LOVE the Doublestop part! Thank you Guys!

I really love this band’s basslines. Jenny was a friend of mine is a very good song with an extremely good bassline too!

[@GooseDogDabrowski]

Pixies - Hey Kim Deal never even cracks a sweat but provides such a killer foundation for the track

[@SolracFS]

What's Going On, unthinkable without James Jamerson

[@fourortwelvestrings]

Oh, man. "Dust to Dust," by The Warning. Alejandra Villarreal wrote the main riff for this song when she was, like, 13; and that riff opens and just dominates the song, but what gets me in the bass gland are the fills she puts in that are just incredible.

[@markjames8664]

I was almost tempted to post “anything by The Warning” here, since she’s so vital to their songs. She usually plays fingers but in “Animosity” she uses pick and just before the pre-chorus she gets this really angry sound that I love.

[@KenCarver]

"The Real Me" - The Who, from the Quadrophenia album. Three minutes and twenty-one seconds of controlled bass chaos!

[@markjames8664]

I’ve read that he originally was playing all over the place as a joke but the band loved it and kept it.

[@CamiloDiaz]

“I Sat By The Ocean” by QOTSA immediately came to mind. Underrated bass line that’s vital to the song.

[@nicorepetto5781]

Michael Schumann is a bassist that doesn't get nearly enough credit

[@jiujitsubassist]

What a timely upload. I'm playing a gig this weekend with this song included on the setlist. So this changes a lot about how I initially approached the song.

[@andrewpinner3181]

Thanks guys, always fun !

[@FalseNomen]

I play this song with my band. It's a ton of fun to play, and I agree that the bass is the driving force of the song.

[@arieltz23]

Amazing song through and through! Killer bass line!

[@ChadHensley]

I saw that IMA Ultimate App preset hanging out on Ian's Line 6. Super professional not to mention his own products but man those are the best presets I have ever purchased for my HX Stomp!

[@IanMartinAllison]

Cheers Chad!

[@justinhanson8898]

So great! I've been telling my brother for years about this song (he's a bass player) and you all nailed what makes this entire song great. BASS!!! Thanks! Great stuff

[@barkinstarfish]

Someone Somewhere in Summertime…epic bass line that makes the song.

[@jakerose1122]

Thank you for covering my favourite band! Mark Stoermer is such an underrated bassist!

[@robwakelin5559]

"Can you dig it" by the Mock Turtles. Sounds simple enough, but has subtle pauses and stops. With runs in all the right places. It's always great when you hear a tune and the bass is playing along the lines of what you'd want to play yourself. Love it.

[@alejandroruizlopez9305]

Love this series, keep them coming guys. Great work!

[@Sean_thompson_bass]

"Fascination Street" by The Cure. It's so simple and repetitive, but the whole song builds around that bass line. I'm pretty sure Simon Gallup recorded it with a Fender Bass VI, but I could be wrong.

[@MatthewTomich]

I assumed it was a Music Man

[@Sean_thompson_bass]

@MatthewTomich some songs definitely sound like a Stingray, but to my ears, it's a little different on Fascination Street. I know he used a VI in the music video.

[@jaypickard]

Sweet child o mine is underrated in terms of bass. Especially the intro and verse parts really showcases Duff Mckagans tone, technique and how to take simple chords and make them groove and move.

[@lukas1103]

Disorder by Joy Division. It’s not one of the most famous ones, but its so intense, how the bassline goes in the instrumental part after the verse. I still get goosebumps everytime I hear the song. Hope you will break down this one someday…

[@banph]

Love that you made this video. Every time this song comes on I play air bass (and I'm a drummer and keyboard player). To me this track gets all its movement from the baseline. Much like Sweet Child of Mine. Another track that would be nothing without the bass is Careless Whisper.

[@FromTheMosh]

Ive never considered this song without bass. Youre so right, thrtes no melody without it.

[@andrewbaranyai463]

Massive shout out to Daisy Pepper who brought this to the SBL live class rock session a few weeks back. Never appreciated how awesome it was until then now I love playing it! As it can be played with no open strings it is just a fret down to play along with the original recording, nice and straight forward

[@SomeOfTheJuice]

Two things: This song was the song that really made realize that quarter notes in a bass line can can be as powerful, if not more powerful, than syncopation with that phenomenal prechorus. This also is one of my favorite songs to play with my band and was the song that made me aware how having a strong attention to detail as a cover band can drastically improve how it comes off. I was the second bassist to join my band, and the previous bassist didn't go as deep into it to really catch the pre-chorus and bridge's melody and double stops, playing just the changes. When they heard me playing what is played in the recording, they thought it was awesome and I had a new found confidence in playing with them, even as the new guy at the time.

