10 Greatest Hard Rock Basslines
The most hypnotic riffs from the low end of rock...
Whenever you're listening to a great rock song, most of the time you latch onto the guitar riff. In fact, the guitar part of most hard rock songs have such a size to them that it's almost easy to overlook some of the melodic passages coming from the singer. While the guitar may be the most dominant force in rock, there is some equally remarkable stuff coming from the four-string.
Over the years, bass players have gotten sort of a raw deal as just the less talented guitarist who only plays the easy riffs. On the other hand, some truly gifted bass players have come out of the rock scene who have made the low end surge with their infectious riffs. Some of the lines on these tunes have such a presence to them that they overshadow some of the guitar solos.
While guitar riffs can give a feeling of euphoria, the bass line is what keeps the entire track low to the ground and grooving. Here are a few examples where the bass player stepped out from the shadows and delivered some of the most irresistible riffs that have ever been put on a rock record.
Whether it's with a pick or fingers, these guys accomplish with four strings what most guitarists can't do with six.
10. My Generation - The Who
When the Who first broke out on the British club scene, much of their sound was indebted to the R&B coming from across the pond. The crux of the Mod scene was built on music that consisted of basic covers of soul songs from America, only injected with a healthy amount of distortion and aggression. Once Pete Townshend came through with a strong composition of his own, "My Generation" was birthed and set the entire scene on fire.
Even with its straightforward blast of noise, this song not only signaled the arrival of hard rock, but also gave aspiring bassists one hell of a workout routine. Being the most seasoned musician in the band, John "The Ox" Entwistle's playing on this track sounds like he's practically playing lead guitar on a bass. Whereas most bassists of the time were peddling on the root note, Entwistle's midsong showcase shows him flying all over the fretboard with his bluesy licks.
The way that Entwistle attacked the strings also gave them a distinct throaty sound, almost as if the instrument is vocalizing its own pain. There's probably a countless number of bands who have played this tune in their garage, but there's never been anyone who has come close to Entwistle's fury on this track.