[@akitabass7491]

I have and always will love this song, When playing Live it was always one of my favourite bass lines to play as you can really ride the emotion and the energy of it. It's bizarre as the song is really a sad song but feels so energetic! just over a year ago I dipped my feet into setting up a youtube channel and Brightside and Shut up and Dance by walk the moon were the only two tracks I did before stopping due to a spate of multiple bereavements which took the wind out my sales, though recently I have been watching a lot of SBL and are starting to feel motivated again. So thank you Ian and Scott for that motivation to want to play again. 🙂

[@devinebass]

🧡🧡🧡

[@christianbastian3010]

Lowdown by Boz Scaggs has such a funky but simple bassline that drives the entire song. Also When the World is Running Down... by The Police

[@colin8531]

Great video! “No More Mr. Nice Guy” and “Billion Dollar Babies” by Alice Cooper are two great tunes that come to mind - incredible bass lines!

[@mhedderl]

These videos are awesome. Keep up the great work guys. Your context always somehow gets better each time. Not sure how you do it. It’s ridiculous. I’m a big Cure fan. Would love a future episode with your guys thoughts on them. To the Sky, Love Song and Fascination St are some of my fav basslines to play even now.

[@regendn0mad]

The Killers are great, I especially love their latest albums. Thank you for the video. I think a lot of Radiohead songs are all about the bass. There is a lot to choose from but one of my faves is the bass line on Jigsaw Falling Into Place.

[@robertprojektm8857]

"Sugar" by the Editors has a great Bassline, too!

[@iliketrains3495]

Love seeing Editors getting a shout

[@OnlyBassNuf]

Coldplay - Magic. It’s great. And there are quite a few of their lines which are awesome. I discovered them really when I joined a cover band and they’re pretty cool :)

[@LisaHarsh]

In HS I took up upright bass. It would be years longer than I’d like before I got my first bass. However, I was inspired by bass line in Thomas Dolby “Hyperactive” and Talking Heads songs.

[@nicorepetto5781]

Michael Schumann's bassline for the song "I appear missing" by Queen's of the stone age is an amazing bassline and no one talks about it

[@kunstwert]

Hands down "Too Shy" from Kajagoogoo! Nick Beggs kills it on this track imho

[@Rockywaff]

I love playing this in my cover band almost as much as the audience love hearing it 😅 So much fun to play, for many of the reasons you give. I love the way it jumps around the octaves and if i really want to annoy the guitarist i play the first riff way up in the dusty frets. Thank you for unlocking the chords in the breakdown - have been trying to work them out for years! 🙏

[@roughmix60]

Excellent vid guys

[@supermario2100]

You could do a whole series on Hot Fuss as an album, it's just full of great basslines front to back.

[@chrisAclaes]

I’m covering this tonight! Glad I stuck around for your chord section, I was doing it different.

[@simon_plays_bass]

Killer bass lines that drive the song: Crazy little thing called love (Queen). I’d be interested in what you think about the key. D seems to be the key centre for most of the song, but you get plenty of C naturals in it. So D Mixolydian? Then when it goes to the sections with the Bb maybe a switch to D Phrygian? It’s taken me about 25 years to get that far in my analysis since I first learned it on keys. So please release me from my “Crazy Little Thing key” purgatory.

[@thomasfioriglio]

Fantastic! Amazing how long this song has been on the charts. Thanks for sharing. I'll be learning this one.

[@darranjsamuel3063]

Saw the Killers supporting U2 in Cardiff on the Vertigo tour , absolutely awesome ❤ blew me away , really underrated bassist, the guy is awesome 🙌🙌🙌

[@devinebass]

🔥🔥🔥

[@mauriliimatainen8332]

Love this song! I've performed it a bunch of times and on watching this video, I realize I haven't even been close! Gotta up my game! (And yep... definitely need to finally engage the dirt switch on my JHS Pulp 'n Peel compressor pedal!) 🙂 Thanks Scott and Ian!

[@ntg44]

Hyper music by Muse is another great example of bass being the reason the song is so great. One of my favorite Muse tracks.

[@devinebass]

Great shout!

[@chrislesperance2068]

Can we have a Kings of Leon bass breakdown? Notion would tickle my fancy

[@IanOnTheDL]

This and When You Were Young are some of my favorite songs to play

[@seantimmons5601]

Great song and great video breakdown!

[@diegotorres722]

Great video mate! Another tremendous bass line of the killers is somebody told me and it would be very cool if you guys analized that great song to

[@MikeHodd]

In a similar vein, the baseline on “Somebody Told Me” off the same album is another line that completely makes the song. Mark Stoermer is a 10/10 pop bassist

[@tedayre]

Listening to tunes on the car radio, I noticed these tracks that have a surprisingly essential bass line: Ruby - Kaiser Chiefs Suddenly I See - KT Tunstall Hand In My Pocket - Alanis Morissette All I Wanna Do - Sheryl Crow Don't Leave Me This Way - Thelma Houston

[@JimM2112]

One of my favorite tunes to play live.

[@Bikkurine]

"Stop!" by Jane's Addiction. Yes. It wouldn't be the same. I just love it so much

[@grzegorzkurek9604]

Check „fascination street” from The Cure. Simon Gallup is very good player, and he in cooperation with Peter Hook is responsible for my bassplaying (almost 40 yrs) ;-)

[@robertnixilis1760]

Killer bassline! I'd love to see anything from Martin Mendez of Opeth. I really like the bassline for Eternal Rains Will Come is an incredible example of the the perfect mix of melody+rhythm+harmony

[@danielirvine7468]

Great song great band agree this bass line is 🔥

[@creepymccreepers]

Yep bass on the killers is the killer part of it

[@JaredLeesBass]

Nice job breaking down this fun tune! The Classic from the 90s , In The Mean Time by Space Hog comes to mind as one with an iconic bass line, and would be a fun one for you guys to explore...

[@CameronMackenzie-kw5gd]

Martin Turner ex Wishbone Ash changed me from a six stringer to bass in 1974. Another example of guitarist turned bass like those from the Smiths, Teenage fanclub, The Jam, Lemmy, John Jack Burnell, et al

[@not2sharpmd]

“Ain’t It Fun” by Paramore has an incredible bass line that really enhances the arrangement. Also, I play it on a 5 string in my band when we cover it, but I think it’s played on a bass tuned to C# F# B E, aka C# standard.

[@nicholasmaill9572]

Two tracks that have simple yet dominating bass lines are 'Dance Dance Christa Paffgen' by Anberlin and 'Weapon, Enemy, Friend' by Gyroscope. Sometimes less is more and simple is best.

[@christopherbond4786]

Head Over Heals by Tears for Fears is a CRAZY underrated bass performance. It 100% drives the entire song.

[@JaredWarsoff]

Man I love this bass line, what a great breakdown! On the totally different end of the spectrum, could you guys do a breakdown of the bass line of Doobie Brothers' Minute By Minute? That Tiran Porter line is BONKERS

[@guitfidle]

I have always loved this album, the song, and the bass line

[@Gareth-Harrison]

I would love to see a video of holiday in Cambodia by the Dead Kennedy's, the bass is the driving force for the whole song

[@OlavSchneider]

Good one, and maybe also Forest fire.

[@BigElectricCat]

Electric Feel by MGMT has a baasline that is incredible.

[@mega1976]

“Call me” by Blondie is another good example of a bass line giving great dynamics and energy to a song.

[@BouncerJB15]

More killers please. Mark is a very underrated player

[@AyalSharon]

“Rio” by Duran Duran has a great bass line

[@deanweld]

Stone Temple Pilots "Trippin' On a Hole in a Paper Heart" has one of Robert's best bass lines, especially the way it climbs into the upper register in the chorus. Would not be the same song without the bass. A lesser known one is "Song Seven" by Interpol. Carlos D. always has a really interesting melodic and rhythmic approach that uses the whole neck of the bass from the high frets to super low notes in Drop D tuning.

[@Mark-db1ok]

Whatever It Is I Just Can't Stop by Jamiroquoi. That's an awesome and underrated tune. Killer bass and drums!

[@pabloaltobelli8506]

Hot fuss is an incredible album and basslines on that album are even better!

[@iliketrains3495]

A lot of Kasabian songs have stand-out basslines, including Club Foot, Fast Fuse, Butcher Blues, Fire, Empire, Shoot The Runner, Stevie, the list goes on.

[@fromchomleystreet]

The bassline in the verse essentially provides the major seventh in a Dmajor7 chord (or Db major 7 if you insist) in third inversion.

[@ryanwarsh]

Welcome to the Jungle. I feel like Duff McKagan never gets enough credit for his bass compositions. It took a good while for me to learn that song.